SEE INSIDE
See inside: Georgetown’s fading wooden architecture ► Page
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The gift of vision VIII ► Page
A Community’s Pride ► Page
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Tourists trekking uphill to Santa Mission
Santa/Aratak villagers driving community’s tourism
Meritless Best in the Field
Kwakwani’s football gem, Jalade Trim
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No. 105003
SUNDAY AUGUST 13, 2017
Price: $140
(VAT Inclusive)
...PM knocks oppposition to broadcast bill ...says President’s assent cannot be delayed
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KFC ready to roll WORKERS were toiling throughout the weekend to meet the deadline for the opening of the new Kentucky Fried Chicken establishment at the corner of Eping Avenue and Vlissengen Road. In a few more hours, Guyanese are expected to be lining up to bite into the succulent, world-famous KFC, which comes under the local franchise – the Beharry Group. (Pic by Adrian Narine)
Many not pleased with service offered by Dynamic Airways Page 19
GTT hails prosecution of alleged cable thieves Page 10
Seven-year-old dies in E’bo lake accident Page 9
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 13, 2017
‘Recognise your intrinsic value’ – First Lady tells Girl Guides FIRST Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, Saturday evening told members of the Guyana Girl Guides Association that it was her hope for them that they become strong women, conscious of their value and self-worth. Mrs. Granger, who is the patron of the organisation, was at the time speaking at the closing ceremony of a one-week camp and workshop, which was held at the Girl Guides Pavilion on Brickdam. The camp, titled Camp G.I.R.L.S., an acronym for “Growing, Inspiring, Reaching, Learning, Sharing,” was a merger of the Girl Guides National Camp and the ‘Be the Best You Can’ Workshop, which focused on young girls from the East Coast of Demerara, West Coast of Demerara and Georgetown and exposed them to a wide spectrum of subjects. These included self-esteem and caution in internet surfing, modern etiquette and dining out, caring for the environment, sports for development, women and work. Mrs. Granger said that the camp was timely, as it is geared towards equipping young girls to deal with some of the challenges which they might face. Noting that the world was now much more complex and difficult to negotiate than the one which she was raised in, the First Lady said that women
must now become stronger and more conscious of their value. “I know that when you read newspapers or view or listen to the news you have an almost daily diet of acts of violence being committed against women and girls or of young persons committing suicide because of despair. Another issue is the importance of self-esteem and self-confidence, so that you develop the ability to withstand the blandishments of those, who would want you to become involved in every mindless crowd activity,” the First Lady said. She encouraged the young girls to take note of their conduct as they embark in any chapter of their lives, particularly the world of study and work, so that they gain and maintain the respect of their peers and other members of the society. “How you behave in public influences the opinion people have about you. This is where your sessions on modern etiquette and dining out and women and work come in. First impressions are still very important. I hope that you will have become stronger and recognised your intrinsic value during the course of Camp GIRLS, where you will have “Grown, Been Inspired, Reached, Learnt and Shared”,” she said. One aspect of the camp sessions focused on the
First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger (seated second right)with officials and members of the Guyana Girl Guides Association, as well as participants of the Camp GIRLS 2017 at the Girl Guides Pavilion, Brickdam
protection and preservation of the environment as the country continues to pursue the ‘green’ state development policy. Speaking on this issue, Mrs. Granger told the young girls that this was yet another critical area, given the current impact of global-warming and climate change. “Our actions, the things we do in our daily lives, have led to the world’s population using up the earth’s resources faster than the planet can regenerate them. We have eliminated some species, destroyed habitats and through the indiscriminate use of chemicals are polluting the atmosphere and our land and water resources. We must ensure that we preserve and protect our environment, so that our children and future generations can survive and
thrive,” she said. The First Lady also addressed the subject of diet and exercise, as she noted that healthy lifestyles are important. With non-communicable diseases being a public health issue in Guyana and the wider Caribbean, Mrs. Granger urged the girls to make healthy and wise choices, which can give them the best out of life. “We not only have to eat a balanced diet, we must minimise our stress and lead active lives. Women and girls’ health and well-being are integral to the growth and development of our country. There is concern that cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Guyana. We are also concerned about sexually transmitted diseases and HIV, chronic non-communicable diseases
such as diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension and cardiac disease,” she said. The First Lady, who has been working closely with the Women Across Differences (WAD) and other non-governmental organisations and Government agencies to tackle teenage pregnancy, also used the opportunity to speak to the young Guides on the realities of this problem. “Guyana has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in the Caribbean Community. Few of the adolescent mothers return to school to complete their education. If they find employment, it is low-waged work. They remain trapped in a cycle of poverty and some become dependent on our social services for their own and their children’s survival,” she explained. Mrs. Granger urged the girls to make the best of the education they had received over the past week and to ensure that they use it to make choices for themselves and their future.
Meanwhile, Ms. Schemel Patrick, who coordinated the week’s events, said that it is an annual event, which was merged this year with the ‘Be the Best You’ workshop, aimed at empowering young girls to be the best that they can be. “We had one filled week of adventures and learning. We did a programme, which focused on encouraging girls to not focus on the image but it’s okay to be themselves, we focused on how girls can be smart while surfing the internet, we had movie night, we did craft activities and the Environmental Protection Agency was here to do a session on caring for the environment, the Carnegie School of Home Economics taught modern etiquette and dining out and we also took them out to various workplaces to meet women workers and we also had ‘Passion into Paycheck’, which basically taught them how they can use a hobby or something they are really passionate about to make money,” she said. Ms. Kayseri, one of the girls who participated in the camp, said that it was an enriching and educational experience. She noted that she looks forward to making good use of all that she has learnt. “Over the last week, I have had fun. I have learnt how to make craft and I have also learnt that I should not focus on what’s on the outside, but what’s on the inside. I can use this to go home and make myself a better person and I want to encourage everyone else to use this experience to better their lives as well,” she said. (Ministry of the Presidency)
‘A fairly good job’
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 13, 2017
– Minister Hughes gives gov’t thumbs up for performance MINISTER of Public Telecommunications, Ms Catherine Hughes, has given the APNU+AFC Administration the thumbs up for the significant progress it has made in just a little over two years in office. “It has felt like a 100-metre dash,” in spite of the many hurdles it has had to overcome, she told the Department of Public Information (DPI) recently, when
asked to rate the government’s performance to date. She explained that upon taking office, the government not only inherited a number of challenges that should have been dealt with by the previous administration, but that when ministers took up ther respective appointments, they too found that the necessary infrastructure and policies were not in place, which, in turn,
put a further strain on the government. “That has made the work a lot more difficult,” Minister Hughes said, adding: “We had challenges in sugar that really should have been tackled 10 to 15 years ago, so, of course, today we are having to deal with that.” She, however, said that in spite of the many constraints, the current administration is equal to the task.
“We are up for the challenge, and despite the propaganda that is constantly hurled at us, I think we have done a fairly good job...” She bolstered her argument by pointing to her ministry’s many achievements in the two short years, such as being able to connect 95 secondary schools and 37 other institutions to the eGovernment Network, among them the various regional offices,
the Guyana School of Agriculture, and the Cyril Potter College of Education. She also listed among her ministry’s significant achievements, their being able to hook up 53 government ministries to the eGovernment Network; install 49 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hubs; and providing as many as 8,944 teachers with laptops so far.
TALKS between the Ogle Airport Incorporated (OAI) and the National Air Transport Association (NATA) on anti-competition at the airport are continuing, Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Colonel (Ret’d) Egbert Field disclosed on Thursday. NATA has accused OAI of creating an anti-competitive and oppressive environment, but despite owning 60 per cent of OAI, Chairman of the Correia Group, Michael Correia Jnr. believes there is a level playing field at the airport, which has been renamed the Eugene F. Correia International Airport on the suggestion of President David Granger. In 2015, Ms Annette Arjoon-Martins and Captain Gerry Gouveia, President
and Vice-President respectively of the newly-formed National Air Transport Association (NATA) had criticised the OAI over their alleged dictatorial attitude. According to NATA, the Ogle International Airport is being “controlled” by the Correia Group through the Board, resulting in the environment at the airport being anti-competitive and oppressive. Correia had said he finds the utterances of NATA at the time “wholly irresponsible to suggest that any single airline exercises a monopoly or control in this environment.” On Thursday, Field, during a press conference, was asked to give an update on the talks featuring NATA and OAI and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. He, however, could not state whether the parties were
close to resolving their differences. “I know the parties are working together, and the Ministry is being speaking with the parties, OAI and NATA, the operators… So, it is at that level of discussions,” he said, adding: “I would say they are having some very fruitful discussions, which I think will eventually end in both sides being satisfied with the outcome.” Asked whether he foresees any sticking points as talks progress, Field said, “I don’t think there are sticking points; they are talking, and they are coming to a common ground, but I don’t think there are any sticking points where one side is saying, ‘I am holding out unless I get this.’ They are discussing.”
2015 about the number of shares owned by the Correia Group, and what it considered market dominance. But Correia, during a media briefing, had said while the Correia Group of Companies were being criticised over the quantity of shares it owns, it was that same group that financed the airport when others backed out at a critical time. “Early in the life of OAI, when there was need for critical cash injection to satisfy the mandatory safety and development obligations of the Lease Agreement, the Correia Group was left alone to meet the demand, or the OAI face the collapse of the Airport Development Project,” Correia said. “All the shareholders at the time had an opportunity to contribute equally. They chose not to. There was no objection then on the part of any of the shareholders to
the Correia Group meeting the financial demand for the survival of the airport,” he’d told reporters. Correia had said, too, that though the failure of the other investors has resulted in one group owning the majority of the shares, the structure of the conditional Operators Agreement and the strict regulation of the Airport Operations Manual and Procedure by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCCIA) will not permit anti-competitive and oppressive behaviour. Correia, who is also the Chairman of the Board of OAI, said that while 60 per cent of the OAI is owned by the Correia Group, it only has two representatives on the seven-member board. Those members include Michael Correia Jnr., Niki Correia, Malcolm Chan-ASue, Marcel Gaskin, Tony
Minister of Public Telecommunications, Ms Catherine Hughes
Ogle airport talks continuing
MARKET DOMINANCE NATA had complained in
Mekdeci, Ronald Reece and Mazahar Ally. However, the Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that only two of the board members are independent aircraft operators. In his quest to prove its case of equality and transparency, Correia told reporters that OAI had frequently called on the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government to implement the Airport Review Panel prescribed by the Lease Agreement which is intended to provide an extra layer of oversight on the operations and obligations of the airport and the government. “We believe that this will help to improve our governance structure, and prevent any possibility of anti-competitive or oppressive behaviour or any allegations that the airport is operating Turn to page 8 ►
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 13, 2017
Watch your mouth, China warns Trump CHINA’S President Xi Jinping has urged Donald Trump and North Korea to avoid “words and actions” that worsen tensions, state media say. Mr Trump and North Korea have been exchanging hostile rhetoric, with the US president threatening to rain “fire and fury” on the North. But China, North Korea’s only major ally, has been urging restraint. A White House statement said the US and China agreed North Korea must stop “provocative and escalatory behaviour”. A statement by North Korea’s official KCNA news agency issued on Saturday said the Trump administration “had better talk and act properly,” if it did not want “the American empire to meet its tragic doom.” Longstanding tensions
over North Korea’s nuclear programme worsened when it tested two inter-continental ballistic missiles in July. The regime was also angered by last week’s UN decision to increase economic sanctions against it. According to Chinese State media, Mr Xi told Mr Trump in a phone call that “all relevant parties” should stop “words and deeds” that would exacerbate the situation. Mr Xi also stressed China and the US shared “common interests” over denuclearisation and maintaining peace on the Korean peninsula. A White House statement on the phone call did not mention the apparent plea to the US president. It stressed the two men enjoyed a close relationship, which would “hopefully
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lead to a peaceful resolution of the North Korea problem.” President Trump has previously chided China for not reining in North Korea, saying it could do “a lot more”. North Korea has announced plans to fire missiles near the Pacific territory of Guam, but there is no indication an attack is imminent. On Friday, Mr Trump issued a fresh threat against North Korea, saying it should expect “big, big trouble” if anything happened to Guam. But he added: “Hopefully, it will all work out. Nobody loves a peaceful solution better than President Trump; that I can tell you.” Mr Trump also called the governor of Guam on Friday to reassure him that his island was safe. “ We a r e w i t h y o u 1,000%,” Mr Trump said in the phone call, recorded and posted on YouTube by Governor Eddie Calvo. Pyongyang has accused Mr Trump of “driving” the Korean peninsula to the “brink of a nuclear war”. Russia said the exchange of threats between Washington and North Korea worried Moscow “very much”. Germany has also expressed alarm. (BBC)
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60 children die in Uttar Pradesh hospital --in just two days
A distraught mother whose baby was among the 60 that had died
AT least 60 children have died at a public hospital in northern India, officials say, amid allegations that the oxygen supply was cut over unpaid bills. Officials in Uttar Pradesh state admitted the supply had been disrupted, but said this did not cause the deaths. There was panic at the hospital, with relatives trying to support staff using manual breathing bags, local media say. Most victims were at the neonatal unit, or being treated for encephalitis. The deaths occurred over a five-day period, from Monday at the Baba Raghav Das hospital in Gorakhpur district. Thirty of the deaths were recorded between Thursday and Friday alone, the hospital said. District official, Anil Kumar recognised there was
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a “payment issue” with the supplier, but said the deaths could have been caused from “natural” causes, as many patients were admitted in a “serious” condition. The region is one the poorest in India, and records hundreds of deaths of children due to diseases, including encephalitis, every year. “We will be getting more liquid oxygen cylinders tonight or tomorrow, and have also cleared the dues of the supplier,” Mr Kumar said. State Health Minister Sidharth Nath Singh also rejected that the children had died because of lack of oxygen, saying that the average daily death toll for the month of August at the hospital was between 19 and 22 in the last three years. It was not clear if this related only to cases among children. “There was no shortage of oxygen in the hospital. For two hours, there was shortage of emergency cylinders, during which manual resuscitation procedure was carried out,” he said. The uncle of an 11-year-
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old girl who died at the hospital told ABP news channel: “We didn’t know what was happening at the time. The staff just told us to keep pressing [the artificial bags] after every count until three. We kept doing that for some time.” In a statement, the hospital said, “The pressure of the liquid oxygen supply became low,” and that reserve cylinders were arranged, but did not specify whether that had resulted in any deaths, and why so many children had died in just two days. The case has sparked outrage in India, with some describing it as a massacre, the BBC’s Sanjoy Majumder in New Delhi reports. Opposition leaders have been criticised for trying to politicise the issue for blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, which rules the state. State officials said an investigation has been launched, and Mr Modi’s office said on Twitter that he was constantly monitoring the situation. (BBC)
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 13, 2017
Strange illness besets Canadian, US envoys in Cuba CANADA’S foreign ministry is investigating after at least one of its diplomats stationed in Cuba was treated for hearing loss and headaches. It comes a day after the US said its diplomats in Havana were experiencing strange physical symptoms. Reports suggest the envoys could have been targeted by a covert sonic device that causes hearing loss. Havana denies the allegation, but the US has removed two Cuban diplomats from Washington in retaliation.
“Cuba has never, nor would ever, allow the Cuban territory to be used for any kind of action against accredited diplomats or their families,” Cuba’s foreign ministry said. While US officials have not directly accused the Cuban government, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the authorities in Havana needed to take action. “We hold the Cuban authorities responsible for finding out who is carrying out these health attacks, not just on our diplomats, as you’ve seen there are cases with
other diplomats as well.” Global Affairs Canada, the country’s foreign ministry, says the government is working with US and Cuban officials to find out what happened. “We are aware of unusual symptoms affecting Canadian and US diplomatic personnel and their families in Havana,” a spokesperson told the BBC. “The government is actively working -- including with US and Cuban authorities -- to ascertain the cause. At this time, we do not have any reason to believe
Canadian tourists and other visitors could be affected.” The Associated Press reported that a US investigation determined that the American diplomats’ hearing loss could have been linked to sonic devices which emit inaudible sound waves that can cause deafness. US officials, speaking to the agency anonymously, said investigations had determined devices had been deployed either inside or outside diplomats’ homes. Investigators are also considering the possibility that a third country,
Schoolboy found dead behind church A SCHOOLBOY who was sent by his mother to sell vegetables in front of the Bethel ‘The House of God’ church in Freeport on Thursday, was found Friday morning floating in a ravine at the back of the church. Police believe he was bludgeoned to death, but will await the findings of an autopsy scheduled for tomorrow. Through her tears, Abia Williams, 30, told Newsday that she sent her son, Emmanuel Okera to sell the vegetables at the front of the church located in Calcutta No. 2, Freeport. When she tried contacting him via his cellphone at 3.17 pm, Williams got no answer. At 4.30 pm on Thursday, Williams and a member of the church went in search of the boy,
but he could not be located. Williams then contacted the Couva police and told officers that Emmanuel left their Seereeram Trace, Calcutta No. 2 home to sell vegetables at the church, as he was accustomed doing. Officers visited the church on Thursday night and saw bloodstains on the ground outside the church. But still, there was no sign of the child. His body was however found on Friday morning in the ravine at the back of the church. The area was cordoned off and Emmanuel’s body was later fished out of the ravine. Police sources said injuries to his face suggest he may have been beaten before being thrown into
the water. The body was taken to the Forensic Science Centre in St James where an autopsy will be done. Sources said that since Williams is a member of the church, she and her son were allowed to sell their vegetables on the church’s compound, to make ends meet. Shocked residents who heard of the boy’s death said he was always respectful when dealing with people who came to purchase his vegetables. Like his mother, Emmanuel was also a regular member of the church.
“This is unbelievable. Imagine attacking this little boy by a church. He was trying to earn a few dollars to help his family, and now his life has been snuffed. “What is this country really coming to,” a resident asked. Police sources said they hope the autopsy will also shed light on whether or not the boy was sexually abused. Emmanuel’s murder has pushed the toll to 294 for the year thus far. No arrests have yet been made and investigations are ongoing. (TrinidadNewsday)
such as Russia, was behind the incidents, officials familiar with the inquiry told AP. About five American diplomats, including some spouses, had been affected, but no children were involved, US officials said. US Department of State spokeswoman Heather Nauer 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.
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. “Personal harm to US officials shows the extent the Castro regime will go, and clearly violates international norms,” he said. If true, the use of sonic devices to cause harm to diplomats would be unprecedented. (BBC)
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Editorial
SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 13, 2017
Elderly security guards THE recent shooting to death of 64-year-old security guard Gerald Henry, allegedly by a young man who attempted to rob the premises he was protecting, brings to the fore once again, the importance of having conversations on this demographic employed in the private security sector. In this instance, none other or should it be said,no one better than Minister Keith Scott, who is minister responsible for labour within the Ministry of Social Protection, is adding his voice. There are various reasons why the elderly are employed in this sector and while no pretence is being made to know all, some are easily identifiable. The private security service, where persons are mostly not only working long hours (12-hour or more) in a single shift and deprived of their night’s sleep, is also considered not financially attractive to a younger demographic,
given its relative low-wage practice. Given the paucity and relative absence of economic security after retirement, which in our society is either 55 years or 60, these persons, though they may have more to contribute and want to contribute, very often cannot find employment outside of the security sector. Unlike other societies that provide economic support and relief for their senior citizens such as discounts in public transportation and at retail establishments, in Guyana for this demographic outside of reliance on pensions from their employers,the National Insurance Scheme if they qualify, and Old Age at 65 years, collectively these cannot adequately compensate for the day-to-day financial challenges of the average person. A fact that cannot be ignored is that the cost of living is high in Guyana and our senior citizens are not insulated from it.
For many, if not all, being a security guard aids in the supplementing of incomes necessary to offset expenses and ensure preservation of dignity that comes with not having to be reliant on others for financial support. The relative economic fortunes of many families today, given their own responsibilities, make it difficult to assist in providing financial support to their elderly relatives, leaving them out of necessity and pride to pursue such responsibility independently. Minister Scott is correct in his view that his concern for this demographic being employed is not intended to deprive them of the right to work which would be ageism. Also, his concern about female guards being assigned duties in isolated areas and at nights is deserving of attention and rightly not seeking to deprive women of exercising the choice of working, which would be deemed gender bias.
What is encouraging in the minster’s attention to this issue is his acknowledgement of not knowing it all in how to treat with the matter and would appreciate having the input of society in addressing same. This opportunity for public inclusion should not be ignored by the private security services and society at large. Society stands to gain when public policies are shaped with the input of the people, more so those who are to be impacted by them. As alluded to above, the socio-economic and structural realities that would cause this senior demographic to gravitate to this category of employment cannot be overlooked in shaping policies. Government may find it useful to examine ways of addressing these, inclusive of forming public/private partnerships in examining and making possible, ways to assist in economic self-sustainment. Best practices in other societies
can be used as frames of reference. In shaping labour policies, it may be worthy looking into the job specification, job description and the categories of security workers. There may also be need to describe what constitutes a security guard vis-a-vis a watchman, the conditions under which they work, including having requisite training and tools to perform efficiently and effectively. Acknowledgement of the foregoing does not ignore that those who set out to deprive any of their property would also factor in that if they have to overpower an armed security guard they will do so. The
recent attempted robbery of Republic Bank on Water Street makes the case that armed guards, irrespective of age, gender and physical agility would not often serve as deterrents. Finally, where Minister Scott is seeking to address what could undeniably be considered conditions less than favourable to the elderly working in the security sector, the security firms must also see the importance of examining it. Ours is a society where historically the elderly has been revered, and ensuring their respect in the private security sector would necessitate non-exploitation of our seniors.
GuySuCo states position on ethanol as alternative to sugar production Dear Editor, THE Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) would like to provide some information which it is hoped would add to the current debate on ethanol production as a viable business activity for the corporation. Ethanol production as an alternative to sugar production has stimulated considerable interest in recent months. The outstanding example of a sugarcane-to-ethanol industry is Brazil, that has developed an internal market for hydrated and fuel-grade ethanol for its motor vehicle fleet, most of which are made in Brazil. Brazilian factories for the most part will produce both sugar and ethanol and can shift production volumes to either product depending on market prices or demand. The ethanol product can be either “hydrated” or anhydrous. Hydrated
ethanol is 96% ethyl alcohol that is used in ethanol-burning vehicles for which production is being phased out, while the “flex” fuel vehicles are becoming increasingly common. Anhydrous ethanol is mixed at up to 22% with gasoline in the common internal combustion engine. The higher ethanol content is more common in Brazil where that mix is mandated. However, the accepted standard in most countries is for a 10% ethanol content that has the same octane rating as conventional gasoline, but has lower CO2 emissions. Ethanol is produced directly from sugarcane by fermentation of cane juice or from final molasses. The yield of ethanol from cane juice depends on the content of fermentable sugars. It has been noted that a number of ill-informed exponents of ethanol, tend to project the yield of ethanol from sugarcane as 80
to 85 litres per ton of sugarcane. However, this high yield is obtained in the centre-south of Brazil, where conditions favour high accumulation of sugars and pol in cane is in excess of 14%. Similar conditions will be found in Australia and Southern Africa. The sugar cane sugar content in Guyana is similar to the north-east of Brazil, where average pol in cane rarely exceeds 11-12%. The yield of ethanol from these canes will not exceed 70 litres per ton of cane. Ethanol production from molasses is of the order of 260 litres per ton. There have been a number of detailed studies (Davis et al, 2005; Horta and Coviello, 2007; Worthington, 2007; Zabrockis and Coviello, 2009) which were conducted between 2004 to 2009 in the Guyana sugar industry on the feasibility of ethanol. These have all suggested that the most profitable route for etha-
nol would be from molasses, a by-product of sugar production and as such is assigned a nominal value. Another key factor for consideration to substitute ethanol for sugar is oil. The selling price of fuel-grade ethanol is linked to oil prices. The current price of a barrel of oil is approximately US$ 45-49, this translates to US$1.16 per gallon at the higher price. The Brazilian industry has developed a parity index (Horta and Coviello, 2007) to determine the relative advantages of ethanol versus sugar production. This is an important consideration in Brazil, where the ability to vary the product mix is essential for profitability. By using the Brazilian index as a guide, the parity-price advantage for fuel-ethanol production over sugar at the current world market price of US $0.29/Kg should require better than US$0.48 per litre
or US$ 1.86 per gallon. An essential point to note is that the feasibility of any venture is dependent on the cost of the raw material and unfortunately the present costs of production for sugarcane in Guyana is unfavourable for the production of either sugar or ethanol. Hence, the corporation’s present emphasis on improving efficiency and productivity in agriculture. Given the above considerations, it is clear that should fuel-ethanol production emerge as a feasible consideration for GuySuCo, the preferred raw material would continue to be molasses. The annual molasses production over the past five years is approximately 105,000 tons. This includes the output from all estates. GuySuCo currently has commitments to supply 40,000 to 60,000 tons of molasses to one of its customers. This could suggest that
45,000 tons of molasses could be available for fuel ethanol and this quantity of molasses would produce only 11.7 million litres of fuel ethanol. Finally, there have been claims that the chief executive stopped the production of ethanol at the Albion Estate in 2015. We would like to point out that this information is inaccurate and misleading; as a matter of fact, the bio-ethanol plant has been operating continuously during the cropping period on that estate. It is also important to note that the bio-ethanol plant at the Albion Estate is a demonstration plant and not a commercial producer. Regards AUDREYANNA THOMAS Senior Communications Officer Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo)
Meritless
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 13, 2017
CRITICISMS by stakeholders on the passage of the Broadcast (Amendment) Bill earlier this month have been labelled meritless by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. Nagamootoo, in a statement issued on Saturday, said the sentiments proffered by some critics form part of the “partisan political propaganda against the need for modern legislative changes in Guyana,” and that for the most part, they are “Opposition-driven allegations.” Government has been criticised by stakeholders for what they believe to be a violation of the Constitution, a breach of international treaties and conventions, the infringement on press freedom and the removal of “proprietary interests” of broadcasters, by virtue of the amendments. Many of them have called for President David Granger to refrain from assenting to the legislation, but the prime minister believes it would not be in the best interest of the public. In fact, Nagamootoo believes the President’s assent to the legislation “cannot be delayed by vested and parochial political interests, and by misconceived or misinformed arguments…the amendments are required with some urgency.” According to the prime minister, there has been a “gross misunderstanding” and “in a few instances, deliberate misrepresentation” of the recent amendments to the Broadcast Act, which was signed into law in September 2011 by the then president, Bharrat Jagdeo. “It is apparent that those who have expressed some sort of opposition to the amendments did not examine carefully the provisions of the 2011 Act, which the amendments seek to give effect, as authorised by the said Act. In most cases, the amendments give clarity to certain sections and also, add certainty to them,” said the prime minister. He noted too that the amendments were recommended by the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), and were tabled in the National Assembly as an Amendment Bill, after statutory consultation with the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU), as required by the 2011 Act. However, media owners have complained that the amendments infringe on press freedom and their position is in tandem with that of the Guyana Press Association (GPA). In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Nagamootoo, media operators, proprietors and representatives, called
for a meeting to discuss their concerns.
SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS They believe that the proposed Bill, in its current form, has serious implications for the sustainability of their operations and, to some extent, infringes on their freedom to determine broadcast content. As such, they called for “meaningful consultation” on the legislation. “Having looked at the proposed Bill, we can see a number of issues to be raised in terms of constitutional matters,” the statement said. Similarly, the GPA has called for halting of the legislation. In a statement to the media, the body said if the amendments are made to the Act, they could pose “severe consequences” to press freedom here.
advertisers and programme sponsors. But the opinions formed by stakeholders have been considered as a misunderstanding and misdirection by the prime minister. He explained that the amendment serves to give clarity to the meaning of “broadcasting service,” which means the provision of service in the areas of television and radio (sound) broadcasting. However, the Act has no definition for “public service broadcasting.” In the Act, “broadcasting service” means a service providing broadcasting, though it makes provision for broadcasters to provide a “certain percentage” of time for such broadcasting. The amendment, he said, fills the gap, defining “public service broadcasting” as the broadcast of a programme produced for the purpose
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo
One of the amendments being proposed is the allocation of 60 minutes airtime, daily, for public service programmes, which is to be determined by the government. There is a provision in the existing legislation for licensees to carry, at no cost, information on any programmes issued by government agencies, which may be deemed appropriate and necessary in terms of national importance, emergency and disaster. Some of these agencies include: the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Guyana Fire Service (GFS) and, or health service providers, among others. The frequency of these broadcasts was not stipulated in the Act. However, the body believes that such a move will result in the disruption and violation of contractual obligations that stations have with
of informing and educating the public, and promoting policies and activities of the Government that benefit the public as a whole.” Moreover, Nagamootoo said Section 18 (2) of the Act requires licensees to carry information on any programmes issued by the Civil Defence Commission, the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Fire Service and/ or health services, and certain other programmes as public information deemed appropriate and necessary in terms of national security, emergency and disaster as a public service at no cost. A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE Additionally, the GNBA, by law, requires licensees to carry a certain percentage of public service broadcast or development support broadcasts as public information
...PM knocks oppposition to broadcast bill ...says President’s assent cannot be delayed deems (sic) appropriate as a public service at no cost. “Development support broadcasts” have long been recognised as relating to Government development programmes, the prime minister stated. As it relates to “certain percentage”, the prime minister, in his statement, said the original Act excludes “information issued by the Civil Defence Commission, the Guyana Police Force”, and therefore, could have been interpreted as requiring additional free broadcast time to the “certain percentage” to which I have already alluded. He said, too, that the amendment seeks to “place a maximum cap on the certain percentage” which will now include notices of the Civil Defence Commission, Police Force, etc. and limits it to between one minute and 60 minutes daily. Section 8(1) of the amendment says that every broadcasting agency shall broadcast public service programmes for a total of up to 60 minutes per day, between 06:00hrs and 22:00hrs and free of cost. The 60 minutes referred to shall include time allotted for any address to the nation by the President; and emergency notice or disaster warning issued by the Civil Defence Commission, the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Fire Service, the Minister of Public Health and the Government generally by any agency duly authorised. The prime minister said too that the new legislation has clearly clarified the classes of licences referred to in Section 17 (1) of the Act. That section says the Authority shall be responsible for the regulation, supervision and development of national broadcasting, including private, public and community broadcasting. Section 18 says classes of licences should be established, however, with the amendment, a structure has been created for the proper operation of the classes of licences. Section 21A says that a television broadcasting service or a radio broadcasting service shall be of three classes: commercial, where 80% of revenue comes from advertisements and sale of airtime; Non-commercial, where funding comes mainly from donors; and community, where a board elected by a geographic area runs the station for the community and in its interest. “To accommodate these classes of operators, the amendment allows for zones to be created -- primary, secondary and tertiary zones in various geographic locations to ensure that the entire coun-
try is covered by broadcasting from one medium or the other,” said Nagamootoo. VESTED WITH POWERS The GNBA is vested with powers to do these things and much more, as the ACT allows it to amend any condition of a licence on application of the licensee or on the authority’s own motion; issue renewals of licences; suspend or revoke any licence; requires licensees to carry public information broadcast as public service at no cost. In the past, operators were required to pay a flat fee of $2,500,000 for a broadcasting licence, whether the agency has nationwide reach or is confined to a specified and limited location. “The imposition by the former Government of an across-the-board $2.5 million fee, resulted in most licensees not paying the fees, and they have voluntarily become unlicensed, some since 2012. Reports indicate that broadcasters owe an estimated $125 million to the GNBA; and only eight (8) of them are in conformity with licensing requirements under law,” said the prime minister. However, he stressed that with the amendment, operators are no longer burdened with what he described as “the kleptocratic obsession” of the former government to levy heavy fees. A new fee structure has been created, except for licensees to operate radio in the primary (populated) zone, significantly reduces the fees. The new fee for television in the primary zone has been slashed to $1,200,000. The licence fees for secondary and tertiary zones are $600,000 and $300,000 respectively. These fees are also applicable to cable. A community radio licence fee is only $150,000. On the issue of transferral of licences, the prime minister reminded that Section 19 of the Act ensures that broadcasting services are effectively owned and controlled by Guyanese nationals as well as CARICOM nationals, provided that in the case of CARICOM nationals, their ownership and control shall be subject to there being reciprocal provisions governing broadcasting by the member state of which the CARICOM national is a citizen. “We know of cases where broadcasting licences have been ostensibly transferred to non-Guyanese nationals. In cases where such licensees had sold or transferred their broadcasting rights and interests, there would be need to review such transfers in keeping with requirements as regards (a) zoning and (b) status of transferees under the 2011 Act. Under the
2011 Act, a licence could not be transferred to any other person without the written consent of the GNBA,” said Nagamootoo. ENSURES COMPLIANCE Additionally, the prime minister said the broadcasting policy ensures compliance by broadcasters with the Constitution and laws of Guyana and requires them not to incite violence, ethnic, religious or cultural hostility. It provides for review of broadcasting rules that regulate content that violates the Constitution, stimulates sexual violence and abuses women’s and children’s rights among other areas. Broadcasting agencies will not be allowed to broadcast advertisements or programmes which contain hate speech, racial incitement or terror threats. “This cannot be an interference with free speech! This is in keeping with the Guyana Constitution which, in Article 146 (3), states that ‘Freedom of expression does not relate to hate speech or other expressions, capable of exciting hostility.’” “It is my strong and confident submission that freedom of the press or of expression is not violated where any law provides for an action to be taken in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health; or for regulating broadcasting or television services,” the prime minister continued. In the case of reapplication, Nagamootoo made it clear that depending on the class of service or zone to which the licence is granted, all broadcasters including the State radio and television, have to fill out the new application forms that are part of the Broadcasting Regulations (the Amendment). This has been the requirement since 2011, as the Act stipulates that all legitimate broadcasters must submit applications for continuation of broadcasting within 30 days of the said Act coming into effect. A person who wanted to start a broadcasting service had to apply for a licence under the new conditions in the Act. “The 2017 amendment Bill re-applies this requirement for submission of application in keeping with the classes of licences, the zoning for operations and the adjusted fees for the different zones. This is a practical measure, and logical within the context of the adjusted broadcasting landscape, which was done in full conformity with the existing Broadcasting law,” the prime minister concluded.
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No proprietary interest in a licence …AG says amendments to Broadcasting Act constitutional ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams SC has argued that there could be no proprietary interest in a licence which is a mere permit that could be revoked or suspended at any time by the licensor. He has maintained that the amendments to the 2011 Broadcasting Act are perfectly legal and constitutional. Mr Williams made these arguments during the recent debate in the National Assembly, pointing out that the
Opposition is being hypocritical with its objections, as most of the provisions in the amendments were already in the principal act that was sponsored by the People’s Progressive Party. Opposition spokespersons as well as some broadcasters and the Private Sector Commission have come out criticising the bill and urged President David Granger not to assent to it. Williams clarified that a proprietary interest signifies ownership of property and there could be no ownership
in someone who is a licensee. “You cannot get ownership of a broadcast licence. It means then that licence to broadcast is not property that could attract the protective provisions of Article 142,” Williams argued. The full presentation of the Attorney General is as follows: I rise and take the opportunity to indicate up front that this Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017 has my total support and I urge a swift passage of this Bill through this honourable House, tonight. We heard, earlier, two presentations on this side of the House, which, in my humble opinion, has sealed the issue this evening. But for the fact that there is only one lingering element left, I, too, would have asked for the question to be put. But we have to deal with the allegations of unconstitutionality, so my
task would be to show that these amendments are foundational on substrata that are fully sounded in law. Therefore, perhaps I can preamble a bit because the genesis of this issue was touched on by the Hon. Member, Ms. Teixeira, and the Hon. Member, Ms. Catherine Hughes, also gave us some vivid insights
into the discrimination which attended the awarding of radio and television broadcast licences. The Bill before this Honourable House is intended to create a level playing field and to put an end to this discrimination in this sector. I recall the targeting of certain television stations that were not viewed favourably by the last Government. I recall seeing Mark Benschop,
for example, on Channel 9, the late Ronald Waddell on Channel 9, and the prosecution of the owners of Channel 9. I think the Hon. Member, Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Harmon, was a member of the Board, and we had to deal with those issues in terms of going to court, et cetera. I am quite versed with the practices of that era. Turn to page 11 ►
Ogle airport talks... improperly,” he said. “We have also asked this government to appoint this Airport Review Panel.” COME A LONG WAY Meanwhile, in explaining the controversy, Captain Gouveia told the Guyana Chronicle in 2015 that there is no doubt that the airport has evolved since its conception as a Sugar Estate Airfield with 21 operators utilising the Ogle International Airport, four foreign operators, and 17 domestic operators, including Trans Guyana Airways, Air Services Limited, Roraima Airways
Limited, Oxford Aviation, Hinterland Aviation, Domestic Aviation, Phoenix Aviation, Hopkinson Aviation, Wings Aviation and JAGS Aviation, among others. But he also maintained that the environment at the airport has become unfavorable with the OAI Board loaded with family and friends of the Correia. “A close examination of each board member of OAI tells a story of nepotism and cronyism,” Gouveia said. In turning back the pages of history, he observed that the Aircraft
From page 3
Owners Association had an agreement that the presidency would be rotated among the members to ensure equity, good governance and coordination for development of the private aviation sector. “Other operators feel that they are operating in an anti-competitive environment,” Gouveia maintained, contending further that this “exercise of monopoly control and anti-competitive strategies” are attempts to take over the Aviation Services at the Ogle Airport by the Correia Group.
SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 13, 2017
Seven-year-old dies in E’bo lake accident AN ACCIDENT at Capoey Lake on the Essequibo Coast has left seven-yearold Wesley Benn dead and others injured. Sources from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have confirmed that the lad who lived in Lima Sands, Essequibo, died after the car in which he and his parents were travelling drove off a bridge and into the lake around 16:00hrs on Saturday. A resident of the village, June Deyounge, posted on
her Facebook page that she heard loud screams coming from the lake, so she rushed to the scene where she saw the vehicle overboard. Villagers reportedly rushed to the assistance of the victims who were trapped in the car. They managed to save the lad’s parents but he was reportedly pinned by the vehicle. Deyounge said she went to a nearby sandpit to get a loader, but by time they returned to the scene, persons had already taken the boy
out of the water and rushed him to the Suddie Hospital, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The other occupants of the vehicle escaped with minor injuries. Details are still sketchy as to who was the driver of vehicle. Toshao of Capoey Lake, Melrose Henry said accidents in the area are rare but when they do happen, it is connected to the usual “weekend lime” at a resort in the area.
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More rewards for GNNL journalists THE Board of Directors and Management of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL) honoured journalists of the media house who received awards at the recently-held Guyana Press Association (GPA) Awards. The reporters were able to cop most of the accolades, with Senior Reporter, Ravin Singh getting awards in a number of categories, including the award for youngest journalist of the year.
Director, Hilbert Foster speaking to persons who were gathered at the appreciation ceremony on Friday, as (from left) Editor, Godfrey Wray; Editor-In-Chief, Nigel Williams and General Manager, Moshamie Ramotar watch on Residents of Capoey rush to assist the occupants of the vehicle who were trapped after it ended up overboard on Saturday
Decomposed body found in Mibicuri canal parlour. Police sources indicated that a check was made to ascertain if a missing person report was filed for anyone at the Mibicuri Police , but no such report was made. Police are investigating the discovery.
Police with assistance from the community transport the body to a funeral parlour
A PARTLY decomposed body of an unidentified male was discovered on Saturday in a canal at Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder. The discovery was made by a farmer who was attending to his cultivation. Ac-
cording to reports, the farmer noticed a strange object in the nearby canal and upon closer examination, found it was a human remains. The police were summoned and the body was removed and taken to a funeral
From left: Rabindra Rooplall, Ravin Singh, Vanessa Braithwaite, Tajeram Mohabir, Samuel Maughn (photographer), Navendra Seoraj and Stephan Sookram
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Forestry Commission to construct new HQ next year PLANS are in train to begin construction of a new head office sometime next year for the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC). This was disclosed to Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ms Simona Broomes on Friday, by Commissioner James Singh. “We recognise that workers are our greatest assets, and we always tell the workers that,” the commissioner said. “And we try to improve working conditions as best as we can,” he told Minister Broomes during a follow-up visit to the commission’s current headquarters in Kingston. In response, Minister Broomes said she is rather impressed with the improvements she’s seen since her last visit in the GFC’s work environment. “I’m very pleased, from
Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources Ms Simona Broomes, during her meeting with the GFC staff on Friday. With her at left is GFC Commissioner Mr James Singh
the first time I visited… I’ve seen vast improvements in the conditions,” she later told the Department of Public Information (DPI). Minister Broomes said she was also impressed with the GFC’s occupational health and safety committee, and the steps it has been
taking to train staff to help improve its customer relations interaction. Noting that the proposed steps are all part of changing the work environment culture, Minister Broomes said: “I strongly believe that once we start to change that culture, the whole ambience; the environment
in which people work will definitely change… “When that happens, workers of themselves will understand how to treat with the general public.” The minister also conducted a similar inspection tour at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.
GTT hails prosecution of alleged cable thieves THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has extended special thanks to the Guyana Police Force, members of the public and its staff for the recent arrest and prosecution of two men charged with alleged theft of its property. Ricky Singh and Sanjay Seecharran were recently charged with the alleged theft of the company’s cable that
affected voice and data services to more than 20,000 customers in several communities. In a statement, GTT said the arrest and conviction of one of the accused is significant, since it follows shortly on the appeal by both the Government and GTT for the public to report attempts or acts of vandalism and sabotage. The police were thorough in their investigation, GTT said. According to the company, the motive of the copper
convicts, in this instance, was that of financial gain, since they stole the copper cable which has lucrative value in the scrap metal market. “The saboteurs of the company’s fibre-optic cable, whose intention is to deliberately affect us from Doing More for our customers and Guyana, are still out there. Let’s continue to work together to find them,” GTT said. “Thieves and saboteurs must not affect your telecommunication services. The company has every confidence that the excellent collaborative work between the Guyana Police Force and
good Guyana, will lead to the eventual arrest of vandals and saboteurs. Say something if you see something. Call our confidential hotline 0908 or 226-2764,” the company added. On Friday, Singh, a 22-year-old fisherman, was charged for allegedly stealing $1.3M worth in fiber-optic cable from GTT. Singh of Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) appeared before City Magistrate, Annett Singh, and denied the simple larceny charge. Particulars of the charge alleged that between July 22 and 24, 2017, at Soesdyke, Linden Highway, Singh stole a quantity of fiber-optic cable belonging to the GTT valued $1, 394,444. The unrepresented man was released on $350,000 and is expected to return to court on August 25. Recently, Seecharran, 24, who is also a fisherman of Grove Public Road, EBD was also charged for sealing fiber-optic cable from the telephone giant. Seecharran appeared before City Magistrate, Sunil Scarce, and confessed to the charge and was sentenced to three years imprisonment.
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No proprietary interest... We would want that to be called the past era so that we would usher in, in this new era, the element of fairness in this era of our patrimony. We were regaled by the Hon. Member, Bishop Juan Edghill that we were breaching the freedom of expression and the protection of property, both guaranteed in our Constitution. He had never named any provisions but he continued and said that these amendments contravened certain rights and that they also contravene international treaties that we might have signed on to. The Honourable Member, Ms. Teixeira, also was in the same vein, but she ventured to indicate that Article 146 was a relevant Article for freedom of expression. The Hon. Member Teixeira also alluded to Article 146 (2); she read a bit of it and said that those provisions also are designed to protect those rights that we are allegedly purported to have breached in this Bill. FALLACIOUS I respectfully submit that those contentions are certainly fallacious. To the uninitiated, one would stop at the Article that states that freedom of expression is guaranteed, et cetera. They might want to believe that that is an absolute right. There are no absolute rights because we all live in society. Those said provisions make provisions for exceptions to the guarantee. So when one has recourse to Article 146, the right is established in Article 146 (1) and, of course, it speaks to the freedom of expression, that is to say the freedom without interference; freedom to receive
ideas and information without interference and freedom from interference from his or her correspondence. That is the entitlement of every Guyanese. However, Article 146, in paragraph (2), contains expressed exceptions to this guarantee. As the Hon. Member, Ms. Teixeira, had read, it states: “Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this article to the extent that the law in question makes provision- (a) That is reasonably required in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health; (b) ... regulating the technical operation of telephony, telegraphy, pots, wireless broadcasting or television, or ensure fairness and balance in the dissemination of information to the public ... “ In common parlance, it means that this is okay and acceptable and it does not infringe the guarantee of freedom of expression. This is an amendment to a Principal Act. As it was indicated earlier by the Hon. Prime Minister, one could have brought regulations, but we have come by way of an amendment Act. Therefore, what is in the Principal Act is still the determinant factor in this matter. The Act in question was made in 2011 by the Hon. Members on that side when they were in Government. That Act established all these things that are being claimed to be unconstitutional by the Members as they sit on the other side of this House. For example, I contend that this Act is not inconsistent with,
on the broadcasting service.”
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or in contravention of, Article 146. It states: “It created the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority and gave it power to regulate, supervise and develop the national broadcasting system, licensing of broadcasting agencies and encouraging the production and broadcasting of TV and radio programmes into alia.” It fits right in the exception of regulating the technical administration. More specifically, if one looks at section 37 of that Act, it states: “The minister responsible for broadcasting, where it appears to be necessary or expedient, may at any time by notice to the Authority direct licensees specified in the notice to broadcast such announcements as are so specified, and Authority and licensees shall comply with the notice.” This is not our Act. This is an Act passed by the members on the other side of the House when they were in Government. They had empowered the minister to make provision for the same thing, that is, the amendment that we are proposing tonight for the carriage of public broadcast for an hour. It is under this provision and that is why I said a regulation could have been made under section 37 (1). But it is under this provision that we have the cue. It was in ‘2011. I do not know if they were the lawyers there at the time. Nevertheless, made under 37 ‘(1) is this provision that you find now in the Broadcasting v (Amendment) Bill. It states that public service broadcast means: “The broadcast of a programme produced for
Attorney General Basil Williams
the purpose of informing and educating the public and promoting policies and activities of the Government that benefit the public as a whole.” WHAT’S THE CONTENTION? This Amendment Bill is here because it is empowered by Section 37 (1) of the principal Act passed by the last Government. Therefore, one has to wonder what the contention really is. One will have to query with the bona fides of the Hon. Members as they make their clarion call. Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, with “query with the bona fides”, I think we are on the edge. One will have to wonder why such a contention would be coming from the members on the other side of the House. How could one pass legislation, and, when one goes out of power, turn around to say that the legislation is unconstitutional? How do you accept that these are genuine and honest contentions? That is the point that we wish to make. Another instance, for example is: in the amendment, it was
foreshadowed in the Principal Act, this Section 20 (1), which provides ... The Hon. Member, Mr. Juan Edghill, said that the principal Act speaks about the licensees, the persons who are carrying on businesses immediately before the coming into effect of the Act, were to apply for continuation. I am saying that that is not so and that they had a reasonable expectation that they would be continued. When one reads Section 20 of the principal Act, it states: “(1) Every person carrying out an authorised broadcasting service immediately before the appointed date shall, within 30 days from that date, make an application to the Authority for a licence for the continuation of the broadcasting service and send a copy of such application to the National Frequency Management Unit for its successors. (2) Where a person referred to in subsection (1) fails to make an application for a licence under that subsection within the time specified therein, or where that application for a licence made by him is not granted by the Authority he shall forthwith cease to carry
NO GUARANTEE It means that, in the principal Act, when they had to apply, there was no guarantee that they would have their licences renewed or continued. It states here that, if the application for the licence made by him is not granted ... It recognises, in the principal Act, in 2011, when they were made [inaudible] carrying on the operations of the television stations, they had to apply within 30 days immediately before the Act came into effect. There are no guarantees of renewal, as was contended by the Hon. Member. The section clearly states that they could fail not to get a licence. When you come to clause 9 of our Bill, it states: “Every person carrying on a broadcasting service immediately before the commencement of this Act for which a licence had been previously issued shall apply within thirty days of the commencement of this Act for licence in accordance with the provisions of the Principal Act as amended by this Act for the continuation of the broadcasting service.” The difference between clause 9 of our Bill and the Section 20 (1) of the principal Act is that this was made into two subsections which added not only those who were licensed, but those who were carrying on television stations without a licence. That is what this Amendment Bill has added. When the Hon. Member, Bishop Edghill, contended that 30 days to comply is outrageous, how could we take seriously such a contention? “Outrageous” was the language used. In 2011, those Turn to page 20 ►
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Answering Objectors to Overseas Voting
By Dr. David Hinds
MY suggestion last week that we begin to reconsider overseas voting has ignited some debate and much vitriol. It should be noted that I am not the first commentator to raise this matter—former Speaker of the National Assembly and Attorney, Ralph Ramkarran, did so about two years ago. I have been called everything from a madman to a PNC lackey to the bearer of some secret plan to rig the next election. It’s yet another reflection of the state of our public discourse, which is generally bereft of reason and a willingness to confront difficult and complex ideas. And where there is some debate, it is often driven by age-old political fears and grudges. We tie ourselves up in political knots and then debate and discuss ideas from that imprisoned state. With all due respect to the views expressed, there
are many arguments that can be made against overseas voting. But the three that seem to be popular are about the weakest. Here is a fact – 93 countries currently have overseas voting. There must be some benefits if so many countries continue to go that route. Another fact-- many Guyanese are already eligible to vote in our elections if they travel home and register. Most of the opposition to the suggestion is grounded in the fear that overseas voting would be a source of electoral fraud. This is a legitimate fear, given the fact that it was part of the electoral-rigging machinery during the period of rigged elections. But Guyana and the world have moved on since that time. One can never guarantee a completely fair election anywhere in the world—there will always be suspicions and charges of fraud. But, to allow that fear of fraud to dictate who should or should not vote is unacceptable. If we follow the logic
that fear of fraud should prevent us from considering overseas voting, we might as well abolish elections in Guyana and many countries around the world. Can someone demonstrate to me how there is the possibility of more fraud in overseas voting than at home? At the height of rigged elections, there was far more rigging at home than overseas. In Guyana, while there are still instances of electoral malpractice, these have not amounted to an overall, corrupt system-- we have returned to a system where our elections are generally free and fair. All our elections since 1992 have been certified as fair by the local and international monitoring agencies. There have, of course, been charges of malpractice by the losing contestants. This is to be expected in a country where the politics are extremely charged. Where there have been big attempts at fraud, as occurred in 2011 and 2015,
these were detected and exposed. The key here is vigilance -- both at the polling places and at the centre where the votes are tallied. I am making the point here that an electoral machinery geared to detect fraud is central to fair elections, whether people are voting in Guyana or at some overseas centre. So, the big fear of fraud we hear about should there be overseas voting is grounded less in reason. The other objection to overseas voting is the fear that it would be marred by ethnic voting. Well, we have ethnic voting at home—should we then abolish elections at home? This is another area of our politics from which we must move on. We must stop complaining and crying about ethnic voting—it’s stale. People vote interests, not issues. If people vote their ethnic interests, they are merely seeing issues through ethnic lenses. If people don’t vote along ethnic lines, they will choose some other interest—maybe gender or class or region or
generation. What makes these other interests less destructive than ethnic interests? If we return to overseas voting, we would be granting rights to Guyanese living abroad. Since when fear of fraud and ethnic voting are disqualifications from voting at elections? If the colonials had said that they were withholding the franchise from Guyanese because of fear that we would have ethnic voting, or that there would be fraud, where would we be today as a country? The other complaint about denying overseas voting is the other stale retort that if people don’t pay taxes in a country they shouldn’t vote in that country. Guyanese overseas remittances amount to over US400 million dollars -- approximately 20 percent of our GDP. If that’s not akin to taxation, I don’t know what is. In fact, that amounts to much more than if they were paying taxes in Guyana. And let’s not forget that there are many
Guyanese living in Guyana that don’t pay income tax, simply because they don’t earn an income. So, should we deny them the right to vote? I agree that when we have to confront big issues such as overseas voting, there must be extensive discussions and our collective fears must be taken into consideration. I am also conscious that the political parties would not touch this issue unless they are convinced that it would bring electoral advantage to them. But, we must begin to grow up politically and in the process, muster the courage to look at old initiatives in new ways. More of Dr. Hinds ‘writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www. guyanacaribbeanpolitics. com. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com
GNBS recertifies two PVC pipe manufacturers THE GUYANA National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) recently renewed the certificates of Guyana Thermoplastics Limited (GTL) and Plastic Products Limited (PPL) after tests conducted on the PVC pipes of both manufacturers showed conformity to requirements of the National Standards. Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes of GTL and PPL met the requisite testing and quality requirements of the two National Standards: GYS 107, ‘Specification for Pressure –rated PVC pipes
(SDR series) and GYS 99, ‘Specification for PVC pipes Schedules 40, 80 and 120’. Recertification under the GNBS Product Cerification Scheme, permits these manufacturers to affix the National Standards Mark to their PVC pipes, which gives building contractors, homeowners and other users confidence that the pipes manufactured are fit for the purpose intended. The renewal certificates, which are valid for one year, were presented by Mr. Al Fraser, Technical Officer II of the GNBS to GTL’s Op-
erations Manager, Mr. Mahendra Barran and PPL Plant Manager Bharath Rampersaud, respectively. “The GNBS is proud of the efforts and the commitment demonstrated by these companies to have their products certified to the requirements of National Standards. More local companies are encouraged to embrace standards and quality by coming on board the GNBS Product Certification scheme to accrue the many benefits,” Public Relations Officer Lloyd David said.
Recertification of Guyana Thermo Plastic Limited pipes
10 LITTLE WORDS
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AUGUST 9 marked three years since a motion of no-confidence was tabled in the National Assembly. The motion contains 10 little words: “That this National Assembly has no confidence in the Government.” Those were the 10 words that shook Guyana; that triggered a change of government for only the second time in post-independent Guyana. That historic motion was moved by me and seconded by Catherine Hughes on behalf of the Alliance For Change (AFC), after we were assured support from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). Together, the APNU+AFC had a oneseat majority in the National Assembly. The motion was against the Donald Ramotar-led People’s Progressive Party (PPP/ Civic) Government, which was unpopular, corrupt and incompetent.
SHORT MEMORIES I have decided to re-visit the no-confidence motion, since a few new-born critics seem to have short memories of what was, and against what the Guyanese people fought just three years ago. The motion was submitted on the eve of the parliamentary recess, so there was no way that a debate could take place. It was published and afterwards placed on the Order Paper for debate on November 10, 2014. Before that the PPP Government had mocked the Opposition during debates in the National Assembly over the possibility of a no-confidence motion. “Bring it on!” their MPs would shout in a bovine chorus. But in anticipation of that ever happening, the Government refused to convene sittings of the National Assembly for months before the recess. FRESH ELECTIONS Away from the pompous and arrogant, political braggadocio in the House, some cronies of the PPP in business circles were busy trying to throw water on any such motion. On June 30, 2014, the Private Sector Commission (PSC), like the proverbial Moongazer, predicted that a no-confidence motion would bring instability, and expressed pessimism over fresh elections. They were aware that upon the passage of a no-confidence motion, fresh elections have to be held within 90 days. Section 106 of the
Constitution provides, inter alia, that “The Cabinet and President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of the majority of all Members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.” To avoid making any compromise or suffer defeat on the battle-ground of a parliamentary debate, the PPP decided to fall on its own sword. President Ramotar ill-advisedly prorogued Parliament on the very day (November 10) on which Parliament was to reconvene and the motion could possibly be debated. He then dissolved the House, and set fresh elections for May 11, 2015. The results were predictable. IMMEDIATE CAUSE The general cause for the removal from office of that post-Jagan PPP government was its pervasive corruption. The immediate cause was the unlawful spending by the Minister of Finance of $4.5 billion which was specifically not approved by the National Assembly. He did so in clear violation of the Constitution of Guyana and had wrongly felt that a Statement of Excess could not cure his government’s illegality. The then AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan wanted him to be jailed for criminal conduct. So, when I was asked why the no-confidence motion had only 10 words, my reply was that it mirrored one of the admonitions of the biblical 10 Commandments: “Thou shall not steal.” CRIME LIST The defeat of the post-Jagan PPP was surgical. It was the initial step taken by the Guyanese electorate in free and fair elections to exorcise the unrestrained ghost of corruption that had feasted on our National Treasury and had contaminated public life. There were other issues that had made up the “Crime List”, which include ● Denial of local government elections; ● Refusal of President Ramotar to assent opposition bills; ● Failure to set up the Public Procurement Commission; ● Non-appointment of a Chairman of the Integrity Commission; ● Diversion of billions of dollars to the regime’s cash cow, NICIL; ● Unlawful distribution of radio and television licences to friends, families and cronies; ● Misuse of state resources
and media for party political purposes; ● Use of confidential tax information to shut up government critics; ● Harassment of the free media and independent journalists. UNDILUTED VENDETTA Before and after the corrupt and incompetent government fell, I understood why the Jagdeoites had launched an undiluted vendetta -- replete with cuss words -- against me. I had walked away from the Augean Stables! The common line was that I had sold out to the PNC which, in post-Jagan parlance, was like teaming up with the Devil. The latest regurgitation of this racist, hate venom came after my participation in a State function to commemorate the 32nd death anniversary of Forbes Burnham, late Prime Minister and President of Guyana. While we must seek knowledge and guidance from the past, we cannot be a slave to it. There are some who cannot let go of the past. They let it intrude into our present and to even overshadow our future. In his lifetime, Cheddi Jagan understood that he could not forever be a prisoner of the past. That was why he had often said that Guyana should return to the 1950s when there was racial and working-class unity. His reliance on dialectics for guidance led him to propose in 1964 a PPP-PNC coalition government with joint premiership between him and Burnham. In 1975, two years after rigged elections, he offered “critical support” for the Burnham (PNC) Government and hailed the regime’s “anti-imperialist” stance and nationalisation policy, though he didn’t think that it went far enough. Ten years later, after the death of Walter Rodney and more rigged elections in 1980, Cheddi Jagan again was working behind the scene to form a coalition government between the PPP
and the PNC. He would have shared leadership of a government of national unity as prime minister with his erstwhile comrade, had President Burnham not died suddenly on August 6, 1985. SECURE PLACE FOR HEROES Looking back and retracing our footsteps into our contemporary political history, would we conclude that Cheddi Jagan
had betrayed us by engaging Forbes Burnham in unity talks? I don’t think so, not at all! Now that both Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham are deceased, there should be a secure place at the Seven Ponds for Heroes for all of Guyana’s former Presidents. History will certainly settle on their roles in Guyana’s development but, for now, we should step back from a
verdict that stems from naked political and racial hate. We cannot, depending which side of the political line we are, dangle our founding leaders as spectres of scorn and fear, instead as symbols of our complicated struggles and our nationhood. For those who love to come after me or my government, I say: hate is ugly. Try 10 pretty words next time!
Council for Disabled Persons calls on President
PRESIDENT David Granger has met with members of the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD), who sought his assistance in carrying out their mandate. The team, which was led by president of the organisation, Leon Walcott and included Cecil Morris and Theresa Pemberton, was asked by the Head of state to prepare a
budget, which he will personally present to Cabinet for consideration. The GCOPD currently has a membership of 20 organisations. Unlike the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, which deals more with policy-related issues, this council interfaces directly with persons with disabilities across the country.
President David Granger with Theresa Pemberton, Leon Walcott and Cecil Morris at the Baridi Benab at State House
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Commemorating our black icons – Skibby, Odo, Caribbean Fox, and Desi
AFRICANS continue to confront the mythology that they are of an inferior race, and in this struggle for human dignity and respect some, rather than stand up and fight, have succumbed. It is not unusual to find that the self-loathing is wedded to the belief that acceptance and/or ascendancy to the social, economic and political order necessitate appropriating physical appearances of another race, or taking objection to being referred to as African-Guyanese, insisting they be identified only as Guyanese. Some still wish we were colonised or enslaved, because to them we were better off being led than being masters of our own destiny, a destiny fought for and this soil drenched with the blood, sweat and tears of those who had striven to make it possible. The mythology to justify slavery on the false notion that civilisation was brought to Africans and were it not for another race, we would have been left living in the wild, swinging naked from trees, devoid of humanity or legacy of an advanced culture continues to inform disrespect for the race. In the 21st century, African-Guyanese were the recipients of similar indignity when Ravi Dev felt comfortable enough to publicly say that were it not for the arrival of Indians, Guyana would have reverted to mangroves. The history of our ancestors shows theirs was a civilisation that had its systems of language, built the pyramids which required a high level of intellect and a feat unmatched, engaged in international trade before being held captive and brought to the so-called New World, had universities such as Timbuktu, and cultures unique to the environment within which they lived.
The wretched desire to trample, discount and even eliminate Africans’ worth and contributions to societal development we must vigorously reject. Behind the backdrop of the importance to make known who we are as a people, and where necessary, constantly remind those who seek to downplay or deny our contributions to societal development, I turn attention to the major departed icons of the 20th and 21st centuries. Attention to these acknowledges their building on the struggles waged by hero braves led by Cuffy, Damon, Quamina, the village movement pioneers, and others. In 1905, Hubert “Skibby” Nathaniel Critchlow sent shockwaves through the British Commonwealth when he organised dockworkers to protest against poor conditions of work. His struggles not only laid the foundation for securing fundamental rights and freedoms for workers, but most instructively saw such being enshrined in conventions of the International Labour Organisation. This organisation was established in 1919, 14 years after “Skibby” brought employers (merchant class) and government (Governor) to the table to negotiate with the workers (union), the conditions under which they gave of their labour. Critchlow not only led the struggle for dockworkers through organised labour, but also sugar workers, who nicknamed him “Black Crosby,” given that they felt his advocacy for them was akin to the compassionate white Agent-General, James Crosby. When in March 1926 Critchlow, along with other Caribbean labour leaders laid the foundation for deepening self-determination, which entailed internal self-government, and universal adult suffrage (one man, one vote), in December 1926 he held
engagement with the British Guiana East Indian Association, which was in similar pursuit. Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, aka “Odo,” continued building on a formidable legacy. Guyana achieved independence and republican status under his leadership, which was strengthened by the affirmative policies, programmes and laws he enacted. Let me make it very clear, I have no intent to dwell on what may be considered shortcomings of this man, because it is from his strengths on which we ought to build, if we are serious of advancing the struggle for dignity and respect as human beings, started by our ancestors. It was on “Odo’s” watch, for the first time in the nation’s history, colour, race, gender, class and religious beliefs were not considered barriers to public acceptance, involvement, up-liftment and empowerment. The strengths and beauty that spring from diversity were seen in areas such as the banking community, Bookers and Fogarty’s stores, the sugar and bauxite sectors, co-education, free education from nursery to university, religious acceptance, marriages and cultural identity. Burnham piloted this nation to international recognition and respect and there was no mistaking our proudness as a diverse society and our ability to stand toe to toe with every group, as equals. Our sense of nationhood and pride as One People (i.e. equality) was uniquely nurtured by his administration. He was fiercely protective of the historical struggles and achievements of all groups, the country’s independence, sovereignty of its people, and uncompromising in his stance of how foreigners treated Guyanese and our resources. Joseph Pollydore, nicknamed “The Caribbean Fox” in the international trade
union community, given his wit in advancing the workers’ cause, pushed further for the attainment of their respect and dignity. When “Polly” stood up to advance the workers’ cause, even if it required him crossing swords with his close friend, “Odo,” he was uncompromising in his pursuits. Evidence of his life’s work shows such determination has been to the benefit of all, for he advanced the cause for human upliftment without regard to colour, race, religion, or other diversity. It was “Polly” who went to the international community and advanced the case for the 1948 shooting of sugar workers on the East Coast Demerara estates to be deemed martyrdom, since through trade unions lens these workers were engaged in action to bring attention to their concerns and secure a seat at the table as human beings to resolve them. “Polly” could have exercised the choice -- though I know he would not have -- to see this matter through racial lens and not a human rights issue deserving to be treated with concomitant respect and dignity. He won the support of the Burnham administration to recognise
the five workers murdered by the police, which has become a national calendar event and immortalised as the Enmore Martyrs. Desmond Hoyte, or “Desi,” was the last among this era of braves. When the West threw its entire weight behind a programme to undermine the Burnham administration, that contributed to the deterioration of our economic fortunes, on the passing of Burnham he ascended to the helm of the nation. It was he who made a few steps backwards by developing a Structural Adjustment Programme/Economic Recovery Programme that liberals, including the trade union of which I was among, challenged. It would be remiss not to acknowledge that painful though the initial journey was, and bitter the medicine for the society to swallow, the SAP/ERP delivered several years of growth based on Gross Domestic Product. This growth continued for years into the PPP/C government that stuck to the programme. In hindsight, appreciation can be found in “Desi’s” foresight of seeing what was considered the necessity for biting the bullet, given the
resultant effects of rebuilding the economy and confidence of business and citizens, placing the country in a position to once again hold its own at the international level. Additional to the aforesaid, Hoyte will forever be remembered as a stickler for the Rule of Law, taking white and blue crimes and criminals head on and was vehemently opposed to what he termed “executive lawlessness.” Defining characteristics of these men were the proud embrace of their identity and living their lives driven by purpose and commitment. With confidence in your skin, there’s nothing that can stop your pursuit for advancing human dignity and respect. The contributions of these braves are of national and international import, forever etched in history, and bequeathed to us to build on. They also nailed myths that Africans lack humanity, progressive thinking, positive actions, compassion for all humankind, and left alone mangroves would have overtaken us. We owe it to ourselves to not only proudly tell their stories, but also climb on their shoulders by building on their strengths and working to make the world a better place.
Two more Lusignan Prison escapees sentenced LUSIGNAN Prison escapees Ryan Jones and Tishawn McKenzie last Friday appeared at the Vigilance Magistrates Court and changed their pleas to guilty and were each sentenced to one year imprisonment. The majority of the 13 prison escapees were recaptured by the Joint Services after digging their way to freedom from the Lusignan holding facility. They were all charged with escaping lawful custody. Between July 23 and the wee hours of July 24, the fugitives burrowed their way
out of the holding area via a five-foot deep tunnel next to the fence at the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara. Some of the recaptured prisoners include: Odel Roberts, Jamal Forde, Rayon Jones, Winston Long, Teshawn McKenzie, Jason Howard and Jamal Joseph. Forde, Long and Joseph confessed to the offences and were each sentenced to one year imprisonment when they appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh recently at the Cove and John Magistrates Court.
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– Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo urges young parliamentarians
Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs and Parliament’s Sergeant-at-Arms interacting with the young parliamentarians (DPI/GINA photo)
PARTICIPANTS of the recently concluded youth Parliament were on Thursday night told to see the country’s parliamentary affairs as a clear demonstration of a “working parliamentary democracy.” Speaking at the closing dinner reception for the 2017 Youth Parliament, which was held at De Impeccable Banquet Hall, Brickdam, leader of the House and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo charged the 40 participants to aspire for greatness. The participants were also encouraged to read more. “Reading is a magic that opens up our talent and our intuition and I want to encourage all young potential parliamentarians that they should read and read,” the prime minister said. Secondary school students from nine administrative regions participated in the week-long activity, which culminated with a National Assembly sitting on Thursday. Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr.
Barton Scotland, congratulated the young parliamentarians for their tremendous efforts. “We saw there was a great deal of interaction among students. I think in every expectation we had, we were not disappointed,” Dr. Scotland noted. The students were presented with certificates and cash vouchers for their participation by the prime minister, the Speaker and Members of Parliament. The Best Speaker, Sherlyn Semple and Best Debater Tyriq Scott, were presented with electronic tablets from BCA Guyana, a consulting and accounting firm, while Leader of the Opposition, Zóé Sills, received the Speaker’s Award for displaying great leadership attributes and exceptional camaraderie. The objective of the Youth Parliament is to ensure young people are involved in parliamentary democracy, understand the principles that underpin democracy, while developing elocution skills. (DPI/GINA)
Best Speaker Sherlyn Semple receives her prize from a BAC Guyana representative (DPI/GINA photo)
Leader of the Opposition, Zóé Sills, receives the Speaker’s Award from the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland (DPI/GINA photo)
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo interacting with Nia Williams, who served as prime minister at this year’s Youth Parliament (DPI/GINA photo)
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland, present the Speaker of this year’s youth Parliament, Tyrese Johnson, with his certificate (DPI/GINA photo)
Region 10 youths n 16
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--as Social Cohesion takes sensitisation workshop to Linden SOME 113 young people from six Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) youth clubs and student nurses enrolled at the Charles Roza School of Nursing on Friday participated in a Ministry of Social Cohesion’s sensitisation workshop.
The workshop, which was held in collaboration with the Young and Thoughtful Youth Club, is the second of its kind in the region, and the third that has been held in the country targeting youth. The workshop was held in the auditorium of the New Silver City School at Silver
City, Linden. In his address, Minister George Norton commended participants for embracing the session, adding that the Ministry views youths as being critical agents of change, whose choices will inform their futures and impact their peers.
“The youths have a significant role [to play] in fostering social cohesion; it will not be possible if we should leave the youths out, so your role is important. “It is indispensable, and we want you to recognise that. However, for you to play your part, we want to
ensure that you are adequately informed about what social cohesion entails,” he said. Similar sentiments were expressed by Programme Coordinator at the Ministry, Ms. Sharon Patterson, who said that the aim of the workshop is to introduce the youth to concepts that will help them to learn more about themselves, and how to channel their energies and ideas into productive endeavours that will benefit them, their families, communities and the nation. Town Clerk (Ag) of the Linden Mayor and Town Council, Ms. Oleena Obermuller, also shared the same
view as Ms Patterson, and noted that her office embraces the ministry’s initiative, as it also views young people as future leaders. “I hope that, today, you guys learn as much as possible, and take some little bit from what is being said here and put it into practice,” she said. Several participants said that the workshop has given them a better understanding of what social cohesion is, and that it will help them to become more compassionate. “I decided to participate in the session in order to gain more knowledge about what is social cohesion,” said Ms Dawn Pearson, a student
Representatives from several groups participating in a diversity exercise
Some of the participants from the Charles Roza School of Nursing at the Ministry of Social Cohesion’s sensitisation workshop
Student-nurse/midwife at the Charles Roza School of Nursing, Ms. Dawn Pearson makes a point during one of the interactive sessions
now better informed
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nurse/midwife at the Charles Roza School of Nursing. “For me, I will encourage myself and my peers to respect others no matter their religion, their differences, whatever their sexual orientation may be. “In order to have unity, and in order to have a safe environment, we must all come together,” she added. Ms. Tishon Fraser, a member of For the Children’s Sake Foundation, said her
group is already involved in social cohesion, though on a small scale, and she intends to use the knowledge that she has gained to augment her service. “In terms of working along with an organisation as a team, we need social cohesion. So, basically, I came to gain enough knowledge, or more knowledge, to continue on that path,” Fraser said, adding: “As an organisation, we
Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton (centre) and members of the Coomacka President’s Youth Award: Republic of Guyana Group, after the close of the sensitisation session. Standing fourth left is group leader, Ms. Bernadette Torres
are more involved with the public and young people, so it places us directly in the position to actually inculcate social cohesion in the minds of the young people who we come into contact with through outreaches, satellite tables and other exercises.” The workshop also featured several cultural items, including a solo performance of the popular song “Conqueror” by Ms. Akeila Handy; a dance to Jessica Reddy’s “Better” by Ms. Awana Primo; an African-themed dance by Erupt Dance Troup members Ms. Donette Douglas and Ms. Shallon Adams; and a spoken-word piece by Ms. Luela Figueira. Mr. Leslie Gonsalves, Social Cohesion Officer for the region, Pastor Selwyn Sills, members of Seventh Day Adventist Master Guide Pathfinders Club, the Upwards Days Federation, the Coomacka President’s Youth Award: Republic of Guyana group and the Totally Moulding Training Centre also attended the workshop. In addition to the work-
shop, the ministry will tomorrow be launching its “Inter-Village Exchange Camp” targeting another 160 young people, between the ages of 16 and 25, from 23 communities across Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo)
On March 1, 2017, the Ministry hosted a sensitisation session for Georgetown youths in collaboration with the Department of Youth, Culture and Sport of the Ministry of Education and, on June 17, 2017,
it hosted a Diversity and Inclusion Workshop for Region Ten youth at the Woodrow Telford Auditorium of the Linden Foundation Secondary School in Amelia’s Ward. (Ministry of the Presidency)
Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton (standing fifth right) and members of the Young and Thoughtful Youth Club, who attended the sensitisation workshop for youth, held at the New Silver City Secondary School. Stooping at left is Club President, Mr. Cornelius Roberts
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Many not pleased with service offered by Dynamic Airways
– Gouveia says confusion caused by build-up of persons at airport PERSONS took to social media on Saturday, expressing their dissatisfaction with the service offered
by Dynamic Airways. In the past, persons have complained about the many delays that they faced when travelling with the airline.
“The woes of Dynamic Airways continue,” said one of the passengers, Trevor Benn, in a post on Facebook.
A crowd of people waiting to board their flight at the Cheddi Jagan airport on Saturday (Trevor Benn photo)
Persons who were expected to leave the country on Saturday posted pictures of a huge crowd of people at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). The Guyana Chronicle was made to understand that the buildup was caused by ‘long delays.” The Guyana Chronicle had reported last December that passengers were stranded at the JFK International
Airport in New York for a number of days due to the cancellation of the Dynamic Airways flights. During a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle, local spokesperson for the airline, Captain Gerry Gouveia debunked the claims of the passengers, pointing out that “Dynamics is boarding to leave.” He said there has howev-
er been a buildup of persons at the airport because of the number of people who are travelling at this time of the year. “Because of the high number of passengers, we are making two flights a day to accommodate them,” he said, but added that some persons were arriving at the airport long before their time to travel.
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GTT customers can’t receive texts from Digicel users FOR more than three months the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) said its customers have been unable to receive text messages (SMS) from Digicel customers because of programming problems on the Digicel network.
GTT said it became aware of the issue due to feedback from its customers. “Having determined that there were problems on the Digicel network that has been the cause for this issue, GTT’s technical team has been providing assistance to have the issues on that com-
pany’s network resolved. To date, and despite the continuous guidance and assistance from the GTT team, the problems on the Digicel network, causing this issue, have not been rectified,” GTT said. According to GTT, customers continue to have the ability to send text messages
No proprietary interest...
Sunday, August 13, 2017 - 08:30 hrs Monday, August 14, 2017 - 09:30 hrs Tuesday, August 15, 2017 - 10:30 hrs
who carried on the business with licence had to comply within 30 days. If it were not outrageous then, how is it outrageous now? We have not changed it; it is the same 30 days. What is different between then and now? It is clear that the intention would have been to try to regularise the operation of television or broadcasting in Guyana in 2011. It is no different now. If persons who are authorised had to apply or reapply, what is wrong when they are being asked to apply, in like manner, for 30 days to the authorities to decide whether their licence would be continued? It is the same thing. Mr. Speaker, I am respectfully submitting that the contention fails miserably. When you look at the 2011 Act passed by the last Government, it had guidelines and conditions that were imposed on licensees. They were subjected to certain impositions and conditions. For example - the Hon. Member, Mr. Greenidge, alluded to it - they actually had a provision there talking about what owners of television
stations must do when elections are afoot in Guyana. For example, it states this in Section 32 of the principal Act: “This is a guideline to broadcasters, that at election time they were to agree with political parties in consultation with Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to afford such parties airtime on their stations.” AIRTIME The last Government said whoever owns the television station when election came around they were bound to give airtime to political parties contesting those elections. That was an imposition. Why was that not unconstitutional? What is the difference between that directive and the one to have the public service broadcasting within an hour as requested? Now, what is requested is in the breakdown in the Schedule. If you look at the First Schedule Part 2, clause 8 (5): “The sixty minutes referred to in subparagraph (1) (a) shall include time allotted for any-(a) address to the Nation by the President; (b) emergency notice or disaster warning issued by the Civil Defence Commission, the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Fire Service ... “ All of these fall clearly within the exception in the Constitution, in article 146 (2), for public safety, defence and for public health. All of these things fall clearly within those exceptions. As I said, there is no case really for the type of attack and attacks that have been made on the provision of this Bill, that it assaults the freedom of expression, when in fact there were progenitors of the parent of this baby that we are about to pass and give life in the honourable House. As I said, my task is simply to show that this Bill is predicated on sound law in Guyana. Before I
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wrap up, I want to say this: There was a contention that an owner has a right that he could resell the property at any time. In other words, they were arguing if you are a licensee you have a proprietary interest. I saw that argument. Let me first start with section 27 of the Act because...Section 27 states: “A licence granted to a person shall not be transferred to any other person without the prior written consent of the Authority.” This sounds as if you own property. You have a licence to carryon business for a year and you suddenly decide you have to proprietary interest. Let us examine what a proprietary interest is. If you look at Black’s Law Dictionary, Mr. Speaker, revised Fourth Edition, at page 1384, it defines proprietary rights as: “Those rights which an owner of property has by virtue of his ownership.” How could a licensee be described as an owner? Let us go further. Let us go to Burroughs and Another versus Rampargat Katwaroo (1985) 40 WIR 287 at page 301, and it states this about the licence: “The grant of a licence certificate or permit in circumstances of the kind is the privilege, not a right.” We all know as first principle, when we were in law school, that any lawyer worth his salt, even the lawyer who comes last in law school, we would call him a lawyer. You would know the distinction between a lease and licence, first up. A lease is a permission that could be terminated at any time. The lease was there because of this mercurial creature they called exclusive possession. I am warming up. I am saying to you, and I am saying this without any fear of contradiction, that they cannot be any proprietary right in a licence to operate a television station when you are given a year to operate a
(SMS) to the Digicel customers. “GTT remains committed to having its technical team work with their counterparts at Digicel until their customers are able to resume communication on the SMS platform as soon as possible,” GTT said.
radio or television station. There is no proprietary interest. If there is no proprietary interest, meaning that you are not the owner of a property, then you cannot claim protection under article 142 of the Constitution which guarantees the right to the protection of property. All of these claims were just what they were. They were designed to inflame the passion of the Guyanese people into believing the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government is an unruly Government which does not observe the rule of law. I must say this, Mr. Speaker, that this Government has never brought to this honourable House any Bill that was unconstitutional and this is a Government that upholds the rule of law. We campaigned to restore the rule of law which had fallen into desuetude over the last 23 years or before we entered Government, and we are still on that track. The first act we did was to restore the independence of the judiciary. I am saying, with the respect, that no serious offence should be paid to the aspiration of the members on the other side, that this is a threat to press freedom. We are going to take seriously any contentions that are solidly made and that are made in a way where you can see that, yes, there is a clear path here that we should engage in. You cannot go on the frolic of your own when you are the ones who created this Act and yet you have turned around, when you have left office, to say that the Act is bad because the Act is now in our hands. Mr. Speaker, overwhelmingly, I support, without let or hindrance, the Hon. Prime Minister and his intention to clean up what happened during those 23 years and to effect a level playing field in this sector, in this country of ours. I rest my case.
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Mendis, Karunaratne lead Sri Bolt pulls up as Lanka fightback after follow-on GB win historic …Ashwin claims 26th five-wicket haul
COLOMBO, (Reuters) - The ignominy of the follow-on revived Sri Lanka’s stomach for a fight on Saturday and the beleaguered hosts reached 209 for two in their second knock after a meek first-innings surrender in the second Test against India. Kusal Mendis smashed a belligerent 110 and Dimuth Karunaratne complimented with an unbeaten 92 following Sri Lanka’s first innings capitulation for 183 on day three of the contest. After losing eight wickets in the extended morning session, Sri Lanka returned after lunch a transformed side, as Mendis and Karunaratne raised 191 runs following Upul Tharanga’s departure for two. On a fast-crumbling track, Mendis deftly negotiated the Indian spinners, hitting 17 boundaries in his sparkling knock before falling to Hardik Pandya. Karunaratne’s unbeaten knock included 12 hits to the fence. Nightwatchman Malinda Pushpakumara was batting on two with Sri Lanka still trailing by 230 runs. Earlier, Ravichandran Ashwin (5-69) claimed his 26th five-wicket haul as he and spin partner Ravindra Jadeja (2-84) tormented Sri Lanka on a deteriorating pitch that allowed for prodigious spin, with the ball often kicking up puffs of dust.
I n d i a c a p t a i n Vi r a t Kohli, who led his team to a crushing 304-run win in the first of the three tests, was rewarded for his superb field placement when
wards to take a brilliant catch to send back Mendis for 24. Mathews decided to hit his way out of the trouble and clobbered a couple of sixes off Jadeja but the ploy did not work for long. With a breezy 26 on the board, he flicked at an Ashwin delivery and Cheteshwar Pujara took a spectacular left-handed catch at leg gully. Jadeja dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva for a golden duck and Mohammed Shami came up with a two-wicket over to leave the Sri Lankan innings in tatters. Realising the futility of
trying to hang around, Niroshan Dickwella threw his bat at everything, hitting seven boundaries and a six in his 51 before attempting an ugly scoop against Shami that deflected the ball onto his stumps. Nuwan Pradeep came out to bat despite a hamstring injury which will rule him out of the remainder of the series and he faced six balls before falling for a duck to end the innings. (Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Nick Mulvenney and Pritha Sarkar.
SCOREBOARD
Shikhar Dhawan
compulsive sweeper Dinesh Chandimal sent a Jadeja delivery straight to Pandya at square leg. Kohli dropped Angelo Mathews at gully but ran back-
INDIA 1st innings 622 for 9 decl (C. Pujara 133, A. Rahane 132, R. Jadeja 70no, W. Saha 67, L. Rahul 57, R. Ashwin 54; R. Herath 4-154) Sri Lanka 1st innings (Overnight: 50-2) Dimuth Karunaratne c Rahane b R. Ashwin 25 Upul Tharanga c Rahul b R. Ashwin 0 Kusal Mendis c Kohli b U. Yadav 24 Dinesh Chandimal c H. Pandya b Jadeja 10 Angelo Mathews c Pujara b R. Ashwin 26 Niroshan Dickwella b Shami 51 Dhananjaya de Silva b Jadeja 0 Dilruwan Perera b R. Ashwin 25 Rangana Herath b Shami 2 Malinda Pushpakumara not out 15 Nuwan Pradeep b R. Ashwin 0 Extras: (b-4 lb-1) 5 Total: (all out, 49.4 overs) 183 Fall of wickets: 1-0 U. Tharanga,2-33 D. Karunaratne,3-60 D. Chandimal,4-64 K. Men-
dis,5-117 A. Mathews,6-122 D. de Silva,7-150 N. Dickwella,8-152 R. Herath,9-171 D. Perera,10-183 N. Pradeep Bowling: M. Shami 6 - 1 - 13 – 2, R. Ashwin 16.4 - 3 - 69 – 5, R. Jadeja 22 - 6 - 84 – 2, U. Yadav 5 - 1 - 12 – 1. SRI LANKA 2nd innings Dimuth Karunaratne not out 92 Upul Tharanga b U. Yadav 2 Kusal Mendis c Saha b H. Pandya 110 Malinda Pushpakumara not out 2 Extras: (nb-2 w-1) 3 Total: (for 2 wickets, 60 overs) 209 Fall of wickets: 1-7 U. Tharanga,2-198 K. Mendis To bat: A. Mathews, N. Dickwella, D. de Silva, D. Perera, R. Herath, D. Chandimal, N. Pradeep Bowling:U. Yadav 9 - 2 - 29 – 1,R. Ashwin 24 - 6 - 79 – 0, M. Shami 6 - 2 - 13 – 0,R. Jadeja 16 - 2 - 76 – 0, H. Pandya 5 - 0 12 - 1(nb-2 w-1).
Champions Chelsea beaten at home in first game By Steve Tongue
LONDON (Reuters) - Premier League champions Chelsea suffered an embarrassing home defeat on the first Saturday of the new season, having two men sent off as unfancied Burnley beat them 3-2 at Stamford Bridge. Antonio Conte’s disjointed side struggled from the early stages when captain Gary Cahill was dismissed for a lunging tackle and they found themselves three-nil down at halftime to a team who gained only seven points away from home all last season. Wales international Sam Vokes scored two of the goals and Stephen Ward the other. New signing Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid came on to pull one back midway through the second half and then provided an assist for David Luiz, but in-between midfielder Cesc Fabregas was also sent off for a second yellow card.
It was a dispiriting afternoon for Conte, who won the title in his first season at the club but has complained that Chelsea have not signed enough new players while allowing several to leave.
Premier League champions Chelsea beaten in first game at home.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp protested that Watford’s stoppage-time equaliser by Manuel Britos in an entertaining 3-3 draw should have been disallowed for offside. Britos was standing almost on the line before nudging in the loose ball after Simon Mi-
gnolet pushed it onto the bar. “We were unlucky in the end,” Klopp said. “The equaliser was offside. It’s obvious because the linesman is on the line. He needs to see it. “We would have had defensive areas we need to work on if we’d won 3-2. We were the better team, we should have won.” After the opening game of the season on Friday produced seven goals and a late winner for Arsenal, who beat Leicester City 4-3, the two teams at Vicarage Road served up more of the same entertainment for a worldwide television audience -- including some poor defending.` The home side, under new manager Marco Silva, led twice through Stefano Okaka and Abdoulaye Doucoure but Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, with a penalty, both equalised. Debutant Mohamed Salah seemed to have won the points for the visitors before Britos’s dramatic late intervention.
Promoted Huddersfield Town, playing in the top flight for the first time since 1972 and widely tipped for relegation, cruised to a 3-0 win away to Crystal Palace. Record signing Steve Mounie, the Benin striker from Montpellier who cost 13 million euros ($15.36 million), scored once in each half after Palace’s Joel Ward put through his own goal. Wayne Rooney scored on his return to Everton from Manchester United to give the Merseysiders a 1-0 victory at home to Stoke City. It was his 199th Premier League goal and first for Everton since 2004. Egyptian defender Ahmed Hegazi, on loan to West Bromwich Albion from Al Ahly, scored on his debut in the 1-0 win at home to Bournemouth. There were no goals on the south coast between Southampton and Swansea City. That meant the Saints have not scored at home in their last six games.
4x100 relay gold By Mitch Phillips LONDON (Reuters) - Usain Bolt’s final track appearance ended with pain and frustration on Saturday as he pulled up injured running the final leg of the World Championships 4x100 metres relay as Britain stunned the United States to win a shock gold medal. Bolt, who had to settle for bronze in the individual 100 metres, had been hoping to sign off from the sport by leading Jamaica to a fifth successive world relay title but they were struggling in a distant third place when he collected the baton. As he tried to gain ground, Bolt pulled up and fell to the floor midway down the home straight with what was later described as cramp in his left hamstring. However, the 60,000 in the stadium who had come to mark the farewell of sport’s greatest showman had only a split second to absorb what was happening as up ahead history was being made by the host nation. The United States, with individual 100m gold and silver medallists Justin Gatlin and Christian Coleman running the second and fourth legs, had been expected to push the Jamaicans all the way but they were always trailing the slick Britons. Brilliantly executed exchanges by Chijindu Ujah, Adam Gemili, Danny Talbot and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake gave Britain gold in 37.47 seconds, breaking an 18-year-old national record and European record and securing the world title for the first time. “I wasn’t sure if I had won or not, I gave it my all but I could see Christian Coleman out of the corner of my eye,” said Mitchell-Blake. “The feeling of euphoria was from infinity. I can’t register it. We smashed the British record
to pieces.” Five years ago Talbot and the 18-year-old Gemili messed up a changeover as Britain were disqualified in the semi-finals of their own Olympics on the same London track so it was a particularly sweet moment for the two. “To run it with Danny Talbot after such disappointment in London 2012, it is so special to come back,” said Gemili, who was not selected for the individual races and missed an Olympic 200m bronze by three thousandths of a second last year. “It’s crazy. Honestly a dream and a reality tonight.” Britain’s only other men’s global sprint relay golds came in the 1912 and 2004 Olympics while their winning time that beat their 1999 best of 37.73 has only been bettered by Jamaica and the U.S. It completed a great night for the host nation’s sprinters after their women had earlier taken silver behind the Americans in the sprint relay, their best performance since the first championships in 1983. The U.S. men took silver in 37.52 but for a nation that used to be totally dominant in the event, it was only their second medal in the last eight global finals after a series of world and Olympic disqualifications. “After DQs in recent years we knew we had to get the baton round and to finish the night smoothly is a fantastic achievement and we’ll enjoy our moment on the podium,” said Gatlin. “The Brits had a hell of a race. You can’t take it from them. They had the pressure of running on home soil and they delivered.” On his old rival Bolt he said: “This is farewell time, I am sentimental about it already now.” Japan took advantage of Jamaica’s travails to take third in 38.04, just holding off China (38.34).
Police off to ...
Continued from back page
clocking wins in his 100m, 200m and 400m heats earlier in the day. There were those who may have doubted his abilities to still be strong in the 200m finals after such a harrowing day, but he was determined to deliver. The winning time clocked was 21.8 seconds, while Fraser had touched the line at 22.2 seconds, just pipping Peters who had a time of 22.4 seconds. In the women’s 200m Toy-
an Raymond, with a time of 25.2 seconds, left Police Alita Moore to settle for the second place of the race, coming in with a time of 25.4 seconds. Raymond was second to Bright in the long jump where her top leap took her 5.15m. GDF took the men’s 5000m after Cleveland Forde clocked 16 minutes and 27.7 seconds for the win, continuing to rule over Winston Missigher, who was out representing Police.
27
SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 13, 2017
Lewis and Nabi lead rout of St Lucia Stars
A powerful innings from Evin Lewis of 92 off 52 balls and a good all-round performance from Mohammad Nabi headlined the Patriots 33 run victory against St Lucia Stars in Match 10 of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Saturday night. Lewis’ innings helped establish a platform from which the Patriots posted 196-6 after some late hitting from Nabi. It was a total that proved too much for a struggling Stars team who have now lost all four of their matches this season. Nabi and Mohammad Hafeez in particular proved difficult for the Stars to get away and took six wickets between them. After being put into bat the Patriots innings was given a quick start by the dangerous opening pair of Chris Gayle and Lewis. After 35 runs had come from the first 16 balls of the innings, Gayle was bowled by an excellent yorker from Jerome Taylor. In the same over, Taylor removed Mohammad Hafeez, trapped lbw for a first ball duck. A tight fourth over meant the Patriots had been pulled back at 38 for 2. It was then that Lewis stepped up his assault, clattering Taylor’s third over for eighteen, before back-to-back sixes off the last two balls of the Powerplay propelled the Patriots to 73 for 2, with 45 of them coming from Lewis who scored heavily on the leg side. In the six overs after the
Powerplay, the Patriots appeared happy to consolidate their good start while the Stars, particularly Shane Shillingford, bowled accurately. Just 36 runs
over sparked Lewis into life once more as he hit four boundaries in three overs— two slog sweeps and two cuts through backward point. A
Evin Lewis pounded 92 off 52 balls
and the wicket of Brandon King—caught despite a collision between Andre Fletcher and Johnson Charles—took the Patriots to 109 for 3 after 12 overs. The introduction of Marlon Samuels in the thirteenth
brief rain delay brought a halt to proceedings and when they returned, Lewis was caught at a wide slip for an excellent 92. The job was then left to the Patriots lower-order hitters, Carlos Brathwaite and Nabi to
capitalise on Lewis’ good work, which they did emphatically. 46 runs came from the last 19 balls of the innings, including eight boundaries with Brathwaite scoring 21 (14) and Nabi scoring 24* (9). Like the Patriots innings, the Stars’ was given a quick start by their famed opening pair, Andre Fletcher, who played late and delicately, and Johnson Charles, who played with muscular power - together they took 31 from the first three overs. The introduction of Mohammad Hafeez put the brakes on the Stars innings and in his first two overs he dismissed Charles, top-edging a slog and Kamran Akmal, mis-timing a drive. Those two wickets and some tight bowling put the Stars behind the rate at 58 for 2 after eight overs.Fletcher and Samuels briefly threatened a resurgence, striking four boundaries in eight balls but when Samuels was caught and bowled by Hafeez off a leading edge, the Patriots moved clear once more. With Fletcher and Shane Watson at the crease and Darren Sammy to come, hope was not lost for the Stars, but some excellent spin bowling by Nabi restricted their scoring and saw the rate spiral. When Fletcher was bowled by a seam-up yorker from Nabi and then Sammy was bowled by Shamsi, that spiralling rate suddenly became insurmountable.
Munro, Shadab combine to keep Warriors winless PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – New Zealander Colin Munro blasted his second half-century in four outings as Tribago Knight Riders kept Guyana Amazon Warriors winless with a seven-wicket victory in their Caribbean Premier League contest here Friday night. Set 157 for victory at Queen’s Park Oval, TKR coasted to their target off 19 overs with Man-of-theMatch Munro slapping an unbeaten 70 and former West Indies wicketkeeper/ batsman Denesh Ramdin getting an unbeaten 42. Sunil Narine, better known for his mesmerising off-spin, once again entertained with 23 in the opening slot. Earlier, Amazon War-
riors tallied 156 for seven of their 20 overs after being sent in, with opener Chadwick Walton top-scoring with 36 and his partner and captain, New Zealander Martin Guptill scoring 24.
TKR’s Colin Munro
Once again, Pakistan leg-spinner Shadab Khan wreaked havoc with four for 28 while Narine chipped in with two for
16.
The victory took TKR top of the standings on six points while ensuring Amazon Warriors lost their third straight to stay fifth in the six-team standings without a point. Amazon Warriors, looking to break their losing streak, were handed a fairly solid start by Walton and Guptill who put on 40 off 19 balls. Walton faced 23 balls and clobbered a four and four sixes while Guptill struck a pair of fours and sixes in a 14-ball cameo. Once Guptill holed out to Khary Pierre at long-on off Shadab, however, Amazon Warriors lost wickets steadily to decline to 97 for five in the 13th over before Roshon Primus (23) and
Sohail Tanvir (11) added 34 for the sixth to rally the innings. TKR then had the worst possible start to their run chase when New Zealand star Brendon McCullum perished to a catch at point by Gajanand Singh off seamer Sohail Tanvir. But Munro stepped up, punching five fours and five sixes off 47 balls, as he anchored two half-century stands to see TKR to victory. He put on 79 for the second wicket with Narine whose 22-ball knock included a four and a six before adding a further 56 in an unbroken fourth wicket partnership with Ramdin who struck three fours and three sixes in a fluent 23ball innings.
Guyana continues to dominate in CAREBACO GUYANA continued their solid form in the Caribbean Regional and International Badminton Championship (CAREBACO) currently underway in Trinidad and Tobago. At the end of day two (Friday), the Guyanese junior players all moved through to the semi-finals and medal rounds, with Priyanna Ramdhani in the Under-17 Girls’ Singles/ Girls’ Doubles /Mixed Doubles; Tyrese Jeffrey in the Under-17 Boys’ Doubles/Mixed Doubles; Akili Haynes in the Under-17 Boys’ Doubles; Jonathan Mangra in the Under-19 Boys’ Doubles and Ambika Ramraj in the Under-19 Girls’ Doubles. THE MATCHES PLAYED ON DAY 2 ARE: ¤ Under-13 Boys’ Doubles Quarter-Finals: Vikash Mootoo (GUY) & Romer Pena (DOM) lost to James Babwah & Nicholi Marcano (TRI): 21-17, 21-17. ¤ Under-17 Girls’ Singles Quarter-Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani (GUY) defeated Chequeda DeBoulet (TRI): 21-15, 218. ¤ Under-17 Boys’ Singles Quarter-Finals: Tyrese Jeffrey (GUY) lost to Leon Cassie (TRI):
English Racing Tips Leicester 09:10 hrs Peachey Carnehan 09:40 hrs Notice 10:10 hrs Major Cornwallis 10:45 hrs Dark Powder 11:20 hrs Algam 11:50 hrs Vibes 12:20 hrs Kings Academy Windsor 09:25 hrs Polly’s Gold 09:55 hrs Yabass 10:25 hrs Chupalla 11:00 hrs Angel Down 11:35 hrs Major Valentine 12:05 hrs Maroc 12:35 hrs Razzmatazz Irish Racing Tips Curragh 09:00 hrs Brick By Brick
21-18, 16-21, 15-21. ¤ Under-17 Boys’ Doubles Quarter-Finals: Tyrese Jeffrey & Akili Haynes (GUY) defeated Luke Lutchman & Aidan Mootoosingh (TRI): 21-14, 21-15. ¤ Under-17 Girls’ Doubles Quarter-Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani (GUY) & Imani Mangroe (SUR) defeated Sandhya Cassie & Chequeda DeBoulet (TRI): 21-14, 21-12. ¤ Under-17 Mixed Doubles Quarter-Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani & Tyrese Jeffrey (GUY) defeated Vance Juteram & Chequeda DeBoulet (TRI): 13-21, 21-13, 21-16. ¤ Under-19 Boys’ Doubles Quarter-Finals: Jonathan Mangra (GUY) & Cesar Brito (DOM) defeated Aleem Ali & Nathaniel Joseph (TRI): 21-7, 21-13. ¤ Under-19 Girls’ Doubles Quarter-Finals: Ambika Ramraj (GUY) & Shemara Lindveld (SUR) defeated Demi Ramdial & Johannah Walker (TRI): 21-6, 21-10. ¤ Under-19 Mixed Doubles Quarter-Finals: Jonathan Mangra & Ambika Ramraj (GUY) lost to Renaldo Sinanan & Amanda Ramsingh (TRI): 21-13, 21-19. The tournament continues.
09:30 hrs The King 10:00 hrs Sizzling 10:35 hrs Beckford 11:10 hrs Washington DC 11:40 hrs Snowstar 12:10 hrs Auckland Downpatrick 09:15 hrs Skeaping 09:45 hrs Timi Roli 10:15 hrs Aurora’s Dream 10:50 hrs Sharlanda 11:25 hrs Mountain Rocks 11:55 hrs The Trigger 12:25 hrs Special Ted South Africa Racing Tips Scottsville 08:35 hrs River Garden 09:10 hrs Silva’s Bullet 09:45 hrs Pearl Glow 10:20 hrs Prince Ponti 10:55 hrs Artic Swift
28
SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 13, 2017
Top horses on show in today’s Guyana Cup – over 120 horses confirmed to compete
Warriors to lose Tanvir, Azam after PCB revokes No-Objection Certificates THE Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has abruptly revoked No-Objection Certificates given to 13 players currently in England and the West Indies and has asked them to return home to fulfill national and domestic commitments. The board had originally given as many as 10 players, including seven centrally contracted cricketers, permission to play the entire Caribbean Premier League – which began on August 4 and runs until September 9.
season subject to recall if the World XI series took place in mid-September,” the PCB said in a statement. “So they are being recalled owing to the changes in the schedule brought about due to the change in the original plan of the World XI’s tour of Pakistan.” The World XI’s visit – subject to security clearance – was originally scheduled for the last week of September, but it has been brought forward into a window between Septem-
Sohail Tanvir
Babar Azam
Three cricketers without central contracts – Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir and Mohammad Sami – have also been asked to return after they were selected by Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Lahore Whites for the National T20 Cup. The same notices went out to Mohammad Amir, who was to stay with Essex until September, Sarfraz Ahmed, who was to play five games for Yorkshire in the Natwest T20 Blast, and Fakhar Zaman, who was set to join Somerset until the end of the season. “The centrally contracted players were given permission to participate in the CPL and English county
ber 10 and 16. This change was made to ensure the series would not clash with a high profile by-election in Lahore on September 17, coming in the wake of the Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification from the post of Prime Minister last month.
Eight races are carded for the day.
By Rajiv Bisnauth WITH over 120 top horses from Guyana, the Caribbean and North America, confirmed to participate in today’s 11th annual Guyana Cup horse race meet, a truly pulsating and family fun day is in the making. The one-day event is billed for the Rising Sun Turf Club on the West Coast of Berbice, after organisers decided to switch from the Port Mourant Turf Club, with the intention of attracting more Georgetown-based turfites. Thousands are expected to throng the famous venue for the eight-race meet, which is dubbed the biggest and richest horse-race
event in Guyana and the Caribbean. This year, a colossal amount in cash incentives and trophies are up for the taking. In an invited comment yesterday, chief coordinator Nazrudeen Mo hamed Jr., disclosed that all systems are in place for the mega event, which is expected to be an action-packed day of racing. Mohamed pointed out that the track is in superb condition and some fast times are expected to be recorded in the grand showdown. Apart from the foreign contingent of horses to be on show, several leading
jockeys from overseas are also expected to participate, which will add that international flavour to the day’s event. A star-studded field will include a full gate of 14 horses breaking-even in the feature ‘B’ and Lower race. Those animals registered are: Princess She’s Not, Lady Budapest, Jack In My Style, the newly imported Vera’s Finally and Isn’t he Perfect, It’s My Choice, Brave Sky, Just Call Me Boss, Media Day, Golden Blue Echo, Settling Star, Honey Flow, Climate Change and Bridestone Corner. They will go for a distance of 1600m and has a top
prize of $2 million. The main supporting race is the E3 and Lower, which will be contested over 1100m and has a winner’s purse of $1.2 million. Other races on the day include the G1 and Lower (1400m), H2 and Lower (1400m), Two-yearold Guyana Bred (1100m), Three-year-old Guyana Bred and I1 and Lower (1400m), J2 and K Lower (1400m) and L and Lower Non-winners (1400m). The top five finishers in all eight races would receive cash incentives. Admission to the venue is $2,000 for adults; children will be admitted free. Race time is 11:30hrs.
PAKISTAN PLAYERS CALLED BACK From the CPL: Imad Wasim, Shoaib Malik, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Wahab Riaz, Babar Azam, Mohammad Sami, Sohail Tanvir, Kamran Akmal From England: Sarfraz Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Amir (ESPNCricinfo)
Holder strikes after Chase, Shai Hope complete centuries on second day WEST Indies continued to dominate under-strength Derbyshire on the second day of their day-night tour match. The tourists, 340-3 overnight, declared on 427-3 as Shai Hope (107) and Roston Chase (110) reached their centuries. Captain Jason Holder (3-48) then led the way with the pink ball, which will also be used in next week’s daynight Test against England at Edgbaston. After Derbyshire were bowled out for 181, the Windies opted to bat again and were 60-1 by close of play at Derby. Only teenager Calum Brodrick (52), on his first-class debut, and opener Ben Slater (39) passed 20 for the hosts.
The Windies’ pace quartet - Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph and Holder - were all in the
his first game of the tour, sent down 20 no-balls as his nine overs cost 64 runs. Keeper Shane Dowrich
Shai Hope
wickets as they warmed up for the first day-night Test to be held in England. However, Gabriel, playing
had a busy day with five catches off the seamers as well as a stumping off Chase’s off-spin when Brodrick was
the eighth man out after adding 55 with stand-in skipper Tony Palladino. West Indies had not registered a century in their first two tour games against Essex and Kent, which were both drawn. But earlier in the day, Shai Hope and Chase joined Hope’s brother Kyle, Friday’s centurion, in reaching three figures against an inexperienced county attack which included two teenagers and four others under 25. Opener Kraigg Brathwaite, who fell cheaply for the second time in the match to give 16-year-old seamer James Taylor his maiden first-class wicket, will be the only West Indian to feel he missed out. (BBC Sport)
SCOREBOARD
WEST INDIES 1st Innings K Brathwaite lbw b Milnes 3 K Powell lbw b Palladino 92 K Hope b Sonczak 105 S Hope not out 107 R Chase not out 110 Extras: (lb3, nb7) 10 TOTAL: (3 wkts decl., 100 overs) 427 Did not bat: J Blackwood, +S Dowrich, *J Holder, K Roach, A Joseph, S Gabriel. Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-159, 3-231. Bowling: Taylor 19-3-94-0, Milnes 21-2-94-1, Taylor 14-163-0, Palladino 13-1-44-1, Cork 16-2-66-0, Sonczak 16-1-60-1, MacDonell 1-0-3-0. DERBYSHIRE 1st Innings B Slater c wkp Dowrich b Joseph 39 C MacDonell c wkp Dowrich b Roach 9 T Wood c Powell b Gabriel 15 C Brodrick st Dowrich b Chase 52 +H Hosein c wkp Dowrich b Holder 4 T Milnes c wkp Dowrich b Holder 0 G Cork c Powell b Holder 0
T Taylor c wkp Dowrich b Gabriel 9 *A Palladino c Holder b Chase 18 M Sonczak c Blackwood b Roach 9 J Taylor not out 0 Extras: (lb1, w1, nb24) 26 TOTAL: (all out, 51.3 overs) 181 Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-78, 3-78, 4-91, 5-94, 6-100, 7-115, 8-170, 9-177, 10-181. Bowling: Gabriel 9-2-64-2, Roach 13.3-5-31-2, Holder 131-48-3, Joseph 12-3-32-1, Chase 4-3-5-2. WEST INDIES 2nd Innings K Brathwaite c Cork b Taylor 11 K Powell not out 41 J Blackwood not out 5 Extras: (lb1, w1, nb1) 3 TOTAL: (1 wkt, 16 overs) 60 Fall of wicket: 1-45. Bowling: Milnes 6-4-22-0, Taylor 5-0-19-0, Taylor 3-0-14-1, Palladino 2-1-4-0. Position: West Indies lead by 306 runs.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 13, 2017
Edris ends Farah’s invincibility in final race By Ian Chadband
LONDON (Reuters) - Mo Farah’s aura of invincibility after six years of unrelenting success was finally cracked in his very last major track race on Saturday as he lost his world 5,000 metres title to Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris. Seeking a fitting end to his matchless long-distance racing career before moving to marathon running, the 34-year-old Briton’s bid for a fifth straight global 10,000/5,000m double was scuppered as he had to settle for the silver. Yet even in defeat, Farah demonstrated his champion’s spirit as he fought back in the dying metres when it looked as if he would be shut out of the medals completely. In a thrilling finale featuring four athletes careering towards the line, Farah snatched back second place behind Edris, who clocked 13 minutes 32.79 seconds after a searing final lap of 52.6 seconds. “I gave it all but I had nothing left at the end,” a crestfallen and emotional Farah said. “It’s been a long journey but it’s been incredible. It
Jamaica Tallawahs announces replacements
doesn’t quite sink in until you compete here and cross the line - I had a couple of minutes to myself - that this is it. “To be honest with you
this year, who had lost all his five previous meetings with Farah. Yet just like Usain Bolt in the 100 metres the previous
Muktar Edris of Ethiopia and Mo Farah of Britain react after crossing the finish line.
it takes so much out of me. It’s not an excuse, but it took a lot more out of me than I realised.” It was a glorious win for 23-year-old Ethiopian Edris, the fastest man in the world
weekend, it did look a race too far for the weary Briton. To rub in his victory after years of the Ethiopians being tormented by Farah’s brilliance, Edris even gave an impression of his rival’s famed
Edris said. “After the 10km he was maybe tired so he did not have enough for the last kick. I was stronger. “I didn’t have much support but we did it. I did the
Mobot out of respect as well for him.” Behind Edris, Farah dug deep to battle back from fourth to second when space opened up on the inside over the last few metres to take silver in 13:33.22. LATE BURST Kenyan-born American Paul Chelimo claimed bronze in 13:33.30 while Farah’s late burst also consigned another Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha to fourth place in 13:33.51. It was a poignant sight after so many Farah celebrations down the years to see him lying on his back, exhausted and forlorn with his arm draped across his face, but his rivals were not about to let the moment pass without celebrating him. Edris hauled Farah to his feet as his other rivals all wanted to give him a hug of consolation. It was the great man’s first defeat in a major championship race since the 2011 world 10,000 metres final when he also won silver - and, once again, it took dazzling speed to beat him over the last lap.
For once, Farah had been found wanting tactically in the denouement, failing to cover Kejelcha and Edris as they opened up a three-metre lead down the back straight. Stretching out desperately to hold on but maybe feeling the exertions of his 10,000 metres title win eight days earlier when he was spiked and suffered a knee injury, Farah was also overtaken by Chelimo. Down the home straight all looked lost for Farah as he appeared blocked in until Kejelcha drifted out from the inside lane trying to block Chelimo, which allowed the Briton the chance to battle through on the inside. “Tactically, I was trying to cover every move,” said Farah, after being consoled by his wife and four children at trackside. “They had the game plan: one of them was going to sacrifice themselves. That’s what they did tonight, and the better man won on the day. “My legs had it on the home straight. I got boxed in early on - it doesn’t normally happen - and couldn’t get out.”
Taylor sets up Western Mayer survives pole-vault jitters to win decathlon Storm victory By Brian Homewood
Trevon Griffith
THE Jamaica Tallawahs have announced two changes to their squad for the remainder of the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Shakib al Hasan is returning to Bangladesh to play for his country in the upcoming Test series against Australia. He will be replaced by Glenn Phillips of New Zealand who was already with the Tallawahs team as a non-playing member of the squad. Twenty-year-old Phillips has played one T20 international for New Zealand. The wicket-keeper batsman already has a T20 hundred for Auckland and has also scored first-class and List A tons. Gidron Pope has a hand injury which has meant he has had to withdraw from the tournament. He has been replaced by left-handed Guyanese batsman, Trevon Griffith who has played in the Hero CPL before for the Guyana Amazon Warriors.
“Mobot” celebration as he crossed the line. “I was highly prepared for this race and I knew I was going to beat Mo Farah,”
Stafanie Taylor
WEST Indies all-rounder Stafanie Taylor took three wickets in one over as Western Storm beat Loughborough Lightning in the Women’s Super League. Taylor dismissed Georgia Elwiss, Sonia Odedra and Thea Brookes in the space of five balls as she claimed 4-5. Loughborough could only manage 108-9 despite being given a good start by Ellysse Perry (25) and Amy Jones (21). England skipper Heather Knight (24) was run out for
the Storm but Taylor’s 34 helped see them home by five wickets. The match was in the balance with three overs remaining as last year’s runners-up, who were beaten by Southern Vipers in their opening match, still needed another 24 for victory. Three boundaries off Rebecca Grundy eased the pressure and although Taylor was caught at mid-wicket off Georgia Elwiss (2-24), Sophie Luff (18 not out) hit the winning single with five balls to spare.(BBC Sport).
LONDON (Reuters) Frenchman Kevin Mayer led throughout the day to win the world decathlon title on Saturday and fill the void left by Ashton Eaton’s retirement -- although he nearly threw it all away on the pole vault. German pair Rico Freimuth and Kai Kazmirek took silver and bronze while twice former world champion Trey Hardee was one of more than a dozen of the original 35 starters who dropped out over the course of the notoriously tough contest. Olympic silver medallist Mayer led from the shot put on Friday morning and looked to be cruising to his first world gold until he decided to skip the opening pole vault heights and enter the fray at 5.10. The move nearly proved disastrous as he missed his first two attempts, then grazed the bar on his third. Despite an unnerving wobble, the bar stayed in place and Mayer avoided a zero score which would have wrecked his chances,
Kevin Mayer of France reacts after claiming decathlon gold.
instead increasing his lead over Rico. He comfortably came through the javelin and 1,500 metres, the final of the 10 events staged over two exhausting days, to see himself safely home. Mayer finished on 8,768 points with Freimuth, with 8,564 and Kai Kazmirek 8,488, taking the silver and bronze medals. Hardee, fifth overnight, pulled out after a miserable morning in which he failed to pick up any points in the
first two events. He clattered into the third hurdle in the 110 metres hurdles, then produced three foul throws in the discus before calling it a day. The event was left open by the retirement earlier this year of American Ashton Eaton, who had dominated recently, winning the last two Olympic and world titles. Canadian Damian Warner, often seen as the man most likely to break Eaton’s dominance, finished fifth.
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Guyana among 39 teams at CONCACAF Boys’ U-15 Championship in Florida
- Golden Jaguars to kick-off campaign against St Kitts and Nevis on Monday TE A M Gu y an a a rrived yesterday in Florida where they will participate in the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Under-15 Championship, set to be the largest CONCACAF tournament ever, including 39 Member Associations and over 700 youth players from across the Confederation. The developmental tournament which will take place from August 13-19 and features 81 total matches, will be played entirely at the world-renowned IMG Academy campus in Bradenton, Florida. Guyana will open their Group F campaign against St Kitts and Nevis on Monday from 11:00 hours, and will play Suriname on Tuesday, followed by their final group match against S t L u c i a o n T h u r s d a y. To ensure sporting balance and
fully leverage this unique development opportunity for the full contingent of young CONCACAF players, participating
imum amount of competitive matches throughout the week. The structure includes three separate divisions, with seed-
Under-17 Men’s Championship, as well as qualifying for that event. Within each division, the participating teams
CONCACAF Under-15 Championship 2017 Divisions and Groups *Participating Member Associations listed in assigned group positions Division One (8) Group A: Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama Group B: United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago D i v i s i o n Tw o ( 1 5 ) Group C: Cuba, El Salvador, Bermuda, Martinique Group D: Haiti, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Curacao Group E: Barbados, Guad e l o u p e , P u e r t o R i c o Group F: St Lucia, Suriname, Guyana, St Kitts & Nevis Division Three (16) Guyana’s National U-15 Team Group G: Aruba, Cayman Islands, Bonaire, Saint Martin Group H: Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, Domassociations will be divided ing based on each MA’s per- have been divided into groups i n i c a , S i n t M a a r t e n into division play in which all formance over the last three of four teams (with one group Group I: Bahamas, US Virgin 39 teams are guaranteed a max- editions of the CONCACAF of three) for round-robin play. Islands, French Guiana, St.
Vincent & The Grenadines Group J: British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat, Turks & Caicos Islands For the group stage, all participating teams will play in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each of the two Division One groups, after group stage matches have been completed, will qualify for the semifinals of the tournament. The winners of the semifinals will clash in the Final on August 17, 2017. Division Two and Division Three teams will continue play according to their ranking after group play and their subsequent results through the last match day to determine final tournament positions. Honduras captured the inaugural version of the CONCACAF Boys Under-15 Championship in 2013, topping a field of 22 teams in the Cayman Islands.
Guyana crush Jamaica to lift Regional U-19 championship title BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – Guyana thrashed Jamaica by nine wickets to lift the 2017 Regional Under-19 Championship title on the last day of the final round of matches here Saturday. Playing at Conaree, Guyana declared at their overnight 250 for eight and quickly bowled out Jamaica for 139 in their second innings. Raewin Senior top-scored with 31 while Darren Small got 30 but seamer Ronaldo Ali Mohammed (4-25) and leftarm spinner Ashmead Nedd (4-67) grabbed four wickets apiece to wreck the innings. Set 77 for victory, Guyana cruised to their target with Raymond Perez strik-
ing an unbeaten 44. The victory lifted Guyana top of the standings with 68.9 points while Jamaica, who started the game as table leaders 5.5 points clear, ended second on 58.6 points. At St Paul’s, Barbados beat Windward Islands convincingly by eight wickets to finish third on 50.8 points while Verchilds, Leeward Islands whipped Trinidad and Tobago by 86 runs. Despite their defeat, defending champions T&T finished fourth on 48.9 points while the Leewards ended fifth on 47 and Windwards last on 25.7. Trailing by 63 runs on first innings, Jamaica struggled in their second turn
at the crease, sliding to 16 for two before Small and captain Brad Barnes with 25, put on 46 to stabilise the innings. However, both perished within six overs of each other to leave Jamaica on 77 for four and the last six wickets then tumbled for 62 runs.
Karim (17). Barbados also enjoyed similar dominance, taking the last two Windwards wickets for the addition of nine runs as they were bowled out for 219. Set 59, Barbados romped to their target with Nico Reifer hitting an unbeaten 28 and opening partner
when they converted their overnight 219 for nine into 250 declared in their first innings and then dismissed T&T for 256 in their second innings. For Trinidad and Tobago, Christian Thurton top-scored with 70, Leonardo Julien got 48 while
stand between Julien and Leonardo Francis (14). When both fell to leave T&T on 82 for two, Thurton anchored two key stands to keep the innings rollicking along – adding 55 for the third wicket with captain Navin Bidaisee (22) and a further 49
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday August 13, 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) Shadab Khnan (Knight Riders) (2) Imad Wasim (Tallawahs) Today’s Quiz: (1) Which two failed to make a century in Hero CPL 2016? Johnson Charles, Chris Gayle, Colin Munro, Andre Russell, A. B. DeVillers (2) Which two teams are scheduled to contest the first Hero CPL game at Providence this season? ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE
The victorious National U-19 squad
The result was never in doubt once Perez stroked eight fours in his 61-ball knock, putting on 50 for the first wicket with Javid
Shian Brathwaite getting 27 in a 56-run first-wicket stand. Leewards, meanwhile, ended their campaign in style
Saiba Batoosingh chipped in with 45. Chasing an improbable 344 for victory, T&T benefitted from a 61-run opening
for the fourth wicket with Batoosingh. All told, Thurton faced 133 balls and counted two fours and six.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 13, 2017
Cuba going for the ‘W’ against Guyana in final Group ‘D’ match today ... Lady Jags playing for pride By Rawle Toney “WE are Cubans, we will fight to the end and we will beat Guyana because we’re Cubans” Cuba’s Head Coach Lazra Ruiz Alfonso told reporters following his team’s scoreless draw against Barbados on Friday at the Leonora Track and Field Facility. The result meant that today’s clash between Cuba and Guyana in the final Group D match of the CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Caribbean Qualifiers will be more than intriguing considering the narrative. Barbados defeated Guyana 5 – 1 in their opening game and the draw against the Cubans meant that the ‘Bajans’ are on four points and holding a superior goal difference (+4) over the competition. For Cuba to advance to the final stage of the
Caribbean Qualifiers in Haiti, they will have to defeat Guyana by more than five goals. Simply put, the Cubans will have to finish the match with a superior goal difference than Barbados to advance. “We have to be careful going into this final game because no game is equal to the other. I’m going to work on a structure going into the game because we didn’t score against Barbados and in football, especially a match like this, you win it with goals” Alphonso said. According to the Cuban Coach, “I normally speak with the players, let them be organised and just look forward to scoring and that’s what we’re going to do.” Meanwhile, Akilha Castello, head coach for the Lady Jags, believes that they’ve done their part and irrespective of today’s outcome, she’s happy with the progress made by the
girls over the past couple of months. Guyana, by virtue of their defeat against Barbados, is out of the tournament, but Castello said the ladies will be playing for more than pride, since a win will boost their morale going ahead in the GFF’s Women’s programme. The 2018 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship qualification is a women’s Under-17 football competition which decides the participating teams of the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship. A total of eight teams will play in the final tournament. The 2018 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship will be the 6th edition of the CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship, the biennial international youth football championship, organised by CON-
Guyana’s women U-17 team
CACAF for the women’s Under-17 national teams of the North, Central American and Caribbean region. The top three teams of the tournament will qualify for the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay as the CONCACAF representatives. 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
Cuba’s Women’s U-17 team
three teams. The winners of each group advance to the final round to join Haiti, where they will be 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.
U.S. reclaim 4x100m world title, Britain take silver By Christian Radnedge
LONDON (Reuters) - Individual champion Tori Bowie anchored the United States to victory in the women’s 4x100 metres relay at the World Championships on Saturday. It was the sixth time the U.S. have won the event and the gold was a record 15th World Championship medal for Allyson Felix, who ran the second leg. The Americans, Olympic gold medallists in Rio last year, were led off by Aaliyah Brown who flew out of the blocks to start the run that brought them the world title they last won in 2011. Felix, part of that win-
ning team in Daegu, took the baton to Morolake Akinosun
who handed on to Bowie, the 100m world champion.
Aaliyah Brown, Allyson Felix, Morolake Akinosun and Tori Bowie of the U.S. celebrate winning the 4x 100 metres gold medal.
T h e 2 6 - y e a r- o l d h a d pulled out of competing in the
200m earlier in the week due to suffering cuts and bruises in her sprint triumph last Sunday. However, she looked in no discomfort as she surged down the final straight to win in 41.82 seconds. “We are on top of the world,” Bowie said. “I am grateful to be able to run and bring these ladies home to the gold. It has been a mixed week but two gold medals is amazing for me.” Bowie was shadowed all the way to the line by Briton Daryll Neita who led her team to silver, in 42.12, ahead of 2015 champions Jamaica who were missing their usual anchor runner in Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Britain’s silver represented
a big stride forward for the team, having won bronze at the Olympics. “I tried my best down that last stretch and I’m glad to bring the team home to silver. We work so hard as a team so we are delighted,” Neita said. The evening session proved a double sprint delight for Britain as the men won a sensational gold in their race, watched by their female counterparts beside the track who leapt and screamed in delight at the final result. “We’ve smashed it. We worked so hard for this. Us girls and boys have both done so well and we’re so proud of each other,” Neita added.
Guyana crush Jamaica to lift Regional U-19 championship title See page 30
Police off to strong start as B & J Classic commences By Tamica Garnett
Daniel Williams just after winning the men’s 200m yesterday
MUCH was expected from Linden athletes Daniel Williams and Chantoba Bright, and much was delivered, yesterday, with Williams pushing through to a win in the men’s 200m and Bright continuing her rule over the women’s long jump, despite clearing only 5.35m on her best try, at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground in Linden. However, none of that would be enough to see Linden finish anywhere better than fourth among the five clubs competing at this year’s Kares Engineering Inc Boyce and Jefford Classic VIII, which began yesterday at the MacKenzie Sports Club Ground. Complete dominance in the relays, backed by aggregate points picked up throughout the other events of the day, placed Police Progressive Athletics Club with a 32-points lead at the close of 12 finals. The defending champions closed with 162 points, one of only two teams to reach triple digits. The Guyana Defence Force followed with 130 points. Super Upcoming Runners enter the second day of competition today in a distant third with 44 points. Linden has 36 points, while bringing up the rear was De Challengers with 18 points. “At the end of the first day I am prond of where we are, and we’re coming tomorrow to finish it off,” boasted Police head coach, Lyndon Wilson. “We’ve covered most of the events and performed in the areas that we wanted to perform in. We are where we wanted to be at the end of the first day. I will say openly that we will be the winner.” Though they shone as a team, however, Police did not make it to the top podium position that often for the individual races. In the fiercest battle of the night, Williams gave his fans just what they came for, with cheers breaking out as the 16-year-old whizzed past the finishing line ahead of the field, leaving Army’s Davin Fraser for second place, and his fellow junior athlete, Tyrell Peters for third. The World Youth silver medallist was in fine form all day,
Turn to page 26
GDF’s Troy Lewis won the men’s discus throw with a winning throw of 41.65m
Bolt pulls up as GB win historic 4x100 relay gold See page 26
Britain’s gold medal winning relay team, Chijindu Ujah (right), Adam Gemili (left), Daniel Talbot (2nd left) and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (2nd right) 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
Usain Bolt of Jamaica appears injured during the final. SUNDAY CHRONICLE, AUGUST 13, 2017