Guyana chronicle e paper 08 11 2017

ACDA awards Emancipation winners Page 15

Economic boom No. 105001

FRIDAY,AUGUST 11, 2017

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

– aviation sector contributes $20.7B to economy, supports 12,000 jobs – estimated to expand exponentially with emergence of oil and gas sector

Over 400 reservists in training at Makouria PagePa ge 2 13

Page 3

Suspect in ‘oral sex murder’ arrested Pag e 2

Pensioner crushed by canter truck

Page 16

President David Granger addressing soldiers at the Colonel Robert Mitchell Jungle and Amphibious Training School (CRM-JATS) at Makouria in the Essequibo River, where the Guyana People’s Militia 2017 training camp is underway. The aim of the training is to orient reservists to the jungle environment and to teach them basic survival techniques (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

No willy-nilly sharing of Exxon contract

Page 13

Travel to Qatar now visa-free

Page 16

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

Over 400 reservists in training at Makouria PRESIDENT David Granger said that each capital town and Administrative Region in Guyana will have a unit of the Guyana People’s Militia (GPM), which will allow young people to benefit from skills training, to become equipped to provide support in the event of natural disasters, to become comfortable with the natural environment and to be in a state of readiness as part of Government’s Total National Defence policy. The Head of State made these remarks on Thursday at the Colonel Robert Mitchell Jungle and Amphibious Training School (CRM-JATS), at Makouria in the Essequibo River, where the GPM’s 2017 training camp is underway. The aim of the training is to orient reservists to the jungle environment and to teach them basic survival techniques, the Ministry of the Presidency said in a report. The camp is being conducted simultaneously at CRM-JATS and Base Camp Seweyo on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. The President said that the training offers tremendous benefits to soldiers and civilians, particularly young people; keeping them physically fit and giving them

valuable life skills that they will be able to put into practice in an operational setting. The Head of State said, “In becoming an army of the people, in becoming a national army, in becoming part of this process of total national defence, I just want to emphasise the importance about the environment…We believe in the strategy of total national defence, that is to say, that we bring together all of the elements that our country could mobilise to protect our environment and our territoriality.” The Commander-in-Chief explained that in addition to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) also has a role of ensuring that the civil power is supported. In this regard, Commandant of the Guyana People’s Militia, Colonel Gary Beaton, informed that reservists also receive training in national policy, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. As such, they are now equipped to render assistance in firefighting and disaster relief operations. President Granger also reminded reservists and ranks of the GDF of the core values of the organisation to which they

belong. These values include responsibility, respect for the law, respect for others, correct conduct, and appropriate social behaviour. “Soldiers, whether they belong to the regular or the reserve force, must be exemplars of the high standards that we expect in the Government of persons who have the honour to wear the uniform of this Republic,” President Granger said. Some of the training is being done by instructors from the Brazilian Army. This, the Head of State said, is a testament of the fruitful cooperation that the two countries, moreso the two armies, have shared over the past 48 years. Develop skills Meanwhile, Chief of Staff of the GDF, Colonel Patrick West said that this annual camp allows people to get rid of phobias, which are inherent in some persons based on where they grew up. It also affords them the opportunity to develop skills, which can be useful if they choose to seek employment in the forestry and/or mining sectors. Additionally, they are now better prepared to join the GDF since the reservists, who are mainly youths, are more familiar with the environment in which they must operate. “Mr. President I can assure you that we have fulfilled your mandate in creating a reserve force based on your direction on December 1, 2015. We are happy to note that this Force is growing and very soon they will be augmented into the regular Force and be a part of

Force exercises and other operations,” Colonel West said. The 2017 camp commenced on July 30 with 414 reservists drawn from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10, who were divided into two groups to be trained simultaneously at CRM-JATS and Camp Seweyo before they were rotated on August 4. Of that number, 24 dropped for medical and other reasons. Colonel Beaton informed that over 50 percent of the reservists are attending mil-

itary training for the first time. Moreover, 34 percent of reservists at the camp are females. The People’s Militia was established over 260 years ago by the Dutch. Subsequently, the British took over up to the time of World War II. It was then replaced by the British Guiana Volunteer Force (BGVF), which was de-mobilised after Independence. In 1976, this body was re-established as the Guyana People’s Militia which was again de-mobilised in 1997 until President

Granger reinstated it when he took Office. As it stands, the GPM has a strength of approximately 16 officers and 622 ranks. The Chief of Staff said that major recruitment will continue this year. Members of the National Security Council (NSC) including Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo; Attorney General, Mr. Basil Williams; and Minister of Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan were also present during the visit to the training camp.

President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Attorney General, Mr. Basil Williams and Minister of Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan look on as a reservist describes footprint tracking. This is one of many training techniques that reservists are exposed to at the People’s Militia annual training camp, which comes to an end on Saturday

GRIF Project Grant will increase connectivity in hinterland communities MINISTER of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, is confident that a project designed for ICT Access and eServices for Hinterland, Poor and Remote Communities will get funding through the Guyana-Norway Agreement. In an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Minister Hughes said that under the Rural Poor and Hinterland Communities Project, the ministry has applied

for funds through the Guyana REDD?plus Investment Fund (GRIF). She noted that the ministry has being going through the process and has completed the necessary groundwork. The project proposal requesting US$17 million, is a five- year intervention programme and was formally submitted to the GRIF Secretariat. It is expected to bolster the existing connectivity drive. Minister Hughes expressed excitement

because the project has a number of components. She noted that there are many “far-flung parts of the hinterland such as the Rupununi, where we need special approaches.” The minister explained that there is a cost to providing internet access and projects will need to be developed that will generate income in the communities. Another important component of the project Minister Hughes identified is training

of individuals. She explained that training of persons in the communities that are to be connected is imperative. “We will need to go into these communities and provide training, so that they can know how to use this internet they are getting to better themselves,” Minister Hughes said. Minister Hughes noted that the ministry has been able to connect communities in Masakenari, Bartica, Linden and Mabaruma. (DPI)

Economic boom GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 11, 2017

3

--aviation sector contributes $20.7B to economy, supports 12,000 jobs --estimated to expand exponentially with emergence of oil and gas sector By Ariana Gordon THE aviation sector contributes significantly to the local economy, a US $50,000 study conducted here by Oxford Economics Limited has found. According to the May 2015 study titled “The impact of aviation on Guyana’s economy”, the sector contributed some $20.7B in annual economic activities. This amounts to some 3.2 per cent of the country’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2015. That year, Guyana’s GDP stood at US$3.179B. Additionally, the study has found that the aviation sector supports approximately 12,000 jobs; nearly one in every 20 jobs here. Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), retired Colonel Egbert Fields, told reporters during a press conference held at his Kingston office that Guyana’s economy is “on an exploding path”. He explained that with the expansion of the runway at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the eminent oil and gas industry, and the expansion of the domestic aviation industry, it is clear that the future is bright. Fields said the study was done to set benchmarks for the future and to understand the position of aviation in the economic realm and the role it plays. The GCAA director-general said the study will serve as a baseline “as we move ahead in more challenging times with an exploding economy”. “We will be able to rate the impact aviation has on this economy in a better way moving ahead,” he stated. Fields disclosed that the London-headquartered contractor only utilised data from the CJIA and the Eugene F. Correia International Airports, as no records for interior aerodromes and airstrips were not available. “We did get a few baseline data but we could not get the computer data out of the interior because records were not properly kept, but we hope that by the next survey we would have complete data from the interior locations.

GCAA Director General, retired Colonel, Egbert Fields

We have already set things in motion to accumulate such data and we would be able to use those in the future,” he said. Notwithstanding the absence of data from hinterland airstrips and aerodromes, the GCAA director-general said the contractor had sufficient data to properly conduct the study. The study also did not include data about the operations at small airstrips and international carriers except Fly Jamaica, capital investment spending, sources for input data and survey data provided by the two main airports and six air operators. Meanwhile, via PowerPoint presentation, GCAA Air Transportation Director, Saheed Sulaman, explained that tourism has a major role to play in the industry. The study concluded that practically all foreign tourists to Guyana arrive by air. CATALYTIC IMPACT “In economic impact terminology, the spending by foreign tourists represents a catalytic impact of aviation. This represents a large influx of spending into the Guyanese economy. That spending ripples through the economy, benefitting a variety of sectors,” Oxford Economics said in its report. Nevertheless, Sulaman was quick to point out that other local industries also

rely heavily on aviation including the mining and extractive industries and retail or trade sectors. Tourism, though, is completely dependent on aviation and the government has received almost $2B in travel tax. Some 8,550 jobs can be attributed to tourism with G $13.8 billion in impacts

GCAA Air Transportation Director, Saheed Sulaman

from roughly G $23 billion in spending. Approximately 70 per cent of the jobs are in the hotel and restaurant industry; trade, transportation and communication sector; and finance, real estate and commerce. Approximately 900 workers are employed directly at airports and are operators,

while almost 2,600 more are employed in indirect (supply chain) and induced channels. “In a fully self-sufficient economy (i.e., no imports), the sum of the direct and indirect impacts of $1 in final purchases would be exactly $1. Induced effects would make the total impacts larger. “In practice, the sum of direct and indirect impacts

is always smaller because of leakages, or impact lost to imports from abroad. However, our estimates, especially for tourism, show unusually high leakages by international standards,” the report added. The Oxford Economics Limited report emphasised the role transportation plays in operational and tourism impacts as well as what it has described as “an indispensable role connecting Guyana, both internally between regions and to the global economy”. The connectivity enabled by aviation, the report added, has the potential to reshape the Guyanese economy, enabling new industries and increasing productivity in existing ones. It is believed that a country’s air connectivity boosts economic growth and opens new markets, fosters trade, encourages foreign and domestic investment, stimulates tourism, and facilitates the exchange of ideas and technology. “This encourages innovation and raises productivity,” the May 2015 study said.

Suspect in ‘oral sex murder’ arrested THE Police have arrested one of two suspects on Thursday in connection with the death of a 40-year-old miner, Orlando La Cruz, of Pomeroon River, who was shot dead on June 15 at Jack and Vieira Backdam, North West District (NWD). La Cruz was shot to the right side neck and pronounced dead at the Matthew’s Ridge District

Hospital. Reports indicate that La Cruz was shot after he refused to perform oral sex on one of his drinking buddies at Jack and Vieira Backdam, North West District. According to reports, the victim was lying in a hammock in his camp when the two suspects visited him after which they began consuming high wine and water.

Shortly after, one of the suspects was heard telling La Cruz to perform oral sex on him and when he refused, an argument erupted between the three men. The suspect allegedly collected a cartridge from the second suspect and loaded his shotgun. He then placed the weapon to the right side of the victim’s neck and pulled the trigger.

The two suspects then made good their escape into nearby bushes. This newspaper was informed that when a rank visited the scene, the victim was found lying in the hammock, bleeding from the wound. No spent shell was recovered at the scene but two high wine bottles were found.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

Trump warns North Korea -- says ‘fire and fury’ not tough enough

President Donald Trump warned North Korea again on Thursday not to strike Guam or U.S. allies, saying his earlier threat to unleash “fire and fury” on Pyongyang if it launched an attack may not have been tough enough. After North Korea disclosed plans to fire missiles over Japan to land near the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, Trump said the move would prompt “an event the likes of which nobody’s seen before.” He took specific aim at North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying he had “disrespected our country greatly. He has said things that are horrific. And with me, he’s not getting away with it,” Trump told reporters in New Jersey. “It’s not a dare. It’s a statement,” Trump said. “He’s not going to go around threatening Guam. And he’s not going to threaten the United States. And he’s not going to threaten Japan. And he’s not going to threaten South Korea.”

North Korea’s army will complete the plans in mid-August to fire four intermediate-range missiles over Japan to land near Guam, when they will be ready for Kim’s order, state-run KCNA news agency said. The plans called for the missiles to land in the sea 30-40 km (18-25 miles) from Guam. “Let’s see what he does with Guam. He does something in Guam, it will be an event the likes of which nobody’s seen before, what will happen in North Korea,” Trump said, without offering specifics. Shortly after Trump spoke, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis told reporters in Mountain View, California, the United States still preferred a diplomatic approach to the North Korean threat and a war would be “catastrophic.” Asked if the United States was ready if North Korea took a hostile act, he said: “We are ready.” Tension in the region has risen since the reclusive com-

Friday, August 11, 2017

-

05:00 hrs

Saturday, August 12, 2017

-

08:30 hrs

Sunday, August 6, 2017

-

08:30 hrs

DATE: Wednesday, August 9, 2017 F

5

7

9 10 20 27 4

munist country, which staged two nuclear bomb tests last year, launched two intercontinental ballistic missile tests in July in defiance of world powers. Trump has said he will not allow Pyongyang to develop a nuclear weapon capable of hitting the United States. Far from toning down his words after saying on Tuesday that any threats by Pyongyang would be “met with fire and fury like the world has never seen,” Trump said those remarks may have not gone far enough. “Maybe it wasn’t tough enough,” Trump said. Trump’s Tuesday comments unnerved allies in the region and drew criticism from some politicians and foreign policy experts at home as needlessly pugnacious at a time when more measured language would be appropriate. On Thursday in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he is on a working vacation, Trump also declared the U.S. nuclear arsenal “in tip-top shape,

Thursday, August 10, 2017

02

05

08 11

and getting better, and getting stronger.” Asked if he would consider a pre-emptive strike against North Korea to deny it the ability to launch a nuclear attack against the United States, Trump said, “We’ll see what happens.” 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. Trump also said new sanctions on North Korea approved by the U.N. Security Council on Aug. 5 that could slash by a third the country’s $3 billion annual export revenue probably would not be as effective as hoped. He pressed China, North Korea’s most important ally and trading partner, to do more. ‘CHINA CAN DO A LOT MORE’ “I think China can do a lot more, yes. ... And I think China will do a lot more,” Trump said.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

19

0

0

7

Trump has threatened to impose punitive trade restrictions on China for its alleged trade abuses, and has delayed actions to impose broad restrictions on steel imports. He also has shelved plans to investigate misappropriation of U.S. intellectual property by China after Beijing signed on to deeper U.N. sanctions against North Korea. Trump said the United States loses a lot of money on trade with China. “It’s not going to continue like that. But if China helps us, I feel a lot differently toward trade,” Trump added. The tensions between North Korea and the United States spurred a broad market sell-off in U.S. stocks. The benchmark S&P 500 stock index . SPX closed with a 1.4 percent loss, marking the biggest oneday drop since May and registering just the third day all year that it closed with a loss of more than 1 percent. Wall Street’s fear index hit its highest level since Trump was elected, as investors snatched up insurance to protect against future stock market losses. Former defense officials and experts say any new military conflict with North Korea would likely escalate quickly

to the use of nuclear weapons, bringing catastrophic casualties not seen since World War Two and an untold economic impact worldwide. They warned the escalating war of words could risk a miscalculation that could result in conflict far beyond the scale of the 1950-53 Korean War, which claimed the lives of millions of Koreans, tens of thousands of Chinese and Americans and thousands from U.S. allies like Britain. Trump said the United States would “always consider negotiations” with Pyongyang, but faulted three of his predecessors, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, on their approach to North Korea. Guam, a tropical island more than 3,000 km (2,000 miles) to the southeast of North Korea, is home to about 163,000 people. It has a strategically located U.S. air base, a Navy installation that includes a submarine squadron, a Coast Guard group and roughly 6,000 U.S. military service members. “Sound dialogue is not possible with such a guy bereft of reason and only absolute force can work on him,” KCNA said, calling Trump’s “fire and fury” comment “a load of nonsense.” (Reuters)

Thursday, August 10, 2017

8

5

8

Thursday, August 10, 2017

6

7

9

10 13 15 19

5

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

Mystery as US expels two Cuban diplomats Washington has expelled two Cuban diplomats after US embassy staff in Havana suffered mysterious physical symptoms, the US state department said. It was not immediately clear what had happened, with spokeswoman Heather Nauert saying there were no “definitive answers about the source or cause”. Reports suggest US diplomats could have suffered hearing loss related to the use of covert sonic devices. Cuba’s foreign ministry said it was investigating the allegations. It called the expulsion of its staff unjustified but said it was willing to co-operate with Washington to clarify what had happened. “Cuba has never, nor would ever, allow the Cu-

ban territory to be used for any kind of action against accredited diplomats or their families,” the ministry said.

inaudible sound waves that can cause deafness. US officials, speaking to the agency anonymously, said

Investigators are also considering the possibility that a third country, such as Russia, was behind the incidents, offi-

Two Cuban diplomats have been asked to leave the US

The Associated Press reports the diplomats’ hearing loss could have been linked to sonic devices which emit

investigations had determined devices had been deployed either inside or outside diplomats’ homes.

cials familiar with the inquiry told AP. About five diplomats, including some spouses, had

been affected, but no children were involved, US officials said. Nauert said staff began complaining of the strange symptoms late last year. While they were not life-threatening, she revealed that a number of people had been brought home to the US as a result. Nauert said the government was taking it “very seriously, and there is an investigation currently under way”. It is understood that the two expelled Cuban diplomats left Washington DC in May, the BBC’s Will Grant reports from Havana. Cuba’s state security closely monitors US diplomats, many of whom live in housing owned and maintained by the Cuban government.

Washington and Havana only re-established ties in 2015, following 50 years of hostilities between the two countries. Florida Senator Marco Rubio said the alleged incidents were just the latest examples of harassment toward US diplomats in Cuba. “The Cuban government has been harassing US personnel working in Havana for decades,” he said. “This has not stopped with President Obama’s appeasement. “Personal harm to US officials shows the extent the Castro regime will go and clearly violates international norms.” If true, the use of sonic devices to cause harm to diplomats would be unprecedented. (BBC)

Cooking gas shortage forces Venezuelans to turn to firewood Venezuelan homemaker Carmen Rondon lives in the country with the world’s largest oil reserves, but has spent weeks cooking with firewood due to a chronic shortage of home cooking gas - leaving her hoarse from breathing smoke. Finding domestic gas cylinders has become increasingly difficult, a problem that oil industry analysts attribute to slumping oil output in the OPEC nation - which is struggling under an unraveling socialist economy. State oil company PDVSA says the problem is due to difficulties in distributing tanks amid four months of anti-government protests in which its trucks have been attacked. “I’ve spent three weeks

cooking with wood and sometimes the food does not even soften properly, I can’t stand it anymore,” said Rondon, as she lined up to buy a cylinder under the scorching sun in the city of San Felix in southern Venezuela. More than 100 people were ahead of her in line. Nine out of 10 Venezuelan homes rely on cylinders for home gas usage, with only 10 percent receiving it via pipelines, according to official figures. The government launched a plan 12 years ago to bring some 5 million households onto the natural gas network but was unable to follow through. Ve n e z u e l a ’s s o c i a l ist economy has been in free-fall since the oil price collapse in 2014, creating shortages of everything from

diapers to cancer medication and spurring inflation to triple-digit levels. President Nicolas Maduro says he is the victim of an “economic war” by the opposition, and says violent street protests are part of an effort to overthrow him. With oil output near 25year lows, PDVSA has been forced to import liquid petroleum gas, or LPG, which is used to fill natural gas cylinders. Venezuela imported 26,370 barrels per day of LPG in the first half of 2017,

according to data seen by Reuters. PDVSA did not respond to a request for comment. Long lines to buy cylinders have spurred protests. Demonstrators in May burned 22 PDVSA trucks in a single day in response to the shortages. The company says it is now distributing gas cylinders at night and before daybreak due to such protests, which also include roadblocks that prevent free movement of vehicles.

“It’s not fair that a country with so much oil is going through this,” complained Maria Echeverria, a 44-year-old homemak-

er, who started waiting at dawn to buy a gas cylinder in San Cristobal, near the border with neighboring Colombia. (Reuters)

6

Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

Media freedom

POLITICS will forever continue to produce its particular brand of hypocrisy and, this is because of the peculiar nature of the conduct and practice of this institution inherent of all that it entails. Of course, its centrepiece and driving force, is the quest for political power-- its powerful motivator. The historic May 2015 national elections that resulted in the ground-breaking A Party for National Unity + Alliance For Change(APNU+AFC) assuming the reins of office, has since witnessed the emergence of this kind of politician, compliments of the People’s Progresssive Party(PPP). Not that this situation has been altogether unexpected, since it is traditional for representatives of a defeated political party to suddenly remember all the principled causes that they ought to have supported, during the period of holding

power. But it has been the scale of this effrontery and impudence, which takes one aback. The so-called correctors have miraculously become overnight voices of liberty. This great contradiction of every sort, surfaced, again, during the recent parliamentary debate on the Broadcasting (Amendment) Act. Leading this clique, as usual, has been the Leader of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo, who presided over one of the darkest periods of media oppression in this country. Beginning with the state media: the Guyana Chronicle dared not publish any view that criticised the Jagdeo regime, nor the PPP. Even constructive criticisms were not kindly received. In fact, its columns were extensively used for personal attacks and vilification of persons who opposed his government’s policies. The policy

was clear–only pieces that glorified the then government and reflected its line. A popular television station that illustrated the other side of life in a supposedly prosperous Guyana, and hosted then opposition spokespersons on its programmes, saw its proprietor suffering daily persecution in the form of verbal abuse, and targeted physical attacks during this period. Ironically, this very channel is at the moment, hosting the very PPP personalities. Then there was the incident of punishing a private print media house, by withdrawing government advertisements; an action that had been a clear violation of the Chapultepec Agreement to which Guyana became a signatory via Jagdeo. But there were other examples of this brutal assault on press freedom perpetrated by the Jagdeo government: A popular columnist and

critic was doused with faeces; another was barred from covering post-cabinet press conferences; journalists were described as vultures and carrion crows; opposition politicians were mostly prevented from use of the state television channel; private television channels applications were denied permission for the extension of their signals, while the state-owned NCN had unlimited range of telecasting. Then there was the infamous granting of multiple television and broadcasting licences to close friends of the PPP. This was in contrast to credible entities that were not allowed because of their anti-PPP government views. Contrast this all-out assault on press freedom, during his stewardship then, with the fact of a new government and a new dispensation since May, 2015: the state media is no longer a conduit for abusing anyone. Instead,

analysts, known supporters, and friends of the coalition government, have been freely expressing their criticisms, through columns, and letters in the Guyana Chronicle. The letter pages are an example of this new-found freedom of the State media, with letters written by even some former PPP ministers, and supporters, being published. During the Jagdeo regime this was unheard of, much less allowed. And neither is the state media used by the government to retaliate in a spiteful manner, against any of these critics, whether their views are in the state media,

or private. The hallmark of the Fourth Estate in Guyana today is its function in a democratic environment, in which Guyanese are voicing their opinions on critical matters of national importance without fear of suffering any act of vindictiveness. Even those with a political agenda, and clearly unfair, are also published. But most important is the recognition that the media has an important role to play in political discourse, especially with regard to the socio–economic development of the nation. This can only occur with a free media, as it is today in Guyana.

This oil money driving the PPP crazy Dear Editor, IT seems to me and I know others have also recognised it that the PPP is only after power once again. If one is to carefully listen to their speeches and look at their actions in the National Assembly, it is quite clear from their actions and reactions. Their words to the government side and Speaker of the National Assembly when answering or heckling are very disturbing to hear. At sittings of the 69th and 70th Parliaments, it was very disturbing to hear what was coming out of the mouths of some of the PPP MPs. These people behave as if they never had the chance to govern Guyana. They behave as if they never had time to fix the problems that this government is facing. But we the people understand their fight for power.

This oil money that will be coming to the country is making them get out of hand and will do anything to get back into power. But, we as a nation need to understand that if the PPP goes back there, then Guyana will surely have to be renamed, because they will sell out everything as they were trying to do in their 23 years in government. However, during those 23 years, they almost sold the entire country out. When I listen to those people in opposition, it makes me wonder as to where were they living for 23 years when PPP destroyed Guyana? Where were their voices against injustice and corruption? Why they were not representing the people?. Why they did not put systems in place to deal with development in all sectors? Why they did not cuss down those who

took state lands without having the requirement of being a parent? Why they did not cuss down those that acquired state lands at a low cost and sell it after for hundreds of millions? It makes me wonder. I heard and read comments from the PPP’s top brass, members and supporters that are very negative as to the prison outbreak, the broadcast laws, the future of the sugar industry, the business sector development, etc. It seems that those people (PPP) just echo filling and self-destructing. Mr. Editor, for 23 years the prison system was not fixed although it was overcrowded. I agree with HE President Granger when he said: “It was something just waiting to happen.” Because of the overcrowding one day it would have happened, but the PPP failed to address the situation. They failed to

put proper systems in place for 23 years, but today they want to be saints and preach as if when they left power the prison system was fixed. Instead of working with the Hon. Minister of Public Security Mr. Ramjattan MP, they decided to cuss out the government. They decided to talk about the inhumane conditions the prisoners went through. Oh my god, it was an emergency. Where could the prisoners be put in that very case of emergency? Maybe the government should have hired rooms in the Pegasus, Princess and the PPP’s Marriott hotel for the prisoners. Instead of giving the nation some form of positive mindset, the PPP uses the situation to send fear into the lives of the Guyanese nation. This shows as to how far the PPP will go to ensure their supporters remain subjected to them. For 23 years the PPP did not fix the

justice and prison systems. But today they are preaching as if they are the pharaohs of this land. As if they did all right and no wrong. But the people have to be the judges and that is why they lost the 2015 elections, because they were judged by the people of this great land. It amazes me to know that 23 years the PPP had in ruling and dictatorship was then the norm of the day since Bharrat Jagdeo took the presidency and leadership of the party. Let’s continue to unite in taking Guyana forward as we are going through this time and moments of trial. We must not forget the saying, without hurdles, trials and temptations we cannot have a better and brighter future. Moments like these will make us stronger and united for a better Guyana. We have to continue working as hard as possible in ensuring

we have a better Guyana, as the coalition government is working harder each day to better our lifves. While some may say that we must forget the past, we still need to reflect so as to better the future. This APNU+AFC government in May 2015 inherited a country that was corrupted and had broken infrastructures for 23 long years. The present government inherited a bankrupt sugar industry, closing of the PetroCarib deal, poor drainage, roads and a broken education system, etc. But the opposition wants EVERYTHING to be fixed in less than three years in government. They had 23 years to better Guyana, but instead they bettered themselves, families, friends and supporters. Regards ABEL SEETARAM

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

Damage to GTT cable could be an inside job Dear Editor, THE damage done to GTT’s Fibre Optic cable is reprehensible and the public rejects it. The damage was not done by the numerous disgruntled customers who are suffering at the hands of GTT as an ambassador indicated. The Minister of Public Telecommunications felt that it could be due to a warped sense of competition. But those who speak with GTT workers know that there is much disaffection among them for the company. The speed, accuracy and timing with

which the cable was damaged clearly points to an inside job. To end future vandalism from the inside, management of the company needs to reach out to the staff. And if the management feels the public should be sheriffs, they should also reach out to the customers. The footsteps of former managers Yog Mahadeo and Joe Singh should be followed and there would be no more sabotage from the inside. Regards CECIL MORGAN

Diaspora conference was not representative Dear Editor,

THE Guyana’s Diaspora Engagement Conference was held from 23 – 26th July 2017. It was held at The Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel and was organised by The University of Guyana (UG). I was privileged to attend. On entering the Hall for the conference opening, I thought I was in the wrong place. It appeared to me that the hard-working vice-chancellor, or one of his organisers, had made a mistake by calling the conference, “Guyana Diaspora Engagement Conference.” I would have been more comfortable and understanding if the conference was called the “Afro-Guyanese Diaspora Engagement Conference.” I saw more Afro-Guyanese than any other race, from usher to

registrar to technician. The musical performers were all Africans. From time immemorial, Guyana has been promoted as “The land of six races.” I expected to see the two major races in Guyana equally represented, but over 90% of those in attendance were Afro-Guyanese. Listening to some of the speakers on the opening night of the conference,, I am still a little confused about what contributions they made to their beloved country. How many returned home to create employment and opportunities for their brothers in the Desmond Hoyte Government. I thought that The Hon.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamotoo would have graced the opening. Was he too afraid to attend the reception? In his opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, chanted “If me na com, me na kno, me com so me kno.” On the second day of the conference, His Excellency President David Granger, said Guyana is going forward, but he didn’t say how and where. To me, his emphasis was more on promoting eco-tourism, the same speech he gave at many places all over the Caribbean. He spoke about The University of Guyana’s contributions to

tertiary education and his experience as a student. President Granger didn’t say, or conveniently forgot, the same university he attended was established by the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan and C.R. Nunes. Granger’s predecessor, L.F.S.Burhnam, had tried to degrade the University of Guyana by referring to it as “Jagan’s Night School.” The opening speakers of the conference failed to remember that both races had made, and continue to make, tremendous contributions to the development of Guyana. Regards MS. FARAH ALI

8

Scholarships to UG up for grabs THE Zara Group of Companies in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force (GFP) is offering four fully-funded undergraduate degree scholarships for fulltime prospective University of Guyana (UG) students. In a statement from the group on Thursday, it was explained that the scholarships are available for the academic year commencing September 2017. The scholarships are fully-funded for four years and beneficiaries are required to maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above. Two of the scholarships will be available to the public while the other two will be offered to immediate family members of ranks from the Guyana Police Force. To be eligible to apply for the scholarships, applicants must have: recently completed the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) 2017 examination, with minimum of eight subjects; proof of acceptance from UG;

demonstrated need for financial assistance (letter stating parents’ income); planning to enroll full-time in a bachelor’s degree programme; letter to show they have completed at least 100 hours community service; and a letter addressed to the GPF – Zara scholarship committee stating future goals and plans to achieve them. Persons interested in applying are asked to send an email to: gpfzarascholarship@gmail.com at the soonest possible time. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, August 23, 2017. Senior Vice President of the Zara Group, Jay Subraj said in the statement that the scholarship is the companies’ way of committing to their corporate social responsibilities. The Zara Group of Companies was established about 30 years ago by a Guyanese family. The company was mainly involved in real estate business and managing apartment buildings in New

York City. So far, the company has collaborated with several organisations including the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) and the GPF. In March of this year, the Zara Group launched the first Cyber Security Centre in Georgetown at the recommissioning of the Felix Austin Computer training centre. They provided over 3,000 persons, including children and members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), with computer training. The Zara Group of Companies has contributed tremendously to the GPF, having expended a total of $20.5M towards the establishment of three computer centres here. The GPF/Zara Computer Centre in Berbice was commissioned on June 2, 2012, the one in Essequibo on July 8, 2013, and the one in Georgetown on November 28, 2013, all by then Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

High Court orders return of Dataram $9M

–lawyer tells magistrate court ACTING Chief Justice Roxane George recently ordered that the $9M that The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) had seized from convicted drug trafficker Barry Dataram and his brother, Troy Dataram in 2015 be returned. The decision came after a lengthy battle over the sized asset which was suspected to be ‘drugs money’ in the High Court between the Dataram’s attorney, Glenn Hanoman and SOCU. The monies were handed over to Troy Dataram in July. Barry Dataram is currently serving a five year sentence at the Mazaruni Prison for cocaine possession, and an additional 48 months for forgery. He was

Convicted drug lord, Barry Dataram

also sentenced to three years imprisonment after he was found guilty of possession of ammunition. The monies were sized April 16, 2015 following a raid on the Diamond property, when ranks of the Cus-

toms Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) found approximately $9 million and this was later handed over to SOCU, so that an investigation could be initiated. The house is reportedly owned by Troy Dataram. When the matter was called on Wednesday, attorney Hanoman informed the court of the High Court decision but DPP prosecutor, Dionne McCammon explained the she did not know about the proceeding in the higher court. According to McCammon, the DPP chambers was not involved in the High Court proceeding. Magistrate Latchman adjourned the matter until August 14 at 01:30pm for a report on the matter.

PI opens next week into killing of Covent Garden school boy

THE preliminary Inquiry (PI) in the case against two youngsters charged with the murder of 16-year old Brian Charles-Yearwood, who was fatally stabbed during a school concert at Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara (EBD) will commence next Wednesday. Shannon Cox, 20,

of Kaneville, EBD and 17-year-old, Andy Peters are jointly charged and appeared before City Magistrate Judy Latchman with committing the heinous crime which occurred on April 29, 2017. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Vishnu Hunt and will commence on August

16. According to reports on April 29, 2017, Yearwood was attending a school concert when he was stabbed to his chest, allegedly by the 17-yearold. The teen was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre but was pronounced dead on arrival. The police recovered a knife at the home of the 20-year-old suspect.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 11, 2017

Narrow escape

THERE was traffic congestion on Regent Street, Georgetown, around noon on Thursday following a collision between a taxi and a motorcycle. It was not clear how the accident occurred, but the motorcycle ended up under the car. The motorcyclist escaped with minor injuries and was unhappy that his bike was mangled in the accident. Below is a scene of the accident.

Teen needs help for urgent eye surgery PAULA Cottam, 16, is seeking financial assistance to save her left eye for which she needs urgent surgery in the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago (TT). The total cost of the vitrectomy surgery expected to be performed by Dr. Ronnie Bhola is US$3,500 or TT$23,000. The student of the Ministry of Education Visually Impaired and Blind Students Resource Centre and St. Joseph High School is blind in the left eye and underwent a surgery in TT in 2012, but needs a follow-up surgical procedure. She was accompanied by her father Paul Cottam, who is blind in both eyes and is asking for financial help to offset medical and travelling expenses for his daughter’s surgery over-

seas. Paula is a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). In April 2012, Paula had left vitreo-retinal surgery in TT and her cataract was removed, leaving her aphakia (the absence of the lens of the eye, due to surgical removal, a perforating wound or ulcer, or congenital anomaly). She, however, returned in November 2012 for a follow-up and she was found to still have a persistent retinal detachment. She underwent left vitrectomy, encirclement procedure, endo-laser with silicon oil implantation. Paula returned to TT in April 2013 and had left ROSO-SF-Air and lens implantation. Thereafter, she had follow-up treatment at the

GPHC , but the vision in her left eye remains low. Paula resides with her father at Lot 127 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown, and is seeking financial assistance to have this surgery done in TT as soon as possible to save her eye. Interested persons willing to help can contact Paula’s family on telephone numbers 692-5223, 6178471, and 231-2361 or can make a deposit in their bank account 244-4065 at Republic Bank. Michel Outridge photo saved in a file in Graphics as Paula and her dad. Caption: Paula Cottam and her blind dad Paul Cottam making an appeal for monetary assistance for her surgery in TT

9

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

Inmate killed at Timehri was brutally chopped last year …mother pleads for support, urges thorough probe

By Vanessa Braithwaite CARLA BOBB, the mother of 26- year-old Winston Hinds, the prisoner who was on Friday last shot dead at the Timehri Prison, is calling on the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, claiming the post mortem findings are in contradiction with the explanation given to her by the prison authorities. Bobb said that she witnessed the post mortem of her son and the findings show that he was shot to the abdomen, while the prison authorities are saying that he was shot while trying to escape. She said if he was shot while escaping he would have been more than likely hit on the back and not the abdomen. “I feel really bad about it, I feel real hurt because I think the jail is supposed to take care of

your children when they are in prison,” the mother of six said. She said that with her son being placed at the Timehri Prison which was deemed a ‘safe’ prison, she felt a bit relieved, but this feeling quickly dwindled when he was allegedly chopped last year and she was never informed by the authorities but by fellow inmates. “They never called me, is the prisoners called me and tell me what happened, and when I go down they tell me what go down.” Hinds was remanded to prison in January 2016, for the February 2015 killing of Richard Remington. Remington’s decomposing remains were found in a clump of bushes along a track, in the vicinity of Matthew’s Lane in the Christianburg/ Cholmondeley Hill area, in Wismar, Linden on February 12th 2015. Bobb however, is profess-

ing her son’s innocence in the matter, since she claims he was not even in Linden at the time. She alleged that her son was being harassed by police officers in Linden and she sent him away to Georgetown where he was living for over a year. “He was living in Georgetown, he came up here to collect some money, because he and a police had a problem and I get him out of Linden and after like a year or something he came to Linden to pick up some money from me and he didn’t spend any night, he spent like a half day and they picked him up.” Bobb said that she is a single parent and is deeply pained by the incident. She said that the prison authorities did reach out to her and offer their sympathy. She said that the officer that shot him also apologised for the incident and explained

that he aimed at shooting at his foot. “I really can’t fight fire with fire because I am very poor. I spoke to him just the day before he died and he didn’t tell me about any fight or anything, he just told me he love me and to take care,” the grieving mother said. Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels had noted that the murder accused had repeatedly ignored all warnings issued by the prison officers. Samuels said that several prisoners, who were armed with improvised weapons, were involved in ‘a serious physical altercation.’ Hinds will be buried on Saturday 12th August. The Guyana Prison Service is assisting with arrangements.

Winston Hinds

Bandits rob GPL Mon Repos branch THREE bandits, one armed with a handgun robbed several customers and the Guyana Power Light (GPL) outlet located on the second floor at the Mon Repos Mall, East Coast Demerara (ECD) of an undisclosed sum on Thursday. Reports indicate that the robbery occurred after 13:20hrs when two of the suspects joined a line posing as customers. One of the suspects requested to use the washroom when his associate went into his haversack and withdrew a gun, sticking up a special constable, relieving him of a firearm. He was tied up during the robbery. The armed robbers then ordered other persons inside the building to lay flat as he proceeded to rob them and break into the cashier area. Subsequently, an alarm was raised by a passerby, causing the suspects to flee the building, discharging several rounds in the air. The bandits then escaped in a silver grey Toyota Allion that bore a taxi registration. No one was injured and police are seeking CCTV footage from the area.

Police investigators at the scene of the robbery (Adrian Narine Photo)

Residents suspect the robbers are the same people who robbed the E-Networks store housed on the lower flat of the Mall last week. “These bandits finding this place easy to rob, when we called the B.V. Police Sta-

tion they didn’t had anyone to send since the vehicles were out on patrol, a call was made while the men were committing the robbery. If they had responded in time they could have been caught,” one resident said.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 11, 2017

Aircraft undergo rigorous maintenance Ex bank employee gets -- says GCAA director general LOCAL aircraft are subject to rigorous maintenance checks, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Director-General, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Egbert Fields has said. Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Fields in response to questions on the age of domestic aircraft operating within the local aviation circle, pointed out that they are manufactured to operate over a lifespan of years. He said the GCAA undertakes a schedule in which the agency “keeps a very close eye on the maintenance of aircraft.” According to the GCAA director-general, every year an aircraft operator has to apply for a certificate of airworthiness and a number of accompanying documents are submitted by the operator with reference to maintenance and equipment within the aircraft. Once those are received by the GCAA, an inspection is conducted on the aircraft. Fields explained that there are time-expired parts on an aircraft and explained

that as soon as parts such as a propeller or a piston or a ring reaches its expiration date, it is replaced with a brand new part. He noted that substitute parts or those made by persons other than the original manufacturer are not permitted. Questioned whether aircraft operators have been sticking to the schedule, Fields said that it is the duty and responsibility of the GCAA to ensure that the operators comply. He said if operators do not comply, their licence would be suspended or revoked. “Any non-compliance can cause the revocation of the document (airworthiness licence),” he said, but noted that there are minor infringements, “but nothing that we consider to be items to endanger the safety of the aircraft.” Fields also said that if there is paperwork with inaccurate information prepared by the aircraft operator, it is the duty of the GCAA to ascertain if it was wilfully done or by mistake, noting that a thorough in-

vestigation is undertaken. As regards recent aircraft accidents at Eteringbang, he noted that teams are investigating the accidents. He said that the Roraima Airways accident in which Chief Pilot Captain Collin Martin perished two Tuesdays ago, there was nothing he could recall being mentioned by investigators on the pilot’s his last words other than maybe that he was preparing to land at Eteringbang. The second accident occurred on Tuesday this week and pilot Dominic Waddell escaped without major injuries after the single-engine Cessna he was flying crashed during takeoff from the Eteringbang airstrip. “We do not have any findings as yet, but we are hoping that we can come to a definite position as to what caused the accident,” Field said. He said investigators will have to look at a few areas during the course of their investigations, including equipment, weather conditions and human factors.

18 months for fraud

A FORMER Citizens Bank loans officer accused of swindling a customer of $3M was on Thursday sentenced to 18 months imprisonment by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. Kester Harvey, 39, of Herstelling, East Bank Demerara was found guilty of being entrusted by Pat Isaacs with $3M between October 1, 2016 and October 31, 2016 to deposit same into Isaacs’ Citizens Bank account, when he fraudulently converted the money to his own use and benefit. According to the facts, Harvey was the Bank’s loans officer attached to Isaacs. During the month of October, 2016 Isaacs had allegedly given Harvey a total of $3M to be deposited into his account to pay his bank loan. However Harvey subse-

Kester Harvey quently resigned from the Bank and that’s when Isaacs discovered that the money had not been deposited into his account to pay his loan. The Chief Magistrate in a review of the evidence presented in court during the trial explained to Harvey that

she had found him guilty of the offence. Harvey, broke down in tears as he explained to the Chief Magistrate that the case had wrecked him and his family life. “I stand before this court as an innocent man and from the inception if I had taken this man’s money I would have repaid him,” Kester told the court. The man begged the court for leniency since he would not have committed such a criminal act to risk him not being around and being in the lives of his three minor children. The Chief Magistrate imposed the minimal sentence of 18 months on Harvey and explained to him that it was dishonest of him for taking Isaacs’ money.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

ACP secretary-general interacts with Iwokrama staffers

AFRICAN, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Secretary-General, Guyanese Dr Patrick Gomes, on Thursday paid an informal courtesy call and had a healthy discussion with staffers at Iwokrama’s 77 High Street, Georgetown offices. Dr Gomes is an ardent supporter of Iwokrama and while he was Guyana’s Ambassador to the European Union and the ACP, was instrumental in the centre securing a substantive European Grant for a research project that was implemented in three regions of the ACP, where Iwokrama was the designated focal point for the Caribbean region, and successive initiatives According to a release, Dr Gomes toured Iwokrama’s offices where he met and interacted with two of

the three staffers of Iwokrama who were offered scholarships under the ECCAM project to pursue their masters degrees. The three staff are Shara Seelall, Jason Dick-Grant and Purnanand Lalbachan. ECCAM – Education for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation project is funded by the ACP and European Union from the European Development Fund. The project offers opportunities for study in several partnering ACP countries’ universities. Partner universities include the University of Guyana, the Fiji National University and the University of the West Indies. Iwokrama is an associate partner. All three awardees will attend the Fiji National University. The secretary-general had an enlightening discussion with the awardees

ACP Secretary-General Dr Patrick Gomes in discussion with senior Iwokrama staffers

on the history of the ACP, established by the Georgetown Agreement in 1975. He also spoke about the historical contributions and

influence of Guyana, Fiji and other ACP countries to several international issues, including treaties on the environment and trade. Dr Gomes indicated that the ACP deeply appreciates the commitment of the Iwokrama International Centre for its novel work in conservation and sustainable development

and acknowledged the role Iwokrama provides in the transfer of knowledge, including scientific knowledge to other ACP countries. He also lauded Guyana’s role on the international front on environmental issues and expressed admiration for the initiatives of President David Granger

for the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS). The secretary-general firmly believes that Iwokrama could play a pivotal role in the implementation of this strategy. The Iwokrama International Centre (IIC) was established in 1996 under a joint mandate from the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat to manage the Iwokrama forest, a unique reserve of 371,000 hectares of rainforest “in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general.” The centre, guided by an international Board of Trustees is unique, providing a dedicated, well managed and researched forest environment. The forest is zoned into a Sustainable Utilisation Area (SUA) and a Wilderness Preserve (WP) in which to test the concept of a truly sustainable forest where conservation, environmental balance and economic use can be mutually reinforcing.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 11, 2017

No wholesale disclosure -- only relevant GRA staffers to get excerpts of Exxon contract

THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has said that in keeping with government’s position on the non-disclosure of the contract with U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil, only “relevant officers” will have access to excerpts of the pact. In a statement on Thursday, the entity said part of its commitment involves the imposition of rigid systems at the authority to closely monitor exploration companies that are undertaking exploration and extraction of oil offshore, in keeping with the contractual agreement between the Guyana Government and such oil exploration companies, including ExxonMobil. “The GRA is privy to such contractual arrangements. However, in keeping with the law, this information is confidential. To

maintain its confidentiality and avoid leakages, the commissioner-general will only share such excerpts of the said agreement with relevant officers in the event that their duties require them being privy to such information in the execution of such duties,” the statement said. GRA said too that its position takes into consideration several factors, chief among them, the sensitivity and confidentiality of the document and the level of caution that had to be imposed as a result of persistent breaches of the Secrecy Oath at the authority. “The recent Kaieteur News article “GRA officials ‘sailing’ on EXXON contract” is the latest such breach of confidentiality and further evidence of the need to exercise such diligence,” the statement added.

Last month, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) – one of the parties in the coalition government – and the Transparency Institute Guyana Incorporated (TIGI), called for public disclosure of the contract between ExxonMobil and the Government of Guyana. In a letter sent to President David Granger, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, and Minster of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, the party said it has noted the continued withholding of the general publication of the contract between ExxonMobil – the company currently drilling for oil here – and its partners with the Government of Guyana, and that this decision is “unwise for several reasons.” As such, the WPA said there is no justifiable reason

for this government not to publish the contract with the oil-giant, which is expected to commence production by 2020 and urged the government to release the contract in the interest of transparency and accountability. However, in March of this year, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman had said that “full disclosure [of the contract] at this point in time… would not be to the best of the national benefit or national interest.” In June, the Ministry of Natural Resources approved the ExxonMobil Liza Phase 1 development plan and issued a production licence for the Liza field, an important milestone towards the first phase of oil production at the Liza field offshore Guyana. Production is expected to begin in 2020.

Woman to go on trial for attempting to kill stepson A 40-YEAR-OLD woman charged with the attempted murder of her stepson after she reportedly stabbed him with a knife was on Thursday committed to stand trial in the High Court. Samantha Bourne, a mother of five, will go on trial at the next sitting of the Demerara Assizes in Georgetown. She was granted $150,000 bail. The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) concluded before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when a prima facie case was made out against Bourne after the almost two-month trial. The indictable charge read that on May 28, 2017, at Lot 292 Independence Boulevard, Georgetown,

Bourne unlawfully and maliciously wounded Kevin Blair with intent to commit murder. The matter was prosecuted by Police Inspector, Gordon Mansfield, while Bourne was represented by attorney Adrian Thompson. According to reports, Bourne and her stepson lived at Lot 292 Independence Boulevard, Georgetown but are not on speaking terms. However, on May 28 there was a confrontation between the two parties when Bourne pulled out a knife and stabbed her stepson to his abdomen. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital by his sibling.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

Anti-Brexit campaigner Guyanese Gina Miller fears acid attack

AN Indian-origin campaigner, who had mounted a successful legal challenge to prevent British Prime Minister Theresa May from triggering Brexit without Parliament’s approval, has spoken out of fears that she may be the target of an acid attack on the streets of London. Gina Miller, who has been targeted by Brexiters on social media for her stance against Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU), said she could be forced to leave Britain as a result of death threats and abuse against her.

“I have been getting threats of having acid thrown in my face for months and months now. When I see someone walk towards me on the street with a bottle of water or something, I just freak out,” said the 52-year-old businesswoman. Miller, born Gina Nadira Singh in British Guiana (now Guyana) to Guyana’s former Attorney General Doodnauth Singh, has been a vocal campaigner as part of a “Best for Britain” drive. She lives under 24-hour security with her husband and three children, whom she claims spend their weekends

Gina Miller

indoors due to fear. “If it came to the point that it was just too much to bear from a security point of view, if I sat down with my police teams and we felt that it was a really serious threat, I would have to seriously consider leaving the UK,” she told ‘Verdict’ magazine. “This would break my heart, because I love this country and I am fighting for it. But we might have to,” she added. Scotland Yard has served eight cease and desist notices to people who had sent Miller threatening messages.

Recently, a British aristocrat was jailed for 12 weeks for offering “5,000 pounds for the first person to accidentally run over this bloody troublesome first-generation immigrant” in reference to Miller on social media. Rhodri Phillips had made a series of threatening Facebook posts against Miller before she took him to court over the attacks. Miller’s concerns of an acid attack come against the backdrop of a growing number of such crimes on the streets of London. (PRESS TRUST OF INDIA)

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 11, 2017

ACDA awards Emancipation winners THE winners in the series of competitions held in observance of Emancipation 2017 were honoured by the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) on Thursday.More than a dozen competitors were awarded prizes of gift certificates, trophies, and certificates at a simple ceremony held at the cultural organisation’s head office at Lot 9 Thomas Lands, Georgetown. Master of Ceremonies,

Clementine Marshall, said members of ACDA worked tirelessly to make Emancipation 2017 possible and the good gesture was in recognition of their efforts. The awardees had competed in various competitions such as cooking, sports and dancing among others. ACDA Director Eric Phillips said a similar awards ceremony will be held on ACDA’s 25th anniversary.

Thursday’s event featured dances, poems, songs and African drumming. ACDA’s Emancipation Coordinator Aisha Haynes, said the hosting of Emancipation 2017 was a success because of the hard work of its members across the country. Those awarded include the members of the Young, Gifted and Black Group, several individuals, members of sport teams, dancers and other groups.

Drummers performing at the awards ceremony on Thursday

ACDA dancers during a dance routine

16

Guyanese can now travel to Qatar visa-free

QATAR Tourism Authority (QTA) and Qatar Airways have announced that Qatar will allow visa-free entry for citizens of 80 countries, effective immediately. Citizens of those countries wishing to visit Qatar will no longer need to apply or pay for a visa; instead, a multi-entry waiver will be issued free-of-charge at the port of entry, upon presentation of a valid passport with a minimum validity of six months and a confirmed onward or return ticket. Depending on the nationality of the visitor, the waiver will either be valid for 180 days, from the date of issue, and allow the visitor to spend a total of 90 days in Qatar (multiple-entry waiver); or it will be valid for 30 days from the date of issue and entitle the visitor to spend up to 30 days in Qatar, with the possibility of applying for an extension of the waiver for an additional 30 days (multiple-entry waiver). Guyana falls in the 30day category. These developments come as part of a series of measures that Qatar has taken to facilitate visitor access to the country. Last month, Qatar launched an e-visa platform, www.qatarvisaservice. com, through which travellers of all nationalities can apply for tourist and visitor visas with more efficiency and ease. The country is also considering further enhancements to its visa policy, such as waiving visa requirements for holders of a residence permit or a valid visa from the nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates), United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the Schengen countries. This waiver would allow eligible visitors to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation by completing a simple online application at least 48 hours prior to travel.

Qatar Tourism Authority and Qatar Airways have announced that Qatar will allow visa-free entry for citizens of 80 countries, effective immediately

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “Today’s announcement places the State of Qatar as the most open country in the region. This is a momentous occasion for Qatar, making the number of nationalities eligible to enter our country without a visa the highest in region, which is something that we are very proud of. “Qatar Airways is the patriotic flag carrier for the State of Qatar and as such we are extremely honoured to bring millions of people each year to our beautiful, welcoming and historic country. This important initiative from the Ministry of Interior and Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) will provide an opportunity to welcome even more visitors, from even more countries, to experience the many exciting attractions that await them.” According to Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief Tourism Development Officer at QTA, visa facilitation is a critical component of the national tourism sector strategy, which QTA is currently reviewing in partnership with stakeholders from the public and private sectors. With renewed focus by the country’s leadership on diversifying

the national economy, a revised strategy which empowers various players to boost the growth of tourism is set to be launched on September 27, 2017, when Qatar hosts the official celebrations of World Tourism Day (WTD). “Easing entry to Qatar is a key enabler for the growth of Qatar’s tourism industry. With this announcement we are already turning the pages of the Next Chapter of Qatar’s journey towards 2030,” commented Al Ibrahim. “Together with our partners in the public and private sectors, we have examined all of the elements needed to create a smooth and enticing experience that can attract visitors from around the world. There is no doubt that facilitating and streamlining access at all ports of entry are key factors in creating a positive first and lasting impression of Qatar.” Al Ibrahim added, “With 80 countries eligible for a visa waiver, Qatar is now the most open country in the region and we are delighted to invite visitors to discover our renowned hospitality, cultural heritage and natural treasures.” Brigadier Mohammed Al Ateeq, Director General of the

Department of Passport and Expatriates Affairs at MoI, commented, “We are very pleased to announce that nationals of 80 countries are now eligible for a visa waiver and can enter Qatar without requiring any prior visa arrangements. Together with our partners at QTA and Qatar Airways, we have been working to enhance our country’s visa policies and implement solutions to better facilitate travel to Qatar. Further enhancements are being studied and we look forward to announcing them in due course.” In November 2016, Qatar introduced a free transit visa, which allows passengers of all nationalities transiting in Qatar for a minimum of five hours to stay in Qatar for up to 96 hours (four days). In May 2017, QTA launched +Qatar, an initiative to promote the country as a stopover destination, with the national carrier, Qatar Airways. These measures, along with intensified international marketing, have resulted in a 39 per cent increase in the number of stopover visitors during the first six months of 2017, compared with the same period last year. As part of Qatar Airways’ and QTA’s combined efforts to boost tourism in the country, the award-winning airline has accelerated its global expansion plans, and recently announced the launch of a number of new destinations that it is adding to its network by the end of August, including Kiev, Ukraine and Prague, Czech Republic. Thursday, the airline launched Sohar, in the Sultanate of Oman. Qatar Airways also recently launched a direct service to Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Nice, France and Skopje, connecting even more people to more places, and making it easier than ever for passengers to visit Qatar as part of their journey. (Qatar Airways)

Pensioner crushed by canter truck A 71-YEAR-OLD woman was hit and killed by a canter truck as she stood near the median at Houston public road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), Thursday morning. Dead is Chitratkha Sankar of Lot 61, Houston, EBD. Reports indicate that the pensioner was heading out to a clinic when the accident occurred at 06:45hrs.

It is alleged that the canter truck, GMM 6594, with logo K&G Shipping, was going north into Georgetown when the driver crashed into the pensioner as she stood at the median next to a utility pole, dragging her 40 feet away. The body was removed from the scene by a police pickup

and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The body was then taken to the Lyken Funeral Parlour pending a post-mortem. The canter truck driver was taken into police custody as investigations continue. “The canter truck pick up this woman from right in the corner, dragging her on the con-

A police pickup removing the body of Chitratkha Sankar from the accident scene adjacent to the canter truck that crashed into her Thursday morning. (Rabindra Rooplall photo)

crete separation, crushing her to death,” one eyewitness said. The mother of seven was described by relatives as a very quiet individual who was heading out to clinic when she met her demise. According to reports from the Traffic Department, Sankar is the country’s 57th road fatality this year.

Dead: Chitratkha Sankar

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

“Red Coconut” calls for bridging of racial divide

The cover of the collection of poems titled “Red Coconut: Bridging the racial divide”

“Red Coconut: Bridging the racial divide”, a book of poems authored by Muslim poet, Imam Habeeb Alli, who resides in Canada, was launch at Le Meridien Pegasus on Wednesday. The launch was initiated by events planner Sabrina Panday, who describes Alli as a very simple, humble and dedicated person. The poems speak of his experiences with regard to racism and discrimination in the community and give insights into the lives of those incarcerated. Alli’s poems stimulate

a clear sense of the truth, struggles, power, love and feelings within the prison system. Alli was born in Guyana and migrated to Canada with his family a decade ago. He now works in the Federal Institutions as a Muslim chaplain and is highly respected and seen as one of the finest minds in contemporary Islamic teaching and studies. “Red Coconut: Bridging the racial divide” is his 15th book so far and it is available in hardback, paperback and e-book.

Stolen shotgun recovered in Essequibo POLICE Wednesday night recovered a stolen shotgun and two cartridges in Essequibo and three persons are expected to be charged with the theft. The recovery was the result of a probe into the break and entry of a dwelling house at Adventure, Essequibo Coast last Sunday

during which the gun and ammunition were stolen. Three male labourers from the same village were detained and under intense interrogation, they later admitted to have committed the crime and led investigators to a location where the items were recovered.

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 11, 2017

One in nine students smoke tobacco

-- Global Youth Tobacco Survey found MINISTER within the ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, on Thursday received the official report on the recently completed Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) 2015. The survey was conducted by the Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO). The GYTS is a standardised tool used to collect data on tobacco use among youths around the world. This survey is conducted every four years; however, the last study in Guyana was in 2010. The report identified and highlighted facts gathered after surveys were conducted in 25 public schools in Guyana. Among these is the continued use of tobacco in schools among students between the ages of 13 to 15. Among other facts, the survey revealed that one in every three students, which is approximately 30 per cent, had used tobacco at some point, while one in every six students (14.8 per cent) are currently using tobacco products. More specifically, one in every nine students, (11.7 per cent) currently smoke tobacco products. Some 45.3 per cent of students, which accounts for almost half of the students surveyed, had smoked a cigarette

before the age of 12. More than a third, 42.7 per cent of all students had tried smoking between the ages of 12 and 13, while 62 per cent of the current smokers within the surveyed age range were showing signs of smoking dependency. With regard to exposure to second-hand smoke, 18.5 per cent of students were exposed at home, while one in three students was exposed to second-hand smoke in public places. Some 28.9 per cent of all surveyed students have been exposed to second-hand smoke in and/or around a school building. These and other findings have galvanised the Ministry of Public Health into action, targeting more youths for health promotion against the use of tobacco. Minister Cummings said that, “If we are going to work towards significantly reducing and hopefully eradicating tobacco use in our society, it is important that we begin to target our youth population. Empirical data has revealed that most young smokers become adult smokers.” She added that all must work together to address the social, biological, and environmental factors that influence young people to use tobacco.

Miner busted with cannabis A 33-YEAR-OLD miner of Bartica, Region Seven, was on Wednesday arrested after police found cannabis weighing some 589 grams at the backseat of the vehicle he was driving. The bust was made during a search conducted on motor pick-up PPP 155 at Itaballi Check Point. Ranks found a black plastic bag

containing the suspected cannabis behind the backseat of the vehicle. Police in a statement said the miner was told of the offence in having the illegal substance and he reportedly later admitted to the offence. Four other occupants were in the vehicle at the time. Police said charges are pending.

The cannabis found

Recommendations coming from the report indicate that school rules and policies should be framed for the prevention and control of tobacco use. Minister Cummings, who focused her brief remarks on the public health dangers of tobacco use and smoke, pointed out that with the passage and robust enforcement of tobacco legislation in Guyana, the harmful effects of tobacco use will be significantly reduced over time, resulting in a further reduction of the prevalence of certain chronic Non-Communicable Diseases.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, receives a copy of the report from Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) Country Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow

Dr. Morris Edwards, who was the consultant for the sur-

vey report, said, “Students who smoke express the desire to

quit smoking and many have even attempted to quit. However, the tools weren’t there so with the proper assistance and tools, these students can stop smoking forever. Easy statement, but we recognise that you have to deal with the addictive part of nicotine.” In 2000, Guyana conducted its first round of the GYTS, which was the first nationally representative study on tobacco use among young people. Guyana is one of only a few countries in the Americas to have completed four rounds of the GYTS (2000, 2004, 2010 and 2015). The report was handed over to Minister Cummings during a brief ceremony held at the Marriott Hotel on Thursday. (GINA/DPI)

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

‘Rhoda Doxa’ launches third collection AS the African Roots Week activities continued at the Queen’s College auditiorium last Tuesday night was the fashion show, and nine talented designers took the opportunity to add some show of just how eclectic African print can be when you add a little modern style. Among the lot of designers was young Nigerian national, Deborah Kehinde, who launched her third collection, Ominira (More than Emancipation), under her Rhoda Doxa line. The collection comprised seven pieces that ranged from the perfect go-to-church look, to statement-making two-pieces that would sure turn a few heads.

de, it’s her regular way of life. “Back in Nigeria, we wear African Print on a daily basis; is not just for Emancipation alone, so I design what can be worn from church, to the office, to club outfits,” Kehinde said. “Guyanese people need to embrace African Culture more; it’s not just once a year it should be worn,” she told The Buzz. Owning one of her pieces means donning a truly authentic African outfit, made with fabric brought all the way from the Motherland itself. The pieces form an additional part of the Rhoda Doxa line, which also includes her two other collections, Odunayo and Fumilayo. Kehinde, who has

--at African Roots Fashion show

Designer, Deborah Kehinde

Kehinde herself modelled one of her pieces, an all-pink ensemble that included a flaired skirt and sheer, flutter top. Other pieces included crop tops and pants, a layered skirt paired with a regular strap top, while a few headpieces, which were anything but conventional, were thrown into the mix. Unlike many Guyanese designers, who incorporate African print and styles periodically in their designs, for Kehin-

been in Guyana since 2013 studying medicine, has been designing since around the age of seven. Her love for fabric was inspired by her mother, who deals in African print, and her creativity just comes from natural talent. “As a child, I always played with the materials, then later I made an outfit from plastic bag when in Primary School and my classmate liked it,” Kehinde said, adding: “From since then,

A Piece from the Ominira collection

whenever I design something, it gives me joy.” The 24-year-old officially came out and began designing commercially in 2014, with the launch of her first collection. She launched her second last year. Aside from designing and retailing African print fabric, Kehinde also runs a fashion blog at (www. rhodadoxa.blogspot.com).

Juggling all of this while holding down a pursuit in medicine makes one wonder just how she gets it all done, but somehow, she just does. She credits her ability to manage it all with her wonderful support circle. “I just give thanks to God, my fiancé, Dr Michael Wayde, and my family and friends,” Kehinde said.

19

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 11, 2017

Cultural emancipaton to preserve our memories

“NOTHING lasts forever/ Nothing stays the same”. The lyrics of the enchanting, classic but sombre jazz piece, ‘Everything Must Change’ by Bernard Ighner. It beckons us to contemplate the infinite nature of the cycles and currents that govern the organism of humanity. But it cannot be denied that within each cycle are the veins and pulses that enabled us to transcend the previous change of seasons. Though nothing stays the same, it is the same that changes on the foundation of its accomplished consciousness; the need to explore and then preserve the special talents that have passed our way, spurting innovations, whether through groups or by individuals in the multiple areas that expanded our world from its tribal origins to nationhood; be they sports personalities, manufacturing industry, suitcase traders, fashion, military and paramilitary, culture, medicine, lawmakers and leadership. Measuring the challenges and the temerity that transcended ‘the same’ of its day, initiating change, knowing well the price that comes with the courage to challenge, yet they persevered, and made a difference. This is what generates the swell of the spirit in the confidence that our lineage is gifted, and that we have no hindrances to pursue whatever paths to excellence we dare to endeavour with is the evolving movement of Emancipation. Mere days ago, we lost Hector Stoute. Also gone is ‘32’, the Mighty Canary, Billy Moore, and numerous others, agreeable that ‘nothing stays the same’. However, we have abdicated the task of tapping into their memories to reconstruct what today is considered ‘The Vintage’ period, or the same of their day that is the impulse of tomorrow in the visible timeline of our lineage, where today sadly, ‘the nothing’ of that period is all that in its formlessness exist. I had this talk with Sean Bhola some years ago on pre-

The late Hector Stoute acting in the play ‘The Tides of Susanburg’ serving aspects of our National Heritage that resides in the oral realms of the memory of individuals, because, in their time they were performing outside of the orthodox mainstream British Guiana culture, thus extensive biographical data about their activities do not exist, or is not known of as yet. Sean explained some difficulties in communication with the political authorities in Culture pre-1915, so he opted out; his knowledge-base was not suited to such a task. THE SAME CORRICA It is commendable that Allan Fenty recently wrote a biography of the late Malcolm Corrica [Mighty Canary]. It was the same Corrica I had to consult in 1995 when I published the first and only issue

of ‘Folk & Culture’ magazine; it was printed in Trinidad, and I was unaware that Caribbean Quotations were presented in US$, while I had calculated in TT$. So, though the ‘mags’ sold, my yard budget was bankrupt, as the advertising was sold to the TTto-G$ conversion. I had also done a piece on ‘Sam Chase’, and only had some old newspaper photocopies to go on. Corrica had lived and interacted with Sam Chase, and provided the essence of the story, capturing much needed imagery of that day. “They used to come on boats. You had Spoiler, Pretender and Lord Melody, and they would perform at popular Vaudeville shows given by Sam Chase and Madam O’Lindy. “As a youngster, I would

go to those shows and afterwards collect copies of the Calypsos. At that time, records were not popular. I would practise the songs on my own while I worked as a cabinet maker.” What is lost is the content of the Vaudeville Shows from a living participant who could have recaptured the essence of the atmosphere when these shows were conducted in the 1930s and 40s. Though, by all means, Sam Chase was an extremely talented performer in an age when local performers were in the least appreciated by the local colonials, who reflected at times with more extremes the colonial master [Britain] who was also tormented by the burden of overbearing class consciousness. The last item on Madam O’Lindy [born Elila Louisa

Marques in the village of Beterverwagting] that I was able to extract was a July 23, 1967 Sunday Chronicle article titled, ‘FORMER STAGE QUEEN NOW LIVING ON CHARITY’; sad story of O’Lindy by Steve Narine. It provided insights of a life that would be envied by any ‘2017’ performer. These performers were only part of what was going on in our ‘Vintage period’. Closer to home during that period, my mother would recall singing as an early teenager at the Ovaltine competitions, and expressing a very modern problem of having a hard time collecting the prize money from the promoter. That period is the template our young people should be launching from; changing what was ‘the same’ of that time into the excellence of

today, rather than performing surreal restarts. Hector Stoute had promised to provide me with some further insights on the Sam Chase period. Now that he is gone, I have one other option that I will explore, if that option is up to it. To be loyal to the varied depths of Emancipation, no period of living achievement must go without diligent cataloguing and skilful creative packaging, in the same way ‘Vintage’ American preand- post WWII fashions and hairstyles have made an assertive comeback, though I’m not even sure that our local people in those areas have made that connection. If they haven’t, then it’s because we haven’t done the work, and continue to disenfranchise them aesthetically and economically.

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

Jumo Primo celebrates children for birthday ON July 25, 2017, local entertainer Jumo Primo treated more than 200 children at his residence in observance of his birthday. The children, who came from several city wards, had a fun-filled day where games, drinks, cake, face painting and toys were the order of the day. Primo, better known as “Rubber Waist” told The Buzz that for the past seven years he felt the need to have a party for children in his community on his birthday as a form of giving back to society. He explained that his joy comes from seeing children happy and smiling and it is his way of being a role model to his young fans. It is for these youngsters that he says he aims to keep things simple both in his personal and professional life; free of vulgarity and conflicts. Primo added that on his birthday his colleagues from the 592 Movement were on hand to ensure the children were entertained and had their fill of goodies at his home in Lodge Housing

Scheme. Among the invitees included 16 children from the D’urban Backlands Convalescent Home. The artiste said that he will continue the event annually because the children look up to him, not only as a singer but also as a citizen and it is necessary that he makes a contribution in their lives in a positive way. In the past, Primo has made donations to several children’s homes and says that he will continue in that stride. Primo added that his birthday party for adults titled “Soca in meh Blood” was held at Palm Court on Saturday which was well attended. The party saw a live stage show in which Primo was the DJ with steel pan orchestra which started 21:00hrs and ended at 02:00hrs. He related that at the party he launched his new song “Boom Out” which was well received, followed by the video for that song was released on August 1 and which features the land-

marks of Guyana. Primo said that he will soon launch his video “FlyIn” for the ‘August holidays’ which showcases Guyana’s party scene. The singing and dancing sensation stated in an effort to facilitate the housing of 592 Movement, he started the construction of a studio in July at his home and is expected to complete the project by the end of this month. The 592 Movement is a local group which consists of local artistes, entertainers, musicians which deals with promotions and entertainment in Guyana. Primo told The Buzz that he is preparing for the 2018 Trinidad and Tobago Carnival where he is slated to release his new song as such, he started recording of that song which is expected to be completed in September. The crowd pleaser told the Guyana Chronicle that he is also hosting the “Short Jeans” party at Palm Court on September 30, 2017.

The sensational performer/singer Jumo Primo with a fan at his birthday fete for children

Some of the children at Jumo Primo’s birthday fete at his home

A section of the crowd at Palm Court on Saturday for Jumo Primo’s birthday celebration

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 11, 2017

Destra on the mend --after injuring ankle on stage

PRETTY much all of the major spots are going to be jumping this weekend! And both Palm Court and Tower Suites get the ball rolling from tonight! 704 throws and all-black party in the mix on Saturday night, where there are quite a few events going on around town! And as the Emancipation activities continue, there are going to be two Afro-centric pageants on Saturday, namely, the Miss Emancipation at the National Cultural Centre and the African Roots Pageant. There’s also a dance production on at the Theatre Guild! Earlier during the day on Saturday, there’s a football competition on the East Bank. Out of Georgetown, there’s the B & J Classic athletics competition in Linden, while there’s also a party on Sunday night in Linden at Club L & L. TODAY Get ready for yet another Pulse Entertainment adventure with “Savage Garden”! They’re going to be transforming Palm Court with their savage beauties and their garden décor. Enjoy the botanical aura, and catch the Amazon Warrior vs Trinbago Knight Riders match! Free shots every time the Warriors hit a six! Music by DJ Ryan, DJ Anesa and DJ Shizzle. Body Painting available by Bravo Arts. Ladies free before 22h00. It’s going to be lit tonite as Hoocorona presents new prizes, new chances, and new surprises when “Spin the Bottle” continues at the After-Work Lime at Tower Suites Poolside! Don’t miss it! It’s Free-up-Friday! Club Privilege and Boss Lady Entertainment Presents “Ease Off and Gimme Some Breeze”! Vibes by DJ Akeelo, DJ Dellon and Selector Charley, DJ Energy! Everybody free before midnite! TOMORROW Mark, set, go! Sonic Hunters presents their seventh annual bikers’ party called “Rush Extreme” at Palm Court! Music by DJ Akeelo, Gully Ras and Diamond, DJ Energy and Entertainer Shizzle! Lots of prizes to be won all night! The Eighth Edition of the event promises to be a major showdown among top clubs and athletes, and it’s all going down at the MSC Ground in Linden! In celebration of Eight Years, Eight Gate Prizes will be handed out to lucky patrons! Admission: $1000, adults; $500, children. Get ready to experience the biggest all- black party of the year! 704 presents “Eclipse: All Black Party” at their Sky Lounge! Music by King Scorpion’s DJ Busy and DJ Generation Hype, along with DJ Tallest and DJ 50. Ultimate Nightlife Party presents “Hookah And Nightlife” at Club Indego (South Ruimveldt Park)! Party the night away to music by Mixmaster Tony, Mingle! The Hookah Barbies and the Corona girls will be there! Ladies can

enjoy cocktails by World of Cocktails! It’s gonna be lit! Admission: $1000. There’s no idea too wild or no dream too big! Enigma Dance Studio presents “Wild Things” at Theatre Guild. Unleash The Inner Being, and live out of the box! It promises to be clean fun for all members of the family! Admission: $2000. The annual African red-carpet affair is here again! The Miss Emancipation 2017 Pageant goes down at the National Cultural Centre as six young ladies vie for the coveted crown! Admission: $1000. Selector Biggs, Marvelous and Young King present “Champion in Action”, a one-day football tournament, barbeque and after- party on the McDoom Football Court! Over $200,000 in prizes to be won! Music by Stereo Sonic, Fusion, Determined Sound and other top DJs passing through! Admission: Free. Honest Illusions and Unique Arts present Mr & Ms Guyana Teen African Roots Pageant at the Queen’s College Auditorium from 19h00 sharp! SUNDAY Kenny Hype’s birthday celebration goes down this Sunday! Ralph Lauren Entertainment presents Kenny Hype’s Birthday party called, “Strongest Soldier” at Club L&L (in Linden). Music by Slingerz Family, Guyana’s #1 Sound and other top local DJs! There’s a Pool Competition going on at Caribbean Beat, where over $120,000 in cash and prizes will be up for grabs, plus one case of Stag Beer with each prize! Entrance fee: $2000. Marvelous Entertainment presents Gaza Unification Party at Club Monaco! Music by DJ David, Art of War Champions: DJ Dellon and Selector Charley, along with DJ Puffy. Get ready for the big summer pool party called “Gyal a Model Pon Dem” at Mark’s Pool (Brazilian Pool)! Juggling non-stop as Gully Ras and Diamond, DJ Fresh, DJ Stephan, Andre and Silver Star turn it up, pool-party style!

“YUH can’t keep a good woman down.” Those were the fighting words of soca artiste, Destra Garcia, who is back home in Trinidad and Tobago recovering from an ankle injury she recently sustained during her performance in Bermuda last week. Garcia underwent surgery at the St Clair Medical Hospital over the weekend. In a message to fans on social media, the Queen of Bacchanal assured fans she was on the road to recovery, and would rebound “badda” than ever. “Could have been worse…I’m OK…I’m on the road to recovery you guys! It’s been a crazy 72 hrs. I want to thank everyone who kept me in their prayers – fans, friends and colleagues – during this time; all your love and messages of a speedy recovery kept me strong. Thanks for reminding me how tough I was when I needed to hear it the most,” Destra said.

“It’s only up from here tho; I’m stronger than a lion. Yuh can’t keep a good woman down lol…well…not for long!” Last Wednesday while performing at the Cup Match Summer Splash event in Hamilton, Garcia was walking forward and talking to the crowd when she fell on the stage and sustained a broken ankle. The soca artiste admitted that she endured significant pain and was afraid. But she praised medical

personnel from Bermuda, Canada and Trinidad for their thorough care. “I will be back on my feet in no time, because, as you know, one must fall to rise again. “Like a Phoenix, out of the ashes, look out!!! Ah BADDA when ah come back!!! I love you all.” Meanwhile, organisers of the Cup Match Summer Splash concert described the incident as “very unfortunate”, and wished Destra a speedy recovery.

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

23

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

25

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

CPL ticket sales for Guyana leg moving at fast rate No Grass Mound tickets available for game tomorrow

By Rajiv Bisnauth

TICKET sales for the Guyana leg of the fifth edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 tournament are moving at a fast rate. This is according to a close source to the ticketing office locally. Guyana is set to host four games, starting next Thursday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. According to the source, Grass Mound tickets for the game between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders have been sold out. However, tickets are still available for the other stands. The game is scheduled for August 19 from 12:00hrs. Meanwhile, the source also confirmed that tickets are available for the other three games. Tickets cost $5 000 for the Red and Green Stands; $3 000 for the Orange Stand and

$2 500 for the Grass Mound, and are available at the CPL Guyana Office located at 238 Camp and Quamina Streets, Georgetown. The ticket office in Berbice is located at Mr Vijai Ramdhan’s office, Number 19 Princess Elizabeth Road, Queenstown, New Amsterdam, Berbice. The Amazon Warriors will open their home campaign against the Jamaica Tallawahs on August 17 from 18:00hrs. They are set to play Barbados Tridents on August 20 from 18:00hrs and St Lucia Stars on August 22 from 18:00hrs. The Warriors, the most dominant team in CPL history, has had a relatively poor start to the tournament, losing both their opening games to St Kitts and Nevis Patriots last weekend in Lauderhill, Florida. The Warriors will be in action this evening against host Trinbago Knight Riders from 21:00hrs.

Turkey’s Guliyev stuns ... came through for fourth. Those with a keen athletics eye might point to the fact that Guliyev’s junior best is second only to Bolt’s but, after a decade of minor medals in minor championships, and at the age of 27, his chances of global gold looked slim to say the least.

NO SHOCK Guliyev, who became a Turkish citizen in 2011 and was cleared to represent his new country in 2013, did fire out a warning in the semi-finals when he won his heat ahead of Webb and van Niekerk and, though he slipped into the final pretty much under the radar, he had been confident all along.

Continued from back page

“This is not a shock,” he said. “But it does not feel real. “I have shown my best throughout this competition. I delivered my best race at the right time. I’m so happy to be world champion. This is the best moment of my career. “I was competing against some of the best athletes in the world, so it didn’t bother me that the attention was on them. Maybe at the next competition everyone will look at me instead.” A choked-up van Niekerk could barely speak and was upset by what he said was a lack of respect for his 400m victory. “It was a tough week, there were a lot of people who felt I didn’t deserve it,” he said. “I worked just as hard as every other competitor and showed everyone respect, but I don’t believe I got the respect I deserved after the 400.” Makwala said: “I’ve had one of the craziest championship journeys ever. I pray I won’t have to face this again. “I was feeling good but the last 50m I was feeling tired.”

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

Nine-member badminton team in T&T FORMER wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin will join Australia’s coaching set-up, replacing Greg Blewett as fielding coach. Blewett has resigned to take up a role with South Australia. Haddin, who has represented Australia in 66 Tests and 126 ODIs, will be joining the squad for their upcoming tour of Bangladesh. He has been contracted until the end of 2019. “I am thrilled to get the opportunity to work with this young group of players,” Haddin said in a statement. “I grew up in an era of players like Andrew Symonds and Ricky Ponting who gave Australian cricket a real identity in the standards of world-class fielding. They were the type of players who took it personally if the team wasn’t fielding well and that created a level for the rest of the group to aspire to.” Haddin assisted the New South Wales Under-17 and Under-19 squads soon after his retirement post the 2015 Ashes series. He shared coaching duties with his

former Test team-mate Ryan Harris during Australia A’s matches against India A and South Africa A in Townsville in 2016. Earlier this year, both men assisted the national side during their tour of New Zealand.

Brad Haddin

“I want to hold this group accountable to that kind of standard and I believe we have the talent to do that. It will be hard work but I am looking forward to the challenge,” he said. “Given my background is in wicket-keeping it will be great to be able to work with the ‘keepers in the side and give them a sounding

board.” Both Haddin and Blewett are currently with the Australia squad in Darwin for a training camp ahead of the tour of Bangladesh. At the end of the camp, Blewett is expected to return home and Haddin will accompany the Australia players to the subcontinent. Blewett, who had been Australia’s fielding coach since August 2014, will now be in charge of South Australia’s Under-19 team, apart from assisting the Redbacks in domestic cricket and the also Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League. “I’m very passionate about cricket in this state,” Blewett told News Corp. “Clearly there also was the lure of spending more time at home with my young family because I’ve lived a fairly selfish existence most of my life with all of the travelling for cricket. “But I also want to help the Redbacks squads achieve good things, along with trying to broaden my coaching experience.” (ESPN Cricinfo)

Regal Sports softball continues on Sunday ACTION in the Regal Sports softball tournament will continue on Sunday at the Malteenoes Sports Club with several matches. On pitch one at 09:00hrs, Regal Masters will play Wellman, and at 11:00hrs, Regal Masters will take on Amazon Warriors. On pitch two at 09:00hrs Regal All Stars will tackle Farm; at 11:00hrs Regal All Stars will face Speedboat; at 13:00hrs Farm will play Success and at 15:00hrs Success will take on Speedboat.

South Africa Racing Tips Fairview 08:40 hrs Without Permission 09:15 hrs Chit Chat 09:55 hrs Jet Explorer 10:30 hrs China Express 11:05 hrs No Green Stars English Racing Tips Wolverhampton Mokaatil 09:20 hrs Hungarian Rhapsody 09:50 hrs Felisa 10:20 hrs Impact Point 10:50 hrs Cat Royale 11:20 hrs Lady Makfi 11:50 hrs Prince Jai 12:25 hrs Russian Ranger

Musselburgh 09:00 hrs Sorority 09:30 hrs Falabelle 10:00 hrs Relight My Fire 10:30 hrs The Stalking Moon 11:00 hrs Yorkidding 11:30 hrs Mambo Dancer 12:00 hrs Golden Jeffrey

11:45 hrs Seanie 12:20 hrs Crown Leah 12:50 hrs India Rain 13:25 hrs Patuano 13:55 hrs Monkeylou 14:25 hrs Breezolini 14:55 hrs Harry Speed 15:30 hrs Wood Breizh

Brighton 09:10 hrs Indian Warrior 09:40 hrs Ban Shoof 10:10 hrs Free Forum 10:40 hrs Harbour Rock 11:10 hrs Under The Covers 11:40 hrs Tailor’s Row 12:15 hrs Defining Moment

American Racing Tips Saratoga Race 1 La Inesperada Race 2 Dynamic War Race 3 Holding Aces Race 4 Hard Hitter Race 5 Rocket Book Race 6 Benevolence Race 7 Bartleby Race 8 Stallwalkin’ Dude Race 9 Objective Complete

Irish Racing Tips Tipperary

The national Badminton team before they departed for Trinidad and Tobago.

THE Guyana Badminton Association has sent a nine-member team to represent the country at the Caribbean Regional and International Badminton Championship (CAREBACO), set for August 9-25 in Trinidad and Tobago. The tournament is being played at the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua. Last year at this championship held in Aruba, Guyana brought home 13 medals, consisting of two gold, seven silver and

four bronze. That included the silver Guyana won in the Under-19 Team championships. This year Guyana will be participating in the Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles events. See below the players in the respective categories for Guyana. CAREBACO Regional Championships: Under-13 Junior -Vikash Mootoo. Under-17 Junior – Priyanna Ramdhani, Tyrese Jeffrey and Akili Haymes.

Under-19 Junior – Jonathan Mangra, Priyanna Ramdhani and Ambika Ramraj. CAREBACO International Championships: Under-19 Junior – Jonathan Mangra and Priyanna Ramdhani. CAREBACO Seniors International Championships– Narayan Ramdhani and Priyanna Ramdhani. CAREBACO Masters Over-45 Championship: Gokarn Ramdhani and Dr Nicholas Waldron.

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

We’re down, but not out - Lady Jags coach

… Guyana to play Cuba in final Group D match on Sunday By Rawle Toney

THEY fell 5-1 to Barbados in their opening game of the CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Caribbean Qualifier tournament on Wednesday, but head coach Akilah Castello said Guyana might be down, but certainly not out of the competition. “We were not too worried about the end result of the game, because our players would have shown some amount of fight, given the challenges they were faced with coming forward to these games,” Castello said while speaking to the Media after her team’s defeat. Despite getting the first goal of the game – a beautiful free-kick by Tiandi

Smith – Guyana succumbed to the ‘Bajans’ who got a double from captain Tia

Briggs-Thompson, while Tiana Sealy and Caitlin Padmore each had a strike. Smith’s

Guyana’s National U-17 Women’s team (Samuel Maughn photos)

own goal added to the tally for the visitors. “For these girls, it was the first time being exposed to such a major game so they were nervous,” Castello said, stating that the players were selected from the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Academy Training Centres (ATCs). “Well, the coaching staff, we tried our best to give them an idea of what the atmosphere would have been like. We also told them about the additional coaches in the stands, but, like I said, this is the first major competition for these girls, most of them never played under floodlights before, so we did our best to help them along the way,” Castello said. Guyana will play Cuba on Sunday at 17:00hrs in their

final game of championship, but Castello pointed out, for her coaching staff, while winning and moving ahead is something they would want, their primary focus is development. “For us, we’re looking at it as a form of development. They have to learn to play in a formation in a competitive environment. They did try their best to execute. We were not so worried because we basically lost the game (to Barbados) on free-kicks and possession-wise I think it was balanced, so we’re not too worried,” the Lady Jags coach noted. In the Caribbean Zone, 19 Caribbean Football Union (CFU)-member national teams have entered the qualifying competition, consisting of two

stages. Apart from Haiti, who received a bye as hosts of the final round, the remaining 18 teams entered the first round and were divided into three groups of four teams and two groups of three teams. The winners of each group advance to the final round to join Haiti, where they are divided into two groups of three teams, with the top three teams qualifying for the final tournament as the CFU representatives. Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Guyana, and St Vincent and the Grenadines were automatically seeded in Groups A–E respectively, as hosts of each first round group, while the remaining 14 teams were seeded based on the results of the previous two editions of the qualifying competition.

Sangakkara steers Tallawahs to second CPL win PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Reigning Caribbean Premier League champions Jamaica Tallawahs won their second on the trot when they beat Trinbago Knight Riders by four wickets here Wednesday night. Chasing 148 at Queen’s Park Oval, Tallawahs got home with four balls remaining to notch their second win in four days, following their opening loss to Barbados Tridents in Florida last weekend. Tallawahs were guided by Sri Lankan star and captain Kumar Sangakkara who top-scored with 47 while opening partner Lendl Simmons struck 38. Champion off-spinner Sunil Narine (2-21) and seamer Kevon Cooper (2-25) grabbed two wickets apiece. New Zealander Colin Munro had earlier top-scored with 41 as TKR, sent in, were dismissed for 147 with a ball to spare. Left-hander Darren Bravo punched 33 while opener Narine

blasted 23, but seamers Odean Smith (3-20) and Kesrick Williams (2-36) snatched three wickets apiece to retard TKR’s progress.

Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara

In fact, the hosts were cruising at 109 for two in the 10th over before suffering a dramatic collapse, losing their last eight wickets for a mere 38 runs. Narine had given the innings an energetic start, smacking a pair of fours and sixes in an 11-ball cameo, adding 33 for the first wicket with New Zealander Brendon McCullum (16). When Narine perished in the fifth over caught at mid-wicket

by Simmons off Man-of-theMatch Williams, Munro and Bravo put TKR on top with a 57-run third-wicket stand. Munro struck five fours and two sixes off 25 balls while Bravo also faced 25 deliveries and counted two fours and two sixes. Once Munro holed out in the deep at the end of the 10th, however, the innings slumped into terminal decline. Tallawahs’ run chase was given an immediate boost when Sangakkara and Simmons put on 61 off 33 balls for the first wicket. While the left-handed Sangakkara was measured in his 41ball knock which included seven fours, Simmons played with abandon, carving out four fours and three sixes off just 18 balls. Simmons was one of three wickets to fall for 32 runs in the space of 30 balls when he was bowled by Pakistan leg-spinner Shadab Khan in the sixth over but Tallawahs kept their focus to get home in the final over.

New PCB chairman eyes international tours NEWLY elected Pakistan cricket chief Najam Sethi vowed on Wednesday to bring international competition back to the terror-hit country after years of isolation.

Newly elected chairman of (PCB) Najam Sethi

Sethi made the promise after being elected chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for a three-year term. The new chief, whose first term as chairman in 2013 was marred by court wrangling,

said bringing international cricket back to Pakistan would be a challenging but worthwhile goal. “We need to show patience because it is related to the security situation in the country,” Sethi told media. Barring a limited-over series against Zimbabwe in 2015, Pakistan has not hosted foreign squads since a militant attack targeted the visiting Sri Lankan team in 2009. Sethi said he hoped the planned World XI tour next month would pave the way for future competition in the country. “We hope to bring a World XI for a three-match Twenty20 series and the next

two-three months will bring more good news,” said Sethi. The cricket boss said he will also attend an Asian Cricket Council meeting in Colombo tomorrow where he hopes to persuade Sri Lanka to send their team to Pakistan. “We have invited Sri Lanka to play a few matches after their series with us and I will try to get a reply on that invitation,” said Sethi. Pakistan are due to play a two-Test, three one-day and two Twenty20 match series with Sri Lanka in September-October, which will likely be held in the United Arab Emirates - Pakistan’s neutral venue for their home series since 2009.

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

Neymar will fight Messi and Ronaldo for Ballon d’Or – Brazil coach

NEYMAR can become as good as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and battle with the pair for the Ballon d’Or, believes Brazil coach Tite. The former Barcelona forward has been named in Brazil’s squad to face Ecuador and Colombia, even though they have already sealed World Cup qualification, with Neymar’s new Paris Saint-Germain team-mates Dani Alves, Thiago Silva and Marquinhos also included. A desire to step out of Messi’s shadow has been widely cited as one of Neymar’s primary reasons to make his world-record move from Camp Nou to PSG for €222 million. And Tite has backed Brazil’s star player to develop into a regular contender for the Ballon d’Or, an honour he is yet to win having been third behind Ronaldo and winner Messi in 2015. “There are three players fighting for that position: Cristiano, Messi and Neymar,” said Tite. “Cristiano and Messi

are from a different generation - and Neymar will get there. That will depend on his performances, not on whether he plays with

club. Values ​​and money do not change anything. He went to another club, as he said, to seek new perspectives.” PSG’s typical formation

is similar to what Neymar is used to at Barcelona and this will help the 25-year-old to settle in at his new club, added the national team coach.

BCB senior limited over tournament resumes Sunday THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) senior 50 overs tournament will continue this Sunday after a break due to the pro-

Eon Hooper

longed inclement weather. Archrivals Albion and Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club will highlight this Sunday’s action at the Albion Community Development Centre ground. I t i s o n e o f t h re e matches set for that date and is expected to be the featured match as several of the nation’s top cricketers will play on each side. The other matches will see Rose Hall Estate Crick-

“The tactical formation used by Paris is very similar to that of Barcelona, ​​it’s 4-3-3,” Tite said. “PSG use two forwards with a pivot,

From left: Neymar, Lionel Messi and Cristaino Ronaldo

Messi. “The essence is that he likes to play football. The important thing is that he is well and adapted in his new

et Club versus West Berbice at Rose Hall Canje and Bush Lot will hosts Tucber Park. Eon Hooper, Gudakesh

Motie, Romario Shepherd and Raun Johnson are some of the top players on show this weekend. All clubs are asked to

Romario Shepherd Gudakesh Motie

Raun Johnson

take note that matches start at 09:30hrs. Host teams are reminded of their obligations as set out in the rules and procedures of the competition. Meanwhile, the BCB is requesting that all clubs make contact with its office on 333-2375 for registration forms for their Under-15 players as a competition in that division would commence shortly.

Jamaican sprinting in trouble without Bolt - Blake

so it has the same design. “It only changes the characteristics of the players who will play next to Neymar.”

JAMAICAN sprinter Yohan Blake believes the country’s dominance of the sprint events could falter following the exit of the world’s fastest Usain Bolt. Bolt, the dominant force in athletics for the last 10 years, has promised to step aside following the London World Championships. The 30-year-old is however only halfway through the door and it seems the dominance that the Caribbean country has enjoyed for the better part of a decade could already be under threat from traditional sprint powerhouse, the United States. For once the big Jamaican himself failed to deliver on the world stage, finishing third in the men’s 100m final behind Americans Justin Gatlin and Christian Coleman. Since then there have been a number of disastrous results with heavy favourite Elaine

Thompson not only failing to claim the women’s 100m gold but missing the podium entirely, an event won by American Torie Bowie. Yohan Blake who was fourth in the 100m final, then failing to qualify for the 200m final. The event marked the first time since 2003 that the Jamaicans had no representation in the men’s 200m final, unfamiliar territory for the dominant Caribbean island. “A little. The big man’s leaving and there’s a lot riding on our shoulders. So far I’m still the man in Jamaica, the fastest this year. I want to keep focused and keep getting my times better. If I run more races, I think I’ll be much better,” Blake said.”The guys have to really step up. Of course, I do too. It was a very disappointing championship for me.” Blake will team up with Bolt for the men’s 4x100m final.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

Mandarin Princess disqualified & trainer Charlie McBride fined

The result officially stands for betting purposes, but some bookmakers will pay out on the horses finishing first and second.

Christian Taylor of the U.S. and Will Claye of the U.S. celebrate.

Taylor still not happy after winning another world title By Brian Homewood

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Double Olympic champion Christian Taylor continued his dominance of the triple jump when he won his third world title yesterday, once again beating fellow American Will Claye into second place. Taylor leapt 17.68 metres with his third attempt to win by five centimetres, clinching the title when Claye was given a red flag on his last attempt. Portugal’s Nelson Evora, Olympic champion in 2008, took bronze with 17.19. The 27-year-old Taylor

became the first triple jumper to win three world crowns, having also claimed victory in Daegu in 2011 and Beijing two years ago. He also took gold at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics with Claye finishing second on both occasions. But he had made it clear beforehand that his ambition was to break Jonathan Edwards’ long-standing record of 18.29 metres, set in 1995. “I have this watch from my sponsor with 18.30 on it,” Taylor said. “I will try to fight, I will get this number. The record is still on. I am still motivated to break that record. “My motivation is to be

the best athlete. This was not the night, I am a little disappointed. But the season is not yet over.” Edwards said beforehand that he thought his world mark could be under threat. In the event, the contest turned into something of an anti-climax with both producing their best jumps in the third round Claye led after the first round with 17.54 before Taylor took the initiative in the second with a jump of 17.57. Claye briefly regained the lead with 17.63 in the next round but Taylor immediately took it back with the decisive jump.

“Will makes it tough every time,” he said. “If you do not have a rivalry - like I have with Will Claye - then the sport is boring. “One month ago we did a competition in the mountains; we are trying everything to do this number, even in the mountains.” Claye felt he should have performed better on the night. “You can never complain about the silver medal,” he said. “But I felt like I should have executed better today. “With Christian, we both were in good shape, he is not unbeatable. He just executed better and I was missing five centimetres.”

THE ‘wrong horse’ who won a race at Yarmouth at odds of 50-1 has been disqualified by the British Horseracing Authority and her trainer fined £1 500. Two-year-old Mandarin Princess, trained by Charlie McBride, was declared the winner on July 27 after beating Fyre Cay. But a scan afterwards identified the horse as three-year-old stablemate Millie’s Kiss, who had been due to run in a later race at the same course. McBride said it was an “honest error”. The result officially stands for betting purposes, but some book-

makers said they will pay out on the horses finishing first and second. McBride has reportedly said he will use £600 he won backing Mandarin Princess each way at Yarmouth towards the fine. “Most of the runners you run you hope would run well so, as support for the horse, you’d put £10 each way, or £5 each way,” he is quoted as saying outside the hearing. “In this case I had £10 each way and was hoping she might scrape into the first three as a fun bet. That’s all. The fine’s £1 500, so I’m still £1 000 out of pocket.”

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday August 11, 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) Jamaica Tallawahs (2) Guyana Amazon Warriors Today’s Quiz: (1) How many players had represented the Warriors at the end of the 2016 Hero CPL season? (2) Who is the Barbados Tridents captain? ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

England call up Stoneman and Crane for Windies first Test SURREY batsman Mark Stoneman has replaced opener Keaton Jennings in England’s 13-man squad for their day-night Test against West Indies. Uncapped leg-spinner Mason Crane comes in for Hampshire team-mate Liam Dawson, while fit-again all-rounder Chris Woakes replaces seamer Steven Finn. The Edgbaston game, the first of a three-match series, is the first day-night Test to be held in England. The match begins on

Thursday, August 17, starting at 14:00 BST. Stoneman, 30, has scored over 1 000 first-class runs this season after leaving Durham for Surrey, averaging 58.82 and hitting three centuries. Durham’s Jennings, 25, is dropped after averaging 15.88 in the 3-1 series victory over South Africa. Crane, 20, played two Twenty20 internationals for England against South Africa in June but has appeared in only 25 first-class games.

“It’s great to be included in this series and hopefully there’s more to come after this,” he told Sky Sports. “I’m feeling like the ball is coming out nicely and hopefully if I’m picked I can do a good job.” After recovering from a side strain sustained during the Champions Trophy, Woakes, 28, returned to take five wickets in the match and score 53 in Warwickshire’s victory over Middlesex on Sunday. England squad for first

Test v West Indies: Alastair Cook (Essex), Mark Stoneman (Surrey), Tom Westley (Essex), Joe Root (Yorkshire, captain), Dawid Malan (Middlesex), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire, wkp.), Ben Stokes (Durham), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Toby Roland-Jones (Middlesex), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Mason Crane (Hampshire), James Anderson (Lancashire). (BBC Sport)

Mark Stoneman played for England Lions against South Africa A in June.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

Carter earns shock 400m hurdles win from outside lane By Ian Chadband

LONDON, England (Reuters) - American Kori Carter pulled off another of the growing number of shocks at the World Championships yesterday, achieving the rare feat of winning the 400 metres hurdles title from the outside lane. All eyes had been on Carter’s U.S. team mate, Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad, who had been the strong favourite, but it was the former American champion in lane nine who maintained her form best to race to victory in 53.07 seconds. Muhammad, the fastest woman in the world this year, earned the silver in 53.50 to complete an American one-two while Jamai-

can Ristananna Tracey, an Olympic finalist last year, took the bronze in a lifetime

achieve an unprecedented third successive one-lap hurdles victory, had to settle for fourth,

Kori Carter of the U.S. celebrates her 400 metres hurdles title.

best 53.74. Czech Zuzana Hejnova, who had been seeking to

being overhauled by Tracey on the run-in despite clocking a season’s best 54.20.

“I am on top of the world right now. What a blessing to be world champion. This is just an incredible feeling like I’ve never experienced,” the 25-year-old Carter told the crowd. “When you work so hard and sacrifice so much for something, for it to pay off in the end is so satisfying. It’s a surreal experience right now. “It’s always great to run against great athletes because it brings out the best in you, going up against Team USA at trials really prepared me for this.” Few, though, could have expected the Los Angeles-based Carter, who had won the U.S. title three years ago, to prevail from the outside lane where the race becomes a test of blind faith.

UNPRECEDENTED FEAT Wayde van Niekerk, famously, achieved his Olympic 400 metres win last year from that position, breaking the world record in the process, but that was a wholly unprecedented feat. Muhammad, who ran 52.64 seconds this year when she beat Carter into third place in a high-quality U.S. trials race, had led through seven hurdles in lane four. But Carter, who started her athletic career as a soccer player before falling in love with the hurdles, dug deep over the last 30 metres and pulled away from Muhammad. Hejnova was also quickly running out of steam and twice Jamaican champion Tracey

took advantage. “I feel sorry for my performance tonight,” Hejnova said. “I am disappointed. I kicked it too much at the start and I was missing the energy in the last metres. I think I just let myself be blown away by this amazing atmosphere at the stadium.” Muhammad talked of having suffered a “shaky” season even though she had been imperious in Sacramento at the U.S. Championships. “I really wanted to win, of course, but I’ve had so many ups and downs this season. To come out with a silver, I’m proud of that,” the 27-year-old said. “I’m just happy to even get on the podium - it’s been a shaky year. I am very proud of Team USA, we come out and show out.”

Wiggins, Rose headline IGG Basketball team Brathwaite slams century, Barnes … Hamid named head coach hits half-century for Jamaica By Rawle Toney

ANDREW Wiggins and Stanton Rose, two of Guyana’s brightest stars in Youth basketball, were named in Guyana’s 12man squad, for this year’s Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) basketball championship in neighbouring Suriname. Abdullah Hamid was named head coach of the team that will represent the ‘Land of Many Waters’ at the August 24-28 games, with their aim being to reclaim the title from the host nation. Rose and Wiggins, both

guards, are known for their ball-handling ability and also their marksman-like aim, making them Hamid’s primary pieces in the backcourt. The Guyana team is made up primarily of players, who featured at the recently concluded FIFA Centrobasket U-17 Championship in the Dominican Republic, where Wiggins finished as the tournament’s highest scorer. According to a release from the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Hamid will have Kirk Fraser as his assistant,

and Troy Green was named manager. Apart from Rose and Wiggins, team Guyana is made up of Jermain King, Akeem Crandon, Timothy Thompson, Shamar France, Nigel Bowen, Jaheel Young, Aton Fileen, Jamal Gilkes, Andrew Johnson and Akil Vaughn. The team will be encamped from August 16 to 23 at the National Gymnasium, with daily practice sessions from 08:00hrs to 11:00hrs and 15:00hrs to 18:00hrs at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – Middle-order batsman Brad Barnes stroked a half-century as leaders Jamaica played it safe against their nearest challengers Guyana, on the opening day of their final round match in the Regional Under-19 Championship here yesterday.

los Brown (4) but when both fell in successive overs to leave Jamaica wobbling on 39 for three, Barnes then anchored two partnerships to keep Guyana at bay. First, he put on 37 for the fourth wicket with Raewin Senior (7) before adding a further 44 for the fifth with Stephan Pink who made 14.

Shian Brathwaite

Kevon Wiggins

Stanton Rose

The Jamaicans batted all day – and slowly – to end on 183 for nine with Barnes top-scoring with 64, Rajni Roye, 27 and Andre McCarty, 23. Seamer Ronaldo Ali Mohammed was the best bowler with five for 29 while leftarm spinner Ashmead Nedd claimed three for 52. Sent in at Conaree, Jamaica lost Darren Small without scoring to the second ball of the day with a single run on the board before McCarty, Barnes and Roye rehabilitated the innings. McCarty put on 36 for the second wicket with Car-

All told, Barnes struck seven fours off 147 deliveries. Again, both fell in quick succession but Roye led a 35-run seventh-wicket stand with Dominic Samuels (19) as the innings recovered again. However, Ali Mohammed returned to snatch two late wickets as Jamaica lost three quick wickets for just 17 runs. Jamaica entered the game top of the standings on 55.5 points but just 5.5 clear of the chasing Guyana. At St Paul’s, opener Shian Brathwaite struck a swift hundred as Barbados snatched the advantage against Windward Islands.

Brathwaite made 101 off 104 balls with 12 fours and three sixes as his third-placed side finished the day on 177 for two in reply to the Windwards’ 121 all out. He put on 146 for the first wicket with Nico Reifer who made 41 before Sealron Williams claimed both wickets to end with two for 46. Earlier, in-form opener Kimani Melius struck 52 but the Windwards’ batting flopped after they were asked to bat first. They were well perched on 100 for three after Melius and Dillon Douglas (15) added 46 for the fourth wicket but lost their last seven wickets for 21 runs. Off-spinner Dante Niles ripped the innings apart with four for 12 while left-arm spinner Camarie Boyce ended with three for 27. At Verchilds, Leeward Islands were solid in racking up 225 after opting to bat first, with Shacoy Floyd stroking an unbeaten 49, Uri Smith gathering 43, Jamie Cornelius 34 and Dimitri Adams 31. They appeared on course for a much larger total when a 73-run, third-wicket partnership between Smith and Adams pushed them up to 133 for two. But they lost four wickets for a single run as off-spinner Avinash Mahabirsingh (5-69) and seamer Shaaron Lewis (2-41) triggered a collapse. In reply, Trinidad and Tobago were 54 for three, 171 runs adrift of first-innings lead.

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 2017

Carter earns shock 400m See hurdles win from Page 31 outside lane

CPL ticket sales for Guyana leg moving at fast rate No Grass Mound tickets available for game against TKR

HAVING defeated Guyana 5-1 in their opening game on Wednesday, Barbados will face axiomatic Cuba today to wrap-up their Group D matches in the CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Caribbean qualifiers, at the Leonora Track and Field Facility. Kick-off time is 17:00hrs. Cuba head into the match as favourites, given their proven track record in women’s football, primarily at the youth level in the Caribbean. However, Barbados’ Thomas Jordan said his team is ready for the challenge against the Spanish-speaking Island, and given the fact that they have already secured a crucial three points, the pressure will be on the Cubans to finish the night with at least a point. Only one team from the group will advance to the final round which will be played in Haiti.

Grass Mound tickets for the game between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders have been sold out.

By Mitch Phillips LONDON, England (Reuters) - Ramil Guliyev, representing Turkey after switching allegiance from Azerbaijan, pulled off a shock 200 metres victory at the World Championships yesterday, edging an emotional favourite Wayde van Niekerk into second place in a blanket finish. The 27-year-old Guliyev, who had never won a medal in a senior global event, finished just the stronger to triumph in 20.09 seconds before setting off on a lap of honour carrying the flags of both of his nations. South African van Niekerk, who took the 400m title on Tuesday, had been seeking to match American Michael Johnson’s achievement of doing the 200/400m double at the Gothenburg worlds in 1995, but had to settle for silver in 20.11 seconds.

Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago was given the same time but was relegated to third by one thousandth of a second. Isaac Makwala of Botswana, the crowd favourite after his illness travails initially saw him barred from competing this week, started strongly but faded to sixth. In the absence of Usain Bolt, who had won the event in the last four championships, it always looked a wide open race, but even with the most level playing field for a decade, few were looking at lane five for the likely winner. van Niekerk, Makwala, Richards and U.S. duo Isiah Young and Ameer Webb all looked stronger on paper, while the home crowd also focused on local favourite Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake, who eventually

Turn to page 26

Barbados eyeing three points against Cuba today

Turkey’s Guliyev stuns field to win 200 metres

Ramil Guliyev of Turkey celebrates winning the 200 metres gold.

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

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017