Guyana Chronicle E-paper 1-4-2020

SATURDAY 4th January, 2020

' No.105869 President David Granger addresses the mammoth crowd at the launch of the APNU+AFC elections campaign on Friday (photos by Adrian Narine and Delano Williams)

SEE PAGE 03

Coalition kicks off elections campaign with massive crowd

‘No turning back’ -President urges citizens to keep bounties away from ‘fakes and frauds’ …asks Guyanese to reaffirm trust in APNU+AFC on March 2

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 4, 2020

Guyanese stand solidly behind Coalition Gov’t

By Gabrielle Chapman

TWO months ahead of the March 2, 2020 elections date, the APNU/AFC Coalition Government launched their campaign with a massive cultural show at the D’Urban Park on Friday.

Scores of Guyanese of all ages, from near and far, flocked the tarmac and the stands, clad in their green-and-yellow attire, waving high their party flags, roaring in support of the current administration.

Manoeuvering through the tightly-packed crowd, the Guyana Chronicle pulled aside a few of the supporters to ascertain their reason for supporting the APNU/AFC government.

Given the intense yet blissful

aura, the people were all energetic and passionate while sharing their sentiments.

Sherron Matthews, who travelled all the way from Bartica with her friends, said “I will always continue to support the government because they have paid attention to Bartica. We are developing, and all we have seen is development over the years. We have roads; we have lights. Our schools are repaired and looking good, and things like that. So we came all the way from Bartica to support this rally here, because we will be putting our vote again for the government.”

Travelling from even farther, was Schenelle Bremner who hails from Kumaka Mines in Region 10 and was adamant about attending

Jason Archer, Oswin Ross and their friend, all of Eldorado Village, West Coast Berbice

Beni Raymond

Schenelle Bremner from Coomacka Mines

Cassie Lowe

Daneeka Marks

Sherron Mathews from Bartica

Mervyn Williams

A few residents from Crabwood Creek

the launch on Friday.

This, she said, is due to the fact that she is grateful for all the government did for her community.

GOOD CONDITION

“I would encourage other young people to vote because they have done so much for Kumaka.

We have always had road issues; very bad roads. And since APNU/ AFC Government has taken over, our roads are in smooth condition.

The minute the rain falls and the road starts to get bad, they come and they look it after. They provided lights for the community, so the place is no longer dark. They have

done so much for our community; they are doing something, and everyone can see their progress. I think we should give them a next chance, because if they have done so much for us, I think that there is more that can be done, and they will do in the future for us,” Bremner said.

Amid her loud exciting cheers, See Page 8

3

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 4, 2020

‘No turning back’

‘We have a plan!’

-President urges Guyanese to keep Guyana’s bounties away from ‘fakes and frauds’ …Guyanese to reaffirm trust in APNU+AFC coalition, come March 2

By Navendra Seoraj AMIDST roaring chants of “Granger for President” and “APNU+AFC for Government,” President of Guyana and Presidential Candidate of the incumbent APNU+AFC coalition, David Granger, said with such support, nothing will stop the coalition, as he made his pitch for a second term.

A sea of yellow and green could be seen from all angles at D’Urban Park, on Friday evening, where a massive crowd gathered for the official launch of the APNU+AFC’s campaign ahead of the upcoming General and Regional Elections in March.

The President, in what was described as a power presentation by listeners, said: “I am unbothered, nothing can stop us…we are embarking on a new decade of development… we fixed things that they (PPP/C) broke up and we need five more years to fix more. “We are building back the economy, we have a plan; we are protecting the environment, we have a plan; we are ensuing that every child goes to school and is educated, we have a plan; we are opening enterprise for young people, we have a plan,” said President Granger, adding that the decade of development beckons once the incumbent APNU+AFC coalition is re-elected to office.

GOOD RECORD OF SERVICE He urged Guyanese to put their trust in the coalition because they have a good record of service and the results can be seen all over the country. Speaking along the same line, the President said the incumbent coalition will continue to work and “buildup” the country for this generation and generations to come. “We have a plan for the next decade…five years ago you put your faith in us and we are asking for five more years…they (PPP/C) tried to cut us down but they cannot stop us,” President Granger asserted, adding that the coalition’s intent is not to enrich themselves, but to

work for every community and village across the country, despite the geographic location.

As a commemoration of the riches to be shared, President Granger proclaimed December 20 as National Petroleum Day, after American oil giant, ExxonMobil announced the production of oil offshore Guyana, on that day.

In expressing his commitment to the people of Guyana, the president said: “Guyanese will never be poor again…that wealth belongs to you and the government will ensure you benefit… there are a lot of greedy people, don’t bother with them, we will ensure the oil wealth goes to the people who need it the most.”

President Granger promised that the “ordinary people” from Regions One to 10 will benefit directly from

President, David Granger and Leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan, ‘crank-up’ the massive crowd during the launch of the APNU+AFC campaign, on Friday (Adrian Narine photo)

never again, this country is in good hands with the coalition.”

“The frauds and tricksters are on the other side… they were waiting on the launch today so they could find out what to say Sunday…they want to copy everything we do and that is why they are fakes, they are not real... nobody in my cabinet never went to the ‘University of Uitvlugt’ or the ‘University of Cumberland’…they (opposition) like they got a machine that could print certificates… you could fake certificates but not experience and that is what my government brings to the table.”

The President said when the coalition promised free education at university level, they did not mean free diplomas and certificates, but instead meant that every child must go to school and that

No end in sight! Thousands of APNU+AFC supporters turned out to reaffirm their confidence in the incumbent coalition (Adrian Narine photo)

the riches of the oil and gas sector. Persons will get those benefits through the “decade of development.”

“We like the ordinary people and that is why we came into government to give you the benefits…we are your best guarantees to ensure you get what is yours,” said the president, noting that he has a vision for a good life for all Guyanese.

His belief is that Guyana is blessed as the most beautiful and bountiful country in the Caribbean. And now God gives Guyana the most

oil, said the Guyanese leader, adding that those “gifts” cannot fall into the hands of the wrong people.

COUNTRY IN GOOD HANDS In cementing his position on the transparent management of Guyana’s resources and having a “trustworthy” government, President Granger said: “don’t let those gifts fall into the hands of the fake and the frauds… right now you are dealing with honest people…we went through the thieving people, death squads, but

every child leaving school must be gainfully employed.

As part of its focus on youth, the incumbent coalition government had launched the Guyana Youth Corp, which served as a replacement for the National Service which was scrapped by the PPP/C. To supplement the Guyana Youth Corp, the APNU+AFC government also launched the Hinterland Youth Service.

The President said a lot more is in store for the young people of Guyana and it will be done once the coalition is re-elected.

“Through the decade of development we will get children off the streets and into schools. We will protect the people in the hinterland by improving infrastructure and we will ensure that every Guyanese has a roof over their head as we continue to house the nation,” said President Granger.

In order to decentralise the benefits, government created four new towns – Lethem, Mabaruma, Bartica and Mahdia – over the past four years. This was done as part of a step towards ensuring that every region is run by a town, which will be the hub for development.

Government also placed close attention to the development of local government because for more than 20 years, the former administration had removed the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and replaced them with Interim See Page 8

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, January 04, 2020

Iran vows ‘severe revenge’ for top general’s death Iran’s supreme leader has vowed “severe revenge” on those responsible for the death of top military commander Qasem Soleimani.

Soleimani was killed by an air strike at Baghdad airport early on Friday ordered by US President Donald Trump.

The 62-year-old spearheaded Iran Middle East operations as head of the elite Quds Force.

Mr Trump said he killed or wounded thousands of Americans. The killing marks a major escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran.

US officials have said 3,000 additional troops will be sent to the Middle East as a precaution.

Soleimani was widely seen as the second most powerful figure in Iran, behind Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

The Quds Force, an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported

The Pentagon confirmed that US forces had killed Gen Soleimani (BBC photo)

directly to the ayatollah and Soleimani was hailed as a heroic national figure.

Under his 21-year leadership of the Quds Force, Iran bolstered Hezbollah and other pro-Iranian militant groups in Lebanon; expanded its military presence in Iraq and Syria; and orchestrated Syria’s offensive against rebel groups in that country’s long civil war.

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo said the US wanted to de-escalate the situation, but

that the strike was “lawful” and “saved lives”. He told Fox News: “We do not seek war with Iran but we will not stand by and see American lives put at risk.” Later Pompeo thanked Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for Saudi Arabia’s “steadfast support” and “for recognising aggressive threats posed by Iran’s Quds force”, the state department said.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Iranians have been holding rallies in Tehran and other cities, denouncing what they call US crimes.

Global oil prices rose sharply in the wake of the attack.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said “severe revenge awaits the criminals” behind the attack.

His death would double “resistance” against the US and Israel, he added. He also announced three days of national mourning. The ayatollah would lead prayers at a funeral ceremony for the general in Tehran on Sunday, Iranian media quoted Soleimani’s family as saying. Later, the Supreme National Security Council, Iran’s top security body, said the US

would be held responsible for its “criminal adventurism”.

“This was the biggest US strategic blunder in the West Asia region, and America will not easily escape its consequences,” it said in a statement.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called the attack an “act of international terrorism” Soleimani’s deputy, Gen Esmail Qaani, has been appointed as his successor. The Americans and their allies in Israel and the West have tracked Soleimani closely for years. It’s likely that he has been in their sights before. The fact that this time the Americans pulled the trigger suggests that President Trump believes the reward is worth the risk, that the Iranian regime has been so weakened by isolation, economic sanctions and recent demonstrations that it will rage but not offer a serious strategic threat.

But it is not at all clear whether the assassination fits into a coherent US strategy, and such an assumption could be dangerous and wrong.

Soleimani was a colossal figure inside Iran. He was its strategic mastermind. Perhaps

he left a plan of steps to take if he were killed. This assassination at the start of a new year and a new decade might turn into another Middle Eastern milestone, touching off another sequence of bloody events.

To begin with, the Iranian regime must now be planning its answer to his death, to show that the position Soleimani spent so long creating outside its borders in the Middle East can be defended.

The US has called the commander and the Quds Force terrorists, holding them responsible for the deaths of hundreds of US personnel. President Trump, who was in Florida at the time of the strike, tweeted an image of the American flag shortly afterwards.

Tweeting again on Friday, Trump said Soleimani had “killed or badly wounded thousands of Americans... and was plotting to kill many more” and “should have been taken out many years ago”.

“While Iran will never be able to properly admit it, Soleimani was both hated and feared within the country,” he said.

A statement from the Pentagon - the headquarters of the US Department of Defense - said Soleimani had been “developing plans to attack American diplomats and

service members in Iraq and throughout the region”.

“This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans,” it added.

The 3,000 extra US troops being sent to the Middle East are from the 82nd Airborne Division and they will join 750 troops from the same unit sent to Kuwait earlier this week following an attack on the US embassy in Baghdad.

Soleimani and officials from Iran-backed militias were leaving Baghdad airport in two cars when they were hit by several missiles from a US drone strike near a cargo area.

The commander had reportedly flown in from Lebanon or Syria. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said 10 people were killed, including five of its members and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Muhandis commanded the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah group, blamed by Washington for a rocket attack which killed a US civilian contractor in northern Iraq last Friday.

He also effectively led the Popular Mobilisation units (PM), an umbrella of militias in Iraq dominated by groups aligned with Iran. (BBC)

04 January, 2020 12:00hrs ~ 13:30hrs

Saturday December 22, 2019

03, 05, 11, 13, 17

05 06 07 11 15 21 16

January 03, 2020

M

1 02, 03, 10, 17, 20

6, 0, 7

0, 1, 9

8

10 11 16

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, January 04, 2020

5

$.9m bail for T&T pastor on kidnapping, trafficking in persons charge (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) Pastor Glen Awong of the Transformed Life Ministries in Arouca has been granted $.9 million bail after he appeared in the Arima Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment and trafficking in persons.

Awong and co-accused Indra Jaggernath appeared before Magistrate Cheron Raphael on charges arising out of an incident last October,

Pastor Glen Awong.

in which police raided the Transformed Life Ministries

and rescued 69 people who were being housed on the compound.

The court heard that Awong and Jaggernath allegedly detained and held Selwyn Beharry against his will sometime between the period January 2019 to July 2019.

Magistrate Raphael granted Awong $900,000 bail with a surety to cover the three charges. As a condition of the bail, Awong, who was represented by attorney Dar-

ren Mitchell, was asked to surrender his passport, report to the Arouca Police Station every Thursday and to make no attempt to contact the complainant, Cpl Mc Kain, in the matter.

In asking for consideration for bail, attorney Wayne Sturge, who represented Jaggernath, a church employee and mother of two prominent attorneys, told the court his client was a 61-year-old mother who had several ailments and had voluntarily

submitted to an interview with the police last Tuesday.

The prosecutor did not object to bail.

In granting $300,000 bail with a surety, Magistrate Raphael ordered that Jaggernath surrender her passport, report to the Chaguanas Police Station every Thursday and make no attempt to contact the complainant.

Sturge also informed the court that the defence intended to call Guardian Media Investigative Desk Editor

Mark Bassant as a witness in the case. He thus asked that the magistrate ask Bassant, who was in court for the matter, to leave the room.

Bassant, who broke the story after two and a half months of investigations, complied following an instruction from the magistrate.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to January 10.

Man in court Friday for homemade shotgun (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) A man from Wallerfield is expected to appear before an Arima Magistrate Friday on gun-related charges.

The suspect was arrested during an intelligence-led police exercise on Thursday that took place at his home at Jump Street, off Demerara Road, Wallerfield.

Official police reports indicate that officers of the Northern Division, under the supervision of Snr Sup Paul, executed a search warrant in the presence of the suspect.

A pump-action homemade shotgun was found and seized.

The suspect was subsequently arrested and charged for possession of a firearm.

Bank Of England Looks To Ja’s Central Bank For Communication Ideas – Bloomberg Bank of England economists has found the language used in their reports and speeches outstripped even the works of Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy in its complexity.

The impact of efforts such as those of Jamaica’s central bank - which produced a series of videos featuring singers and dancers telling

Bank of Jamaica - File photo

(JAMAICA GLEANER) The Bank of Jamaica’s videos of reggae stars singing about inflation targets and its monetary policy comic books are among the more unusual central bank communication strategies being studied by the Bank of England, Bloomberg is reporting.

According to Bloomberg, a working paper co-authored

by Chief Economist Andy Haldane published Friday found that engaging with a broader audience through “simplified communication may, alone, be necessary but not sufficient.”

Instead, the economist reportedly indicated that complementary efforts in engagement and education

are required.

Bloomberg says the public backlash from the financial crisis and the more complex policy tools that followed have prompted central banks across the globe to take a closer look at how they present their strategies.

Previous research by

viewers that if inflation is “too high the people have a cry and if it’s too low the country nah grow”- are hard to measure, the bank’s research found.

Different objectives may require specific communication strategies.

Even so, “success should not be measured by the abili-

ty to reach everyone, but rather by engaging even limited audiences beyond the current small core of technical specialists and information intermediaries,” it said.

“We continue to learn from several other central banks around the world, but historically, it is @bankofengland that has had the biggest

influence. To have them now studying our work is indeed flattering,” the BOJ tweeted today.

We want to hear from you! Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-4990169, email us at editors@ gleanerjm.com or onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.

6

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, January 04, 2020

Towards a peaceful elections campaign NOW that parliament has been dissolved, the way is effectively clear for the final stretch towards the March 2, 2020 elections date.

We are well and truly into the elections season when all the political horses, big and small, would take centre stage. Soon, the parties and coalitions would launch their respective campaigns and present their lists of candidates on Nomination Day. In due course, they will present their manifestos to the electorate for mass scrutiny.

It has been stated over and over that these elections are perhaps the most important in recent history.

The stakes are high. It really is a competition to decide which party or group of parties would preside over the country’s affairs in the first years as an oil-producing nation.

Understandably, tensions would develop in an environment that is already pregnant with suspicion.

Elections are perhaps the most important moment on the political calendar. They are not the sum total of democracy, but without them democracy is a mere dream. Elections determine who governs and who governs become the custodians of the State and all that comes with that. In may respects, elections are a zero-sum engagement whereby the winner takes the pie and the leaders play the runner-up roles. It is not always the most desirable outcome, but that’s the nature of the majoritarian democracy we have enshrined in our constitutional arrangements.

Because of the zero-sum nature of our elections, there is the propensity for political overreach by the contestants that in the long run tarnishes the image of democratic contestation; here in Guyana, we have had our fair share of that outcome.

The situation is often exacerbated by our ethnic dynamics. It is against

this background that this publication feels compelled to sound an early warning bell to the contestants at the upcoming elections. In the last analysis, free and fear elections must mean having elections free from fear.

Towards that end, people must be free from unnecessary bullying tactics by the parties. Freedom of association must be respected at all cost. Too often, we have witnessed parties overtly exercising ownership of sections of the electorate in very crude ways. Opposing parties are virtually prevented from entering some communities either by harassment of party members or threats against supporters. That kind of behaviour violates the spirit of freedom of association.

We are also calling on parties to avoid rhetoric that could incite ethnic and racial hatred. As a multi-ethnic society, this is always

a sore point. Parties have a responsibility to the country and its laws not to exploit ethnic fears for partisan gains. There is a thin line between appeals to racial solidarity and inciting racial hatred. Individuals have a right to determine the rationale for supporting one party over another, but they should not seek to impose that rationale on others. Each individual must be free to support the general choice of the community or deviate from it. The vote is first and foremost an individual liberty.

Inciting violence is another area to which parties should pay special attention. Such incitement may be political without being necessarily ethnic in nature. Violence of all types should be avoided. In the end it leaves deep scars on the nation’s psyche that often takes decades to heal. Parties should encourage their supporters to report political violations to the police, rather than

engage in violent retaliation.

We have already noticed at least one party engaging in a pattern of misinformation that is aimed at sullying the character of those it deems to be opponents; this is unacceptable behaviour. It is a violation of the law to slander others, but above all it smacks of the worst form of political immorality. We therefore call on political leaders to exercise better judgement when it comes to putting what they know to be misinformation in the public domain.

While we have stressed the responsibility of parties, it is equally the responsibility of citizens to conduct themselves in acceptable ways. Institutions such as the church and other community organisations have a role to play in ensuring that there is an atmosphere of peace and stability. We expect and deserve nothing less.

I am both pleased and impressed with the new management of Hope Coconut Industries

Dear Editor

IT is my firm belief that it is important for everyone to be aware of the fact that agriculture is currently the world’s leading employer and plays a vital role in the livelihood of 40% of its population. In Guyana, we are fortunate to have an agricultural sector that is both strong and well structured.

Credit must be given to the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) in particular, that showed both commitment and wisdom in investing and creating favourable pathways for continued development of the sector over the past four years.

I am both pleased and impressed that the new management of Hope Coconut Industries Limited (HCIL) took advantage of the favourable

environment that was created by the MoA to work towards making the estate sustainable and less dependent on government’s subvention for its day-to-day management.

The major setbacks the estate suffered under mismanagement by the PPP-led government cannot be swept under the carpet. The estate was haemorrhaging badly and almost went bankrupt; staff at one time were not paid their monthly salaries for months. All the basic infrastructures were in a state of total collapse and corruption was rampant. However, we should put these unfortunate occurrences behind us and look positively towards the future.

Currently, I must acknowledge the fact that the financial future for HCIL is bright. As a direct result of

prudent management of its resources and systems put in place by the MoA, the annual income of the estate has leaped from G$17 million in 2015 to G$36million in 2019.

This resulted in a 47 per cent increase in income.

In its wisdom the current government over the past four years has invested significant financial and human resources to improve the crippling infrastructure at Hope Estate. The aim of this intervention was to better serve farmers’ needs, most of whom are small producers and risk-takers. As a direct result of these interventions, today the tide has turned for the better. Several bridges, dams, main access road, the entire D&I system, extension and repairs of the main office building, establishing of a vibrant coconut nursery and

coconut demonstration plot – to name a few, are now up and running for the benefit of stakeholder of Hope Estate.

The year 2019 was good for HCIL. Much-needed improvements were made, especially in the area of improving its infrastructure. It is important to mention that the estate has embarked on projects that are economically smart, environmentally safe and agronomically sound.

Its highly successful coconut nursery, which continues to serve farmers’ needs and is currently one of HCIL ‘s main income streams, as well as the extension of its head office building should be commended. The estate is expected to perform even better in 2020. This is because the MoA has in its plan to provide HCIL with a few critical pieces of equipment, as well

as an excavator which will be used full time to improve the D & I systems that are so critical for production. In addition, a mechanical pump, which is currently under construction at a cost of over G$ 200 million is expected to become fully operational in the first quarter of 2020. This will significantly reduce the occurrence of flooding at Hope Estate. Farmers and stakeholders can be assured that these interventions will aid in the transition journey of the estate towards sustainability and improved services.

The Ministry of Agriculture will continue to provide the necessary guidance to both the management of HCIL and farmers to bring back the estate from disarray and neglect to profitability. We are committed, and will work assiduously,

to ensure the value chain at HCIL becomes more productive, efficient, profitable and, critically, more inclusive. I wish to take this opportunity to encourage all producers to look seriously at adopting innovative agricultural technologies that are yield-enhancing. This, if adopted and implemented correctly, can result in increased production and productivity. I firmly believe that with the required assistance, farmers would be incentivised to work both harder and smarter for their own benefit and the benefit of our agricultural sector in particular, as well as the nation’s welfare in general.

Regards Noel Holder M.P. Minister of Agriculture

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, January 04, 2020

7

'Don’t stop the Progress' …Ramjattan reels out Coalition's achievments at campaign launch

...says place for everyone in 'new Guyana' under Pres. Granger administration NOTING that Guyana is sitting at the threshold of greatness, Alliance For Change (AFC) leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, urged supporters of the coalition government to see that the administration is re-elected, as he noted that it is one which caters for all Guyanese.

Ramjattan was at the time addressing a mammoth crowd of the APNU+AFC supporters who gathered on Friday afternoon at D’Urban Park where the coalition launched its March 2020 elections campaign.

“We don’t care from which race, religion or region you come from,” Ramjattan said, adding that in the “new Guyana” under the David Granger-administration, there is a place for everyone.

He said that in 2015, the coalition started a new chapter which saw the administration picking-up the broken pieces and rebuilding a new Guyana.

He said come March 2, Guyana will go to the polls and renew their hope in the coalition, to loud applause from the large gathering.

Given the amount of work it has amassed in a short space of time, Ramjattan said the APNU+AFC is strengthening

AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjatan interacting with supporters

the foundation of the Guyana economy. He said the coalition is enhancing the country’s accountability record with the highest best practices.

“We have done much but there is a lot more to do,” Ramjattan’s voice echoed across D’Urban Park as he spoke on the record of the government.

He said that with more time, the coalition will give more to the populace adding that the multi-party body is “here to stay”, and is one which will create a strong Guyana.

He said the APNU+AFC wants to build-up the country to the state where everyone has an equal opportunity to realise their full potential. He said that the government’s vision for Guyana embraces diverse faiths and religious groups, and their harmonious interaction with each other as those groups build stronger and cohesive communities.

Ramjattan said the nation’s youth constitute the largest portion of the population and continue to face challenges

Let’s toast to Guyana's future with massive manufacturing plants Dear Editor AT one of the oil and gas forums three and a half years ago I raised the point of emphasis on oil and how natural gas was pushed aside. Since so far ExxonMobil’s Production Sharing Agreement with Guyana is oil-specific, we should believe that the natural gas that will be emitting during this production is 100 per cent the property of Guyana and can be traded and/or utilised as we feel like.

My research reveals that 30-50 million cubic feet of gas available from Liza phase 1 alone is available to possibly bring to Guyana’s shores. Mind you, we have 16 discoveries so far, so let me put this into context.

GPL produces 150megawatts of power for the Berbice Demerara interconnected grid;

this natural gas can produce 200 megawatts for the next 15 years. Now since above 90 per cent of GPL’s expenditure is for the purchase of heavy and light fuel for their generators, they will be able to obtain their production- generation resource in the form of natural gas, free of cost. This literally means that if your light bill was $10,000 per month, it can become $1000 per month.

Interestingly, this is the major setback of all manufacturing... the high cost of electricity.

Imagine the types of plants that can be brought to Guyana and the investment coming here.

This natural gas is also flammable and with little refining can be used in your gas stoves. This means you will pay $300 or at the most $500 for a bottle of Gas. And so far this is only Liza phase 1.

The gravity of what is possible in Guyana for the next 10 years is unprecedented and this is why we should be wary of the old methods of politics and the status quo and educate yourself on what is possible and what is being done... it’s time we understand that politicians aren’t lords over us but we hire them to do a job of leading our country to development. When we equip ourselves with knowledge we can demand results. Let’s toast to the future of Guyana with massive manufacturing plants, zero or extremely low light bills and cheap cooking gas, and at a minimum 87 per cent sustainable GDP growth in 2020.

Regards Ranfred Williams

in advancing their ideas and dreams. To this end, he said the next coalition government will do far more to address the issue.

“Young people we will have a resplendent revenue stream to implement these policies; the oil and gas revenue stream,” he said, as the crowd screamed in applause.

He said with the use of technology and increase scholarships, the government will

train the next generation of petroleum engineers and other skilled personnel which the oil and gas industry requires. “We want to wean the next generation away from cane-cutting, a place that the PPP wants to put them back,” he said.

He said that in the last four years, the government started a programme to make fundamental changes to Guyana’s economy. “We can proudly claim that our record of achievements in four years have out-performed the PPP’s 23 years of blunders,” he said, adding that government has increased the minimum wage by 77 per cent over the past four years from $39,500 to $70,000. To this end, he said the government has released thousands of Guyanese from paying income tax.

He urged supporters to understand that Guyanese must not “stop the progress”, a chant he made for the remainder of his presentation as he highlighted moves made by the administration over the past four years to develop Guyana.

Ramjattan said the choice of the electorate at this year’s elections is clear. He said on

the one said there is President Granger whom he noted is properly qualified and certified and whom he noted led Guyana to tremendous progress thus far.

On the other hand, he said the PPP’s presidential candidate possess questionable qualifications and is being controlled by the party’s leader, Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo.

He said the PPP is banking off short-term memory but he noted that prior to the APNU+AFC assuming office, it discovered outright corruption, flagrant racism and victimisation, high fees at the University of Guyana, among many other short-comings of the PPP. “They are plastering Georgetown saying they will reduce VAT, but who brought VAT to Guyana?” he asked as supporters applauded.

Ramjattan told the crowd that the APNU+AFC represents the best choice for Guyana, one of hope prosperity, opportunities for all adding that the multi-party group is led by President Granger, whom he noted is undoubtedly “fit and proper.”

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 4, 2020

Guyanese stand solidly behind...

FROM PAGE 2

Cassie Lowe said “I think that this government pushes the agenda of having a diverse society, and actually accepts people of all races.

And there is literally no segregation or discrimination, and there is equal and equitable access to opportunities. The second thing that they did was the implementation of the PSM Secretariat, whereby they offer scholarships to persons who otherwise could not possibly afford to have a university education; something which the previous government took away from the youths of society. The other thing that they did was implement the International Decade for People of African Descent, which really focuses on persons of African descent who have been neglected under the previous administration, and even focused on vulnerable communities which are constantly marginalised and neglected. So those are just like a few things the government did that I want to see them continue doing. And

also I trust them to manage our oil monies, and not be corrupt and mismanage our funds and resources, so that I can benefit, and my children’s children can benefit.”

LOVE, EQUALITY AND FAIRNESS Standing close to Lowe, another young woman, Daneeka Marks, vehemently said, “I believe in equality.

I believe in love; I believe in fairness. And all that and more is what this government offers. The fact that they can do it with such honour and integrity and excellence, is completely what I stand for. It gives us a chance to have somebody who can go on the international platform and represent us with integrity, and that is what I love most about David Granger and his administration. Added to that, there is a plethora of things that he has done for the youths in Guyana and many Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese, and we can benefit from it all today, and

generations to come. I can’t put my ‘X’ another way.”

The crowd continued to scream and wave as they were entertained with dance performances; performances from Guyanese artistes, and remarks from several government officials.

A group of men from Crabwood Creek said they are all happy with what was done for all of them. The leader of the group, Dewan Dwarka said, “We would give them back power, because they come and they listen to the people complains. They didn’t do all, but they do some, and they are still helping the people.

And that’s very good. I’m from Crabwood Creek. And from there, right down to Moleson Creek, they do a lot for we in there. They help the community with street lights; they do streets and trenches for people.”

Three young men from Eldorado Village, West Coast Berbice, Jason Archer, Oswin Ross and their friend said they have much respect

for the government for all it has done. They spoke about the developments in Berbice, and lauded the government for improved security, better roads, street lights, and improvements in the education system to ensure better academic performances.

“He’s doing a lot of work, and I will support he till I die. Like first time, when you hear somebody get rob, you does say they done get away and you ain’t getting back your thing. But now, somebody could get rob, by time two days after, you see them going to jail.

The police upgrade a lot; everything just going smooth, and I’m not complaining. I enjoy these five years. I gon vote for him; I respect de big man,” Archer said.

STAND FIRM Beni Raymond, an old PNC stalwart said that she has been here through LFS Burnham and Desmond Hoyte, and will stand firm with the current leader.

“I feel five into 23 can’t go; therefore we need another five years, and more five years, because what we have done in four- and-ahalf years, the PPP have not done anything compared to what we have done. And I think Mr. David Granger will make a very good President. I believe in the APNU; I believe in the PNC party.

I am a PNC to the bone, and, therefore, I think that we will win this election,” Raymond said passionately.

PNC Party Member, Mervyn Williams said that Guyana has to put potential into actual prosperity, and that can only be done under the leadership of the current administration.

“What I see in the People’s National Congress, which is the major stakeholder in this coalition arrangement, I do not see and I have never seen in any other political party.

And that is a national party that is people-centred; that is focused on issues that touch and concern

the very life of each citizen of this country. And the record of the APNU+AFC Coalition speaks to major accomplishments. And in the face of those accomplishments, even if one were not supportive of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, one would be hard-pressed to vote for any other party or any other group than the APNU+AFC. The development is overwhelming.

The leadership quality and style is superior, and there is no other option. Guyana is a gem in its rough stage, and the only way we can polish this gem that is this beautiful green land of Guyana, is to ensure that we keep our President, David Granger, at the helm of this country’s governance, and the APNU+AFC as government. That way we will be able to place Guyana in a rightful place of pride among nation states of the world,” Williams said.

‘We have a plan!’

FROM PAGE 3

Management Committee (IMC), something which President Granger vowed never to do.

He said the former administration also failed to hold Local Government Elections (LGE) in 23 years, but the present APNU+AFC government reinstituted the system and held LGEs twice since being elected to office in 2015.

“I held elections and I will continue to do so once you continue to have me as president…since then, go to the new towns and see the changes taking place, we are not just creating better for the coastland but for the entire nation,” said President Granger, noting that infrastructure will be extended across the country over the coming years.

The President urged Guyanese to give the coalition another chance to develop the country because the development over the past five years was just the tip of the iceberg.

Among some of the achievements was the increased old-age pension which moved from $7,500 to $20,500 and an over 70 per cent increase in public servant wages and salaries over the past five years.

“We are committed and achieved a record...we achieved sustainable growth since we got in, stainable salary increases, sustainable infrastructure development and sustainable development of the entire economy,” said President Granger.

After listing some of government’s achievements, President Granger said Guyanese have good reason to vote for the APNU+AFC coalition. He, however, warned the nation that people are trying to divide the country but the coalition will not allow that to happen.

With 60 days left until Guyanese head to the polls, the President said persons must convince each other to vote for the APNU+AFC coalition and come together as one since they can be happier together than

being apart.

The President, in encouraging persons to vote for the coalition, said: “We are going to protect your lives and livelihood…we are together and we will transform Guyana… come out on March 2 and show the people at the University of Uitvlugt that we are real people and not fake people.”

He promised that the coalition will ensure that there is shared governance by keeping the “big benab” open to supporters.

It was reported that President Granger said January 1 is a memorable and momentous date that marks the dawn of the ‘Decade of Development: 2020-2029’. He said it was also the start of the national observance of the 50th Anniversary of the Republic and the launch of campaigns for General and Regional Elections. An eventful year lies ahead.

The Guyanese leader outlined that during the next decade, miners will enjoy safer mining practices; education and healthcare will continue to improve; information communications technology will be extended countrywide to link all regions and communities.

He said too that employment opportunities will be available; citizens will have larger disposable incomes and public servants’ emoluments will continue to grow to improve their standard of living; public infrastructure will continue to be rehabilitated, upgraded and expanded; and more housing for low-income families.

“Energy supply will be extended to more rural and hinterland communities; manufacturing enterprises will be catalysed by more reliable electricity; and the generation of electricity from sustainable sources will be expanded.”

President Granger said that his administration had maintained that the principal objective of the State will always be to secure the ‘good life’ for all.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, January 04, 2020

9

PPP in pickle for pirating Farmer Nappy’s ‘Hookin meh’ …artiste says ‘riddim’ used without permission for campaign promo

INTERNATIONALLY-acclaimed Trinidadian Soca artiste, Darryl “Farmer Nappy” Henry has hinted at taking legal action against the PPP/C after his ‘Hookin meh’ song was used by that party in a campaign promotion advertisement.

Earlier Friday, in a radio interview on 98.1FM, the Soca artiste indicated that he was contacted by representatives of the Coalition to work

Soca star, “Farmer Nappy” (Newsday photo)

along with them for their campaign promotion ahead of the March 2 Regional and General elections here.

His ‘promo’ song, a remix of his one “Hookin Meh”, was played at the launch of elections campaign of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+ AFC) coalition at D’Urban Park. He also performed there after the formal programme was finished.

However, while in Guyana, he was made aware that his 2019 hit-song “Hookin meh”, sung on the Purple Heart Riddim, was remixed into an Opposition campaign ‘promo’ song which is critical of the incumbent government.

This remix, sung by a Guyanese artiste, was not sanctioned by ‘Nappy’ or his management team.

During the radio interview, “Farmer Nappy” said

he would not comment on the matter, as his management is “dealing with that”.

Later, however, he said that he felt that remixing his song was “disrespectful”, and alluded to copyright concerns.

“You don’t just take somebody things and just do it so without permission,” Farmer Nappy said later, adding: “At the end of the day, it’s like I put my food in the fridge and you just take it.”

During that same radio

interview, it was insinuated that the local artiste singing the remixed song was Bradon Harding, who is the reigning Soca Monarch of Guyana. On his Facebook page however, Harding wrote: “Let me say categorically that I did not sing that jingle.” He also added that he supports both President David Granger and the APNU+AFC coalition government.

Hope Estate’s breakthrough HOPE Coconut Industries Limited (HCIL) has made a significant breakthrough with its annual income leaping from $17Million in 2015 to $36Million in 2019.

In a press release, Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder noted that while the estate suffered under the previous administration, the past four years of the Coalition Government saw tremendous investments and enhancement to its human resources to address its infrastructure.

With high expectations for HCIL this year, the ministry plans to provide it with critical pieces of equipment as well as an excavator which will be used full-time to improve its drainage and irrigation systems.

“We are committed, and will work assiduously, to ensure the value chain at HCIL becomes more productive, efficient, profitable and, critically, more inclusive,” Minister Holder stated.

HCIL’s extremely fruitful coconut nursery is currently one of its main income streams.

Collaboration between the estate and a Canadian-funded project – Promotion Opportunities for Produce through Enterprise and Linkages (PROPEL), focused on rural agriculture and rural women by creating the ‘The Rural Women of Hope Estate’ programme.

Last month, Marisa Smart, Cooperative Extension Officer of HCIL, told DPI that the rural women programme was a significant asset for HCIL as they pursue gender equality in the farming sector.

According to General Manager Ricky Roopchand, HCIL “has moved from a situation where it was almost bankrupt, where the staff could not have gotten their salaries, and now we are in a better financial position, people are getting paid on time for the past three years.” (DPI)

One of the shade houses created by women farmers involved in the Rural Women of Hope Estate’ programme (DPI photo)

A coconut nursery at Hope Estate One of the shade houses created by women farmers involved in the Rural Women of Hope Estate’ programme

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 4, 2020

Sawed prison bars discovered in botched escape plan

TWO high profile prisoners were among a group of inmates at the Camp Street Prison who were a part of a foiled prison escape uncovered on Friday.

Prison warders discovered several bars of a cell had been cut and secured with cloth.

Gladwin Samuels, Director of Prisons (ag), said the warders made the discovery while interacting with prisoners in the security block of the Georgetown Prison.

He explained that the heads of Joint Services were alerted and the immediate search operation revealed

that bars of another cell had also been cut.

The director noted that hacksaw blades were discovered during the search that are said to be the items used to cut the bars.

The prison head said the police, with the assistance of prison officers from the

Georgetown Prison, will be conducting a full investigation into the matter to determine, among other matters, how the prisoners got possession of hacksaw blades and why the sawed bars were not discovered earlier.

The high profile prisoners were identified as Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander called “Mad Dawg”, an escapee

from the July, 9, 2017 prison break and Ryan Jones who is serving 28 years for manslaughter.

The prison director noted that the duo are reported to be the main players in the escape plan and systems are in place for these persons to be secured at another location.

Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander called “Mad Dawg”

The Camp Street Prison where the inmates were planning an escape

Fire at Portuguese Quarters leaves one homeless

Evidence of destruction by fire

A FIRE of unknown origin completely destroyed a two-storied wooden house at Sheveh Steet, Portuguese Quarters, Port Mourant, around 18:15 hrs on Friday.

A lone occupant, who was identified as “Sherry”, was not at home at the time

of the blaze.

Neighbours said Sherry had left about 15 minutes prior to go to Rose Hall Town when the fire ripped through the house.

Guyana Chronicle was told that Sherry does not work and would solicit help from people in the

community.

Firefighters from the Rose Hall Town Station responded shortly after but had to leave to refill their tank with water. They returned a few minutes later and prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 4, 2020

Phillips is PPP's No.2 AT a meeting of the Central Committee of the People’s Progressive Party, held on Friday afternoon, at Freedom House, Brigadier (rtd) Mark A. Phillips was unanimously endorsed as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the party at the upcoming March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections. His main contender, Juan Edghill, was asked to ‘drop out’ of the race, but he said in a statement he bowed out after “prayerful consideration.”

In a release, minutes after Edghill dispatched a letter to the media announcing that he had dropped out the race, PPP said Mr. Phillips has had a long and distinguished career in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) spanning nearly four decades, culminating with his appointment as the eight Chief of Staff of the GDF, from September 2013, until he retired in October 2016, the PPP said in a release. As a member of the army, Mr. Phillips held a number of crucial leadership positions at various levels and ranks and his consistent upward mobil-

ity clearly demonstrated that he acquitted himself with distinction in every position held, the opposition party said. According to the PPP, Phillips received vast military training, certification, military decorations, medals, awards and honours, both locally, as well as, in the Caribbean, South America, Central America, the United States of America (USA), Canada and the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, United Kingdom (UK).

Academically, Phillips, the PPP said, possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Management, a Master’s Degree in Public Management and several Post-Graduate Diplomas in Defence Planning and various areas of management. “Mr. Phillips is, therefore, well qualified and equipped to partner with the PPP as its Prime Ministerial candidate, as it strides forward to win the upcoming elections and form the next Government of Guyana. The party’s leadership and its supporters expect Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips to serve all the people of Guy-

PPP Prime Ministerial Candidate, Mark Phillips

ana in accordance with the high PPP tradition of discipline, dedication, loyalty and commitment, both in and out of government,” PPP said in the release.

The party said too that Mr. Phillips was unanimously endorsed by the party’s central committee after the other contender, Bishop Juan Edghill, wrote the party withdrawing his nomination as a Prime Ministerial candidate for the party. “The PPP takes this opportunity to recognise

Juan Edghill

the tremendous contribution of Bishop Edghill in championing the cause of all of our people, both in the National Assembly and across the length and breadth of Guyana, against a corrupt, incompetent and unconstitutional Granger-led Government.

We are heartened by the assurance given that he remains a committed team player, who will work to ensure a resounding PPP/C victory at the upcoming elections. We wish to assure all Guyanese

that Bishop Edghill remains a valued and valuable member of our team and will certainly play a critical role in the next PPP/C Administration, in executing our manifesto promises to the electorate.

We wish to thank Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips, Bishop Edghill and Hugh Todd for participating in this very important process.”

Meanwhile, Edghill, in a letter, said he considered it a great honour to have been nominated a possible candidate for the PPP/C’s Prime

Ministerial position in the March 2020 elections. He said the support and words of encouragement from leaders and members within the party have been extremely heartening. “My position of interest was publicly articulated that I am interested, willing and able to serve in that capacity.

Notwithstanding the popular views expressed by persons known and unknown to me, and the embrace by our activists and comrades throughout the country and in the diaspora, subsequent to the commencement of this process, I engaged in deeper personal reflection and prayerful consideration.”

Edghill said his preference is for a consensus candidate to emerge from this process; the bigger picture of an electoral victory for the PPP/C trumps personal ambition and desires and after a relentless and difficult struggle against this Granger-led regime, ensuring there are no encumbrances to victory and the preservation of unity among our supporters is paramount.

‘I am not a PPP supporter’ …Beverly Thomas distances self from PPP false 'ad'

THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is once again being flayed for falsifying the photo of an individual for traction in its elections campaign.

Just days ago, Beverly Thomas took to Facebook to distance herself from the opposition party when she stumbled upon a PPP/C Facebook ad with her photograph with the caption “PPP/C: For People & Prosperity”.

Thomas, appalled by the occurrence, stated that not only has she never been a supporter of the PPP/c, but she’s a staunch supporter of the coalition government.

On her page, the woman stated: “In the name of Jesus Christ!!! Whoever is the person that did this with my picture please!!!

Stop it right now! I am not a PPP and I never will be!!

So, take me off your list right now! .... I am proud to be an APNU and that is my right ... I have to work with whoever is in office but that doesn't mean I'm for that party so please keep me out of your campaign.”

On Friday, the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) also discredited the ad stating that Thomas had relayed the same to the party and is very

displeased with the occurrence.

“Ms. Beverly Thomas, an ardent supporter of the PNCR and the APNU has asked us to highlight what the PPP has done in placing her in a campaign advertisement for the upcoming elections. She is very upset and wants the public to know that she is NOT a PPP supporter and has NEVER supported them.

This is false campaigning by the opposition for political mileage,” the PNC/R stated. The party has since quietly removed the ad from its page.

The ad placement by the PPP/C unknown to Thomas

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 4, 2020

‘Faithful service, PM or not’

---Nagamootoo sticking with coalition WHILE it is possible that President David Granger could select a different Prime Minister when the time comes, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo says that he will continue to play an active role in the coalition, come what may.

Recently, Nagamootoo – First Vice-President – responded to media questions related to his role following the 2020 General and Regional Elections. The questions come as Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has been selected by the Alliance For Change (AFC) – a key coalition member – as the party’s leader for the next few years.

While the Prime Ministerial Candidate can be nominated ahead of the Gen-

eral and Regional Elections, President Granger has stated that, when the time is right, he will choose a Prime Ministerial Candidate in keeping with the Constitution. “… yes, there is a possibility that when the principle is applied that someone else could become the Prime Minister of Guyana,” Nagamootoo acknowledged in response to the questions. “[But] let me say this, I am not about to disappear.

I will serve my country as faithfully as I have done these last 58 years in whatever position I am able to do so, and for which I am qualified. So, I will be there.

I am a team player. I play for my village – I am Whim boy; I play for my country – I am a Guyana boy, and I

play for my government – I am a Coalition man. This is how I see us moving forward as a team.”

Nagamootoo said that he is proud of his service as Guyana’s Prime Minister and is pleased to have worked with President David Granger during the years.

He said that it was under the APNU/AFC Government that Guyana is now building an almost perfect democracy; that 4.5 per cent economic growth was achieved in a difficult year; that there was an incremental 77 per cent increase in salaries, better wages for sweepers-cleaners, increased old-age pension and more.

Being present in Whim, East Berbice-Corentyne, at the time of his remarks, he

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

also noted developments in Region Six in the areas of drainage and irrigation, im-

proved water supply, farming and swift actions such as a reduction in the Berbice

Bridge toll and the fight against piracy.

“While it is a very short term, the comparison stands out bright like a spike in the midday sun.

It is shining and glaring for all to see. I am pleased with the performance of my government,” the Prime Minister stated. “This would have only been possible with the advent of the APNU/AFC Government and with the Presidency of David Arthur Granger.

I have worked with him, I am pleased to have worked with him as his Prime Minister and I have seen the character of the man. I am pleased to support him, irrespective of what my future is in government.”

Over 700 GDF ranks promoted SOME 35 officers of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) have been promoted with effect from January 01, 2020. A release said the promotion was done in accordance with Part III, Section 16 of the Defence Act 15:01 of 1977.

The announcement was

made by Chief of Staff, Brigadier, Patrick West, after approval was given by President and Commander-in-Chief, David Granger.

Additionally, another 783 other ranks also received promotions.

These advancements ranged from Substantive

Warrant Officer Class One, Acting Warrant Officer Class One, Substantive Warrant Officer Class Two, Acting Warrant Officer Class Two, Technical Warrant Officer, Local Warrant Officer Class Two, Substantive Staff Sergeant, Acting Staff Sergeant, Local Staff Sergeant,

Substantive Staff Sergeant, Acting Sergeant, Local Sergeant, Substantive Corporal, Acting Corporal/Substantive Corporal, Acting Corporal, Substantive Lance Corporal, Acting Lance Corporal/Substantive Lance Corporal to Acting Lance Corporal.

For the Coast Guard, the

promotions included Substantive Fleet Chief Petty Officer, Substantive Senior Petty Officer, Acting Senior Petty Officer, Substantive Petty Officer, Acting Petty Officer, Substantive Leading Rating, Acting Leading Rating, Substantive Able Rating and Acting Able Rating.

Guyana People’s Militia promotions comprised of Acting Staff Sergeant, Substantive Sergeant, Substantive Corporal, Acting Corporal, Substantive Lance Corporal and Acting Lance Corporal.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 4, 2020

GWI working to upgrade sewage system

By Tamica Garnett WITH Guyana firmly projected to experience economic and population growth over the next few years, many public physical infrastructures would require upgrading. On its part, the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) is leading the way in improving the country’s sewage system.

The utility has begun design of waste water treatment plants for Georgetown’s existing sewage system, with hopes that construction can begin before the end of 2020. It is also hoping to begin discussions with the Ministry of Communities (MoC) for the establishment of network sewage systems across Guyana’s other nine municipalities, as well as developing housing schemes.

“If we can make some shift from septic tanks to treatment plants within these housing schemes then it will be a better place,” said GWI Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles.

He added: “Our remit on the books gives us Georgetown but we’ve had discussions with the MoC because of the new towns that are emerging, that GWI will collaborate with the RDCs (Regional Democratic Councils) in looking at the new towns and also the new housing schemes.”

Georgetown is currently Guyana’s only area with a municipal sewage network, in other parts of the country citizens utilise ‘on site waste water treatment’ which are regularly referred to as septic tanks. Pit latrines are also used by some.

The establishment of other sewage networks across the country would not necessarily need to be as extensive as creating conventional sewage network, as there is a simpler option that would incorporate the use of extant septic tanks.

“There are small-bore waste water treatment network. It involves the use of small pipelines as small as an inch in diameter. If we go for small bore system, it can be pretty simply and pretty fast,” explained GWI Sanitation Manager, Rensford Joseph.

“With the small bore system, the primary treatment is done at the customers’ home.

One type of small bore system is the conventional septic tank with the flow system

GWI Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles

at the end. We connect it through a filtration system that traps all of the solids, and what comes out is water that can now be taken to the secondary treatment plant.”

According to reports, the small-bore sewer system could cost up to 50 per cent less than conventional sewerage.

MORE EXPENSIVE “With the conventional sewage system, the primary, secondary and tertiary treatments are all done at one compound. The conventional system is more expensive, more timely, the maintenance cost will be greater as against the small bore system, where the maintenance is very low, the time for construction would be shorter and requires less land for the installation of the network and the plant itself. There is no need for pump stations, no need for man holes,” Joseph noted.

He added: “The disadvantage of that is the septic tanks may require cleaning far sooner than the conventional system because all of the solids are left in the septic tank system. That’s about the only disadvantage.”

In Georgetown, the sewage system encompasses 24 sewerage pumping stations within Central Georgetown and a septic receiving station at Tucville that receives sewage from a network within the Tucville-Stevedore Housing Schemes.

The Central Georgetown system was first commissioned in 1929 while the Tucville sewage system was constructed in 1970. In the first quarter of 2020, GWI is expected to pilot a remote monitoring system to predict blockages on the sewer dis-

tribution system.

Waste water from neither of the two systems is being treated so the company is looking to have treatment facilities established for both systems.

“Before we can begin construction, we need the data to determine the size of the plant that is necessary, based on the volume of waste water generated,” explained Joseph.

“The gathering of data takes a long period because you have to gather data across both wet and dry seasons, so we need data across at least 18 months, which would tell us how much rainfall is going to happen in Guyana over a period, as well as what is the length of the dry season.

We also have to gather data on the waste water characteristics; we have to look at information such as Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solid (TSS). We also need to get information as it relates to the leachate in the waste water, information such as total phosphorus, total ammonia and total nitrogen. When we get that information we put that into calculations which will allow us to determine the size of waste water plant necessary, and also the best technology for the type of waste we are treating.”

The company installed flow meters in the Georgetown system which allowed for the collection of the necessary data. The cost for the facility would be determined after other aspects of the plants are decided.

GATHERING INFORMATION “We are still in the pro-

cess of gathering but we have information to begin designing, so it would be safe to say that we will begin construction before the end of 2020.

I cannot give a cost because we have not yet determined the size and the technology that we will be applying,” Joseph related.

“Our first treatment plant is likely to be the Tucville system, which was a waste water treatment plant, so we’re more or less re-engineering it so that it can become a waste water treatment plant once again, and at the same time we are working on a waste water plant for the Georgetown sewage system.”

Treatment of waste water is necessary for the protection of the environment and population.

“It has a lot of pathogens, viruses, bacteria and that can be harmful to the environment, both for land use and marine environment.

It can cause environmental

degradation; it can affect public health and the marine environment. Also we’re discharging waste with a lot of leachate which can cause algae boom, or eutrophication, which is the rapid growth of weed like what we see happening in trenches,” Joseph said.

Currently, in Georgetown, the “untreated” flows are discharged to the mouth of the Demerara River via short outfall at Fort Groyen, Kingston. The risks are not currently great; however, this could change as the population expands.

“We are currently discharging into the Atlantic Ocean and there’s no adverse effect because it’s a small volume of waste into a large volume of water. We call it preventing pollution through dilution,” Joseph explained.

“The dilution factor is around one litre of sewage waste to 10,000 litres of water, that’s why there’s no adverse effect right now, but

if we continue to this and especially like how GT is expected to grow then the volume is going to become more and therefore it might have an adverse effect on the marine environment.”

However, not all of the sewage waste in Guyana goes untreated, septic tanks provides some level of treatment while several agencies have their own treatment facilities.

“It would be incorrect to say we have no treatment facilities because septic tanks are ‘on site treatment’ facilities, they’re anaerobic in nature. We also have other treatment plants, one at the University of Guyana campus.

There’s one at the CJIA, the Guyana National Stadium and some others at some small places. There are no municipal waste water treatment plants, so we do have waste water treatment but on a large scale, no,” Joseph said.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 4, 2020

Male aggressive driving cause of deadly accidents – says psychologist

By Rabindra Rooplall EVERY year, many Guyanese are killed or severely injured in motor vehicular accidents and evidence suggests the irresponsible driving is common among males.

This is the view of psychologist, Wil Campbell, in the aftermath of a deadly year on the country’s roadways.

According to statistics from the Guyana Police Force, as of December, 31, 2019, some 108 accidents were recorded with 129 deaths compared to 105 accidents with 119 deaths the previous year.

Campbell said personality and behaviour have been well-cited as causes of many accidents involving male drivers as they drive more aggressively.

He explained that driving style refers to the way drivers habitually drive and this may include speeding, their attitudes to other road users and

Psychologist Wil Campbell

general attentiveness.

Driving style is influenced by the driver’s personal beliefs and values, the psychologist said.

“The male hormone, testosterone promoted greater spatial awareness and visual acuity that is needed when driving. These are vital driving skills and theoretically, this should make men better

drivers than women. But these are not the only factors that determine driver safety.

The same hormone promotes aggression and this probably accounts for the fact that men tend to be more aggressive drivers than women,” Campbell explained.

However, he said, everyone should use the roadways with care.

“Sentient humans have the ability to choose their behaviour in spite of natural inclinations. I haven't studied this formally but I have observed a general tendency among Guyanese and an exaggerated sense of invincibility; a belief that as an individual that I am better, smarter, stronger than other people. As a result, we tend to believe that we have the ability to escape the negative consequences of our actions because of our inherent capabilities; we believe that ‘it could never happen to me’,” he noted.

As such, he said many engage in risky driving, long after their teen years, although this kind of mental processing is typical of adolescents.

SOMETHING TO PROVE Another problem, he said, is that Guyanese seem to always have something to prove.

“We're always competing, always trying to show

Five.

Five persons lost their lives when a truck bearing registration GPP 9433 heading to Berbice collided with a route 50 minibus, bearing registration BRR 5478, which was heading to Georgetown.

tested after being involved in any form of accident.

A relative of Alana Vaughn explained that the main risk factors for crashes in Guyana include excessive speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, not using a seat belt and not

The mangled minibus on the Fairfield, Mahaicony Public Road following an accident which claimed the lives of five persons in December 2019

that we're better, even on the roadways. We have to be ahead of the line of traffic, whether we're in a hurry or not. We seem almost incapable of yielding to another driver who would like to merge in traffic or wait a few seconds before pulling out into traffic.”

Further, Campbell said another factor is a seeming lack of patience on the roadways and a sense that waiting somehow diminishes one’s value.

He also noted that individuals with driving anxiety are often unwilling to accept the risk that they may be involved in an accident and, ironically, their anxiety when driving may make them less safe on the road.

Common symptoms may include high anxiety when driving, high anxiety as a passenger, avoidance of driving completely and partial avoidance, such as driving only in one’s local area.

Some of these perhaps played a role in the many accidents in 2019, many of which resulted in deaths as in the case of the accident on December, 18, 2019 at Fairfield, Mahaicony, Region

Dead are Ewart Reynolds, 64, of Calcutta, Mahaicony; Alana Vaughn, 28, a medex of Farm, Mahaicony; Keon Sealey, 33, an anaesthesia nurse, also of Mahaicony; Maxwell Thom, 76; and Seechandal Chandilall, the driver of the bus. He lived at Bath Settlement, Berbice.

STRINGENT PENALTY Rubina Taylor, the reputed wife of Ewart Reynolds, told the Guyana Chronicle that there is a need for more speed bumps on the roadways to force drivers to slow down while stricter penalties are needed for delinquent drivers.

“I don’t even want to see a minibus driver because I lost my husband; the police need to do something with these lawless drivers. When they see the police they slow down, when they pass the police, is madness again,” Taylor said.

A mother of six, Wallie Sealey, 63, who lost her 33-year-old son, Keon Sealey, said many things can be done to make the roads a safer place but the authorities need to ensure that everyone with a driver’s licence is re-

wearing a motorcycle helmet, and not using child restraints.

“By making the right decision in each category, you could save your life and the lives of your passengers,” he said.

Other relatives of the accident victims agreed that there is a need for all drivers of public transportation, including taxis, to have refresher courses when they apply for renewals of public transport licences.

In light of fatal crashes in 2019, President David Granger, last December, appealed to motorists to observe the Guyana Police Force’s code of behaviour that is, drive with care, caution, consideration, common sense and courtesy.

“This insane increase in road fatalities has been caused, mainly, by persons driving at excessive speeds; driving under the influence of alcohol; driving without due care and attention (or inattentiveness) and driving on roads which are congested or unsafe for other road users, particularly pedestrians,” the President stated.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, January 04, 2020

15

Food is much more than what’s on the plate

In a vast world of 7 billion people where all you hear about are our differences, there are some important things that connect us, and one of these is food. Food connects us all. We all need it, depend on it, survive because of it and derive happiness from it.

In fact, food is part of who we are. It’s part of our habits and cultures. Hundreds of TV shows, movies and podcasts revolve around the topic of food, and cookbooks always sit among the bestsellers. Food is even part of how we interact with others. Foodies promptly and amply share recipes and dining experiences. And who hasn’t posted a photo of their favourite dish on their social media channels? The talk of food is all around us.

So if we love food so much, why do we let so much of it go rotten in our fridges, get left behind at our parties, get thrown out in our stores or dumped off of our plates? One third of all food produced globally is lost or wasted. We love food, but we don’t take care of it. We don’t respect it. We all want the respect that Aretha Franklin sang about and to get it we should give it.

Here are 6 ways to help us love our food better and grow respect for the world behind what we eat: 1. Reduce your food waste - Buy only the food you need, learn to love ugly fruits and vegetables, keep your portions realistic, be mindful of expiration dates, store food wisely, donate excess and turn leftover food into the next day’s meals. When we waste food, all the resources used for growing, processing, transporting and marketing that food are wasted

Growing in our knowledge of food means growing in our respect for it (FAO photo)

too. Food is so much more than what is on our plates. Find more tips on stopping food waste.

2. Support your local food producers: Chefs get awards, stars and recognition for their creations. But what about our farmers? Without them, we wouldn’t have the fresh food we need on a daily basis and the food to make any of our cherished dishes.

Aren’t farmers the real heroes? Shop at your local markets and get to know your farmers.

Giving them your business is giving them your recognition and respect.

3. Appreciate the workmanship in producing it: Agriculture isn’t just work, it is

art. There is so much that goes into making our food. It takes seeds and soil, water and work, protection and patience. Did you know that it takes 50 litres of water to produce one orange? Our food choices affect the health of our planet and our future of food. When you eat, you are taking in natural resources and the hard work of the farmers, bees, harvesters and others who got the food to your plate.

Appreciate food like you would a piece of art.

4. Adopt a healthier, more sustainable diet – Our bodies run off of calories and nutrients. We get our energy and maintain our health from good food. We normally don’t

pay attention to the power that food and nutrition have over our bodies. We need to respect that food is fuel. Too much of it, or too much of only one kind of it, can lead to obesity, deficiencies or diet-related diseases.

5. Learn where food comes from: Do kiwis come from trees or bushes? Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable? By learning more about our food, where it comes from, when it is in season and what it takes to produce it, we grow in our knowledge of and respect for what we are eating. Follow our Instagram account to test your knowledge on different fruits and vegetables grown around the world!

6. Have a conversation - By treating each meal with pride, we respect the farmers who produced it, the resources that went into it and the people who go without. Respect can be passed on. Talk to the people around you and to the next generation about making informed, healthy and sustainable food choices.

For many people on the planet, food is a given. It is there in a house or in a store if we need it and we usually have the means to buy it. But for many, food is scarce or elusive. For the staggering 821 million people who are hungry, food is not a guarantee. It is a daily challenge.

Respecting food means appreciating the back-story of food. When we know the full picture, it is easier to see what our food really stands for and how precious it really is.

Find out more about how your actions can shape our future of food. (FAO)

Larceny-accused porter granted bail MAGISTRATE Sherdel Isaac-Marcus, on Friday, January 3, 2020, granted a 25-year-old porter $100,000 bail on a larceny charge.

Sasenarine Nanhu of Mahaica appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and denied the charge, when it

was read to him.

Particulars of the charge stated that, on December 12, 2019, at La Penitence Public

Road, he stole a quantity of footwear valued at $592,000 and a quantity of blankets valued at $432,000, property

of Ashkay Ali. However, the facts in the matter were not presented in court.

Magistrate Sherdel Isaac-Marcus granted Nanhu $100,000 bail and adjourned the matter until February 14, 2020.

GTT replaces damaged cable in Demerara River THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), on Wednesday, started the replacement process of damaged sub-

marine cable in the Demerara River.

According to the company, the replacement cable will give added fu-

ture capacity to services since it consists of 24 strands, as compared to the damaged cable, which had 12 strands. During

the last quarter of 2019, the company was able to complete the design and permitting process of the replacement cable.

In June 2019, GTT reported a cable damage caused by a vessel in the Demerara River near Craig, East Bank

Demerara; this activity facilitated the replacement of damaged cable.

16

SCENES FROM THE APNU/AFC LAUNCH

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 4, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 4, 2020

17

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, January 04, 2020

Vote APNU+AFC to continue progress -- YFC urges, throws support behind APNU+AFC coalition

By Vishani Ragobeer PRESIDENT of Youth For Change (YFC), Juretha Fernandes has urged Guyanese to support the continuation of progress under the

incumbent APNU+AFC coalition by voting for them to have another term in office.

Fernandes made these remarks at the launch of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) + Alliance

for Change (AFC) coalition’s elections campaign on Friday at the D’Urban Park. The YFC is the youth arm of the Alliance For Change (AFC).

During her address, Fernandes listed some of the

notable achievements of the Coalition during its first term in government. However, she opined that the coalition’s achievements, at least for her personally, encompassed more intrinsic changes.

YFC President, Juretha Fernandes addressing the crowd at the launch of the APNU+AFC coalition elections campaign at D’Urban Park on Friday

“You see, 10 years ago, I could not have imagined myself here tonight,” Fernandes told the sizeable crowd. “I was born in a small mining community named Bartica, to a poor family in a hospital that barely had the basic things. However, today, Bartica is a town with one of the best regional hospitals, performing several different surgeries,” she said.

Using herself as an example, a young woman, who is the daughter of a former toshao, she illustrated her point that the Coalition government is one which is inclusive and reflective of the diverse Guyanese society.

The government, she said, has not let racial differences determine the opportunities that can be grasped.

“This coalition embodies the hope of a new generation of Guyanese; hope that, as a nation, we can finally break free from the chains of racism, and shatter the walls that divide us as a people,” the youth leader said.

She asserted that the coalition is one that has the ability to “usher in the dawn of a new era” for Guyana, one marked by unity, prosperity and security.

This new era, she said, will demand the collective input of all Guyanese.

Speaking to young people directly, she said that with the emergence of the oil and gas sector, there are many more “economic possibilities” for Guyana, but those possibilities could only be realised if the young people capitalise on the opportunities presented. She reminded them that at the end of this decade, the

young people of today will become the leaders who will be held accountable.

“Therefore, I urge you tonight to stand up for yourself and grab hold of every opportunity that this government has provided for you,” Fernandes said, adding: “We are the future; let us embrace this government, our government, in its continued efforts to build a mew Guyana.”

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle at the launch, YFC member and Councillor of Georgetown, Ayodele Roach affirmed, “The youth arm of the AFC is strong behind the Coalition, and we are ready to campaign.”

Roach posited that the youth demographic is the largest voting group currently, and she is confident that the coalition government has their support.

She also noted that a strength of the coalition is that it directs focus to youth, but also encompasses leaders who are well experienced.

This, she related, illustrates balance.

Nevertheless, Fernandes urged all young Guyanese to vote for the APNU+AFC coalition on March 2, positing that their vote is not only a vote for the government of the next five years, but a vote for the development of the country for generations to come.

“Don’t stop the progress,” she urged.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 4, 2020

19

Education Minister assesses schools readiness for re-opening WITH schools set to reopen on Monday, after the Christmas vacation, Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, on Friday, visited four schools across the city to assess their readiness for re-opening.

The Education Minister was accompanied by the Head of Buildings, Ministry of Education, Mr. Ron Eastman. The schools visited were Sophia Primary, Turkeyen Nursery and New Campbellville Secondary.

Minister Henry stated that she wanted to get a first-hand understanding of the preparations that are currently ongoing on the ground to be satisfied that when school re-opens there will be no issues.

Based on what was seen on the ground, Dr. Henry indicated that she was satisfied with the preparations so far.

Scenes from Minister Nicolette Henry’s visits to several schools in Georgetown to assess their readiness for a new school term on Monday, January 6, 2020

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, January 04, 2020

GNBS aims at leading role in national development THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is aiming to ensure that policy makers, regulators, the private sector and consumers benefit from the pivotal role in the progression of national development in 2020 and beyond.

This is according to GNBS Public Relations Officer, Lloyd David.

He said the priority areas of a standards body depend entirely upon local conditions, including health and environment, on on-going development.

David noted that priority is

GNBS Public Relations Officer, Lloyd David

also established based on stakeholder requirements.

He said key on GNBS’s agenda for 2020 is the development of national standards relating to electrical products, building and construction, pe-

troleum and the environment.

“These standards are geared to enhance the quality and durability of products, reduction of environmental pollution and improve safety and the structures of buildings,” David said.

For standards implementation, the GNBS will continue to offer its consultancy services to a number of local companies and businesses based on international management system standards.

Since 2017, David said the GNBS has seen a steady increase in demand for its calibration and testing services and it has been making major strides

to meet this demand.

He noted that local companies continue to submit their measuring instruments for calibration in the areas of mass, length, volume and temperature.

The GNBS intends to expand the range of services it offers to include the calibration of digital multi-meters, torque wrenches used in the airline industry, temperature enclosures, incubators, ovens and coolers, steam and water operated pressure gauges, and Infra-red thermometers.

Meanwhile, the GNBS plans to expand concrete block

testing and gold testing services.

The monitoring of quality and labelling requirements of products at the ports of entry, warehouses and store outlets will continue at stores and outlets during the New Year.

As of February 01, 2020, David said stakeholders would see the monitoring of an additional 31 electrical products.

The GNBS is building internal capacity to ensure only quality products are imported and locally manufactured for sale to consumers.

As the National Metrology (Measurement) Institution, the GNBS will ensure the verification (stamping) of all weighing and measuring devices used in commercial trade continues in 2020.

The public relations officer

said inspectors are currently undertaking the mobile stamping of devices for the first half of the year at markets and other strategic locations, countrywide.

“Vendors and shopkeepers are urged to see press for details to know when the GNBS team will be in their area. Consumers should ensure that they buy from verified measuring scales masses and measures,” he said.

He continued: “The GNBS has a new role to play in the oil and gas sector, which is to verify the calibration of the custody transfer meters. Inspectors are undergoing training to support the Department of Energy in the monitoring the quantity of crude extracted from Guyana’s offshore oil reserves.”

Senior, junior police ranks promoted COMMISSIONER of Police, Leslie James, ushered in the New Year by announcing the promotion of officers, inspectors and subordinate officers as granted by the Guyana Police Commission, along with the elevation of junior ranks.

The commissioner noted that the promotions are a reward for the officers’ hard work, invaluable dedication, conscientiousness and selfless attitude.

Hundreds of ranks were promoted.

“It is the demonstration of the understanding of your roles, purpose and responsibilities. It is and must be seen as a reward, the unconditional serving and maintenance of zealously guarding our ideal,” James said.

“Your stellar performance has merited your effort to embrace the old standard. We must never retreat from challenging ourselves,” the top cop added.

According to James, over the last year, the GPF has worked assiduously to maintain public security, public safety, trust and confidence of the public.

Commissioner of Police, Leslie James

“We must continue to win their trust among the citizenry through exemplary conduct and professionalism,” he underscored The top cop also highlighted that the GPF completed the first year of its strategic management plan and has also established a Police Reform Change Board to coordinate the strategic plan.

The force has noted a decline in serious crimes but an eight per cent increase in road fatalities. To address the latter, ‘Operation Safe Roads’ has been launched and it is currently in effect countrywide.

Vendor sentenced for trafficking marijuana MAGISTRATE Dylon Bess, on Friday, January 3, 2020, sentenced a 42-year-old vendor to three years in prison for trafficking marijuana.

Christopher Cummings of Tucville Housing Scheme, on his first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court denied the charge, when it was read to him.

Magistrate Bess stated that, after going through the entire evidence that was presented by the prosecutor, he found sufficient evidence against Cummings at the end of the trial.

Particulars of the charge stated that, on January 11, 2019, Cummings had 109 grams of marijuana in his possession, for

Christopher Cummings

the purpose of trafficking.

According to information, on the day in question, ranks, acting on a ‘tip-off’, went to Cummings’ Merriman’s Mall stall and ‘busted’ him with the marijuana in his hands.

Cummings reportedly handed over, to the police, the marijuana which was parceled off in small zip-lock bags.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 4, 2020

21

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 4, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 4, 2020

23

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 4, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 4, 2020

25

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 4, 2020

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 4, 2020

ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup starts January 17 Sinclair, Smith the new HOSTS South Africa will open their campaign against Afghanistan in this month’s ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup, a tournament that showcases the world’s future cricket stars.

South Africa, hosts in 1998 and champions in 2014, play their opening match at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley on January 17. The United Arab Emirates and Canada are the other teams they will have to contend with in Group D of the 16-team tournament, the final of which is scheduled for February 9.

In other matches ssheduled over the first few days, New Zealand take on Japan who will be making their debut in an ICC global event at the North West University Oval in Potchefstroom on January 18 while defending champions India play Sri Lanka at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on January 19.

Nigeria, who are also making their ICC event debut will face Australia in Kimberley on January 20 for their opening game.

Benoni and Kimberley are the other host cities for the 13th edition of the tournament, being played as per format used in previous editions, with the second phase dividing the teams into Super League and Plate tournaments. The top two teams from each of the four groups advance to the Super League while the remaining teams feature in the Plate championship.

The JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom will be a key venue as it hosts two Super League quarterfinals, both semi-finals and the final.

The top 11 full Members in the last edition in New Zealand and the five regional champions, who have qualified for the event, will also play warm-up matches from January 12-15 in Johannesburg and Pretoria. Nigeria

(Africa) also make an appearance for the first time, along with Japan (East Asia Pacific). Nigeria (Africa) and Japan (East Asia Pacific) are joined by other regional qualifiers Canada (Americas), United Arab Emirates (Asia) and Scotland (Europe).

ICC Head of Events Chris Tetley: “The U-19 Cricket World Cup is a very important event in our calendar as it brings together the world’s most promising young players in a major ICC tournament, giving them the experience of competing on the global stage.

“We have some excellent venues for this tournament, and we are offering free entry to all matches giving cricket fans in South Africa the opportunity to watch the next generation of superstars.

I wish all the teams the very best in their preparations for the tournament and to Cricket South Africa in organising the event.”

Tournament Director Sivuyile Mqingwana: “CSA is delighted to be hosting this prestigious event that further nurtures the stars of tomorrow. We look forward

to hosting fans and visitors from all over the world and hope our cricketing guests and other sports tourists will enjoy both world-class cricket action, as well as the great treasures that ‘Mzansi’ has to offer.

“This ICC U9 cricket showpiece affords our country’s cricket community the opportunity to watch the world’s best young players up close and personal.”

Some of the world’s best players have showcased their talent at previous editions of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup including top-ranked Test batsman Steve Smith, top-ranked ODI and T20I batsman Virat Kohli, England Test captain Joe Root and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson.

South Africa have seen several top players like Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Dean Elgar, Wayne Parnell, Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada make it big in international cricket after first catching the eye during U-19 World Cups.

Other players to have featured in past editions include Brian Lara (West Indies), Michael Atherton (England), Michael Clarke (Australia), Virender Sehwag (India) Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) and Rashid Khan (Afghanistan).

India have won the title four times, Australia have won three times, Pakistan have won it twice while England, South Africa and the West Indies have won once each.

Groupings: Group A: India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Japan Group B: Australia, Eng l a n d , We s t I n d i e s , N i g e r i a Group C: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Scotland Group D: Afghanistan, South Africa, UAE, Canada

Hemraj, Johnson wrap up Jaguars practice game with centuries CENTURIES from Leon Johnson and Chandrapaul Hemraj helped to ease Guyana Jaguars into a comfortable state of mind going into next week’s start of the Regional 4-Day Tournament.

The national team wrapped up their training yesterday at Providence with the last of their two practice games.

Looking to bat for longer periods, the players of the Johnson XI used the two days instead of three to up their scoring as they racked up 388-5 at the end of stumps.

Batting one minute shy of 200 minutes, Hemraj lit up the stadium with 8 sweetly-timed fours and six massive sixes as he warmed up for the Regional 4-Dayers with a stylish 104.

He shared a whopping 167-run second-wicket partnership with his national captain Johnson who broke his run drought with an identical score of 104.

The Jaguars captain batted for more than 300 minutes for his century which was decorated with 9 fours and a six before he retired, allowing the other players to have some time.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul also batted

Guyana Jaguars captain Leon Johnson dug in for his gritty ton yesterday.

himself into some form with his solid 51 at number 4. Chris Barnwell also looked good for his 27 as the Jags premier players had good periods with the bat.

Resuming just four runs shy of a half-century, Hemraj reached his first milestone in a casual manner. The Test opener’s confidence grew, as he found scoring easy and despite his aggression he managed to negate the good deliveries while feasting on the bad ones.

His hundred came in grand fashion as he clobbered Ricardo Adams’ spin for a maximum which he celebrated with his skipper.

Johnson, meanwhile, grafted a much-needed innings together; his timing and temperament seemed to be coming back as he reached his fifty.

Soon after the duo’s celebration, tragedy struck as Alimohamed broke the edge of the centurion, to which keeper Kemol Savory made no mistake in collecting.

After Johnson’s retirement, Chanderpaul continued to wear out the opposition’s bowling on his way to 50, topping off a strong performance for the batsmen. (Clifton Ross)

caps in Guyana Jaguars Regional 4-day squad

PACER Niall Smith and all-rounder Kevin Sinclair are the new caps in the Guyana Jaguars 13-man squad named ahead of the Regional 4-Day Tournament.

Five-time winning captain Leon Johnson will lead the strong side named yesterday, which features the usual suspects along with the pair of newbies.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chris Barnwell, Vishaul Singh, Anthony Bramble, Devendra Bishoo, Keon Joseph are among the experienced players Johnson will have at his disposal.

Following the two practice games, Hemraj scored a ton, Bramble struck an unbeaten fifty, Joseph and Bishoo both had 5-fers and Smith a 4-wicket haul.

Sinclair, the Windies U-19 youth player also hit and fifty

in the first game and bagged 3 wickets to further push his case.

Meanwhile, Jaguars star players Keemo Paul, Shimron Hetmyer and Romario Shepherd are currently on West Indies duty.

Once available, Shepherd will join the competition for the second round.

Guyana Jaguars 13-man squad: Leon Johnson (captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Christopher Barnwell, Vishaul Singh, Devendra Bishoo, Tevin Imlach, Keon Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Veerasammy Permaul, Niall Smith, Kevin Sinclair. Esaun Crandon – coach, Shivnarine Chanderpaul – assistant coach/ manager, Neil Barry – physiotherapist.

Stafanie Taylor, the heaviest runs-scorer over the last decade WEST Indies Women captain Stafanie Taylor, has scored the most One-Day International runs over the last decade of her career.

According to the statistics, Taylor, who led the West Indies Women to a historic T20 World Cup win, has interestingly, done better in the longer format of the game, even though her team have only managed a runners-up finish on the World stage.

This decade, Taylor has scored 3 993 runs at a healthy average of 45.89.

Those runs mean she finishes the decade ahead of the prolific Meg Lanning, the Australian scoring 3 693 runs at an average of 52.75.

Taylor also bested another prolific scorer in the women’s game today, New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, who scored 3 621 runs this decade at an average of 45.26.

Taylor, on her way to

amassing the total score, scored the third-highest total among women in an ODI, slamming 171 against Sri Lanka in the 2013 World Cup. Also along the way, she scored four centuries with two of those coming in 2013.

The all-rounder also scored 32 half-centuries over the period, with 2019 being her most productive, where she scored five of them.

Though Taylor has not scored a century since 2013, she has consistently come close, scoring 95, 98 not out, 85, 90, 90, and 94 in the year’s following.

Taylor, a Jamaican, has opened for West Indies Women since she was a teenager, and is known for her determined accumulation of runs. At just 19, she became the youngest woman to reach 1 000 ODI runs.

(Sportsmax)

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 4, 2020

Proteas on top as England struggle to 262 for nine on opening day

By Mark Gleeson CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - South Africa’s Anrich Nortje took the vital wickets of captain Joe Root and talisman Ben Stokes as England struggled to 262 for nine at stumps on the first day of the second Test yesterday.

Pace bowler Nortje, playing his fourth Test, finished with 2-54 off 17 overs as the home

side restricted the tourists on a Newlands wicket that was expected to be full of runs.

A late cameo from Ollie Pope, one of three changes to the touring side’s line-up after they lost the first Test by 107 runs, lifted England’s gloom slightly as he defied the second new ball to finish unbeaten on 56.

“It’s a good wicket but there is something there for the seamers, so we’ll see how it

pans out in the next two days,” said Pope, who was caught in the deep in the penultimate over of the day but earned a reprieve when Kagiso Rabada’s delivery proved to be a no-ball.

The rest of England’s top batsmen contrived to get themselves out when they looked set for a lengthy spell at the crease with Stokes dismissed for 47 and Root 35.

Joe Denly contributed 38

and Dom Sibley 34 but it is the home side who will be more satisfied after England won the toss.

They lost Zak Crawley (4) in the third over as he edged Vernon Philander to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.

The 21-year-old was making his second Test appearance after being brought in to replace the injured Rory Burns, who hurt his ankle playing soccer on Thursday in the latest setback for England on a calamity-filled tour.

Sibley was also snagged behind off Rabada just before lunch followed, in the afternoon session, by Root, caught off his gloves as he ducked into a vicious bouncer.

Denly was bowled by a full delivery from spinner Keshav Maharaj and Stokes, who hit a career-high 258 at the picturesque Cape Town ground four years ago, was beginning to look dangerous when he chipped to

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND 1st innings Zak Crawley c Quinton de Kock b Vernon Philander 4 Dominic Sibley c Quinton de Kock b Kagiso Rabada 34 Joe Denly b Keshav Maharaj 38 Joe Root c Quinton de Kock b Anrich Nortje 35 Ben Stokes c Dean Elgar b Anrich Nortje 47 Ollie Pope not out 56 Jos Buttler c Quinton de Kock b Dwaine Pretorius 29 Sam Curran b Dwaine Pretorius 9 Dom Bess c Quinton de Kock b Vernon Philander 0 Stuart Broad b Kagiso Rabada 1 James Anderson not out 3 Extras: (b-4, lb-1, nb-1) 6 Total: (nine wkts, 89 overs) 262 Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-63, 3-105, 4-127, 5-185, 6-221, 7-231, 8-231, 9-234.

Bowling: Vernon Philander 16-3-46-2, Kagiso Rabada 18-3-63-2 (nb-1), Anrich Nortje 17-2-54-2, Keshav Maharaj 27-6-68-1, Dwaine Pretorius 11-5-26-2.

Dean Elgar at extra cover.

The sloppy shot left Stokes covering his face in disbelief before trudging off.

Jos Buttler (29) threatened a counter-attack before Dwaine Pretorius halted his progress and then bowled Sam Curran and Dom Bess was out first ball off the first delivery with the second new ball from Philander as de

Kock took a fifth catch.

“We stuck to our disciplines, so it was a pretty good day. We can run with that,” Pretorius said.

A yorker from Rabada accounted for Stuart Broad but Pope attacked the new ball to add an unbeaten 28 runs for the last wicket with James Anderson, who will resume on three not out.

Labuschagne hits fourth ton as Aussies take charge in Sydney

By Nick Mulvenney SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) Marnus Labuschagne scored his fourth century in five matches as Australia dominated a New Zealand side ravaged by illness and missing captain Kane Williamson to reach 283 for three on the first day of the third and final Test yesterday.

With the series already lost after heavy defeats in Perth and Melbourne, the Black Caps were rocked when Williamson, batsman Henry Nicholl and spinner Mitchell Santner were ruled out of the match by a flu virus.

Australia had never needed an invitation to plunder runs over this series and the makeshift New Zealand attack was duly put to the sword on a mostly sunny day when the smoke from the bushfires stayed away from the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Labuschagne looked immovable as he hit a magnificent 130 not out to add to the innings of 185 and 162 he registered against Pakistan in November and the 143 he scored against New Zealand in the first Test.

The 25-year-old piled on the runs in a third-wicket partnership of 156 with Steve Smith (63) and will resume today with Matthew Wade, who had scored 22 not out off 30 balls by the close of play.

“It’s rare that you play an away team with five changes but that’s the circumstances they have with the sickness,” said Labuschagne.

“It was a nice day out there and a good day for Australia ...

I’m just trying to keep it in the

moment, just focus on each ball.”

Tom Latham was named New Zealand captain in Williamson’s absence and his first act was to lose a toss the tourists would have been desperate to win after selecting two spinners and dropping paceman Tim Southee.

With Southee’s usual strike Marnus Labuschagne scores his fourth century from five Tests this summer.

(Getty Images)

deliveries to get on the board.

The biggest cheer of the first two sessions came when Labuschagne tore off down the wicket for a hurried single that finally got Smith off the mark.

Labuschagne had a nervous spell on 99 but a four, his eighth, to fine leg finally got him to the century mark for the fourth time in 14 Tests.

Smith eventually fell to de Grandhomme and the second new ball, the world’s second-ranked Test batsman clearly furious with himself after leaving his bat out and watching the ball ping off it and into the hands of Ross Taylor at first slip.

SCOREBOARD

AUSTRALIA 1st innings

partner Trent Boult ruled out by injury, New Zealand started a Test for the first time in more than a decade without one of the pair or Williamson in the side.

Colin de Grandhomme, who took the new ball with Matt Henry, played a part in all three wickets to fall, first having opener Joe Burns caught in the slips off an outside edge for 18.

David Warner departed for 45 three balls after lunch when quick Neil Wagner fired a delivery down the leg side that the Australian opener steered to gully for de Grandhomme to take a fine catch.

Wagner has dismissed Smith four times in four innings this series and the former Australia captain was so determined not to make it five that he took 39

David Warner c Colin de Grandhomme b Neil Wagner 45 Joe Burns c Ross Taylor b Colin de Grandhomme 18 Marnus Labuschagne not out 130 Steven Smith c Ross Taylor b Colin de Grandhomme 63 Matthew Wade not out 22 Extras: (lb-3, nb-1, w-1) 5 Total: (three wkts, 90 overs) 283 Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-95, 3-251.

Bowling: Matt Henry 21-1-68-0 (w-1), Colin de Grandhomme 18-1-63-2 (n-1), Neil Wagner 21-648-1, William Somerville 13-0-52-0, Todd Astle 17-0-49-0.

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 4, 2020

England ban football warm-ups after Rory Burns injury ENGLAND have sounded the final whistle on football as a warm-up activity in training sessions.

Ashley Giles, the director of England’s men’s teams, has never made any secret of his disapproval of his side playing football.

And, after Rory Burns became the latest player to sustain a football-related injury, Giles and Chris Silverwood, the England coach, have decided to ban the activity.

Burns suffered serious ligament damage to his ankle after landing awkwardly while playing football as a warm-up to training on Thursday. He was subsequently ruled out of the rest of the series in South Africa and was due to fly back to England

last night.

Jonny Bairstow also had suffered a football-related injury in Sri Lanka at the end of 2018 while in the past Joe Denly and James Anderson had also been hurt playing the game.

Giles said when he took the job that he was unhappy to see football as part of England’s warm-up. But he was persuaded by senior players that it was an important part of the bonding process of the squad and agreed to review it once the World Cup had finished. The injury to Burns appears to have strengthened his resolve.

Giles banned football from Warwickshire when he was director of cricket

Rory Burns has been one of England’s best batsmen in recent Tests.

there. England have denied suggestions football has been banned at all counties as a warm-up activity, saying it is up to each individual county to decide.

The England management team will discuss whether they need to call up a replacement for Burns over the next day or two. They have, at present, only one reserve batsman - Bairstow - in the squad and are likely to consider Dawid Malan, James

Tottenham striker Harry Kane suffers a torn hamstring TOTTENHAM and England striker Harry Kane has suffered a torn hamstring, the club has announced. He limped off during the defeat at Southampton on Wednesday and yesterday manager Jose Mourinho said he was expecting “bad news”.

No timescale has been given for his return but he is likely to miss several weeks of action, including the FA Cup tie at Middlesbrough tomorrow.

“Head up. Tough times don’t last, tough people do,” Kane tweeted.

“Everybody knows who he is, what he is, what he means for the team, the fans, the club,” Mourinho said.

“His quality, the routines that the team has playing with him, every minute of every game he doesn’t play we miss, so every match that he doesn’t play we’re going to miss him.”

Vince and Keaton Jennings as options. But with the squad size still 18 and only two Tests left after this, it is far from certain they will send for anyone.

Meanwhile, Jofra Archer may also have played his final game in the series.

He was due to undergo a second scan on his sore right elbow yesterday after the first one proved inconclusive. (ESPN Cricinfo)

HARRY KANE

In a statement, Spurs said: “We can confirm that Harry Kane suffered a tear in his left hamstring during our New Year’s Day fixture against Southampton.

“Our medical staff will continue to review the injury with treatment ongoing.”

Kane has scored 27 goals in 31 appearances for club and country this season. (BBC Sport)

Superb Primus rattles Ireland but Wanderers come up short land in a oneday warm-up match here Thurs-

ALL-ROUNDER ROSHON PRIMUS

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – A superb display of power-hitting by Barbados Pride all-rounder Roshon Primus almost took Wanderers Club to a remarkable victory over touring Ire-

day.

The strongly-built 24-year-old blasted seven huge sixes and seven fours in a scintillating 83 off 36 balls as the home team came up 45 runs short of their target of 339 at the Dayrell’s Road ground, just outside of the city.

Primus, a member of the Barbados Tridents franchise which won the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) last year, entered with Wanderers on 165 for four in the 37th over and immediately went into over-drive in a superb solo effort.

The right-hander raced to his half-century off 25 balls with five fours and four sixes, reaching the landmark with a thunderous cover-driven boundary off seamer Barry McCarthy.

While he was at the crease Wanderers added 114 runs in 10 overs to threaten the target and put the Irish under severe pressure.

Primus, who has represented Trinidad and Tobago in the past, but is now under contract to the Pride, finally perished in the 47th over, bowled missing a heave at pacer Craig Young.

The run chase was set up by a century-opening stand between Test batsman Kraigg Brathwaite and Pride left-hander Shayne Moseley.

The pair, who will open for Barbados next week in the Regional Four-day Championship, posted 109 but at a pedestrian rate of just four runs per over, leaving the asking rate close to nine runs per over.

Brathwaite made 45 off 59 balls before he was stumped off off-spinner Simi Singh attempting a big hit while Moseley made a cultured 79 off 119 with 12 boundaries. He was bowled by seamer Boy Rankin, paving the way for Primus’s arrival.

Earlier, Ireland made great use of the perfect batting conditions to reach 338 for five off their 50 overs, with three batsmen reaching half-centuries. Wicketkeeper Gary Wilson slammed 76 off 35 balls batting at number eight, with 60 of his runs coming in boundaries as the visitors

managed 100 runs off the last 10 overs.

The pair of Paul Stirling and James McCollom both made 64 in an opening stand of 133 in 20 overs before retiring to allow other batsmen the opportunity to bat.

In the middle overs Ireland were stymied by off-spinner Jamar Trotman who was impressive with figures of five for 50 from his 10 overs.

A club cricket journeyman and wholehearted performer, Trotman, was not introduced until the 27th over and was the sixth bowler used.

He stemmed the flow of runs with immaculate control.

Ireland used the match as part of their preparations for the upcoming three-match One-Day International series against West Indies, starting next Tuesday at Kensington Oval here.

Wanderers is one of the most storied clubs on the island having produced several West Indies players including Test captain Jason Holder, Brathwaite, West Indies left-arm seamers Ian Bradshaw and Pedro Collins, along with Keith Boyce and brothers Denis and Eric Atkinson.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 4, 2020

Hodge takes charge of Volcanoes for Pride clash ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) – Batsman Kavem Hodge has been handed the captaincy for Windward Islands Volcanoes’ first-round match of the Regional four-day Championship against Barbados Pride next week.

The 26-year-old Dominican, a right-handed batsman, who bowls steady left-arm spin, has played 32 first-class matches since his debut as a 19-year-old back in 2012.

Last season, he was the leading scorer for Volca-

noes with 481 runs and five half-centuries, second only to veteran left-handed opener Devon Smith who topped the overall charts with 745 runs.

Smith, who turns 39 this year, has been named in the 13-man squad along with seasoned off-spinner Shane Shillingford and experienced former captain Kirk Edwards.

Batsman Desron Maloney is poised to make his first class debut after being included in the unit, following his outing in the last November’s Super50 Cup where he

managed a single fifty in averaging 27.

Twenty-year-old Guyanese batsman Bhaskar Yadram, who played two first-class matches for his native franchise three years ago, has been called up.

V o l c a n o e s will boast a young fast-bowling attack with Ray Jordan, Preston McSween, Shermon Lewis and Josh Thomas, who snatched

Guyanese batsman Bhaskar Yadram

New Volcanoes captain Kavem Hodge.

28 wickets last season, all named by selectors for the January 9-12 contest at Arnos Vale.

SQUAD – Kavem Hodge, Devon Smith, Desron Malo-

Sunshine Girls will make an impact, says new coach Francis KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – Despite their recent form, new Sunshine Girls head coach Connie Francis believes the national side will be a “force to be reckoned with” at this month’s Vitality Netball Nations Cup in England.

Jamaica are coming off a disheartening fifth place finish at the World Cup last July, marking the first time in 24 years the Sunshine Girls failed to reach the advanced rounds of the showpiece.

In their first outing since that debacle, the Caribbean’s top-ranked side take on world champions New Zealand, South Africa and hosts England, from January 19-26, with Francis upbeat about her unit’s chances.

“I can tell you that we will be a force to be reckoned with because the world will be saying that Jamaica is on the right track,” the Gleaner newspaper here quoted her as saying.

“I want to remain positive and the girls are upbeat and so I think that we are on the right track, especially with the fact that we have a great crop of young players.”

Francis took charge of the Sunshine Girls last October following the sacking of Marvette Anderson and assistant Winston Nevers last September, in the wake of the team’s poor showing at the World Cup in England.

Tasked with getting the best of the unit at the upcoming tournament, Francis stressed it was crucial the team displayed improvement during the campaign.

“Based on their last performance at the World Championships, I want to see an improvement in all areas,” she pointed out.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday November 21, 2019) 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) 4 (2) 11 (T20 International Captains)

Today’s Quiz:

How many players have now captained the WI in Tests?

(2) How many players have now led the WI in ODIs? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

(1)

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

ney, Kirk Edwards, Alick Athanaze, Emmanuel Stewart, Keron Cottoy, Shane Shillingford, Ray Jordan, Shermon Lewis, Josh Thomas, Preston McSween, Bhaskar Yadram.

Sunshine Girls head coach Connie Francis.

“I want to see improvement in our shooting as a team, in our defending as a team and in our mid-court and if that comes with a few wins in this series, then that will be a plus for us.

“I think the series is here for a reason and based on the shape that they are in, I think that they are ready to compete. I think that win, lose or draw, I think at the end of this series, we will be very proud because of our work ethic.”

Francis, who is in her second stint as head coach of the side, said she was optimistic about their future success.

“I think the future is looking bright for us based on the energy that comes out of our training sessions and the adjustments that all these players are making and they are all positive about doing extremely well,” she said.

Bermudian Wells happy to be back among the goals for QPR LONDON, (CMC) – Bermudian striker Nahki Wells has been celebrating his first hat-trick in England in more than five years, saying he is happy to be back among the goals after a barren spell at English Championship club Queens Park Rangers.

An early headed goal in QPR’s thumping 6-1 home win on New Year’s Day against Cardiff City ended a nine-game drought and did his confidence the world of good.

Wells, 29, had not scored since QPR’s 2-2 draw against Middlesbrough on November 9.

“I hadn’t scored since our last fixture before the international break, so I’m happy to be back among the goals,” Wells, who scores in the ninth, 48th and 64th minutes, said.

The hat-trick – QPR’s first in five years – took his seasonal tally to 12. He is currently at the 15th-placed west London outfit on a second loan spell from Premier League club Burnley.

Speaking about his recent lack of

goals, Wells said: “It’s been tough, so I’m pretty happy to get on the scoresheet and get a really big win for us.

“As a striker, the games start to add up.

Bermudian Nahki Wells … scored a hat-trick for QPR.

You come on for ten minutes and it’s another game without a goal or you don’t start.

“You go through games without really getting a sniff, but you just have to keep putting yourself in the right places, keep believing and keep doing everything right because you have to be mentally right for when that chance comes.”

He added: “When you’re able to get an early goal, it takes a lot of pressure off you,.

“Any attacker knows what it can do for you from a psychological perspective and how much it really lifts you when you do get that goal.

“I’m really happy to score early, which gave me the platform to go on and get a couple of others.”

Wells’ last hat-trick came for Huddersfield Town in their 5-3 win away to Chesterfield in the Championship in August 2014, and he is the first QPR player to score a hat-trick since Charlie Austin netted all three goals in a 3-2 Premier League win over West Bromwich Albion in December that year.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 4, 2020

Relaxed Hope under no pressure as Irish challenge beckons BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Shai Hope says he is under no pressure to replicate his heavy run-scoring of the last calendar year, and will continue to focus on his role in the team in order to transform West Indies into a formidable unit.

The elegant right-hander plundered 1 345 runs in 2019 at an average of 61 with four hundreds, to be in the top three run-scorers in the world in OneDay Internationals.

He will be back in action next Tuesday when West Indies take on Ireland in the first ODI of a three-match series at Kensington Oval here.

“Pressure is a strange word but it’s about understanding what you need to do,” Hope said on the first day of training here in preparation for the Ireland series.

“And as long as you put in the preparation and believe in yourself – believe in what you’ve been doing – the rest takes care

of itself. It’s not about putting pressure on yourself; it’s about understanding what you need to do.

“As an athlete and as a sportsperson you know that everyday can’t be your day but as long as you give your all then you have to be happy with that.”

The 26-year-old has emerged as the batting leader of the Windies ODI squad and was key to several of their successes over the last year.

In a side replete with power-hitters, Hope has been the ideal counter, proving to be the anchor of the innings with an unflappable temperament and selective stroke-making.

“It’s about being adaptable.

I believe that adaptability is the biggest thing in cricket, especially when you’re playing (different) formats,” Hope pointed out.

“The key is to know your role in the team and knowing

how it affects your batting partners, so the key is about standing your role. I think everyone in the team is starting to understand his role and it’s making our batting performances a lot more successful and consistent.”

With Hope at the forefront, West Indies pushed India in the three-match ODI series last December before going down 2-1, to extend their near two-decade losing streak on the subcontinent.

It was his unbeaten hundred in the series opener in Chennai which helped the Caribbean side take a 1-0 lead but knocks of 78 and 42 in the remaining matches failed to prevent defeats.

Hope, who averages nearly 53 from 72 ODIs with eight career hundreds, said it was important to continue the improvement in the upcoming series against the Irish. “(It’s) about improvement.

Obviously you want to score

West Indies batsman Shai Hope

Rutherford half-century in vain as Thunder lose again

more runs as a batsman but the key is about gaining things, adding things to your game and improving as a cricketer,” Hope explained.

“So hopefully I can continue the form I’ve been having recently and pile on more runs.”

He added: “I was just pleased to get the successes (last year) and contribute to team wins. The key is to continue what I’ve been doing over the last year and try to improve and gain experience.”

Naseem Shah withdrawn from Pakistan’s Under-19 World Cup squad

ONE month after announcing the team for the ICC U-19 World Cup 2020, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has withdrawn 16-year-old fast bowler Naseem Shah, on the grounds of his having already made his senior team debut in November last year.

At 16 years and 279 days, Shah became the youngest Test cricketer to make his debut on Australian soil, when he was picked in the Pakistan XI for the first Test in Brisbane. He has since played two more Tests and picked up a five-for in his last, the second Test against Sri Lanka in Karachi, which Pakistan won by 263 runs to clinch the series, becoming the youngest Test cricketer to snare a five-for in the process.

With a potential schedul-

ing clash between the World Cup and the senior team’s home series against the visiting Bangladesh, and with both the senior and junior teams steadfast in getting hold of the services of the star young bowler, the PCB eventually had to make a call.

“The ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup is a stepping stone for future stars and a platform for budding youngsters to graduate to international cricket,” Wasim Khan, the PCB chief executive officer, said.

“Naseem has recently broken that glass ceiling and has established his credentials as an international cricketer. As such, the PCB has taken a pragmatic approach and decided to withdraw him from next year’s competition to provide this opportunity to another promising

Sherfane Rutherford struck a half-century for losing Thunder side.

Naseem Shah made his Test debut in November last year.

cricketer so that he can show his mettle and potential at a global stage.

“This should not deter Pakistan’s chances the upcoming ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup as the selectors have picked a side that is experienced and bubbling with confidence to perform strongly.

The Saleem Jaffar-headed junior team selection panel has

picked Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mohammad Wasim Jr as Shah’s replacement. As for Naseem, Wasim said he will make himself available for senior team duty.

“Naseem will now remain in Pakistan and continue to work on his skills under the watchful eyes of bowling coach Waqar Younis,” Wasim said. “Furthermore, he will remain available for the home series against Bangladesh.” (ICC)

Tough day in the field leaves New Zealand in a hole

By Nick Mulvenney SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Any hopes New Zealand had that the New Year would bring a change of fortune on their tour of Australia were shattered yesterday by a combination of illness, a lost toss, some questionable selections and brilliant batting from their hosts.

At the end of the first day of the third Test, a match the Black Caps must at least draw to avoid a 3-0 series sweep, they were already in a big hole with Australia on 283 for three and centurion Marnus Labuschagne still at the crease.

The first blow did not come entirely out of the blue with captain Kane Williamson and batsman Henry Nicholls having missed training on the previous two days with a flu bug that was sweeping through the squad.

Spinner Mitchell Santner joined them in the sick bay on Thursday and

while he was ruled out altogether yesterday, Williamson and Nicholls were allowed a net to test their fitness.

“You could see pretty quickly that they weren’t right. Both those guys have been tough competitors and tough people,” said coach Gary Stead.

“And when you don’t get an argument back around whether you should play or not, you know they are not very well.”

The bug led to three changes to the team that lost heavily in Melbourne last weekend with batsman Glenn Phillips, who was flown over as cover on Thursday, handed his first cap.

A fourth change was forced by the injury suffered by paceman Trent Boult in the second Test, but the fifth and last was the unexpected decision to drop experienced quick Tim Southee in favour of Matt Henry.

“We just felt we wanted a bit more

pace out there with what Matt offers over Tim,” Stead added.

“The workload that Tim’s had, not just in the last two Tests, but you put the last four together it’s somewhere around about 200 overs in a short period of time.

We felt that Matt would have given us a point of difference.”

Southee and Henry could have both played, had New Zealand not elected to reduce their pace attack by one to make room for twin spinners Todd Astle and Will Sommervile on what they thought would be a dry wicket.

That decision looked all the more questionable once stand-in captain Tom Latham had lost the toss.

“We make decisions on what is in front of us and what are the best decisions to make at the time,” Stead said of the three-man selection panel. “We live and die by those as well.”

SYLHET, Bangladesh (CMC) – For the second straight day, Sherfane Rutherford found his best not good enough as his maiden Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) fifty failed to save Sylhet Thunder from their second defeat in as many days here yesterday.

Asked to chase a massive 200 at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium after Rangpur Rangers posted 199 for five from their 20 overs, Thunder declined to 161 all out in the final over, with the 21-year-old Rutherford blasting 60 from 37 balls.

The left-hander, who has played three Twenty20 Internationals for West Indies, punched five fours and three sixes – posting 38 for the third wicket with Mohammad Mithun (30) and a further 39 for the fourth with Shafiqullah (10).

Rutherford was eventually seventh out in the 17th over, perishing via run-out, with Thunder still requiring 55 from 20 deliveries.

Only Thursday, Rutherford grabbed a career-best three-wicket haul with his right-arm medium pace but Thunder lost to Cumilla Warriors in a dramatic super-over.

Riders skipper Australian Shane Watson had earlier top-scored with 68 from 36 balls to lay the platform for a challenging total.

He belted half-dozen fours and five sixes, putting on 77 off 51 balls for the first wicket with Mohammad Naim (42) and 61 for the second wicket with Cameron Delport (25).

Both Watson and Deport fell in successive deliveries in the 15th over from new-ball pacer Ebadat Hossain (230) with the score on 138 but Mohammad Nabi lashed two sixes in 23 to sustain the momentum in the late stages of the innings.

Rutherford claimed one from 28 from his four overs while former West Indies left-arm seamer Krishmar Santokie proved expensive, leaking 56 runs from his four overs and picking up just one wicket.

Thunder lie bottom of the seven-team standings with a single win in 10 matches while Rangers are one from bottom with four wins from 10 outings.

‘DON’T STOP THE PROGRESS’ SEE PAGE 07

SEE PAGE 09

SEE PAGE 18

Thousands converged on D’Urban Park on Friday for the launch of APNU+AFC elections campaign (Adrian Narine photo)

Ramjattan makes case for second term by reeling off coalition achievements PPP in pickle for pirating ‘Hookin meh’

YFC throws support behind APNU+AFC coalition

...Says coalition has not allowed racial differences to determine opportunities for citizens SEE PAGE 02

Guyanese stand solidly behind Coalition

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020