Guyana Chronicle E-paper 1-12-2020

12th January, 2020

' No.105877

PNCR condemns PPP’s vile attack on President’s health

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‘Campaign in good spirit’ PAGE

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…Western diplomats urge hearty, respectful competition

CDC rushes aid to flood-hit Leguan SEE PAGE 20

New water systems for several North Rupununi villages PAGE

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Jaipaul Sharma switches to PNCR

SEE INSIDE

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The Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard continues to support the emergency responses of the Civil Defence Commission in riverine communities. A team comprising volunteers and staff of the Commission on Saturday was deployed to conduct an assessment and distribute supplies to the flood-affected communities in Leguan.

In this photo, CDC gets ready to dispatch flood relief to the area

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PNCR condemns PPP’s vile attack on President’s health THE People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) on Saturday condemned in the strongest of terms, the recent vile and personal attacks by known PPP activists on the health of the President and Commander in Chief of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency David Arthur Granger.

This is not the first time that the PPP has attacked the health of the President of this nation, the PNCR said in a statement. On Friday following the handing over of his party’s nomination papers PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo was asked by a journalist what would be his position if the party’s Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali, who is facing 19 criminal charges, is convicted of the fraud. Jagdeo sought to brush aside the issue, but answered “What is APNU plan if Granger gets a relapse and can’t continue for the elections…”

Minutes after known PPP activist, Edward Layne in a most disgusting post on Facebook and obviously, following the lead by the opposition leader, described the President in very disparaging terms.

Jagdeo also went on to say, “what if somebody drops dead on the other side.”

The PNCR said “this is coded language by the PPP to sow the seeds of discord! This is a sinister and dangerous plan by the opposition to divide this country, promote ethnic violence and cause mayhem.

The PNCR will not allow this to happen and calls on all Guyanese to rebuke the PPP’s attempt to divide this nation.” The PNCR said it stands by its leader and his positive and continuous recovery. “To the credit of President Granger, he is a beacon of light for all those persons who suffer from cancer. Further, if President Granger can survive cancer doing the job of President, then recovery is possible for other cancer

patients. President Granger did not give up because of his illness, instead, he fought it and continues to fight it so that he can serve all the

by its leader. “President Granger is committed to providing a good life for all Guyanese, including persons suffering from cancer and other

ed cancers such as leukaemia, this means you’ll have a decrease in the number of cancer cells. For solid tumours, that means that the tumour

President David Granger greets adoring supporters during a recent elections campaign rally

people of this great country,” the PNCR stated.

“This is testimony of a man who is an absolute, true public servant. He does not see himself as the first citizen of Guyana, but as the first servant of the people of Guyana. The attack by the PPP on the President’s health is an attack on all Guyanese living with cancer and cancer survivors. It is an attack on their right to equality of treatment and non-discrimination based on illness. Is there no decency left in the PPP?” The PNCR also called on the PPP to disavow the recent Facebook attacks on the President and recant its own divisive statement made

diseases; persons with lost opportunities; persons in underserved communities; persons in the coalition; persons in the opposition; persons on the fence and even persons incarcerated. Long live persons living with and surviving cancer! Long live President David Granger!” the PNCR statement concluded.

CANCER IN REMISSION Back in October last year it was reported that President Granger’s cancer is now in remission, following a scheduled medical evaluation in Cuba. Cancer remission occurs when the signs and symptoms of cancer have lessened or are undetectable. In blood-relat-

CARICOM expresses condolences as wildfires hit Australia The 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping has extended sympathy to Australia where the worst wildfires in years have resulted in the deaths of at least 27 people.

CARICOM Secretary General, Irwin LaRocque, in accepting the credentials of Bruce Lendon as Australia’s Ambassador to CARICOM on Friday, said the extra-ordinary fires and the devastating storms in the Caribbean are evidence of the effects of climate change, stressing the

need for building reliance to combat the phenomenon.

Lendon confirmed that the fires were the worst in his country’s history and noted that there would be no respite in the immediate future.

LaRocque also took the opportunity to thank Australia for their assistance in developing the human resources of the Community through the grant of scholarships in various fields.

size has decreased. The decrease must last for at least one month before the cancer is considered to be in remission.

In a statement, Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba Halim Majeed had disclosed that following the evaluation, the medical specialists at Cuba’s Centro de Investigaciones Medico Quirurgicas (CIMEQ) expressed complete satisfaction with the state of the President’s health and have explained that the President’s ailment is now in remission.

Majeed said then that in keeping with the strict medical procedures of the Cuban health system, the Head of State is expected to return to Cuba for another scheduled rou-

tine medical check in January 2020.

Thereafter, the next evaluation will be in June 2020.

President Granger has iterated his gratitude to Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, the Government of Cuba, and the CIMEQ Medical Team which has been responsible for his treatment in Cuba over the past months. President Granger was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma last year after an intensive series of tests by specialist doctors at the CIMEQ. In April 2019, he completed his regime of radiotherapy in Cuba without any complication. That was done after he had successfully completed his regime of chemotherapy which formed part of his medical treatment for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

According to the American Cancer Society, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (also known as non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, NHL, or sometimes just lymphoma) is a cancer that starts in the white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body’s immune system.

President Granger, late last year, had expressed his profound gratitude to his Cabinet members, staff and the rest of the nation for their support, prayers and well wishes for his complete recovery, at a welcome home and prayer ceremony that was hosted at State House on November 21, 2018.

“Thank you for your expressions of concern over the last three weeks…

Throughout that time, I received greetings from you all and from other well-wishers and, more than the greetings, prayers and I am truly grateful,” he said then.

Four youths from Paramakatoi missing POLICE are investigating the circumstances under which four students of the Paramakatoi Primary and Secondary Schools went missing since January 3, 2020.

The students, who are all related, are from the village of Paramakatoi, North Pakaraimas, Region Eight. They were identified as Stephen Peters, 16; Carlos Peters, 12; Delon Peters, 10, and Patrick Peters, 12.

Reports indicate that the children left Paramakatoi village to reach their parents at Tiperu backdam, North Pakaraimas,

which is approximately two and a half days walking.

However, their parents, Selvin Peters, Marciana Peters, Raulston Peters and Stacy Peters arrived at Tiperu village but the children did not show up.

Checks were made by the parents on the trail but they were unsuccessful in finding the boys. A missing persons’ report was filed at the police station on January 10. Police are investigating the incident.

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Iran plane crash: Demands for justice after admission jet was shot down (BBC) Iran’s admission it “unintentionally” shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet has sparked demands for justice for the 176 people on board who were killed.

The calls were led by Ukraine’s president and the prime minister of Canada, which lost 57 nationals.

Social media footage has shown protests in Iran, some of them calling for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to resign.

The plane was shot down on Wednesday, hours after Iran had struck two air bases housing US forces in Iraq.

Those missile strikes were Iran’s response to the US killing

Vigils were held in Tehran on Saturday for the victims of the crash

of senior Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani. He died in a drone strike in Baghdad on 3 January. Iran had initially

denied reports its missiles had brought down the plane, with one spokesman accusing Western nations of “lying and engaging in psychological warfare”.

Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752, en route to Kyiv, came down near Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran shortly after take-off. Victims included dozens of Iranians and Canadians, as well as nationals from Ukraine, the UK, Afghanistan and Germany.

What has the reaction been to Iran’s admission?

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky has demanded Iran “bring the guilty to the courts”, repatriate the remains of the victims, pay compensation, give total access to Ukrainian officials and issue an apology through diplomatic channels. He later spoke with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and said he had been assured that “all persons involved in this air disaster will be brought to justice”.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also spoke with the Iranian president.

Mr Trudeau said he was “outraged and furious” and had told Mr Rouhani that there must be a full investigation with “full clarity on how such a horrific tragedy could have occurred”.

Mr Trudeau said: “Canada will not rest until we get the accountability, justice and closure the families deserve... they are hurt, angry and grieving and they want answers.”

He said Mr Rouhani had made a commitment to de-escalation and added that Canadian crash investigators were due to

arrive in Tehran shortly.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted video of the protests in Iran, saying: “The voice of the Iranian people is clear. They are fed up with the regime’s lies, corruption, ineptitude, and brutality of the IRGC [Revolutionary Guards] under Khamenei’s kleptocracy. We stand with the Iranian people who deserve a better future.”

UK PM Boris Johnson said Iran’s admission was an “important first step” and that de-escalation was now essential. What has Iran’s military admitted? The admission came in a statement read on state TV on Saturday morning.

It said flight PS752 had turned towards a “sensitive military centre” of the Revolutionary Guards, the force set up to defend the country’s Islamic system, and had a “flying posture and altitude of an enemy target”. Brig-Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace commander, said a missile operator had acted independently and alone, mistaking the plane for

a “cruise missile” as there had been reports that such missiles had been fired at Iran.

“He had 10 seconds to decide. He could have decided to strike or not to strike and under such circumstances he took the wrong decision,” Gen Hajizadeh said. “He was obliged to make contact and get verification. But apparently, his communications system had some disruptions.”

Gen Hajizadeh said the military would upgrade its systems to prevent such “mistakes” in the future. He said he had “wished he was dead” after being told of the missile strike.

Gen Hajizadeh also said a request had been made for a no-fly zone in the area before the incident but, for reasons that are unclear, this was rejected.

He said he had informed the authorities about what had happened on Wednesday, raising questions about why Iran had denied involvement for so long.

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Central Bank returns to Tobago for $100 exchange (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) The Central Bank has heeded the call of Tobago residents and tourists and will return to the island on January 14 and 17 from 9 am to 2:30 pm to collect applications for the redemption of the $100 cotton bills

to polymer notes.

This move came after they besieged the bank to continue its services in Tobago, at least until the end of March.

The bank had visited Tobago for seven days in December to facilitate the

exchange of the notes. However, it continues to exchange in Trinidad until March 31, 2020.

Diane Hadad, chairman of the Tobago Division of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, said the cham-

ber had “several reports” about the situation. She said the same services offered in Trinidad should be available in Tobago.

“We made notes that there would be an office in Tobago, and the announcement was clear that there will

be an office in the Unit Trust building by the Central Bank for the three months.

“However, we now understand that when people go to the Unit Trust building, they are being told that they have to go to Trinidad.”

PM: We must protect our women (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is adding his voice to growing calls for an end to the spate of domestic violence in the country. Yesterday, from his position as “Prime minister, father, grandfather,” he appealed to the nation’s men not to give way to emotional violence.

In a media late yesterday, Dr Rowley acknowledged with “great sadness” media reports that three women, and a total of five persons, had been murdered in the past two weeks, as a result of domestic violence.

He expressed his “sincere deepest condolences to the victims’ families, their friends and ac-

quaintances.”

He said he understood the importance and value of women in society and the roles they play in building healthy and resilient communities in a developing nation. He added that as a nation we all “must understand that the scourge of domestic violence and all other forms of gender-based violence erodes the fabric of society, and infringes upon the human rights of another individual.”

The PM appealed to all men “to treat all women like the sisters, daughters and mothers who are deserving of our love and respect.”

He said, “As men, we must acknowledge that at times, the

end of a relationship can be an emotionally difficult period for all its participants. But regardless of that difficulty and trauma, we must at all times, hold ourselves responsible and accountable in our behaviour.”

He urged men to be strong and to honour “happy memories, by walking away without the threat of physical or emotional violence.”

Dr Rowley also announced that the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has been working diligently to ensure acts of domestic violence and all forms of gender-based violence are reduced significantly or eliminated. To achieve this, the Gender Affairs Division is developing

Another Integrity Commissioner Resigns (JAMAICA GLEANER) Jamaica’s fledgling anti-corruption body has again been reduced following the resignation of Dr Derrick McKoy. McKoy submitted his resignation letter recently to chairman of the Integrity Commission, Seymour Panton, The Gleaner understands.

A reliable source informed this newspaper that McKoy’s resignation letter was now with Governor General Sir Patrick Allen. An attorney-at-law, McKoy was appointed to the commission by the governor general in March 2018. He is also a former contractor general of Jamaica.

His resignation follows that of former chairman of the commission, Karl Harrison, who stepped down from the post in July last year.

In late October, retired Justice Lloyd Hibbert was appointed to the Integrity Commission, taking the commissioner’s post

vacated by Panton.

The almost two-year-old commission had also seen the departure, last year, of former acting director of corruption prosecutions, Dirk Harrison, who said that he was proceeding on retirement.

Attempts to reach McKoy yesterday for a comment were unsuccessful.

When former Chairman Harrison resigned, calls for a review of the legislation governing the anti-corruption agency came from civil society and the parliamentary Opposition.

Head of the National Integrity Action, Trevor Munroe, told The Gleaner at the time that the review should receive and consider submissions from the

public, as well as recommendations from the commission itself. He said that this would allow the integrity body to be more transparent and accountable in its operations.

CONFIDENTIALITY CLAUSE At the commission’s first press conference in May last year, Panton, who was not yet elevated to the post of chairman, told journalists that confidentiality clauses had effectively gagged the agency from defending itself against criticisms.

Panton had said that any review of the Integrity Commission Act should consider allowing the entity to speak on matters relating to investigations. “...

projects and programmes to address gender-based violence and build mutual respect between men and women, he said.

Dr Rowley explained that the Central Registry on Domestic Violence is a data collection system which assists in strengthening current surveillance systems for the development of targeted intervention strategies on domestic violence.

Based on information gathered through the Registry, the OPM is focusing on plans and initiatives to build mutual respect among men and women and to encourage the appropriate modification of behaviour.

These include a threepronged approach: A Commu-

nity Based Action Plan to end Gender-Based Violence which focuses on reducing violence against women and girls in communities and providing help to potential perpetrators; amendments to the Domestic Violence Act to provide greater protection for victims; and the creation of safe places, with the necessary services for victims of violence, both male, female and children.

Dr Rowley urged members of the public who have either been victims of or who know someone who may be a victim of domestic violence to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-SAVE (7283) to report any incidents.

The 24-hour hotline provides counselling services, crisis intervention and referrals to appropriate agencies such as the T&T Police Service, the Victim and Support Unit of the TTPS, the National Family Services, the Children’s Authority of T&T, Lifeline or the Rape Crisis Society. Referrals can also be made for directing the victim to a place of safety or shelter.

Dr Rowley said it is his hope that working together towards the goal of gender equality, everything will be done to one day eradicate the scourge of domestic violence which is so harmful to women, families, communities and society.

That is one matter that has to be amended. We have seen where certain persons are calling for aspects of the law to be amended; they have not mentioned this aspect,” Panton said.

His comments came at a time when the commission was engaged in a spat with Dirk Harrison over a contentious report on the sale of the Rooms on the Beach property.

The sale of the St Annbased property for just over US$6 million less than the US$13.5-million valuation was investigated by the then Harrison-led Office of the Contractor General. Harrison’s report was critical of Cabinet Minister

Daryl Vaz for his alleged interference in the sale. Vaz, the minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, had denied any wrongdoing.

However, at the May press conference in 2019, McKoy had said that he would not accept all the findings in the report.

The Integrity Commission is now in the process of identifying persons for senior positions in the entity. At present, former secretary manager of the Corruption Prevention Commission, David Grey, is acting head of the investi-

gation division; Joy Powell has been appointed interim director of the information and complaints division; while Colonel Daniel Pryce is the acting executive director.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 12, 2020

The Public Meeting

WITH Nomination Day out of the way, the race to March 2 is very much on its way; the parties will intensify their appeals to the electorate in the coming weeks. We are certainly going to witness a deluge of advertisements in both the traditional and the newer social media. But despite the power of the media, the public meeting has remained the most effective mode of political communication at election time.

They say old habits are hard to kill and this is true for the traditional public meeting.

We have seen both major political formations launch their respective campaigns with massive public rallies.

Many observers estimate the crowd at the coalition’s launch to be in excess of 20,

000 strong. They followed that up with another massive rally at Hopetown,West Coast Berbice. The PPP is slated to hold their second rally at Albion, one of their traditional strongholds. The coalition has been holding smaller community meetings in the villages along the coast. According to reports, one of these meetings held at Buxton attracted a larger than expected crowd, prompting the organisers to treat it as a major rally.

There is something about the public meeting that separates it from other forms of political interaction. First, it is a powerful form of political conversation whereby the speakers engage in a virtual back and forth with the crowd. Even when speakers address complex issues and policies, the crowds seem to

No one has debased civil discourse in this country more than Bharrat Jagdeo Dear Editor IN the past four years we have enjoyed a relatively peaceful existence as Guyanese under the APNU+AFC. As expected during this election season, usually referred to as the silly season in Guyana, we’ve watched our common discourse turn ugly, divisive, and increasingly polarizing, especially on social media and in the newspaper letter columns.

However, the PPP/C General-Secretary, a former president and national leader who has never been short of insults, name-calling and coarse, offensive language to describe his opponents; who since the no-confidence motion of December 2018 has taken little effort to control the offensive nonsense that too often tumbles from his

mouth. But the current period of toxity took a new low Friday, Nominations Day for General and Regional Elections due on March 02, when a seemingly simple question posed by journalist Dennis Chabrol to Bharrat Jagdeo, “What is plan B if Mr Irfaan Ali is convicted?”

Jagdeo enjoying the civil liberties of free speech under the APNU+AFC, a right he brutally stifled under his administration, retorted in what I consider the lowest of lows that a former president speaking of a sitting president ‘s medical condition. Jagdeo’s response, “What is APNU plan if Mr. Granger has a relapse?”

Bharrat Jagdeo, some things are considered vile and wicked; this is definitely one of those.

Regards Carla Mendonca

be in sync with them. There is a spirit that runs through the crowds that you don’t get at other fora.

Second, the parties get to demonstrate the volume of their political support—a show of strength in the open space. One could get a sense of the parties’ strength from the size and enthusiasm of the crowd. Sure, there are always those who attend meetings to hear about the parties’ plans, but the vast majority are there largely to cheer their party on. This has been evident at coalition meetings where their supporters seem to have come to life in ways that have exceeded expectations this early in the campaign.

Third, as alluded to above, the public meeting is a space for the dissemination of ideas and policies to the masses of people. It is where

the politicians get to roll out their campaign promises, and the people get to judge the extent to which these are genuine. At the public meeting, the wall of separation between the speaker and listener is shattered and the latter in addition to hearing words gets to see the body language of the speaker.

Fourth, the public meeting could be a severe test for inexperienced speakers. People tend to be impatient with unprepared and boring speakers. Many speakers have had a rough time with crowds which are often knowledgeable about the issues. It is not a forum for barefaced lies as the speaker is often challenged on the spot by the audience. Fifth, the public meeting is a forum to discuss both national and local issues. The more vibrant

meetings are those where local issues are discussed—the audiences tend to express more interests as they hear their day-to-day issues articulated on the platform.

Sixth, the public meeting is an exercise in direct, popular democracy, whereby politics is brought closer to the people. The political actors are not far away in a chamber locked away from citizens’ view—they are right there in flesh and blood. And they are at a forum that is controlled by the energies of the people who can choose to stay or not, or decide whether to give the speaker a hearing or not.

No doubt, some speakers have mastered the art of speaking at public meetings and they tend to command the attention of audiences.

Such speakers are able to

effectively mix messages with folksy delivery styles.

In the final analysis the public meeting is not the place for pompous lectures, but a forum for mass education and mobilisation in languages that are native to the communities.

While there have been instances where public meetings have turned rowdy when audiences seek to expel parties from their communities, these are very rare. Despite the potential for such disruption, the public meeting remains the most effective mobilisation tool, especially at election time. From all indications, despite the emergence of social media, this form of political communication is not about to die anytime soon.

The usual PPP/C deception

Dear Editor

I CONCUR absolutely with the APNU General-Secretary Joseph Harmon’s opinion that the choice of retired Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips’ choice as prime ministerial candidate for the PPP/C is nothing else but “black tokenism.

Further, it is a hilarious case of known deceptive political window-dressing, with regard to a dangerously vile deception, intended to project to the Afro-Guyanese segment of the population that it is a party which respects the right of African Guyanese to have its rightful place in the governance of Guyana; its rightful share of socio-economic development and benefits, and even as part of its administration, if it returns to office.

Editor, this is further from the truth, which by the PPP/C’s own discriminatory politics of race, it stands both accused and convicted. In fact, in support of this contention is the case of its former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who for 23 years had been a tragic veneer, and a pathetic sight of a supposedly high-profile Afro-Guyanese in an all Indo- Guyanese party that carried out an institutionalised ethnic discriminatory policy against Afro-Guyanese, without even a whimper of protest from a then national leader who had boldly proclaimed to be the bridge between Afro-Guyanese and

the PPP/C. His record in the capacity of a very senior national leader, for his then government’s entire two decades plus, is there for all to conclude their observations – he was never even allowed to gather the materials, much less for being able to build his bridge. And this politically hamstrung, deliberate in its deviously contrived plan, is carefully employed around Afro-Guyanese who do not have a following of any political kind to bring to the party and who is expected to be of good political behaviour in a party whose ideology was, and still is, brutally discriminatory against Afro-Guyanese.

Thus, it becomes fair to state the following: that Brigadier Phillips has served his country in a distinguished capacity for which he must be thanked, as he would have been already. He has since retired, and what he does in such a post-service situation, is entirely of his own choosing. However, given his professional background of strict discipline, and a subscriber to a particularly strict ethical code, of which good governance of the state, and upholder of the constitution was a particular pre-requisite for him to have been able to function in a highly professional manner, one is bound to question his wisdom in becoming aligned to a political party which record, he, from his vantage position, would have been able to witness with all of its criminal and

high- voltage corrupt practices which reduced Guyana to a pariah. Moreover, how could he, for whatever grandiose political nomination would have been offered, now want to become part of a vile outfit of unrepentant politicians, whose criminal damage to their country has been well documented.

For Phillips to declare loudly, last Sunday, that he will be prime minister for all the races, is very much beside the point. For even if his party should win, he will never be allowed, much less to do so in his own capacity and in his own right. What he would have done, in becoming part of such a cabal of socio-economic pillagers of their country, is to have sold his integrity, and all those good values he would have honed, during his three decades as a military man.

Not to worry though, for as Harmon has unambiguously stated, Guyana has the real Brigadier as president, who has demonstrated the real meaning of what being a president FOR ALL OF HIS COUNTRY IS ALL ABOUT, REGARDLESS OF RACE OR POLITICAL AFFILIATION. Thus, Brigadier Phillips is not needed, Guyana does not need another PPP/C regime, much less another Samuel Hinds.

Regards Earl Hamilton

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 12, 2020

PPP not talking about their record Dear Editor,

EVERY weekend I would speak with my aunt, most times for hours, much to the “annoyance” of my biological cousin but more like my little sister. She would argue, and most times in vain, that I’m denying her lactating time. Mind you, she is in her 20s. As usual, last week we had our marathon talk and during our discourse, she reminded me of my Saturday responsibility of doing grocery shopping at Bourda Market.

After our chat that reminder had me reflecting. Reflecting on the headaches my aunt must have had on Friday nights trying to stretch the limited money available. If it were up to us five rumbustious boys to decide, the oldest not older than 12yrs, we would have spent the money on sodas, cakes and sweets. The fact is, with our developing cerebral system, we saw those as needs when they clearly were not.

My aunt the house economist, judge, jury and executioner all compartmentalised in a five-foot frame, had to determine monetary allocations of limited resources on areas that had the greatest need. That would essentially mean, much to our annoyance, that some of our favourite areas would be left unfulfilled.

I went through this introductory preamble because of the new trend by the PPP propaganda machinery in having persons coercively speak ill of the APNU+AFC government because of discontentment which may be very induced. Mind you, my aim today is not to deny them that basic human right of choosing a political party of their choice, rather, I am humbly attempting

to guide them to information that the PPP would rather they remain ignorant of. Concurrently, I would attempt to provide further information to the undecided voters that will hopefully inform their decision-making in choosing a political party of their choice.

In an attempt to provide this objective evidence to the readers, I independently undertook research to establish what projects the coalition government has completed for the year 2019.

Firstly, to those persons who feel disregarded, unattended to or overlooked, I humbly wish to make two points with the genuine intention of assuaging, but in no way trivialising your disquietude. Please be reminded that no government has unlimited resources. Every government is constrained by a budget that covers a financial year. The government has to determine, not dissimilar to what you do when you receive your wages, where are the areas of greatest need.

For example, they may determine that having roads and potable water in the hinterland are critical. They may determine that Bartica needs electricity; hence an electricity plant. They may determine that too many mothers and babies are dying in Berbice; hence they have to invest in healthcare in Berbice. Because resources are limited they will need to focus on those areas of greatest need. It is not that your needs are not important, but there are those with more urgent needs that have to be addressed. Once those urgent needs are addressed, the government will then go down the list of needs and will ultimately get to your need. Unfortunately, building new roads, new hospitals, new bridges etc., can take years because of the processes in-

Education is a human right for all and Guyana is no exception

Dear Editor,

IT is no mistake that President Granger is ensuring that Guyana has the capacity to deliver quality education to everyone.

Former President and now Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo says that should his party win elections this March, he would offer free education in a phased manner.

But one cannot be fooled because it was under his tenure that Guyanese from all walks of life began to pay to go to university.

Article 27 of the Constitution of Guyana states: “Every citizen has the right to a free education from nursery to university, as well as at non-formal places where opportunities are provided for education and training.”

But how can we trust this former President, who told us that he would never engage in politics again when here he is seeking an opportunity to become President again?

Mr. Editor, it is clear that if his party wins, perhaps we will pay more for education in Guyana.

Best Regards Dillon Goring

volved. As a result, it is virtually impossible to complete all projects in four years. Also, these projects are intricately linked with jobs; hence, it is also impossible to create all the jobs in four years.

Mr Editor, I do humbly beg your indulgence. My research has turned up at least 100 projects the government has completed in 2019. My aim is to write one letter a week to highlight 20 of these projects. I hope to complete all 100 before the elections. To the reader, I humbly ask that you go through the list, assuming my letters are published. If your needs were unaddressed, then please examine what was done. If you feel your needs were more urgent that what was done, then I humbly suggest you make an appointment to see the relevant minister for answers since effectively, you are their employers with powers to higher and fire.

Please permit me to itemise the first 20 projects for the year 2019. Please note these are not in chronological order of completion of the projects. Because of space limitations, I cannot elaborate on each project but information about each project is available online and the relevant ministries.

1. New Kaituma Ambulance 2. Modern bridge for Moruca ($100M) 3. Major road work in Port Kaituma ($155M) 4. Massive upgrades to Bemichi Airstrip ($69M) 5. New Kumaran Bridge 6. Electricity System for Waramuri ($12M) 7. Kwebanna cassava-processing factory ($26M) 8. Land leases distributed in Matthews

Ridge 9. Modern primary school for Wauna ($10M) 10. Mining Lottery in Port Kaituma 11. Power Plant at Anna Regina($1.8B) 12. Upgrade of Anna Regina Post Office ($12M) 13. Radio Essequibo 95.5FM ($12M) 14. Wakapau walkway ($19M) 15. New Cotton Field and Mainstay Lake Nursery Schools (20.4M) 16. Sexual Offence Court opened in Suddie (17M) 17. ‘David G’ boat engine for lower Pomeroon (4.3M) 18. Wakapau Welcome Walkway ($1M) 19. New Abram Zuil Secondary ($594.9M) 20. Brand new Supenaam stelling ($125M) To the reader, please remember an election should be based on the political party’s record. The fact that the PPP is not talking about their 23 years in office and only trying to hoodwink you, the electorate by focusing on areas that this government will cover with time as explained above, would indicate one thing and one thing only: they, like the most of Guyana, are ashamed of their record.

Regards Dr. Mark Devonish

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50 DAYS TO VICTORY!

THE evidence from five recent major public events points unmistakably to the six-party, APNU+AFC Coalition Government being returned to office at the March 2 polls. For me, there are 50 days ahead for victory!

There was the respective launch of the elections campaign by the APNU+AFC and the PPP/C, the two major parties among the 13 that will contest the elections.

The coalition attracted the biggest crowd ever in the history of Guyanese elections at the D’Urban Park, with its supporters energised and pumped up as if the event were a celebration and not a campaign.

LUKEWARM RESPONSE When the PPP/C huddled for its launch in Kitty, there was a lukewarm response which apologetically the opposition party blamed on “low-budget” mobilisation.

That was a half-baked explanation for a major flop, since buses were deployed to the contiguous coastal regions, but they returned partially filled with backers. There were too many red battle shirts, but fewer revolutionaries!

Also, it was evident that the PPP/C was experiencing an internal revolt as several of its prime leaders did not fully identify with the event.

The reason was clear: they did not publicly endorse presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali. In a letter published in the local press yesterday Dr. Joey Jagan, son of the late President Jagan, stated that “the no-show on the Kitty stage of key PPP leaders tells its own story and that story will culminate in their defeat on March 2.” He opined that Freedom House buried democratic principles when Jagdeo sponsored the presidential candidate whom he described as “a rabbit pulled out of his hat.”

HOPETOWN RALLY The next event was the re-affirmation rally at Hopetown, West Berbice, Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five) of the massive support for the coalition in a geographical region that the Opposition PPP won at the 2015 elections by just under 4,000 votes. This region has an ethnically mixed population that depends on rice farming, sugar-cane production and livestock-rearing. It has benefitted from government’s land-support services, primarily drainage and irrigation facilities and sea defence works.

In a year when paddy production has hit a high of over one million metric tonnes, doubling the 2013 levels, and exports of rice products to over 35 countries raked

in a whopping $44 billion (US$222.7 million), farmers in the giant Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary agricultural scheme (MMA/ADA) are bound to repose confidence in their government. The signals are therefore clear that the APNU+AFC coalition is attracting growing numbers from the working people, and from ethnic-based, crossover support, mainly among youths.

The PPP/C appeared flabbergasted at the enthusiastic show of support for the coalition, and claimed that the coalition had used state resources for the political rally. It also emerged sour after that rally as the PPP had been riding on the possibility that the coalition could be divided over the slot for a prime ministerial candidate.

But President David Granger read the opposition’s desperation, and snatched from them the headlines by naming Khemraj Ramjattan, the AFC leader as prime ministerial candidate.

SUPERIOR NUMERICAL STRENGTH The final head-on contest took place on Friday, January 10 – Nomination Day. The “Big Two” in the race mobilised separately, but the PPP was no match in size or savvy for the coalition. The event was carried live and while the images laid bare

the ethnic polarisation that has characterised our political mobilisation at elections time, it also revealed the superior numerical strength of the coalition among urban voters.

The propaganda rag, Guyana Times, tried to make excuses why the best efforts of the PPP to match the coalition crowd failed.

It resorted to the insulting characterisation of coalition support as “raucous PNC crowd.” While it acknowledged that Georgetown is the “stamping-ground” (hic!) of the coalition, it insinuated in demeaning ethno-racist-caste terms and disdain for these mainly African urban supporters, that they came out because “it doesn’t take more than an offer of fried rice…to get over the lumpen element – especially of the female persuasion, to come out for another wine-down”. (Eye Witness, GT, January 11).

Those five events would stand out as the political weather cock that shows that the campaign wind, so far, is blowing in the direction of the APNU+AFC coali-

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 12, 2020

tion. They also show that the PPP/C still has potential for mobilisation, and should not be under-estimated, since it is adept at successfully playing the race card, as is evident from the show of loyalty by disgruntled elements, who might stay away from the limelight, but have still opted to be party candidates for the elections.

FIRST-TERM ACHIEVEMENTS The incumbent Granger Government is going into these elections on a high.

It has outstripped previous administrations in promoting fantastic first-term achievements, especially the 77 per cent increase in the national minimum wage.

On the other hand, the Jagdeo-led PPP/C regime is still struggling to emerge from its dreaded legacy of pervasive corruption, extra-judicial killings, complicity with narco-traffickers, cronyism, breaches of the constitution, etc. , which have dented the trust its own supporters have in it.

In these elections the nar-

rative could read like Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities”, with hope and fears intermingling that it could lead to the best of times and the worse of times. For the PPP/C, it would be a huge effort to beat back the apathy and withdrawal of its supporters, as it would be a challenge for the coalition to keep up the momentum of high-energy mobilisation and to bring out voters.

The next 50 days would be a defining period for Guyana, as the democratic world is watching the holding of elections in this latest addition to the list of oil producers. With the political players raising the stakes, some have said that this would be the “mother of all elections.” That may be so, which places greater responsibilities on Madam Justice Claudette Singh, Chairman of the Elections Commission, to be the midwife of clean and credible elections. She said that she would, and all Guyanese should accept Her Honour’s solemn undertaking.

Understanding Energy

The year ahead

AS the beginning of a new chapter for Guyana as a major energy producer is here, 2020 is likely to be a year of major developments in our energy industry.

Sweeping changes are already underway when it comes to local content and this year should bring final approval for the Payara project and new exploration efforts that could yield new finds.

The third and latest draft of Guyana’s local content policy was completed in late November and is currently under review. The Department of Energy (DE) spent December editing the document after it was produced by British local content consultant Dr. Michael Warner.

The policy sets out the standards on what will be considered “local” and how companies will be judged on their commitment and contributions to local content.

With these standards, Guyana can measure how foreign oil com-

panies are performing in terms of local content, which includes hiring Guyanese, working with local firms, and buying from local suppliers.

The DE has worked with operators like Exxon’s local branch, EEPGL, to support local involvement in the energy sector even before a formal policy. The Exxon-funded Centre for Local Business Development has already provided training, information and help with technical certifications to many of the 600 local companies already working to support the local oil industry.

While Liza Phase 1 has already led to a surge in hiring and will soon provide an influx of revenue, it’s just the first phase of overall development.

Liza Phase 2 is already well underway and is expected to begin producing in early 2022. Within the next few months of 2020, we should also get news about the third major project on the Stabroek Block, Pa-

yara. Itis expected to be thoroughly reviewed and receive final approval from the government sometime early this year. The companies operating on the Stabroek have already begun lining up advance contracts and materials to ensure that they are prepared to begin work on the project once approvals are given.

Payara’s FPSO will be of similar size to Liza Phase 2’s Unity FPSO on the Stabroek block, enabling production of up to 220,000 barrels per day. If approvals are granted, it could start producing as soon as 2023.

As many as five FPSOs are planned for the Stabroek Block by 2025, which could make Guyana one of the largest producers in Latin America. A recent report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to the Government of Guyana noted that bringing five projects of this size online in as many years is nearly unprecedented.

Trinidadian economist Dr. Roger Hosein recently applauded the pace of development, explaining that it is best for Guyana to monetise the asset quickly. Hitting the target of five projects would make Guyana’s per capita daily production rate one of the highest in the world.

The recent success of ExxonMobil’s Mako-1 well, the 15th discovery in the Stabroek block to date, bode well for further exploration activities. However, last week Tullow and Repsol announced that the results from their Carapa-1 well in the Kanuku block were poor and that they will abandon the well.

Guyanese should look out for the results from new exploration drilling projects in the next few months. The drillship Noble Tom Madden will drill the Uaru-1 prospect, 10 miles east of Liza-1 after operations are complete at the Tripletail site. Exploration there recently led to Guyana’s 14th successful

find in mid-September. Tullow and Repsol will reevaluate their plans and begin new exploration work soon as well.

While exploration has been the focus to date, the oil sector in Guyana is set to take on a whole new tone in 2020.

Government revenues from oil will begin to flow this year and will rise in the coming years as costs are paid down and more projects come online. Putting the right systems into place now to responsibly manage wealth, implement smart regulations and encourage future development will position us better for the future.

Progress on local content is a promising sign. But work remains to be done to make sure Guyana gets the most out of its oil wealth, not just this year but over the next few decades.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 12, 2020

OP-ED

Cholera in Haiti:

Gone but not forgotten

By Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, Director, Pan American Health Organization WASHINGTON D.C. 12 January 2020 (PAHO/WHO) - The cholera outbreak that began in Haiti in October 2010 caused some 820,000 cases and killed 9,792 people.

Thanks to the hard work of the government and people of Haiti, in partnership with PAHO and other agencies, there have been no confirmed cases of cholera since the end of January 2019. As Haiti approaches one year free of cholera, the disease may be gone, but it is certainly not forgotten. Now is the time to act to ensure that cholera in Haiti remains a distant memory.

Cholera is a disease of inequity that unduly sickens and kills the poorest and most vulnerable people – those without access to clean water and sanitation. It causes severe diarrhoea and dehydration that can kill a formerly healthy

person within hours. So long as diseases like cholera remain, we will simply not achieve universal health, nor will we ensure the very crux of the sustainable development agenda – leaving no one behind.

Death from cholera is preventable with the tools that we have today. Primary health clinics have been established throughout Haiti with trained personnel that are able to manage cases and save people with adequate rehydration and care. Surveillance is in place to detect and respond to possible flare-ups. And a vaccine is available, which PAHO/WHO can mobilize from the global stockpile.

Early detection is key, and the PAHO/ WHO Labo-moto project works on the ground to enable field nurses to rapidly transport samples from patients from treatment centres to laboratories on motorcycles. Thanks to this initiative, in 2019, 95% of suspected cases were tested for cholera.

But to make sure that cholera truly remains a distant memor, we must also accelerate investments in clean water and adequate sanitation. Improving food safety was key to controlling the 1990s outbreak of cholera in Peru and is equally important in Haiti.

Ensuring the right to health of everyone, everywhere, in Haiti and beyond, requires a multi-sectoral approach to address many of the other sustainable development goals. Ensuring clean water and sanitation is just one of the goals that will determine whether we achieve universal health and wellbeing.

Despite progress, Haiti remains behind the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean in terms of access to potable water and sanitation.

Over a third of the population (35%) lacks basic drinking water services and two-thirds (65%) have limited or no sanitation services. This is far below the regional average of 3% and 13% respectively. It also means that while cholera

is under control for now, we must collectively remain alert and ready to maintain this status and verify elimination.

Only when we ensure all Haitians enjoy access to clean water and sanitation can we breathe more freely. It is also vital that we maintain epidemiological surveillance and laboratory testing, and ensure that an effective, immediate response mechanism remains in place, including the oral cholera vaccine for flare-ups.

We have made tremendous progress to get to where we are today, but the process to document and verify elimination requires at least two more years. We must continue our work with Haiti, and other UN agencies and partners, to ensure that our concerted efforts pay off in the long-term for the health and wellness of all.

Together we can make sure that cholera is gone and remains a distant memory in Haiti.

The APNU+AFC campaign launch …the no confidence motion, Jagdeo’s gamble and the popularity of David Granger I HAVE attended numerous political rallies in Guyana and beyond. On Friday, January 3rd 2020, I checked in at D’Urban Park for the APNU+AFC campaign launch. I have never experienced such a thunderous and charged up electoral ambiance.

The blatant inconsistency between the No Confidence Motion (NCM) and the will of the people was laid bare. Based on the evidence of the mood of the crowd and the sheer energy and seriousness, it is not unreasonable to conclude that the treachery and infamy of the parliamentary coup d’etat commissioned by the Opposition on December 21st, 2018, has not resonated well with communities loyal to the government. Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo and his cohorts may have gambled and lost.

The APNU+AFC Campaign Launch I arrived at D’Urban Park at 7:00 pm and deliberately rejected the opportunity to mingle and dwell with power and privilege. For me, this was a personal fact-finding mission and it was necessary for me to ground with the masses who are the best political barometers.

I proceeded with my endeavour with several questions in mind; was this political choreography? Were the attendees solely there to engage in a fete? These questions were resoundingly answered when I completed several observations. Based on the conversations and the discussions, everyone was clear in their minds that they needed to take the next elections very seriously and protect the development they observed in their communities. If

you determine that I am not the best exemplar of impartiality, l guide you to Newsroom and Neil Marks. Newsroom conducted a surprise walkthrough at this launch and executed random interviews (See News Room Facebook post: Jan. 3). I was struck by the response of one interviewee who excellently articulated his reason for coming to the rally.

When he was asked why he was there to support the government, he made clear: ‘because them do a lot of wuk in meh village’.

He was pressed further, ‘What kind of work they did in your village?’ He responded, ‘them do a culvert, a check sluice…dem do bout a mile road fuh abi deh’. Such succinct recollection, albeit in the vernacular, of reasons for supporting a political party in a country where ethnic politics prevails is quite refreshing. This interview was indicative of the general sentiments that permeated this forum. The level of enthusiasm I encountered, points to an energized electorate that is anxious to return this government to power.

THE NCM The disconnect between the NCM passed in the National Assembly on December 21st, 2018 and the will of the people was immediately called into question by the mammoth, diverse crowd that converged on this venue for this political event. Confidence motions that are organic and proceed from the groundswell of true sentiments are supposed to be made of much stern stuff. They ought not to be disconnected from the aspirations of

the people. There is no way, a government that has lost the confidence of the populace can produce such a monumental campaign launch; it does not follow. It is safe to argue that what occurred in the National Assembly on December 21st, 2018 was treachery of the highest order. As a consequence, the intellectual authors and other political cohorts have incurred the wrath of the electorate and it is very possible, they see upcoming elections as an opportunity to express their anger.

JAGDEO’S GAMBLE When Napoleon Bonaparte was petitioned by his supporters to take control of France when it was in political turmoil, he remarked, ‘the pear is not ripe’. Bharrat Jagdeo believed the pear was ripe at the end of 2018. A catalogue of political problems accrued for the government; the two major parties in the coalition seemed disunited and contested the local elections as separate political entities, the 2018 Local Government Elections results were overhyped by the PPP and there was a public relations blitzkrieg that projected a landslide for the PPP and a referendum on the government, the President was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Cancer on November 15th, 2018, the PPP filed the NCM on November 16th, 2018 and it was successfully passed on December 21st when one Member of Parliament (MP), Charandass Persaud voted with the opposition. Amid this catalog of political misfortunes for the government, Jagdeo made his gamble which he

believed was a sure winner. He calculated that there would be elections in three months and was probably aware that all political science literature documents that incumbents invariably lose elections after falling to confidence motions. He made his move on January 20th to select the weakest candidate ever produced by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) since its formation in 1948. This selection was an attempt to ensure his power is maintained and perpetuated through a puppet presidency arrangement. He played the political lottery and was certain of an easy path to power, it seemed like the perfect time. One year later, it is safe to argue that this was extreme political naiveté all culminated with the evidence of this grand campaign launch with a unified coalition, a super healthy presidency and just about two months shaved off from the constitutional five years served by the government. All of this compounded by the fact that the PPP was now stuck with the weakest candidate going up against the most popular President leading their traditional adversaries.

It might be too early to assess the impact of the NCM but it is shaping up to be the biggest strategic blunder in Guyana’s modern political affairs.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 12, 2020

‘Campaign in good spirit’ …Western diplomats urge hearty, respectful competition …applaud GECOM, political parties for smooth Nomination Day

THE heads of missions of the British High Commission, Embassy of the United States of America and the European Union have congratulated all those nominated for the general and regional elections on March 02, and also hailed the Guyana Elections Commission for a smooth and efficient process.

H.E. British High Commissioner Greg Quinn; Embassy of the United States of America, H.E. Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch; and the Delegation of the European Union, H.E. Ambassador Fernando Ponz Cantó, in a joint statement in offering congratulations, said during this election season, “we encourage all Guyanese and the leaders of Guyana’s political parties, civil society organisations, business chambers, the media, religious groups, and educational institutions to embrace the essence of unity and social cohesion as enshrined in Guyana’s constitution. We call on all parties to campaign in the spirit of hearty and respectful competition with the ultimate goal of ensuring free and fair elections which reflect the will of the majority of Guyanese. We also urge all parties to promote and support a peaceful and mature election campaign – one where everyone, regardless of political

Members of the Diplomatic Community during Friday’s Nomination Day (Adrian Narine photo)

leanings, is able to express their views openly,” the diplomats said.

Following Friday’s event, the diplomats had told the Guyana Chronicle that democracy prevailed in Guyana as political parties, regardless of size or philosophy, were given an equal opportunity to present their lists of candidates for the upcoming polls.

Ambassador Lynch; Quinn; India's High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa; and Head of the European Union, Ambassador Fernando Ponz Cantó, were among the diplomats who were present at the Umana Yana as a total of 13

political parties presented their lists of candidates to the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield.

“It was a peaceful celebration of democracy,” the Head of the European Union told the Guyana Chronicle as he offered his assessment of Nomination Day here in Guyana. He said the elections commission, as well as the political parties, ought to be congratulated for executing the process smoothly and incident-free. “I think it is also worthy to mention that all the parties participated in a very constructive way. It is a very important step for the elections in Guyana and

of course crucial for Guyana and it is very encouraging to see the process smoothly executed,” Ambassador Cantó told this newspaper.

Like the EU Ambassador, the US Ambassador, who observed the entire process, said it was smoothly conducted. “I was here the whole time and it was terrific to see all of the parties present their information. It was a very fun afternoon in many ways, and very exciting to see everybody present their information to the GECOM officials,” Ambassador Lynch shared.

She added, “I really enjoyed the experience and I wish every party the best of

‘Shun race hate, abuse’

THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has called on citizens, particularly politicians, to promote messages of peace and harmony and eschew incidents of abuse and intimidation during the current elections campaign.

In a statement on Saturday, the ERC said it remains mindful of the various incidents of intimidation, abuse and assault on Guyanese while they were engaged in activities to sensitise the masses on political messages reflective of the parties they represent. Such acts, the body said, which are counterproductive to the valiant efforts being made for the fostering of unity and harmony, have no place in society and must

be condemned. “In doing so, the commission wishes to reiterate sentiments it repeatedly expressed in the past for the periods, prior and post of the March 02, 2020, General and Regional elections, be free of hate, violence and racial or any other form of incitement.”

According to the ERC, at the beginning of this year, in a public message, it stated its expectation for peaceful and transparent elections in keeping with democratic principles. “That desire remains foremost and the commission urges all to act responsibly and to demonstrate an unwavering sense of tolerance and respect for each other. Our freedoms are enshrined allowing each and

Chairman of ERC, Reverend John Smith

every Guyanese the democratic right to freely associate and support a political

luck in a rigorous, peaceful campaign.” The U.S Ambassador said, come March 02, she will be observing the elections along with the international and local observers. The U.S is providing GECOM with assistance in area of voters’ education ahead of the elections. “For the most part they are focused on voters’ education, and helping citizens understand rights and responsibilities of the poll workers as well as the voters. So we are very happy that we were asked to provide that assistance,” the U.S Ambassador said.

The British High Commissioner also deemed the

nomination process a success. “I think it has gone very well. I think GECOM and all the parties should be congratulated for a very successful Nomination Day. I think now, the campaigning, the hard work, is going to begin and I look forward to a hard-fought campaign but a peaceful campaign and a respectful campaign and a campaign where everybody, regardless of their political view and political position, is able to express their views and their position,” High Commissioner Quinn told the Guyana Chronicle. He too will be observing the General and Regional Elections.

Added to the support given by the U.S, former Canadian Chief Electoral Officer, Jean-Pierre Kingsley, was retained by GECOM to provide technical support to the electoral body. According to the Elections Canada, Kingsley served as Chief Electoral Officer from 1990 to 2007.

It was noted that during his term, he adopted a proactive role for his office, recommending and promoting key initiatives to make the electoral process more accessible. Two technical officers from the Electoral Commission of Jamaica are also here in Guyana providing assistance.

…ERC urges respect, tolerance during elections campaign

party of his/her choice and to engage in lawful activities concomitant with election campaigning. That must be respected.”

The ERC said following its reconstitution in 2018, leaders and representatives of various political parties, including President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, were engaged. Mutual sentiments for peace and unity were expressed, the body said. In addition, in the runup to the 2018 Local Government Elections, all Members of Parliament were written to in an effort to remind them of the importance of keeping the campaigns and other interactions, including social media, free of any utterance which

can impact negatively on national harmony and good relations amongst Guyanese, the ERC said.

It noted that following those engagements and correspondence, expectations for the realisation of those mutual desires for peace, were therefore rife. “Unfortunately, utterances like, “giving jobs only to my people”, “chase them out” and “war break”, from some public officials, did not help national efforts to promote harmony.

Regrettably, their effects are still being felt,” the ERC stated.

The commission said it firmly believes that incidents of harassment, the removal of party flags and prevention of persons to mount, social

media incitement and attacks including those on some performing artistes, propagation of religious preference, referencing Guyanese by ethnicity as tokenism and the alleged stereotyping of ethnic groups as “hardheaded”, are most unhelpful to building and sustaining a cohesive nation.

“The commission reminds that while it is constitutionally mandated to promote harmony and good relations, the task can only be realised through the collective efforts of all Guyanese.

In that regard, it takes this opportunity to commend those, including public officials, who expressed disapproval over some of the actions in TURN TO PAGE

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 12, 2020

Guyana takes over chair of G77 on Wednesday …PM Nagamootoo to lead Guyana’s delegation, hold talks on climate change other issues

PRIME Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, will lead a delegation, including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings, to United Nations Headquarters in New York for the official handover ceremony of the Chairmanship of the Group of 77 (G77) scheduled to be held on Wednesday this week.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo is expected to deliver remarks on behalf of Guyana during the ceremony, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a release. Also, while in New York, the Prime Minister and Dr. Cummings are scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with a number of Member States, among others.

During its chairmanship this year, which coincides with the United Nations seventy-fifth anniversary and its national Republic Jubilee, Guyana is committed to its endeavour to strengthen multilateralism for the benefit of all developing countries.

In accordance with the G77 agenda, negotiations and deliberations will be conducted on various issues, including global sustainable

development, climate change, and efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation, the ministry said.

This year, the G77 will also place emphasis on reinvigorating South-South cooperation to further strengthen developmental efforts of the South and its participation in the global economy. Progress and the trajectory of the group will be reviewed at the annual Ministerial Meeting as well as at the Third South Summit expected to take place in Kampala during mid-April. The summit will be jointly chaired by Guyana and Uganda. The Group of 77 was established on June 15, 1964 by 77 developing countries signatories. It has since grown to become the largest intergovernmental organisation and presently serves as a platform for 134 Member States and China to articulate and promote collective economic interests and enhance joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues in the United Nations system.

It was announced back in December last year that Guyana had been elected to FROM PAGE

chair the Group of 77, a move that was deemed “timely

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

and fitting.” At the time the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had said that the decision by the G77 and China to elect Guyana to serve as its chair in 2020 is a demonstration of strong support for and confidence in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. The election was made at the 22 November plenary of the 134 Member States of the group.

The election was made by acclamation without preconditions.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the Guyana’s election to the post follows a decision of the Caribbean

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‘Shun race hate ... question. An appeal is therefore made to all involved for a collective endeavor to be amicable in disagreement, to work in the best interest of Guyana and Guyanese, to build upon the bonds of togetherness and to ensure that the elections are not catalysts for division,” the ERC noted.

The commission also called for an immediate cessation of all hostilities during and after this campaign period and reminds that the welfare of the country and its people is in the hands of all. “The Commission will, in the near future, embark on initiatives to examine inherent causes which have led to current suspicions and stereotypes and explore possible mitigating measures. Guided by its constitutional parameters in the discharge of its mandate, it will also endeavor to re-engage the political leadership while monitoring the current situation,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, only last week, Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, condemned the behaviour of persons who sought to disrupt other parties from advertising their programme. Ramjattan reassured

Community (CARICOM) earlier in 2019 to ensure that a regional candidate assumes chairmanship in 2020 of this largest negotiating group of developing countries in the United Nations. Consequent-

that the Guyana Police Force is ready and fully capable for the election period. “It is prepared and I believe there is going to be 100 per cent security all across the country…”

Additionally, Director-General, Joseph Harmon, called on the PPP/C to be responsible in their campaign message and avoid comments of division since such can lead to violence and a vehement election campaign. “The statements which they make on the platforms and their communities where they have their supporters will have an impact on people everywhere in this country,” the Director General stated. Harmon further noted that the APNU+AFC does not encourage or condone acts of violence. “We don’t encourage that kind of behaviour, we believe in civil campaigning and that is what we have always done. We believe that this country needs to be united and unity is our message. We’ve said it at our campaign launch and at our campaign rally. We believe that unity is where this country needs to go and not [division],” he stated.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings

ly, for its accession, Guyana received the unequivocal support of CARICOM and the majority of countries in the group, including from Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

“For Guyana’s part, during its chairmanship, which coincides with the United Nations seventy-fifth anniversary and its national Republic Jubilee, the country is committed to endeavour to strengthen multilateralism

for the benefit of all developing countries, including by presiding over global sustainable development and climate change negotiations, and efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation,” the ministry said.

According to the ministry, Guyana’s election as G77 Chair has been hailed as a timely and fitting tribute to all Guyanese with recognition of the good standing and capacity of the country to effectively undertake responsibilities at the highest levels of the international community.

Minister Cummings had emphasised that, “in keeping with its deep commitment to principled conduct and the rule of law, Guyana will discharge the important responsibilities of the Chairmanship of the G77 and China with integrity, faithfulness to the principles and objectives of the Charter of the United Nations.” Furthermore, Dr. Cummings noted Guyana’s resolve to use the opportunity to further the interests of all developing countries.

The duties of the chairmanship will be discharged with the support of a range

of bilateral partners and international organisations.

Team members will be drawn from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other government ministries and agencies and from the Guyanese diaspora.

Main activities of the group takes place at United Nations Headquarters in New York. G77 Chapters are based in Geneva, Nairobi, Paris, Rome and Vienna, and the closely-allied Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four on International Monetary Affairs and Development (G24) in Washington DC. The G77 was formed in 1964 and its purpose is to provide a forum for developing nations to promote their economic interests.

While 77 nations were the founding members of the group, it later expanded to include other nations.

China participates in the meetings of the G77 but is not a member; hence the group is referred to as the G77 and China.

2,383 youths engaged under Board of Industrial Training Youth Empowerment Programme

Officials from the Board of Industrial Training, Region 3, Regional Executive Office (REO) and the Graduates at the graduation ceremony held at the Youth with Purpose Training Centre at Crane, West Coast Demerara

More than 1,000 youths countrywide have been equipped with life-transforming skills under the Board of Industrial Training’s (BIT) National Training Project for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE).

The institution’s CEO, Richard Maughn, told DPI that 2,383 youths entered the programme and 1,746 of

them graduated last year with the rest still undergoing training. The areas of instruction included information technology, motor vehicle repairs, refrigeration, food preparation, tie-dyeing, and welding and fabrication.

“This programme continues to contribute positively to the manpower needs of local industries and to the psychosocial development of its ben-

eficiaries and measures are already in the pipelines to get more youths onboard,” Maughn said. He added that two new areas were introduced under the NTPYE Project, namely boat building for persons living in the riverine communities and an agrofood processing project for youths of Region 10.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 12, 2020

OP-ED

‘A vote for the PPP is like playing with fire’

By James McAllister FAIR Observer, a US based nonprofit media organisation, with a stated objective of informing and educating global citizens, warned Guyanese that should “… the notoriously corrupt PPP” win the coming elections, Guyana could expect a fate like Equatorial Guinea. This is a fate “where a small elite takes all the oil money and the majority remain in poverty.” On the other hand, the publication had praise for President David Granger who was described as humble and honest.

The publication, founded

by Atul Singh, a highly-respected foreign policy and international affairs expert, projects that the “gigantic” financial inflow could transform the country. It states that once the oil money is invested wisely, all citizens could become wealthy, like in Norway. However, this is all dependent on President Granger continuing in office.

This is a big deal, not only because Fair Observer has no skin in the game, or because they predicted such drastically different quality of life for the Guyanese people if the PPP wins as against if President Granger wins. It is a big deal because during its twenty three years in office the PPP showed us exactly what it is capable of.

The oil blocks give away, the Skeldon Sugar Factory white elephant, the Berbice Bridge scam, Pradoville scam, GPC sole-sourcing and the law books theft are some of the reasons Guyanese must be afraid of the PPP. These are examples of how the PPP could make Guyana just like Equatorial Guinea.

In Equatorial Guinea the ruling cabal uses mega projects to siphon off billions of dollars. The Skeldon Sugar Factory and the Berbice Bridge are examples of the PPP using the same strategy. The US$200M sugar factory, which was built against the advice of all experts, is US$60M overpriced. In Equatorial Guinea this US$60M, or most of it, would go into the pockets of the ruling cabal. The floating option for the US$40M Berbice River Bridge was chosen against the advice

of all experts. This allowed for the purchase of all the components for the bridge from one supplier, and suppliers for components of this nature normally give a commission of 10 per cent to the person who brings them the business. Someone in the PPP made a commission of US$2.5M, while Berbicians are left saddled with a bridge they can’t afford to cross, if the government does not subsidise the toll. It was Equatorial Guinea style.

The scary thing about PPP corruption is that they do not hide to do it, they do it in plain sight and make it official. The oil blocks giveaway, Pradoville, and GPC sole-sourcing are examples of the PPP sitting in cabinet and giving the stamp of approval to what would otherwise be considered corrupt activities. Imagine what they could do with the oil revenue.

The most frightening of all is the law books theft. It's frightening because the PPP is arguing that it is not theft, because it was the President who gifted the law books to the person who took it.

Hence, by extension, no PPP official could be guilty of stealing from the State if the President declares he approved of the theft.

When Fair Observer declared the PPP “notoriously corrupt” and predicted that PPP officials would become filthy rich, while the Guyanese masses remain poor, they were judging the PPP on their track record. They were aware the international financial institutions, on whom the PPP was dependent for project financing, and the ABC

countries placed tremendous pressure on the PPP. Conditionalities for loans normally included measures to prevent corruption and ensure transparency and accountability.

Yes the PPP was able to do all that they did.

Now the situation is different. If we allow the PPP to get into government, their corruption will not be stymied by World Bank and IDB conditionalities. The threat of withholding loans will not be as potent as it was before oil started to flow. The PPP will have a free reign.

Many pundits will call upon voters to look at the manifestos. However, as it relates to the PPP, their manifesto is not relevant. What is relevant is their record, and the fact that they are likely to indulge in another cycle of corruption. This likelihood is evident from the way in which the PPP is embracing multiple persons who are accused of corruption. It is as if corruption is a badge of honour in the PPP. Irfaan Ali and Anil Nandlall are credibly accused of corruption, and the PPP rewarded them.

Irfaan Ali is made presidential candidate, and Anil Nandlall was the most likely alternative. What is the message the PPP is sending to the Guyanese people?

Whatever that message is, one thing is clear, a vote for the PPP will be like playing fire. A vote for the PPP will jeopardise the welfare of this and future generations.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 12, 2020

Sharma switches to PNCR

By Vishani Ragobeer THE Justice For All Party (JFAP) representative in the APNU+AFC coalition, Jaipaul Sharma, has decided to join the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), where he sees a brighter future for Guyana and for himself.

The JFAP is one of the five parties that constitute the

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition.

The other parties include the People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R), the National Front Alliance (NFA), the Guyana Action Party (GAP) and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA). The JFAP, however, is led by Chandra Narine Sharma, who is Jaipaul’s father.

When contacted by this

newspaper on Saturday, Sharma indicated that his reason for leaving the JFAP to join the PNC/R was he believes the PNC is a more “democratic” party and it has a vision that will propel development in Guyana.

“I was with that party with the coalition... and I have seen that this party is a very democratic party,” he said. He also indicated that

PNC leader, President David Granger, is the right person to lead Guyana.

APNU was formed in 2011 and the party joined forces with the Alliance For Change (AFC) in 2015 to contest elections that year.

The APNU+AFC coalition was elected to government with President David Granger at the helm of the government.

A fervent supporter of the President, Sharma said, “I believe if he (President Granger) is in that party, I believe I should be in that party.”

He also related that the party’s ideals and plans for economic development are reminiscent of those that were Former Justice For All Party (JFAP) a d v a n c e d representative in the APNU+AFC coalition by the pargovernment, Jaipaul Sharma ty’s foundposition himself better for er, former President, Linden Forbes leadership in government with the PNC/R. Burnham.

Sharma elaborated that “If you ever listened to me, you would have con- another factor he considstantly heard that I hold the ered was the inclination of same vision of Burnham political parties to “support and I believe that I am in the their own”. Cognisant that right place now where I can the PNC/R is the largest continue making progress and dominant party within to have this country trans- the five-party APNU, he formed,” Sharma explained. opined that members from According to him, the this party are more likely to development of Guyana was be assigned to the “premier hindered after being led by ministries”.

Sharma became the Minthe People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) for 23 ister within the Ministry years. During this time, he of Finance in 2015, and in opined that Guyana could 2019, he was reassigned to have made better use of the the Ministry of Public Infraavailable and abundant re- structure as a junior minister.

“Now that I am with sources to develop into a more industrial state. This, the PNC/R, they could now he said, was President’s consider me as someone they Burnham vision -- to have can trust more and give more a productive manufacturing responsibilities,” Sharma said. sector.

He recalled that he “Burnham tried to diversify the economy and that is was singled out by Opwhat we’re [the APNU+AFC position Leader, Bharrat coalition] trying to do now,” Jagdeo, as the member of Sharma said, but also said government who would the incumbent government support the no-confidence first had to “repair the dam- motion brought against the incumbent coalition. age” done by the PPP/C. On a more personal front, As such, perhaps, the coahe also explained that he lition would have had some believes he will be able to reason not to trust him entirely.

Motorcyclist checks in dead woman at hospital

A Venezuelan woman who was dropped off at the Mahdia Hospital by a motorcyclist was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

Dead is Genesis Falcon, 28, of Black Water Landing, Konawaruk, Region Eight.

Reports indicate that she was transported to the Mahdia Hospital at about 10:00hrs on Thursday last by a male Rastafarian.

At the time, the woman

was unconscious and he told nurses that the woman had malaria and did not eat for approximately four days.

When contacted, police said the man also told the nurses he was going to locate Falcon’s sister and return. At about 10:20hrs, doctor examined the female and pronounced her dead.

The body is currently at the Mahdia Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post mortem as investigation continues.

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Recently promoted GDF ranks receive new badges

Colonel Raul Jerrick being decorated by his wife and Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Patrick West

NEWLY-promoted senior Guyana Defence Force (GDF) officers recently received their new badges of rank at a simple ceremony held at the Officers Club at Base Camp Ayanganna, Georgetown.

Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Patrick

West issued Colonel Raul Jerrick with his new badge of rank and was ably assisted by the colonel’s wife.

The remaining officers’ badges were handed over by commanding officers and branch heads of the GDF. Brigadier West congratulated the

Army Chief-of-staff, Patrick West (centre) and the newly-promoted officers

officers and encouraged them to continue their good works. He pointed out that the demands of the Force on the officers tended to make for some difficulties from time to time.

The brigadier also thanked the officers’ spouses and family mem-

bers for their support, which he indicated was essential to the delivery of their duties to the nation.

Further, Colonel Jerrick, the most senior officer in the line-up, said their achievement of this milestone could not have blossomed

without the support of their families, the Force, and its leadership.

He further pledged that they (the recipients of the promotions) would continue to be professional, serving with integrity and focussing on the Force’s future development.

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An end to Petty Politics: Campaigning for unity and prosperity in 2020

By Melina Harris MY experience of politics in Guyana is quite limited.

Having re-migrated to the country of my birth last year April, I have yet to experience elections season in Guyana, until now.

Stories across the diaspora warn of increased racial tensions and an upsurge in crime and violence. However, my experience so far has been different. Even though the main political parties have only recently launched their respective elections campaigns, there is an infectious and strong message of hope and unity spreading throughout the country. One might opine that the citizens of this great nation are moving past divisive racial politics and are unifying in order to secure better lives for themselves and generations to come.

The March 2, 2020 Elections have been dubbed the “mother of all elections” and it is easy to understand the reasoning behind this title.

Since the discovery of vast oil reserves in our waters by ExxonMobil in 2015, Guyana has emerged onto the world stage in a big way. The consequent management of our soon-tobe-acquired wealth is now hotly contested between the two major political parties: the current coalition government under the banner of A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU + AFC) and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

The current coalition-APNU+AFC government-has embarked on an ambitious elections campaign consisting of 16 planned rallies across the nation. The campaign launch at D’Urban Park on 3rd January 2020 attracted thousands of boisterous

supporters who revelled and cheered as they were addressed by President Granger who asserted that “we have a plan!” Scores of Guyanese of all ethnicities and ages travelled from various parts of the nation to express their support for the coalition government, and when this newspaper spoke with many in attendance, the key messages were that citizens were seeing progress and development within their communities, under the current administration. Whilst expressing his commitment to the citizens of Guyana, President Granger said that “Guyanese will never be poor again… the wealth belongs to you and the government will ensure you benefit”.

It should come as no surprise that citizens of a resource-wealthy nation such as ours would wish to benefit from the proper exploitation of these resources. However,

Guyanese have been aware that the equal dispensation of benefits deriving from our resources has not always been fairly meted out to all factions of the Guyanese population.

During the PPP/C tenure in office, which lasted some 23 years, many contend that only a small group of friends, cronies and relatives were the primary beneficiaries of the nation’s wealth. Although the PPP/C regards itself as a multi-ethnic organisation, it is a fact widely known and accepted throughout the country and diaspora that their main base of support derives from Indo-Guyanese.

The PPP/C General Secretary and frontman, Bharrat Jagdeo, once famously remarked that the PPP/C is indeed “a coolie people party”. Race-based rhetoric has always played a significant role in Guyanese politics; however, the present campaign strategies, even

those employed by the current PPP/C party, seek to move beyond race and instead seek to spread a message of inclusivity and unity.

As a young child growing up in Guyana, I was brutally aware of race and ethnicity. Coming from a multi-ethnic background and one which encapsulates all of the official races in Guyana, I could not be more Guyanese. Perhaps, the outcome of years of integration and the emergence of a largely mixed-raced younger population has led to the decrease in racial tensions we have experienced over the years.

Guyanese are also now more educated, more well-travelled and better connected to the world than at any time in our history. Perhaps we are finally moving past our aesthetic differences and uniting to further our common goal, which the President has eloquently stated, is the realisation of the “good life for all”. Or perhaps, the de-escalation of racial tensions has come about as a result of a largely inclusive and diverse coalition government where citizens see themselves reflected in those who they have elected to govern them. In any case and if current circumstances are to be taken into account, rampant racism and racial divisiveness seem to be a thing of the past in Guyana.

Another key area of growth within the political sphere is the rising culture of accountability and transparency within government.

The present administration promised to make government more transparent and accountable and one might argue that they have made positive strides forward in accomplishing this goal.

Transparency International, the global coalition against corruption, highlights Guyana in its list of improvers for 2018 with a rank of 93 out of 180 nations and a score of 37 out of 100 – where 100 represents a “highly clean” nation and 0 representing one which is “highly corrupt”.

Since 2015 and the election of the current administration, Guyana has moved from a score of 29 in 2015, with a

high of 38 in 2017, falling to 37 in 2018. Statistics for 2019 have yet to be released. For the time being, perceptions might remain unchanged despite veritable progress being made in fighting corruption; however, progress under the present administration has been steady. Guyanese are The latter area, Maughn said, was introduced in keeping with the government’s Green State Development Strategy’s aim to add value to agricultural produce. Some 31 youths from Region 10 were introduced to skills such as manufacturing, bottling, branding and marketing. It resulted in the packaging and production of seasoned fish, marketing of bottles of garlic and pepper sauces, along with dehydrated peppers and tomatoes.

The initiative mostly impacted the lives of single parents and birthed three small scale businesses, whose products can be found on the shelves of supermarkets in Linden. “We first started the boat building project in the Pomeroon in Region 2 and also at Baracara in Region 6. More than 45 persons from these communities benefitted from this programme which provided then the necessary training, teaching them, how to build a boat from scratch,” Maughn related.

He added that BIT and the Ministry of Social Protection provided the materials for the boat along with a 75 HP outboard motor for community use. The BIT was established in 1910 under the Industrial Training Act 39:04 with a mandate to provide marketable skills for youths. (DPI)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 12, 2020

Fire at Great Diamond leaves several homeless

SEVERAL persons were left homeless after a fire destroyed their Great Diamond apartment during the night of January 10, 2020. According to the owner of the building, Sherry Rahim, the occupants of the back end on the bottom flat of her house of the two apartments, lost all of their belongings in the fire.

Rahim told the Guyana Chronicle that the apartment is home to four persons, two of whom are currently in the interior. She stated that one of the remaining two occupants was upstairs with her at the time they became aware of the fire.

“Yes I was at home

when the fire started and that was around eight thirty quarter to nine (PM), the fire started from the back apartment downstairs but we aren’t sure exactly where, after we saw the smoke and so on we exited the house ‘cause we weren’t sure which part of the house it was coming from.” Rahim explained.

Rahim further explained that the upper flat of the house only received minor damage to the floor and the walls. She said that the persons who occupy the front apartment were able to salvage most of their stuff; however their apartment was damaged severely.

Owner of the Building, Sherry Rahim FROM PAGE

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2,383 youths engaged ...

The latter area, Maughn said, was introduced in keeping with the government’s Green State Development Strategy’s aim to add value to agricultural produce. Some 31 youths from Region 10 were introduced to skills such as manufacturing, bottling, branding and marketing. It resulted in the packaging and production of seasoned fish, marketing of bottles of garlic and pepper sauces, along with dehydrated peppers and tomatoes.

The initiative mostly impacted the lives of single parents and birthed three small scale businesses, whose products can be found on the shelves of supermarkets in Linden. “We first started the boat building project in the Pomeroon in Region 2 and also at Baracara in Region 6. More than 45 persons from these communities benefitted from this programme which provided then the necessary training, teaching them, how to build a boat from scratch,” Maughn related. He added that BIT and the Ministry of Social Protection provided the materials for the boat along with a 75 HP outboard motor for community use.

The BIT was established in 1910 under the Industrial Training Act 39:04 with a mandate to provide marketable skills for youths. (DPI)

The house, moments after the fire service extinguished the fire

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New water systems for several North Rupununi villages THE Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) will make provisions for the drilling of new wells as well as the installation of water networks in several North Rupununi villages.

According to a release from the water utility, three more villages in North Rupununi can look forward to upgraded water systems and improved access to potable water in the near future.

Those villages are Apoteri, Rewa and Crashwater, which are accessible by a combination of land and water or air and water transportation.

On Thursday, GWI officials, led by Managing Director, Dr. Richard VanWest Charles, journeyed to the villages to assess their current water and sanitation situations. The team spent several hours travelling to the locations.

While in Apoteri, the farthest village among the three, GWI officials learnt that only villagers residing close to the existing water system are benefitting from it, while those who live farther depend on hand-dug wells.

Managing Director of GWI, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, during a discussion with residents in the North Rupununi

Toshao of Apoteri, Kenny Thomas, indicated that the water in the wells go low during the dry season. Similar situations exist in the other two villages.

Toshao of Rewa, Rudolph Edwards, noted that during the rainy season, the hand-dug wells become contaminated, and contribute to water borne diseases such as diarrhea.

Dr. Van-West Charles explained that with new tech-

nology, GWI will see to it that potable water is supplied to their homes. He enlightened them of the 22 wells that GWI drilled in 2019 and the commissioning of water supply systems in Sand Creek, Moco Moco, Kaicumbay, Yupukari and St. Ignatius.

He stated that GWI has taken note of the difficulties they have experienced in accessing water during the dry season in 2016/2017 and the company has since moved to

Officials of GWI inspect a water system at a North Rupununi village recently

drill wells that can withstand the seasons and produce water all year long.

The managing director informed the residents that government has approved funding for the purchase of a rig that will drill through

rocks to access water, which he says will make a significant difference in the quality of water provided.

Additionally, he alluded to the new technology GWI has acquired to treat surface water, in instances where groundwater is unavailable.

Responding to concerns about persons living some distance from central locations of the communities, Dr. Van-West Charles said trestles will be constructed to serve different clusters of houses within villages.

CDC renders assistance to flood-affected Leguan residents THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has deployed a team to conduct a damage assessment and distribute hampers containing cleaning supplies to residents of Leguan, Region Three, following reports of flooding there.

The impacted communities include Blenheim, Success and Amsterdam.

When the team arrived on the island on Saturday, the water had completely receded. The residents commended the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) for its swift response in providing relief to affected households.

Transportation to the island was facilitated by the Coast Guard, which regularly assists the commission in the execution of such exercises.

Speaking to the Department of Public Information (DPI), National Drainage and Irrigation Authority senior engineer with responsibility for Region Three, Lall Peterdeo, stated that the initial assessments indicated that the flooding was as a result of multiple kokers being breached.

“We’re here as a result of reports we received yesterday (Friday) of persons removing the (koker) doors to take in

Scene from the distribution exercise

Rohan, Leguan resident

water for irrigation purposes… our concern is the way this was done,” he said.

According to NDIA officials, while it is understood that the farmers needed irrigation for their crops, the situation should have been monitored more effectively.

Several residents also voiced their opinions and criticised the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) for the haphazard manner in which they allow farmers to irrigate their fields. One resident, Rohan (only name) told DPI that while it is a common practice to remove boards on the koker doors to irrigate the crops, this is the first-time water levels have been so high. He explained that permission was granted by the NDC on Wednesday.

“Normally, two boards are removed from the outside door to allow water to enter but no one from the council came to monitor the situation and, when I came to the koker, I saw four boards were removed,” he relat-

One of the kokers which was breached

ed. This, Rohan explained, caused more than the required amount of water to enter the trenches which resulted in

the flood.

He also disclosed that the boards were left on the sea defence and were only

Volunteers distributing cleaning supplies to a resident

replaced on Friday evening after the tide had receded.

Other residents also called on the NDC to clean the island’s drains and canals to ensure proper drainage and irrigation.

The commission continues to monitor the situation. The 24 hours National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) remains active and can be accessed on telephone numbers 226-1114, 2261027 and 600-7500.

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Preparations in ‘high gear’ for Golden Jubilee

By Vishani Ragobeer AS Guyana prepares to observe 50 years as a Cooperative Republic, on February 23, Director of Culture (DoC), Tamika Boatswain said preparations for the ‘Golden Jubilee’ are in high-gear. “[The preparations] are coming along at a pace; time seems to be flying by but we’re trying to get things going to heighten the pace, the awareness and to get people participating in our events,” Boatswain said in a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

The director of culture related that the 50th anniversary is quite a momentous occasion for Guyana, and

as such, the Department of Culture under the Ministry of Social Cohesion, has been tailoring events that are reflective of this achievement.

The department has already put out a schedule of events for the jubilee celebrations, and at a simple glance, it would appear to be just a number of cultural events stitched together. However, the DoC mentioned that these events were actually structured in tandem with the theme for the Mashramani celebration this year, which is: “Guyana Together -- Reflect, Celebrate, Transform.”

“The jubilee presents one of several great platforms where we can practise our traditions and artforms,” she underscored.

The first string of events fall under the umbrella of ‘Guyana together’, and includes 50 days of prayer and efforts directed towards encouraging community celebrations and sporting activities.

Then, there are aspects of the celebration which help Guyanese ‘reflect’ on the purpose for the Republic.

Here, Boatswain said it is the department’s aim to highlight what is intrinsically meant by Guyana being a ‘Cooperative Republic’. In achieving this aim, she related that there will be exhibitions at the National Gallery of Art, the National Museum and at the National Archives. She also indicated that there will be symposia and a lecture series

Six held for newspaper vendor’s death SHAM Bharrat Chunnilall Mannilall, 48, of Lot 61 Parcel, Queenstown, Essequibo, Region Two, reportedly died on the spot after he was shot four times by

and ran inside the house and started to scream," Terbeni related.

The screams alerted her husband, who armed himself with a mop stick and ran to

The deceased, Sham Mannilall

Wife of the deceased (right) with a sympathiser

armed bandits on Friday night.

This was confirmed by his wife, Rita Terbeni, who said January 10, 2020, will forever be a day to remember. Mannilall is a known newspaper vendor on the Essequibo Coast.

A tearful Terbeni said the incident occurred around 20:05 hrs. She was doing a bar-b-que in front of her house at the time and as she was going into the house to collect two glasses, she was approached by two armed bandits.

"They approached us at the sidestep. It was slim, tall men; one put a gun to my head and the other put a cutlass to my daughter. My daughter managed to escape

her rescue. He reportedly dealt a lash to one of the men when another, who was armed, opened fire.

"My husband then dropped to the ground. It was like a movie in front my eyes; my daughter was inside locked up. They searched his pocket and went with all of our house keys. They didn't leave with anything, they just ran away," Terbeni related.

A spent shell was recovered from the crime scene.

She said the robbers first demanded money and before she could comply, the ordeal unfolded and ended tragically.

The now-widowed woman said after the bandits made their escape, residents quickly gathered and her husband

A spent shell recovered from the crime scene

was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where he succumbed.

Terbeni said her family did not have any grievance with members of her community.

Residents say Mannilall was a very hard-working individual and began selling newspapers since he was 12 years old, a job he inherited from his father.

Police have held six persons for questioning and three are in custody.

The body of Mannilall is at the Suddie Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

Director of Culture, Tamika Boatswain

which will relate how Guyana became a Cooperative Republic.

There is also the ‘celebrate’ component, which provides avenues for Guyanese to celebrate belonging to a sovereign nation, according to the director.

“Traditionally, the Republic has been celebrated through Mashramani, and in this ‘celebrate’ section, there will be more ‘Mash’- oriented activities, along with some more focused activities,” she explained.

And finally, there is the ‘transform’ component, which seeks to direct focus onto how Guyana will position itself for further development over the next decade, or even half-century.

Through this component, a youth symposium will be organised. Boatswain noted

that this is expected to help young people understand what the next decade beckons for Guyana and how development in the country will be actualised through their participation.

She also noted that President David Granger’s plan for a “Decade of Development” will also take centre-stage, where specific activities will be crafted to sensitise Guyanese on how the country will be transformed over the next decade.

Today, Sunday, January 12, there will be the pan-o-rama launch from 17:00 hrs at the Seawall Bandstand and then there will be a Mash pop-up concert on the Kitty seawall from 20:00 hrs.

Reckless use of public infrastructure cost millions -Citizens asked to report incidences of theft and vandalism

THE authorities are concerned about the frequency with which vandals have damaged various pieces of public infrastructure as well as the damages caused to electrical poles during accidents on the roadways. Several incidents have been reported and have gotten the attention of the Public Infrastructure Ministry, which works with the Guyana Police Force to bring the necessary actions against the relevant persons.

“The vandalism and theft is not only a problem for the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, it’s a problem for everyone, it’s a wider issue; its not only street lights and traffic lights, it’s the entire traffic portfolio of the country,” this was the statement made by Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, during a press conference that was hosted at the Ministry’s office on Wednesday.

Minister Patterson said, “We have installed 4712 street lights in 2019 and the year before we did an equal number.

Imagine, at night some driver goes and runs into the post after a night of merriment or speeding or carelessness, and takes down two poles and puts entire spots of the area in darkness.”

He explained that the problem the ministry faces is that unless two vehicles are involved or unless there is a fatality, there is no police report, persons prefer to flee the scene to avoid them getting into any legal problem.

Patterson explained that Guyanese citizens exhibit a reckless behaviour in the use and care of the country’s public infrastructure, from the roads to

the lampposts and light post. He explained that there have been instances where the ministry has completed roads one day and the very next day some motor vehicle operator would decide to drive an excavator on it, destroying the work that would have been done and wasting the resources that would have been used to actually get the road completed.

Further, Patterson stated that persons sometimes remove the infrastructure for their own personal use, saying, “We install solar lights in certain areas and some goodly citizen thinks that anything installed on public roadways is free, so they steal our solar lights.”

He also made mention of persons who break into the traffic light units to remove the batteries in an effort to sell them. The minister calls out not just the person who commit this criminal act of vandalizing public infrastructure, but also the persons who purchase these batteries, “You, the persons that buy these batteries play a large role in the continuation of this crime; it is easy to see that if there were no persons willing to buy these batteries, the persons stealing them would find it hard to get the stolen items off of their hand in exchange for cash and would most likely stop removing them.”

Minister Patterson explained that the public infrastructure ministry faces a challenge in monitoring such instances of theft and destruction to property due to the fact that it cannot station persons from the ministry to watch out for these types of crimes.

In order for this to be stopped, the citizens themselves must come to the realization that it is in their best interest and for their benefit to have the infrastructure and that they should refrain from destroying and or removing them.

The minister is also urging citizens to be vigilant, and that anyone who may see someone removing or destroying public infrastructure should make a report of the incident so that the person(s) involved could be held accountable.

“I would think the pursuit of persons knocking light posts down might not be the highest priority as the other pressing matters they have to address, so we don’t have the degree of success in prosecuting I would be comfortable with, it’s not that they are not looking [it is] that they might have other priorities.

“We just have to keep the public educated, we have to ask the public to help us to do it.

We have to be vigilant, we have a very active Facebook page, we ask people to report, if you see something going on, it can even be done anonymously; we know people have been doing that and we have been sending people out and working with the police, of course you know the prosecution rate has not been frequent as we would like” Patterson stated that the ministry will be working with the Guyana Police Force to find and take up the necessary legal actions against persons who have damaged or removed parts of public infrastructure.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 12, 2020

Simmons urges ‘complete game’ as Windies target ODI whitewash ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) – Having already wrapped up the series following a dramatic win in last Thursday’s second One-Day International in Barbados, head coach Phil Simmons said it was important West Indies should now focus on putting together the “complete game” in order to achieve a series whitewash of Ireland.

West Indies won the opening game last Tuesday by five wickets at Kensington Oval before pulling off a nerve-wracking one-wicket victory with a ball to spare, to wrap up their first series win on home soil in six years.

However, neither victory was particularly convincing, and Simmons said he now wanted the home side to click in all departments in today’s final ODI

here.

“The message is for us to play a complete game and not just bowl well or bat well or field well but play a complete game and finish the series three-nil,” Simmons said yesterday.

“Because I think that twonil or three-nil is always better than three-one and twoone so I think that’s the crux of the matter here. We need to finish properly and play a full complete 100 overs in the way that we want to play cricket.”

The first ODI was a lack-lustre affair where Ireland scraped 180 and West Indies then lost five wickets before overhauling the paltry target, with opener Evin Lewis getting an unbeaten 99 but no other batsman passing 20.

Asked to chase 238 in

the second ODI, West Indies batsmen again struggled, and the hosts required last-over heroics from Hayden Walsh Jr (46 not out) and last-man Sheldon Cottrell (seven not out) to win the game.

After an admirable performance on last month’s India tour, Simmons said the batting group needed to return to those high standards.

“The batsmen need to go back to what we were doing in India and how we were putting scores together,” he pointed out, “where we had proper partnerships up at the top and creating the platform for the big hitters down at the bottom, and we need to make sure we do that in this coming game.”

Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has been the standout player for West Indies both

games, snatching four-wicket hauls on each occasion to claim Man-of-the-Match honours.

And Simmons believes the 23-year-old’s success has been as a result of his enhanced preparation and maturity. “(I am happy with what I’m seeing), not just on the pitch but in the way he prepares and the way he talks about cricket and about bowling,” Simmons noted.

“He seems to be maturing very quickly and it showed in the two games with the way he bowled. I think it has just been his consistency. I think he has hit the areas he’s wanted to hit more often than the other bowlers in the team and he’s come up with success.

“But I think it’s been the consistency of doing what he wants to do with every ball.”

Selectors yesterday named an unchanged 14man squad for the contest at the Grenada National Stadium.

SQUADS: WEST INDIES – Kieron Pollard (captain), Sunil Ambris, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr. IRELAND – Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Mark Adair, Gareth Delany, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, Kevin O’Brien, William Porterfield, Boyd Rankin, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Lorcan Tucker, Gary Wilson, Craig Young.

GFF tight-lipped on Golden Jaguars preparation for Barbados clash in March … Barbados played Canada twice this year

By Rawle Toney GUYANA will face Barbados in March in the CONCACAF 2021 Gold Cup Qualifier but to date Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is yet to make public its plans to ensure the Golden Jaguars make their second appearance at the confederation’s marquee tournament.

With former Trinidad and Tobago International Russell Latapy at the helm of the Barbados team, the men from Land of the Flying Fish

have already begun their preparation, playing Canada twice (January 7 and 10), as well as lining up a few more friendlies before their clash with Guyana in March (at a date to be announced by CONCACAF).

As announced in March of 2018, the 2019-2020 CONCACAF Nations League kicked off the road to 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. After group stage play, the top two finishers in each of the League A groups and the top finishers in each of

the League B groups secured their participation in the 16th edition of the Confederation’s premier tournament for men’s national teams.

The 12 teams already qualified for the 2021 Gold Cup are Canada, Costa Rica, Curacao, El Salvador, Grenada, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Suriname and the United States.

The road to the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup will continue next year with a two-round qualifier, to be played in a direct elimination

format beginning in March of 2020, the second-place finishers of League B (French Guiana, Guyana, Montserrat and St Vincent and the Grenadines) will face the first-place finishers of League C (Bahamas, Barbados, Guadeloupe and Guatemala).

Apart from the Guyana vs Barbados clash, Guadeloupe will take on St Vincent and the Grenadines, Bahamas will collide with French Guiana and Guatemala will take on Montserrat.

After home-and-away

play, the four round-one matchup winners will advance to the second round, where they will face the thirdplace finishers of League A. The second round will take place during the FIFA window of June 2020.

Should Guyana overcome Barbados, they will face long-time regional rivals Trinidad & Tobago and a victory over Soca Warriors in the home-and-away play will see the Golden Jaguars head to the 2021 Gold Cup.

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Pouderoyen, Fruta U-20 through to Turbo semis POUDEROYEN FC and Fruta Conquerors U-20 teams are the first through to the semi-final stage of the Turbo Knockout Football tournament.

The first match of the two days of quarter-final action was played at the Ministry of Education ground on Friday

evening.

The first game was a tense affair between Pouderoyen and Buxton U-20.

Both sides tried furiously to open the scoring and there were several close encounters, but the first half ended scoreless.

The second half ended the

same way, resulting in extra time which saw the West Demerara-based side score first through a Darrell Abrams intervention.

Troni Semple brought things level in the 106th minute with his strike sending the game into penalties.

In the end, it was Poude-

royen who advanced 6-5, ending the Buxton U-20s’ run in the tournament.

In the second game Fruta Conquerors U-20 edged out Buxton 3-2 at the final whistle.

The ever-present Nicholas McArthur opened the scoring for the U-20 side in

the 21st minute with Ryan Hackett doubling it up in the 46th minute.

An own-goal by Joel Yhap gifted Buxton their first goal and Shemar Scott in the 71st brought the game level again as the fightback continued.

However, the game that

looked likely to follow the extra-time trend was changed

by Osafo Simpson in the 88th minute.

The second set of quarter-final matches will pit Riddim Squad vs Northern Rangers from 19:00hrs tonight while Santos U-20 and GFC will clash at 21:00hrs.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 12, 2020

29

Liverpool go 16 points clear as Firmino nets winner at Spurs

By Martyn Herman

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Liverpool stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to 16 points and set a record in the process as Roberto Firmino’s first-half goal secured a battling 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur yesterday.

Juergen Klopp’s unbeaten side were not at their best and had to withstand a Spurs fightback after the break but hung on for a 20th win out of 21 league games this season to move further ahead of second-placed Leicester City with a game in hand.

Liverpool’s total of 61 points is the most after 21 games of a Premier League season, beating Manchester City’s 59 from two seasons ago, and has never been surpassed in the Spanish, Italian, German or French leagues at the same stage.

Firmino’s 37th-minute effort proved enough for Liver-

wards the end. A couple of our players were slightly exhausted, but we fought through that,” he added after his side stretched their lead over Leicester, who had earlier lost 2-1 at home to Southampton.

Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino scores their first goal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain. (REUTERS/Dylan Martinez)

pool to march on towards a first English title since 1989-90, but Tottenham substitute Giovani Lo Celso wasted a glorious chance to earn the hosts a draw with a glaring late miss.

Liverpool’s fans stood to acclaim their side at the end and Spurs manager Jose

Mourinho, who has now won only two of 11 games against Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp, shook hands with every opposition player at the final whistle.

“I’m over the moon about the result, but we have to talk about the performance,” a rather subdued Klopp said

later.

“One team deserved to win and that was our team . To win at Tottenham is pretty special.

That the game wasn’t decided after 50-60 minutes was our fault. We should have scored more goals.

“We were on the ground to-

CLUB RECORD While Klopp’s unstoppable side are now unbeaten in a club record 38 league games, Tottenham, who in June faced Liverpool in the Champions League final in Madrid, are drifting in eighth place, nine points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Liverpool dominated the first half and it needed a superb block by Tottenham’s 20-year-old defender Japhet Tanganga, handed his first league start, to deny Firmino with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hitting the rebound against the post.

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk then looked certain to head in Jordan Henderson’s dinked cross but keeper Paulo

Gazzaniga made a superb reflex save.

With Tottenham sitting deeper and deeper the pressure finally told as they failed to clear the ball and Mohamed Salah’s pass evaded Tanganga for Brazilian Firmino to fire past the stranded Gazzaniga.

Spurs, without their injured talisman Harry Kane, were far more lively after the break as Liverpool’s pace slowed.

Son Heung-min wasted a great chance to equalise, curling the ball over the bar after Liverpool were caught in possession, and then substitute Giovani Lo Celso somehow missed the target with the goal gaping after being picked out

by Serge Aurier.

Erik Lamela also came off the bench and tested Liverpool keeper Alisson but the Reds showed incredible defensive discipline to record a sixth successive clean sheet.

BCB appoints executives, selectors, committee members ahead of new term THE newly elected executives of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) have been appointed, with president Hilbert Foster confirming the members of the respective committees which will help in achieving the board’s goals for 2020.

After meeting last Wednesday at the board’s New Amsterdam Office, all 8 elected executives were named. President Hilbert Foster, vice-presidents Albert Smith, Qualis Winter and Robby Saywack, secretary Angela Haniff, Asst secretary Ameer Rahaman, treasurer Dr. Cecil Beharry, Asst treasurer Rovin Bahadur were present for the entire two-hour meeting.

The BCB president con-

BCB president Hilbert Foster

gratulated the executives on being elected and stated that as a team, they would have to make sure that they reward the

confidence of the clubs and sub-associations. Foster and Smith were elected 31-0 while the others won 30-0 as clubs rewarded them for a very successful two-year term in 2018 and 2019.

Foster urged his fellow executives to be very visible at cricket venues during matches, to attend meetings on a regular basis, to come up with visionary plans and to work along with every stakeholder of Berbice Cricket, as it is very important for everyone to feel involved.

The BCB executives selected 19-year-old Simon Naidu as BCB Public Relations Officer (PRO) for another 2-year term while Malcolm Peters, Neil Rudder,

Javed Saywack, Leslie Solomon, Lyken Edwards, Victor Takurdeen and Kellon Henry were appointed executive members.

Vice-president Qualis Winter will head the three-man Disciplinary Committee. The other members are Police Officer Michael Newland and Jaipaul Heeralall of the D’Edward Club of West Berbice.

Leslie Solomon of Port Mourant CC was appointed chairman of the important Competitions Committee while Neil Rudder would serve as vice-chairman and Ameer Rahaman as secretary.

The other members are Karran Ramsammy (Whim), Gregory Crandon (Guymine),

Narine Deonarine (Chesney), Lyken Edwards (Edinburgh), Robby Saywack (Bush Lot), Amir Khan (Blairmont) and Winston Smith (Ramnarine Memorial).

Former national Youth player Balram Samaroo heads the crucial selection committee while national Youth player Kellon Henry would serve as his deputy.

Leslie Solomon was named secretary and chief record-keeper. The other selectors are O. Outar, Winston Smith, Surendra Kissoonlall and Roshan Gafoor.

Successful cricket coach Albert Smith heads the Cricket Development Committee, which has been mandated to

come up with recommendations to lift Berbice cricket to a higher level.

Other members are Winston Smith, Balram Samaroo, Tremayne Smartt, O. Outar, Floyd Benjamin, Lakeram Latham and Glenford Fordyce.

Treasurer Dr Cecil Beharry and Asst treasurer Rovin Bahadur were appointed chairman and vice-chairman of the BCB Financial Committee.

Secretary Angela Haniff, Amir Khan, Brian Baker and Gregory Rambarran are the other members of the Financial Committee. Attorney-at-Law Arun Goosai would continue to serve as Legal Adviser to the board.

Back-to-form Man United thump Norwich, Southampton stun Leicester LONDON, England (Reuters) - Manchester United roared back to form with a 4-0 demolition of bottom club Norwich City but Chelsea maintained their grip on fourth place in the Premier League with a 3-0 defeat of Burnley at Stamford Bridge yesterday.

Southampton produced the biggest surprise of the day as they gained sweet revenge for a 9-0 home drubbing by Leicester City in October, coming from a goal down to win the return 2-1.

Everton shrugged off their FA Cup defeat by Liverpool as their improved league form continued with a 1-0 home win against Brighton & Hove Albi-

Manchester United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka in action with Norwich City’s Todd Cantwell at Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain. (REUTERS/Jon Super)

on to move level on points with 10th-placed Arsenal who drew 1-1 at Crystal Palace.

Wolverhampton Wanderers were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Newcastle

United. Leaders Liverpool can break Manchester City’s record for the best start to a Premier League campaign if they win at Tottenham Hotspur in the day’s late kickoff.

Making his 200th appearance for Manchester United, Marcus Rashford struck twice for the Reds in a dominant display that left them in fifth spot, five points behind Chelsea.

United were clearly smarting from their chastening League Cup defeat by Manchester City and swarmed all over Norwich.

Rashford rewarded their dominance when he side-footed in Juan Mata’s cross in the 27th minute but the hosts were unable to build on their lead before the break.

Norwich capitulated after halftime though and goalkeeper Tim Krul needlessly conceded

a penalty that Rashford tucked away.

Mata then set up Anthony Martial for the third before substitute Mason Greenwood put the icing on the cake for the home side.

Chelsea’s home form has been a thorn in their side but they put that aside to thump Burnley 3-0 with a penalty from Jorginho and goals by Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Burnley offered little as they suffered a fourth successive league defeat.

When second-placed Leicester took an early lead through Dennis Praet, Southampton’s fans must have feared

the worst.

But the south coast club have made a startling improvement since that dark October night and stunned the hosts with a fortunate leveller from midfielder Stuart Armstrong.

Danny Ings, who had missed a slew of chances earlier in the match, struck the winner - his 14th league goal of the season - in the 81st minute after collecting a Che Adams pass.

Leicester thought they had levelled in the 90th minute when Jonny Evans nodded in a free kick from James Maddison, but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) judged the defender to be in an offside position.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 12, 2020

SPR Enterprise 40-over

Deosaran optimistic that Lusignan 'A' can defend title against ECCCC

FORMER West Indies President’s XI cricketer Krishna Deosaran expects a tough battle, but is optimistic that his Lusignan A team can defend their title when they tackle home team, Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club (ECCCC), today, in the SPR Enterprise 40-over final.

The game, which was postponed from last month due to bad weather is set to start at 10:00hrs.

The experienced cricketer, who represented Guyana at the U-19 level with lengthy stints in Trinidad and Canada, said that if his side stick to their game plan they should come out victorious.

“We would have to execute both with the bat and the ball to be on top of the game, we just have to

played unbeaten throughout the preliminary rounds.

Lusignan A team will look to defend their title today.

stick to our game plan and the basics. I think once we play positively and show no signs of weakness we will dominate on that day.”

The Lusignan skipper added that he is aware of the

magnitude of the game, but he also knows that he has an experienced side in big clashes and is confident in his players’ abilities.

“I know it’s a big game, but we are confident and

positive about our potential and our talent in the team.

I know we have the ability to win it again.”

Both teams are pumped up for the clash, since they

ADVANTAGE Enmore have home team advantage and like Lusignan, they have several solid players, including former national leg-spinner Amir Khan, Imran Hassan, skipper Bheemraj Ramkelawan and national U-17 cricketer Chaitram Balgobin.

Despite the disadvantages of playing away from home, Deosaran is still counting on his talented players.

“The home side will definitely get an advantage. They are more accustomed to their environment and they will know the pitch more than we, but we played long enough to understand and adapt quickly as well.”

The 32-year-old will have the likes of Steve Ramdass and Robin Williams among several other quality players at his disposal.

The teams read: Lusignan A: K. Deosarran (captain), S. Bharrat, G. Boodwah, S. Ramdass, R. Williams, V. Ramjeet, J. Heliger, R. Naikarran, E. Khan, A. Mohammed, K. Franklin, R. Gopaul and K.Bishundial.

Enmore CCCC A: B. Ramkelawan (captain), R. Singh, C. Surat, N. Gobin, S. Jainarine, A. Khan, R. Hiralall, C, Seemangal, S. Jainarine, Y. Dyal, C. Balgobin, V. Ramlakhan and I. Hassan.

Powell, Hodge delay Guyana Jaguars victory push after Smith’s career-best 6 for 77 KIERAN Powell and Montcin Hodge struck fifties for the Leeward Hurricanes but speedster Niall Smith’s maiden 5-fer gave Guyana Jaguars the edge going into the final day of Round 1 in the 2020 Regional 4-Day Tournament.

When bails were removed on the penultimate day of action at the Sir Viv Richards Ground, Hurricanes who trailed by 20 runs were 214-6 in their second innings.

First innings hero Jahmar Hamilton was 16 not out along with Damion Jacobs 3, the pai rwill resume on the 4th and final today.

Jaguars left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul snapped up 3 wickets while Fast-bowler Keon Joseph grabbed two to help put a stopper on things with a day remaining.

Openers Hodge who hit 62 and Powell who fell sadly for 99, led a resurgent second

innings chase as they piled on a whopping 152 runs for the opening stand.

After being 263 runs behind, Leewards who resumed on 123 for 5 on day 3 were eventually bowled out for 154, in reply to the Jaguars 388 first innings total.

The catalyst behind the Leewards first innings crash, was a fiery debut spell from pacer Smith who ended with career-best figures of 6-55.

Hamilton was the lone fighter for the Hurricanes with 52 off 50 balls as veteran spinner Permaul chipped in with 2-11.

Sent into bat again after failing to wipe off the first innings deficit, the Hurricanes made a much stronger case as left-hander Kieran Powell agonisingly fell for 99 .

Pacer Niall Smith bagged 6 for 77

Marathon winner Kipsang charged over anti-doping breaches TWO-time London Marathon winner Wilson Kipsang has been charged for ‘whereabouts failures’ and ‘tampering’ by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).

The 37-year-old Kenyan is now banned from competing until his hearing has taken place.

Kipsang - the London 2012 marathon bronze medallist - has also won the Berlin, New York and Tokyo marathons.

His management stressed he has not failed a drugs test and added: “No prohibited substance was found.”

Wilson Kipsang is the sixth-fastest marathon runner in history.

Volare Sports added: “The accusation regarding alleged/attempted tampering concerns an explanation that was given in the results management process regarding a possible Whereabouts Failure and does not concern tampering with a doping test itself.”

Kipsang is the sixth fastest marathon runner in history, with a personal best of two hours three minutes 13 seconds.

The AIU - founded by World Athletics to combat doping in 2017 - confirmed Kipsang’s suspension for “whereabouts failures” and

“tampering or attempted tampering”.

Under anti-doping regulations, athletes have to inform testing authorities of their whereabouts for a one-hour window of every day.

Three failures in 12 months - not being present at the said time, or filing inaccurate or incomplete information, count as one failure - leads to an automatic ban.

On its website, the AIU says it “will be taking a more stringent approach to whereabouts requirements in 2020”. (BBC Sport)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 12, 2020

31

Powell fifty not enough as Scorpions face difficult final day PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – West Indies limited overs specialist, Rovman Powell, was one of three batsmen with half-centuries but Jamaica Scorpions were left facing a difficult final day after Red Force’s spinners put the hosts on top here Saturday.

Resuming the penultimate day at the Brian Lara Stadium on 94 for three in reply to Red Force’s mammoth 460 for four declared, Scorpions were dismissed for 278, to concede a first innings lead of 182 runs.

Powell, unbeaten at the

Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein.

start on 25, struck 71 while Derval Green, better known for his fast bowling, carved

out 56 and Paul Palmer exactly 50.

At one stage, the visitors were cruising at 202 for four but lost their last six wickets for 76 runs as left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein (4-58) and off-spinner Bryan Charles (4-67) combined to destroy the innings.

Batting a second time, Scorpions reached the close on 86 for one, still requiring a further 96 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

Opener Assad Fudadin was unbeaten on 32 while captain and fellow left-hander John Campbell made 28 off

41 balls with four boundaries, before giving Charles a return catch, after helping add 41 for the first wicket.

Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood, unbeaten on 17, added a further 45 for the second wicket with Fudadin to deny Red Force any further success.

Earlier, it was Powell and Palmer who dominated, pushing their fourth wicket stand up to 90 before being separated.

Powell, always looking to score, struck eight fours and two sixes off 92 deliveries while Palmer, who resumed

the day on 31, faced 111 balls and counted seven fours.

When the left-handed Palmer slashed a cut at Jamaican seamer Odean Smith and was caught at first slip, Powell found a partner in wicketkeeper Aldaine Thomas (35) to post a crucial 59 for the fifth wicket, as Scorpions reached lunch on 200 for four.

However, they were separated in the first over following the break when Powell missed a sweep at Hosein and was adjudged lbw, with just two runs added.

In Hosein’s next over,

Thomas played down the wrong line and was also lbw and when Dennis Bulli (5) was caught at short leg off the same bowler, Scorpions were 225 for seven.

Green came to his side’s rescue, lashing six fours and two sixes off 92 balls and adding 45 for the eighth wicket with Marquino Mindley (11), before becoming Hosein’s fourth wicket, bowled in the second over after tea playing across the line.

Shillingford wrecks Pride to set up intriguing final day run chase KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, (CMC )– Test batsman Kraigg Brathwaite found form with a fighting half-century but Barbados Pride were taken apart by veteran off-spinner Shane Shillingford’s seven-wicket haul, leaving the first round Regional four-day contest an open affair heading into today’s final day.

After limiting Windward Islands Volcanoes to a onerun lead on first innings, Pride were in good shape on 181 for four but lost their last six wickets for 88 runs to be dismissed for 269 in their second innings on the penultimate at Arnos Vale

Veteran off-spinner Shane Shillingford grabbed seven for 105.

Stadium.

Brathwaite top-scored with 72 while wicketkeeper Tevyn Walcott got 40 and

Justin Greaves, 36, and Jomel Warrican chipped in with 31 in the tail to further boost the visitors total.

Not for the first time, the 36-year-old Shillingford proved the difference, picking up seven for 105 to engineer Pride’s collapse while left-arm seamer Preston McSween (2-52) offered strong support.

Volcanoes will chase a tricky target of 269 runs when they start their innings today.

Resuming on their overnight 230 for seven, Volcanoes added just four runs as Test left-arm spinner Warrican took two of three wickets to fall to end with four for 40.

Brathwaite then put on 46 for the first wicket with left-hander Shane Moseley

(21) and a further 37 for the second wicket with Test batsman Shamarh Brooks (12) to give Pride a slow but solid start.

However, once Shillingford ripped one past Brooks’s defensive prod to rattle offstump, Pride lost three wickets for 40 runs to be 123 for four.

Left-hander Jonathan Carter (8) pushed tentatively at Shillingford and edged to Devon Smith at slip and Brathwaite was brilliantly caught by Kavem Hodge on the second attempt at mid-wicket, after hitting six fours in a 139-ball knock.

Pride resisted, however,

courtesy of a 58-run fifth wicket stand between Walcott and Greaves, to reach the safety of tea on 145 without further loss.

Walcott, who faced 75 balls and struck a single four, and Greaves, whose 77-ball innings included two boundaries, pushed on following the resumption before McSween accounted for both.

First, Greaves steered a catch to wicketkeeper Emmanuel Stewart off an innocuous delivery before Walcott hooked and was caught in the deep behind square.

UWI UNICOM T20 Tournament

Jacobs, Griffith sink Marlins as Malteenoes win by 82 runs

COMBINED efforts from Steven Jacobs and Trevon Griffith guided Malteenoes All-Stars to an emphatic 82-run win over

Tobago Marlins in their first match of the University of West Indies (UWI) Unicom T20 tournament, played at the Sir Frank

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday January 12, 2020) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & the City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) &CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)

320 Test players

(2)

196 ODI players Today’s Quiz:

(1) Which one never compiled a Test match doublecentury?

Basil Butcher, Rohan Kanhai, Faoud Bacchus, Alvin Kallicharran, Clive Lloyd (2) Where & when did Roy Fredericks score his maiden Test century?

Trevon Griffith and Steven Jacobs starred for the Malteenoes All-Stars.

Worrell Cricket Ground, St Augustine Trinidad & Tobago.

Jacobs, Guyana Jaguars all-rounder starred with MVP figures 5-27 as the Guyanese

unit outplayed their opponents in the opener played on Thursday.

Batting first, the Marlins were knocked over for 127

runs in the 20th over, with Dejourn Charles (30) and Rachad Forde (24) the main contributors after Jacobs ran through the order.

The Guyanese team in reply surged to 209-8 thanks to a blistering knock of 53 from Griffith, off 29 balls, inclusive of 5 fours and three maximums. In-form Guyana Jaguars limited-overs batsman, Jonathan Foo smacked 41 with three fours and a pair of sixes Power-hitter Quinton Sampson, who lit up the Jaguars 50-Over League, struck 36 off just 14 with a solitary four and 4 sixes. Experienced First Division batsman Win-

ston Forrester was the other Malteenoes All-Star player to chip in with useful runs as he scored 23.

Action meanwhile continues at the Sir Frank Worrell Ground this weekend, with the crucial rounds getting underway when the quarter-finals bowl off on January 14 and 15.

The semi-final round will be played on January 17 and 18. The final battle will be staged on January 19.

32

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 12, 2020

Head coach Phil Simmons (centre) makes a point to his players during a training session yesterday.

(Photo courtesy CWI Media)

Simmons urges ‘complete game’ as Windies target ODI whitewash 28 PAGE

GFF tight-lipped on Golden Jaguars Pouderoyen, Fruta U-20 through to Turbo semis preparation for Barbados 28 clash in March PAGE

PAGE

28

Guyana senior Men’s national football team

Action in the Turbo KO Football tournament is heating up.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020