Guyana_chronicle_e paper_08_19_2017

Construction of new ‘Harbour Bridge’ next year …gov’t to prequalify contractors

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‘I’m going to find you’ No. 105009

SATURDAY,AUGUST 19, 2017

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

...President vows to intercept criminal syndicates …during stakeholders’ outreach to Lethem

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Girl dies as house collapses

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AK-47, ammo found in Kingston

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Commander-in-Chief, President David Granger interacting with GDF Chief-of -Staff Brigadier Patrick West and another officer during his visit to Camp Kanuku on Friday (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

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One dead, 9 houses topple …as storm hits Jawalla village

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18 inmates hurt during disturbance at Lusignan

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 19, 2017

State of African Guyanese Global best practices for forum on this Sunday Property assessments

The Cuffy250 Committee would be holding its fifth annual “State of the African Guyanese” Forum, this Sunday, August 20, 2017 at the Critchlow Labour College Auditorium.

The Forum brings together activists, scholars, organisations and the general public to discuss the state of the African Guyanese community and plan broad developmental strategies, the organization said in a release. The theme for this year’s Forum is “Repositioning African Guyanese for Recognition, Justice and Sustainable Development.” It is being held in collaboration with the International Decade of the People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana (IDPADA-G), a coalition of African Guyanese organizations and individuals which, for the past year, has been working on an African Guyanese “Action Plan.” The impetus

for this initiative was a call by President Granger, when he delivered the keynote address at last year’s Forum, on the African Guyanese leadership to honor the United Nations International Decade of the Peoples of African Decent with a plan of action for the community.

Towards this end, the highlight of this year’s Forum is the unveiling of the “African Guyanese Action Plan” which lays out a strategy and agenda for African Guyanese Empowerment for the next decade. The Keynote address would be delivered

by President David Granger. Other speakers include Nigel Hughes, Marjorie Mc Caskey, Vincent Alexander, Comica Johnson, Eric Phillips, Esther Gittens, Dr. Norman Ng a Qui and Dr. Simpson da Silva.

The Forum starts at

9am. Registration is $300.

For more information call 231 7888 or 614 9562.

Cuffy250 was founded by a group of Guyanese in the USA and Guyana who came together in 2013 to observe the 250th anniversary of the Berbice Revolt, led by Cuffy, against the slave system. It is an organization dedicated to encouraging socio-economic and cultural revitalization within the African Guyanese community and the fostering of ethnic and racial equality in Guyana. In this regard, Cuffy250 is also committed to the reversal of ethnic domination of all kinds and from all quarters.

Hence part of its mission is to encourage self-empowerment and self-respect among African Guyanese as a prerequisite for respecting all ethnic groups and as a defence against domination.

The Ministry of Communities hosted Mr. Michael C. Chettleburgh, Co-Founder and President of AxiLogic Inc. and Mr Antoni Wisniowshi from Municipal Property Assessments Canada (MPAC) during the period Friday 11 to Tuesday 15th August 2017.

Meetings were held with Minister Ronald Bulkan and Permanent Secretary Emil McGarrell, of the Ministry of communities; Dr. Hector Butts, Finance Secretary, Ministry of

Finance, Chief Valuation Officer (ag) and representatives from the municipalities of Bartica, Linden, New Amsterdam, Rose Hall and Georgetown.

The primary objective of the visit was to share global best practices, technological solutions used in mass property assessments and explore options for collaboration in the transformation and modernisation of our municipal property assessment framework. A current value property

register (or assets register), is an important input to the management function of any organisation, LDOs being no exception. An updated municipal property register is key to council’s empowerment to be effective in the discharge of its functions and to its financial viability. Discussions revolved around the design of an equitable framework for assessments, taking account of rural/urban socio – economic factors. (Ministry of Communities)

left to right: Ministry of Communities Permanent Secretary Emil McGarrell, Roger Rogers Special Projects Officer Moc, Advisor to Minister Bulkan Derek Kowlesser, Mr. Michael C. Chettleburgh President AxiLogic Inc, Minister of Communities Hon. Ronald Bulkan and Mr Antoni Wisniowshi of Municipal Property Assessments Canada.

‘I’m going to find you’ 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 19, 2017

...President vows to intercept criminal syndicates

…during stakeholders’ outreach to Lethem AMID the recent discovery of two illegal airstrips and a plane in the Rupununi, President David Granger underscored the importance of strong security presence along Guyana’s borders as well as the various ports of entry.

He made the comments when he addressed stakeholders during a visit to the border town on Friday, underscoring that porous borders create avenues for pirates, people traffickers and smugglers to perpetrate crimes that thwart efforts at public safety and societal stability. “Drug gangs will come into our country; illegal migrants will come into our country. These elements are not friendly to us. They will jeopardise the safety of your own women and children and of your own communities.

They will bring guns, violence and drugs into our society, they

President David Granger receiving the Presidential salute from ranks of the Guyana Defence Force upon his arrival at Base Camp Kanuku in Lethem

will change our way of life and that is why border security is so important to protect our way of life,” the Head-of-State said in his remarks to security forces and other stakeholders of the Takutu-Upper Essequibo

Region (Region Nine).

Few holding back country This visit comes on the heels of the discovery of an abandoned twin-engine Beechcraft aircraft on an illegal airstrip in the region. “I take se-

After the stakeholder engagement, President David Granger convened a meeting with Regional Chairman, Brian Allicock; Mayor Carlton Beckles; GRA Official, Mr. Satish Basdeo; Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Patrick West; British Security Sector Reform Advisor to the President, Mr. Russell Combe and Divisional Commander, Mr. Ravindradat Budhram to discuss critical security-related matters.

Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Mr. Sydney Allicock and Minister of Public Affairs, Ms. Dawn Hastings-Williams were also present.

curity very seriously because without security, this country cannot develop. There are few individuals who are holding this country back. The bulk of the people want this country to move forward. We are not a criminal nation but there are a few criminal people who are holding us back and I am going to find them and put them away because they are holding back the development of a great people, a great region and a great nation,” he asserted.

Outlining his policy for Total National Defence (TND), the President told ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at Base Camp Kanuku in Lethem to remain vigilant at all times so that they can prevent intrusion into the country’s air and land space by foreign elements. He also made it clear that every section of society has a role to play in matters of safety and security

18 inmates hurt during disturbance at Lusignan

ACCORDING to a release by the Department of Public Information, Director of Prisons, Gladwyn Samuels, confirmed that there was an incident at the Lusignan Prison where several prisoners in Holding Bay 2 scaled a fence and entered Holding Bay 1 with the stated intention of killing a fellow prisoner who they appar-

ently considered to be an informant to prison authorities.

Shots were fired in the air by the prison authorities to restore order.

No prisoner was injured by shots fired, however, a total of 18 prisoners were injured, mainly from razor wire. Five prisoners were sent to the Georgetown Public Hospital to be treated for serious but

not life threatening injuries inflicted by the razor wire atop the fence separating the holding areas.

The targeted prisoner was unharmed and has been placed in the main Lusignan Prison.

Those inmates injured and treated at Lusignan were: Calvin George, Saddash Singh, Nick Skeete, Suresh Ga-

nesh, Omar Williams, Lendroy Stephens, Kevin Cumberbatch, Ajit Jittall, Ryan Gopaul, Anthony Persaud Ryan Banistes and Jayishwar Dhanai. Prisoners taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital for treatment were: Linden Lewis, Abdul Akeem, Anthony Joseph, Travis Sobers and Adrian Edwards.

and added that the re-establishment of the Guyana People’s Militia (GPM) is in keeping with that vision. Moreover, he informed that every region will have a component of the GPM, which will be capable of rendering both military and civil services. Additionally, each region will have its own police division, which will be better able to secure the capital towns that have been created.

“There must be some means of collecting and passing information from the district, to the municipality, to the region and from the region, to the Central Government level…So when we speak of Total National Defence, we don’t only speak of a horizontal distribution between the Defence Force, the Militia and the police, we also speak about vertical integration between the central, regional, municipal and the local levels. Every citizen has to play a part in this architecture of national defence.

I am calling on all of these organs, the private sector, the non-governmental organisations, the ministries, the security forces, the Government departments, the municipality and the region to look at the security of this region as one of its top priorities,” he said.

Guyana has a total of 181,587 square kilometres of borders with Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname. These extensive borders, coupled with large tracts of uninhabited lands and a low population density, particularly in the hinterland, make patrolling and policing a daunting task for an already small security force.

At the community meeting in Lethem, the President said that these challenges are what nonstate, transnational criminal syndicates are seeking to take advantage of.

WORKING TOGETHER “We have, collectively, to do everything possible to protect our Guyanese way of life… These criminal syndicates are rich enough to corrupt public officials, rich enough to get young, impressionable people to get involved in criminal activities.

I see our borders, therefore, as the first line of defence against transnational crime. If our borders are not secure we could become a lawless state in which people bring huge criminal syndicates into our country and actually resist the law enforcement authorities,” the President explained.

He called on security forces and the regional authorities to ensure that Guyana’s economic wealth and natural resources are not illegally

exploited and exported; to clamp down on illegal mining, immigration and fishing; to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to work to prevent transmission of vector-borne and epidemic diseases, which like crime, can also have devastating impacts on the population and national development as a whole.

Since taking Office, the President has established a strong, comprehensive framework, which saw the strengthening of existing security bodies as well as create new agencies, all with the aim of creating a safer Guyana. This includes the National Security Committee, which meets on a weekly basis, the National Anti-Narcotics Agency and National Intelligence and Security Agency. Additionally, a new National Drug Strategy Master Plan has been introduced. To complement these efforts, the Anti-Money-Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) legislation was passed to boost the enforcement capabilities of the Joint Services.

The President also stressed the importance of proper infrastructure in the hinterland and deeper cooperation with international agencies and bilateral partners to combat crimes such as narco-trafficking, gun-running and illegal over-flights and incursions by aircraft into the country’s airspace and territory. After the stakeholder engagement, which was held at the Indigenous People’s Conference Hall in Lethem, President Granger convened a meeting with Regional Chairman, Brian Allicock; Mayor Carlton Beckles; GRA Official, Mr. Satish Basdeo; Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Patrick West; British Security Sector Reform Advisor to the President, Mr. Russell Combe and Divisional Commander, Mr. Ravindradat Budhram, to discuss critical security-related matters. Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Mr. Sydney Allicock and Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Ms. Dawn Hastings-Williams were also present.

He also took the time to tour the facility at Base Camp Kanuku, inspecting the accommodation quarters and equipment that are currently at the disposal of ranks stationed at that location. Additionally, he paid a visit to Radio Lethem to address residents of the Region on the airwaves. (Ministry of the Presidency)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 19, 2017

Key suspect in Spain attack Moussa Oukabir confirmed dead The key suspect in Thursday’s Barcelona attack, Moussa Oukabir, has been named as one of five men killed by police in the other attack site, Cambrils.

Police had earlier said they were searching for Oukabir and three other men. Now only one remains unaccounted for. Four suspects have been arrested. Thirteen people were killed when a van, said to be rented by Oukabir, rammed crowds in Barcelona’s Ramblas district. Police say the suspects had been planning

more sophisticated attacks.

They said blasts on Wednesday in Alcanar, a town south of Barcelona, deprived plotters of bomb material so they carried out simpler attacks using vehicles. Moussa Oukabir, thought to be 17, was a Spanish citizen from the northern Catalan city of Girona. Most of the other suspects were Moroccan. He is suspected of using his brother’s documents to rent the van used in the Barcelona attack and another found hours later in the town of Vic, north of Barcelona, that was intended

as a getaway vehicle.

Later the same night police shot dead five attackers including Oukabir in the nearby town of Cambrils after they drove a car into pedestrians killing one woman and injuring six others. The attackers’ vehicle overturned and when the men got out they were quickly fired upon by police.

One was reportedly brandishing a knife. Police Chief Josep Lluis Trapero said one officer killed four of the attackers single-handedly. The men were wearing what appeared

to be explosive belts, police said, but these proved to be fake. Police told media that Said Aallaa, 18, and Mohamed Hychami, 24, who they had earlier put on a wanted poster with Oukabir, were among the dead.

A fourth suspect, named as Younes Abouyaaqoub, 22, is still unaccounted for. Four others have been arrested, one in Alcanar after Wednesday’s explosion and three in the Catalan town of Ripoll after the Barcelona attack. Oukabir’s brother Driss was one of them.

He reportedly turned himself in, telling police he was not involved and that his documents had been stolen.

Thursday’s attacked occurred when a Fiat van was driven down the pedestrianised Las Ramblas area on Thursday afternoon, killing 13 and injured scores more people. Only three of the dead have been named so far: ?Spaniard Francisco López Rodríguez, in his 60s ?Italian Bruno Gulotta, 35 and Italian Luca Russo, 25. One Belgian, one Canadian and one US cit-

izen have also been confirmed dead.

Seven-year-old Julian Cadman, a dual British-Australian national who was separated from his mother during the attack, is missing, ABC Australia reports.

His mother was reportedly among the seriously injured.

The Islamic State (IS) group said it had carried out the attacks, though it is not clear whether the attackers were directly connected to the group or simply inspired by it. (BBC)

With Stephen Bannon, the worry always was that he could be even more disruptive to President Donald Trump’s White House from outside than he was within.

In the hours following his firing on Friday, those fears

seemed warranted, as the conservative voices who viewed Bannon as one of their own howled in rage over Trump’s decision to fire his chief strategist.

The reaction was most notable from Breitbart News, the hard-right news site that Bannon

ran before he joined Trump’s presidential campaign last year.

“WAR,” tweeted one of the site’s editors, Joel Pollak, who published a piece questioning whether Trump would now move in a more moderate direction with Bannon out of the White House.

“Steve Bannon personified the Trump agenda,” Pollak wrote.

Bannon rejoined Breitbart as executive chairman only hours after his firing was announced.

He is now expected to use it as a platform to blast those within the White House - and perhaps Trump himself - when they don’t hew to the fiercely nationalist policies Bannon advocated as an inside adviser.

As Trump’s chief strategist, Bannon fought numerous battles with senior Trump aides and top Republicans in Congress over the administration’s policy agenda. Breitbart frequently backed him up, ripping establishment Republicans such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McCo-

nnell and Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan, blaming them for obstructing Trump’s agenda.

More recently, the site trained its fire on Trump’s national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, after he removed officials who espoused Bannon’s foreign-policy world view. In recent days, Bannon had told friends he is worth tens of millions of dollars, is a worldwide leader in the populist-nationalist movement that propelled Trump to power, and could go back to Breitbart, which he refers to as a “killing machine”, or perhaps other endeavors financed by the family of hedge-fund tycoon Robert Mercer, his longtime ally.

“Steve has a powerful voice, and he’s going to keep that voice up,” said Sam Nunberg, a former Trump campaign adviser and Bannon friend. “He’s going to continue to promote policies that got Donald Trump in the White House.”

Bannon had clashed with

the likes of Gary Cohn, the director of the National Economic Council, and Jared Kushner, a Trump adviser and the president’s son-in-law, both of whom favored more business-friendly, mainstream economic policies on trade, taxes, and other matters. While Bannon’s ouster may mean a short-term win for the relative moderates in the West Wing, those he dubbed the “globalists,” it does not mean that policy battles on national security, immigration and the economy will dissipate.

Trump has a shown a proclivity for seeking counsel from former advisers such as Corey Lewandowski and Newt Gingrich and from conservative pundits such as Sean Hannity.

The outspoken and provocative Bannon could join their number.

And there remain other White House officials sympathetic to Bannon’s world view, such as domestic policy adviser Stephen Miller.

Even so, Bannon’s absence will be felt.

“Trump is always going to be Trump on immigration, trade, and foreign policy. But Steve was the highest-ranking adviser who shared Trump’s world view.

With him gone, there’s not a replacement for that voice in internal debates,” one administration official said. “I think people have always overestimated how influential anyone can be on Trump.

But without Steve constantly pushing back on every policy idea coming from the so-called

‘globalists,’ it’s easy to see how they could have a chance to start winning more policy battles.”

Mike Cernovich, an alt-right activist and personality, suggested to his more than 300,000 followers on Twitter that Bannon was sacked to ensure that the White House raises troop levels in Afghanistan, which Bannon opposed.

“This is a full-on coup now, guys,” Cernovich said in a posted video. Beyond Breitbart and the alt-right, some more traditional conservative groups were also concerned about the implications of Bannon’s departure. Twenty Republican grassroots leaders, including longtime activists Richard Vigurie, Jenny Beth Martin, and Ginni Thomas, wrote to Trump earlier in the week urging him to keep Bannon on.

“We will miss Steve Bannon in the White House because he helped President Trump keep many of the promises he made on the campaign trail,” Martin, co-founder of Tea Party Patriots, said in a statement after Bannon’s ouster.

But she also reiterated her support for the president, saying “he is his own man.”

If Bannon has anything to do with it, he will push to make sure that Trump stays that way. But some supporters still worried that the radical agenda Bannon fought for could be at risk. “It’s a sad day for the movement,” Nunberg said.

“I think it will end up being a mistake.” (Reuters)

After firing, Bannon returns to his ‘killing machine’

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 19, 2017

Tropical Storm Harvey moves through the Eastern Caribbean Sea CARICOM denounces terrorist attack in Spain THE 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping Friday denounced the terrorist attacks in Spain that killed at least 13 people and left more than 100 injured on Thursday.

CARICOM Chairman and Grenada Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell described the attack as “shocking and callous”.

Spanish police said they are working under the assumption that two other deadly events, a terrorist incident in the seaside city of Cambrils and a house explosion farther down the coast in Alcanar, were linked to the van attack in Barcelona that had the Islamic group, ISIS, taking credit. The police are searching for the driver of the van used in the incident. “In denouncing these orchestrated attacks perpetrated by terrorists against innocent civilians,

I align CARICOM’s voice to that of the international community in condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Such heartless and vicious acts as this incident underscore the need to deepen global cooperation in order to reduce the instances of such heinous acts of terror,” Mitchell said in his letter to the Prime Minister of Spain, Mariano Rajoy Brey. “I extend heartfelt sympathies to the Government and people of Spain and the other countries whose citizens were killed or injured in this attack. My condolences are offered particularly to the bereaved families of those killed and wish a full and speedy recovery to the injured. The Community stands in solidarity with Spain at this most trying time,” Mitchell added.

(CMC)

Haiti tragedy: Six drown, search continues for survivors

Search and rescue operations were continuing here on Friday after six women drowned when their sailboat capsized Thursday.

The Local Civil Protection agency representative, Jose Rethone, said that 23 people have so far been rescued after the boat sank off the Canal de la Tortue. At least 10 others are missing.

Rethone did not provide the identities of the women that died during the incident, but said the boat overturned

Thursday in rough seas as it was carrying people on a regular route between the island of La Tortue and Portde-Paix.

He said officials believe about 40 people were on board but there was no manifest. The vessels used as ferries in that area are frequently overloaded and poorly maintained. At least three other people have been taken to the Immaculate Hospital of Port-dePaix. (CMC)

Tropical Storm Harvey was moving through the Eastern Caribbean Sea on Friday after disrupting life in several Caribbean islands, but leaving no widespread damage as had been originally feared.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that the storm was now located 130 miles west south west of St. Lucia and that the various tropical storm warnings and watches for some islands had been discontinued. In its 5.00 pm (local time) bulletin, the NHC said that Tropical Storm Harvey was packing sustained winds of 40 miles per hour (mph) and while

interests in the Caribbean Sea and the adjacent land areas of eastern Central American and northern South America should monitor its progress, the storm “will move through the eastern Caribbean Sea tonight and through the central Caribbean Sea Saturday and Saturday night”.

It said locally heavy rains could occur tonight over portions of the Windward Islands and the offshore islands of northern Venezuela. Locally heavy rains could also occur over Aruba, Bonaire, and Harvey caused the postponement of the opening of the Caribbean festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) that was sched-

ule to have taken place in Barbados on Thursday night and while there had been reports of some damages in that country, officials said they were minimal. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the authorities shut down the Aygle International Airport for the day and in St. Lucia life returned to normal just after midday when the authorities said that they storm no longer posed a threat to the island. But as the storm moved into the Caribbean Sea, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management and the Meteorological Service of Jamaica said they were continuing to

monitor the storm. They said on the forecast track, Tropical Storm Harvey should pass well south of Jamaica on Sunday into Monday. “While it is not predicted that we will experience Tropical Storm conditions, the weather condition across the island could deteriorate. With this will come the possibility of poor sea conditions on the South Coast, flooding in low lying areas, and landslides in hilly terrains,” the ODPEM said, adding that “Jamaicans are advised to take the necessary precautions and continue to monitor credible media sources”.

(CMC)

TT Gov’t says it will disclose terms of agreement with Sandals

The Trinidad and Tobago government says it is committed to disclosing the terms of the agreement with Sandals Resorts International (SRI) for the construction of an all-inclusive resort at the Golden Grove estate in Tobago.

“At the appropriate time, there will be a disclosure by the Government. We have

nothing to hide and there will be full transparency with respect to what is the outcome of those hopefully fruitful discussions with Sandals,” said Stuart Young, the Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister and Minister in the Office of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs.

He said that other Caribbean countries in which

Sandals operates have passed legislation outlining the fiscal terms granted to the hotel chain and that the Keith Rowley government had not yet settled on the type of arrangement that will be used for the development. “So the answer is as much as we are permitted by law, because I am not sure what kind of confi-

Saturday, August 19, 2017

dentiality clause etcetera.

But yes the Government is completely committed to being transparent and stating what are the general terms we have agreed, once we are permitted to do so,” said young, who has indicated that he hopes the negotiations to be completed by the end of next month.

(CMC)

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 19, 2017

Making good use of NDS BRITISH High Commissioner to Guyana, Gregg Quinn, in his Meet the Press Day on Thursday shared thoughts on a number of issues where the United Kingdom (UK) Government is prepared to render support to and cooperate with Guyana.

Such outreach is a benefit forged in diplomatic relationship where countries collaborate on issues that could derive dividends for the domestic country. One such issue Mr. Quinn made note of is the UK’s openness to collaborating with the Government of Guyana in the development of a national programme using the framework of the National Development Strategy (NDS).

It is opportune to recall that the NDS, which was compiled during the Cheddi Jagan presidency, was one of the rare moments in the nation’s history that was not only inclusionary, had the input of the widest range of stakeholders,

stretching across the length and breadth of Guyana, touching all the ten administrative regions, but notably political involvement across the divide. For many this exercise sparked hope that the divisive and at times self-serving politics was cast aside or finally buried in the interest of the development of the collective good.

This initiative (NDS) by the Carter Center was seen as rendering support to healing the political divide, allowing access to the state’s resources and equal opportunities to all, particularly in a society where allegations are repeatedly made of exclusion in involvement and participation in the proverbial national pie. The local head for the NDS project was then Junior Minister of Finance, Bharrat Jagdeo, who later became Minister of Finance, and President of the Cooperative Republic.

The fact that with Dr. Jagan’s passing, the NDS

was never allowed to shape the development in society, and then President Jagdeo apparently did not value the importance of implementation, though a quantifiable analysis of what this cost Guyana is yet to be made, qualitatively it cannot be argued that the country was not further set back. The late Dr. Jagan when he won the presidency, such was not without much goodwill from society that felt the changing of the political guards could see improvement in the quality of life for all.

Non-implementation of the NDS continues to haunt the society in every sphere. As citizens continue to voice their displeasure with governance, some voting with their feet, unemployment spiraled out of control with the absence of programmes to create legitimate employment and economic opportunities. The vulnerability of some groups became more tenuous and where management of nat-

ural resources and access to government contracts created a system of cliqueism and corruption, ethnic tension rose, the country became more divisive and descended into moral and legal decay.

In the period under review Guyana was ranked the most corrupt country in the English-speaking Caribbean, the narco-economy rivalled and some may argue surpassed the formal economy as life was reduced to that where might became right, only the strong survive, and the cliché ‘if you can’t beat them you may as well join them’ became an acceptable mean for survival and opportunities.

There are times society gets another opportunity to take a good look at itself, the errors made, and how these can be corrected for the benefit of the people and integrity of the nation.

What the UK proposes in terms of rendering support to creating another NDS offers such opportunity.

Either by fate or otherwise, such offer is made with the David Granger/ Moses Nagamootoo Government, who, not unlike the Dr. Jagan Government, has been recipient of similar goodwill based on expectation.

There can be no ignoring, in spite of Government’s reassurances, concerns about the economy, welfare of the ordinary man and woman, growing disquiet about the oil contract, and intensifying interest in the indigenous benefits to be derived in an oil economy.

The NDS has a structure which remains relevant to society. Assuming the UK’s suggestion is positively considered, Guyanese once again

have an opportunity to come together in the spirit of oneness and recognise that our collective interests are intertwined.

There is no denying people seek after a good life, want a government welloiled and functioning, laws to protect the weak and hold the powerful to account, good neighbourly relations, and opportunities to unleash their potentials, knowing that once they work hard they can succeed. The original NDS was intended to achieve this. An NDS along said lines, when implemented, can finally achieve what the original set out to, but was never given the chance to realise.

City Hall collected over 1,703 tons of garbage in Georgetown in the past week Dear Editor, The Mayor and City Council continues to work acidulously to provide garbage collection and disposal services to all local communities within the City of Georgetown so far, the Council’s Solid Waste Management Department, Public Health Department and teams of technical personnel have

been working to ensure the integrity of the natural environment.

Over the last week, the Council collected more than one thousand seven hundred and three (1,703) tons of garbage from all local neighborhoods in Georgetown. Residents have been cooperating with our collection teams to ensure that they store their garbage in an environmentally friendly manner.

This makes it easy for the Council to move swiftly through communities to collect waste.

However, a hand full of residents appears to be bent on hurting the environment by dumping their garbage onto parapets in abandon yards and other reserves.

This is really a demonstration of indiscipline, and a lack of care for the environment which sustains all of us.

Over the next few weeks, the Council will intensify its efforts in this area of its responsibility by doing the following: (a) Increase collection in certain areas (b) Pay more attention to parapet waste (c) Put in place an aggressive public awareness and public information program in communities (d) Set up a network, to check, monitor and eval-

uate the work of departments in local communities (e) Increase patrols by members of the anti-litter squad in all communities The Council will continue to do its best in circumstances where it is very short of the requisite resources to manage its wide range of responsibilities to the citizens of Georgetown.

Again, we appeal to those, who are vending on the streets, parapets and

other reserves to provide appropriate receptacles to dispose of wrappings and other packaging materials used in their daily business. All vendors should make an effort to keep the area, in which they operate clean and tidy at all times.

Regards DEBRA LEWIS Public Relations Officer Mayor and City Council

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 19, 2017

DEMTOCO calls for revamping of Tobacco Bill Dear Editor,

Demerara Tobacco Company Ltd. (DEMTOCO) rejects the assertion by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and World Health Organization (WHO) Representative that as an Industry we would seek to deter President, Brigadier David Granger from carrying out his constitutional responsibility of assenting to the recently passed Tobacco Control Bill of 2017.

We further reject the notion that as a company, we would seek to delay the passage of this legislation and instead point to our public pronouncements as proof of the contrary.

Indeed, it is a matter of public record, that the company through the utterances of its management, and in its official press statements, have indicated our support for the regulating of the local tobacco industry, and also the fact that the government has obligations to do so flowing from it being Party to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Additionally, in expressing our support for the passage of the legislation, the company publicly wrote to both the present Health Minister Mrs. Volda Lawrence, and the former, Hon. George Norton, offering assistance and support towards ensur-

ing the development of a balanced piece of tobacco legislation.

Since the passage of the Bill, the company has made no secret of its disappointment in the fact that specific clauses in the legislation are harsh, and contain significant discriminatory measures that would negatively impact ordinary Guyanese. These concerning clauses, we believe go way beyond the stated intent of what a tobacco bill should be concerned with. Therefore, when the Private Sector Commission wrote the President expressing its own concerns with the form in which the Bill was passed, we publicly stated our support of this move, and in turn, wrote our own letter of appeal - outlining in clear terms the areas with which we were concerned.

In that discourse, the Company highlighted the following: • That the definition of “Workplace” within the Bill infringes on the rights of homeowners to smoke in their own homes if they have employed help, for example a gardener or housekeeper. It is our considered view that a more reasonable approach to this would be to make an exception to private homes, when defining “workplace.”

• That under the Section that proposes a Public Place Smoking Ban, the reference to no smoking in indoor plac-

es should not include private homes. Smoking cigarettes is not an illegal act and therefore should not be banned if a person chooses to do it in their own home.

(This was done in both Trinidad and Jamaica) • That under the same section, the ban imposed on smoking in bars, restaurants and hotels can accommodate both smokers and non-smokers alike with a provision for the establishment of OUTDOOR designated smoking areas. (This is done in other countries) • That the ban on product display will see a serious rise in the illicit Tobacco trade by driving legal tobacco sales under the counter. We point to our experience in neighbouring Suriname that saw an increase in illicit Tobacco trade from around 12 per cent to 70 percent. This Ban will not only affect retailers’ ability to communicate product availability, but to a greater extent, affect Government’s ability to collect the taxes it requires to aid in nation building. We proposed a fitting compromise to be an amendment that allows “the display of products at the point of sale only” to allow customers to see what they are buying.

The ban on packs of tens is also a fuel for the rise in illicit trade. The majority of consumers not being

able to afford a pack of 20, will move to purchase sticks or buy from illicit traders who will move to sell the 10s which the legal trade is being banned from selling. This ban therefore will serve no purpose in terms of the health agenda but will only serve to create and give greater sustenance to the illicit trade business.

• That the Ban on carrying trays with Tobacco products is significantly harsh and will affect the livelihood and income of Hawkers, who have built homes, supported their families directly from the proceeds of selling a legal tobacco products. Whilst Government has noted that its motivation for this particular ban is to stop the sale of cigarettes to minors, we suggest that the Bill be amended to allow for carrying trays to be labeled with required health warnings and declarations against selling to minors. These can be provided by the Tobacco Company, through our retailers.

• That articles avoiding relations with the industry contained in Sections 40-44 of the Bill, includes a list of restrictions and limitations on the interaction between any official, representative, or employee of any government institution responsible for tobacco control and any representative of the tobac-

co industry or tobacco products. It is our view that these clauses be removed. The Tobacco remains a key, legal stakeholder in the economic landscape of Guyana and as such should not be treated as a pariah simply because there is a powerful lobby against our products.

• That under the same section, a person applying for a Government job is required to disclose their employment/relationship with the Tobacco industry, if it occurred within five (5) years of their application. Not only is this not required by the FCTC, but it is also contrary to both local and international employment principles and regulations. It is in fact, discriminatory to penalize Guyanese legitimately employed or associated with a legal industry, for seeking a government job.

This provision in its current form also affects persons employed in supermarkets, gas stations and any other place selling cigarettes or Tobacco products.

Given those facts, we called on President Granger to place the Bill in the Joint Select Committee of Parliament, knowing that during this process, a more reasonable solution could be arrived at before the gazetting of the Bill. Whilst our company understands and appreciates the need for a Government to enact laws it

feels will protect all its citizens, we do not believe that it is unreasonable to ensure that that same bill does not unfairly discriminate against its people and infringes upon their rights in doing so. In this light, we wish to therefore categorically reject this effort to impugn the character of the industry, and to reaffirm our support for the passage of a Tobacco Control Bill that is fair, balanced, and non discriminatory. We do not believe that the bill in its present form is balanced and non discriminatory. We therefore restate our call for the President to ensure that these discriminatory elements are removed, and that the Bill be sent to a Select Committee were all stakeholders are finally consulted resulting in a better law being passed to regulate the tobacco industry.

We understand the interests of PAHO, and their representative in attaining their objectives across the Caribbean, but we reject this false assertion, and urge them to allow the Guyanese people and democratic consultative processes, to institute a good piece of legislation that will be progressive, non- discriminatory and fair.

Regards Demerara Tobacco Company

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 19, 2017

No new ministry Man loses car, wedding ring being created investigating strange sound

THE Ministry of the Presidency has said that no new ministry is being created for the current Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Ms. Dawn Hastings-Williams, who will assume responsibility for Public Affairs as a Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency on September 1.

“The Ministry wishes to correct the misinformation being peddled in a section of the press, which incorrectly reports that Minister Hastings-Williams’s appointment brings to 20 the number of Ministries. There are, in fact, only 15 Ministries.”

The Ministry of the Presidency is a single Ministry, which houses the Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministers’ of State, Citizenship, Public Service and with Hastings-Williams’ addition, Public Affairs.

Minister Hasting-Williams is currently still performing her functions as Minister within the Ministry of Communities and will maintain that role until August 31, 2017.

President David Granger has outlined several key areas, which will fall within her remit, including over-

sight of the sections which fall under the President’s Secretariat, administration of the National Endowment for Science and Technology (NEST) Programme and hinterland and rural relations. Minister Hastings will receive a detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) from the Head of State before taking up office on September 1, 2017. President Granger has said that the move is part of a continuous process of re-balancing Government’s work with the aim of ensuring efficiency and the effective delivery of services. (Ministry of the Presidency)

Man charged for killing peacemaker RAWLE Bernard, 30, a labourer of Onderneeming, West Coast Demerara, was on Thursday charged with murder when he appeared at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court.

Particulars of the charge, read by Magistrate Alex Moore, stated that on Monday August 14, Bernard allegedly murdered Sylvan

Stoll, 50, an electrician of Plot “B” Hertstelling, East Bank Demerara.

Reports earlier this week stated that the victim and the suspect, along with other persons had travelled from Georgetown in a minibus to attend a bar-b-que at the No. 42 Community Centre Ground on Sunday August 13th last. Whilst there, an argument erupted between the

suspect and a friend and Stoll intervened, during which the suspect who was armed with a knife stabbed Stoll to the left side of the neck.

Stoll was rushed to the Mahaicony Public Hospital where he died about 01:30hrs whilst receiving medical attention. Magistrate Moore remanded Bernard until October 25th.

Woman in Success accident died of multiple injuries

-- post-mortem A post-mortem done Friday on the remains of a 57-year-old pedestrian who was involved in an accident on Wednesday morning on the Success Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), has indicated that she died of multiple injuries.

Pulbattie Ramotar, a housewife of Success, ECD, was killed after a serving member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), struck her down while driving on the public road. The driver is in custody assisting with the investigation.

Relatives told the Guyana Chronicle that the

mother of three was heading to the market when a car crashed into her.

Reports indicate that about 08:00hrs on Wednesday morning, motor car PVV 8233 owned and driven by a police constable crashed into Ramotar.

Police said the vehicle was proceeding east along the northern carriageway of Success Public Road, when the pedestrian ran across the road from south to north into the path of the vehicle and was struck down.

She was picked up in an unconscious condition and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she was admitted and subse-

TWO bandits on Thursday relieved Hickball Clarke of his valuables before hijacking his grey Nissan car bearing number plate PWW 1233 at the Ogle Public Road, East Coast Demerara, in the vicinity of Shell Gas Station.

Reports indicate that the incident occurred around 21:00hrs when Clarke came out of his vehicle to investigate a strange ‘knocking’ sound.

During the ordeal, he was reportedly told by the bandits to lie face down on the ground as they took away his cellphone, wedding ring, wallet, money and the

keys for his vehicle.

Clarke related that one of the robbers placed a gun to his head and the other suggested that they ‘shoot’ him but he begged for his life and surrendered his wallet and money.

At that point, the gunmen began searching his pockets and after they got the keys of his vehicle, they drove away.

Clarke said after he regained his composure, he ran to the Sparendaam Police Station and made a report before informing his wife, Karen.

The missing dark gray vehicle has the initials K.J.R.

on the front windscreen.

Anyone with information on the location of this vehicle can contact the nearest police station or the owners on 644-9517/686-3264.

Meanwhile, Sherry Narine in a facebook post on Thursday wrote that her car PNN 1871 was stolen from in front of her home on Sheriff Street, Georgetown around 07:15hrs on Thursday morning.

The car has emblazed on its windscreen “My Sweet Angel”. She is asking persons, who may know the location of the vehicle to contact the nearest police station.

AK-47, ammo found in Kingston POLICE on Friday evening found an AK-47 rifle and several rounds of various calibre of ammunition during a raid in Kingston, Georgetown.

In a release, the police said ranks acting on information, went to a bushy area in Kingston, Georgetown, about 18:30hrs on Friday and found in a haversack the following illegal items. An AK-47 rifle, an extended .380 magazine and one hundred and ninety -six (196) live rounds of 7.62by 39,. 40 and. 380 ammunition. No arrest has as yet been made. An investigation is in progress

Five hospitalised in Number 19 Village accident

Dead: Pulbattie Ramotar

quently died.

Police said a breathalyser test was administered on the policeman and no alcohol was detected in his breath. Statements were also taken from eyewitnesses as investigations continue.

FIVE persons have been hospitalised and another six were treated and sent away after a minibus collided with a motor lorry at the Number 19 Village Public Road, East Berbice, Corentyne, on Thursday night.

Shazar Kiodeen, 7; Ryan Gorad, 10; Beesham Kiodeen, 12; and Fizeea Kiodeen, 10, who were passengers in the minibus, have been admitted to the New Amsterdam Hospital, while Mohamed Safraz, 44, was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Lilawattie Basdeo, 26; Eshan Looknauth, 5; Dinesh Looknauth, 22; Yashi Looknauth, 3; Fardeen Kiodeen, 3; and Chari Narine, 45, were treated and sent away.

Police in a release said that motor lorry GLL 8559 with trailer TSS 458, was proceeding east along the northern carriageway, while minibus BNN 9791 with passengers and proceeding in the said direction was in the rear. It is alleged that the minibus in attempting to overtake the lorry and trailer, collided with the rear of the trailer.

The release also noted that as a result of the impact, the passengers, all from Topoo, Albion, Corentyne, received injuries, while the driver of the minibus and lorry were unhurt.

Breathalyser tests were administered to both drivers and while the driver of the lorry who hails from Nigg Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice, was not found to be free of alcohol, the driver of the minibus was found to be above the legal limit.

Both drivers are in custody assisting with the investigation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 19, 2017

Girl dies, brother injured as LBI house collapses AMBER Richards, 12, was killed on Friday when the house she was spending the August holidays at with her eight-year-old brother collapsed, crushing her as she was swaying in a hammock.

Commander of ‘C’ Division, Calvin Brutus, told the Guyana Chronicle that the young lady was swaying in the hammock under the La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara (ECD), structure supported by four by four stilts, when it gave way.

At the time of the incident, the young lady was playing on her tablet while her brother Joshua Richards was nearby.

Joshua Richards was partially pinned by the fallen house but with the help of residents he was pulled to safety. He suffered injuries to his left foot and was taken to a city hospital where he was admitted.

Up to press time, his condition was said to be stable.

Aunt of the children, Wanita Ramgolam, told Guyana Chronicle that around 15:00hrs, she was getting dressed when she felt the house was swaying.

Shortly after, it collapsed but not before she managed to put on an outfit and flee the building just before it fell.

But her niece, Amber and her nephew, Joshua, who came to her home on Sunday to spend the August holidays, were under the

cottage in separate hammocks and were not so lucky.

Ramgolam explained that she knew the children were under the house and tried to alert them to run but it was too late.

The visibly distraught woman related that she heard her niece calling out for “aunty” aloud before her voice grew weak and eventually faded.

Ramgolam blamed herself for the incident, stating that the children should have never visited her home as she clutched her four-year-

old daughter who escaped unhurt.

After the structure fell, she began to scream for help and neighbours came and managed to pull Joshua, who was partly trapped under the building to safety, but his sister took some time to be located.

By the time she was found, she was already dead.

Her body bore severe injuries to the head and face.

Amber’s parents who recently relocated to Canal Number One Polder, West

Bank Demerara (WBD), were notified of the tragedy but had not yet arrived on the scene when Guyana Chronicle visited.

Crying loudly, Ramgolam said, “Only the other night the children were telling me that they cannot live without each other.”

Amber was described as a happy and quiet but reserved girl.

Her grandmother upon seeing what happened collapsed at the scene and had to be revived by neighbours.

Wanita Ramgolam and her daughter on Friday

The spot where Amber’s body was pulled from under the collapsed house

DEAD: Amber Richards

The wooden LBI, East Coast Demerara, house that collapsed on Friday

Injured Joshua Richards

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 19, 2017

‘Green technology is big business’

Guyanese gearing for global market share

By Zena Henry THE Caribbean Climate Innovation Centre (CCIC) in collaboration with the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) through a rigorous weekend boot camp programme is training a number of startup and existing businesses in Guyana to grab their share of what is expected to be a growing US multi-billion dollar global market in the area of green technology and innovation.

The Caribbean consortium, which is funded by Canada through the World Bank, hosted this programme in a number of other Caribbean countries, before their Guyana launch, which was held at Tower Suites on Friday. A number of young and seasoned entrepreneurs were in attendance, along with Guest Speaker, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; IPED’s Chief Executive Officer, Ramesh Persaud, and CCIC Project Manager, Carlinton Burrell. Persaud told the gathering that reaching the green economy status brings loads of business opportunities for Guyana. He dubbed this sector as “big business” before relating global business information that

From left: Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; IPED CEO, Ramesh Persaud; Master of Ceremonies, Alex Graham; and CCIC’s Project Manager, Carlinton Burrell, at podium

estimate the recently signed Paris climate accord as an annually growing US$600B market.

He highlighted that in an essay on “Economic opportunities in the local carbon world” by international experts, McKinsey’s Climate Change Initiative, it was concluded that the shift to low carbon economies will require incremental capital expenditure, averaging 455billion Euros per annum that will improve global

business opportunity in relation to green economies between 2010 to 2030. This sum, it was noted however, is only an estimated two to four percent depiction of what capital expenditure might be needed for that period. From the Goldman Sachs 2015 report, Persaud pointed out that the global commitment to low carbon economies is creating annually US$600billion.

To put this information into context, the IPED CEO

posited that, “Guyana’s economy is 3.5 to 4 billion of annual output. So even if we scratch the surface of that global opportunity, our economy will be transformed.” Minister Harmon in his remarks told the entrepreneurs that in the

government’s 2017 budget, the minister of finance has dedicated an entire section to green development with a range of opportunities and budgetary allocations for persons who are prepared to invest and be innovative in this area. The problem, the minister pointed out, is that some persons do not know how to access the funds recommended and that the boot camp might provide a model or examine ideas on how businesses can access government funding through budget allocations.

The minister went on to say that even at the country’s micro stage in policy formulation, funds are allocated for the related type of innovation. He noted however, that some business persons are better at garnering capital and urged these persons to share their ideas and help create opportunities for others.

“Guyana is one big business space, you are not confined to doing business in one region in Guyana,” the minister asserted to persons whom he said are concerned about business opportunities. Pointing out the numerous issues being faced lo-

cally due to climate change, the minister hoped that these “challenges would inspire you, the participants…to provide innovative and sustainable business solutions that will lead to the mitigation and adaptation to climate change in Guyana.”

CCIC’s Project Manager said that the programme seeks to foster entrepreneurship to strengthen communities and enable startups to access global environments.

Over the next three days, he said the business persons will be engaging international experts and mentors that can help them launch their projects and services.

“The CCIC’S initiative is to identify, build capacity and provide a supportive ecosystem for a pipeline of clean energy technology entrepreneurs in the (Caribbean) Region.”

At the end of the weekend event, three teams with the best business pitch will win first place: US$1000; second place US$500 and third place, US$250. Another business will also be adopted by CCIC and provided with top of the line assistance for a global launch.

A section of the gathering at the Caribbean Green Tech Start-up Bootcamp launch

Man accused of attempted murder denied bail

A 24-year-old man accused of attempted murder on Friday appeared before City Magistrate, Leron Daly, charged with felonious wounding.

Denzil Wilson of Costello Housing Scheme, Georgetown, was not required to plead to the offence which alleged that on August 13 at Brickdam, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Ceon Brewster with intent to maim, disfigure, disable

or cause him actual bodily harm.

Police Prosecutor, Richard Harris requested that the matter remain indictable, since the victim is still hospitalised and his condition is listed as critical. The unrepresented man stood in court with an opened wound to his head which he told the court he received at the hands of Brewster during a fight.

The magistrate ruled in the prosecution’s favour and remanded Wilson until August 25. Recently, Wilson was granted bail for stabbing a man with a knife in the vicinity of Parliament Building in May. It is alleged that on May 2, 2017 at Hadfield and High Street, Georgetown, he wounded Ceon Wright with intent to commit murder.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 19, 2017

Assassination plot

Lawyers point out flaws in complainant’s statements

By Ariana Gordon

LAWYERS representing the police and other interests at the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger assailed the testimonies of the complainant, saying that the allegation of a plan to kill the Head-of-State was a total fabrication.

But Canada-based attorney, Selwyn Pieters said the police failed to conduct a proper investigation into the allegation and noted that the action of Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud , in the matter demonstrated clearly that the force is somewhat dysfunctional. Pieters, who represented television journalist, Travis Chase, at the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) was making his closing submissions. Three other lawyers who participated in the CoI concluded that the allegation was a total fabrication. Lawyers, retired Chief Justice Ian Chang, Christopher Ram and Glenn Hanoman, all told the Paul Slowe-led Commission that the key complainant, Andriff Gillard’s story that he told to police on March 29, 2017, that Nizam Khan, his former friend allegedly offered to pay him $7M to kill President Granger was incredible and lacked corroboration.

WEAKNESS Meanwhile, it was Chang who commenced Friday’s closing submission and his presentation focused primarily on the weaknesses which appeared in Gillard’s statements. He argued that Gillard’s allegation was dated June 2015 and the report to the police was made some 21 months after. “Despite the enormity and seriousness of such a proposal, Gillard did not see it fit to report that unlawful proposal until March 29, 2017, that is 21 months later. It is common knowledge that no attempt was ever made against the life of President Granger since he took office,” said the attorney who represented the interest of the Guyana Police Force.

He argued that at the time of the alleged proposal, the Head of State was in office for only one month and it would have been impossible for Khan to have known of any plan on the part of the president to remove from his private residence. “Yet, Gillard stated that the work had to be done before President Granger could remove from his original residence,” Chang said while asking, “Why would Nizam Khan offer Gillard, a barber and taxi service operator, $7M to do a job like the assassina-

tion of President Granger?”

Chang said it is clear that Gillard was not the person whom anyone would offer $7M or any money to do such a job. “He was not a gunman or hit man,” he posited. Gillard had also accused Khan of having a hand in him being evicted from a property belonging to Stephen Persaud. It was then Chang said Gillard accosted Khan and accused him of having a role to play. “This must have hurt and offended Gillard,” said Chang. Gillard said too in his evidence that in 2016, he was accosted by Khan who asked for the return of his battery. Khan, he said, went into his (Gillard) premises housing his taxi service and took away two radio sets belonging to him and then pulled a gun and threatened to cripple him.

He said he attempted to make a report at the Grove Police Station only to be rejected. It was then he said he complained to Superintendent of Police, Rishi Das, at the Brickdam Police station about the threat but never reported being offered $7M

by Khan to kill the president.

“With all these terrible things that Nizam Khan had done to him and with all these insults, Gillard goes to Superintendent Das and does not report to him that it is the same Nizam Khan who had in June 2015, made him an offer…this is most incredible,” Chang stated.

“Even the most credulous among us would be severely taxed to accord any credibility to Gillard’s story.

The police were in the same position,” he continued. The attorney argued that after the police did not take him seriously, Gillard fabricated a “much more serious allegation against Khan.” Gillard told the police that he did not report the matter earlier because he was fearful for his life. “His explanation for his prolonged delay has a very hollow ring,” Chang posited.

BAIL On the issue of bail being granted by the police to the accused and accuser, Chang said the seriousness of the allegation could not be looked at in isolation, as “all a person would have to do to get a person against whom he has a grouse incarcerated without bail by the police is report to the police that he offered him money to assassinate the president.”

He told the Commission that the police took urgent action in locating and arresting Khan while stressing that the arrest and granting of bail are two separate issues. Chang said if detention without station bail depends solely on the seriousness of

Attorney representing the interest of the Police, Ian Chang makes his closing submission before the Commission on Friday.

(Delano Williams)

the allegations, then persons with grouses against others would be empowered to cause the deprivation of liberty by making a false claim.

“Indeed, any such policy or practice in the operations of the GPF would be encouraging such allegations by malicious persons using or abusing the agency of the GPF as occurred in this case. Therefore, it is not and cannot and ought not to be the practice or policy of the GPF to deny arrested persons station bail solely or exclusively on the serious nature of the allegation. Arrest is one thing. The refusal of station bail is another thing.”

During the course of the CoI, several officers of the Major Crimes Unit and acting Top Cop, David Ramnarine said they would not have granted bail to the parties given the seriousness of the offence. The officers said it was substantive Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud who instructed that bail be granted; something Persaud has denied. He told the Commission he gave a mere suggestion.

SEELALL’S AUTHORITY Meanwhile, the police attorney on the question of

Andriff Gillard seated behind attorneys, Christopher Ram (L) and Selwyn Pieters (R) on Friday, listens to closing submissions. (Delano Williams)

the police commissioner’s authority while on leave submitted that at all material times, Persaud, though on annual leave had the administrative power and authority to instruct the granting of station bail to Nizam Khan, his brother Imran Khan and Andriff Gillard.

Citing Article 228 (2) of the Constitution, Chang argued that Persaud was not on leave pending relinquishment of the office of Commissioner and as such Ramnarine could not have been appointed under Article 228 (2). Persaud called Inspector Prem Narine on the evening of March 29 and told him to grant station bail to Imran Khan, brother of Nizam Khan, and his friend for a number of years. It was argued that the police commissioner was on vacation and should not have intervened in the case.

Imran Khan was arrested for disorderly behaviour at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on the said day.

But Attorney Pieters chided Commissioner Persaud for his intervention and termed it “an obstruction of justice.” Khan was released on his own recognisance because he did not have $10,000 to post the station bail. “Therefore, he was never Commissioner of Police while Seelall Persaud was on annual leave and the

power and authority of Commissioner remained vested in Seelall Persaud at all material times,” he added, noting that the situation would have been different if Persaud was on pre-retirement leave.

GILLARD’S OATH Gillard testified twice before the Commission and on both occasions he swore by the Bible but told the Commission that he converted to Islam a number of years ago.

The man said he is raising his son in the Muslim faith. The Holy Book for Muslims is the Quran and not the Bible.

Chang pointed this out to the Commission noting that, “at the time he took the oath, it was the Quran and not the Bible that was binding on his conscience. He therefore deliberately elected to take an oath on a Holy Book which was not binding on his conscience.”

The attorney quoted Section 10 of the CoI Act, Cap 19:03 and noted that no one can testify before the courts or a CoI without taking an oath or making an affirmation. “Gillard in effect has done neither. He took no oath which was binding on his conscience nor did he affirm. Therefore, he made statements before this CoI which were not testimony and therefore before the CoI has no evidential value,” Chang said noting that it is irrelevant whether the man is prepared to do a poly-

graph test.

Chang’s views were entirely endorsed by Attorney Glen Hanoman. Hanoman is representing Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud.

In his brief summation, the lawyer said evidence submitted does not suggest that the investigation by the police was improperly done. “It is also clear that all investigation steps were informed at all times by the continuous advice from the Police Legal Advisor (PLA). The fact that so much time and energy were taken up by the report of such dubious credibility, speaks volumes of the understanding of the GPF that any plot to harm a head-ofstate has to be thoroughly investigated no matter how ridiculous the report.”

He described the report as a cold case and noted that while the report demanded a thorough investigation, it did not require any urgency as 21 months had passed and no attempt was made on the life of the President. Hanoman spared no efforts in reiterating his allegation that acting Top Cop Ramnarine’s opinions were opinions and ill-informed reports to the political directorate could evidently result in the perception that something was amidst.

Ramnarine had said the matter wasn’t properly investigated.

West Berbice man in court for ganja in bucket THREE months after police raided a Garnett Street, Kitty home and found almost a pound of cannabis in a bucket, a 44-year-old man was charged for the offence on Friday.

Desmond Lewis of Little ‘T’, West Coast Demerara, appeared before City Magistrate, Judy Latchman,

and was remanded to prison until August 21, after denying the drug trafficking charge.

Particulars of the charge alleged that Desmond on May 31 at Lot 226 Garnet Street, Kitty, had 341.89 grams of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. “I’m in shock and uncomfortable about the

charge” the unrepresented man told the court, as he explained that he had no knowledge of the drug.

However, according to Police Prosecutor, Shawn Gonsalves, on the day in question the police went to Lot 226 Garnet Street, Kitty and contacted the defendant and searched the home. The drugs were

reportedly found in Lewis’ bedroom inside a bucket with paddy.

The prosecutor objected to the accused being granted bail on the ground that no special reason was raised for him to be granted his pretrial liberty. The magistrate ruled in the prosecution’s favour and remanded Lewis.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 19, 2017

Lawyer rips police handling of assassination plot ATTORNEY Selwyn Pieters on Friday accused the Guyana Police Force (GPF) of deliberately trying to minimise the evidence that would support claims made by Andriff Gillard, the man who said he was offered $7M to kill President David Granger.

the tape, and did not review the file relative to the matter before sending a briefing note to the President on the subject.

Minimise evidence “It is our submission that the evidence produced during the CoI clearly presents a course of calculated, coordi-

Attorney Christopher Ram makes a point on Friday before the closure of the public aspect of the COI. (Delano Williams)

In March, Gillard told detectives that he was offered $7M to assassinate President Granger by his former friend, Nizam Khan, in June 2015.

No charges were laid on either the accused or the accuser as evidence presented to the Police Legal Advisor (PLA), Justice Claudette Singh proved tenuous.

Pieters contends that the interference by Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud, in the investigations while he was on annual leave represented an obstruction of justice and noted that Persaud as the head of the institution ought to have treated the matter with much more seriousness.

He told the Commission that his client, television journalist, Travis Chase, had presented a copy of an interview done with Gillard on the matter to the Head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Sydney James, who then forwarded same to the hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Persaud was on leave on March 29, when the police became involved in the matter, but resumed duty on April 3.

Upon his resumption, the Top Cop said he did not review the tape provided by Travis Chase and said he was not aware of

nated, and deliberate conduct to minimise the evidence that would support any claims made by Gillard, and enhance any claims made by Khan that the report of the complainant was false or fabricated.” The attorney called on Commissioner, Paul Slowe, retired Assistant Police Commissioner (APC), to reject the submissions that the police approached the case objectively.

Pieters argued that it is a first principle of police officers to take proper notes, but in the current case the Commissioner failed to take any notes, and for that reason, there were large gaps in his memory and his evidence proved unreliable.

“His pocket book should have been his first method of recording the investigation, arrest and other significant events…but the fact that he made no note means they were calculated and deliberate on the part of Mr Persaud…because he is a very trained investigator and a very experienced investigator trained by the FBI, so his omission to make contemporaneous notes of an important event cannot be dismissed as something that isn’t significant …it is very significant,” said the attorney who believes Persaud neglect-

ed his duty.

He noted however, that the issue of note-taking or lack thereof, was ventilated throughout all the ranks who testified and suggested that emphasis be placed on the subject.

In rebutting the suggestion by the Attorney representing the Police Force, Ian Chang, that because acting Top Cop, David Ramnarine, was not sworn in pursuant to the Constitution, the commissioner has superintendence over the force, Pieters said the fact is when the Commissioner goes on leave and Ramnarine acts, regardless of whether Ramnarine is sworn in, he is an agent of the Commissioner of Police and assumes all the offices of the Commissioner.

“If the Commissioner puts himself back on duty, which is what he did, that created a problem…he was on leave, he had no liability for anything that occurred on the 29th March to April 2nd, but when he puts himself back on duty, which he did on the 29th, that created serious problems which you will need to determine what the sanctions or course of actions will be.”

The Canada-based attorney stressed that the substantive Commissioner of Police interfered with the Major Crime Unit investigation. “We are saying that he did that when he spoke to Inspector Narine

and he told the Commission that the culture of the Force is for subordinates to act on the suggestion of superiors.”

Persaud had told the Commission that he called Inspector, Prem Narine, of the Major

he would have been arrested for obstruction of justice,” declared the attorney who noted Persaud brought the administration of justice into disrepute.

Pieters urged the Commissioner to take seriously

Canada- based attorney, Selwyn Pieters addresses the Commission on Friday. Seated behind him is Andriff Gillard. (Delano Williams)

Crime Unit and suggested that his friend, Imran Khan, brother of accused plotter, Nizam Khan, be released on his own recognisance as he did not have $10,000 for station bail.

Persaud told the Commission that he did not instruct the Inspector to so act but noted that juniors would take the suggestions of their seniors as an instruction. “His instruction to Narine was improper and it also was done because of his relationship to Imran Khan… in other jurisdictions quite frankly, a Commissioner of Police who is on leave and who knows somebody very well…

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud (Adrian Narine)

the conflict of interest he said exists. “People must know that when there is an offence that is reported to the police, somebody mustn’t have a friend in high places they could call and derail investigations…that’s what you had in this case… because he involved himself in this case there became tunnel vision.”

PROBLEMATIC The lawyer said the Commissioner acted in a personal capacity and that proved problematic. “…he said he guaranteed Inspector Narine by showing up to the police station…that means he put himself in the place of a surety and that’s not the role of a police commissioner…no police officer can do that.”

Pieters suggested that because Persaud is on the verge of retirement he may “feel he no longer needs the public confidence” and as a result acted negligently. The lawyer pointed to the non-submission of critical documents to the Commission that lawyers were privy to. In the case of Ramnarine, Pieters said he was aware of the relationship between Persaud and Imran Khan and failed to report same to his superiors. The relationship between Ramnarine and Persaud was brought under the microscope and according to Pieters “goes to a severe dysfunction in the Guyana Police Force and that is not to be taken lightly.”

“He (Persaud) granted the man no professional courtesy between March 29 to April 2nd…he is calling all the persons below Ramnarine but does not call Ramnarine…

you cannot look at that very lightly…the GPF cannot afford to be run like that where you have a Commissioner of Police not speaking to the second in command on very important issues,” stated Pieters who noted that Gillard cannot be faulted for thinking the police was trying to cover up the matter.

SMALL ROLE Meanwhile, attorney representing Imran Khan, Christopher Ram, in his submission said his client played a small but not very significant role in this enquiry. He sought to discredit the allegation leveled by Gillard. “I think that guy needs help…Mr Gillard has some serious, serious problems… we have heard of financial problems, personal problems, police problems to an extent he could not recall the number of serious brushes he has had with the law enforcement agency…” said Ram. He contended that his client was able to show that Gillard had a motive and concocted the allegation against his younger brother. “It is clear that Mr Gillard has been totally dishonest with the CoI… maybe he needs psychological help.” “Of all the witnesses who testified, no one has corroborated …nothing to support the fictitious evidence of Mr Gillard…he could not even recall as close a date of this alleged serious allegation,” said Ram who added “it makes a good folklore, it doesn’t make good facts…it is farthest from fact for even the most creative or fertile minds.”

The attorney refuted that his client was the recipient of special treatment because of his friendship with the Commissioner of Police. At the conclusion of Friday’s summation, Commissioner Slowe told all attorneys of his intention to take every bit of submission and evidence into account. He noted that it would not be an easy task but will endeavor to analyse all the evidence. “Maybe it is fortunate or not that I have some experience in the way things should be done in the Force,” he said, noting that the report of the CoI has to be submitted to President Granger at the end of the month. The Commission was initially required to submit its report on Friday but an extension of time was requested and granted.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 19, 2017

Over $45M for new schools Minister in Baramita, Paruima Patterson to -multi-million dollar contract for Public Health sector zero in on GPL woes AS government continues its push to increase access to education, plans are afoot to erect two new schools in hinterland communities, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, announced on Friday.

The minister was at the time speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing at the National Communication Network (NCN), Homestretch Avenue. According to him, the community of Baramita will have a new nursery school built there to the tune of $17.7M. The contract for the erection of this school was awarded to Mohamed Ramson Ali Khan Construction and the oversight body will be the Ministry of Communities.

Similarly, he announced that a new primary school will be built at Paruima in the Upper Mazaruni region, at a cost of $27.7M. The contract for this project will be awarded to B&S Contracting Services.

Also in public infrastructure, contracts were awarded for roads, drains, structures and for the installation of a pure water distribution network in several parts of Region Four

(Demerara-Mahaica). One will be installed at Farm, East Bank Demerara (EBD) at a cost of $66M and will be done by Aaron Lall Civil Engineering works, while another will be done at Coven Garden, EBD by GuyAmerica Construction Inc. at a cost of $62M. The Minister shared too that a $19.5M contract was also awarded to Meeco Services Deutschland GmbH for the supply and installation of five solar photovoltaic systems for the Ministry of Agriculture, National Agricultural Research and Extension institute, (NAREI), and the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA).

Seeram’s Civil Engineering and Woodworking Company was also awarded a US$909,000 contract for the transportation of fuel and lubricants for the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) for the period July – Dec 2017, in Regions Three, Four and Five.

PUBLIC HEALTH Meanwhile, several multi-million dollar contracts were awarded for the procurement of tools and equipment in the public health

sector.

For the procurement of vaccines and syringes for the Maternal and Child Health Unit of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) was awarded a US$174,000 contract.

Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc. was awarded another for the procurement of Becton Dixon reagents for the National Public Health Reference Laboratory, MoPH to the tune of $27.3M. For the procurement of seismic reagents for the Standard and Technical Services department, MoPH, a US$154,154 contract was awarded to Western Scientific Company Ltd, while Eureka Medical Laboratory Inc. was awarded a $92M one for the procurement of reagents for the same department.

Contracts were also awarded to: Diamed Caribbean Inc. for the procurement of biokit and biorad reagents for the National Aids Programme Secretariat (NAPS), MoPH to the tune of US$94,000; Trans-Continental Medical Products Inc. for dengue test kits at a cost of $US86,000; and to PAHO for the procurement of vac-

cines for the maternal health, unit at a cost of US$112,000.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) test kits will also be procured for: the National Public Health Reference Laboratory by Trans Continental Medical Products Inc. for US$84,000; NAPS by Trans Continental Medical Products Inc. for US$117,000; and for the Standard and Technical Services department also by Trans Continental Medical Products Inc. for US$369,000.

According to Minister Harmon, the companies which were awarded contracts for the supply of the test kits and reagents are all authorised distributors of the items in Guyana and have been supplying these items to MoPH for a number of years. He said too that for syringes and vaccines, PAHO has been the sole supplier to Guyana for a number of years, through an arrangement where it [PAHO] supports the local vaccination programme by way of a revolving fund that ensures continuous supply and an option to pay after delivery.

Several drainage pumps to be installed next year CHAIRMAN of the National Task Force Commission (NTFC) Major General (retd) Joseph Singh said that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure is planning to install several mechanical and mobile pumps in 2018.

During a press conference at the Ministry’s White Lane Office on Friday, it was announced that the mechanical pumps will be installed at Hampton Court and Devonshire Castle on the Essequibo Coast, Den Amstel on the West Coast of Demerara, Hope on the East Coast of Demerara and Pine Ground and Mora Point in the Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) areas.

The areas where the pumps will be installed are often affected by flooding

FLASHBACK: Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder and National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Frederick Flatts, inspect the pump in Buxton in operation (DPI/GINA photo)

and as such would be beneficial to the residents of the area since it would reduce the problems they face. In

addition, Singh said that there are also six mobile pumps to be installed in Georgetown for 2018. “The

drainage committee is one that has been the most visible because clearly we’ve had this year a number of examples where flooding has taken place in a very much widespread way than you’re accustomed to,” he added.

He also said that three new pump stations are being constructed at Lusignan, Vigilance and Enmore on the East Coast Demerara, and an evaluation is being done to install three more pumps at Three Friends Village, Essequibo, as well as a pump station and sluice for Herstelling, East Bank Demerara.

The installation of pumps will assist with the mitigation of flooding in many communities by creating outfalls to drain excess water off the land.

MINISTER of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, will be focusing on addressing many of the problems affecting the Guyana Power Light (GPL) company during the parliamentary recess, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said.

“In the parliamentary recess there is a little more time and space which the minister can use to give his undivided attention to the problem GPL face,” Harmon, speaking at the post-Cabinet briefing on Friday, said.

He said the problems facing GPL has reached the level of Cabinet.

“The Minister of Public Infrastructure is intimately involved, he is very careful about these things and I know he going to use this opportunity in the recess to actually go and visit sites and to give on the spot guidance, and to ensure that GPL acts in a timely manner to ensure citizens are not discommoded in any way by the absence of regular electricity,” he explained.

There have been countrywide power outages and many citizens have been complaining of poor service from GPL. GPL earned $17B in revenue in the first half of 2017, up from $14.7B for the same period in 2016 as a result of more timely

payments, according to the mid-year report produced by the Ministry of Finance.

The report also states that similarly, expenditure increased from $9.3B in the first half of 2016 to $12.6B in the same period of 2017.

The expenditure increase is driven by higher cost of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) for which the weighted average cost rose to US$48.70 (for the half year) from US$30.50 as at June 30, 2016.

Additionally, GPL has repaid the government $500M on the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (GCRG/GPL) on-lending loans for the first half of the year.

The company’s outlook for 2017 has improved, with the budgeted deficit of $5B now expected to improve to a lower deficit of $771M. Despite this improved cash performance of GPL, the report revealed that the company’s technical performance remains plagued with inefficiencies.

It shows that the production of electricity increased marginally to 394,832 MWh in the first half of 2017, from 387,864 MWh for the first half of 2016.

The report also noted that total losses were 29.6 per cent, a slight increase from the half year for 2016 when the total losses were 29.3 per cent.

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Guyana recommits to mercury-free mining

…as Minamata Convention comes into force ON Wednesday August 16, 2017, the Minamata Convention on Mercury came into force and in keeping with its commitment obligations, the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana will be represented at the first Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention to be held from September 24 – 29, 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Minamata Convention is an international treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. Mercury is used in the gold mining industry and can be a threat to human health and the environment.

The GoG signed on to the Minamata Convention on October 10, 2013 and ratified it on September 24, 2014. Guyana was one of the first countries to sign on to the legally binding agreement and had done so with the full support of the mining sector, mainly members of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and the Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation (GWMO) following consultations.

Further, Guyana is among the first countries to ratify the Convention.

In a statement, the Ministry of Natural resources said that having done that, the government has taken a number of proactive steps, one of which was the putting together a National

Working Group to guide the development of a National Action Plan, which is in the final stages of preparation.

Among the actors on the National Working Group are regulatory agencies and Government Ministries such as the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Gold Board, the Guyana Forestry Commission, the Pesticide and Toxic Chemical Control Board, The Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Health, Guyana Human Rights Association, Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs. Comprising the body also were funding partners WWF-Guianas, CI-Guyana and the United Nations Development Progamme (UNDP).

To support these efforts,

the United Nations Development Programme funded the Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) which looked at the institutional capacity and legal framework in place for the successful implementation of the Minamata Convention. Among the reports resulting from this project were: MIA Analysis of Existing National Regulatory Framework; National Mercury Profile Report; Knowledge Attitudes and Practice (KAP) study - Socio-Economic Analyst for the MIA; Communication Strategy and Implementation Plan for Mercury Phase-Out in Guyana; Strategies for the Mainstreaming of National Mercury Priority Interventions in national Policies and plans and the Minamata Initial Assessment Report.

These reports all form a compendium of information which has informed the National Action Plan.

Further, case studies from Guyana will be used to demonstrate best practices that could be achieved in the gold mining sector. WWF-Guianas also supported Guyana in the development of a National Action Plan for the phasing out of mercury use in the mining sector by 2027.

The Government recently engaged Conservation International Guyana on the Eldorado Gold Mining Initiative to advance green development of the mining sector by focusing on phasing out mercury use by engaging actors within the gold mining supply chain. The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission is piloting a number of mercury-free technologies in the fields.

The Ministry of Natural Resources acknowledges the sterling contributions of WWF-Guianas, CI-Guyana and the UNDP in getting the country to this stage and for their continued technical and financial support as we seek to eliminate the use of mercury.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 19, 2017

Border security to be tightened -- following President’s visit to Lethem

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

PRESIDENT David Granger on Friday outlined a broad policy on national border security during a visit to Lethem, Region Nine on Friday, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said.

The President’s visit to Lethem follows the discovery of a Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft in Rupununi last Sunday.

Speaking at his weekly post-Cabinet media briefing on Friday, Minister Harmon said a multi-agency team has been dispatched to the area to conduct investigations and the policy outlined by the President will be disclosed at a subsequent time.

The Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft has since been flown to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, where it is under the security of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

Construction of a makeshift airstrip in that area can easily be done based on the flat surface and soil content and Harmon said based on the last Commission of Inquiry (CoI) held into the discovery of a similar aircraft in the same area last year, several recommendations were put in place.

However, he said this was inadequate to detect an airstrip being constructed and the possibility of flights being done.

Reflecting on the last aircraft that was discovered in 2016, Harmon said “the CoI into the first aircraft

was of the view that having looked at the way it (the aircraft) was configured, having looked at the range of the aircraft, it was of the view that it was involved in narcotics trafficking”.

He said in relation to the current aircraft found, an ongoing investigation when completed will determine what the aircraft was engaged in when it illegally entered Guyana.

He reflected that the CoI had made a group of three recommendations which were immediate, short and long-term recommendations.

Adding that the Government had implemented the immediate recommendations, Harmon said as part of the strategy implemented, the level of the command of the police was increased.

He said this was followed by the reactivation of the Regional Intelligence Community, which is made up of the police, army, Regional Democratic Council (RDC), toshaos and other government officers who would share intelligence weekly that is compiled for the National Security Committee.

Additionally, he said a system of regular patrolling in the region was implemented using either vehicles or horses.

He said the long-term goals of the CoI included covering the area using drones, and fixed-wings aircraft on a regular basis to increase surveillance for illegal activities.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 19, 2017

Construction of new 38 months for gunman ‘Harbour Bridge’ next year

…gov’t to prequalify contractors GOVERNMENT is moving along with its plan to construct a new Demerara River Bridge and will soon commence the process of pre-qualifying contractors for the project.

Through the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, contractors will be pre-qualified for the finance, design, building, and maintenance components of the New Demerara River Bridge, a release from the ministry said. These aforementioned works will be procured through public tendering, with a restricted number of bidders.

According to the ministry, the procurement process will be a two-phase one: the current pre-qualification phase and the bidding phase. In the pre-qualification phase, three contractors will be shortlisted

and requested to submit designs and offer a fixed price lump sum bid for the design and construction of the bridge and approach roads.

The shortlisting of the bidders will be on the basis of the profile, track record, financial capacity of the applicant as well as on the merit of the technical, cost and financing proposals presented by applicants in their pre-qualification document, the ministry emphasized. Furthermore, in order to improve the funding package, applicants for shortlisting are requested to advance proposals for financing the project. The Request for Pre-Qualification Document will be available for download on the Ministry’s website, www.mopi.gov.gy, from August 21, 2017. Contractors must respond by September 4

in order to be considered for participation in the pre-qualification procedure.

The proposed Demerara River Bridge will be approximately 2 kilometers north of the existing floating bridge, spanning from Houston on the eastern bank of the Demerara River to Versailles on the western bank of the Demerara River. The new bridge will be an essential part of the road network and will also have a significant impact on marine traffic passing under the bridge.

The project will see the construction of an approximately 1,500m long fixed bridge with a movable span and two approach roads of a total length of 600m. It is envisaged that the project will commence in 2018 and will be delivered in 2020.

Mother of five died of multiple injuries – autopsy

AN autopsy on the remains of Janice Edwards, 38, who lost her life in a motorcycle accident on the Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara Public Road on Wednesday has confirmed she died of multiple injuries.

It is alleged that Edwards of Lot 121 ‘C’ Field, Sophia, a mother of five, was the pillion rider on motorcycle CJ 1830, driven by her reputed husband, when it crashed into a mud mound on the roadway.

Edwards was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she subsequently succumbed.

The reputed husband is assisting police with investigations.

Following the accident, residents have complained bitterly that the area is very dark at nights and drivers habitually drive at a fast rate.

“This place don’t have light and vehicles always speeding through. That accident happened also because right along the roadway there are loads of mud parked on the roadway without any reflector for traffic in the night. That is an accident trap,” one resident explained.

At the woman’s home, her twin five-year-old sons were saying “mom is dead”

Dead: Janice Edwards

as relatives expressed shock at her demise.

One relative explained that Edwards and her reputed husband were on their way to Buxton when the accident occurred.

She had planned to visit her sister on Thursday in Essequibo for birthday celebrations, along with her sons.

Police in a release said shortly after 19:30hrs on Wednesday, the victim was picked up by a passerby on the UG Access Road, with multiple injuries about her body and taken to the GPHC, where she was pro-

nounced dead on arrival.

“The victim’s reputed husband is assisting with the investigation. He told investigators that he was proceeding north along the western carriageway of the UG Access Road on his motorcycle CJ 1830, with his wife seated behind when he was blinded from the light of a vehicle proceeding in the opposite direction, causing him to swerve further west and collide with a pile of mud.

As a result of the impact, his wife flung off the cycle and sustained injuries,” police said.

EIGHTEEN-year-old, Mark Anthony who is paralyzed from the waist down after being shot during a shootout with the police last September, was on Friday sentenced to 38 months jail for three firearm related charges.

Anthony was convicted by City Magistrate Dylon Bess after six months on trial for possession of illegal gun and ammunition and discharging a loaded firearm at a police officer.

Anthony, who, during his

court hearings, would have to be brought to court by the police ambulance and carried in the courtroom by police officers in a stretcher, was subsequently released on $150,000 after his mother pleaded with the Magistrate.

The offence alleged that on September 26, 2016 at Laing Avenue, Georgetown, Anthony had an unlicensed .38 revolver with three live rounds. It is further alleged that on the same day, he discharged a loaded firearm at

Police Officer, Roger Pilgrim, with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

After a probation report was read in court on Friday, Magistrate Bess fined Anthony $100,000 for the possession of the gun and $50,000 for the ammunition, along with 1 year imprisonment on each.

Additionally, Anthony was sentenced to 18 months jail for shooting at the officer. These sentences will run concurrently.

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Street dwellers to receive the ‘Good Life’

By Navendra Seoraj STREET dwellers will soon benefit from the “good life” as the National Task Force Commission (NTFC) moves to free the streets of homeless people.

Although efforts to remove street dwellers in the past have failed, NTFC Chairman, Major General (ret’d) Joseph Singh believes that once the right

methods are employed, there can be a smooth transition.

“We need to get them off the streets, therefore, they will be documented, assessed by doctors and then relocated to a place where they will be counselled,” Singh said, adding that with therapy and attention, they can be rehabilitated.

The exercise is expected to commence in the last quarter of the year, with the

Vagrant: Vendors occupying the front of the Guyana Post Office (file photo)

pilot project being initiated in Georgetown. The experiences garnered will help in expanding the programme to other regions.

Trained therapists from the Ministry of Public Health and other institutions will be conducting screening exercises to determine what type of welfare management for the street dwellers will be appropriate.

“After many screening exercises in the past, it was discovered that some of them (vagrants) were intelligent but homeless, preferred to be homeless, mentally challenged, had chronic diseases and even lazy,” the NTFC Chairman said.

The conditions which some of them faced made it difficult for the professionals to get them to adjust to a “normal” life.

Many institutions such as the Hugo Chavez Centre for the Homeless, Phoenix House and Help and Shelter among others, are faced with similar challenges, said Singh.

Street dwellers would usually be taken off of the streets, clothed and fed, but they will still return to the pavements.

Though it was strange to the researchers, the reality was that vagrants preferred to utilise the bus sheds, the basketball court at Parade Ground, the front of the Post Office and other public facilities.

It is therefore necessary that every feature of their behaviour is studied before a responsible decision is made, Singh said.

“It calls for careful management because we do not know what situation in their life caused them to resort to the streets,” he said, while pointing out that some of them are rejected by their families.

CARING LOST Those instances were referred to as a “lost concept” of a caring society, where grandparents would be looked after and so forth.

Singh indicated that situations like those were caused by migration of a significant percentage of the population which caused persons to be left behind. In other cases, he said persons genuinely did not care about their relatives.

“The whole structure and fabric of society needs to be restored… we need more caring and looking out for family and our neighbor, but it has to start in the home and communities,” he said.

And on that score, he noted that when the NTFC and other stakeholders embark on their mission, it will require “all hands on deck” which include the relatives of persons who may be willing to get back in a home.

The committee has reportedly already approached agencies, psychiatrists and other organisations for help and a number of persons have already signalled their interest to volunteer. Singh also called for a greater role in the process from the religious communities.

In a previous report by the Guyana Chronicle, head of the Psychiatric Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr. Bhiro Harry explained that common forms of mental illness include anxiety, depression, substance use disorders and psychosis.

Among these, psychosis makes up about two per cent of all mental illnesses globally.

He revealed that no one is immune from mental illness and noted that every day, cases of mental illnesses are diagnosed, both locally and globally, with 98 per cent of the diagnosed cases being common in people who appear sane.

This condition can be caused by a combination of environmental, psychological and genetic factors, he said, adding that sometimes, it is the psychiatric manifestation of a physical medical illness like a thyroid disease or a low calcium level.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 19, 2017

Guyana officially submits EITI application

MINISTER of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, with the support of the multi-stakeholder group (MSG) officially submitted Guyana’s application for membership to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) on Friday.

The EITI is a global standard for the good governance of oil, gas and mineral resources. The application was presented to Dr. Francisco Paris, Regional Director of EITI, via Skype in a simple but significant ceremony in the Ministry’s boardroom, Brickdam, Georgetown.

“The EITI process is the underlying or undergirding principle in resources of a state which belongs to the people, and therefore the incomes earned must be accounted for and spent in accordance with both the people’s wishes,” Minister Trotman noted.

The Minister added that being a member of this organisation will ensure that management of the extractive sectors “is done in a manner that is transparent”. The application process began in 2010 when the previous administration gave its commitment to join the international standard. In 2012, a MoU was signed between Guyana and the EITI for assistance in the preparation of its candidacy. However, over the past two years the process was fast tracked by the Coalition Government. Guyana has officially completed the sign-up step which involved: government engagement, company engagement, civil society engagement, the establishment of a multi-stakeholder group, and agreement on an EITI work plan.

The Multi Stakeholder Group (MSG) of the Guyana Extractive Indus-

One dead, 9 houses topple …as storm hits Jawalla village

ONE woman is dead and nine buildings were destroyed when a freak storm hit the community of Jawalla, a native Akawaio community in Region 7 (Cuynuni -Mazaruni) on Friday.

The Department of Public Information reported that initial report suggests that the village in Region 7 was hit by a storm Friday evening. The DPI said one woman reportedly lost her life and nine buildings were damaged. The DPI also said the Civil Defence Commission and other officials will gather further information and an update will be provided today.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford noted on social media that the regional authorities are gathering information on the situation at the village and other areas in the region. Jawalla is one of several villages in the region which was inundated as a result of prolong rainfall several weeks ago. Medical services are provided by a health post and severe cases are transferred to the Kamarang hospital.

An aerial view of Jawalla, Region Seven

tries Transparency Initiative(GYEITI) which is a tripartite of government, industry and civil society conducted outreaches targetting communities that are traditionally engaged in the extractive industries. These were held in Bartica, Region Seven; Corriverton, Region Six; Linden, Region 10; Charity, Region Two; and in Georgetown, Region Four.

Minister Trotman said the MSG working together is “a good personification of how Article 13 of our Constitution can work, that is,

inclusivity in decision-making that you can bring three sides with varying views at odds sometime together.”

He also recognised and thanked the Regional Director of EITI, and all stakeholders involved for their efforts in guiding the GYEITI Secretariat to this stage. Guyana received assistance from the World Bank, Trinidad and Tobago’s EITI, and the Carter Center which was awarded a grant from the USA through the local embassy to facilitate the process.

The next step following this submission, is a revision of the application by the EITI Board to ascertain whether the sign-up steps have been properly completed. Guyana is expecting that its request will be accepted at the EITI Conference scheduled for October.

An implementing country’s first EITI Report must be published within 18 months from the date the country was admitted as an EITI candidate.

There are 52 countries with membership that

adhere to the standard.

Minister Trotman noted that once accepted Guyana will become the 53rd country. Also present at the handing-over ceremony were the National Coordinator of the GYEITI Secretariat, Dr. Rudy Jadoopat; Guyana and Civil Society Representative on the MSG, EITI Board, Mike McCormack; MSG Industry Representative, Ryan Ramjit; ExxonMobil Country Manager, Rod Henson, and other officials. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 19, 2017

President in outreach to Rupununi (Photos by Ministry of the Presidency)

President David Granger urged ranks to remain vigilant at all times so that they can prevent intrusion into the country’s air and land space by foreign elements

Students of the St. Ignatius Secondary School came out to welcome President David Granger at the Lethem Air Strip

Before departing Lethem, President David Granger along with Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Mr. Sydney Allicock and Minister of Public Affairs, Ms. Dawn Hastings-Williams made a stop at Radio Lethem where he addressed residents of the region on the airwaves.

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West Indies rebuild after Brathwaite departs

BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - Rain held up England’s progress after Alastair Cook scored a superb 243 on the second day of the first Test against West Indies at Edgbaston yesterday.

Cook’s 10-hour knock led the hosts to a first-innings total of 514 for eight declared and James Anderson dismissed Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck before the

tourists battled to 44 for one in reply.

H e a v y r a i n c u rtailed the final session and West Indies will resume today 470 runs behind.

Resuming on 348 for three in the first d a y - n i g h t Te s t i n England, Cook and Dawid Malan smoothly extended their fourth-wicket partnership to 162.

Cook reached his fourth Test double-century with a

thick edge to the third man boundary off Kemar Roach, the former England captain’s 30th four.

Malan, who recorded his first Test 50 in his third match, was out on the stroke of lunch for 65, edging spinner Roston Chase to Jermaine Blackwood at slip.

Ben Stokes (10), Jonny Bairstow (18) and Moeen Ali (nought) fell in quick succession as En-

gland chased runs and Cook’s marathon vigil ended when he was trapped lbw by Chase, prompting the declaration.

A callow West Indies batting lineup was always likely to

struggle against England’s experienced pace bowling attack and Anderson had Brathwaite caught by wicketkeeper Bairstow for an eight-ball duck.

Powell, dropped

by Stokes at gully off

Stuart Broad, and Hope battled through to tea without further loss and they extended their partnership in the first match of the three-Test series before heavy rain ended the day’s play.

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND 1st innings A. Cook lbw b Chase 243 M. Stoneman b Roach 8 T. Westley lbw b Cummins 8 J. Root b Roach 136 D. Malan c Blackwood b Chase 65 B. Stokes c Blackwood b Chase 10 J. Bairstow b Holder 18 M. Ali c K. Brathwaite b Chase 0 T. Roland-Jones not out 6 Extras: (lb-10, nb-7, w-3) 20 Total: (for 8 wickets declared, 135.5 overs) 514 Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-39, 3-287, 4-449, 5-466, 6-505, 7-506, 8-514.

Bowling: K. Roach 28-8-86-

2 (w-3), A. Joseph 22-3-109-0 (nb-2), M. Cummins 24-3-87-1 (nb-3), J. Holder 29.3-4-103-1 (nb-2), R. Chase 26.2-2-113-4, K. Brathwaite 6-0-6-0.

WEST INDIES 1st innings K. Brathwaite c Bairstow

b Anderson 0 K. Powell not out 18 K. Hope not out 25 Extras: (w-1) 1 Total: (for 1 wicket, 16 overs) 44 Fall of wickets: 1-0.

Bowling: J. Anderson 8-2-17-1 (w-1), S. Broad 8-1-27-0.

12:05 hrs Stone The Crows 12:40 hrs Kynren English Racing Tips Newbury 08:20 hrs Nathan 08:50 hrs Learn By Heart 09:25 hrs Defoe 10:00 hrs Noble Peace 10:35 hrs Daban 11:05 hrs Reverend vJacobs 11:40 hrs Black Bolt 12:15 hrs Mam’selle Doncaster 08:25 hrs Deansgate 08:55 hrs Dark Forest 09:30 hrs Stream Song 10:05 hrs Blazed 10:40 hrs Longroom 11:10 hrs Johnny Barnes 11:45 hrs Barwell 12:20 hrs Monsieur Glory Ripon 09:05 hrs Cosa Nostra 09:40 hrs Teruntum Star 10:15 hrs Shanghai Glory 11:25 hrs Lucy’s Law 12:00 hrs Two For Two 12:35 hrs Fire Leopard Newmarket 09:10 hrs Dark Power 09:45 hrs Ultimate Avenue 10:20 hrs Rebel Streak 10:55 hrs Dathanna 11:30 hrs Amazing Red

South Africa Racing Tips Turffontein 08:40 hrs Angel’s Power 09:15 hrs Bono 09:50 hrs Runalong 10:25 hrs Full Mast 10:55 hrs September Bloom

Cook walks off to an ovation after making 243. (Getty Images)

Kenilworth 09:00 hrs Super Sparkle 09:35 hrs Perovskia 10:10 hrs Power Grid 10:45 hrs Sunshine Lady 11:20 hrs Flash Twice Irish Racing Tips Curragh 08:45 hrs Queen Iseult 09:20 hrs Bond Street 09:55 hrs Golden Spell 10:30 hrs Order Of St George 11:00 hrs Have A Nice Day 11:35 hrs Its All For Luck 12:05 hrs Realt Rua American Racing Tips Saratoga Race 1 Turbo SAtreet Race 2 Congruity Race 3 Hexameter Race 4 Flashy Jewel Race 5 Variant Perception Race 6 Meantime Race 7 Mom’s On Strike Race 8 La Coronel Race 9 Unchained Melody

UDFA/GTBEER inter-association resumes tomorrow THE Upper Demerara Football Association’s $6M promotion of its first-ever GT Beer Sunday Night Super Cup Inter-Association football championship will resume tomorrow at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in Linden.

The tournament will begin with another double-header featuring Bartica and West Demerara in

the first game at 19:00hrs and the other at 21:00hrs between Georgetown and Berbice.

This will be the final set of preliminary round matches and therefore are important to all the teams as they jostle to push for a semifinal-four slot in this tournament, which has at stake $2M for the winners in a $6M package of sponsorship through beverage giant

Banks DIH. West Demerara have played unbeaten so far and are likely to go through as the top seed from their group, after two wins just like Upper Demerara. The others will battle to grab the other two slots still open in this two-group eight-team tournament of representative teams from all across Guyana. (Joe Chapman)

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 19, 2017

A hard worker enjoying her improvements …

SIXTEEN-year-old Kenita Mahaica did not have an easy start when she first got into swimming, particularly coming in as a late starter.

Nonetheless, she was determined to put her best foot forward and has already been rising to the top of her age group.

the Colgrain Swimming Pool.

After the programme, the instructors were impressed enough with what they saw in the young Friendship Secondary School student to advise her to join a club.

So she became a member of the Dolphin’s Speed Swim Club, the club she still swims

Kenita Mahaica Though most swimmers get involved in the sport of swimming at a very young age, Mahaica was already 13 years old when her parents decided to sign her up for a Learn-to-Swim programme at

under to this day Now, in just three years, the Goodwill Swim Meet bronze medallist has already improved to become one of Guyana’s leading swimmers in the Girls’ 15-17 category.

But by no means did it come easy. Mahaica, who wrote her CSEC this year, had to make a lot of sacrifices.

“I had to go to a lot of gym and managing my books … gym and swimming.

Sometimes it was very difficult for me but slowly but surely I moved up,” she said with a smile.

“I’ve been swimming (for) like three years now and improving my times constantly over the years. It was very hard because I was so behind, but I managed to bring up myself because of my coaches.”

Seeing how far she has come has encouraged the sixteen-year-old to set her sights on going even further.

“I had to start at the bottom, and I was (relatively) old because you’re supposed to start swimming at like around six years old in order to be the best in your age group. . So when I saw myself being the best in my age group now, it motivates me, and drives me to know that if I can do this, I can maybe be

the first person to qualify for the Olympics for Guyana,” Mahaica said.

Mahaica is counted among Guyana’s list of national swimmers, having already represented the country at the Goodwill Swim Meet since 2014, as well as at the CARIFTA Swimming Championships and most recently

THE Guyana Amazon Warriors lost their opening match on home soil to the Jamaica in the penultimate over according to middle-order batsman Jason Mohammed.

Mohammed, who was at the crease when the Warriors required seven runs from six balls, spoke candidly last evening about his side’s loss.

“I think it went wrong in

the second to last over only getting five runs. I think that was a crucial point and the last over. We did not start off the over well and then losing the wicket sent everything downhill.”

He added, “I think we batted well, the wicket was a difficult one to score quickly on; we saw that when both teams batted. I think we chased well but the second-to-last over is where we suffered..

Overconfidence never stepped in according to the Trinidadian, who added, “No, I wouldn’t say that, as I said before, it was a good run chase and just the last over, especially the second to last over. It was very disappointing that we couldn’t get over the line.

He pinpointed slowness and lowness of the pitch, saying that the unit expected more of out of the centre of the Guyana National Stadi-

was very pleased in myself because I improved my time as well,” Mahaica beamed.

Like most swimmers, she performs in all the strokes but her pet events are the butterfly, which she favours the most, followed by the backstroke.

Though swimmers usually register their fastest

Kenita Mahaica in action at the Commonwealth Youth Games, held last month in the Bahamas.

But it is no easy task performing against stronger swimmers from coun-

Penultimate over cost Warriors against Tallawahs

By Stephan Sookram

tries with much better programmes than Guyana’s, so Mahaica has had her challenges making a mark outside of the 592.

Her crowning achievement to date is her surprising third-place finish in the Girls’ 13-14 50m backstroke with a time of 35.02s at last year’s Goodwill Swim Meet.

um.

Looking to the future and the side’s chances of getting into the playoffs, the batsman acknowledged that the task is a daunting one but they must find a way to overcome the Trinbago Knight Riders today.

“We are going to have to come up with ways of combating them (Trinbago),” Mohammed said, adding that they have one day to do so.

“I just felt so excited. Everyone was like I got third! I got third! And I just couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t expected to get a medal, and I was so happy that I got a medal. I

times in the freestyle above all other strokes, for Mahaica her freestyle times are actually slower than those in the backstroke and butterfly.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (SATURDAY AUGUST 19, 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: 4 (Sarwan, Guptill, Ramdin, Emrit) 2 (Gayle, Sangakarra) Today’s Quiz: (1) Which two teams were the first to contest a CPL

game at Providence?

(2) Which two never won a ‘Player of the Tournament

Award’ in CPL cricket?

Dwayne Bravo, Krismar Santokie, Chris Gayle,

Lendl Simmons, Sunil Narine ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

33

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 19, 2017

GLTA concludes P&P Insurance lawn tennis camp THE Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) and the P&P Insurance Brokers concluded their annual tennis camp recently on a jovial note with 47 participants at the closing ceremony at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

GLTA vice-president Grace McCalman, in her remarks mentioned that this camp “is significant to the GLTA for tennis development, and we continue to applaud Mr Bish Panday, CEO of the P&P Insurance Brokers for his resolute dedication to the sport of lawn tennis for the last thirteen years.”

She also noted that tennis teaches the value of hard work and discipline and these are skills that will help someone through life’s journey.

Varsha Panday, daughter of Bish Panday, represented the company and presented the certificates and prizes to the winners of the different categories.

Ms Panday expressed joy at seeing once again a large number of children who continually participate in the event, sponsored by P&P for thirteen consecutive years.

She applauded the GLTA for its dedication to the continuous development of tennis and in turn pledged the

commitment of her company towards next year’s event.

This year’s camp attracted participants from age three who benefited from the three-

dren while the older ones were accommodated in the afternoons at the National Racquet Centre.

The GLTA is grateful to

Prizes were awarded to Group C: 1st Adesh the following young players: Khayyam, 2nd Shimron LewGroup A: 1st Shivanne is, 3rd Brandon Jaikaran.

Khayyam, 2nd Tivonna Group D: 1st Monifa WilGeorge, 3rd Malika Henry, son, 2nd Adrian Howard and

the 12-18 age-group.

The GLTA would like to convey congratulations to parents and children for participating in the camp

4th Byanka Younge.

Group B: 1st Cameron Siebs, 2nd Nikhel Persaud, 3rd Faatimah Brandt, 4th Naisha Jaikission.

and the association expresses a heartfelt thank you to the sponsor P&P Insurance Brokers Ltd for its continuous support.

The participants of the camp pose with their certificates following the conclusion of the GLTA/P&P Insurance lawn tennis camp

week training programme.

The sessions were split into two periods: mornings at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall for the younger chil-

the National Sports Commission for the Sports Hall facility and seizes the opportunity for tennis to be developed there on a longer term basis.

3rd Abieky Kewley.

Most Improved Player awards were given to Alyssa Ramotar for the 6-11 age group and Abieky Kewley for

Stars drop Sammy from captaincy role THE management of the St Lucia Stars appointed Shane Watson as captain for the remainder of the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Marlon Samuels will be his vice-captain.

After six successive defeats in the 2017 season the time is right to make a switch in leadership and incorporate some fresh thinking as the team completes this season and builds for 2018. The Stars management would like to take this opportunity to thank Darren Sammy for his contribution as captain this season and through-

out the last four editions of Hero CPL. Darren is a St Lucian icon and has been a fantastic servant of both St Lucian and West Indian cricket. The Stars management would like to stress that Darren remains an important part of the St Lucia Stars squad and his performances with both bat and ball will be vital for the rest of the 2017 tournament and in the future.

Jay Pandya, owner of the St Lucia Stars franchise said: “If it were not for Darren, St Lucian cricket would not have the standing it does in world cricket and his

Shane Watson replaces Darren Sammy as captain of the St Lucia Stars.

ability to lead both on and off the field remains unquestioned. However, after the results that we have seen over the first half of the 2017 Hero CPL a change is needed to freshen things up as we look to win the remaining four fixtures this season.

“I would like to thank Darren for all of his hard work over the years and this season.

We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship going forward.

He is a proud son of St Lucia and we have been delighted to be associated with him.” (St Lucia Stars Release)

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 19, 2017

Colors Boutique supports Ninvalle for Pre-Cadet and … Guyana team Caribbean Table Tennis Championships departs today

KAYSAN Ninvalle, Guyana’s lone gold medallist at last year’s Pre-Cadet and Caribbean Table Tennis Championships, yesterday received sponsorship from Colors Boutique, as he gets set to feature in the 2017 edition of the championship which will be held in Jamaica, August 21-28.

One year ago, Ninvalle defeated Jalen Kerr of Trinidad and Tobago 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9 in the Boys U-11 final and now, moving up to the U-13 category, the racquet-wielder believes he can replicate his performance to win gold once again.

At a simple presentation ceremony held at the Colors Boutique Robb Street location, Sales Representative Creanna Damon said they

were happy with his progress in the sport, noting that her entity is simply fulfilling an obligation made earlier this year.

Colors Boutique had signed a two-year deal with Ninvalle to support the sensational player, and as such, Damon believes that with his (Ninvalle) steady growth in the sport, the company is willing to continue its sponsorship.

Meanwhile, Ninvalle, who was named Junior Sportsman-of-the-Year for his exploits in 2016, thanked Colors Boutique for the continued support, and said that he’s confident of doing well in Jamaica.

According to Ninvalle, he’s prepared for the challenge ahead, pointing out that

he’s grown significantly in the sport.

Ninvalle is on a full scholarship at Chase’s Academic Foundation and Principal Henry Chase, the school’s proprietor, commended Colors Boutique for its sponsorship. Chase wished Ninvalle the best of luck in Jamaica.

The Caribbean Pre- and Mini-Cadet championships engage players between the ages of 11 and 13 years under and is a signature tournament on the regional calendar of events, since it forms the basis for regional table tennis supremacy and the commencement of the journey of many of our young talent into the international arena.

Additionally it serves to provide the platform for the technical and tactical devel-

opment of players in addition to the opportunity for players to win medals, match and assess their skills against Caribbean counterparts and allow the association to lobby for international support among other benefits.

In the 2016 edition of the championships, Guyana secured 8 medals with Kaysan Ninvalle winning the Boys 11 years and under singles title. The team also secured medals in the Girls 13 years and under singles – Neveah Clarkston, silver medal Girls doubles – Neveah Clarkston and Abigaile Martin, Isaiah Layne secured silver medal in the Boys’ 13 years and under and silver in the Boys’ and Girls’ 13 years and under.

Competition will be among Puerto Rico, Bar-

bados, Aruba, Jamaica, St Lucia Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic and French Guiana and other participating countries.

The competition takes on an added dimension with the hosting of a training camp being conducted under the auspices of the Latin American Table Tennis Union for the 11 years and under participants from August 14-19.

As our next prospects transition as possible representatives of Guyana at regional and international tournaments, Junior Olympics and Junior Olympic Cycle games in the future, it is therefore critical they are provided with the requisite exposure in view, realising their true potential.

Further tournaments such

as these charter a pathway players have to take in order to ascend the ranking in the next 4- 6 years.

Squad: (11 Years Boys) Dhanesh Persaud, Krystian Sahadeo, Colin Wong, Alexander De Abreu (11 Years Girls) Tatyana Mohamed, Rozeanna Saunders. (13 Years Boys) Kaysan Ninvalle, Isaiah Layne Jonathan Van Lange.

(13 Years Girls) Thuraia Thomas, Shorana Roberts.

(Coach and Management Personnel) Linden Johnson, Dwain Dick, Maurice Cummings, Kennard Sahadeo, Munniram Persaud, Candacy McKenzie. (Manager Delegate) Michael Layne, Kamala Vanlange. (Manager Chaperone) Dawn Chung Layne and Daniel Thomas.

UDFA summer football camp ends in Linden

From right, owner of Dave & Celena All Stars Lalta Ramdehol, Keon Sears, Gerald Gittens and Kenard Simon.

looking to add Cage tournament THEY recently ended the reign of Georgetown-based teams by becoming the first team from the mining community of Linden to win the National Guinness title and according to manager and owner of Dave & Celena’s All Stars, Lalta Ramdehol, (aka Richie) their focus now is to add the inaugural Guinness Cage/Three Peat Promotions Competition to their cabinet.

Ramdeholl, who has been at the helm of the team’s successes, which include the Linden segment of the Guinness competition, speaking with the media said that they are in full preparation mode right now and the aim is to take back the crown to Linden.

According to Ramdehol, the team has an affinity with

the Guinness brand and because of that, players are going all out to win the inaugural tournament which commences on August 24, at the National Gymnasium.

“We are looking to stay as the Guinness champions; we are looking forward to keeping our title and continue winning. We are well prepared and ready for the tournament.”

Quizzed on whether the team can transition their outdoor success to the indoor version, Ramdehol pointed to unity and belief as key components that will make the conversion easy for them.

“Whether it’s indoor or outdoor, we believe we can do it again, it’s the same team, it’s a winning team and they are capable of doing it again”.

Asked whether he envisag-

es making any tactical changes in terms of team formation he responded by saying that while the format is a bit different to that of the outdoor, there will be no major changes.

He, however, said that should there be any need for adjustments then they are ready to make those adjustments.

Among the players he will be depending on to lead the charge for victory are Rawle Gittens, Keon Sears and Kenard Simon.

Over $800 000 in cash prizes and trophies will be up for grabs with the winner set to receive $400 000 and the championship trophy, while second-, third- and fourthplaced finishers will take home $200 000, $100 000 and $50 000 along with trophies.

Participants who attended the UDFA summer camp at the Linden Secondary School ground last Friday pose for a photo.

SEVERAL aspiring football players across Linden attended the recent summer camp, staged by the Upper Demerara Football Association which was another success.

At the two venues this past week in Linden, the main aspects of the camp included a talk from Region 10 Probation and Social Services Officer Ms Shaneila Wilson, who presented the participants with their Certificates of Appreciation at the end of the camp.

Among those sponsors who supported the camp were Desmond’s Eden’s Juice Shop, Mayfield Green, Fines Jewellery, Beresford Harry Lumber Yard, Brushes Basketball

Foundation, Desmond and June Bacchus, Jermain and Sons Grocery, Keold and Joanne Bacchus, and Miss Morrison, along with the Right Care Pharmacy, Ramesh Snacks, Triple A Bakery, Bryan’s Variety Store, coaches Errol Dainty and Compton London, Haynes Hardware and General Store and Triple Pharmacy.

The camp was held last Monday to Wednesday at the Bayrock Community Centre ground on the west side; and then Thursday and yesterday at the Linden Foundation Secondary School ground on the east bank of Linden.

Over sixty participants attended and gained certificates of participation, with some winning footballs.

They also benefited

from the one-week ‘teach them young’ strategies where the children were taught football discipline and teamwork, career choices, character conduct and healthy lifestyles which will ultimately impact positively as they grow from the grassroots stage to the senior level.

President of the UDFA, Terrence Mitchell, and his executive thanked all those who participated and the many sponsors who came on board this year for the camp, which was held on both shores of the town of Linden.

Once more the Bayrock Community Centre and Linden Foundation Secondary School grounds were the venues used.

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 19, 2017

Dispirited Warriors face tough task against Trinbago

By Rajiv Bisnauth

A TOUGH on-field cricket examination awaits the Guyana Amazon Warriors when they meet tournament leaders, Trinbago Knight Riders in match 17 of the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League from noon today at Guyana’s National Stadium, Providence.

An inconsistent Warriors unit can expect little comfort against the tourists, who have had a great run in the tournament so far, winning five of their six games and sitting comfortably at the top of the table on ten points.

Going by the records this season, the match is expected to be an uneven contest with the tourists as clear favourites.

However, the unpredictable Warriors are at home, and no one should count them out, despite their heart-breaking two-run defeat on Thursday evening against the Jamaica Tallawahs.

The hosts’ primary headache is the lack of form for many of their key T20 players, resulting in the team’s miserable showing. They failed to find the form and with just one win from five games, they are hanging on to the fifth spot ahead of St Lucia Stars.

The Warriors have so far

ridden on individual performances and haven’t been able to stitch a collective effort with the bat. Unless the batting starts clicking, their chances of qualifying for the playoffs will

ana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown, said that the mindset is to play positive cricket for the remainder of the season, adding that consistency must be the keyword.

to be a tough game whenever these two countries play and I think everyone will be looking forward to get out there tomorrow (today) and put on a good show,” the New Zealander

(today), we are not out of this tournament as yet so if we start getting that momentum to roll tomorrow (today) with a win we can hopefully go all the way.

The Trinbago Knight Riders go through some of their paces at yesterday’s net session.

(Photos: Adrian Narine) be severely dented.

GUPTIL CITES POSITIVE MINDSET Captain Martin Guptill, during a pre-match press conference yesterday at the Guy-

“We can’t dwell about yesterday (Thursday) too much, that’s played and gone and we can’t change it, so we will have to look forward to another tough game against Trinbago. It’s always going

pointed out.

He added, “Every game is a must-win if you really look at it … winning is a habit and gives you momentum, and so if we can get into the winning habits, starting from tomorrow

from the Rising Stars line-up, as they sit at the top all alone on 9 points.

Despite the loss, Strikers remain in second place with a better goal average ahead of Lazio and Potaro Strikers, all on 6 points each.

Lazio were led to their big

win thanks to a hat-trick of goals from Ezekiel King, who now moves to 4 goals overall.

King netted in the 14th, 23rd, and 39th minutes with one each from Ariel Burnett in the 30th minute and Wesley Smith in the 49th.

Kyle Caesar scored Bea-

cons’ consolation goal in the 29th minute from the penalty mark.

Two more matches are fixed for today at the same venue; Lazio will engage Rivers View from 14:00hrs to be followed by a clash between Strikers and Beacons.

Guptill said while the fans are disappointed from Thursday’s defeat, the Warriors are a professional cricket team and Thursday night we didn’t quite get it right and we know that we have another opportunity

tomorrow (today) to rectify what went wrong yesterday (Thursday) and make sure we put in a good performance”.

TOUGH TASK PLAYING GUYANA AT HOME On the other hand, Trinbago Knight Riders captain Dwayne Bravo acknowledged that playing Guyana at home is always a challenge.

“We all know playing Guyana in Guyana has always been difficult so we are aware of it, both teams are very similar in a lot of ways so we will not take them lightly,” Bravo said.

He added “Our challenge now is to see how good we can play away from home, yes in Trinidad we have that support and that comfort of playing in front of our home fans, but now we are on the road for the next four games so let’s see now best we can play”.

Further, Bravo dismissed social media rumours that Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa has join the Trinbago Knight Riders for the remainder of the season.

Based on overall statistics, the two teams have faced each other on eleven times in the past with the Trinbago Knight Riders emerging victors on six of those occasions.

Harper continues GFF/NAMILCO form KEENAN Harper has continued his goal-scoring prowess by assisting Rising Stars to remain dominant in the GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Intra Association League which continued on Thursday.

The side picked up their third win in as many matches at the Bartica Secondary School ground.

Rising Stars, behind a brace from Dornell James, who is now tied with Harper on 5 goals each, trounced Strikers 4-0, the latter’s first loss in their three matches to date.

Thursday’s other match produced win number two for Lazio via a 5-1 margin over Beacons - their second loss in as many matches.

James was on song in the 6th and 58th minutes, Ziggy Edwards netted in the 50th minute while Harper tucked in his goal in the 53rd minute for another clinical performance

Rising Stars Keenan Harper is flanked by Darnel James (right) and Ziggy Edwards.

From left Wesley Smith, Ezekiel King and Ariel Burnette - Lazio FC

SEE INSIDE

Dispirited Warriors face tough task against Trinbago See Page 35

Penultimate overs cost Warriors See Page 32

Guptill (right) and Dwayne Bravo share a light moment during yesterday joint pre-match press conference.

against Tallawahs Amazon Warriors batsman Jason Mohammed

West Indies rebuild Colors Boutique supports Ninvalle for Pre-Cadet after and Caribbean Table Tennis Championships Brathwaite departs See Page 34

See

Page 31

Kieran Powell fights hard as the weather closes in. (AFP)

(L-R) Colours Boutique Sales Representative Creanna Damon, Kaysan Ninvalle and Principal Henry Chase of Chase’s Academic Foundation.

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 2017