Guyana chronicle e paper 08 10 2017

Indian businessman says govt’s vision for Guyana appealing Page 11

Concerns over list No. 105000

THURSDAY,AUGUST 10, 2017

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

…Widespread dissatisfaction over police promotion list

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Grandma takes rap for coke in gas cylinder Page 13

Alleged teen killer nabbed

The 17-year-old cricketer and his grandmother, Naomi Persaud at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

$10M reward for info on escapees

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Grenades found in Linden house

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 10, 2017

Heavily pregnant woman dies before delivery

By Svetlana Marshall

A heavily pregnant woman died before delivering her baby at the Georgetown Public Hospital early Wednesday morning.

Dead is 43-year-old Gladice Rodrigues of Alliance Road, Timehri, East Bank Demerara. The pregnant woman was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital at around 00:35hr on Wednesday.

According to a reliable source, Rodrigues was referred to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic in May 2017, from another hospital and deemed a high-risk patient due to her age.

The Guyana Chronicle was unable to ascertain the cause of her death. Attempts to contact the country’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud on the matter proved futile on Wednesday;

however, the Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that an investigation has been launched into the death of Rodrigues.

Rodrigues’ death comes approximately nine days after 17-year-old Esther Edwards died at GPHC after delivering a baby girl via caesarian section on August 1, 2017.

A full investigation will be conducted into the country’s most recent maternal death, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud told the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday.

Seventeen-year-old Esther Edwards of Laluni Creek on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, died on August 1, 2017 after giving birth to a baby girl via Cesarean Section (C-Section).

On Tuesday, the CMO told this newspaper that he was informed of Edwards’ death the same day in keep-

ing with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), noting that following the completion of a report by the Internal Review Committee, the Public Health Ministry’s Experts Committee will launch a thorough investigation into the incident.

Based on the investigation, a determination will be made on the “gaps” within the system that led to the death of the pregnant teen and necessary recommendations will be made.

A C-Section was performed on Edwards and while the baby girl was safely delivered, Edwards died subsequently. She died around 03:00hrs on Emancipation Day. Hospital officials have remained tight-lipped on the direct cause of her death, saying that the investigation must be completed before details of the maternal death are disclosed.

Earlier this year, Pub-

lic Health Minister, Volda Lawrence expressed worry over Guyana’s continued high rates of maternal death and infant mortality, stating that all must get involved to reverse the trend.

“The health sector, you and I know, is faced with a myriad of challenges at all levels and in varying degrees with our maternal and infant mortality appearing high on that list; our maternal mortality rates [are] estimated at 121/100,000 live births and infant mortality rates [are] estimated at 22/1000 live births,” Lawrence pointed out.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), USAID, UNICEF and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) have stood out as major partners backing the local

public health sector in the last decade “supporting health initiatives aimed at enhancing the delivery of primary health care to our people,” Lawrence said.

In October 2016, the IDB approved a US$8 million loan for a programme to help reduce maternal, perinatal and neonatal deaths in Guyana. The five-year programme was designed to improve the quality of care at 140 health facilities and in 88 communities, benefiting at least 140,000 women and 9,000 newborns per year.

The IDB had noted that despite progress achieved during the last decade, Guyana continues to experience one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a maternal mortality rate estimated at 121 per 1,000 live births and an infant mortality rate at 22

per 1,000 live births.

Given that about 93 per cent of deaths in children less than one year of age occurred in the neonatal period, the programme will support and improve maternal and child healthcare with a focus on improving access to quality neonatal health services and providing a better path to and quality of reproductive and maternal health services.

The total cost of the project is US$8 million, to be financed as follows: US$4 million from the IDB’s ordinary capital resources and US$4 million from the Fund for Special Operations (FSO) of the bank. The loan from the bank’s ordinary capital has a six-year grace period and a 30-year term. The FSO funding has a term of 40 years with a 40-year grace period and a fixed annual rate of 0.25 per cent.

Overflowing river banks delaying Linden/Lethem road works DUE to the May/June rains, works on several hinterlands roads including the Linden/Lethem road have been suspended, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson has said.

The minister explained to the Department of Public Information (DPI) that during the rainy season contracts that were awarded were stalled. He noted that for the Linden/Lethem road they were faced with several issues beyond their control.

“I know that a lot of people are complaining about the Linden/Lethem road and they have all right to, but it’s an

issue out of our control. The Ireng and Takutu river banks have overflowed so the water is accumulating in the valley, but the contractors have started working over the weekend and soon they’ll finish and work will continue until a solution is found,” Minister Patterson underlined.

Additionally, it was highlighted that the ministry is exploring the use of more durable materials for the construction of hinterland roads. The Minister has instructed his contractors “to use a bit more geotextile on the road, I’ve also asked them to contact local and

international businesses and suppliers that supply stabilising materials which makes the laterite more a compact soil, so we don’t have this battle in rainy season,” the minister explained.

To date the Ministry has

completed 91 per cent of its work programme with a total of 83 percent of contracts being awarded. Several of the 28 projects yet to be tendered are being redefined. This includes the Inter-American Development

Bank (IDB)-funded Sheriff Street/Mandela Avenue project which was signed on March 15, 2013. This was tendered earlier in the year but was withdrawn.

Minister Patterson pointed out that the scope of that

project was redefined and will be re-tendered before the end of August. Other projects being redefined include the Linden/Lethem, the Ituni/Kwakwani and the road leading into Mahdia.

Live grenades found in Linden house RANKS of E’ Division on Wednesday night recovered two live grenades in an abandoned house at West Watooka Hill Top, Linden.

The lawmen, as part of ‘Operation Clean Sweep’, made the bust after acting on information received. According to Commander of the Division, Fazil Karimbaskh, after conducting a search inside of the house, two live grenades were found, concealed in the ceiling of the house. The grenades were diffused and kept in police custody. No one has been arrested as police continue their investigations `Operation Clean Sweep’ was launched following the escape of 13 prisoners from the Lusignan Prisons on July 24th.

Twelve of the 13 prisoners have since been recaptured.

Out of the 12, one, Kendall Skeete was recaptured at his

The two grenades that were retrieved by police in an abandoned house in Linden

resident’s home in Wisroc, Linden.

Commander Karimbaskh confirmed that patrols

have been increased in light of the new development.

On Wednesday, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) an-

nounced a $10 M reward for information leading to the recapturing of the four remaining prisoners at large.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday August 10, 2017

Concerns over list

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…widespread dissatisfaction over police promotion list THERE is widespread dissatisfaction over the list of officers submitted to the Police Service Commission (PSC) for promotion, which has sparked quiet protest within the force, top police sources have confirmed.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that an internal police committee that would normally make recommendations to the PSC for promotions did not meet on this occasion, and it is unclear how the names for promotion were arrived at. Efforts to contact Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud, or his assistant, David Ramnarine, were unsuccessful.

This newspaper was reliably informed that a number of aggrieved officers are planning to raise their concerns about the list which they deemed as ‘defective’.

“This list that was submitted has officers who are not fit for promotion. This is a very bad list,” a senior officer told this newspaper.

The Ministry of the Presidency recently wrote the Commission urging that there be no consideration of promotions until further notice. Reports are that the President may have asked for

the promotions to be delayed to allow for greater scrutiny of the list, and to ensure that the procedures at arriving at the list were followed.

The life of the Commission comes to an end sometime in September.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, said it had been brought to his attention that President Granger has caused a letter to be dispatched to the Police Service Commission (PSC,instructing the Commission not to proceed with any promotion in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) until further directed by the President.

Jagdeo said Article 226(1) of the Constitution clearly states: “In the exercise of its functions under the Constitution, a Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority.

“The Police Service Commission is one of the Commissions to which Article 226(1) makes reference. “We urge the Police Service Commission (PSC) not to succumb to these unconstitutional and unlawful directives, but to continue to discharge its mandate in the

manner provided for by the Constitution,” Jagdeo said.

Meanwhile, in a letter to the editor of this newspaper, retired Assistant Police Commissioner, Clinton Conway, while supporting the President’s decision to put on hold the promotions, said he wants the police to act professionally at all times and to deliver the highest quality of service to the citizens of Guyana they swore to serve and protect. He noted that the conduct of many senior and junior officers of the GPF is being questioned at the Commission of Inquiry (COI)being conducted by Paul Slowe, retired Assistant Commissioner of Police.

“These officers have been highly recommended to the Police Service Commission (PSC) for promotions. What if the PSC goes ahead now and promote them and the COI finds them guilty of misconduct? On the other hand, why not wait a short while until the COI completes its work. Certainly, if the COI clears the officers of any misconduct, they will be promoted. That will be well within the ambit of justice and fair play for all. It is only a matter of time.” “I agree with the action of the

Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud

President. It is a giant step in the right direction. Let there be many more, swift, certain and appropriate actions by His Excellency, David Granger, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

NOT THE FIRST TIME It is not the first time concerns have been raised over promotions within the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Back in 2015, Police Com-

missioner Seelall Persaud had defended the decision to promote two ranks-one an officer who had burnt a teenager’s genitals. Persaud had said then that the men were exonerated in the criminal trial and no departmental charges were recommended against them.

Narine Lall, and Mohanram Dolai were promoted by the Police Service Commission (PSC) who described their records as unblemished apart

from that back in 2009, while stationed at the Leonora Police Station, they poured methylated spirits on a West Bank Demerara (WBD teenager while investigating a murder. In defending the promotion of the men, Persaud had said: “Well we have a policy on discipline of ranks…if they are convicted they are dismissed, if they’re exonerated then they become a member of the force … if anyone is disciplined two years after they are eligible for consideration.”

However, following the coalition victory at the polls in May 2015, Corporal Dolai, who was found criminally liable for burning the teenage boy’s privates was dismissed on the instructions from Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan.

Ramjattan had confirmed that Dolai was fired on his instructions. Regarding Inspector Narine Lall, Ramjattan had said that he could only be dismissed by the Police Service Commission (PSC). The officer was last stationed at the police canine division as the PSC did not acquiesce to calls for his dismissal.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 10, 2017

North Korea calls Trump’s warning a ‘load of nonsense’ NORTH KOREA dismissed on Thursday warnings by U.S. President Donald Trump that it would face “fire and fury” if it threatened the United States as a “load of nonsense”, and outlined detailed plans for a missile strike near the Pacific territory of Guam.

North Korea’s apparently rapid progress in developing nuclear weapons and missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland has fueled tensions that erupted into a war of words between Washington and Pyongyang this week, unnerving regional powers and global investors. Trump’s unexpected remarks prompted North Korea to say on Thursday it was finalizing plans to fire four intermediate-range missiles over Japan to land 30-40 km (1825 miles) from Guam, more

than 3,000 km (2,000 miles) to the south.

Guam is home to about 163,000 people and a U.S. military base that includes a submarine squadron, an air base and a Coast Guard group. “Sound dialogue is not possible with such a guy bereft of reason and only absolute force can work on him,” a report by the North’s state-run KCNA news agency said of Trump. The army will complete its plans in mid-August, ready for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s order, KCNA reported, citing General Kim Rak Gyom, commander of the Strategic Force of the Korean People’s Army. While North Korea regularly threatens to destroy the United States and its allies, the report was unusual in its detail. Masao Okonogi, professor emeritus

Thursday, August 10, 2017

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BOASTS ABOUT POWER The United States and South Korea remain technically still at war with North Korea after the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended with a truce, not a peace treaty.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis issued a stark warning

earlier on Wednesday, telling Pyongyang the United States and its allies would win any arms race or conflict. “The DPRK should cease any consideration of actions that would lead to the end of its regime and the destruction of its people,” Mattis said in a statement, using the acronym for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Tension in the region has risen since North Korea carried out two nuclear bomb tests last year and two intercontinental ballistic missile tests in July. Trump has said he will not allow Pyongyang to develop a nuclear weapon capable of hitting the United States.

On Wednesday, Trump boasted about U.S. nuclear capabilities. “My first order as President was to renovate

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at Japan’s Keio University, said the North Korean reports suggested Pyongyang was issuing a warning or advance notice of changes to its missile testing program rather than threatening an attack. “I believe this is a message saying they plan to move missile tests from the Sea of Japan to areas around Guam,” he told Reuters. “By making this advance notice, they are also sending a tacit message that what they are going to do is not a actual attack.”

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and modernize our nuclear arsenal. It is now far stronger and more powerful than ever before,” Trump said on Twitter. “Hopefully we will never have to use this power, but there will never be a time that we are not the most powerful nation in the world!”

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who was in Guam on a previously scheduled visit, played down the rhetoric, saying he did not believe there was an imminent threat from North Korea and “Americans should sleep well at night”. Earlier on Wednesday, Guam Governor Eddie Calvo dismissed the threat and said the island was prepared for “any eventuality” with strategically placed defenses. He said he had been in touch with the White House and there was no change in the threat level. North Korea accuses the Washington of devising a “preventive war” and has said any plans to execute this would be met with an “allout war, wiping out all the strongholds of enemies, including the U.S. mainland”.

Washington has warned it is ready to use force if needed to stop North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs but that it prefers global diplomatic action, including sanctions. The U.N. Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Saturday.

China, North Korea’s main ally, has consistently urged

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both sides to work to lower tensions. Influential Chinese state-run tabloid the Global Times said the North Korean nuclear issue was heading towards confrontation and it was time for the United States to respond to Pyongyang’s security concerns.

“North Korea has almost been completely isolated by the outside world. Under such extreme circumstances, Pyongyang will weigh all its possible options,” it said in an editorial on its website on Thursday. “Washington should stimulate Pyongyang’s desire to engage with the outside world and return to the international community.” A senior U.S. official who deals with the Korea issue said the “fire and fury” comment, which was Trump’s strongest warning yet for North Korea, was “unplanned and spontaneous”.

“There had not been any discussions about escalating the rhetoric in response to Kim’s statements or about the possible effects of doing that,” the official said. However, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters national security officials had been aware of the tone of Trump’s message before he gave it. “The words were his own. The tone and strength of the message were discussed beforehand,” Sanders said.

(Reuters)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 10, 2017

Caribbean hoteliers join forces with travel associations to unify sector THE Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) says it is partnering with travel associations around the world to strengthen the tourism sector in the region.

CHTA president Karolin Troubetzkoy said that under the stewardship of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), CHTA has joined forces with close to a dozen

regional and national travel organizations to advocate for the sector among governments, legislators and economists.

The National Travel Association Coalition (NTAC), which comprises travel associations from Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Egypt, Europe, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United

States, provides a forum for national travel associations to support each other and ensure the sustainable growth of travel and tourism.

CHTA and its regional public sector partner, the Caribbean Tourism Organization, are both founding members of NTAC. “We have also agreed to leverage NTAC to amplify the voice of the travel and

tourism industry, and emphasize the sector’s significant role as a major force for economic development, employment and sustainability to ensure it is considered more seriously at the policy table,” said Troubetzkoy.

Highlighting the importance of working together, she said there was much to gain by sharing best practices, including how advo-

cacy for travel and tourism is enacted across the globe, particularly during election season. The CHTA president said the coalition is considering centralized funding and collaboration on similar projects to improve cost efficiency, as well as the benefit of jointly seeking other sources of support. “As we continue to build this resourceful

network of associations, we can also support each other on common issues and share relevant reports and global perspectives on innovation disruptive models such as the sharing economy.” Tourism is one of the world’s largest economic sectors, contributing more than 10 per cent to global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). (CMC)

Holness describes murder of student as ‘wildest attacks on our young women’ PRIME Minister Andrew Holness has described as “one of the vilest attacks on our young women” the murder of 17-year-old school girl, Micholle Moltan, reportedly because she refused to give into sexual demands by some men in her community.

The secondary school student was shot in the head at her home in the community of Arnett Gardens on Sunday night as she slept.

Her 12- year-old sister was also shot and injured in the

incident. “There can be no divide on crime in the country. We all have to come together and draw a line in the sand and those with the criminals should recognize the criminals are no respecter of lives. They will turn on you one day,” Holness said, as he visited Micholle’s mother on Tuesday to personally offer condolences and assistance.

“I thought I would come here and say your daughter’s death cannot be in vain. We have to put a stop to it to

prevent other innocent girls and boys from being killed.

This could be anybody’s child. This is a great distress but we are resolved to deal with it and to support you in this time,” said Prime Minister Holness.

Holness has called on the police to spare no effort in investigating the crime and also urged members of the community to provide information to the police so as to bring the perpetrators to justice. “The wider Jamaica is very distressed

and very angry and I want to reassure the country that the government is moving very quickly to have the Zones of Special Operations implemented and to ensure we bring safety, security and peace and prosperity to the Jamaican people.”

Earlier, National Security Minister Robert Montague and Opposition leader Dr. Peter Phillips condemned the murder of the Meadowbrook High School student with Montague saying the incident was a harsh

reminder of the realities “we face as a nation. “Even while we have much to celebrate, some have no thought for the future, preferring to hurt our youth and destroy their hopes and dreams,” he said, adding that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has given the assurance that “no effort will be spared to bring to justice the criminals who carried out this dastardly act” and urged Jamaicans to unite against crime”. Phillips has called on the Arnett Gardens community to help

the police in their investigations.

“This brutal killing of the 17-year-old and the shooting of her younger sister, signal a new low to which our society has plunged in relation to crime and violence,” Phillips said in a statement. ““I offer condolences to the family, community, schoolmates and teachers, and pray for a speedy recovery for her sister who suffered injury in the attack,” he added. (CMC)

FOREIGN Ministers from the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA–TCP) have ended a meeting here declaring support for embattled President Nicolas Maduro, who is facing opposition protests to step down.

The ministers, who met here for the “Sixth Extraordinary Meeting of the Political Council” also congratulated Venezuela on last weekend’s Constituent Assembly elections and rejected mounting international attacks against the country. “We reiterate that the unilateral economic sanctions imposed against the Venezuelan people are a flagrant violation of international law and human rights, as well as an unacceptable interventionist implementation, whose only purpose is to directly hinder the Bolivarian people and government of Venezuela in order to change the regime,” the declaration stated.

The meeting also re-affirmed support for the position adopted by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders where they called for all parties to commit to

engage in renewed dialogue and negotiation leading to a comprehensive political agreement with established time tables, concrete actions and guarantees to ensure its implementation for the well-being of the nation.

“We reaffirm our support to the initiative issued from the 38th Meeting of Heads of Government of CARICOM, held on July 6th, 2017, where they offered to accompany a process of dialogue between the government and the opposition in Venezuela, in order to revitalize and relaunch this peace seeking initiative in the country,” the declaration noted. ALBA’s Secretary-General David Choquehuanca said the declaration represents the wishes of the people of Latin America and the Caribbean who want “peace and solidarity. “Our people seek harmony, integration and here we have a declaration of total unconditional support to Venezuela’s democracy to its democratically-elected president and to the people who have been valiantly defending their rights and sovereignty,” he said.

The declaration made reference to what it termed

“the continuous direct and indirect efforts to attack the peace and sovereignty of the people and government of Venezuela, the international media smear campaign and unilateral actions which contravene the international law, thus negatively affecting the Venezuelan economy today”.

The foreign ministers recalled the March 2017 declaration that states “the defense of Venezuela and its revolution does not only concern Venezuelans. It is a matter involving all of us who fight for the real independence of Latin America and the Caribbean. “We reject the arbitrary and illegal sanctions imposed by the Government of the United States against Venezuelan citizens… The

ALBA -TCP countries warn that the same mistakes that once led to failure are being made again.

“We demand the firm and immediate condemn to violence, which has caused regrettable deaths and numerous losses to the Venezuelan people. We reiterate the call to establish a constructive and respectful dialogue with a view to further political and economic stability in Venezuela.”

On July 30, Venezuela staged an election to choose a 545-member constituent assembly with the power to rewrite the constitution and dissolve state institutions.

The polls were boycotted by the opposition and criticised by many western

countries, but Maduro said he assembly would help bring peace to the country where more than 100 peo-

ple have been killed and more than 2,000 wounded since the street protest began in April. (CMC)

ALBA foreign ministers issue statement in support of Venezuela

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Editorial City Council’s garbage problem

VERY few, if any, can forget the big heaps of garbage strewn around the city, the non-collection and tardy services that tarnished the image of a once pristine capital and posed public health threats to the denizens and visitors. When City Hall set about, in a determined way, from May 2015, removing the public health and aesthetics scourge, citizens breathed a sigh of relief, and longed for the return of the Garden City. To say that Georgetown has some way to go to reclaim this image is factual, but by allowing garbage to reclaim the city will make this aspiration harder to achieve.

Last week the Mayor and City Council, by letter dated 4th August 2017 and signed by Town Clerk Royston Clerk, advised its garbage contractors -Cevons Waste Management

and Puran Brothers Disposal Inc.- that their services have been terminated. The Town Clerk’s letter came subsequent to the contractors advising of their intent to strike from 6th August due to the non-payment of over $300 million, dating back to 2015. To the ordinary man this situation reeks, given the expectation to provide a service though not being paid for two years; and how could such expectation ignore the providers’ own financial obligations.

Solid Waste Management Director, Walter Narine, has since assured denizens that the Council will take care of garbage pickup, utilising three small contractors and outlined the areas and times targeted for collection. How Council expects these contractors to adequately collect and dispose garbage in a city the size of Georgetown, particularly in the busi-

ness centre and densely populated wards, could be anyone’s guess. But apart from the health, sanitation and environmental solid waste management poses the issue of paying for service cannot be ignored.

City Council has to be cognisant of the fact, by now, that it continues to give the impression some of its decisions are not being made cognisant of the reality on the ground and/ or the mood of Guyanese.

This is a Council, prior to the 2016 Local Government Elections, that had citizens’ compassion given the treatment it received from successive PPP/C Governments with non-refusal to pay the rates and taxes owed on government properties in the city, and one minister’s wish for a public health crisis. It was not lost on citizens the conflict between the Council and Central Government had to do with the PPP/C

not having political control.

The present council is controlled by members of the governing APNU+AFC coalition. And whereas citizens appreciate central government allowing the local government authorities the needed autonomy to govern, when the council behave in less than acceptable manner it puts at risk the image and integrity of central government. The City’s Fathers and Mothers have to be equally concerned that non-payment to these contractors is not only a breach of faith but also hinders the contractors’ ability to meet their financial obligations. As City Hall will call on rate payers to honour their obligations that would allow Council to provide services, it too must be equally mindful the same expectation holds for it. The thinking aside

by Council Members on what City Hall plans to

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 10, 2017

do or could do, does not negate the obligation to honour its debt, which is the crux of the matter.

The contractors withdrew their services on 7th July and returned 12th July. It was believed, based on commitment by Councillor Oscar Clarke, City Hall would only address outstanding payments should they return to provide service, a story this newspaper covered in our 11th July edition. That this commitment has not been met, Council cannot hold its head high. It risks its action being deemed untrustworthy, and akin to pulling a fast one on the contractors. Acts like these have ricocheting impact. Rate payers could seize this as opportunity to ignore their obligations to the Council which would make it more difficult for the city to provide services.

There comes a time when civic duty calls, and it must be honoured, and this is one such instance.

Should the non-payment not be handled adroitly it could make irreparable the image of the political parties and groups sitting on the Council. It is not too late for Council to address this situation even if it requires Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan’s intervention.

There are too many problems, unnecessary dare it be said, happening in the Local Government Authorities which risk the chance of citizens losing faith in grassroots democracy, a chance any government can ill-afford.

Georgetown is not only a town, it is the capital city, and the impression residents and visitors take away must be healthy and pleasing.

Police promotion should await outcome of assassination plot CoI Dear Editor,

ALL four daily newspapers in their Wednesday, August 9, 2017 editions carried articles on His Excellency, President David Granger’s request for the Police Service Commission to put on hold police officers’ promotions. Each news agency conveyed a different headline; Kaiteur News screamed, “ President

orders police promotions halted- Opposition says commission’s independence trampled; Stabroek News yelled, “ Gov’t flayed over instruction to service commission on police promotions;” Guyana Times cried, “ Granger directs PSU to halt Police promotions; “ while Guyana Chronicle posited, “Promotion of police officers put on hold ...life of service

commission ends soon.”

Let me be pellucid, I hold no brief for the President or the Government of Guyana on the issue. I have no political ambition, neither do I seek public office. However, I have an abiding interest in law enforcement, more so, the Guyana Police Force.

I want the police to act professionally at all times and to deliver the highest quality of service to the citizens of

Guyana they swore to serve and protect, hence my letters to the press.

Here is my take on the vexed issue in question. The conduct of many senior and junior offers of the GPF is being questioned at the Commission of Inquiry being conducted by Paul Slowe, retired assistant commissioner of police. These officers have been highly recommended to the Police Service Commis-

sion for promotions. What if the PSC goes ahead now and promote them and the CoI finds them guilty of misconduct? On the other hand, why not wait a short while until the CoI completes its work.

Certainly, if the CoI clears the officers of any misconduct, they will be promoted.

That will be well within the ambit of justice and fair play for all. It is only a matter of time.

I agree with the action of the President. It is a giant step in the right direction. Let there be many more swift, certain and appropriate actions by His Excellency, David Granger President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Regards CLINTON CONWAY Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 10, 2017

Hopkinson will not condone corruption Dear Editor, THERE has been scathing criticism of REO, Mr. Rupert Hopkinson’s slothfulness in addressing financial matters regarding his Administration in Region 2. This is particularly related to countersigning unto payment vouchers and contracts that would have been undertaken. Notwithstanding, the meticulous manner in which Mr. Hopkinson confronts such challenges is reasonably justifiable given his profusely adept concept of verification before assigning his signature on a document. He has consistently demonstrated a sense of thoroughness in managing the financial resources at his disposal while exercising due process in every practical step.

He has publicly exposed instances of corrupt practices, some of which he inherited.

In such circumstances, he has had cause to withhold and even cancelled his signature from a number of questionable and flawed payment vouchers.

In another instance, building materials were being mismanaged and even disappeared without knowledge. He has since introduced checks and balances to reduce such mass financial risk by employing a clerk of works who will now verify and monitor all building supplies, including used materials which are supposed to be returned as assets of the state. Much to the Region’s benefit and as a means of cost recovery, a number of newly recruited Rangers are now deployed into the agricultural domains to monitor drainage and irrigation and

to ensure that trench cleaners adequately deliver, based on the specification of their contract. Incidentally, trench cleaning has been a burning issue over the years since in some instances payments were made even before the trenches and canals were properly cleaned. However, this scenario no longer exists since Mr. Hopkinson would have given clear directives and demanded that verification be done before approval is given to pay. Standing operational procedures also are many times compromised and this has been repeatedly identified in state audit reports.

Conscientiously and with due diligence by the Administration has contributed appreciably to enhancing the manner in which the procurement of goods and services and adhering to tender board procedures

in the awarding of contracts.

Further, the minimizing of overpayment, particularly in the education sector is another positive measure.

Significantly too, as at December 31st 2016, Region 2 realized in excess of $147 million dollars in current and capital savings which were utilized on several plausible projects, including the restoration of the once crippling State House and other dilapidated and abandoned government buildings which are now available for professional staff to occupy, especially those residing out of the district. Continually, as at August 3rd, 2017, the Region has already accrued 93.6 million in savings which will be injected into new projects; some of which have been already identified and are expected to be completed

by the end of the third quarter of this year.

Mr. Hopkinson has also demanded the filling of vacancies, including the appointment of a Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO) to support his drive for the timely and effective implementation of policies and programmes as well as in accordance with the policy of the Government, including the promotion of a green economy.

It is to his credit therefore that gradual but pivotal steps have been taken in the exercise of championing the cause for transparency, accountability and the rule of law. His profound and tactful managerial skills (holder of Bachelor’s degrees in Management Science and economics as well as a Master’s Degree in

Agricultural Economics) are also quite impressive and evident based on his sound judgment in his quest to transform Region 2 socially, culturally and economically. Mr. Hopkinson remains incorruptible and continues to challenge his workforce to steadfastly develop an institutionalized culture of professionalism, commitment and care for the utilization of state property. While he is confronted with stern resistance in some quarters, his souring confidence and versatility have wittingly outweighed much of the unfounded critics as he remain resolute in not condoning corruption under his watch as the REO of Region 2.

Regards ELROY STEPHNEY

Non-consultation will The City Council is one Should there be more not help the government broke, broken institution time for Basil P show?

Dear Editor,

THIS government has found itself in hot waters with the international media community on the passage of the Broadcasting Bill, and it will continue to find itself in such dilemma with other stakeholders when it makes decisions without regard to its constitutional responsibility.

As said before, there is no debating the broadcasting landscape needs order, but bringing about this order, which has implications for the national good, should have had the involvement of those whose lives will be impacted by the decisions.

This government campaigned on “inclusionary democracy” which is a constitutional requirement of the “political system” (Article 13), and should have upheld it and not find itself in the present position of having to be scolded by the international community for failing to adhere. The parties in government, while in opposition, complained about the lack of consultation by the PPP/C government on issues of national character, yet at the same time when given

the privilege to govern, they are replicating the same behaviour they condemned.

Non-consultation will not help the government’s image and has serious implications as to how international institutions deem and treat with us. The request to government for meetings by stakeholders in society is treated as though a favour is being granted, not that of responsibility that has to be executed. In independent Guyana there are persons sitting in the seat of government who are behaving like overlords, refusing to accept the constitutional fact that they are representatives of the people, elected by people, paid by the people, and should be advancing, protecting and defending the people’s interests and well-being at all times consistent with the Constitution, laws and time-honoured principles.

The David Granger/Moses Nagamootoo government must start acting consistently with their constitutional responsibilities.

Regards LINCOLN LEWIS

Dear Editor,

IN spite of all of the ‘trash talk’ (no pun intended) by the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown about picking up the city’s waste themselves and the disgraceful display of egotism by the Town Clerk who declared the termination of the contracts of the two main garbage contractors in response to the withdrawal of their services for non-payment for two years now, everyone in the city with the exception of the folks at City Hall, knows that it would not be too long before our City Fathers and Mothers will have to go crawling back cap in hand to those two contractors and beg them to return to work.

Already, garbage is piling up in the city as the Council and their new found small contractors lack the means to replace the two main contractors. Visits to major refuse points around the city reveals that the skip bins and other facilities that are being serviced by the Council and these new contractors belong to the two major contractors, which if taken away by those two companies would create further calamity around the markets and beyond.

Who is City Hall fooling?

They have a couple of half dead trucks and tractor/trailers that can barely be kept on the road. The three small garbage contractors are hardly any better with trucks ‘As old as Methuselah’ that drive around polluting the atmosphere. One wonders how they were able to beat the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) restriction on the importation of vehicles eight (8) years and older (from the date of manufacture to the date of importation), which took effect on May 1, 2016.

The City Council is one broke, broken institution that is good for nothing but big talk, pie in the sky dreams and molesting citizens for more and more taxes. It is time. It is time they wake up and get real. They don’t have the resources to clean the city, so they should call the two contractors and pay them off, they should dispatch their nearly one thousand workers, many of whom sit in offices all day long doing nothing but powdering their noses, with push carts to comb each street in the city and remove all of the garbage. It would no doubt be a long trek to the landfill site by the workers on foot.

Regards MODI SANKAR

Dear Editor,

THE call by a letter writer for the restoration of the original broadcast duration of the ‘Basil P Show ‘ (i.e.

18:00 - 00:00hr) is testimony of the popularity of this programme from its inception more than a decade ago (“Give ‘Basil P Show’ its full time” GC August 9).

The writer in making a pleading case is purporting that the broadcast entity is responsible for the curtailment in time allotted. Is this really so?

After being off the airwaves for a lengthy period of time, the programme eventually returned to its original broadcast station and time slot, much to the delight of listeners and fans. From the time of its return, the programne time was always 18:00 22:00hrs. It would be true to say the programme lost its right to the slot (time duration) when it was terminated and off the airwaves for a lengthy pe-

riod of time. To have the programme returned to the same broadcast station and time slot as previously obtained, is a further indication of the broadcast entity’s good faith.

The programme is not the station entity’s product.

After all its title is derived from its producer/presenter, so the station has no rights and ownership to it.

It might be further true to say the producer/presenter (who might be a freelancer) of the programme has contractual arrangements with the broadcast entity for a specified broadcast period (four hours - 18:0022:00hrs) each Sunday. The call though worthy is constrained by other considerations which might not be conducive to a restoration at this time. But I am just on the periphery, it would be more appropriate for the broadcast entity to offer a more lucid response.

Regards SHAMSHUN MOHAMED

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President lauds operations of F&H Printing …says small businesses sustain the economy PRESIDENT David Granger on Wednesday emphasised the important contribution small businesses make to the growth of the economy during a visit to F&H Printing Establishment in Campbellville, Georgetown.

According to a Ministry of the Presidency release, the Guyanese leader was invited by the entity’s proprietor to take a look at their operations. “In fact, worldwide, 95 percent of businesses are small and they employ 60 percent of people around the world. So while they might be a few big corporations, the fact is that small businesses sustain the economy.

The President lauded the

company’s management for maintaining a strong track record in terms of quality and innovation. He noted that investment in technology has enabled F&H to catapult into one of the finest printing companies in Guyana.

“This company invested in technology and that is the most important thing you have to remember in building an enterprise. You have to pay attention to innovation.

Innovation opens the door to better access to the markets. It helps you to know what markets are producing and what they are demanding…These are lessons that F&H can teach to the corporate community,” President Granger said.

F&H started as a small family business in 1988 and today the company continues to be run in a family atmosphere with over 30 employees. The President also recognised that staff loyalty has been a contributing factor to the establishment’s expansion and development.

Proprietor, Mr. Fazil Hakh said that F&H is one of the oldest private printing companies in Guyana, which, over the years, has acquired the ability, expertise, machinery and equipment to produce printed materials that are in line with market demand. “We at F&H are proud of the expertise that we have acquired and the fact that we have made a very positive impact on the lives

of our employees, companies and businesses that utilise our services to produce print of a very high standard,” he said.

F&H offers high quality graphic design services and full colour printing and features state-of-the-art equipment and technology, to offer a wide range of products using Computer-to-Plate (CTP) Image Setters and Offset printing. Its range of products include: letterheads, business cards, envelopes, bill books, customised business stationery, labels, boxes, flyers, brochures, magazines, calendars, books and greeting cards. (Ministry of the Presidency)

Bourda St vendors reluctant to move to facilitate road works

VENDORS of Bourda Street are against the decision of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to have stalls in that area broken down in order to facilitate repairs to the deplorable road.

The main reason for their reluctance is the fear of the losses they will incur while not being able to vend. Many of the vendors expressed their concerns during a press conference at the Critchlow Labour College on Wednesday.

One of the vendors said she has been selling there for over 20 years and within that period the road has been rehabilitated many times but their stalls were not moved.

Other vendors shared similar sentiments; however, some of

them pointed out that in the past when their stalls were broken down, they would have to rebuild it on their own. “Our stalls are not on the road, so I don’t see why they have to break it down to get to do the work,” said one of the concerned vendors.

The vendors said their projected losses are not being considered.

In addition, it was pointed out that the part where they occupy is not a main carriageway so there is no need for them to destroy their stalls. Their claims were supported by President of the Market Vendors Union, Eon Andrews, who said that the M&CC has no respect for vendors.

Despite blaming vendors

for being reactionary in approach to things, Andrews called on the Council to show more respect for persons who ply their trade in markets in Georgetown.

In stating their call for respect, vendors said they will not dismantle their stalls unless they have a discussion with the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan. Their belief is that the council cannot be trusted, so they need the assurance of the minister.

“We need to know that if we breakdown our stalls, it will be rebuilt,” said one of the vendors who also pointed out that they need a temporary place to ply their trade.

It was however reported that the vendors who occupy Bourda Street will

be temporarily moved to Regent Street. Town Clerk, Royston King reportedly said that the area is “unsafe” and “unhealthy” for both the consumers and vendors. It was indicated that the area had not been resurfaced for years and in order for upgrade works to be done, the vendors have to move because it would be harmful for them to remain while repairs are ongoing, said King. The work which is expected to commence in September, will be done by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. Traffic constables have reportedly been informed about the movement of vendors from the Bourda area to Regent Street.

Some of the concerned vendors who were present at the press conference on Wednesday (Adrian Narine photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 10, 2017

SOL awards promotion winners

A member of the public pulls a name from the rotisserie at the draw held at the Lowe’s Service Station, Vlissengen Road, Bel-Air Park on Wednesday (Adrian Narine photo)

THE winners of the SOL Guyana “Save for a year with Shell fuel save promotion” which began on June 9 and ended on August 4, were rewarded on Wednesday.

Following the draw, I. Wajeed of Lot 9, La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara (WCD), who purchased gas from the Union Service Station emerged as the first place winner, a prize which entitles him to free payment of his mortgage or rent for a year.

Fhyad Edoo, of Lot 13, Meten-Meer-Zorg, WCD, who also purchased gas from the Union Service Station, won the second place and for himself one year of free payments of installment for a car.

Leon. A. James of Lamaha Park Squatting Area, Georgetown, copped the third place and earned himself free fuel for an entire year. He made a purchase at the Regent Street Shell Gas Station, in the heart of the City.

The eight- weeks promo-

tion offered customers a chance to win a year of “easy living” with the purchase of fuel from any of the SOL service stations.

SOL Guyana Inc. General Manager, Liz Wyatt, speaking at the draw, said Shell helps customers to save and the company’s goals are to offer quality products and services, be it for personal or commercial use.

The grand drawing of the “Save for a year with Shell fuel save promotion” was hosted by SOL Guyana Retail Sales Executive Officer (CEO), Renee Joseph, and Radio Announcer/ DJ, Casual, at Lowe’s Service Station, Vlissengen Road, BelAir Park, Georgetown.

The winners were drawn from over 5000 entries.

Wyatt congratulated the three lucky winners and encouraged consumers to make full use of the company’s products.

“Shell is design to last long at no extra cost and to improve engine efficiency,” Wyatt contended.

Prime suspect in Corentyne robbery arrested COMMANDER of ‘B’ Division, Paul Williams, has confirmed that the prime suspect in the robbery committed on Sachin Ramrattan 28, and his pregnant wife and four year old son of Number 69 Village, East Berbice Corentyne, has been arrested.

The arrest came after police led an intelligence-based operation in Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice on Wednesday morning. On Saturday August 5, a gang of armed men invaded the fisherman’s home, carting off approximately $1.7 M in cash and valuables. During the attack the family had to jump through windows to save their lives. Initially, the police arrested five suspects, including a taxi driv-

er who was found in close proximity to the crime scene. A search of his person found a small quantity of cannabis while a search of his car unearthed an unlicensed shotgun with one live round.

The taxi driver who was identified as Rabindra Kumar,26 on Wednesday appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court to answer to the charges: possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and unlawful possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. Kumar pleaded not guilty to both charges and was remanded to prison until 27th August, 2017, when he will make his second court appearance.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday August 10, 2017

Court orders full hearing of Red House case

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…says issues to be determined can’t be resolved at the interlocutory stage CHIEF Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire on Wednesday ruled that the issues to be determined in the Red House lease revocation court case require a full hearing, and that it could not be resolved at the interlocutory stage.

Among the issues to be determined in the case as outlined by the Attorney General Chambers are: (i) whether the President has immunity for his acts done in performance of his functions? (ii) whether

officials acting for and in the name of the President are likewise immune from orders of Court? ; (iii) whether Red House gazetted as a National Monument and Heritage Site could be leased by the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys to the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Inc. (CJRCI) without the permission of the Minister of Education; (iv) whether President Jagdeo or Ramotar sanctioned the purported lease of Red House to the CJRCI;

(v) whether the failure of the CJRCI to advertise in the official gazette in the manner of executing a Transport, the purported lease of 99 years to the CJRCI, renders the lease invalid, ineffectual and incapable of being pleaded in a Court of Law; (vi) whether such a lease of 99 years ought not to have been filed in the Deeds Registry as a matter of record and annotated by the registrar as is required by the Deeds Registry Act; (vii) whether the claim

of constitutional breaches ought not to be supported with particulars and facts in the Application

by CJRCI. In its statement, the AG Chambers said the Chief Justice ruled that until the hearing/trial the status quo needed to be preserved, and to that end issued an interlocutory conservatory order. The Chief Justice also applied case management and ordered the CJRCI to file its statement of claim within 21 days and 21 days there-

after for the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys to file pleadings in response.

The CJRCI then had 14 days to respond to the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys pleadings.

The Chief Justice also ruled that failure on the part of the CJRCI to file its Statement of Claim within the time limited by the Court, the matter would stand dismissed. According to the AG Chambers, Attorney -at-law for the Plaintiffs, CJRCI, Anil Nandlall,

was also ordered to pay costs to the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys, previously imposed by the Court, which was not paid. The matter was ordered to take its normal course. The AG Chambers and the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys are being represented by Basil Williams S.C M.P- Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Solicitor General Ms. Kim Kyte and Senior Legal Adviser, Ms. Judy Stuart.

Fun Park Rentals to promote Sweeper/Cleaners keep up protest play in child development

Sweeper/Cleaners picketing outside the Ministry of Finance (Adrian Narine photo)

DETERMINED to press their case for better remuneration and other working conditions, cleaners of public schools on Wednesday returned to the streets for the second day in a row picketing low wages in front of the Ministry of Finance.

The picket was led by Vice President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Mortimer Livan, and another union representative, Dawn Gardener. Their main concern was to “highlight the complaints of unpaid cleaners from several schools in Georgetown, including Richard Ishmael, Charlestown Government, Ketley Primary, St. Joseph’s High and South Ruimveldt Primary, and the Agriculture School in Sophia.” The cleaners and their union representatives also called on the Ministry of Finance to pay the workers their salaries before school re-opens in September.

Tamara Kirton, one of the cleaners told the Guyana Chronicle that they are “victims of wage theft”. She said when she approached the Accounts Department of Richard Ishmael Secondary where she is employed as a cleaner she was not provided

with a proper explanation.

Another cleaner attached to the Charlestown Secondary, Ingrid Jonas, said that the Head Mistress there had them working during the July- August period and only paid them $16,000 for the two months.

Other workers, who asked not to be identified over fears of losing their jobs, said underpayment is still happening.

Ms. Myeriva Hollingsworth said she has been working at St. Joseph’s High for 21 years as a cleaner and has not been entitled to annual leave, neither sick leave. “Only the Ministry of Education cleaners are being paid, but the part-time cleaners are the victims of circumstances,” the woman related. One cleaner said her payment for July month was $1,000.00 and “there wasn’t any contract to tell me what my rights were and what I should be doing, nothing of the sort.” Another cleaner said she faced a difficult dilemma at David Rose Special School. “I have my living expenses, children to send to school, so that is why I have to work” she said.

The disgruntled women kept on chanting “No money, no wuk; No money, no

wuk September morning, school gon dutty.” They also said that they wake up early every morning equipped with brooms and cleaning detergents to clean and make the schools a healthy environment, and they are not only being underpaid but rarely paid on time. Livan said “this is not acceptable and I would strongly urge cleaners who are concerned about being underpaid or intimidated in any way to immediately contact the Public Service Union to investigate.”

At a news conference on Tuesday, Livan had said that the situation is developing further into an economic disaster for the workers and their

families. He said that with no other source of income, they are reliant on the already meagre income paid by the government and they depend on it being sufficient to meet their very basic domestic needs. The trade unionist further added that, “…the action taken to reduce their wages is heartless and these decisions are being made without any consideration for the plight already facing them”.

Given these circumstances, the union made a call for the relevant authorities to immediately examine and rectify the situation which they described as “economically challenging.”

(Abigail Brower)

FUN Park Rentals of 165 BB Eccles, East Bank Demerara, will again be hosting National Play Day in Guyana on Sunday, 27th August at the National Park from 12:00hrs - 15:00hrs to raise awareness about the necessity of play.

Play Day originated in the United Kingdom (UK) and is geared towards highlighting the importance of play in children’s lives. This year, Play Day is celebrating its 30th anniversary in the UK and so the Play Day campaign will be celebrating play.

Manager of the company, Athalyah Yisrael, is urging all Guyanese to celebrate all things play, including playing is free; playing is a child’s right; playing supports physical and emotional health and wellbeing; playing supports

respect and appreciation of the natural environment; and playing promotes development and learning.

“The event is absolutely free and all activities will take place regardless of the weather so appropriate attire for kids to get in on the fun should be worn,” Yisrael said. “Interested persons who would like to become sponsors are asked to contact Fun Park Rentals on 623-4386 by the 18th of August to get on board with their child-friendly products.”

Last August, Fun Park Rentals launched the inaugural National Play Day event in Guyana at the Jubilee Park which exposed children to traditional outdoor fun, storytelling, musical chairs and hop scotch, among other playtime activities. (Kellcia Alphonso)

Man accused of beating brother during land row

A 42-year-old vendor accused of beating his brother with a piece of wood during a heated argument over a plot of land, was on Wednesday remanded to prison by City Magistrate, Fabayo Azore, on a charge of wounding.

It is alleged that Rajesh

Pollard on August 06, 2017 at Kingston, Georgetown, unlawfully and maliciously wounded Sunil Pollard. The father of three denied the allegation.

Police Prosecutor, Simone Payne objected to the accused being released on bail since the victim is still hospitalised. Pollard’s attor-

ney, Paul Fung-a-Fat in an application for bail told the court that Sunil Pollard is an alcoholic and on the day in question during a heated argument, Sunil broke a glass bottle and was advancing towards Rajesh but ended up injuring himself.

However, the prosecutor explained to court that the

incident stemmed for an argument over ‘children property’ during which Rajesh armed himself with a piece of wood and lashed his brother, Sunil about his body.

The Magistrate ruled in the prosecution favour and remanded Rajesh Pollard until August 16.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 10, 2017

Assassination Plot

‘Diva’ says accuser fabricated story …had advised him to “Wuk lil obeah”

By Svetlana Marshall ALTHOUGH she was unable to answer basic questions when she appeared before the Commission inquiring into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger, Diamond Housing Scheme cosmetologist, Luanna Walker fondly known as “Diva” said she had pleaded with the accuser not to go to the police but instead “wuk lil obeah” on the accused plotter.

It is Walker’s strong belief that the accuser, Andriff Gillard, who in her view has a questionable background, fabricated the story about the assassination plot with the intention of putting the accused, Nizam Khan, behind bars.

On Wednesday, Walker was one of two witnesses who appeared before the Commission of Inquiry (COI) as the high-level investigation continues into the alleged plot to kill the President and the Guyana

Police Force’s handling of the matter.

On March 29, 2017 Andriff Gillard alleged that Nizam Khan asked him to kill President Granger in 2015, an allegation Khan has since denied. According to Gillard, he had approached Khan to loan him $6M but Khan instead offered him $7M, noting that he would not have to repay the money if he killed the President.

When Walker took the stand on Wednesday, she told the Commission, headed by retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Slowe, that Gillard was her neighbour for approximately three years but he recently relocated along with his wife. It was noted that during that period, Gillard had rented a workstation within her salon for the purpose of barbering, and it was also during that period that she would come to learn of Khan and the support he had given to Gillard in the setting up of his taxi service.

During one of his many

visits to her residence this year, Walker said Gillard had complained bitterly about Khan and his involvement with his wife and other issues that had stemmed from the alleged affair.

“He said Diva, ‘you don’t worry with that, when I done with he, you will see what I’m going to do,” Walker said as she recalled her conversation with Gillard. Upon hearing this, the cosmetologist said that she told Gillard not to do anything “stupid.”

It was then she said that Gillard unveiled his plan.

“His direct words to me were, ‘Diva, I don’t have to put anything in his yard, I got better sense than that.

When I do what I got to do to the man, I gon lost he away in jail because you know how long he come telling me he want me kill the President,” she further recalled.

According to the single parent mother, she pleaded with Gillard “not to go down that road” because “ungratefulness” is worse

Alleged teen killer arrested at Springlands THE prime suspect in the murder of a teenage girl back in July in Berbice has been arrested, police have reported.

The suspect was arrested about 11:30hrs on Wednesday at Springlands, Corriverton. He is alleged to have murdered Parbattie Lakhpal, called “Rosanna” at Number Two village, East Canje, Berbice on July 29, 2017.

Police said that the 30-year-old suspect of 48 West Ruimveldt Estate Housing Scheme and 46 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice is assisting with the investigation.

Lakhpal, 17, a former student of Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) was a babysitter while, her live-in boyfriend was unemployed and was said to be in the habit of liming with known drug addicts in the area. The couple resided on the lower flat of the two-storey house owned by Lakhpal’s mother, who was not at home when a quarrel erupted, then a fight ensued during which the alleged suspect, Ryan Singh, took a knife and slit the throat of the teen.

He then covered her body under two sheets and fled.

According to residents of the area, Lakhpal and her reputed husband Ryan Singh, formerly of Eccles, East Bank

than “witchcraft.”

“I even go so far in telling Andriff, Andriff best you go and wuk lil obeah someway on the man before you do something like that.”

The Commission’s Attorney James Bond questioned her about the time and place, where the story of the plot was revealed to her. In response, Walker told the Commission that while it was said at her residence she cannot recall the exact month it was told to her by Gillard.

“Was Andriff over at your place in January, the first month of the year?”

Bond questioned, while further asking if it was in the month of February or March.

Walker, in response said, “I cannot recall.”

After repeatedly being pressed for an answer by the Commission’s attorney, Walker said “I never looked at date, I never looked at time, I never looked at month because it was not even of interest to me until it started making the news.”

On the basis that the report made to Police by Gillard was lodged on March 29, 2017, Bond suggested that the story of the plot was told to her between January and March, 2017, to which the cosmetologist responded in the positive.

“It was not long after Andriff came to me that I

saw the news,” she added.

During the cross-examination, Walker concurred that although she had filed a report to the Grove Police Station about Gillard’s failure to pay her $10, 000 he had owed in rent, and had subsequently expressed concerns about him negatively influencing her stepson, Gillard never made any false allegation against her.

The Diamond Housing Scheme resident said she decided to give a statement to the police based on her knowledge of the incident on July 19, 2017 after she realised that the allegation “was getting out of hand.” She was reportedly following the developments on social media, and even consulted with her “lawyer” on the matter.

“I knew that Andriff was lying on the man based on what he told me,” she repeatedly told the Commission.

As he further cross-examined Walker, Bond asked: “Did the Police promise to withdraw any charge or any story or drop any matter against your son, if you were to give a statement against Andriff?” Walker, in response, said she had no knowledge.

Slowe, in seeking clarity on the statements made

by Walker, asked her to disclose the name of her lawyer. “I can’t recall,” she said while promising to sup-

ply the commission with the name at a later stage.

Additionally, it was not until several minutes had elapsed that Walker was able to disclose to the Commission where she had given her statement to the police.

Initially she had repeatedly said, “It was not far from here.” The statement was reportedly given at Police Headquarters’ Eve Leary.

The name of the officer that took the statement, Walker was also unable to disclose.

She was subsequently told that it was Corporal Laundry.

Retired Chief Justice, Ian Chang, who is representing the interest of the police, in his line of questioning, asked whether Gillard had said he had planned to lie on Khan, and was told no.

“I cannot recall him saying the word plan,” Walker responded. However, she opined that based on her understanding Gillard was lying and it was a plan to put Khan behind bars because of a land dispute and the alleged affair.

Walker had also told the Commission that Gillard’s wife had told her that Gillard was planning to frame Khan. However, Walker was unable to disclose the name of the wife although claiming to be her neighbour for approximately three years.

Bartica man needs help for life-saving surgery

The murdered teen: Parbattie Lakhpal called “Rosanna”.

Demerara, were involved in a heated argument, which later became physical. It was reported that the couple shared a rocky relationship where they often had loud fights over money, since Singh was unemployed and was in no hurry to get a job.

This newspaper was told that whenever Lakhpal asked Singh for money, he would get upset, which would lead to them fighting and he would usually become physical with the teen.

About three days be-

Murder suspect Ryan Singh after he was nabbed at Springlands on Wednesday

fore the murder, Lakhpal requested money to buy items for the house and a fight started between them.

According to a relative, the teen, tired of the situation, “put Singh out of the house.” However, Singh returned to the Number Two Village apartment on the day in question and it is suspected that he slit Lakhpal’s throat, then fled. The suspected murder weapon, a black-handle, stainless steel knife was discovered in a toilet close to where the teen’s body was found.

A BARTICA man who is suffering from a life-threatening infection following a bout of malaria is seeking help from the public.

According to United States-based SHEA Charity organisation, Oswald Subrattie was infected with malaria and recently underwent treatment.

He subsequently suffered a life-threatening infection which caused his body to deteriorate rapidly.

The 41-year-old man has lost two-thirds his body weight and is at risk of succumbing to the ailment unless he receives urgent medical treatment.

Treatment can be done in Guyana, the body said.

However, the medication needed to stabilise him in order to undergo surgery is not currently available within the public hospital system or Guyana in general.

The estimated cost of

Oswald Subrattie

this medication is well over US$5,000.

Subrattie’s sister told the Guyana Chronicle that the father of one works in the hinterland and about three month ago he was diagnosed with malaria.

He was hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for various periods, his sister said.

SHEA Charity said it has accepted Subrattie’s case and is seeking assistance from the public to help

save his life.

“We need your help!

Please join us in this life-saving effort for Oswald by making a donation towards his medical treatment,” SHEA said on its GoFundme page where donations can be made.

Donations can also be made via the group’s Facebook page.

“Oswald is a loving father, son, and according to his sisters, the best brother anyone could wish for,” SHEA said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday August 10, 2017

Indian businessman says govt’s vision for Guyana appealing

PRESIDENT David Granger on Wednesday received a courtesy call at State House from Mr. R. Veeramani, Chairman of the GEM Group of Companies, India and Chairman of the Natural Stones and Products Panel, who said that the vision of the Government is refreshing and appealing to investors and as such, it will encourage investment opportunities.

During the meeting, Mr. Veeramani, who is in Guyana on a five-day scoping mission to explore investment opportunities, said that Guyana is a country filled with abundant opportunities for investment and has the potential to become a multi-billion-dollar

economy, once its many resources are developed in a sustainable manner. With the leadership of President Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, the businessman said that there is no reason why Guyana cannot become a prosperous nation. “The Government is very proactive with the development vision for this country and with this I am very sure that I will come back. I personally felt that both the President and the Prime Minister of Guyana, both of them are determine that the country should develop economically, create more employment and should be one of the proud countries on the lines of development. I

President David Granger in discussion with Mr. R. Veeramani during their meeting at State House

am sure that they will do that.

I am sure that they will inspire and make this country a prosperous nation by the right policies,” he said.

In an invited comment, Mr. Veeramani said that he and the members of his company met with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo last year when he visited India and were invited to explore Guyana and its potential for investment. “You have the products. You can do wonders. This country can do wonders with what it has…I have come here to study and find out what are the opportunities that this nation offers. This is a tropical country and with the many resources and less

population, I want to find out what is happening here and what are the opportunities that can help to develop the industrial activity in this country. I like the people and I am sure that I will return,” the Businessman said. President Granger welcomed the investor to Guyana, noting that while the country possesses the resources, it needs financial and technical support from all sectors to assist in their development for the benefit of all of the citizens. “We need that type of experience and sense of entrepreneurship and so we are happy that you are here,” the President said. (Ministry of the Presidency)

Biker blames pothole for crash near Guyana Chronicle

A little girl who was seated at the front of her relative’s motorcycle escaped with minor injuries on Wednesday morning when a Toyota Noah car and a motorcycle almost collided on Lama Avenue, Bel Air, Georgetown as the biker fell while trying to avoid a huge pothole.

The male relative then parked the damaged bike after the accident and left in a taxi to take the child, who was bleeding from the face, to the hospital for medical attention.

The child’s slippers were

brakes but began skidding and fell off the bike along with the child, who was not wearing a safety helmet.

Jabar said he then observed the girl bleeding from her mouth and the biker stopped a taxi to take the

The damaged vehicle following the near collision on Wednesday morning.

The damaged vehicle and motorcycle parked on Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park after the accident. In photo is the pothole the biker tried to avoid.Driver of the Toyota Noah vehicle, Kenard Jabar, soon after the accident on Wednesday morning.

left on the roadway while the motorcycle, CH 7254, was parked not far from the Guyana Chronicle’s back gate.

According to Kenard Jabar, he was driving motorcar GRR 5035 just before 08:00hrs south along Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park at a normal rate of speed when he saw a motorcycle carrying a little girl seated in front sliding off the wet roadway as the biker tried to avoid a huge pothole on the road. The motorcycle and the car were heading in the opposite direction with the biker going north towards Vlissengen Road via Lama Avenue when the crash occurred.

Jabar explained that as he swerved to avoid hitting the bike he crashed into the fence of the Guyana Chronicle’s back gate. He said further that the biker was speeding and when the rider saw the pothole he applied

injured child to the hospital for medical attention.

Jabar concluded that if he were speeding the biker and the child would have been dead because he had to swerve from hitting them after they fell on the road-

way and his car ended up crashing into the fence and the vehicle was severely damaged to the front.

Police were summoned to the scene and an investigation was launched.

(Michel Outridge)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 10, 2017

GCCI calls on Gov’t to intervene -- to ensure amicable settlement between City Hall and waste disposal companies THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is calling on the government to intervene in the standoff between City Hall and the City’s two major garbage collectors, in a bid to ensure the two companies return to work.

Puran Brothers and Cevons Waste Management last Sunday in a press release said they were withdrawing services in the City, pointing out that they are owned some $300M by City Hall.

The companies also said that efforts to discuss payment with City Hall have been treated unfavourable, while City Hall has viewed their withdrawal of services as a termination of their contracts.

The GCCI in a release said while it is cognisant of the deleterious effects created by the inevitable buildup of wastes in the Capital City and its environs from/ by the suspension of this key service, enterprises

City Hall owes in excess of $300M to Puran Brothers and Cevons Waste Management

such as Puran Brothers and Cevons Waste Management have substantial operating expenses and depend on a steady stream of income to survive.

“It is clear from the press releases, articles in the daily newspapers and news broadcasts that these companies have been subjected to this problem for

some time now.

“The notice in Sunday’s edition of the Stabroek News that the M&CC is treating the contractor’s withdrawal of service as a termination of the contract is viewed by the GCCI as unwarranted, and the Council not acting in good faith

by taking this step.

“This is on the backdrop that the Chamber recognises that non-payment or untimely payments to these contractors for acceptable services rendered to the M&CC is a fundamental breach of contract, yet these contractors have

continued to work with the M&CC over the past few years in hopes that the issue could have been resolved amicably,” the GCCI said.

The Chamber is also encouraging City Hall to meet with Puran Brothers and Cevons Waste Management to establish a verifiable and mutually solution to the problem between the parties.

On Sunday, Head of the City Solid Waste Department, Walter Narine said he is confident with the help of three smaller contractors, there will be no piling-up of garbage in the nation’s capital.

He was of the view that the latest action by Puran Brothers Disposal Services and Cevons Waste Management to pull their services, opens up the opportunity for the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to get the work done on its own.

The money that M&CC will save as a result of not having to pay these contractors will go towards paying off the debt to them, he had said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday August 10, 2017

$10M reward for info on escapees

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Wednesday said that a reward of G$10M is on offer for information leading to the arrest of the remaining four prison escapees.

The four are: Cobena Stephens, Paul Goriah, Uree Varswyck and Mark Royden Durant.

Police said anyone with information that may lead to the re-capture of these escapees, is asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers 225-6411, 2258196, 225-2227,226-1389, 227-2128, 227-1149, 2267065, 699-0869, 600-3019, 699-0867,669-4606, 6033261 or the nearest Police Station.

All information will be treated with strict confidentiality. Despite wanted bulletins being issued for the fugitives, the police have had no success as it relates to the whereabouts of the four escapees up to press time.

In addition to issuing re-

The four wanted escapees.

ward, the Police is also urging citizens to share any information which may lead to the

capture of those on the lam.

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, told a

Grandma takes rap for coke in gas cylinder

…gets four years, $21M fine THE grandmother of a National Under-19 cricketer was sentenced to jail on Wednesday after she pleaded guilty when the duo appeared in court on a joint charge of drug trafficking following a gas cylinder cocaine bust at the family’s Campbellville house.

Joshua Persaud and his 51-year-old grandmother Naomi Persaud had been jointly charged with drug trafficking after the discovery of over 20 pounds of cocaine in a cooking gas cylinder at the family’s home.

However, the cricketer’s grandmother pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to four years imprisonment along with a $21M fine by City Magistrate

Fabayo Azore.

The charge against Joshua Persaud, 17, was withdrawn since his grandmother took the rap and stated that the teen had no knowledge of the narcotics being in the house.

The matter was heard in camera (legal proceeding in private) despite the teen being the legal age for arraignment in open court.

The Persauds were represented by attorney Glenn Hanoman.

According to particulars of the charge, on August 06, 2017 at Delph Avenue, Campbellville the duo had over 20 pounds of cocaine in their possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Reports stated that on August 06, 2017 ranks from the Customs

The 17-year-old cricketer and his grandmother, Naomi Persaud at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

National Under-19 cricketer, Joshua Persaud

Anti-Narcotics Unit swooped down at the Delph Avenue, Campbellville home where Under-19 cricketer Joshua Persaud and his 17-year-old girlfriend were alone.

The home was searched and the CANU ranks seized nine rectangular-shaped objects, weighing over nine kilograms, with cocaine from inside a cooking gas cylinder which had a false bottom. The 17-year-old girlfriend was released.

Shortly after the Persauds were arraigned, a wanted bulletin was issued by CANU for businessman and former murder accused, Andre Gomes, aka “Zipper”. The wanted man reportedly rented the home where the drugs were found and is said to be in a relationship with Naomi Persaud.

Two years ago Andre Gomes was charged with the murder of 49-year-old Nigel Isaacs, who was shot to his head outside the Palm Court nightclub.

However, the case against him was withdrawn, after the Director of Public Prosecutions advised that there was not enough evidence against the man to move ahead with the murder charge.

news conference recently that every effort is being made to recapture the escapees–all of whom are murder accused and/or convicts.

“Every effort is going to be made to catch those six escapees. The Joint Services will be doing their best to hunt them down and bring them in” the minister said.

This was also the assurance of Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud, who said the Joint Services are currently conducting several operations to recapture the escapees. “… at a Joint Services level, we have embarked on several operations which are consistent with the plan,” he said. That plan which he referenced, is an operational plan developed by the Joint Services to be presented to the National Security Committee. The objectives of the plan are to ensure: security of the prisoners; security of the prisons; to recapture the six escapees; and to restore order in the prisons.

According to Persaud, that operation, along with the others, is intelligence-led.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the escapees is asked to contact the nearest police station. It is a criminal offence to harbour fugitives.

Ramjattan will not take the stand COMMISSIONER inquiring into the alleged plot to kill President David Granger, Paul Slowe, has ruled that there is no need to call Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, to give evidence.

Christopher Ram, is the lawyer representing businessman, Imran Khan, the brother of the alleged plotter, Nizam Khan. Ram had requested that Ramjattan take the stand. In his petition, Ram said the Public Security Minister was part of a dual interview with Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud, conducted shortly after the investigation became public.

In giving his ruling on Wednesday, Slowe, a retired Assistant Police Commissioner said when the request was made he had committed to review the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the COI and the

evidence laid before the Commission. “I have gone through the Terms of Reference (TOR), from one to eight. I have reviewed the evidence given by all the witnesses, and I see no reason to call the minister before the Commission to give statement,” Slowe declared.

In addition to making the ruling, the Commissioner disclosed that Andriff Gillard, the man who accused businessman, Nizam Khan, of plotting to kill the President, is expected to re-appear before the Commission for further cross-examination on Friday, in addition to Acting Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine. After those two witnesses, the curtain will come down on the public hearing but the Commission will continue its work.

Culture Department being mulled 14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 10, 2017

-- for Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry

By Alva Solomon The Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs is considering the establishment of a Cultural Department at the Ministry to better preserve the culture of the indigenous people.

The Ministry is working to ensure indigenous communities benefit from the services of professionals who have been trained and who are expected to return to serve their hinterland villages.

This is according to Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, who was at the time addressing a gathering at the Umana Yana at the launch of Indigenous Month 2017 activities on Wednesday.

A calendar of events is carded for September and this year’s celebrations are being held under the theme “Guyana’s First Peoples: Sustaining a Rich Cultural Environment”.

St Cuthbert’s Mission, which is located off the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, has been identified as this year’s Heritage Village.

While addressing the gathering at the Umana Yana, Garrido-Lowe said the authorities plan to establish a section within the Ministry which will look at indigenous music, way of dress and languages.

“Right now we are focusing on the languages,” she said, noting that sums of monies have been allocated to this area of culture.

She said the upkeep of the indigenous languages “may have died a bit” but she noted the government is working to restore it.

In addition, Garrido-Lowe said the authorities will pay attention to musicians, poets and authors within the hinterland.

She mentioned that an Indigenous book titled “Kamarang” is expected to be launched this year, while another is expected to hit the shelves in 2018.

Following the presentation of the Ministry’s agenda for September, Nicole Cole of the Rights of the Child Commission noted during a question and answer segment from t h e f l o o r , t h a t f o l l o wing visits to indigenous communities, it was discovered that persons who were trained from such villages have not been returning to serve their fellow villagers.

She said that there are several social problems and persons are needed to assist

in curbing the issues Garrido-Lowe said the government has been training indigenous persons to take up “much-needed” posts, such as health workers across the hinterland and many have gone back to serve their communities.

She explained that some persons would have started families on the coastland and this would have led to a shortage of professionals in hinterland villages.

“We are not giving up, we are training more,” she said, noting that the authorities are working to ensure that each village benefits from the services of a health worker.

This year’s celebrations will kick-off on August 31, with an inter-faith service at the indigenous village at the Sophia Exhibition Complex, Georgetown.

National Toshaos Council Vice-Chairman, Lenox Shuman, (left) assists in unveiling the “Heritage Logo” at Wednesday’s event. Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, is at right while staffer Anil Roberts is second from left (Adrian Narine photo).

A section of the gathering at the launch of Indigenous Heritage Month 2017 (Adrian Narine photo)

A group of siblings called the “Riverside Angels” performed at the event on Wednesday morning (Adrian Narine photo)

Guitarist, Myron Thomas, performing “Indigenous man” at the launch (Adrian Narine photo)

Please intervene

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday August 10, 2017

….Waste disposal companies call on gov’t to help end standoff with City Hall

By Svetlana Marshall WASTE disposal companies, Cevons Waste Management Inc. and Puran Brothers Inc. said they will not make any rash decisions even as they call on government to intervene to bring an end to the impasse between them and City Hall.

After failing to pay the companies over $300M for services provided from 2015-2017, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council abruptly terminated their five-year contracts on August 5, 2017 and hired three smaller contractors to clean the city. City Hall’s failure to pay the companies has taken a toll on them, Cevons Waste Management Inc. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Morse Archer and Puran Brothers Inc. General Manager, Kaleshwar Puran complained on Wednesday during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

After providing services to City Hall for 30 years, Puran said it saddens his heart to know it has taken a decision to terminate its contractor, not because the company had erred in any particular way but because it stood up for the millions of dollars owed by the Council for services already provided. Both companies had written to City Hall on August 2 indicating that all services will be suspended from August 6 until a substantial amount of monies owed are paid and an agreement reached for future payments. But instead of trying to resolve the issue with the contractors, City Hall wrote them on August 5, indicating that their services were no longer needed. According to Puran, City Hall’s failure to make early payments have crippled the operations of both companies, and it was on that basis that a decision was made to suspend their services until payments are made. City

(From left to right) Cevons Waste Management Business Development Officer, Morris Archer and CEO Morse Archer; Puran Brothers General Manager, Kaleshwar Puran, Managing Director Lakenauth Puran and Accountant Rakesh Puran. (Photo by Samuel Maughn)

Hall reportedly owes Cevons Waste Management approximately $198M and Puran Brothers $174M. “Our company is heavily indebted to the bank.

Literally we have cheques turning back from the bank,” Puran pointed out while emphasizing that Puran Brothers is currently in a “serious financial jam.”

“It is not easy for us,” he added.

Puran Brothers General Manager said as a result of the recent developments, the companies wrote a joint letter to President David Granger on August 7, 2017 requesting government’s intervention.

“We wrote the President on Monday trying to find a way out…we don’t want to make any rash decision. We have a passion for solid waste management and we want to continue on that note, but at this point we need somebody to sit down with us and render some assistance,” he said.

Archer, who also expressed his disappointment in the manner in which City Hall dealt with the matter, said for 20 years Cevons Waste Manage-

ment has been providing its service to City Hall and this is the first time a contract was actually terminated. Archer noted that City Hall has often experienced financial difficulties which would have forced the companies to take industrial actions. According to the contract signed in 2015, City Hall is expected to make payments for services provided within 90 days but it has never fulfilled that obligation.

In the past, he said the companies would have given them a six-month period to issue payments before any decision was taken to suspend the services provided. To prevent a pile up of garbage, an agreement would be brokered and the companies would return to the streets. “We have put numerous arrangements in place so as to reach the payment. But each time these commitments, these plans are always broken,” Archer said while pointing out that it is usually a challenge to engage the Council.

With outstanding monies from 2015, 2016 and part of 2017, Cevons Waste Management and

Puran Brothers met with officials from the council in March 2017 with the hope of having payments issued. At that time, City Hall proposed that the contractors “put on ice” the monies for 2015 and 2016, but this was rejected on the grounds that the companies had invested heavily in their operations to fulfill their contractual obligation.

“Regarding 2017, they give us a written undertaking that they will pay us on a monthly basis. This agreement was brokered on March 24, and whereby at the end of March month they would have paid us for January, end of April they would have paid us for February, and at the end of May month, they would have paid us for March and so on,” Cevons CEO explained.

But he said despite promising to make good on this written agreement, the Council again lapsed in its payments. At the end of March, the Council was unable to pay the sums owed; however, cheques were issued in the first week of April for services provided in January, 2017.

“In the first week of April, we got a cheque from them, went into the bank, the cheque was bounced. So we had to wait a period of time before the cheque was cleared,” Archer disclosed. Only a sum of $16M was paid to Cevons for January, 2017.

The money was reportedly short by $1M. “So we have three problems: the cheque was late, it was bounced and the amount was short,” Archer further pointed out.

Archer said to his surprise the same issue reoccurred in April and May. “The next payment was supposed to be for April month end for February, and the exact thing happened--the cheque was late, it was bounced and the amount was short.”

In June a payment was expected for April but several calls to the Council went unnoticed. As a result, Archer said during the first week of July, the companies indicated that they would suspend their services, and it was then that they were called into a meeting by City Hall.

During that meeting, the contractors were in-

formed that payments for June could not have been paid because the Council’s Senior Staff had to be paid their travelling allowance.

“We said well look we don’t have money either to work,” Archer recalled.

As a result, he said Cevons and Puran issued a joint statement indicating that they will be withdrawing their services until payments are made. In response, Council said they would not have engaged the Council until the contractors returned to work.

“We went back to work on June 12…and we tried numerous times to engage them. While on strike we had indicated to the President what had happened.

We kept asking them to have a meeting,” Archer said.

On July 21, the contractors were informed of a meeting set for July 26 at 14:00hrs, but it was subsequently cancelled. They had met with Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan on July 24 and were to return on July 28 following the meeting with the Council on the 28th. “That never happened,” Archer posited.

On August 4 a meeting was held with the contractors and City Hall but the Council during that meeting indicated that it would pay $3M on the amounts it had fallen short of for January, February and March, and at the end of August, payments would have been issued for June.

“So we said to them that it can’t work, they got to do better than that,” Archer said. He also refuted the claims made by Mayor Patricia Chase Green that they wanted the Council to pay $300M before they return to work.

“It is being said that we are saying $300M or nothing; $300M was not discussed at that meeting, it never came up at that meeting,” Archer maintained.

On August 5, the Council terminated their contracts.

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MoPT launches CODE SPRINT 2017 …agriculture sector set to benefit THE Ministry of Public Telecommunications has launched CODE SPRINT 2017 to enable the development of software to enhance the Agriculture Sector.

Fourteen teams over the next 20 days will be building an application that will link farmers locally and regionally to meet supply and demand of the markets. CODE SPRINT is similar to a Hackathon; however, CODE SPRINT participants will be allowed to take home their project. This will allow them adequate time to conduct research to build the application.

Advisor to the Minister of Telecommunications, Lance Hinds said that CODE SPRINT is a continuation of the ministry’s programmes to enhance the abilities of young people. He noted that CODE SPRINT will be identifying and developing products that are produced and identify the gaps in the applications as part of the ministry’s capacity building exercise.

“You may remember there was a Hackathon last year where there were eight teams and this is a continuation of that work”, Hinds said. Requirements for the CODE SPRINT include: a practicable and applicable solution to be used in Guyana; demand statistics must be generated and be accessible to farmers, the payment system process should be fast and easy and the solution should offer order tracking functionalities.

The application must match buyers and sellers of agricultural products based on offers on both sides; match and conclude transactions and generation of statistics based on volume per products; average price and total dollar value.

Additionally, there must be an easy way to aggregate order quantity (e.g. a consumer wants 10 tons of organs then several small farmers ; coming in at 1-2 tons each should be able to combine their quantities in order to meet the order).

Hinds noted the complaints of small and medium scale farmers in Guyana, regarding the difficulty in finding buyers for their produce, resulting in losses suffered due to spoilage. They are often forced to sell off produce below market value to avoid waste. There is no structured system under which international buyers can conduct Buyer to Buyer (B2B) transactions with local producers.

However, large and medium scale consumers both regionally and locally are complaining that the producers in Guyana are incapable of supplying large orders of fruits and vegetables. It is believed if farmers are able to see demand trends (statistics), they will know what to produce and the amount to produce, thereby matching production capacity to market demand. Production specialisation might be a spin off, and as a direct consequence farmers can benefit from economies of scale;

Participants of the CODE SPRINT 2017 exercise

hence, the CODE SPRINT, Hinds pointed out.

Several participants said they are excited to take on this new challenge. Stephanie Simon, Team Mega Girls, said that her team will be happy to develop a software for one of the leading sectors in the country. She expressed delight that the team has enough time to conduct research and possibly carry home this project. Deenauth Mahabeer from Team Innosys noted the task is a bit challenging but not difficult. He said the challenge comes when there are a number of teams producing the same applications. The victor will receive $300,000, while second and third place winners will receive $200,000 and $150,000 respectively. CODE SPRINT is a collaboration between the Ministry of Public Telecommunications, dev X and Virtue 75. The Ministry of Public Telecommunications will also host another Hackathon in November of this year. (DPI)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 10, 2017

Timehri inmate was shot to abdomen- autopsy THE 26-year-old murder accused who was Friday last, shot dead after allegedly instigating a violent clash between himself and other inmates at the Timehri penitentiary, died as a result of a gunshot wound to the abdomen, according to a post mortem done by Pathologist Dr. Nehal Singh on Wednesday.

A warhead was recovered and handed over to the police for ballistic examination. The body will be taken to the Lyken Funeral Parlour as the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) is assisting with the burial. Winston Hinds, called “Town Man,” of Blue Berry Hill, Wismar, was shot in the stomach by a prison officer. He was pronounced dead at the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital. Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels had noted that the murder accused had repeatedly ignored all warnings issued by prison officers.

According to the director, several prisoners, who were armed with improvised weapons, were involved in “a serious physical altercation.”

“Prison officers attempted to restore order by breaking up the violent fracas.

During this process, Hinds fled into the prison yard in an attempted bid to escape.

Clear and repeated efforts were issued for Hinds to desist, but he refused in every instance and continued running,” he noted. “Prison officers were left with no option but to curtail his escape bid. This necessitated the use of live rounds as a last resort, after every option had failed.”

Hinds, previously charged with five counts of armed robbery, was remanded in January 2016, for the February 2015 killing of Richard Remington, 43, at Cholmondeley Hill, Wismar. Remington’s decomposing remains were found in a clump of bushes along a track in the vicinity of Matthews Lane in the Christianburg/Cholmondeley Hill area on February 12, last year. He had been shot three times, including once to the head.

The fatal shooting was the continuation of several weeks of violence at the country’s prisons. The unrest began with the July 9 destruction by fire of most of the Georgetown Prison, the killing of prison officer Odinga Wickham, the wounding of his colleague, Hubert Trim, and the escape of eight dangerous inmates. This was followed by the escape of 13 prisoners from the Lusignan Prison.

Ex-soldier charged for beheading uncle A 26-year-old who allegedly killed his uncle on Sunday by chopping off his head was on Wednesday remanded to prison when he appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court charged with murder.

The former Guyana Defence Force soldier, Dwayne Tappin, appeared before Magistrate Alisha George and was not required to plead to the indictable offence.

Particulars of the charge alleged that Tappin on August 6, 2017, at Lot 125 South Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, murdered 51-year-old Randolph Seenauth. Magistrate George remanded Tappin until September 28.

According to reports, Seenauth and his nephew lived in separate apartments on the plot of land. However, the family has a dispute over the plot of land which the dead man’s mother had occupied before she died. On August 6, 2017 around 04:30hrs, neighbours heard a loud commotion coming from one of the apartments, but then there was silence for a few minutes which led them to suspect something was amiss.

Neighbours called out for Seenauth but got no response and

Remanded: Dwayne Tappin

later contacted the Sparendaam Police Station. Police ranks arrived shortly after and upon pushing the front door to Seenauth’s apartment, found his head lying in a passageway between the living room and kitchen.

Further checks were made in the apartment and the rest of the man’s body was discovered on a mattress in the bedroom. The murder weapon was not recovered despite searches on both apartments.

Tappin, hours after the murder, turned himself over to ranks at the Sparendaam Police Station.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday August 10, 2017

Packed programme for Heritage Month

A CULTURAL extravaganza, heritage sports, art/craft and food exhibitions, reflection on the life and work of Stephen Campbell, a heritage dinner and a heritage pageant are among the highlights of Indigenous Heritage Month 2017.

Ministry of Indigenous Affairs Interfaith Service Coordinator, Grace Daniels said this year, the services will take an Indigenous approach. “This year the interfaith service will take a difference ap-

proach; more emphasis will be placed on the Hallelujah People. This is the only traditional indigenous religion in Guyana. The service will start with a blowing of a horn which indicates the invitations of people. There will be an opening dance where everyone will be gathered outside. It will be held on the 31st August, 2017.”

September is always a month that Guyana’s first people look forward to. It is a month where they reflect on their achievements to their

communities and national development. It is also a time when they come together and celebrate each other in love and unity, as they strive to preserve and to promote their cultural heritage.

The ceremonial launch is set for September 1 at the Indigenous Heritage Village, Sophia Exhibition Complex.

There, patrons will be treated to a range of indigenous foods from labba to wild hog as well as indigenous craft, among other aspects of indigenous

culture.

The celebrations will be held under the theme “Guyana’s first people; sustaining a rich cultural environment”.

Some 14 villages and two international groups: one from Brazil and another from Suriname have been invited to be part of the cultural extravaganza.

The month of activities will conclude on September 30 with the Heritage Pageant at the National Cultural Centre.

Man jailed for wounding mother A 26-year-old mentally ill man was on Wednesday sentenced to three months imprisonment by City Magistrate, Fabayo Azore, for wounding his mother.

Timothy Thompson confessed that on August 03 at Lot 1936 HummingBird Street, North Ruimveldt, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded, his mother, Harriet Thompson.

According to reports, on the day in question the 26-year-old man broke a glass cup, then picked up a

piece of the shattered glass and went into his mother bedroom and attempted to cut her neck.

“I would kill yuh” Thompson reportedly told his mother while approaching her with the broken glass.

Thompson told the court that his mother would have him out on the street. The magistrate sentenced Thompson to three months imprisonment during which he will also be subjected to psychiatric treatment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 10, 2017

CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Qualifier tournament

Barbados humble Guyana 5-1

By Rawle Toney DESPITE a spirited performance, Guyana fell 5-1 to Barbados in the opening match of Group D in the CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Qualifier tournament yesterday at the Leonora Track and Field Facility.

It was certainly not the start coach Akilah Castello wanted for her girls, since they showed flashes of brilliance against a much more physical and

match-ready Barbados unit.

Barbados captain Tia Briggs-Thompson had a double, while Tiana Sealy and Caitlin Padmore each had a strike and coupled with an own-goal by Tiandi Smith, that was enough for the women from the ‘Land of the Flying Fish’ to celebrate.

Guyana got the start they wanted from Smith, who showed off her long-range shooting ability in the 12th minute; sinking a Cristiano Ronaldo-like free-kick from approximately 25 yards from goal, that stunned Barbados’ Rowland Kirton-Browne between the uprights.

The crowd erupted in jubilation but those celebrations were short-lived, given the fact that Barbados found the equaliser four minutes later (16th) off the cleats of Padmore, who sneaked in Guyana’s six-yard area and with a free kick stunned the local goalkeeper.

Things went downhill for Guyana as Smith went from hero to villain when she attempted to clear a ball from a corner taken by the ‘Bajans’, but her effort instead went into the net - an own-goal that handed the visitors a 2-1 lead after 21 minutes of play.

Tried they did, but Guyana could not get past coach Thomas Jordan’s defence and the half ended with the home team trailing the visitors by a goal (2-1).

“We told them, press forward and try the goalkeeper since we realise that she was short and was having trouble with the ball in the air,” Barbados assistant coach Gabriela Lopez told the media at the post-match press conference.

Indera Amardeo, Guy-

ana goalkeeper was indeed having a hard time saving the ‘air ball’, since being very short was certainly working against her.

Briggs-Thompson heeded her coaching staff’s advice and scored a long-range shot in the 50th minute, while one minute later (51st), Sealy replicated her captain’s feat, giving the Barbados team a 4-1 advantage.

In the 71st minute, Briggs-Thompson completed her double; this time scoring a free-kick from just over the halfway line to make it 5-1.

By this time, given the fact that Guyana could not have gotten around Barbados’ defence, the score line became unassailable and the Guyanese were defeated.

Meanwhile, Jalade Trim was the crowd favourite, lighting up the Leonora facility with every touch of the ball.

The 13-year-old, who hails from Kwakwani, was the youngest player on the pitch for both teams, and, her flashiness, her fearlessness, along with her ability to read the game, saw her receive loud cheers with every touch.

Trim didn’t score and that could be due to her inability to out-muscle the Barbados defenders, but, like a true warrior, she put her teammates in goal-scoring positions which they failed to capitalise on.

Guyana play Cuba on Sunday in their final fixture. Cuba, the preverbal powerhouse of Caribbean football in the women’s department, will have their first taste of the tournament tomorrow, at 17:00hrs against Barbados.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 10, 2017

Spin coach Saqlain Mushtaq behind Moeen’s record-breaking displays MOEEN Ali paid tribute to England spin coach Saqlain Mushtaq after his record-breaking performances against South Africa.

Moeen became the first all-rounder from any country to score more than 250 runs and take 25 wickets in a four-match Test series.

He credits his improvement with the ball to Saqlain, who works with England on a part-time basis.

Saqlain was a fine

Spin coach: Moeen Ali credits improvement to Saqlain Mushtaq.

(Getty Images)

Jennings, Westley and Malan ‘worst ever’ Test batsmen, says Fleming SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Former Australia quick Damien Fleming says England’s top six contains some of the worst batsmen he has seen play Test cricket and believes the home pace attack will run through them in the Ashes series at the end of the year.

Keaton Jennings

While Fleming conceded that all-rounders Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali, as well as wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, would cause problems for Australia he was scathing in his assessment of Keaton Jennings, Tom Westley and Dawid Malan.

“England needs three decent batsmen in their top six,” Fleming, who played 20 Tests and 88 one-dayers when Australia were in their pomp in the 1990s, told Melbourne’s RSN radio.

“Watching the South African series, they’re some of

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the worst batsmen I’ve ever seen play Test cricket.”

England beat South Africa 3-1 in the just-completed series but Fleming said the retention for the Ashes of opener Jennings and top order batsman Westley would offer plenty of opportunities for the Australian bowlers. “(Jennings) scored 127 runs at an average of 15.

I used to bat nine in Test matches and I would just be happy with that, averaging 15. Just be happy. He’s opening the batting,” Fleming added.

“I don’t like his technique, closed grip, he’s going to nick people that can angle the ball across him and bowlers that can actually get the ball to shape back in that gap between bat and front pad. This is an opening batsman.

“Westley has a similar technique. He is squared up; he has hands that are a long way in front of his body with a closed grip. How does he hit the ball through the off side?

He’s going to nick off or get in trouble with the ball that comes in.

“Where are 80 percent of the deliveries going to be to Jennings and Westley? Out-

side off stump; maybe shaping away. They don’t have a technique to cope with that.”

Westley and Malan made their Test debuts in the third Test against the Proteas, with the former taking over at “first drop” from the injured Gary Ballance, who did not escape Fleming’s brutal analysis.

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Tom Westley

“How did Gary Ballance play Test cricket again after that last series two years ago there?” Fleming said, referring to the batsman’s axing after two Tests of the 2015 Ashes.

“Young Malan, 35 runs at an average of eight. There are real opportunities for Australia to run through the top order.”

England, who won the 2015 series 3-2, begin their defence of the Ashes in Brisbane on November 23.

off-spinner, taking 208 wickets at 29.8 apiece in 49 Tests for Pakistan.

Moeen said: “Saqi has been amazing for me in terms of helping with my fields and helping me understanding my bowling a lot more than I had done previously. That has been the biggest difference.

“I feel a lot more confident in my ability and I felt it was building. I had been batting well over the last year and the bowling was

coming along.

“I understand my action better, the field settings, the type of batsmen I am facing.

These are little things that can make a big difference.

Earlier in my career I didn’t really think too much. I just bowled and let the captain set the field. In this series, I set my own fields a lot more.”

Meanwhile, England captain Joe Root was full of praise for Moeen.

He said: “He is defi-

nitely improving all the time. I said at the start of this series, ‘It’s a great opportunity for guys in that bracket of 30-plus Test matches to stand up and become more senior’.

“He has definitely taken that on and put in some brilliant performances. I hope it’s not just a one-off series and he can go on now and do it again and again.

“It’s great to see Moeen step up and put in some unbelievable displays.”

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 10, 2017

Kohli’s India close in on Ponting’s men

Tiger Woods likely to enter first-time DUI offender programme in Florida

By Zachary Fagenson

PA L M B E A C H G A R DENS, Fla. (Reuters) - Golfer Tiger Woods is expected to enter a programme for first-time DUI offenders to resolve charges filed against him after police found him asleep at the wheel of his parked car alongside a Florida road, a prosecutor said yesterday.

The former world No. 1 golfer was not in court as his lawyer entered a not-guilty plea to a charge of driving under the influence stemming from Woods’ arrest in May.

Tiger Woods

India’s series win in Sri Lanka is their eighth in a row. (Getty Images)

VIRAT Kohli continues 100 per cent series win as fulltime Test captain ahead of potentially historic series in South Africa A first-ever series win in South Africa this summer could see Virat Kohli’s India lay claim to being one of the most successful Test sides in the history of the game.

India’s series win in Sri Lanka, which was confirmed with victory in the second Test on Sunday, was their eighth series win in a row, one behind the all-time record of nine jointly held by England (1844-1892) and Australia (2005-2008).

Given the ease with which Kohli’s side has dismantled Sri Lanka away from home in recent weeks, they’d be expected to do the same in a proposed return series later this year.

A ninth consecutive series win there would mean a triumph in their proposed series in South Africa (which has also yet to be officially locked in) would see them claim the record for themselves.

A historic victory in South Africa would also be India’s first-ever series win there; the Proteas have won five of six series at home against India

since their re-admission in 1992, while the 2010 series was drawn.

No matter the result in South Africa over the summer, Kohli’s side have already written their names in the history books as one of India’s best-ever.

Since Kohli took over the captaincy on a full-time basis in 2015, India have lost just two of 26 Tests; a 63-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the first match of the Kohli era two years ago, and the 333-run thumping at the hands of Australia in Pune earlier this year.

They responded to that initial loss in Galle by winning the final two matches of the series to triumph 2-1 and have followed that with wins against South Africa (3-0 at home), West Indies (2-0 away), New Zealand (3-0 at home), England (4-0 at home), Bangladesh (a oneoff Test at home), Australia (2-1 at home) and now Sri Lanka away (they currently lead the series 2-0 with one Test to play).

The record-equalling Australian side of a decade ago, led by Ricky Ponting, enjoyed series wins in South Africa, Bangladesh and the West Indies and triumphed

at home against the ICC World XI, the Windies, South Africa, England, Sri Lanka and India. They lost only one Test of 26 in that time, to India in Perth, and it was India who brought their streak to an end with victory in the 2008 Border-Gavaskar series.

The record-holding England side won seven consecutive Ashes series in their streak of nine straight wins (four in England, three in Australia) as well as two series in South Africa.

A key to India’s recent success has been their ability to rack up mammoth first-innings totals, like they have in the current series against Sri Lanka.

Their first-innings totals of 600 in Galle and 9-622 declared in Colombo were the 28th and 29th times in their history they have scored 600 or more in an innings, six of which have come in the past nine months.

They are now just three behind Australia’s Test record of 32 600-plus scores and coach Ravi Shastri has no doubt that record will soon be toppled.

“India can certainly

surpass Australia’s record of scoring over 600 runs the most number of times,” he told the Deccan Chronicle. “I am sure this team will surely achieve this. When, I can’t say.

“Whether this year, next year or some other time. But I would be happy if it is done during my tenure as a coach with the team.”

But Woods, 41, is expected to appear at the Palm Beach Gardens courthouse for an October 25 hearing to plead guilty to a lesser charge of reckless driving, according Adrienne Ellis, a chief assistant state attorney for Palm Beach County.

The reckless driving plea would allow Woods to take part in a 12-month probation programme that would involve community service, DUI school, a substance abuse evaluation, possible treatment and other conditions.

Woods would avoid a DUI conviction if he completes the programme.

His attorney Douglas Duncan declined to discuss the case with reporters at the courthouse yesterday.

Police found Woods stopped on the side of a Palm Beach-area road in his Mercedes-Benz at about 03:00hrs on May 29. He had “extremely slow and slurred speech” after being awakened by a Jupiter police officer but was cooperative and told officers he takes several prescriptions, including Xanax, according to a police report.

Woods, who had been heading away from his home on the exclusive Jupiter Island, could not remember where he was going and told police he was returning from Los Angeles.

A blood test showed he had the painkiller Vicodin and the antidepressant Xanax in his system but no alcohol. He was charged with driving under the influence and improperly stopping his vehicle.

In a statement after his arrest, Woods apologised to fans and blamed the incident on prescription medication he was taking to manage pain from a recent back surgery.

In mid-June, Woods said he was receiving professional help to manage his use of pain medications and a sleep disorder. The following month he announced he had completed an out-of-state programme.

Woods has won 14 major golf championships, second only to Jack Nicklaus, but has competed little during the past two years after undergoing multiple back surgeries.

He currently is not ranked on the PGA’s list of top 1 000 players.

Archer on verge of 50 wickets after helping Sussex seal win LONDON, England (CMC) – Barbadian all-rounder Jofra Archer closed in on 50 wickets in his first full season of English County cricket when he snatched a three-wicket haul to help Sussex crush Worcestershire by nine wickets inside three days here Tuesday.

Beginning the day on 231 for eight in their first innings – still 199 runs behind – Worcestershire were dismissed for 268 with Barbados-born England seamer Chris Jordan ending with four for 77 and Archer two for 61.

Rain had earlier washed out the morning session.

With the follow-on enforced, Worcestershire were bowled out a second time for 170 with Archer claim-

ing three for 39 and South African pacer David Wiese snared three for 35.

Barbadian seamer Jofra Archer

It was Wiese’s burst which sent the hosts reeling to 66 for five at tea and Archer came at the back of the

end to clean up, taking three of the last five wickets to fall.

Ed Barnard, who got a half-century in the first innings, returned to topscore with 46 in a 44-run, sixth-wicket stand with Ben Cox who made 28.

Sussex then easily wiped off the nine required for victory to mark their fifth win in seven outings. They entered the game fifth in the standings but the win bumped them up to third in the Division Two. Archer now has 49 wickets at an average of 21, and is by far his side’s leading wicket-taker for the campaign.

An attacking lower order batsman, Archer has also scored 372 runs at an average of 37.

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 10, 2017

Francis takes surprise 400m gold as Miller-Uibo stumbles

By Mitch Phillips

LONDON, England (Reuters) - American Phyllis Francis won a surprise World Championships 400 metres gold yesterday as Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo inexplicably stumbled when seemingly certain of victory and dropped to fifth place.

Francis looked out of it with 80 metres to go but maintained her form amid the carnage to post a personal best time of 49.92 seconds and take a shock gold medal even though she had no idea she had won.

Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, 19, claimed a brilliant silver in 50.06, her third national record this week, as defending champion Allyson Felix of the United States faded to get bronze in 50.08.

Bahamian Miller-Uibo, who famously dived over the line to pip Felix to Olympic gold last year, was clear with less than 20 metres left but as she tired and tied up she tripped on her own foot, stumbling almost to a standstill as her rivals stormed past her.

It was an incredible finale to a race that had appeared to be going to form for the first 300 metres. Felix looked her usual smooth self despite the

In-form Blackwood eager to get going in Test series CANTERBURY, England (CMC) – With two half-centuries in four innings on tour, in-form stroke-maker Jermaine Blackwood says he feels in great touch as he gears up for the opening Test against England later this month.

The right-hander struck exactly 50 on Sunday’s opening day of the three-tour match against Kent here, following up his 59 against Essex in the first tour game at Chelmsford. “(I’m) feeling pretty good, feeling 100 per cent, feeling ready to go,” the Jamaican said.

Phyllis Francis of the U.S. celebrates after winning the 400 metres gold medal.

sodden track and had made up the stagger on Francis a lane outside her by the end of the first bend.

However, she did not come off the final bend with her usual authority and Miller-Uibo took it up and surged ahead into the final straight.

The title seemed secure as Felix began to fade further but Miller-Uibo then lost her form in the most dramatic style. Her legs seemed to stiffen, perhaps through cramp, and became entangled. As she virtually stopped running, the fast-finishing Francis, Naser, Felix and fourthplaced Shericka Jackson of Jamaica all surged past.

“I am so excited. It is such an amazing feeling, being world champion sounds pretty cool,” said Francis, who finished fifth in the Rio Olympic final.

“This win has not hit me yet, but I guess tomorrow when I will wake up.

“Allyson and Shaunae are amazing finishers but when I went down the home straight I just believed in myself and stayed patient. I just knew what I was capable of doing, so I stuck to my race model.

“At the finish line I was surprised, I thought I was second or third, but then they told me ‘you are first’. That is crazy.”

American former 400 and 200m world champion Michael Johnson, working as a pundit for the BBC, was as stunned by what unfolded as everyone else in the 55 000 crowd.

“I have never seen anything like that,” he said. “At the 200m mark it looked like it was shaping up to be a great race. When an athlete pulls up and jumps in the air like that, it is normally a hamstring strain.”

Felix’s bronze took her world championship medal haul to 14, matching the record of Jamaican sprinters Usain Bolt and Merlene Ottey. The American’s tally includes nine gold.

Jermaine Blackwood

“I think all the boys are ready. We have been training pretty hard and everybody is excited about the first Test match.”

He added: “(It’s) my first time to England, first time playing here. Different conditions but learning as the days go by. (I’m) putting in a lot of work with the coaches (and) getting used to the conditions.”

Blackwood lost his place in the Test squad recently, failing to find favour in the recent three-Test home series against Pakistan.

However, he opened the current tour with an attacking half-century against Essex and followed up with anoth-

er handsome effort against Kent, though the innings was a patient one requiring some graft.

The 25-year-old said conditions last weekend had demanded he make adjustments to his usually aggressive approach. “(Last Sunday) was a perfect example. The ball was swinging around so I knew I had to trust my defence and just play each ball on its merit,” Blackwood explained.

“The pitch had in a lot of moisture so the ball wasn’t coming through like at Essex so you had to wait a little longer, you had to play the ball right under your eyes. I just have to spend a little more time out there in the middle.”

It was his 70-run fifth-wicket stand with Shai Hope in challenging conditions which pulled West Indies around from 78 for four on the first morning.

Hope top-scored with 57 to also extend his healthy form on tour that has already brought him 155 runs from four innings, and Blackwood praised his junior teammate on the effort.

“Shai was batting good.

He was giving me some good advice when I first came out to bat,” Blackwood said.

“At the time when I went out there we had just lost a wicket and I just told Shai we need to build a partnership and once we can get a partnership together, we know the runs are going to come.”

West Indies face Derbyshire in their third threeday tour match starting tomorrow. The day/night affair will be in preparation for the first Test at Edgbaston beginning August 17, which will be the inaugural ‘pink ball’ Test in England.

Dant, Rebels battle in Saturday’s Caribbean Sensation final

By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada – Defending Caribbean Sensation 10/10 champions Dant are seeking to make it two in a row when they battle Rebels in Saturday’s eagerly-awaited final, set for the Ashtonbee number one ground, Scarborough here.

The action gets underway at 09:00hrs.

The final, which also forms part of the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) family fun day and All Stars feature, is expected to attract a large crowd including kids of members of the league.

Added to the day’s proceedings is the B Conference final with Restoration Warriors coming to grips with Enmore at Ashtonbee number two as well as the two consolation fi-

Riaz Kadir

nals which will see Caribbean Sensation meet Better Hope at Ashtonbee Reservoir number two and Ramblers and Bacchus Cricket Club face off at Ashtonbee Reservoir number one.

After relinquishing the

title to Caribbean Sensation in 2015, when the tournament was played with white balls, Dant rebounded to lift the crown last year in a closely-fought encounter with Better Hope, triumphing by 12 runs at the same venue.

In last year’s final, Dant displayed their undoubted superiority over their rivals and have been exhibiting that same brand of cricket during the 2017 season in both the regular season games and knockout tournaments.

Led by former Berbice player Loaknauth Ramsuchit, Dant include the likes of vice-captain and opener Hemnarine Chattergoon, the hard-hitting Damodar Daesrath, and Riaz Kadir while the evergreen Satrohan ‘Blade’ Balkarran and Aftab ‘Maxie’ Shamshudeen lead the bowling

attack. They will, however, be missing key all-rounder Shaun Deonandan through injury.

Balkarran is also coming off a superb Toronto Cup bowling performance, claiming 10 wickets for 37 runs from five matches which earned him the Most Valuable Player award for New York Hustlers in the Masters division of the Ontario Masters Cricket Clubs (OMSCC)-organised tournament.

When the two teams met in a regular season (20 overs) game on July 9, Dant easily disposed of their opponents with Riaz Kadir hitting a top score of 77 in Dant’s 137 for six. Rebels replied with 69 for nine in their allotted 20 overs.

Not to be outdone, Rebels are confident they can upstage their opponents. Skipper

Zaheer ‘Bucky’ Haniff is expected to lead from the front and will be banking on former Guyana Under-19 player Troy Gobin and former Canadian national Desmond Cholmondeley to continue their fine

Troy Gobin

form which was exhibited in the Toronto Cup. The experienced duo of Gobin (35 not out) and Cholmondeley (40 not out) shared a brilliant unbeaten second-wicket stand of 75 which saw New York Hustlers register an easy nine-wicket victory over the Ontario Masters Softball International in last Sunday’s OMSCC’s Masters final, played at the University of Toronto ground here.

The B Conference final between archrivals Enmore and Restoration Warriors should also be brimful of interest where choosing a winner is not an easy task.

Enmore, led by Shiv Persaud, are the current leaders in the B Conference regular season while the Ravi Bodo-led Restoration Warriors are sitting third.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 10, 2017

Linden’s international stars on show this weekend at Boyce/Jefford Classic VIII LINDENERS will get the chance to see their international standout athletes, Daniel Williams and Chantoba Bright perform in the community this weekend, when they represent Upper Demerara at the Kares Engineering Inc. Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic VIII set for the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

The two athletes among others, representing the Upper Demerara Club under coach Johnny Gravesande, will be performing on the biggest stage at home since their rise to international stardom after winning several medals.

The athletes have never performed against Guyana’s best senior athletes in Linden since gaining acclaimed medals

at varying regional and inter-

Daniel Williams

national meets. The Linden

community is eager to see its star athletes on show at home against Guyana’s best athletes.

Williams is an International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Junior silver medallist, which he claimed in Kenya recently.

Apart from that, Williams has silver medals from the South American Youth and Junior Championships on separate occasions.

He would have also had a CARIFTA Games silver medal had he not stepped on the line in the race, which forced a disqualification. Williams showed huge character when he rebounded from that misfortune to ascend to being the second best junior quarter-miler in the world.

Lindeners will have their

Proteas captain Faf-du Plessis stops just short of endorsing Gibson LONDON, England (CMC) – South Africa captain Faf du Plessis says he has received “positive feedback” about Ottis Gibson, as speculation over the Barbadian becoming the next Proteas coach continued to intensify.

“I have asked the England team for their thoughts on Ottis, and they’ve given me positive feedback,” du Plessis said.

“I believe players are good judges, and will be honest with their reflections on a guy (and whether) he’ll

Former West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson is tipped to take over South Africa.

Media reports in recent weeks have tipped Gibson, currently the England bowling coach, to replace Russell Domingo in the position and du Plessis said he heard nothing but good reports about the 48-year-old from the England players.

work as a head coach.

“They’ve said some really good, positive things about him. Personally, if he is going to be the guy, we have to get to learn about each other first.”

Domingo has led South Africa for nearly four years

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday August 10, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & the City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 19 fours; 14 sixes (2) Roger Harper & Omar Khan Today’s Quiz: (1) Who are the defending CPL Champions?

(2) Who were the losing finalist in Hero CPL 2016?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

but his contract ended following the recent four-Test series against England which the Proteas lost 3-1.

And while the South African has indicated his interest in continuing in the role, it has been widely reported that Cricket South Africa has already identified Gibson. du Plessis said he had already discussed the matter with CSA but it was up to them to make the final decision.

“There were conversations,” he said.

“I just gave my input, where I said I think Russell is doing a good job at the moment … but if there is someone who can challenge the team more, by all means go and look who’s out there.

“That decision will only be made, as far as I know, when it gets to the board.”

Gibson led West Indies for four years before he was abruptly fired by Cricket West Indies, on the eve of a Test and oneday series against touring Bangladesh in 2014.

During his tenure, the Windies nabbed their first-ever Twenty20 World Cup title in 2012 before reaching as far as the semi-finals in the 2014 edition.

Gibson, who served as England’s fast bowling coach prior to taking up the position with West Indies, rejoined the set-up in 2015.

opportunity to see this outstanding athlete against some of the country’s best on home soil for the first time since his

from the Police and Army, who are registered in full force for the events with their top athletes, including Davin Fraser,

Chantoba Bright

global ranking. Williams is expected to compete in the International Men’s 200m and the 400m at the Boyce and Jefford Classic this weekend.

He will have a stern test

Akeem Stewart. However, Williams has proved to be a strong competitor under pressure.

In addition, jumps ace Bright has emerged as a top candidate in the International Women’s Long Jump and

the Triple Jump events in Guyana. Her performances internationally have so far landed her four CARIFTA Games medals - one gold, two silver and bronze.

Bright also has medals from the South American Junior Championships and was the other athlete on the two-member team to Kenya.

Linden gets the opportunity to see Bright attempt to shine among her senior counterparts.

With scholarship offers at colleges in the United States on the table for both athletes, it could be the last time they perform at home at a mega meet.

What is certain is that they, among others, are expected to hold their own at the MSC ground this weekend.

The Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic VIII is sponsored by Kares Engineering Inc., Ansa McAl under its Lucozade and STAG Beer brands, National Sports Commission, Guyana Tourism Authority, Red Wing Shoes at VSH United, R&D Engineering, Mohammed’s Enterprise and K&B Mining.

China’s Gong ends long wait for shot put gold

Lijiao Gong of China celebrates winning gold with silver medallist Anita Marton of Hungary (L) and bronze medallist Michelle Carter of the U.S. (R).

LONDON, England (Reuters) - China’s Gong Lijiao ended her long wait for a global outdoor title when she won the shot put gold medal at the World Championships yesterday, utterly dominating the competition.

The 28-old-year had won five silver and bronze medals at the World Championships and Olympics but gold had always eluded her until a chilly, wet night at the London Olympic stadium.

Gong made light of the conditions as she broke 19 metres with five of her six

attempts and won with a fifth throw of 19.94 metres.

There were only two other throws over 19 metres - Anita Marton’s final effort of 19.49 which won silver for the Hungarian and American Michelle Carter’s third throw of 19.14 which took bronze.

“It’s a very special moment for me. Of course, the rain affected the competition and that is the reason we didn’t go past 20 metres tonight,” Gong said. “ I am glad to show all the hard work I’ve done

in the past with this gold medal.”

Gong first appeared on the scene as an 18-year-old at the 2007 World Championships where she finished seventh.

She won Olympic bronze in Beijing in 2008 and silver in London in 2012 as well as world silver in Beijing two years ago.

Gong was agonisingly close to ending that run in Beijing when she threw 20.30m in the opening round but lost out to Germany’s Christina Schwanitz by seven centimetres.

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 10, 2017

The beauty of the Gold Coast on Show in the QBR 2018 relay

By Stephan Sookram THE beauty of the Gold Coast is what the design of the 2018 Commonwealth Games Baton signifies, as it travels across the various destinations according to Keri Alga, one of the members travelling with the Baton.

er Greg Quinn’s residence in Georgetown.

She contended that the Baton, “is made using macadamia wood and recycled plastic, sourced from Gold Coast waterways. The Baton’s design has been inspired by the region’s “vibrant spirit and indigenous heritage”

Surama, yesterday, also shows the fluid and lively motion of the people of the Gold Coast.

In his opening remarks, His Excellency Quinn contended, “I have no doubt, showing loyalty to Australia here that my friends will put on an even better show than the Glasgow

Champions! Commonwealth Youth Games 2017 silver medallist Keevin Allicock stands alongside Commonwealth Youth Games 2015 bronze medallist Taylor Fernandes who holds the Queen’s Baton 2018 Gold Coast. Guyana’s only Olympic medallist Michael Parris looks on.

GOA president K.A. Juman Yassin cuts the cake at the Queen’s Baton Relay reception on Tuesday evening at the British High Commissioner residence in Georgetown. His Excellency Greg Quinn is in the company of Ministers Sidney Allicock and Dominic Gaskin. (Delano Williams photo)

Alga was explaining this on Tuesday evening at a reception to mark the Baton’s Guyana leg at the British High Commission-

and with sustainability in mind.”

She noted that the Baton, which toured Kaieteur Falls, Annai and

regions and the UK did.”

Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) president KA Juman Yassin commended all who

turned out to take part in the relay on Tuesday, adding that Guyana is always open to hosting the Baton.

Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin, in his remarks reminded that the bond between sport and unity is one strengthened by acts of this nature.

The Baton, synony-

mous with the Commonwealth Games 2018 was specially designed to reflect the Gold Coast.

It also holds a message written by Queen Elizabeth II which will be unveiled at the opening of the Games in April in Australia.

On Commonwealth Day, March 13 this year, the Gold Coast Queen’s

Baton Relay was launched at Buckingham Palace, signalling the start of the Commonwealth Games which will be held in April 2018 in Australia.

Kerry Thompson heads the Baton delegation, along with Richard Hahn and Alga, all of Australia, and Colin Macpherson of Scotland.

Twenty-six strong to defend Guyana in athletics at IGG

By Tamica Garnett

GUYANA’S defence of their athletics title at the Inter-Guiana Games will be supported by a 26-strong athletic, being led by World Youth Championships silver medallist Daniel Williams, along with CARIFTA Games gold medallist Chantoba Bright and South American Junior silver medallist Joanna Archer.

The athletes were selected by the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) based on their performances at the trials last month, and will travel to Suriname to represent Guyana against the Surinamese athletes at the August 24-28 IGG. Notwithstanding missing last year, winners Kenisha Phillips, Avon Samuels, Onasha Rogers, Anfernee Headecker and Guyana’s sprint ace Compton Caesar, this year’s team looks good on paper and poised to defend Guyana’s title in athletics.

Phillips, who just returned from representing Guyana at Commonwealth Youth Games, is

out nursing injuries, while Samuels, Rogers and Caesar are no longer eligible to compete, by virtue of having finished school - a requirement of the Games of all participating athletes.

have always maintained a healthy reputation in athletics. Aside from athletics, football, volleyball, basketball, swimming and cycling competitions will also be contested at the Games.

This year ‘s team also

Daniel Williams

Despite doing poorly in other sports at the multi-sport Games, Guyana

Boyce, Samuel Lynch and Tyrell Peters. The team is also loaded with several repeat performers.

Peters, who brought second in the Boys’ 100m last year, will get his chance to shine this year,

who played second fiddle to Samuels in the Girls’ 400m last year will also have a chance to improve her standing.

Archer returns to defend her Girls’ 800m and 1500m titles, while Bright will be

Joanna Archer

includes other notables such South American Junior silver medallists Tortque

winning the 100m at the trials in a time of 10.71 seconds. Deshauna Skeete

looking to defend hers in the Girls’ long and triple jumps.

THE FULL TEAM IS AS FOLLOWS Girls: Toyan Raymond (100m, 200m), Binka Joseph (100m), Deshauna Skeete (200m, 400m), Kezra Murray (400m, 800m), Joanna Archer (800m, 1500m), Shaquka Tyrell (1500M, 3000m), Leyanna Charles (3000m), Chantoba Bright (long jump, triple jump), Tatyanna Blair (long jump, high jump), Virlyn Gibson (triple jump, high jump), Mian McPherson (shot put, javelin), Jamacia Scott (shot put, discus), Prudence Codrington (javelin, discus) Boys: Tyrell Peters (100m, 200m), Umkosie Vancooten (100m, 200m), Daniel Williams (400m, high jump), Samuel Lynch (400m, 800m), Daniel Melville (800m, discus), Murphy Nash (1500m, 5000m), Ronaldo Wishart (1500m, javelin), Rickie Williams (5000m), Anthony Williams (long jump, triple jump), Ronaldo Greene (long jump, triple jump), To r t q u e B o y c e ( h i g h jump), Jermin Simmons (shot put, javelin), Lennox Henry (shot put, discus).

Twenty-six strong to defend Guyana in See Page 27 athletics at IGG

Captain Tia Briggs-Thompson (fourth from left) joined by her teammates after scoring her second goal against Guyana

CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Qualifier tournament

Barbados humble Guyana 5-1 Barbados’ Tiana Sealy celebrating her goal in the 51st Minute against Guyana (Samuel Maughn photos) Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Guyana’s Jalade Trim in full control

THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 2017