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No. 105010
SUNDAY AUGUST 20, 2017
Price: $140
(VAT Inclusive)
– President Granger tells Rupununi residents
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Calling all Warriors THERE was no shortage of entertainment yesterday as thousands of supporters of the Guyana Amazon Warriors turned out in their numbers to cheer on the local boys in the crucial Caribbean Premier League cricket match against the Trinbago Knight Riders at the Providence Stadium, East Bank Demerara. However, it was another losing effort. Above, a die-hard fan raises the Golden Arrowhead to the very end, hoping that his show of patriotism might trigger a rearguard effort by the home side. It didn’t happen. (See other pictures by Adrian Narine on centre page and Sports pages.)
Jawalla storm Lusignan Mother saves prisoners apologise for children, but perishes unrest Page 9
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Indian company eyes Guyana’s stone industry
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 20, 2017
Some 400 students receive school supplies
– through efforts of Police ‘B’ Division CLOSE to 400 children were presented with bags and school supplies when the Number Two Sub-division of the Guyana Police Force, B Division, hosted a `Back to School’ donation on Saturday. The donation held at the Kildonan Community Centre, Corentyne, Berbice, and targeting students from Albion to Molesen Creek, was spearheaded by Officer-in-Charge of the Number Two Sub-Division, Kurleigh Simon, and ranks from Albion, Rose Hall,
Whim, Mibicuri, Number 51 Village and Springlands Police Stations. Speaking at the simple ceremony, Deputy Commander, Assistant Superintendent Edmond Cooper, who grew up in the community, reflected on his humble childhood days and the struggles of his family. He said despite being from a poor family, persons can still achieve in life and reminded the children that self-respect, honesty, determination and discipline are the keys to a successful life.
Director of the New Amsterdam Hospital and a resident of Kildonan, Colin Bynoe, who also gave brief remarks, said it takes a community to raise a child and that Kildonan was able to raise several stalwarts. This, he said, is one of the reasons why the community centre, besides being a central location, was chosen for the handing-over ceremony. “The police came to extend their love to you so we can raise more stalwarts. You do not want the police to come in your
Deputy Commander, Assistant Superintendent Edmond Cooper hands over school supplies to a student, as other students and police officers look on
community and arrest people, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is here today because they would like to work with you to make you better boys and girls so that we can have a better community,” he said. Officer Simon said the new school supplies will contribute
to the excitement of a new school year and allow each child an equal opportunity for success in the classroom. This aside, he said, over 10 youth groups are active within the Number 2 Sub-division which has a membership of close to 200 youths.
The youths are involved in various educational programmes and art, tie-dyeing, and skills training, among others. He noted the police will continue to work with youths from the communities to foster good community relations.
Own your region 3
SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 20, 2017
– President Granger tells Rupununi residents Georgetown, Guyana – PRESIDENT David Granger has charged residents of Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) to take responsibility for the prosperity and development of their villages, communities and region and ultimately the country, as he noted that Lethem must fulfil its mission as a capital town by driving the development of the region through investments, infrastructure and information technology. The President, who spent Friday in the region meeting with regional officials, security forces and residents, urged them to become entrepreneurs and develop their villages and towns, particularly in the areas of ‘green’ energy, tourism and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). “When we speak about development, we also speak about telecommunications and ‘green’ energy. Rupununi has the largest volume and hours of sunlight in the entire country. Let us turn Lethem green; ‘green’ energy must power our buildings, our ministries, our hospitals, our schools, our police stations. Let us introduce more communications technology. Lethem must be a well-wired town. We can only improve communications if we adopt ICT much more quickly and seriously than we are doing,” the President said. President Granger said
President David Granger addressing residents and members of the security forces at a meeting in Lethem, Region Nine,on Friday
that upper Region Nine was the largest region in the country, but much more had to be done to improve investment and infrastructural development and added that his Government stood ready to work with regional and local Government to ensure the vast region reached its potential. The town of Lethem, he said, was filled with foreign investors and while the country and Government welcomed this, Guyanese must themselves increase their own economic activity. The Head of State said that Lethem needed increased economic activity to create jobs, generate wealth and reduce poverty and noted that investment could spur that
movement in the economy. “Guyana must be able to rely on all sections of society. We have to own the Rupununi. We are obstructing the development of this large region. We are hindering our own development. We must take collective leadership of this region,” the President said. Vice-President and Minister of Indigenous People’s’ Affairs, Mr. Sydney Allicock, echoed these sentiments, noting that while the region had tremendous potential, it was now up to the people to work to make that potential become a reality. “This is the time when unity is needed to move us out of the troubled times. We would love to do much more
for you, but we need the participation of the villages, communities and the Regional Development Council. We would love to see a plan to move this region forward because it is the largest region in Guyana. It takes unity and unity is strength. You have to have vision, will, skill and sustainability. Let us work together, let us unite. There is no time for us to fight. Let us attack the issues rather than personalities and let us come up with plans together to develop together,” he urged. To aid this development, however, President Granger said that proper infrastructure was a key element. “We need to look at infrastructure. We need to do more. We need
to do better. We need to ensure that this region has a better aerodrome, bridges, roadways. I see the region as being a place that can attract investment… Your region must have a better aerodrome; the best in all the regions, a world-class aerodrome so people can fly legally from anywhere and land here, but the infrastructure must be improved. We have to move the Rupununi into the future and I am sure with the Town Council and the [Regional Democratic Council] RDC you would be able to move the town further down the road of development,” he said. The holding of Local Government Elections for the first time in over two decades, the President said, restored the representative character of towns and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) by paving the way for citizens to choose their own local leaders. More importantly, those historic elections saw the creation of three new towns at Lethem, Bartica and Mabaruma, which the President said, were geared at ensuring that every citizen can access social services in their own regions.
Meanwhile, Regional Chairman, Mr. Brian Allicock, in brief remarks, said that it was commendable that the President decided to spend a day in the region to speak to officials and residents and listen to their concerns. “Our neighbours [in Brazil] usually ask, do you get to meet the President face to face and we say of course. They would always say that it has been decades and they haven’t met their President or seen him face to face, so we are fortunate to have the President here with us. This region is the largest within the country. We are often in the news today and we have to look at that to see how we can be curb. It must be positive things about the region when we are in the news. It should not be negative things,” he said. Ms. Dawn Hastings-Williams, Minister within the Ministry of Communities, who was also present at the community meeting, said to make all of those things possible it was important that citizens work together with the Government, irrespective of their differences. (Ministry of the Presidency)
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, AUGUST 20, 2017
President honours group of women supporters at special luncheon GEORGETOWN, Guyana – PRESIDENT David Granger yesterday held a special luncheon at The Rupununi Eco Hotel to express his gratitude to a group of women, who unreservedly threw their support behind him while he was on the campaign trail in March 2015 in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine). This was done on the sidelines of his meeting with the security forces, regional officials and residents in Lethem.
President David Granger shares a light moment with two of the ladies, who supported him during the 2015 political campaign in Region Nine, as they take a closer look at the tokens that he presented to them
President David Granger points out a particular feature on one of the coins that he presented to the ladies who were honoured at a special luncheon, which was held in the dining room of The Rupununi Eco Hotel
DATE: Saturday, August 19, 2017 F
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The women had voluntarily packed a canter truck with food, hammocks, bibles and other necessities and travelled with the then Leader of the Opposition over three days and two nights from Lethem to Achiwuib and back, while he was campaigning. “I experienced such warm support... It is difficult to explain, even now, what it is to wake up on the bank of the Rupununi River and see these hammocks strung up in the bush and these ladies praising God, singing hymns, cooking food in field conditions,” President Granger said. The President said that the time that he spent in the company of Ms. Ubol
Saturday, August 19, 2017
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President David Granger (centre) and the ladies who were honoured at the luncheon
McDonald, Ms. Cecilia Williams, Ms. Azeera Clement, Ms. Deolinda Clement, Ms. Edwina Niewenkerk, Ms. Leontina Josey, Ms.
that I have had in my entire political life.” While the coalition did not win the region, he said “they’ve won the heart of the President of this country. I am truly thankful for what you did in March 2015 and I’ll always be grateful for the voluntary support.” Ms. Niewenkerk, Ms. Pitton and Ms. Darratto did not attend the luncheon as they are currently in another jurisdiction. Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Mr. Sydney Allicock and Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Ms. Dawn Hastings-Williams also attended the luncheon.
President David Granger (centre) shares a quiet word with Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs (first, left) while the party waits to be served
Saturday, August 19, 2017
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Iris Williams, Ms. Dioynisa Niewenkerk, Ms. Rica Pitton and Ms. Emily Darratto was “one of the warmest, most emotional experiences
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, AUGUST 20, 2017
Bannon vows to ‘go to war’ DONALD Trump’s former chief strategist has vowed to go to war against the president’s opponents, after being fired from his job at the White House. Steve Bannon, who has returned as head of ultra-conservative website Breitbart News, said he would fight for the agenda that won Mr Trump the election. “I’ve got my hands back on my weapons,” he said. “It’s Bannon the Barbarian.” Mr Bannon helped shape the America First campaign message, but fell foul of more moderate White House forces. The 63-year-old has been accused of voicing anti-Semitic and white supremacist views. He is the latest high-profile figure to leave the White House team. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn; press secretary Sean Spicer; chief of staff Reince Priebus and communications director Anthony Scaramucci have all gone. Mr Trump paid tribute to Mr Bannon in an early-morning tweet on Saturday. There had been suggestions Mr Trump was under renewed pressure to sack Mr Bannon following the violence at a far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend when a car was driven into counter-protesters, killing a woman. But he told the Weekly Standard that he had informed Chief of Staff John Kelly and Mr Trump on August 7 that he would announce his resignation on the 14th . The tumult over the violence in Charlottesville postponed the announcement, he said. President Trump had hinted at the situation during
his controversial press briefing on the Virginia violence on Tuesday. Although the president had defended Mr Bannon as “not a racist”, saying he had received an unfair press, Mr Trump said “we’ll see what happens” about him. The only statement about Mr Bannon’s sacking on Friday came from Trump spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who said: “We are grateful for his service, and wish him the best.”
He added: “In many ways, I think I can be more effective fighting from the outside for the agenda President Trump ran on. And anyone who stands in our way, we will go to war with. “I built a [expletive] machine at Breitbart. And now I’m about to go back, knowing what I know, and we’re about to rev that machine up.” Breitbart itself carried the headline: ‘Populist
Pollak responded to the return of Mr Bannon with a single-worded hashtag tweet: #WAR. Mr Trump raised eyebrows this year when he elevated Mr Bannon to the National Security Council, the main group advising the president on national security and foreign affairs. But he was subsequently removed in a move that was seen as a sign of National Security Adviser HR McMaster’s growing influ-
Sacked White House chief strategist, Steve Bannon
In his Weekly Standard interview, Mr Bannon said: “The Trump presidency that we fought for, and won, is over. “We still have a huge movement, and we will make something of this Trump presidency. But that presidency is over. It’ll be something else. And there’ll be all kinds of fights; and there’ll be good days and bad days, but that presidency is over.”
Hero’ Stephen K Bannon Returns Home to Breitbart. News editor-in-chief Alex Marlow said: “Breitbart gained an executive chairman with his finger on the pulse of the Trump agenda.” Breitbart executive Joel
ence over the president. Mr Bannon has reportedly feuded with Mr McMaster as well as Gary Cohn, the director of the president’s National Economic Council and a former Goldman Sachs chief viewed as a “globalist”.
Mr Cohn, along with President Trump’s sonin-law Jared Kushner and daughter, Ivanka Trump, were viewed as threats to Mr Bannon’s White House agenda. Mr Trump had reportedly grown weary of Mr Bannon taking credit for his victory, and also saw him as a serial leaker of informa-
tion to the press. Mr Bannon’s interview this week with the American Prospect, a liberal magazine, also reportedly infuriated the president. The White House aide was quoted as dismissing the idea of a military solution in North Korea, undercutting Mr Trump. (BBC)
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Editorial
SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 20, 2017
U.S., around the world GIVEN generally positive perceptions of the United States (U.S.) and the oft desire to emulate, the ethnic problems in Virginia two Saturdays ago that reportedly left three dead and 34 injured was bound to generate animated discussions. Americans would openly admit that though their Declaration of Independence states “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights…” the founding of its society was premised on bigotry, racism and intolerance, which they refer to as a birth defect and communicate a desire to correct. Two hundred and forty-one years after independence, the country continues to confront and grapple with such problems which could serve as lessons for us, a relatively young nation of not too dissimilar history. The protest and counter-protest by what the society called the ‘alt-right,’ white-nation-
alists, and Ku Klux Klan against the removal of a confederate statue (General Robert E. Lee) and those supportive of its removal, those seeing the footage or reading the account of the violence that broke out were perplexed by the entire situation. The use of a motor vehicle, allegedly by a white nationalist, to plough into those protesting support for the statue’s removal is an identical tactic used by jihadist terrorists wreaking destruction and mayhem around the world. Terrorism is being driven by intolerance to the views and lifestyles of others and wanting to impose one’s perspective as the universal perspective. There is no interest in getting into the internal politics of the U.S. and the varied discussions among its political leadership, civil society and peoples, save to say studied observations of ensuing events indicate a society determined to work through its crises and
what it says is the people’s desire for a “more perfect union.” Most instructive to observers and societies that strive to grapple with similar problems is the integrity being brought to the fore by persons across the political divide and in various sections of society to hold themselves and each other accountable for eschewing racism, bigotry and intolerance. It’s admirable taking note, from a distance, that they are persons irrespective of political allegiance or influence, unprepared to compromise the values and ideals they say the U.S. represents and which they respect. There are so many lessons for us as a relatively young, 51-year-old nation. This incident allows for Guyanese, home and abroad, to be witnesses of the conflict and students of its management in this Information Age. There is no place for racism, bigotry and intolerance in the world today.
Persons gave and continue to give of their lives, sweat, blood and tears to rid society of such hateful and cowardly thinking and acts, and wherever such raise their ugly heads they must be stamped out. It makes a mockery to the claim of respect and pursuing equality, inalienable freedoms and rights and stay silent or support the trampling of these because such stands to benefit one, politically, economically or otherwise. The fight to protect and defend societal gains not only require being on the physical battleground, but being prepared, irrespective of where one is or what one is doing, to lend support for such just cause in whatever form. The desire for worldwide comity, which Guyana--- by international associations and relations --- so pursues, requires not only observation of atrocities and condemnation, be it privately or publicly, but also commitment to learn from them
and render support to end or not repeat them. It would make it harder for the world to be a better place where the peaceful don’t consider themselves having a role to play to improve human relations by demonstrating courtesy and considerate behaviours towards each other. This still remains one of the most powerful weapons in the global fight against terrorism, racism, bigotry and intolerance. The senseless attack in Virginia came five days prior to similar attacks in Spain that reportedly left 19 dead, five of whom were the alleged terrorists, and more than 130 injured. Such evil acts our society will not want to see, but at the same time it cannot be ignored where we as nation carry historical baggage of mistrust and conflicts,
similarly too stand to benefit from frank, honest and open conversations on these grouses. Ventilation in an atmosphere absent judgement and intolerance would allow for expressions to feelings, including insecurities and myths of self and others, lending to opportunities to address and correct where necessary, and also through institutional strengthening such as laws, classroom education, and so forth to bring about desired peace and harmony. As can be seen from the U.S.’ centuries of experience, there is no magic bullet for fixing problems of such nature, but determined commitment to continual work and the integrity to stand up and be counted in moments of crisis. Guyanese too can be emulators of these values.
MY vote is my most valuable possession Dear Sir,
MY vote is my most valuable possession. Everything else that I own is subordinate, subject to, and controlled by my vote, including my own life. That is why I must use it with the utmost objective thoughtfulness. It places all my hopes and dreams for my country into a kind of High Definition clarity, where illusion and misplaced expectation do not exist. I know most of the recent history of Guyana including (but not limited to) the epic friendship, rivalry, struggles and accomplishments of the
two champions of where our democracy sits today, Forbes Burnham and Cheddi Jagan, and I know that despite their many flaws, human frailties and ideological eccentricities, Guyana is better off (but only to a certain extent) because of both of them. The evolution of our country since independence is forever linked to those two men. But Guyana continues to evolve and there now needs to be serious and dedicated stewardship. Ideological orientation will play some role in the rate, direction and quality of our evolution, but integrity, decency and self-respect will determine our destiny and that speaks
directly to what has happened to the personality of the nation over the decades since we became independent. Political interference and the serious effects of corruption on the dispassionate and objective operation of every sector of Guyanese life, from the judiciary to the Public Service (including the Police Force) to the private sector, have combined to create a culture where decency, self-respect and integrity, are no longer the pillars that this developing society can rely on to move itself forward, because they have all been trampled upon for so long.
Guyana does not lack academically qualified people to occupy positions in government and I certainly do not question the academic achievements of those in today’s Government or those in previous governments, but there is a notable decline in culture that almost all of them seem to be unable to resist or overcome. I speak of those three pillars of society, decency, self-respect and integrity that give great power to decision-making! Haven’t you had a situation (or known of one) where the justice system has failed the average or poor Guyanese citizen because of corruption? Shouldn’t there
have been some progress already made in disciplining the perpetrators in the state assets situation? Electricity today is something that has to be delivered in unbroken supply. It is that simple. But, because of where that ‘hardto-overcome’ culture has found itself, it seems that it will never be done. If it is your job to ensure that electricity is supplied in a reliable fashion and you can’t do that, then at some point disciplinary action has to be taken, as it should be taken in any other area where there is incompetence or negligence or rule-breaking or whatever it is that prevents the best job from
getting done. No one seems to understand this. Burnham and Jagan did their part, but they left us in a place where someone like Jagdeo could run roughshod over Guyana without resistance from integrity, decency or self-respect from any quarter for too long. Here is where my vote must not be taken for granted. If you want my vote you now have the unenviable task of proving to me that you can move our beloved country, including all of Guyanese society, forward on integrity, decency and self-respect. VOTER
SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 20, 2017
Deep South August Games - bringing people together through sport
THE Deep South August Games is the most anticipated event of the year held south of the Rupununi, Region Nine. The games were started in 1997 by two individuals who had a love for sports and a vision of bringing people together. These individuals are former Toshao of Aishalton, Tony James and former educator of Morarunau, Adrian Gomes. Toshao of Morarunau, Patrick Gomes, in an exclusive
interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), said the games were birthed to replicate the annual Mass Games which used to be held in Georgetown in the 1980s and1990s. The idea was to have students and teachers involved in the activity. This is one of the main reasons the games are held in August. A meeting was subsequently held among six villages to have the games hosted in the Rupununi. These villages
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included Awarewanau, Maruranau, Shea, Aishalton, Karadunau and Auchiwib. Parabara and Masekinari joined the event later. To get the games off the ground, a meeting was held among the villages. After consultations and the sharing of ideas, Gomes said that “it was agreed that there needed to be a social event that will bring people together.” The games were first held in Maruranau and in the years
leyball were the very first events featured, but as time went by, traditional activities such archery with traditional arrows and bows, cotton-spinning, basket weaving, cassava grating and cari drinking were added to the list. This was followed with the addition of cultural events and a pageant. According to Gomes, since the games began 20 years ago, it has grown enormously and has attracted thousands of athletes and spectators. “It has
all the villages because they have been highly competitive games,” Da Silva stated. Thomas Perry, a spectator, agreed, “To me it is better than before, because of the lights in the nights, this is the first time it happen in our villages like this” he explained. While some persons camped out at the venue, others chose to travel back and forth daily. However, the journey is indeed not one for the swift, as Perry is testimony to
he has been attending the event for the past nine years. The trip takes him and his family three days to a week, depending on where the game is being hosted. Sookraj explained that he “came to rodeo one time, then I came another time on business in Lethem and they had heritage, so we do a little sale by the benab and I decided to buy a truck. Well I had the goods so I decided to come here.”
that followed, different villages would be selected to host the event. The village council of the host community would have to ensure that there is a proper venue for the games to be held and sufficient accommodation for persons coming from far distances. “Every village took part; they came walking, on bicycles, bull carts and horses. That time they had no tractor or no means of other transportation,” Gomes stated. This meant participants sometimes took three to four days to reach their destination, depending on where the games were being hosted. Cricket, football and vol-
grown in strength, it has grown from then to now tremendously… it looks like what I would say, an international event where you have like a mini Olympics. You have parades, march past, a formal opening and speeches,” he explained. This year, the games were held in Awarewanau, which is located some seven hours over land from Lethem. One of the coordinators and a representative of Aishalton, Patrick Da Silva, also echoed similar sentiments that the level of competition has risen significantly from previous years. “Since they have started the level of cricket, football, and volleyball have risen in
that, “I am coming to support my village, 10 miles from here. I am from Maruranau and I does go back like 8 or 10 o’clock (at night), depends when they finish and in the morning, I does come back again with my family to enjoy myself here.” Aside from the athletes and spectators, the games have over the years attracted a number of traders from across the country. These traders come from as far as Berbice, Region Six and the Essequibo Coast, Region Two. Gharbarnan Sookraj from the Essequibo Coast said that
The games continue to also attract persons from the coast, like Totaram Gunpat from Berbice, who attended the games for the first time to trade. He heard about the games through word-of-mouth. Gunpat said “I heard about it in Lethem, the boys told me and them man bring me up here, they went the day in front me and I come the day behind.” Gunpat said that of all the competitions, he really enjoyed the volleyball games. He was also keen to point out that he will be returning for the games next year.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 20, 2017
Mother saves children, – as freak storm but perishes ravages Jawalla By Alva Solomon TWENTY-nine year old Marsha Jordan saved the lives of her two daughters after the house under which they sought shelter at Jawalla in the Upper Mazaruni collapsed on Friday afternoon. However, she perished during a freak storm that ravaged the village. The woman, who was three months pregnant, died following the collapse of the house during a storm at the Cuyuni-Mazaruni village. At the time of her demise, she and her children, aged three and 11, were seeking shelter from driving rain and violent winds under the building. Reports are that Jordan was on her way home around 16:00hrs on Friday when they were caught in the storm. The woman took her children under the building, but as the winds grew stron-
ger, the building started to fall. Eyewitness accounts are that as the building started to collapse, the woman pushed her two children from underneath it in a desperate attempt to save their lives. Due to her selfless action, which comes with being a mother, the children were able to escape with just minor injuries. Reports are that a man, who was about to enter the house, also sustained minor injuries. According to a medical official,a total of 12 buildings were damaged during the passage of the storm, and among them is the community’s Village Office. Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford,reported on social media that a number of regional officials were dispatched to the village on Saturday morning to assess the damage. He reported that the heavy winds downed the antenna of a number of radios
in the area, thereby cutting communication. Bradford said that while the villages of Phillipai, Wayaling, Kako, Paruima,and Waramadong were not affected by the storm, the lighting system at Kamarang was down. A resident of Jawalla told the Guyana Chronicle that the winds appeared violent, and it was a first-time experience for many in the riverside gold-mining village. The Village Office was damaged during the storm, and communication was hampered since several high-frequency radio set antennas fell during the storm. This is the second time for the year that the village has been affected by severe weather conditions. In May this year, the village was inundated following prolonged periods of rainfall. It was the first time in many years that the village was affected by floodwaters.
An aerial view of Jawalla after the storm
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Lusignan prisoners apologise for unrest SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 20, 2017
– turn over a number of improvised weapons INMATES of the Lusignan Prison on the East Coast of Demerara have reportedly apologised to their wardens for their indisciplined and disturbing behaviour on Friday, which led to 18 of their fellow inmates being injured. Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels, told members of the media on Saturday that
despite the unrest, prison staff as well as other members of the Joint Services reported for duty at the tarmacked facility within the perimeter of the prison where the incident occurred. “They were greeted by prisoners from the three holding areas, and were offered an apology for their actions last
Lawyer in Berbice road accident Meanwhile, the attorney was arrested and held at the Rose Hall Police Outpost, where a breathalyzer test was conducted. He was subsequently put on $100,000 bail andt he police are continuing their investigation.
Chandra Sohan A MAN is now hospitalised after he was struck down by a popular attorney -at -law in Berbice. According to reports, around 19:40 hrs on Friday, August 18, the attorney and former magistrate who was identified as Chandra Sohan of Palmyra Village, East Berbice, Corentyne, was proceeding in motor vehicle PJJ 6060 south along the Williamsburg Public Road when he reportedly collided with a male pedestrian who attempted to cross the public road. It was also reported that the driver left the scene without rendering assistance. According to a release from the Guyana Police Force, the man who is yet to be identified was subsequently picked up and taken to the Port Mourant Hospital He was then transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital and then to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he remains a patient in a serious but stable condition.
night,” Samuels said, adding: “They thanked the officers for not directing shots at them last night, even though they had misbehaved.” According to Samuels, the contrite prisoners later handed over 33 improvised weapons they’d made from various materials that were used to construct the holding area. Samuels said that in spite of this show of remorse, prison officials will continue to maintain security at the prisons by remaining vigilant, and cautioned their charges about the consequences of damaging government property. Prison officers were also advised, Samuels said, to remain on high alert and not to be taken in by the offer of an apology. According to reports, several prisoners in Holding Bay
2 had scaled a fence and entered Holding Bay 1 with the stated intention of harming a fellow prisoner whom they reportedly felt was a “snitch.” In the ensuing chaos, prison authorities reportedly fired shots in the air in an attempt to restore order. And while no prisoner was harmed by the firing of shots into the air, 18 of them were injured, presumably by the razor-sharp security wire atop the fence as they attempted to get to their quarry. Five of them were sent to the Georgetown Public Hospital to be treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries inflicted by the wire. The targeted prisoner was unharmed, and has since been placed in the main holding area of the Lusignan Prison.
Some of the improvised weapons that were handed over to prison officials on Saturday
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 20, 2017
Government legal challenges and the President’s decisions IT was my intent, in keeping with Emancipation Month, to address several aspects of Africans’ struggles and achievements for human dignity and respect, and their contributions to societal development. However, due to actions that are now evidently becoming clear and present threats to effective and efficient functioning of the Executive/Government, this week’s intended attention to “Empowerment and Affirmative Action” is being forgone. We are facing a very serious situation and what I am about to say is intended to right a ship, veering wildly off course, and posing dire implications for the Rule of Law, the legitimacy of the Executive, and protecting the well-being of the society. The David Granger/Moses Nagamootoo government has been hauled before the court or threatened with court action for matters that, had time been taken to understand the authority of the Executive and limits of the President, could have been avoided. This nation has witnessed at least five such instances which are humiliat-
ing to the administration and moreso the President, who heads it and under whose name the decisions are taken. These issues are:-1) the termination of leases to land in the Mahaica- MahaiconyAbary Development Scheme, 2) interpretation of the qualifying criteria to be considered among those eligible to be on the list of nominees for GECOM Chairman, 3) termination of the Red House lease and moving to evict, 4) seeking to possess the private property of Clarissa Riehl et al, and 5) instruction given to the Police Service Commission not to act now on a list for promotions. On every occasion, the nation has witnessed the government stuttering to find justification for its actions when questioned or called on to account. The cases that have appeared before the court and where decisions were handed down, indicate the government has fallen short. And it has come to a point where questions are being asked as to whether President Granger is being afforded proper legal advice, or the advocacy in the court on his government’s behalf is weak, or he is not favour-
ably disposed to taking legal advice. The Constitution is very clear on the scope, authority and responsibility of the branches of government, identified institutions, stakeholders, citizens, and office holders. Read, understood and respected it would guarantee smoother management of the nation’s business and welfare of its citizens. Though myth has taken hold that the President is above the very Constitution he/she swears to uphold, the Constitutional Court is proving that the office holder’s decision-making has to operate within permissible boundaries. Two significant advantages with the court being called on to adjudicate on constitutional contentions is that citizens are assured of recourse to what they may consider excesses or injustice, and the foundation for clarifications on interpretation of the Constitution is being reinforced. At the same time, one cannot help but wonder why the APNU and AFC, when in opposition, did not take similar approaches in challenging the excesses of the PPP/C
government. I fervently believe that were this avenue utilised, conversations about and understanding of the Constitution would have been more meaningful/productive. They are some who may think going to the court and having its interpretation is healthy for a democratic society, while there is the view that as the government continues to make decisions which are hit down by the court, indicates absence of thoroughness in its decision-making processes or preparedness to govern by diktat and run roughshod over the people. There is merit in all the positions. In the former, it represents respecting the role and responsibility of the Judicial Branch and in the latter, where the perceptions exist ,it should serve as caution to government, if that is not its intent, to engage in due diligence before acting. The Granger/Nagamootoo government needs to be careful as to how they go forward on the issue of governance. My study of the political actors in the society notes the PPP/C government’s cunning and crook-
edness in how it treated with the economy and its contempt for the rule of law and the rights of citizens. Such misconduct has deservedly placed it in the opposition. The PPP/C is a shrewd and wily Opposition, though it is instructive to note the issues its leadership prosecutes and condemns today it had been guilty of when it was in government. The nation is witnessing a strategy of the PPP/C to paint itself as a government that respected the Constitution and the APNU+AFC as lawless, when both are guilty of constitutional infractions. At the same time, this government is failing to recognise and appreciate that the hunger of the PPP/C to return to office in such a competitive environment it ought not to be engaging in such conduct. Note is taken of Anil Nandlall’s articulation and demands that the APNU+AFC respect the Constitution, and we must question why he failed as Attorney General and Minister Legal Affairs to render similar advice to the PPP. Apart from that, I encourage him to continue to make public his positions, for such augur
well, given his tendency to reference the articles in advancing his arguments which aids public education on the instrumemt. The Executive has at its disposal the Attorney General’s Chambers and sitting in the Cabinet is the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs. The holder of the office, Basil Williams, has also added to his repertoire of legal minds, luminaries in the persons of Justice Claudette Singh, Professors Keith Massiah, Harold Lutchman, Bryn Pollard, Rudy James as advisers. I refuse to believe that were the input of any of the five sought they would have advised the government to have the President take the course of action he has embarked on. Something is definitely wrong in the administration and while it may prove difficult to specifically pinpoint what or who is responsible for these poor legal decisions, in the interest of protecting the legitimacy of and respect for the Executive and welfare of the citizens, action must be taken forthrightly to arrest the crisis.
‘Ganja’, other items intercepted at NA Prison THE authorities at the New Amsterdam Prison on Saturday confiscated a quantity of marijuana, among other items said to have been thrown over the institution’s walls. According to a statement attributed to Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, at around 14:25hrs on Saturday, a rank on duty at the prison observed a package being thrown over the fence at the Berbice facility and quickly reported the incident to his superiors. The statement goes on to say that prison officers, on retrieving the package, immediately reported the matter to the police, whereupon an investigation was launched.
The incident comes on the heels of a disturbance on Friday night at the Lusignan prison, where several improvised weapons were uncovered and handed over to the prison authorities. The Guyana Prison Service has increased monitoring and security at the prisons, in the wake of last month’s prison break which resulted in the Georgetown Prison on Camp Street being gutted. Earlier this year, the prison authorities reported that investigations had revealed that some prison officers have been colluding with inmates to smuggle illegal items into the confines of the prison.
The contents of the package which was retrieved by prison officers at the New Amsterdam prison
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 20, 2017
The narratives about Forbes Burnham: Our Guyanese Complexity
EARLIER THIS month, the PNC observed the 32nd death anniversary of its founder-leader, Forbes Burnham. Not unexpectedly, the party faithful were fulsome in their praise of the virtues of the man whose name has become synonymous with the party. As someone who didn’t know Burnham personally, or did not grow up in a Burnham-loving household and who spent the early part of his activism as part of the anti-Burnham movement, I have never been hit by the “Burnham fever.” Yet, as I have moved through the African-Guyanese communities, I have become aware that Mr. Burnham meant a great deal to the earlier generations of African- Guyanese. And as I have come to know PNC activists and members of my generation more closely, I have gained an appreciation of the enormous impact he has had in shaping the world-view of those whom he directly and indirectly mentored. In the final analysis, Burnham is as complex as the Guyanese and Caribbean societies from which he emerged. Our islands (and here I include Guyana in the political and cultural family of islands) are a peculiar formation, a peculiar space with a peculiar history that defy settled theories of politics and society. And they have to be. Here are nation-states whose histories have been shaped by bondage, the violence and authoritarianism that flow from that condition, the ethnic rivalry, suspicion and competition spawned by that experience and the anxieties which are a natural outgrowth of such experiences. The Caribbean has been central to the growth of European wealth, yet our islands are economically poor and seem resigned to that condition. Resistance has
been our birthright—from Haiti and Berbice to Cuba and Grenada --- we have given birth to revolutions. Yet we are among the societies that are most impatient with critique, protest and resistance. From the Middle Passage to Independence, our resistance leaders have been assassinated by the powers-that-be, yet our post-independence State and leaderships have not been able to disentangle themselves from that sordid praxis of persecution. In our 50 years of independence, the freedom-spirit has been persistently assaulted by our State and the governments that manage them—and they do so in the name of law and order and nationalism. The political party has replaced the plantation as the sole giver of life. The poverty of the plantation has remained as widespread as in colonial times. Back then, all manna came from Mother Europe and her local plantations and today all manna commeth from the maximum leader and his party. We cry out for ethnic unity, yet our very political acts are driven by an impulse of ethnic domination. We celebrate Emancipation and Indian Arrival and Amerindian Heritage with gusto, yet we want to banish African and Indian from our identity. But we soldier on, always trying to do better. We have never given up the resistance spirit—we don’t reward resistance, but we own it when our backs are against the wall. APNU+AFC valued resistance when they wanted to replace the PPP, but now they are in power, they see that same resistance as wanting to bring back the PPP. The PPP assaulted every democratic norm when they held office, but today stand as the great defenders of democracy. Call us crazy or contradictory, but that’s the Guyana we have nurtured.
So, to understand Burnham, one must understand that complex Guyana. There are three narratives about Burnham, each of which is valid. First, there is the narrative of Burnham the visionary who used government to empower Guyanese, especially the poor and who lifted the image of Guyana globally through a most progressive foreign policy. As a product of the anti-colonial struggle, progressive thinking was almost inevitable. One could not come out of that moment and not move in a progressive direction as far as the condition of the sufferers was concerned. The anti-colonial ideologies were pregnant with progressive and reformist tendencies and Burnham was a product of them. To argue against that narrative is to be dishonest, but to advance that as the sum-total of Burnham’s praxis is to be equally dishonest. And I daresay, many of Burnham’s admirers, particularly African-Guyanese, do exactly that. The second narrative about Burnham is that of the dictator who was impatient with internal democracy and critics of his stewardship and who used the power of the institutions at his disposal to ruthlessly snuff out such dissent. This narrative, while correct, silences Burnham’s attempt at progressive policies and heaps every political sin at his doorstep. The narrative of the dictator is spot on. Burnham’s rule reflected a deep authoritarian instinct in our political culture which was shaped on the very plantation we fought to overthrow. And, because he, Burnham, was not armed with enough of the democratic instinct in our culture which developed on that very plantation, he easily succumbed to the authoritarian instinct. Burnham and many leaders of his generation never learned to resist the urge to use the enormous power at their disposal in personal
and partisan ways. They became the party and the party became the State and they eventually became supreme. To ignore that about Burnham is to be dishonest, but to think that that was all that defined him is to be equally dishonest. And many in our midst, especially our Indian-Guyanese brethren and sisterin, are of that mindset. The third narrative about Burnham, which is the least popular, is the one that seeks to take a critical stance by locating him within the problematics and complexity of Guyanese society. Unfortunately, our society is not hospitable to critical analysis. We function in a state of binaries—good vs evil. And our highly charged zero-sum ethno-politics encourages such a tendency. Burnham, like the Jagans, Rodney, Kwayana and the other major political leaders deserve more critical treatment. The State of the African-Guyanese Forum The Cuffy250 Committee would be holding its fifth annual “State of the African- Guyanese” Forum, today, 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 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 organisations 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 Afri-
can- Guyanese leadership to honour the United Nations International Decade of the Peoples of African Descent 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 organisation dedicated to encouraging socio-economic and cultural revitalisation 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. More of Dr. Hinds ‘writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www. guyanacaribbeanpolitics. com. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 20, 2017
NDIA meets with local contractors …on procurement, tendering processes (DPI, Guyana) - FOR the first time in more than a decade, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has engaged with contractors and potential contractors to familiarise
them with the process of tendering for drainage and irrigation projects. This was facilitated in the form of a mini workshop, held at the Ministry of Agriculture’s main boardroom
on Friday, August 18, 2017. $3.5B of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Budget has been set aside as expenditure for capital projects by the NDIA for 2017. Approximately 30 con-
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) National Drainage and Irrigation Authority ( NDIA), Frederick Flatts
Some of the contractors gathered in the boardroom of the Ministry of Agriculture
tractors from across the country with an interest in bidding for NDIA capital projects, gathered to be informed on the process of executing government contracts. They also had the opportunity at the end of presentations to share some of their concerns as well as to have burning questions answered. Corporate Secretary of the NDIA Board, Omadatt Chandan, said that the workshop is timely since NDIA has increased the number of drainage and irrigation projects executed throughout the country. Addressing the contractors, Chandan said, “The primary purpose for having
such a workshop is to educate our contractors and potential contractors on NDIA’s procurement system, how it operates, what you as contractors can do to improve this system and how you contractors can deal with the projects, in executing them in a more timely manner and also how you, as contractors, can ensure that you provide quality works at all times,” Chandan noted. Chief Executive Officer of the NDIA, Fredrick Flatts, addressing the issue why some contractors fail to win contracts said, “It therefore means that we have a lot of works that are to be done
Sunday, August 20, 2017 - 03:30 hrs | 14:30 hrs Monday, August 21, 2017 - 04:00 hrs | 14:30 hrs Tuesday, August 22, 2017 - 05:00 hrs | 14:30 hrs
from time to time. However, in looking at what happens there are some persons who are not likely to ever win any of our contracts not because there is something against them, but when you look at the way they fill out their documents they just make so many mistakes.” The hosting of this workshop means that the NDIA is working to create a diverse and enhanced public/private partnership. “According to the act, the NDIA is mandated to promote and encourage the involvement of the private sector in the construction, management, operation and maintenance of the drainage and irrigation and flood-control systems.” Chandan added. Contractors benefitted from presentations which highlighted tender procedures of the NDIA, monitoring and evaluation of NDIA projects and contract management. During the presentation on the NDIA tendering procedures, it was revealed that in 2016, 1130 contracts were presented, but only 232 contractors were able to bid. So far for this year, 716 contracts have already been presented, but only 209 contractors were able to bid. The authority hopes that by 2018, more contractors will be qualified to bid for the various types of NDIA capital projects. The NDIA is also hoping to establish an internal tender board within the ministry to facilitate a more efficient tendering and bidding process. An appeal was made for there to be a larger pool of contractors bidding for projects which will encourage fair competition and a higher quality of work offered.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 20, 2017
– added to CARICOM’s reparation list By Zena Henry THE European nations of Norway and Sweden have been added to the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) list of nations from which reparation is being sought for native genocide and slavery. CARICOM documents stated that the bloc has decided that the two nations are liable for the roles they played in past events and will soon be made aware of CARICOM’s bid to have them answer the charge. “Letters would be sent by Prime Minister (Freundel) Stuart to Norway and Sweden as soon as possible, following on a recommendation of the CARICOM Reparations Committee (CRC) that these countries be included in the claim.” The Caribbean body noted that the issue of Reparations for Native Genocide and Slavery received the attention of CARICOM Heads of Government since July 2013, when the matter was first introduced by St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and supported by Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, then Principal of The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Cave Hill Campus. At its 34th Meeting (July 2013, Trinidad and Tobago), Heads of Government had set up a Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee (PMSC) on reparations, headed by Prime Minister Stuart, Q.C., M.P. and comprising Guyana, Haiti, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname. So far, 12 CARICOM member states have established National Reparations Committees to coincide with each country’s individual claim. These states include Antigua and Barbuda, The
Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, while national committees are still to be established in Grenada and Haiti. In January and February of last year, CARICOM’s chairman of the PMSC on Reparations sent correspondence to heads of government of The United Kingdom, France, Spain, The Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark, on behalf of CARICOM Heads of Government. It was noted that the letters, among other things, requested a meeting in the first half of 2016 to discuss reparations. It was noted however that responses have been received, as at June 2017, from heads of government of all the countries to which letters were sent, except Portugal. The approach to follow up on the responses received, as well as the diplomatic, legal and media strategies to advance the claim, are said to be among the main issues to be addressed by heads of government, with the support and advice of the CRC. Outside of this, CARICOM’s reparation body is also addressing the inclusion of indentureship as part of the Caribbean claim in locations where this work method was employed. The indentured labour experience in Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago also engaged the attention of the meeting, which felt that the CRC should propose ways of including this form of oppression in the wider claim. CARICOM is nonetheless moving apace with its work, which includes the recently established Repa-
rations Research Centre at the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Mona Campus, Jamaica. UWI’s Communication Office reported that the cen-
tre will be led by Professor Verene Shepherd, former Director of the Institute for Gender and Development Studies, co-Chair of the National Council on Reparation (Jamaica) and one of the three vice-chairs of the CARICOM Reparations
Commission. Among other things, the centre will help to promote research on the legacies of enslavement, colonialism and native genocide in the Caribbean and on how to bring justice and positive transformation to these leg-
acies with a particular focus on CARICOM’s Reparatory Justice programme. They will work to promote education at the UWI and across the Caribbean school systems on these legacies and the need for justice and repair.
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14 workplace deaths recorded – investigations completed on six Labour Department reports THE Labour Department of the Ministry of Social Protection has reported more than a dozen on-the-job deaths so far for the year, all being male. Investigations into six of these deaths have been completed while work on eight is ongoing. These deaths include Junarine Taijramon, a 53-yearold tractor operator, employed at the Skeldon Estate who was stung to death by Africanised
bees. That report is outstanding. Brian David Clifford, a 47-year-old lines man employed with the Guyana Power and Light Company died on January 3, after falling from a utility pole. A preliminary report has been submitted to the ministry. The report on the death of Damian Lackhan, 26, was also submitted to the ministry. The former Gafoors employee died on January 15, after he was
pinned by a steel gate on the company’s premises. The investigation into the death of Carlton Megan, a 48 year old refrigeration technician who died as a result of an explosion at the Houston Wharf Ice plant is still ongoing. Investigations are also continuing into the death of Cadagon Melvin, a 43-year old road maintenance supervisor at Barama Company Limited who was pinned between a
truck and excavator on February 15. The report has been submitted pertaining to the death of Damon Richards, a 29-yearold mining pit foreman who died at Goat Creek, Blue Mountain on March 3, as a result of a fractured spine. William Stanford’s case is still under investigation. The 59-year-old Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) internal security died as a result of a vehicular accident in April. The report into the death of 52-year-old Poramand Babadir has been submitted to the ministry. Babadir drowned at the Uitvlugt Estate on April 1. The case of 21-year-old
Wesley Patoir was also submitted to the Labour Ministry. The service man was smashed by a piece of heavy earth machinery while conducting duties as Rusal on June 5. Gerald Henry’s case is also complete and was handed over to the ministry. The 64- yearold security guard was shot by a bandit at a supermarket where he was guarding. Investigations are ongoing into the death of Collin Winston Martin, a 40-year-old pilot who was killed while performing duties for Roraima Airways where he was employed. Deon Baptiste, 22, was crushed by a falling tree in Takatu. His case is ongoing as
well as that of Odinga Wickham, the prison warden who was killed during the Camp Street Prison unrest. The matter of security guard Sammy Powell is also being investigated. His throat was slit while performing duties at his place of employment on Robb Street, Georgetown. Minister Keith Scott had explained last month that there were improvements being made in the treatment of industrial incidents and deaths. He owed the improvement to increased worker health and safety education. Minister Scott insists that all employers are obligated by law to report industrial accidents and deaths to the relevant arm of the Labour Department.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 20, 2017
Indian company seeks to help Guyana’s stone industry CHAIRMAN of Gem Group of Companies from India – Mr. R. Veeramani and Director of Gem Granites – Mr. R. Gunasekaran on Friday, August 11, toured the BK Quarries in Bartica and visited the BK International Inc. gold-mining operations at Mahdia, along with a stopover at the world-famous Kaieteur Falls. They were accompanied by CEO of BK International Inc Brian Tiwarie, Mr. Wallace Ng-See-Quan – Special
Mr. Veeramani (centre) takes a picture of blasting being done at the quarries
Commissioner of GGMC Mr. Newell Dennison, inspects gems from Chairman of Gem Group of Companies from India, Mr. R. Veeramani
Assistant, Public and Diaspora Affairs and Investigations from the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. David Lammy – British MP and his wife along with other officials. Gem Group was on a five-day scoping mission to explore investment opportunities in Guyana. Mr. Veeramani expressed his
high appreciation for the hospitality shown his team, and indicated his interest in aspects of the semi-precious stone industry in Guyana, a country with so much potential, he pointed out. But the semi-precious stones and gem magnate wondered why there is not more being done to boost the tourism industry and have more
merchandise available for sale to tourists at the Kaieteur Falls. Gem Granites is based at 78, Cathedral Road, Chennai, India. After arriving in Guyana, the Indian business team visited the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). There they presented the GGMC with samples of semi-precious stones from the Indian stone- mining giant Gem Group of Companies. Chairman of Gem Group, R. Veeramani, and Director of Gem Granites, R. Gunasekaran, paid a courtesy call on acting GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison on Thursday, August 10 and made the presentation. A sample of these stones was presented to be displayed in the
Chairman of Gem Group of Companies from India – Mr. R. Veeramani (2nd R) with British MP – Mr. David Lammy (R), Mr. Tiwarie and Mrs. Lammy
GGMC’s library. “Those varieties that they are going to leave with us will certainly put (our lapidary display) on a different platform,” Mr. Dennison pointed out. Mr. Veeramani, who also chairs the Development Panel for Granite Industry within India’s Ministry of Industry, told Commissioner Dennison that his company has assisted other countries with the promotion and development of their stone industries. “We help other countries in establishing the market and to promote their material,” Mr. Veeramani disclosed. Commissioner Dennison
noted that establishing this collaboration would help to improve the GGMC’s lapidary section, which remains underdeveloped and under-promoted. “Perhaps this is a good time to see how we can raise the profile and get the lapidary back on the proper footing,” Mr. Dennison said. Mr. Veeramani is credited with promoting India’s stone industry, whose export market is valued at about $2 billion! India has identified 200 varieties of stone, and Gem Group has branded more than 70 varieties of those stones.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 20, 2017
Min. Broomes awards Albouystown/ Charlestown NGSA top performers MINISTER within the Ministry of Natural Resources,Simona Broomes, presented four Albouystown/ Charlestown children who performed outstandingly at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) with monetary donations on Friday.
Minister Broomes encouraged the youngsters to continue striving for success despite the challenges they may face. “When school reopens in September how you looked at it before, I want you to change that in your mind knowing that you are now
Aidan Allicock receiving his donation from Minister Broomes
Daniel Robertson receiving his donation from Minister Broomes
shaping your country for the future,” Minister Broomes charged the young people. Eleven-year-old Sarah Singh,secured a place at Bishops’ High School. She told the Department of Public Information(DPI) that the Minister’s generosity was “unexpected” but “exciting”.
Singh, an aspiring pharmacist who resides in Yarrowdam, said she has had to overcome the challenge of poor roads to get to school but was grateful nonetheless for her family’s support. “It’s really exciting when you have your whole family around you and you get the education you deserve,” she said. Aidan Allicock, 12 years’ old, who is heading to Queen’s College, would like to become either a veterinarian or an astronomer. He said the minister’s gesture left him
Demetrius Drup receiving his donation from Minister Broomes
feeling “very enlightened and very privileged”. It was a similar sentiment from Walanda Wilson. The 12-year-old also secured a place at Queen’s College. “I’m glad, very, very happy,” she said. The aspiring pediatrician said she was confident that Minister Broome’s donation would be very helpful. “I don’t know what books I have to get yet but I’m sure it will help,” she added. Meanwhile, the day was extra special for Demetrius Drup and Daniel Robertson of Albouystown whose wish-
es of personally meeting a minister came through. “I am excited because I got to meet a minister which is what I wanted. I wanted to meet someone in politics,” said 11-year-old Drup, who is aspiring to become a politician. “I feel very happy because I got to meet the Minister and she congratulated me,” an enthused Robertson said. Minister Broomes also donated haversacks to other children in the community.
Minister Simona Broomes sharing words of encouragement to the young children of Albouystown/Charlestown
Children of Albouystown/Charlestown pose with their haversacks
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 20, 2017
Several hydro projects in pipeline – as gov’t forges ahead with renewable energy plans A NUMBER of hydro-power projects, both ‘mini’ and ‘micro,’ are in the pipeline, as the government forges ahead with its strategic planning for renewable energy. This was announced on Friday by Chairman of the National Task Force Commission (NTFC), Major-General (Ret’d) Joseph Singh during a news conference at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. Singh said that the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) as well as international energy agencies are in the process of examining what offers the best opportunities in terms of cost and time.
“Strategic planning, in terms of energy, is on the front burner, whether solar, wind or hydro,” he said, adding that the GEA will shortly be developing a mini hydropower system at Kato in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni). Plans are also in train, he said, to have Dynamic Engineering, a local company, resuscitate the hydro-project at Tumatumari, also in Region Eight. Similar projects are also being developed at Hosororo, in Region One (Barima-Waini), and such other hinterland areas as the North West District. Smaller systems will also be set up in other parts of the
NTFC Chairman Major-General (Ret’d) Joseph Singh
country, Singh said, so as to create “an energy mix.” Back in 2012, the then
incumbent People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration had announced that it was pursuing the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), and that it was to have been funded, to the tune of US$80M, by the Government of Norway under the Guyana Redd+ Investment Fund (GRIF) as part of a government-led Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). However, the project in its entirety had an estimated cost of US$858M. Dogged by claims of lack of transparency, it was presented to the National Assembly, but the current government, which was then
in opposition, had raised several objections, one of which was that adequate information had not been provided on the financing of the project, while another was that the design had several flaws. As such, it was widely felt at the time that the viability and longevity of the project could not be guaranteed. With the new government taking office in 2015 with the goal of placing the country on a path of ‘green’ growth, the project was discussed anew with the Norwegian government and an agreement was reached to have an independent third party review the project to determine its viability. The Government of Norway has since released a report on the review of the
Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) done by Norconsult, an engineering and design consultancy firm out of Norway, which was commissioned to complete an ‘objective, and facts-based’ assessment of the project on the agreement of two Governments. It was reported that the Guyana Government is working to complete a longterm energy plan, which outlines a mix of renewable energy options, and it is believed that the report has identified several risks and flaws in the design of the project, which threaten its long-term effectiveness and may prove too costly and burdensome to the people of Guyana and the country as a small developing state.
Singh plugs integrated planning – to help make NTFC’s work easier THE National Task Force Commission (NTFC) is blaming the ministries and other public agencies for its inability to produce enough data on certain issues. “If we ask certain agencies how many persons are unemployed, how many are homeless, how many are single parents, they don’t have the information to share,” Task Force Chairman, Major General (ret’d) Joseph Singh told a press conference at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure on Friday.
Given that the Commission is tasked with creating solutions to pertinent issues affecting society, access to information is critical to their work, which makes not being able to do so a major challenge. Singh couldn’t help but wonder aloud whether the Ministry of Public Health could provide the Task Force with information on how many people suffer from certain diseases; or for that matter, whether the other ministries would be able to provide them with vital information should
they need it. But thankfully, he said, there are other institutions like the University of Guyana (UG) to turn to, should the need arise, as they, too, have a vital role to play in the collection and management of data. The Task Force Chairman feels the University can go one step further and instill in students, in theory and practice, the importance of data collection. The need for training to share information, he said, has to be taught at an elementary level because, even places like Neighbourhood Democratic Councils
(NDCs) and other local government bodies have been found on occasions to withhold information. Noting that this reluctance to divulge information can cause persons to become reactionary, Singh said, a case in point was the recent flooding in the Hinterland. What many did not know at the time, he said, was that it was the overtopping of the Ireng and Takutu Rivers, in
the first place, that caused the floods, which in turn led to the destruction of farms, cattle and even households. “Persons did not even know what was going on all along until it was explained to them,” Mr Singh said, adding that up until then, people in the affected areas were unaware that what they were experiencing was essentially a manifestation of the negative impacts of climate change.
This being the case, he said, it is now more important than ever to have a collective approach to dealing with issues affecting the country. The sharing of information, he said, will be so much easier if only persons can “change their attitudes” and get over their “this-is-my-turf” mindset. And the one sure-fire way to go, he said, is to have integrated planning.
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Lindeners take to the streets – in march against homosexuality THE Linden-based ‘Come As You Are Ministries’ on Saturday hosted a march against the legalising of homosexuality, which saw the participation of hundreds of followers of the religious sect. Joined by Lindeners, marchers used the opportunity to take a stand and make known how they felt about what they see is an
attempt to introduce an alternative lifestyle into their community. The march, which was led by Apostles Nigel London and Cleveland Thomas, commenced at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre around 09:00hrs and ended at the Linden-Georgetown bus park, where the two religious leaders further pronounced on the matter.
Wearing T-shirts with slogans boldly rejecting the whole notion of homosexuality, marchers also carried aloft placards proclaiming: “Buggery is not a human right; it is an abomination”; “SASOD promotes what is illegal”; “SASOD insulted the community, the poor and uneducated”; and “I am a defender of children”. As they marched, they
could be heard far and wide loudly chanting: We stand for what is right! We defend our children! and Sodomy is illegal! The march, called ‘The Movement’, was not just an expression of the religious body’s stand against homosexuality, but also against strides taken by the Society Against Gender Orientation (SASOD) to have the lifestyle legalised and become a norm in the Linden community. SASOD is calling for the amendment of the Prevention of Discrimination Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds of discrimination. Their objective, it is said, is to protect persons who identify as gay and lesbian, while gender equality will protect transgender persons. Weeks leading up to Saturday’s march, Apostle London, during his weekly televised programme would openly bash SASOD and
its Managing Director Joel Simpson for what the organisation advocates. London, who has been described in some quarters in Linden as controversial, has described the march as a passive resistance against homosexuality and has pledged to rid Linden of influences of such nature. Asked to comment, Simpson said that his organisation respects the fundamental right of every citizen and group to assemble peacefully and express themselves freely, since freedom of conscience and religion are basic human rights. Simpson however said that the criminalisation of samesex intimacy is a violation of homosexuals’ human rights to privacy, protection from discrimination and free expression. “Public policy and law-making cannot be determined on the basis of religious beliefs, religious doctrines are irrelevant when it comes to matters of the
state,” he posited. The advocate described Apostle London’s actions as personal attacks on his character and is considering taking legal action against him. “We believe that London’s personal attacks on social media and local television are defamatory and amount to harassment. We are exploring all legal avenues at our disposal to address these injuries to SASOD and I.” SASOD launched an arm in Linden in 2016 and since then Simpson said that the organisation has been working to empower the LGBT community and to make sure they have the best attainable mental, sexual and physical health. “Due to the intense homophobia promoted by the likes of London, Linden is a very difficult environment for LGBT to live and feel safe,” he added. Apostle London disclosed that a similar march will soon occur on the Wismar shore.
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MMP Foundation helping to reduce school dropouts T H E M o h a b i r Mookoorchan Persaud Foundation (MMP) has donated a quantity of school-related items to students who performed exceptionally during the academic year and to those starting school in the new school year. A total of 41 scholarships were awarded to students of Region Six, 19 backpacks filled with school stationery, Internet services vouchers valid for one year were awarded to three students and cash vouchers for transportation were also donated to learners. A bicycle was donated to another student at a simple handing-over ceremony at Clifton, Tain, East Corentyne, Berbice. The newly formed foundation was established by Mohabir Persaud with the aim of helping students at his alma mater JC Chandisingh to alleviate school dropouts and to ensure that children are offered equal opportunity to an education, despite their circumstances. In October 2016, the foundation assisted students
Former Regional Education Officer Shafiran Bhajan hands over a certificate of commitment to a student who will sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examinations (CSEC) next year
to pay for their examinations as well as provided scholarships. Persaud was brought up in poverty, but gained an opportunity to turn around his life when he migrated to the U.S. Being educated, he pushed himself, working three jobs to now become the manager at a respected dental-care facility. He used the money he
earned from his bonuses from his three jobs to set up the foundation. His aim is to assist those throughout East Berbice and to eventually expand across the length and breadth of Guyana. “The aim of the foundation is to assist students that are having difficulties staying in school and completing their education due to poverty. The sad reality
is that many students have the desire and ability, but they are forced to drop out of school due to financial constraints. Our aim is to prevent these students from dropping out and ensure they receive an education, since with an education you can break the cycle of poverty. It is not where you are or where you came from, but where you can go. Education makes this possible,” he said. Speaking at the ceremony, head of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) Berbice branch and former Regional Education Officer Shafiran Bhajan charged the recipients to make good
use of the opportunities provided them. “These students are now endowed with the resources that will allow them the chance to be successful in their examinations ahead, so that they will be able to climb the matriculation platform for which they can be privileged to compete in the global arena in the world of work or the opportunity for better learning. I want to acknowledge the MMP Foundation of Excellence for playing a great role of cushioning the effects of poverty by helping young people to climb the ladder of social mobility.” Meanwhile, recipient of the first scholarship from the foundation Mahendra
Phagwah reflected on the struggles faced while trying to attain an education. He alluded that both of his parents are disabled and could not afford to send him to school. While in Fourth form at the Berbice High School, he was forced to drop out to provide care for his parents and sister. After dropping out of school, he was given a second chance to continue his education at the JC Chandisingh Secondary School where he wrote 13 subjects and gained passes in all. In thanking the foundation, Phagwah said his story is testimony that poverty is not a curse and could be an inspiration to success.
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McCullum sink Warriors to another defeat Lethal United hit four again Narine, …TKR through to CPL knockout stages Liverpool scrape first win By Rajiv Bisnauth
Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
By Neil Robinson LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester United netted four goals for the second consecutive week in the Premier League to rout Swansea City 4-0 on Saturday and ensure their highest-scoring start to a season for 110 years. United manager Jose Mourinho said he “let the horses run freely” at the Liberty Stadium while goals also flowed at Southampton, who snuffed out an astonishing comeback by 10-man West Ham United to win 3-2. Liverpool struggled to squeeze past Crystal Palace 1-0 and promoted Brighton and Hove Albion suffered their second defeat in two games, 2-0 at Leicester City. Mourinho’s United completed their victory with a devastating late burst in which Romelu Lukaku, Paul Pogba and substitute Anthony Martial scored between the 80th and 84th minutes after Eric Bailly had netted late in the first half with his first goal for the club. United, who scored twice late on to beat West Ham by
the same score last weekend, have one of the strongest benches in the league and it was Martial’s 75th-minute introduction that began the mayhem. “It was 1-0 and we thought let’s go for more and exploit the fragile morale of the opponent. Our bench is really good - the players have a lot to give,” Mourinho said. Martial capped the rout with a delightful strike after he picked the ball up 35 yards out, cut inside and thumped the ball past a despairing Lukasz Fabianksi. “There was happiness in our play,” Mourinho said. “There was no need to close the door. “Swansea badly missed the departed Gylfi Sigurdsson and injured Fernando Llorente and look to be in desperate need of reinforcements in the transfer window. Southampton got the better of an astonishing game of two penalties, a sending-off and an ultimately futile West Ham fightback at St Mary’s. After the home side went 2-0 through Manolo Gabbia-
dini and a Dusan Tadic penalty, and West Ham’s Marko Arnautovic was sent off for elbowing Jack Stephens, the Hammers started to play. Mexican forward Javier Hernandez scored his first goals for the club to bring hope of an unlikely point before Saints’ second penalty deep into stoppage-time was converted by Charlie Austin. Liverpool secured their first league win of the season, and inflicted Palace’s second defeat, when Sadio Mane broke the Anfield deadlock after 73 minutes, although Christian Benteke should have given the visitors the lead moments earlier. Watford, who drew with Liverpool last week, beat Bournemouth 2-0 with a first goal from new Brazilian striker Richarlison while West Bromwich Albion won 1-0 at Burnley with a late goal from Hal Robson-Kanu who was then sent off for elbowing. The win was Albion’s second of the season and put them level on points with leaders Manchester United.
Australia spearhead Starc to miss India white-ball tour MELBOURNE (Reuters) Australia’s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc will miss the limited-overs tour of India starting next month as he continues his recovery from a foot injury.
Mitchell Starc
Australia will play India in five one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches but Starc’s injury was taking longer to heal than expected and he would be rested to boost his chances of playing England in the Ashes series, the team said on Friday.
“We have recently reviewed the progress of Mitchell’s right foot injury and the healing process has been slower than we would have liked,” team physio David Beakley said in a statement. “Consequently, in order to ensure his best possible preparation for the Ashes, he will be unavailable for the tour of India and will continue his rehab in Australia with an aim to have him play for New South Wales in the domestic one-day cup.” Fast bowling all-rounder James Faulkner, who was overlooked for the Champions Trophy and missed out on a national contract, has instead been recalled, along with Nathan Coulter-Nile. They join a pace battery featuring Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, with all-rounder Hilton Cartwright.
Uncapped Western Australia paceman Jason Behrendorff has been selected in Australia’s T20 squad following his return from an injury setback, along with veteran all-rounder Dan Christian and Tasmania wicketkeeper Tim Paine. The limited-overs tour starts Sept. 17. One-day squad: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan CoulterNile, Pat Cummins, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa. T20 squad: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Jason Behrendorff, Dan Christian, Nathan CoulterNile, Patrick Cummins, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Glenn Maxwell, Tim Paine, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa.
THE Guyana Amazon Warriors gave another unconvincing performance, and crashed to their fifth defeat in the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League twenty20 tournament, yesterday, when Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) comfortably out-muscled them by seven wickets. The Warriors were unsuccessful in defending a target of 131, as an unbeaten 65 off 45 balls from Brendon McCullum led the visitors to victory with 25 balls to spear in match 17th of the competition, at the National Stadium, Providence. Earlier in the day, and on another tough pitch for batting, Jason Mohammed was the only player for the Warriors who proved his worth against some superb slow bowling, with an attractive 58-ball 66. The Knight Riders’ spinners played a key part in restricting the hosts, with Sunil Narine being the standout. His spell of 1 for 11 ensured the Guyana Amazon Warriors were restricted to 130 for 5. After being put in to bat, the Warriors innings got off to a frenetic start, with Chadwick Walton guiding consecutive leg-side boundaries off Ronsford Beaton, but his aggressive nature quickly faded in the second over when he was caught on the deep mid-wicket boundary off left-arm spinner, Khary Pierre for an 8-ball 13. Things got worse shortly after when Martin Guptill scratchy innings came to an end in the fourth over. Guptill, after facing ten balls for his four, was deceived in flight from a special delivery from
Narine, which spun back to smash into the stumps. Those two dismissals brought Mohammed and Assad Fudadin to the middle. They provided a brief period of consolidation and gave the innings some fresh impetus, with Mohammed lifting Pierre for a straight boundary before Fudadin smashed wide of cover for the first six of the innings in the fifth over. Fudadin lifted Dwayne Bravo down the ground before Mohammed smashed him to the point boundary, which meant the Warriors ended the Powerplay 39-2. After that brief partnership, Fudadin was dismissed by left-arm spinner Nikita Miller for 13. The wicket of Fudadin meant Gajanand Singh joined Mohammed at the crease and together the pair combined in a busy partnership of 63 off 58 balls, which lifted them pass 100. Mohammed stepped up his assault, clattering Miller for a straight six, and at the half-way stage, the Warriors were 61-3. The 11th over yielded eleven runs, but while Mohammed continued onwards unperturbed, the late surge never came despite having wickets in hand. They managed just 29 runs off the last four overs. Singh made a run-a-ball 27 before he went in the 17th over to Ronsford Beaton. Mohammed was dismissed off the innings last over. The tournament leaders’ chase started badly when Narine went to left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul in the
inning second over. Sohail Tanvir then bowled Colin Munroe in the third over to leave the visitors at 18 for 2. But McCullum and Bravo then took control of the chase, despite McCullum being put through a tough examination from leg-spinner Rashid Khan. The New Zealander was all at sea to Khan but he was determined to fight it out. He was put down by wicketkeeper Walton on 21 off Khan, and then survived a close leg before wicket appeal, but thereafter, McCullum and Bravo blossomed at ease, and even a double bowling change after the Powerplay could not have prevented the steady flow of runs, as the pair helped themselves well to the multiple scoring opportunities on offer. They were particular and equally harsh against Permaul and off-spinner Steven Jacobs, hitting a series of boundaries. However, Rayad Emrit ended the 56-run stand, when he bowled Bravo for 27 off 19 balls. McCullum continued his assault, smashing Roshan Primus for consecutive sixes and a four in the 15th over, which yielded 20 runs. McCullum capitalised on his reprieves, striking four fours and four sixes and sharing an unbroken stand with Denesh Ramdin, who brought an end to proceedings with a six. The result has sent Trinbago Knight Riders through to the knockout stages, and leaves the Warriors facing an uphill task to qualify. The Warriors will play the Barbados Tridents from 18:00hrs this evening.
Guyana capture male and female Caribbean Squash Championship titles
GUYANA, for the first time since 2013, claimed both the male and female titles at the Senior Caribbean Squash Championship which wrapped up yesterday in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Sunil Seth, Richard Chin, Alex Arjoon, Nyron Joseph, Jason Ray Khalil, Jean Claude Jeffrey, Shomari Wiltshire, Ashley Khalil, Mary Fung-a-Fat, Taylor Fernandes, Larissa Wiltshire, Victoria Arjoon, Ramon Chan-A-Sue, David Fernandes, Alwyn Callender and Juanita Fernandes made up the Guyanese contingent that took part in the August 13 – 19 event in Kingstown.
Guyana’s female team was dominant in its quest for the title, but were made to work hard when they faced Barbados in their final game. Larissa Wiltshire got Guyana off to a good start when she defeated Jada Smith-Padmore in straight sets (11-6, 11-4, 11-4) while Victoria Arjune followed suit, winning 11-4 11-3 11-9 over Sumaria Suleiman. H o w e v e r, B a r b a d o s would even the score at 2 – 2 with Ashley Khalil and Mary Fung-a-Fat both losing to Megan Best and Karen Meakins, respectively. T h e re s u l t s o f t h e matches meant that Guy-
ana’s hopes of winning a female overall title for the first time in four years was on Taylor Fernandes who had to play Liianna white in the final game. Fernandes went on to defeat White 11 – 4, 11 – 1, 11 – 3 to hand Guyana the well-deserved win. Barbados finished second, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) placed third, while defending champions Trinidad and Tobago finished at the bottom of the table. Following in the women’s footstep, Guyana’s men defeated Jamaica 3 – 2 in their final game. The team is expected to return to Guyana today.
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‘Mole’ DeNobrega wins feature Malta Supreme 35-lap cycle race TEAM Evolution’s Paul `mole’ DeNobrega returned one hour 19 minutes 44 seconds to win the feature 35-lap race of the Banks DIH Limited sponsored Malta Supreme 11-race cycle programme which was staged in the National Park yesterday. The event which took place on the inner circuit of the National Park and which was organized by cycling coach Hassan Mohamed, saw DeNobrega in company with Andrew Hicks, Jamal John, Kemuel Moses and Christopher Griffith, breaking from the other starters
and opening a commanding lead. In the process, Hicks picked up the first two of eight prime prizes. The peloton was working feverishly to make a connection with the leaders and it was not until after nine laps were completed that that connection was made. From then on, the lead kept interchanging but Hicks stole the march on the leading bunch and led for three consecutive laps before being joined by John and Moses and subsequently, DeNobrega joined them and they worked togeth-
‘Las Leonas’ coming for Pan Am Hockey Championships glory
WHEN they arrive in Guyana to participate in the Pan American Indoor Championships, two-time women’s champions, Argentina, will be among the favourites to win the title. The championships which commences on October 14, at the refurbished Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, will see Argentina, also known as Las Leonas or the Lionesses, join another two-time champion, Canada, along with USA, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Barbados, Mexico and host Guyana, as the participants in the women’s category. Argentina, the country that has produced eighttime world player of the y e a r, L u c i a n a Ay m a r, dubbed the Maradona of hockey and someone who is recognised the world over as one of the greatest female players ever, will no doubt be aiming to capture the title and qualify for the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup, scheduled for February 2018 in Berlin, Germany. The Argentine star was so internationally recognisable that at one stage she was described as being more marketable than German tennis legend, Steffi Graf, and snapping on the heels of Venus Williams. Argentina is currently ranked 13th in the world, four places behind top ranked PAHF member Canada, that has a ranking of 9th, while Uruguay, who has been the surprise of the Region, is placed at 18th. The powerhouse South American nation has been amongst the best teams in
field hockey, appearing in five Hockey World Cup finals, including the first final in 1974, which they lost 1–0 to the Netherlands. They had to settle for second place in two more finals before winning the tournament for the first time in 2002, beating the Netherlands 4–3 in the final on penalty strokes after a 1–1 draw. Led by Aymar, Argentina was again the winner in 2010, beating the Netherlands 3–1.
er. However, Moses was dropped. With approximately 125 metres remaining for the finish, John jumped the leaders from midfield but DeNobrega responded and put his wheel in front to win from John, Hicks, Alonzo Ambrose, Marcus Keiler and Moses respectively. Ambrose won three prime prizes, John two and Keilier one. In other results, Nigel Dugid won the 10-lap race for juveniles, ahead of Adealie Hodge and Curtis Dey respectively. Dugid’s
time for the event was 25 minutes 41.40 seconds. Warren Mckay won the five-lap race for veterans under 50 years of age, ahead of Leer Nunes and Ian Jackson respectively, while Kennard Lovell was the winner of the five-lap race for veterans. Jonathan Ramsuchit won the three-lap race for boys 12-14 years of age. The five-lap race for mountain bikers was won by Nigel Jacobs, while Akran Singh placed second. The BMX boys’ 6-9 years two-lap event was won by Tarad Barrington.
Team Evolution’s Paul `Mole’ DeNobrega (second right) accepts his award from a representative of Banks DIH while, looking on at extreme right is race organizer, Hassan Mohamed.
Burnett’s hat-trick leads Lazio to 3rd win; Strikers also notch third
ARIEL Burnett continued his fine goal-scoring exploits when he blasted a hat-trick yesterday to lead Lazio Football Club to their third win in four matches when rivalry in the GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Intra Association League continued at the Bartica Secondary School ground. The victim was Beacons Football Club which suffered their third loss in as many matches. Yesterday’s second match also saw Strikers FC notching up win number three in four encounters thus far. The wins for Lazio and Strikers saw them joining points leaders Rising Stars on 9 points each. However, Rising Stars still hold pole position with a
superior goal difference of +21 to Lazio’s +5 and Strikers’ +3.
Burnett has now taken his goal tally to six, scoring in all
Ariel Burnett (centre) flanked by Ezekiel Kerry (left) and Toriano Pandey.
four of Lazio’s matches. Yesterday, he found the back of the nets in the 6th, 14th and 31st minute. Ezekiel King scored his fifth of the league when he was on target in the 30th minute. The other goal came off the boot of Toriano Panday in the 55th minute to complete a solid win for Lazio. Strikers FC, led by one goal each from Jermain Mitchell (23rd min), Andre Burnett (39 th ) and Shawn Hubbard (55 th) completed a 3-1 triumph over Beacons, whose lone goal came from Troy Dougan in the 50th minute. Caption: Ariel Burnett (centre) flanked by Ezekiel Kerry (left) and Toriano Pandey.
Police steamroll Black Pearl in Corona Invitational football - wins also for Northern Rangers, Riddim Squad By Stephan Sookram
Argentina’s Luciana Aymar
At a continental level, Argentina has dominated and won every tournament they played, including the Pan American Cup and the Pan American Games, leaving the United States in second place in most of the events, until they lost the 2011 Pan American Games final for the first time. No matter who is in front of them, the Argentines will definitely be a force to reckon with at the upcoming championships.
THE Corona Invitational Football tournament, organised by the Petra organisation continued on Friday evening with Police FC steamrolling Black Pearl FC. The Police side was in no playful mood as they opened the proceedings at the GFC Ground Bourda, ending the game 12-0. Scoring commenced as early as the 10th minute thanks to Dwain Jacobs, with Keon Duke doubling 10 minutes later to take the score to 2-0. The onslaught didn’t stop there as Quincy Holder (30th), Rawle Thornhill (42nd) and Anthio Wallace (45th) ensured that the score reflected the dominance of the eventual winners. Police resumed their scoring as soon as the second half commenced with Jacobs scoring in the 46th, before
Holder completed his brace in the 56th and his hat trick in the 64th. Thronhill scored his second and the team’s 9th in the 65th and the doors were left open with Duke scoring his second in the 67th. Holder scored his fourth in the 68th with Wallace scoring the team’s 12th in the 74th. The second game featured an upset as Northern Rangers
disposed of Pele 3-0 with Anthony Sancho netting twice in the 7th and 22nd and Stephon Reynolds scoring in the 36th. The Rangers were up for a serious task and sent a stern warning to those teams in the tournament, as their positivity and build up play allowed their victory on the night. In the third game, it was all Rolex Smith as the Riddim Squad over-
Police were in no mood to toy around as they mauled Black Pearl FC 12-0. (Adrian Narine Photo)
came the Santos side in another shock encounter. Santos had no answer for the lone goal that stood in front of them and while they had numerous chances, they were unable to make them count. The next round of matches tomorrow (Monday) will pit Flamingo FC against East Veldt, followed by Camptown FC playing Beacons and Western Tigers playing GFC.
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What’s wrong with the Amazon Warriors Asks Stephan Sookram
FROM being one of the most competitive teams in the last few editions of the Caribbean Premier League, the Guyana Amazon Warriors have surely fallen from grace. But what are the possible factors that have turned the revered Warriors into household kitchen cats?
close to his international average of just under 34. He has had a high score of 33 against the Tallawahs here in Guyana but it was as painful as watching paint dry. He has looked out of his element in the Caribbean and not at all comfortable. His strike rests at an even 100 with his overall strike rate being 126.76. He has hit a total of 8 fours and
Amazon Warriors captain Martin Guptill
MISFIRING MARTIN One key factor could be the misfiring of Martin Guptill, whose average in the tournament is just over 21 runs per match, nothing
4 Sixes so far in the 2017 edition of the tournament. But probably the most important factor is his win/ loss ratio at the helm of the Guyana based franchise,
losing five and winning one. There have also been repeated remarks by the commentary team about his fitness. Some have speculated that he may be playing with an injury, having seen the way he sometimes chases down the ball.
ROLE PLAY The absence of a decent finisher remains something that they must think about, moving forward as they face an almost impossible task of qualifying for the playoffs. The obvious absence of Chris Lynn who was in daunting form heading into the tournament cannot be overstated, but they are yet to find a replacement for the hard hitting Australian. There has not been that confidence in the middle order that is needed after the openers depart and the hole that remains, a hole once filled by men like James Franklyn and Mohammed Hafeez.
SUPERMAN JASON Quite clearly, the Warriors remain reliant on Jason Mohammed with the bat. He has been their leading scorer thus far with 186 runs from six matches with an average of 37.2. But outside of him, there has been no one else putting up their hand to lead the challenge. Credit must go to Gajanand Singh for trying on occasions and he has put in more than one useful cameo, but the feeling remains that once Mohammed departs then the Warriors are now war-less. LACK OF EXPERIENCE Say what you will, the Warriors definitely lack the experience they once boasted in recent years. Both Denesh Ramdin and Sunil Narine have returned to the Trinidad Franchise and while GAW has been blessed with Ryad Emritt and Versammy Permaul, they are a bit lost for experience as Caribbean batsmen. In recent times, they have
been boosted by men like Hafeez, Tillakaratne Dilshan and to some extent Ramdin but there is again the feeling that there are not enough ‘old heads’ to plan the attack. Sure Guptill can be considered one of the more seasoned players there but after him then who? Babar Azam has only started his international career last year and while there is youth within him, the inexperience still shines through in some of his shot selection. ROGER AND CO.
Amazon Warriors Head Coach Roger Harper
Whether we want to admit It or not, the bulk of the blame has to be placed solely at the feet of the management team of the Warriors; yes, Roger and Co. What they have been doing during the practice sessions clearly is not translating into match day performances for the batsmen. Again, apart from Mohammed and Singh, the remaining lot has not exuded the confidence of a team desirous of capturing their first CPL title and one can only speculate what is being said to them behind closed doors. But the head coach and his assistant, Esaun Crandon, must bring something new to the table to ensure a complete turn-around in the batting. What would be interesting to see in the coming days is what changes are being made to the team (if any) and their ability to overcome different challenges. Credit, however, must go to the bowling department which has basically done what it needs to do to ensure decent totals.
Guyana lose final match 5 – 6 on Lehmann calls for help from former players in open letter ‘sudden death’ to Puerto Rico ... Mexico defeat USA 2 – 0 to win CONCACAF U-15 Championship
Guyana’s National U-15 team prior to kickoff against Puerto Rico yesterday in Florida, USA.
GUYANA wrapped up their showing at the 2017 Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Under-15 Championship, with a heart-breaking 6 – 5 ‘sudden-death’ penalty loss to Puerto Rico yesterday at the world-renowned IMG Academy campus in Bradenton, Florida. It was the junior Jaguars’ fourth match in the tournament and coach, Bryan Joseph, had wanted to pick up his second win, having defeated St Lucia 1 – 0 two days prior. However, despite getting the game’s fight goal which came from Orville Daniels in the 31st minute, Guyana conceded in the 60th minute when Yavieric Ortiz scored for Puerto Rico.
The two sides failed to capitalise on several chances, and with the scores tied at the end of regulation time, it went down to penalty kicks. Both sides were very careful with their kicks, and after being even again, it went down to sudden death, with the Spanish speaking Island prevailing 6 – 5. Guyana had opened the tournament with a draw (1 – 1) against St Kitts and Nevis, but fell 3 – 1 to rivals Suriname, but rebounded against St Lucia (winning 1 – 0) to finish second in Group-F of the tournament. The CONCACAF Under-15 Championship was said to be the largest CONCACAF tournament ever, including 39 Member Associations and over 700 youth players from across the Confederation.
To ensure sporting balance and to fully leverage this unique development opportunity for the full contingent of young CONCACAF players, participating associations were divided into division play in which all 39 teams were guaranteed a maximum amount of competitive matches throughout the week. The structure included three separate divisions, with seeding based on each Member Association’s performance over the last three editions of the CONCACAF Under-17 Men’s Championship, as well as qualifying for that event. Within each division, the participating teams had been divided into groups of four teams (with one group of three) for round-robin play.
OFF-field disputes might have made most of the headlines in Australian cricket over the past ten months, but head coach Darren Lehmann is looking to put that firmly behind him. In an open letter, he called on all stakeholders in Australian cricket - most pointedly past great cricketers - for any advice that would help turn around what has been a disappointing year for the national side, and return to “where we belong”. “We as support staff are always looking for ways to improve and welcome any advice from you, so if you have any ideas however ‘out there’ they might be, please reply below,” Lehmann wrote. “Your advice is always helpful. After all, we as players both past and present don’t have all the answers and as support staff we are always looking for the best way to drive us forward in the game.” Addressing the letter to the “past and current players and members of CA and ACA”, Lehmann did not shirk away from acEnglish Racing Tips Pontefract 09:50 hrs Bear Valley 10:25 hrs Tectonic 11:00 hrs Peticoatgovernment 11:35 hrs Lomu 12:10 hrs Caravela 12:40 hrs Dream Bounty 13:10 hrs Mr Orange Southwell 09:00 hrs Azzuri 09:35 hrs Skilled 10:10 hrs Srt Of Payroll
knowledging results weren’t “as we would have liked” in the past year, but also mounted a staunch defence of his players’ training, work ethic and desire.
Darren Lehmann
He sought to dispel “misconceptions” that fast bowlers didn’t bowl enough, saying that their training regimen ensured that was “not the case at the highest level”. While much of the content of the letter reads like a fairly standard case of a coach defending his beleaguered team against what he felt was unwarranted criticism, it is the repeated invi10:40 hrs Braavos 11:15 hrs Balkinstown 11:50 hrs A Touch Of Sparkle 12:25 hrs Full Irish Racing Tips Curragh 08:40 hrs Threeandfourpence 09:10 hrs Theobald 09:45 hrs Treasuring 10:20 hrs Happily 10:55 hrs Central Square 11:30 hrs Kandahari 12:00 hrs Mainicin 12:30 hrs Zeeyalater
tation to past players to get more involved with everyday preparations that stands out. “It was only 12 months ago we were number 1 in Tests and One Dayers and for us to get back there it will only happen with all of us going in the one direction and supporting Australian cricket. ‘ If at any point you would like to come into the change rooms or to come along to training and see how we do things and prepare, please let us know and we can facilitate the process. The players and staff love seeing you guys around and taking through the game you played.” The recent pay dispute that brought Australian cricket to a standstill was resolved ahead of a key period for Australian cricket. A two-Test series in Bangladesh begins on August 27, before the side heads off for a limited-overs tour of India. That is followed by an Ashes series and a full tour of South Africa which concludes in March 2018.(ESPN Cricinfo)
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 20, 2017
Landmark day-night Test...
Broad elcipses Botham as England thrash Windies in just three days
BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - Stuart Broad hogged the limelight in the dark as England routed a hopelessly outclassed West Indies in the landmark day-night Test match at Edgbaston, wrapping up victory by an innings and 209 runs on Saturday. Broad became the second most prolific wicket taker in English Test history, taking his 384th scalp on a remarkable day for the home attack as they shared around 19 wickets to put the visitors’ callow batting line-up to the sword. The paceman went past Ian Botham’s haul of 383 wickets while ripping the heart out of the visitors’ second innings to move to second on the England all-time list behind his strike partner James Anderson, who also enjoyed a big day. Watching in the Sky Sports commentary box amid an excited full-house enjoying the conclusion to the first day-night Test to be staged in England, Botham enthused: “It’s fantastic. “It would have been an anti-climax (for Broad) to do it in Leeds in (the second Test) with the atmosphere as great as it is here.” The great all-rounder then added with a laugh: “It just makes me feel
Jermaine Blackwood attacked as West Indies folded around him. He made 79 not out but the tourists were asked to follow on bloody old!” On a cold, damp day, England had been, first, inspired by Anderson and Toby Roland-Jones as they forced the Windies to follow on, bowling them out for 168 by early in the postlunch session in response to England’s mammoth 514 for eight declared. Anderson had led the charge with three wickets and a run-out. Then with the floodlights on and the pink ball wob-
bling around, captain Joe Root naturally invited the Windies to endure further nightmares.
This time Anderson and Roland-Jones, who had also taken two first-innings wickets, soon struck again before Broad stole the show as the Windies once more crumbled, this time being bowled out for 137. Having taken tea with four down in their second innings and already resigned to going one down in the three-test series, Broad, watched in the crowd by his father, former England batsman Chris Broad, chose his moment to move from support act to main man. The hors d’oeuvre was two wickets in two balls, first trapping Roston Chase lbw and then having captain Jason Holder caught at slip by Alastair Cook, to equal Botham’s mark, only to be thwarted in his bid to be the first man ever to take three test hat-tricks by Kemar Roach’s straight bat. Then, he produced a beauty that nipped back
to bowl Shane Dowrich, a fitting record-breaking delivery before he went on to finish with figures of 3-34. England’s all-time leading wicket taker Anderson and Roland-Jones, continuing the excellent start to his test career, then finished the job, with the Middlesex bowler securing the final wicket as Ben Stokes snaffled Alzarri Joseph at slip. Only Jermaine Blackwood came out of the debacle with much credit for the West Indies with his laudable, counter-attacking 79 not out in the first innings amid the carnage. Anderson, who had set the ball rolling with the first wicket on Friday, continued where he left off after a false start when the players had to come off after just one ball because of rain. On the resumption, he produced a sharp, rearing
delivery off a length that had Kyle Hope helplessly steering the ball to Stokes at gully to set the tone for the day. He also then ran out Kieran Powell, who had embarked on a calamitous quick single, with a direct hit before he got rid of Chase, inducing him to play on. Only Jamaican Blackwood, who struck two sixes and nine fours, stood f ir m w ith h is 4 9 - b all half-century, going on to his 79 off just 76 balls. Anderson finished with 3-34 off his 15 overs in the first innings with Roland-Jones and Broad both taking two wickets apiece. Cook, who won the man of the match award for his epic 10-hour 243 that had set up the win, said with a smile: “This is unbelievable for an old man like me. It’s always nice to win and contribute with a big score.”
Jaguars cart off OSCL All Stars feature
SCOREBOARD
ENGLAND 1st innings 514 for 8 decl (A. Cook 243, J. Root 136, D. Malan 65; R. Chase 4-113)
WEST INDIES 1st innings (Overnight: 44-1) K. Brathwaite c Bairstow b Anderson 0 K. Powellrun out (Anderson) 20 K. Hope c Stokes b Anderson 25 S. Hope b Roland-Jones 15 R. Chase b Anderson 0 J. Blackwood not out 79 S. Dowrich lbw b Roland-Jones 4 J. Holder c Bairstow b Ali 11 K. Roach b Broad 5 A. Joseph lbw b Broad 6 M. Cummins run out (Westley) 0 Extras: (lb-1 w-2) 3 Total: (all out, 47 overs) 168 Fall of wickets: 1-0 K. Brathwaite,2-45 K. Hope,3-47 K. Powell,4-47 R. Chase,5-89 S. Hope,6-101 S. Dowrich,7-129 J. Holder,8-134 K. Roach,9-162 A. Joseph,10-168 M. Cummins Bowling: J. Anderson 15 - 6 - 34 3(w-1), S. Broad 16 - 3 - 47 – 2, T. Roland-Jones 6 - 0 - 31 - 2(w-1),
B. Stokes 7 - 0 - 40 – 0,M. Ali 3 - 1 - 15 – 1. WEST INDIES 2nd innings K. Brathwaite lbw b Ali 40 K. Powell c Cook b Anderson 10 K. Hope lbw b Roland-Jones 12 S. Hope c Root b Stokes 4 R. Chase lbw b Broad 24 J. Blackwood st Bairstow b Ali 12 S. Dowrich b Broad 5 J. Holder c Cook b Broad 0 K. Roach b Anderson 12 A. Joseph c Stokes b Roland-Jones 8 M. Cummins not out 0 Extras: (b-9 lb-1) 10 Total: (all out, 45.4 overs) 137 Fall of wickets: 1-15 K. Powell,2-41 K. Hope,3-60 S. Hope,476 K. Brathwaite,5-102 J. Blackwood,6-104 R. Chase,7-104 J. Holder,8-115 S. Dowrich,9-137 K. Roach,10-137 A. Joseph Bowling: J. Anderson 7 - 2 - 12 – 2,S. Broad 10 - 4 - 34 – 3, T. Roland-Jones 6.4 - 3 - 18 – 2,B. Stokes 9 - 4 - 9 – 1, M. Ali 13 2 - 54 – 2.
Jaguars skipper, Shiv Persaud, collects the winning trophy from OSCL treasurer, Kim Sue.
TORONTO, Canada -- The much-vaunted Jaguars XI, comprising several prominent Conference A players, were made to work hard to earn victory over Kaieteur in last Saturday’s All Stars game, played at the Ashtonbee ground, Scarborough. The feature was part of the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) annual Family Day which attracted several children of members of the
association and also saw the finals of the Caribbean Sensation sponsored 10/10 tournament. Set 118 for victory, after bowling out their opponents for 117 in the 15-over affair, Kaieteur were 92 for four when their overs expired, going down by 25 runs. The top scorers were Kumar (16) and Reyaz Prahalad (13) while extras played a huge part with 29, including 21 wides. Earlier, Jaguars were in-
debted to Riaz Kadir who hit 24 with one six and a four, Sunil Ramkissoon, whose 22 included two sixes and a four and Aftab Shamshudeen, who slammed a quick-fire 21 with two fours. Extras were again in the limelight with 15 wides, 12 leg-byes and five byes. Skipper Munniram Karran bagged two for 16, Kenny Ramsaywack two for 19 and Prahalad one for 35 in his solitary over.
Replica trophies were presented to the winning and losing teams, Most Valuable Players, Shamshudeen of Jaguars and Alvin Budhram of Kaieteur. All the players and officials, including managers, Vish Jadunauth (Jaguars) and Frederick Halley (Kaieteur) were also recipients of medals. The OSCL annual presentation, dinner and dance is set for Saturday, October 21 next.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 20, 2017
What’s wrong with the Amazon Warriors
See Page 30
Narine, McCullum sink Warriors to another defeat See page 28
Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin and Dwayne Bravo celebrating the wicket of Martin Guptill. (Photo: Adrian Narine)
Jason Mohammed was dismissed off the last ball to Dwayne Bravo (not in picture) after a well composed innings. (Photo: Adrian Narine)
… TKR through to CPL knockout stages
Broad elcipses Botham as England thrash Windies in just three days
Guyana capture male and female Caribbean Squash Championship titles See page 28
See page 31
England’s Stuart Broad went past went past Ian Botham’s haul of 383 wickets to move to second on the England all-time list behind his strike partner James Anderson
CHAMPIONS! Guyana’s male and female teams after capturing the Senior Caribbean Squash Championship in St Vincent and the Grenadines
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, AUGUST 20, 2017