Guyana Chronicle E-paper 10-14-2019

MONDAY 14th OCTOBER, 2019

' No.105790

DDL advances clean-energy goals

-commissions LNG regasification terminal at Diamond compound SEE STORY ON PAGE 03

Another fisherman found dead, two still missing

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Special oil fund should be set up for Indigenous Peoples – NTC chair 03 PAGE

Consultation on cultural policy moves into second phase 14 PAGE

President donates $1M to advance Science at SVN SEE STORY ON PAGE 02

Swami Aksharananda Ji ties a sacred thread on President David Granger’s hand shortly after his arrival for the 15th Graduation Ceremony and Dinner of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara (WCD). (MOTP Photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

President donates $1M to SVN

– To help advance school's science programme PRESIDENT David Granger on Sunday donated $1M to the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) school for the expansion of its science programmes and to help equip its science laboratories currently under construction.

He made the donation during remarks at the school’s graduation of some 86 students who copped high academic achievements.

The students of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) together accumulated some 518 grade ones.

In his address, the President said that SVM can be proud of its growth over the last 17 years as it has grown from a small school of only

35 students and five teachers to now 460 students and a staff of 40.

With its plans to construct a science laboratory and to introduce solar-powered panels to its buildings, he stated that these decisions are both testimonies to the growing importance of science education and the value placed on a future of renewable energy.

Further, he drove home the point that science education is vital to ensuring that Guyana is not left behind when compared to the rest of the world and its students are equipped with the skills necessary to modernise Guyana.

On the topic of religion, he noted that the Hindu notfor-profit secondary school has maintained a performance over the years of “nothing short of stellar,” while it continues to place equal focus on religious study and faith.

He assured that the government will continue to respect the right of religious communities to provide religious education through schools.

The President said that SVN is demonstrating that students everywhere with the right resources, staff and the right instructions, any child can attain academic excellence.

During the principal’s report, Principal Swami Aksharananda Ji noted too that the school’s moral values has much to do with the success realised by the students.

He thanked the President for his presence at the ceremony noting that he is the third Head of State to have graced the occasion with his presence. Present Granger delivered his first address to the school in October 2015.

Swami Aksharananda Ji also stated that the school’s plans to install solar panels on its building would help to save finances, as he told the President: “Mr President, where alternative energy is concerned we know that we

President David Granger (centre) joins SVN Principal Swami Aksharananda Ji (left) for the opening of the school’s graduation ceremony (Samuel Maughn photo)

President David Granger and Swami Aksharananda Ji with the Class of 2019 (MoTP photo)

Some of the 86 students who graduated on Sunday, with their parents and well-wishers

have your blessings.”

Meanwhile, the charge to the class was given by Commercial Manager of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) Rama Persaud, who told the graduates and their parents that they have much to celebrate at this time.

She noted that institutions

such as SVN must be complimented for maintaining a balance between moral development and academic excellence.

“It is necessary that we support and applaud the efforts being made by institutions like the SVN,” she said.

“Graduating students as

you leave the SVN today, whether to move on to higher learning institutions or to start building for yourself... you must focus on purpose; what you want to achieve [and I] hope that you will TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

Special oil fund should be set up for Indigenous Peoples – NTC chair A PERCENTAGE of revenues from the impending oil and gas industry should be placed into a special fund for development within Indigenous communities, Chairman of the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC), Nicholas Fredericks, said in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

Though cognisant that the National Assembly, in January 2019, passed a bill for establishment of a Natural Resources Fund, Fredericks believes that a special fund should be created to allow Indigenous communities to access finance for the execution of developmental projects when the country starts raking in revenues from the oil and gas industry in 2020.

“We keep hearing about the Sovereign Wealth Fund, but maybe [there should be a] call for a special fund for interior communities where you can develop your proposal and access finance from ◄ From page 02

this fund to implement your village project,” the NTC chairman told this newspaper.

He said extensive consultations with Indigenous villages, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, and the Department of Energy could result in an innovative system being put in place for Indigenous Guyanese to access much-needed finance.

“I can see that with the revenue there is a lot of potential, but you need to have a structured mechanism in place that should be working for the indigenous communities,” Fredericks said, while underscoring importance of educating indigenous peoples on the oil and gas industry and its benefits to Guyana.

Using monies from the fund, the NTC chair said Indigenous Guyanese can expand their cottage industries and place even more emphasis on producing value-added products. There is also much room for development of the

Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Nicholas Fredericks

arts and craft industry, but Fredericks said there is need for finance. “Building on what exists in the community, you don’t want to reinvent the wheel, there are so many things that are happening in the villages that if you put a proper structure, and financial support for these things, you can have powerful businesses

being developed in these villages,” he posited.

The fund aside, the NTC Chairman endorsed President David Granger’s vision of placing tremendous emphasis on education as the country enters this new era of economic development. “Education is key,” he said, while noting that it is important to

provide the present and upcoming generation with the highest quality education, so as to foster development within the country across all sectors. Fredericks also made a pitch for the establishment of more technical schools in the country. “More of the Bina Hill Institutions are needed within the different regions, for youths who did not do well at secondary school, could have an opportunity to learn a skill,” Fredericks posited.

Ahead of oil production in 2020, the Granger administration has been working to ensure human development takes place in the hinterland, just as it occurs on the coastland, especially in the areas of education, health, livelihoods and social protection.

In the education sector, from which Indigenous communities benefitted, $170B was injected over the last four years as part of government’s push to bridge the gap

between the hinterland and coastland.

Additionally, the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS) and the Youth Entrepreneurship and Skills Training (YEST) programme, have been stimulating jobs and entrepreneurship within indigenous communities. “Jobs are important in providing incomes for households and in diversifying and stimulating village economies.

Hinterland development is about human beings, it is about people and we are on the right path. Hinterland development is advancing,” President Granger said, as he addressed over 200 toshaos and Indigenous leaders during the opening of the National Toshaos Council conference last Monday.

DDL advances clean-energy goals

President donates $1M... -commissions LNG regasification terminal at Diamond compound continue to focus on character.”

The graduating students were presented with awards, medals, prizes and CSEC and CAPE certificates.

Awards went to the best graduating CSEC student, valedictorian Chetram Harrinarine, who passed 19 subjects and the second best graduating CSEC student, Manoj Lachhman who passed 18 subjects.

The best graduating CAPE student was Narindra Persaud; the SVN Honour Student was Virendra Dookie, while the top contributors to the SVN Annual Blood Donation Drive, Bibi Sookdeo and Dhanwatntie Persaud were also recognised.

Harrinarine also received the President’s Award of Excellence; Lachhman received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence, while Persaud received the Principal’s Award for Excellence.

Several teachers also received awards for their contributions over the years to students’ development.

AS part of Demerara Distillers Limited’s (DDL’s) drive to employ clean energy sources for its power generation, the company recently commissioned Guyana’s first LNG regasification terminal at its compound at Plantation Diamond and is now using LNG to power its operations.

In a statement on Sunday, DDL explained that Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been chilled to minus 160 Celsius, turning into a liquid, thereby making it safe to load and transport in specially-designed containers.

When warmed back to atmospheric temperature at DDL’s regasification terminal, the LNG becomes natural gas and is used to power electric generators and boilers. When used for power generation, natural gas emits significantly less carbon dioxide (CO2), fewer sulphur and nitrogen oxides, and almost zero particulate matter, making it the cleanest of all fossil fuels. Working with its Trinidad-based LNG fuel supplier, ICON LNG Trinidad Limited, DDL converted a pair of its diesel generators to dual-fuel, which are powered on a mixture of natural gas and diesel, thus helping it become one of Guyana’s cleanest power producing companies.

“We are very excited to be the first Guyanese company to use LNG for our power

Mark Superville of Safety Pass Alliance Trinidad and Tobago (SPATT) Limited with DDL employees during the practical sessions of the LNG Training

generation needs,” said DDL’s Chief Finance Officer, Mr. Vasudeo Singh.

“As part of our efforts to diversify our fuel supply to cleaner alternatives, we studied the options and concluded that LNG or natural gas is a safe and proven fuel globally as well as here in the Caribbean region where it is being used extensively in Jamaica, Barbados and the Dominican Republic in operations similar to ours. We are also pleased to partner with ICON LNG who provided us a turnkey equipment and supply solution for regular LNG deliveries,” Singh added.

To support the LNG operations, DDL also recently held a full-day training seminar for a number of its employees covering LNG awareness and safe handling procedures. The

training course was conducted by experienced health and safety instructor, Mark Superville, of Safety Pass Alliance Trinidad and Tobago (SPATT) Limited.

The course covered a range of critical topics including the properties of LNG, LNG tank design, loading and unloading procedures, required personal protective equipment and spill response procedures. Also included in the training was a hands-on curriculum at DDL’s regasification terminal where attendees became familiar with the operational controls of the LNG tanks as well as the proper procedures for connecting and disconnecting the tanks to the regasification terminal.

Port personnel and truck operators from John Fernandes Ltd also attended the training seminar.

The establishment of the LNG regasification terminal at DDL’s Diamond Compound comes approximately three years after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) opined that investment in LNG plants here in Guyana can rake in must-needed finance.

It was the IMF then Executive Director, Otaviano Canuto, who had made the preposition in 2016, noting that the plant could be used to refine the gas.

During the first round of training in 2016, then Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, said the pilot project undertaken by ICON LNG and DDL provide useful information, thereby increasing the business community’s understanding of various options that are available to address some of the needs.

“In this case, we are looking at the need for reliable, affordable and clean energy,” he said, while alluding to the current challenges facing Guyana due its inability to competitively produce for the global market.

“Our failure so far to develop a competitive manufacturing industry usually speaks of the lack of affordable and reliable energy as one of the main causes,” the then Minister had said.

Notably, the establishment of the LNG regasification terminal is in keeping with the

government’s vision and plans to transition to almost 100 per cent renewable energy generation by 2040. Such a move is expected to allow for a more reliable and stable grid and creation of a massive dent in the country’s fuel import bill.

Currently, approximately 18 per cent of the country’s primary energy supply is derived from renewable energy – predominantly in the form of bagasse, firewood and solar PV, while the remaining 82 per cent of primary energy supply is sourced from imported fossil fuel – primarily diesel, heavy fuel oil and gasoline.

On average, approximately 1,836,300 barrels of fossil fuel are used to generate electricity annually, and translates to an estimated US$139.30 million on a yearly basis, based on the average consumption between 2015 to 2018.

However, while Guyana’s energy demand, driven by population growth and economic development, is projected to increase, it is anticipated that as the country transitions to nearly 100 per cent of renewable energy by 2040 in keeping with its Green State Development Strategy: Vision2040 (GSDS: Vision2040), fewer financial resources would be expended on the importation of fossil fuel.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

Turkey-Syria offensive: US to evacuate 1,000 troops as Turkey advances (BBC) The US is pulling out all of its troops from northern Syria as Turkey advances its operation against the Kurds.

Defence Secretary Mark Esper said Turkey "likely intends" to extend its attack further than originally planned.

The assault is aimed at forcing out Kurdish forces the main US ally in the area.

They may be seeking help from Syria and Russia, said Mr Esper, and the US would not be defending them.

Later the Kurds said they

had agreed Syria would deploy troops in the area.

Syrian state TV had already announced the army was heading north to confront Turkish forces.

More than 130,000 people have fled homes near the conflict, the UN said, warning the figure could soon triple.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-led fighters under attack from Turkey, warned last week that they would no longer be able to guard suspected IS members and their Turkey's Syrian allies have been making gains in Kurdish-held areas

families in camps and prisons under their control if the Turkish offensive continued.

And on Sunday, Kurdish officials said nearly 800 relatives of foreign IS members had escaped from Ain Issa, a camp in the north, as clashes raged nearby.

Monday, October 14, 2019 - 05:00 hrs

The Turkish offensive, which started last week, has drawn an international outcry, as the SDF were the main Western allies in the battle against IS in Syria.

But Turkey views the Kurdish groups within the force as terrorists and says

it wants to drive them away from a "safe zone" reaching 30km into Syria.

It plans to resettle more than three million Syrian refugees currently in Turkey within the zone - many of whom are not Kurds. Critics have warned this could lead to ethnic cleansing of the local Kurdish population.

What's behind the US troops decision?

The situation in Syria is becoming "very untenable", US Defence Secretary Mark Esper told CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday.

"In the last 24 hours, we learned that the Turks likely intend to extend their attack further south than originally planned, and to the west," he told CBS's Face the Nation.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday the aim of the incursion was to establish a "security zone" that would extend from Kobane in the west to Hassakeh in the east, about 30km deep into Syrian territory.

While he said this was "in line" with the safe zone map originally proposed, Hassakeh lies more than 70km away from the Turkish border.

Mr Esper said the decision to withdraw the nearly 1,000 US troops from northern Syria was made after discussions with his national

security team and US President Donald Trump.

He was unable to give a timeframe for the withdrawal and did not specify where the troops would be moved to next.

According to him, the SDF are "looking to cut a deal" with the Syrian government and its Russian allies to counter the Turkish attack.

This, he said, would leave the US forces stuck between "two opposing advancing armies".

Hours after his comments, the Syrian army was reported by state media to have been deployed to the north to "confront a Turkish aggression" on Syrian territory. It is not yet clear where exactly the troops are being sent.

President Trump's decision last week to move some of his troops from pockets in the north-east of Syria effectively paved the way for the Turkish operation against the Kurdish fighters, who have lost the protection of their US allies.

On Sunday, he tweeted that it was "very smart" not to be involved in the fighting "for a change".

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

Ecuador violence: Protesters agree to talks with government (BBC) The UN says representatives of Ecuador's government and the country's indigenous groups will hold their first direct talks later on Sunday in a bid to end days of violent protests.

Protesters are demanding the return of fuel subsidies which the government scrapped as part of austerity measures.

Reports say President Lenín Moreno has agreed to reassess the subsidies, but not necessarily repeal them.

Nearly two weeks of unrest have left much of the capital, Quito, in chaos.

On Saturday, President Moreno announced a curfew would be imposed in Quito and surrounding areas, enforced by the military.

"I've ordered the joint command of the armed forces to immediately take steps necessary to re-establish order in all of Ecuador," he said in a televised address.

The armed forces said movement would be restricted across the country for 24 hours. Ecuador is already subject to a two-month national emergency.

Mr Moreno also revealed that protesters had agreed to direct talks for the first time.

In a statement later on Twitter, the UN said talks between the two sides would take place in Quito at 15:00 (20:00 GMT).

Members of the in digenous umbrella group CONAIE had previously rejected calls for the talks but agreed on the condition that they be broadcast and not held behind closed doors, according to reports.

Earlier on Saturday, protesters attacked a television station and newspaper office in Quito. The Teleamazonas channel broadcast pictures of its broken windows and a burning vehicle. El Comercio newspaper tweeted that

TV station Teleamazonas was targeted by protesters

a "group of unknowns" had attacked its offices. No injuries were reported in either incident.

Elsewhere, masked men threw petrol bombs at a government building in Quito housing the comptroller general's office and then overran it.

On Twitter, Interior Minister Maria Paula Romo said the area around the building was being evacuated so fire crews could put out the flames. She said 30 people had been arrested outside the building.

What's the background?

Protests began after the

government announced an end to fuel subsidies as part of public spending cuts agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in return for a loan. The deal reached in March will allow Ecuador to borrow $4.2bn (£3.4bn).

Mr Moreno has said the fuel subsidies, introduced in

the 1970s with an annual cost of $1.3bn, were no longer affordable. Eliminating them is part of his plan to shore up Ecuador's flagging economy and ease its debt burden.

Petrol prices soared and thousands took to the streets.

In recent days, they set up barricades, stormed buildings and clashed with security forces, who have tried to disperse the crowds with tear gas.

Protesters have also entered some oil fields, affecting production in the Andean nation, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Some have also called for the resignation of the president.

Indigenous-led protests have toppled three presidents in the past few decades. Since the current unrest began, protesters have taken dozens of officers hostage in various locations throughout the country.

House approves new districts ahead of local gov't election

(TRINIDAD NEWSDAY) THE House of Representatives passed a motion to approve the Draft Elections and Boundaries Commission (Local Government and THA) Order 2019 around 11.45 pm on Friday night. The order announced the creation of new districts – El Socorro/ Aranguez North and La Fortune/Debe North, in the San Juan/Laventille and Penal/Debe regional corporations respectively.

The order also saw changes to boundaries in three districts in San Fernando, two in Chaguanas, two in Couva/ Tabaquite/Talparo, eight in Penal/Debe, three in Sangre Grande, nine in San Juan/ Laventille and two in Siparia.

There were name changes to two districts in Chaguanas, two in Penal/Debe and three in Sangre Grande.

Before the House approved the motion, leader of government business Camille Robinson-Regis rejected claims from Opposition chief whip David Lee that the Opposition was not told the motion would be debated yesterday. Lee claimed it was "unfair and in poor taste" to debate the motion after MPs had been debating the budget for several hours.

Robinson-Regis countered that Lee had "a penchant for forgetfulness." The motion had been on the order paper since April 5, she said, and Lee was informed about the motion being debated on Monday. When it did not happen then, Robinson-Regis said she sent a WhatsApp message to Lee informing him the motion would be

debated on Friday. She added the Opposition said it was ready to debate the motion on Monday.

Robinson-Regis reminded Opposition MPs that the former PP government kept PNM MPs in the House for 24 hours, threatening to end the budget debate if all of them did not speak one after the other. She said after PNM MPs spoke, all of the PP MPs replied "unchallenged."

In 2014, Robinson-Regis

said the PP brought anti-terrorism and bail legislation to debate in the House before its standing finance committee met on the budget. "They cannot stand here and say it is unprecedented. Their conscience can never be clear," she declared.

Robinson-Regis rejected Tabaquite MP Dr Surujrattan Rambachan's claim the changes in the order favour the PNM. She told MPs the new El Socorro/Aranguez North

seat could favour the UNC. While Government would have liked to be going into the December 2 local government election with local government reform legislation passed, Robinson-Regis said the legislation is still before a joint select committee.

She described Barataria/ San Juan MP Dr Fuad Khan's call for proportional representation (PR) as "laughable" because the PP already introduced an element of PR into

local government through the selection of aldermen for corporations.

Robinson-Regis said Government was not allowing anyone "to play victim" and "there are people we have to watch. She added the order was necessary

"for the continuation of the good work done" by the independent EBC. The House sits at Tower D of the Port of Spain International Waterfront Centre on Monday from 10 am for the resumption of the budget debate.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

The CPL in Perspective THE 2019 edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has come and gone. For Guyanese, it was a bitter-sweet experience.

After playing unbeaten for the entire tournament, the Guyana Amazon Warriors unexpectedly crashed to defeat in the game that mattered most—the final. Not for the first time, the team lifted the hopes of their Guyanese fans, only to drop the proverbial ball in the final stages. The Warriors have now justifiably earned the tag of “CPL Chokers.”

But even as we debate what could have been, it is perhaps an opportune time to reflect on the state of the game in Guyana and the Caribbean. No other sport has consistently evoked so many emotions among Caribbean people. As the legendary cricket philosopher CLR James observed decades ago, cricket in the Caribbean “goes beyond the boundary.” It is more than a medium of entertainment; its significance to Caribbean identity cannot be overstated.

Scholars have now established that this game which was meant to be an essential pillar of colonial socialisation has evolved as a tool of liberation from colonial and other forms of bondage. That is why on Saturday we witnessed the pain and agony on the faces of Guyanese as their team went down to the Barbados Tridents. When our politics has failed us, we have always turned to cricket for solace. After a year of high political drama, during which we could not agree on much, Guyanese deserved something around which we could rally as a nation.

So why the stronger than usual emotions? The T20 version has in many ways changed the face of the game. Next to our carnivals, it has emerged as the most anticipated public spectacle in the Region.

Unlike the case of the longer formats, crowds flock to the stadiums to watch the stars from all over the cricketing world engage in this relatively new phenomenon.

Many of the purists have dismissed the T20 version as the

watering down of a game that is rooted in the soul of Caribbean civilisation. It has been blamed for the decline of the regional team’s performance, as our better players have preferred to play in the T20 leagues rather than for their country. Of course, the critics have been quick to point out that the handsome remunerations from playing in the leagues cannot be dismissed.

Others have pointed to the impact on the skills of the players. It has been argued that the techniques of the batsmen have been compromised by the need to hit each ball out of the ground with scant respect for the state of the game. The inability of players to concentrate for long periods have also been blamed on the T20 game. Bowlers seem less concerned with out-thinking batsmen and more with keeping them quiet.

Initially, it was thought that this format was best suited to the temperament of Caribbean players.

But while Caribbean cricketers are in high demand in the T20 leagues

and often perform very well, they have not been able to consistently do the same when playing for the West Indies. Although winning two world titles, the team is placed very low in the ICC rankings.

Clearly, there are questions to be answered. Is this most recent failure by the Warriors to seal the deal symptomatic of the state of West Indies cricket? Has T20 cricket with its franchise format diluted the traditional intra-regional rivalry among our member countries? Is the Guyana Amazon Warriors really a Guyanese team? Is this more about money and entertainment and less about commitment to country? Do the players really care whether the team wins or loses? Are we imposing a Guyanese identity on a team that does not see itself in that light?

The jury is still out on whether West Indies cricket benefits from the CPL. So many of our younger players never got a chance to feature in the tournament, even though they were drafted into the teams.

In Guyana’s case, a player such as

Veersammy Permaul didn’t get a chance to show his skills. This is an area that needs attention. Apart from a West Indian quota in the teams, do we need a similar quota in the playing squad? Or do we need our on West Indian league that features only or mostly West Indian players?

Finally, no commentary on the recent tournament can be complete without a word on Shimron Hetmeyer. Many Warrior fans and West Indians in general must be flabbergasted at the failure of this young man to deliver more.

He has been understandably berated by commentators and fans alike for his inability to make maximum use of his enormous talent. It is true that he is young, but he has been around the senior levels for a while now. Clearly, somebody needs to take him under their wings and school him about what it means to be a rare West Indian talent. We cannot afford to lose him to the care-free instincts.

The PPP is afraid of SOCU

Dear Editor

IT is agreed that the findings of an investigation carried out by the Guyana Police Force into the administrative affairs of the Special Organised Crime Unit(SOCU), did unearth very serious occurrences that resulted in the removal of its first head, Assistant Commissioner of Police Sydney James. In fact, one will recall Minister of National Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, describing the findings as ‘disturbing.’

Editor, this was being forthright on the minister’s part, in addition to the government that initiated the inquiry, as a result of reports of mismanagement. For this, commendations are in order for the government, since it has once again demonstrated its consistency to commit to openness and transparency in the governance affairs of the nation.

Now, for those whose memories may have be-

come convenient, they are reminded that SOCU was established as a specialised unit to investigate financial transactions of Anti Money Laundering and Financial Terrorism, during the tenure of the PPP/C. But, as we all know, this unit remained largely a paper tiger, rather than becoming a roaring lion, since it was void of the necessary powers to give teeth to its functions; a fact that was not finalised until the coming into office of the APNU+AFC administration.

Definitely, it was not difficult to fathom this delay. Not that there were not all the reasons to have activated this vital investigative arm immediately.

Of course, there were all the reasons. But, such was not going to occur with a PPP/C regime in office.

Fast forward to 2015 and onwards, and we all have understood the undeniable reluctance of the PPP/C to support SOCU’s mission, much less its day-to-day functions, of investigating former party

administration officials for grand offences arising out of the criminal state. One notes the many pointed attacks and criticisms on the legal structure of this organisation by political figures from the party, and a particular commentator who advocated that the agency be closed down, merely echoing a similar call made by the PPP/C. Editor, one did not have to go fishing for reasons for these attacks; not only had the agency begun to act on audit reports, but that there have been many persons from the former PPP/C administration involved with charges being laid against them, apart from the fact that there were others, loudest in their criticisms of the agency because of vested interests.

One must now come to the PPP/C’s orchestrated attempts, mounted since 2015 and culminating in the treachery of the no-confidence motion, to oust the government. No doubt, inclusive

in this naked plan to grab power, are plans to scuttle the charges already laid and other investigations in progress against PPP/C officials that will possibly lead to similar action taken, by SOCU. This is a particular political albatross that continues to weigh heavily around the neck of the PPP/C; it is also a moral dilemma which as an opposition party it faces, since its presidential candidate currently faces 19 serious fraud charges in the local courts.

Therefore, hearing the threat from Anil Nandlall, the PPP/C’s legal point man and presidential wannabe, that his party, if elected to government, will “restructure a tainted SOCU,’’ must not be surprising. It is a dire necessity and goal of this criminal political outfit, in its attempts to hide its avalanche of crimes that were committed against this nation, during its years in office, and silence attempts to bring them to light.

Firstly, if returned to

office, a PPP/C ‘plan at ‘restructuring’ would seek to carry out wholesale staff changes, with the aim of having key personnel it can control, slow the process of investigation, and eventually phasing out, with a nocase-to-answer goal. This will come from a would-be administration who, in its past administration, never investigated/prosecuted a single government official for corruption, despite the mountainous evidence that existed before its eyes in the form of audit reports, etcetera.

Secondly, such a statement irrefutably supports the PPP/C’s sordid record of governance, that it does not believe corrupt persons should be prosecuted, much less that the government should make efforts towards rooting out this cancer that still poses a grave threat to the nation’s viability, and for which efforts it has been praised by the international community.

Thirdly, the PPP/C’s abysmal record stands as a monument to its disgraceful morals on such a matter that formed the pivot of its criminal state. No doubt, that the State Department clearly pointed out that Bharrat Jagdeo was the leader of ‘a Mafia state.’ It could not be clearer than that, what Guyana had become under Bharrat Jagdeo’s criminal regime.

Whatever incidents took place at SOCU, resulting in the removal of its former head, does not take away from the fact of the critical necessity for such an investigative body, and the tremendous grounds that it would have made in tracking down the white collar political criminals and those who helped them to wash their stolen goods. It strikes fears into the minds of the PPP/C and their Anil Nandlalls of this country.

Regards Earl Hamilton

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

Against the code of political civility Dear Editor POLITICAL leaders are a very important slice of a nation’s key social category. They are about a collective who aspires to national leadership and whose public profiles are for the most part frequently on public display, seeking to influence the national debate/conversations on the critical issues of the day.

This means that their every statement is listened to by their constituents.

Therefore, political leaders must always exercise due care and caution as to content, whether verbal or written, or as is done these days, through social media; and though it is a given that political leadership does require charisma of some kind as a necessary specific for appeal to constituents, this has to be developed and carried out within the ambit of personal integrity, and a morality that speaks of respect for the public, especially with regard to their assessment and concerns for the behaviours and morality of their leaders. In fact, this serves as a reminder to political leaders, in whatever society, that their every public statement of any type can either impact nega-

tively or positively on both their personal selves and the wider society, often bringing with them the attendant consequences of public opinion and its conclusive judgement on their personal morality.

There is no doubt that parliamentary Opposition Leader of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), and former President Bharrat Jagdeo readily fits into the daily discussed category of a type of political leader, whose known penchant for a certain type of public verbal obnoxiousness has become legend, though rejected and totally unaccepted as the societal norm for the conduct of political leaders. Members of Parliament are public officers; as such, a member must act in the best interests of the nation. As public officers, they have a fiduciary relationship with the citizens on whose behalf they act and they are entrusted with responsibility to protect and uphold the common interests of citizens. In other words, they must put the public interest above all others; their own behaviour should reflect favourably on the reputation of the institution of parliament; The constitutional office of leader of the opposition

therefore makes Jagdeo a member of the executive.

Hence, Jagdeo’s latest barrage of profanity-laced tirade making the rounds on social media, is yet another example of a kind of violent, dirty, lewd, and obnoxious crudity of language which continues to unmask the realities of a political leader as a mean-spirited and vindictive citizen whose constant offloading of such cesspool language highlights the significance of his intolerance to diverse opinions, and irrefutable evidence of being unable to be part of any movement for the national good, much less in seeking to return to proper government.

Unfortunately, those who have been familiar with Jagdeo’s public pronouncements, would not be any surprised at such behavior, coming from a former president, and now leader of the parliamentary opposition, whose unwelcomed lexicon precedes him. It is yet another example of the vintage Jagdeo public chimney that continues to fume up the environment whenever there is an outburst.

Not even his apology, deceptively made to give the appearance of a one-off occurrence from a usually

well-mannered citizen and national leader, and a jumbled piece of unreasonable explanation can obfuscate a deliberate intention to always disrespect and be offensive to the nation when he does not get his way, or a situation goes counter to his expectations. In fact, his apology, surprisingly given, has to be seen as an insult, and an attempt to placate a public who by and large has become disdainful and tired of Jagdeo’s pit verbiage, and his disrespect for the citizenry of a country which he once had led.

Of course, on any scale of human rights, Jagdeo’s behaviour, reprehensible, and the product of a vindictive mindset, and bent on taking his country down, if he does not get what he wants on his own terms, is outright bullyism; it is tantamount to those well-known dictators.

He speaks as if he has the national birth certificate, and the attendant geographic transport, which gives him sole right of determine the lives and existence of citizens, as to their social rights.

His statement therefore about being in his ‘bad

book’ and those placed there, not being entitled to” privileges’’ from him in such instance, is ominous, and must be seen as a threat to sections of the nation in all the unambiguous meaning that those two words, and their qualifying statement would seek to convey publicly. It would seem to be akin to the following, but not necessarily confined: that there will be penalties for those who are continuing to function and serve the state in the discharge of its public services to the nation, despite Jagdeo’s call that they to cease to do so. In Jagdeo’s current office as leader of the opposition he has no authority to stop citizens from doing their sworn duties to the State.

No amount of political grandstanding, or adversarial politics, must excuse this latest example of worse than uncivil behaviour by a senior political leader, who holds a constitutional office, which does not prescribe expletive-laced language, public insults, and threats as part of the functions of his official duties. And if there are those of his constituents who will

continue to cheer him on for such nasty and mean spiritedness, they should be aware that they are just as guilty as he is, and are jointly responsible, for failing to reprimand their party leader for uncivil conduct which is unbecoming and disrespectful to even their life-long neighbours and friends, who may be of a different ethnicity/or political affiliation. In fact, he degrades the office of parliamentary leader of the opposition by such gutter-like smut, while setting a bad example for such a category of constitutional political leaders.

It is timely, again, that Jagdeo be reminded that a good political leader is one who leads by personal morality, possessing good communication and interpersonal skills with an ability to work with other people; inspiring and motivating them, rather than causing alienation. Jagdeo’s trademark crudity must be condemned, since it has no place in political civility.

Regards Carla Mendonca

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

Has your relationship broken down with your teen?

SOME parents are at a loss when it comes to dealing with their teenage children – and why these children should have an attitude or be ‘own way’ or ‘hard ears’ is a complete mystery to them.

It’s a fact that communicating with younger children is easer: adults are bigger, wiser, and small children do pretty much as they are told. But as children grow and are more exposed to the world, their thoughts and opinions grow too. They begin to recognise themselves as individuals with independent views and ideas and, although they can still be guided by adults, they begin to interpret the people and life around them.

Whether a child is raised in a nuclear family, an extended or a one-parent family it makes no difference, some teenagers develop attitude problems and some adults lack the patience or know-how to deal with their child.

These problems can range from teens trying to push the boundaries to teens sleeping out and parents being unaware of their whereabouts.

It helps if parents do not allow awkward behaviour to initially get out of hand. At the first sign of an undesirable tone of voice, a ‘kiss-teeth’ under the breath or a show of challenging body language from a child, the parent must ‘pull up’ the child immediately.

The child must understand that certain behaviours will not be tolerated.

To keep an effective check on children in this way is difficult given the fast pace at which we live nowadays. It seems as if society somewhat dictating, the amount of time we have available to meaningfully discipline our children. As a result, parents might let things slide and before they know it their child is an adolescent who thinks he/she knows everything.

Parents blame their teenagers for the break down and teenagers blame their parents and the discord between them seems irreparable.

The adult believes the child needs to show respect and should know his/her place and the child believes that the adult is out of touch and unreasonable.

One of the main types of disrespects that teens have toward adults is when the adult is untrustworthy and does not practice what he/ she preaches. If an adult tells lies and fails to set good examples during the years preceding adolescence then during adolescence a teen might retaliate and act up. Relationships can also break down between teens and adults when parents separate but fail to get along amicably.

The child might blame one of the parents

WPA is talking about governments while Kissoon is talking about presidencies Dear Editor: IN his most recent column in the Kaieteur News (October 12, 2019) , my friend Freddie Kissoon repeated a criticism of the WPA he made a couple of weeks ago. He takes issue with the WPA’s observation that the current coalition government is the first one in post-colonial Guyana that has not harassed, jailed or assassinated political opponents. As a WPA leader who has repeated that observation, I am drawn to respond to Freddie.

In his earlier column, Kissoon observed that that also obtained under the Cheddi Jagan presidency. He went on speculate whether the WPA’s omission was not driven by subtle racism. In his recent column, he accuses the WPA of spreading a false narrative. I assume that he is in the process accusing me of racism and spreading a false narrative.

The WPA sticks by its

observation. It is a matter of classification. The WPA is talking about governments, while Kissoon is talking about presidencies. There is a difference. Guyana has had three governments since independence—PNC (1964-92), PPP (1992-2015) and APNU+AFC (2015-2019). There were two presidencies under the PNC government, five under the PPP and one under the coalition. Freddie is, therefore, imposing his classification on the WPA’s observation to aid his vilification of the party— you shouldn’t do that Freddie.

And by the way Freddie, using your classification, there were no assassinations, harassment and jailing of opponents under the Sam Hinds’ presidency.

You omitted that one—is it racism that drove that omission? I don’t think so, because I know you are not a racist.

Regards David Hinds

for the break-up or, as is also quite common, the parents 'bad talk' each other, influencing the child. This causes further division and forces the child to take sides. Many estranged parents initially feel that the day will come when the child will be old enough to understand his/her side of the story but for the majority, that day never arrives.

When an estranged parent struggles to maintain a relationship with his/her child it usually becomes less of a priority and eventually they move on: leaving the child to grow with a sense of loss which may manifest itself through undesirable behaviour during adolescence.

So many varied scenarios can be given to describe the reasons why relationships malfunction between teens and their parents/ guardians. Trying to repair them will take time and patience on both sides. Recognising the need to repair them is the first step.

Start as you mean to continue, if children reach out for any reason, don’t cut them off, or try to teach them a lesson by ignoring them, do not fuel your anger. Listen to them and assist them if you can but proceed carefully.

Try not to bring up the past or any bitter, negative feelings.

Allow children to speak their minds with-

out interruption. Do not attempt to defend yourself or justify your actions immediately and especially if emotions are running high.

Choose appropriate words and maybe even a more suitable occasion before responding or explaining your standpoint.

This is not a recipe for allowing children to have the upper hand it’s simply a way of finding some common ground: a starting point for adults to take charge of a hostile situation instead of allowing it to fester. If you truly want to repair your relationship with your teen, you must also analyse your own behaviours and where they stems from.

What type of attitudes and emotions do you bring to the situation and what mistakes have you made? You can talk to a Childcare and Protection Officer for advice on 227 4427 or 227 4082.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION

Racism is not the only issue in Guyana; social class is also problematic Dear Editor SOME people are of the view that social class is a bigger issue than race in Guyana. I recall my father saying that a lawyer can lose a case in court on the basis of one lawyer being perceived as a member of a higher social class than another.

That is how pernicious social class can be and it has been with us from the formation of the colonial society under the British following the abolition of slavery. The British came to the Caribbean with their mentality of royal-blood-nobleman-commoner distinctions which served to justify acceptance of social stratification.

I have been following the discussion in the newspapers on the giving of US$5000.00 per year to every household, specifically with assisting the poor. I have no problem with that because it is about time that something is done for the poor in this country; GY$1 million on an annual basis is no money. It will disappear before one can even begin to spend it with the rising cost of living, which will likely rise even more when the oil begins to flow.

This means not only will the num-

bers of the poor increase, but even the not so poor will begin to struggle.

As an aside, I went to the market last Saturday and at one point I stopped and started to count my money, wondering if I had dropped some. I had not dropped anything – it was all properly spent. I “see” the stressed look on faces and “feel” the struggle to exist whenever I go out. And the fear of many people is that they will not get a share of the oil proceeds; and if this is the situation now, when the oil starts to flow it will very likely be worse, because oil and political corruption go hand-in-hand. But some sort of remuneration must be given in some form or another, so that we can all share in the oil wealth – but particularly the poor.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs recently stated that President Granger will be spending the money on education, because he will use the oil money to teach people “how to fish.” I have no problem with money being spent on education -- particularly with the high level of functional illiteracy in Guyana – which means some kind of overhaul of the education system is necessary.

The education system needs to take into account that the students are not

as good as they used to be and adjustments therefore have to be made. But people also need to eat, and hunger is a major issue in Guyana at the moment.

One of the hardest hit groups in the society are women and which is contributing to the high level of violence against them. Horror stories are circulating on how some of them are surviving and men are feeling stressed out about their change of behaviour. It is amazing what can become acceptable when you are struggling to live. This brings us back to the issue of a hierarchical social-class structure, which was created during the British colonial period and whereby the group of people at the bottom were seen as “lazy”, thus unworthy of the title of human being, and thus have no entitlements. The label of “lazy” is being spoken about the poor and circulated in the media at the moment, and thus an indication of what will very likely be their fate.

Yours sincerely Professor Kean Gibson

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

Reg. 10 RACE hailed as a success

THE 2019 Regional Agricultural and Commercial Exhibition (RACE) has been hailed as highly successful.

This is according to Chairman of the Regional Agricultural Committee, Tracy Johnson, who, in giving an assessment of the event, described it as being very successful, noting that several persons, agencies and individuals all collaborated thus, resulting in its success. The event was held on September 20, opposite the Mc Kenzie Market and attracted a large turnout of farmers and persons viewing the exhibition.

He said that among some of the persons gracing the event included the Minister of Business, Hon Hemraj Rajukmar; Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Hon Valerie Patterson; Regional Chairman Renis Morian; Regional Vice Chairman, Elroy Adolph; Member of Parliament (MP), Audwin Rutherford; Regional Executive Officer (REO), Orrin Gordon and Deputy Regional

Executive Officer (DREO), Maylene Stephens.

He disclosed that this year was much better than last year, pointing out that last year there were 35 persons vending while for 2019 there were 58, which is certainly a significant increase.

He revealed that during the event, a tractor was also commissioned for agriculture in the region.

He singled out the assistance of NICIL’s acting CEO, Colin Heath-London for what he said has been his enormous and continuous support to their agricultural efforts. He noted that NICIL has been aiding the region significantly, thus affording them an opportunity to achieve their set and outlined objectives. “We must applaud Mr Colvin Heath-London for his enormous and significant work that he has helped us here within the region in accomplishing as it was his personal involvement that has helped us significantly in making this event and, more so, helping to push agricul-

A number of regional councillors pay rap attention to the presentation of Chairman of the Regional Agricultural Committee, Tracy Johnson, as he makes his presentation

tural development within the region,” Johnson said.

He told those gathered that the agricultural committee has received commitments from NICIL that they would lend whatever assistance is needed in further advancing agricultural development within the region.

Johnson said, too, that based on the response given by vendors, the agricultural committee is satisfied that

the desire and interest by all is to have an agricultural fair each month so as to continue showcasing the gains made by agriculture within the region.

“From the feedback received by the public, it was pointed out to us that there is a need for an agricultural fair each month as residents and farmers stressed the need for an agricultural fair each month. This request comes

in the wake [of] persons saying that they would like to showcase their agricultural products each month and is depending upon the region to have this exhibition each month so as to ensure that the public can be made aware of what farmers within Region 10 has to offer,” the chairman said.

He revealed that one of the major challenges facing farmers is that in the absence

of an agricultural fair, they are forced to sell their produce much cheaper because of limited market.

Johnson also noted that to ensure that all farmers can benefit equally, they are looking at holding it on both sides of the bank. As such, Johnson revealed that the committee took a decision to hold a mini agricultural fair on the last Friday of this month, October 25. “We are expecting to host this event at the Georgetown-Linden Bus Park. I do look forward to the continued support and assistance of this administration as we are now reaping as it relates to agricultural development within the region,” he said.

He said that the committee is on a massive agricultural drive, therefore, whatever support and help that can be given by various stakeholders, including the regional administration,would aid significantly in advancing agricultural development.

Another fisherman found dead, two still missing

By Nafeeza Yahya THE body of 20-year-old Lamar Otto Petrie was discovered on the Abary foreshore in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) on Sunday afternoon.

Petrie was among four fishermen who went missing in the Corentyne River last week and is the second of the group of men to have been found dead. The two others remain missing.

Petrie, who was on his maiden journey to the high seas hoping to provide for his family, was found with his hands and feet bound. His body also bore several marks of violence.

According to police sources, the body of the 20-year-old was discovered sometime around noon but it took investigators several hours to retrieve it.

At the funeral parlour, where Petrie’s body was subsequently taken, his mother, Onika Simon, wailed bitterly.

From a distance, she recognised him from the green shirt he was wearing.

The 40-year-old woman recalled that it was the

same shirt Petrie was wearing when he left their Miss Pheobe home on October 5 around 05:30hrs.

While wailing uncontrollably, the mother of six recalled that her son had his full life ahead of him, and for his life to be snuffed out like

Petrie, the eldest of Simon’s six children, was described as a very responsible

the vessel, Vishnu Seeram, and being jobless at the time, he decided to take the opportunity.

He informed his mother on Friday, October 4 and

Missing: Vishnu Seeram called ‘Kevin’

Dead: Kawal Kissoon called 'Ajay'

Missing: Marvin Tamessar

this was cruel and unjustified.

“He is just 20 years old; he don’t have a wife or child nor even a girlfriend…He now starting to live life, he went out to go work and earn an honest dollar, now them kill he just like that… it wrong,” Simon said as she swept bitterly.

individual. He did several jobs including selling Cotton Candy and Popcorn from Skeldon to New Amsterdam, just to earn money to support himself and family.

According to his mother, Petrie fished for a while with boat owners under the Canje Bridge. He would usually set seine in the mouth of the Berbice River but never ventured into international waters. On Thursday, October 3, he was approached by the captain of

Dead: Lamar Petrie

spoke to her before he left on Saturday morning for the private wharf at Number 65 Village, East Berbice-Corentyne. He and the other fishermen were destined for the Surinamese waters in the Sara One vessel.

Meanwhile, relatives of the two other fishermen, Vishnu Seeram called “Kevin” of Lot 76, Miss Phoebe, and Marvin Tamessar called “Buddy” of Lot 305, Miss

Phoebe, Mourant, are praying and hoping for a miracle.

They told the Guyana Chronicle they will not rest until their relatives are found.

Shamwattie Inderjeet, the mother of Seeram, said she had pleaded with her son not to go out to the high seas but he insisted as he was indebted to his boss, Ramesh Hardial.

“He said ‘mommy, I got to go because I owe the man and me gah pay him off’. I even tell he, I gon help with the money, but he keep insisting to go, so me let him go with a heavy heart. Now me don’t know if he alive or if I will ever see him again,” she told this newspaper.

Inderjeet, along with rel-

atives of the other missing man, has been combing the beaches along East Berbice-Corentyne.

When they received a call saying another body was found in Abary in similar manner as that of 36-yearold Kawal Kissoon called ‘Ajay,’ Inderjeet decided to stay back, noting that she could not bear to see her firstborn in that state.

Kissoon, like Petrie, was found with both his hands and feet tied and marks of violence about his body. His face was badly decomposed and was identified by a tattoo on his arm that read ‘King.’

The four-man crew left on October 5, 2019, destined for Surinamese waters, and was scheduled to return around October 19. The bodies of Kissoon and Petrie were some 60 kilometers away from where the boat ‘Sara One’ was found abandoned with the engine and catch missing.

Police are working with Surinamese authorities as they hope they can get some answers as to what really transpired and try to bring those responsible to justice.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

Bonanza decade coming – PM says

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo has reaffirmed that Guyana is blessed with both “sweet oil and fertile soil”, and that the first ten years after first oil would be the “bonanza decade”.

Writing in his popular Sunday Chronicle column, My Turn, the Prime Minister disclosed that, depending on what the economists would describe as volatility in oil prices, Guyana’s stake in revenues could start from US$300 million annually, and peak at over US$5 billion by the end of the decade.

“Revenues from oil will facilitate unprecedented, dream-like development. It is this decade that would be defining for Guyana, if we complement oil with the soil; fuel with food,” he asserted.

The long-standing senior government functionary sees soil cul-

tivation as a major down stream of oil production. “It is common sense that with revenues from oil being pumped into agriculture, agro-processing, fishery and inland aquaculture, cattle and other large-scale livestock business, our wealth will never run dry.”

He urged our business sector, which is concerned about “local content”, to prepare for opportunities in the massive down-stream public investment programmes. Long in advance of first oil, local investors should develop the necessary institutional capacity to manage big local projects alone or as joint development partners.

“Our business sector can enjoy the bountiful promise that lies ahead,” the Prime Minister said.

Reacting to cynicisms from so-called resource nationalists, the Prime Minister said that these persons down-play the

potential benefits Guyana could get from its oil reserves, and they invariably daub as crooked the big foreign companies that could possibly help make Guyana the richest country in the world.

“I followed with growing pain the nihilistic notion that we could leave our oil in the soil, and somehow still take our people out from poverty; and that Exxon-Mobil could walk, if we up demands for a hike in royalty and profit oil,” Mr. Nagamootoo said.

“I don’t doubt that oil has risks, many risks. But it is coming at this time as our saviour, not as our curse,” the Prime Minister declared in his column.

So far, he said that he has been reluctant to write about our budding oil industry, save for references to the estimated 6 billion barrels of proven reserves from some 13 off-shore wells.

He said that while it may be

true that oil don’t spoil, as a former Trinidadian Prime Minister has declared, oil wealth could be drained away on consumption and importation on food and other consumer essentials that could be produced here.

He lauded President David Granger who, he said, was plugging for food security and self-sufficiency. “He has struck the right balance when he declared that in the first decade of oil, there will be agricultural diversification and industrialisation,” and that Guyana could become the bread basket of the Eastern Caribbean.

He is optimistic that the APNU+AFC Coalition Government is holding a viable vision for the Decade of Development under its Green State Development Strategy. That vision, in simple language, is: Oil plus Soil is equal to Fuel Plus Food.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Six Reg. 8 villages get grants Magistrate plugs importance of - for road works, other projects

TOSHAOS from Kurukubaru, Chenapau, Paramakatoi, Maiwak, Itabac and Kanapang in Region Eight, have all endorsed agreements in the amount of $5M each for rehabilitative works in their respective communities.

ATV carriageway, widening of access roads and the removal of trees, stumps, roots and other works to facilitate the widening of these roads, proper drainage and also the mobilisation of necessary equipment and labour.

“When the Toshaos re-

done between Chenapau to Paramakatoi. “The [road] linkage between Chenapau to Paramakatoi is very important because, for example, we have students attending Paramakatoi Secondary and their parents have to travel

In photo, from left] Toshao of Chenapau, Edward Mc Garrell; Toshao of Kurukubaru, Viola Melville; Regional Executive Officer, Region 8, Mitzy Campbell and Toshao of Paramakatoi, Gideon John DPI Photo

The money was allocated in the 2019 Budget.

According to the Department of Public Information in a press release, the endorsement conducted in the Ministry of Communities Boardroom on Saturday morning was chaired by Regional Executive Officer, Region 8, Mitzy Campbell. It said the REO explained that the agreement will ensure the rehabilitation to roadways, upgrade of walking trails to

turn to their respective villages, they will hold community meetings to inform other villagers of the project.

This initiative will serve as a means of creating employment also for residents within these villages since they will be doing the work that will see the transformation of their communities,” Campbell said.

Toshao of Chenapau, Edward Mc Garrell said that road maintenance will be

that road often.”

Toshao Gideon John of Paramakatoi village, Sub Region One, who also has responsibility for two satellite villages – Bamboo Creek and Bashville-- said upon his return to the village, the main priority is to hold a meeting with the council members. He noted that the project will provide much-needed employment for some of the residents within the communities.

social workers to lower courts --in helping make appropriate decisions

By Wendella Davidson THE role of social workers in the lower judicial system is critical, and a clarion call has been made for the presence of such officers in the courts of the Georgetown Magisterial District.

The invaluable service they provide in helping magistrates make appropriate decisions and referrals in cases of domestic violence and matters involving children before the courts was underscored by Magistrate Leron Daly in a presentation at a recently-held capacity-building workshop for gazetted social workers organised by the Ministry of Social Protection.

Magistrate Daly, who presides in Georgetown, said magistrates hear only the edited version of a matter, which is after the matter will have been presented by the police, and the witnesses will have had their say.

“As we sit on the bench, we lack the insight; sometimes the understanding and the perspective, as far as the mental state of the parties involved with a case. There is where you come in, and that is how

you assist us,” Magistrate Daly said.

“You help us to a wider view of what is happening.

Magistrates sit as an arbiter of facts and law. We interpret the law; we apply the law, but sometimes we need to have a wider view.

We need to have an understanding of the mindset of the perpetrators; we need to have an understanding of the mindset of the victims, and that is how you help us,” she told the gathering of social workers attached to government ministries and agencies and non-governmental organisations.

BEST POSSIBLE DECISION According to her, the goal of magistrates, as judicial officers, is to make the best decision they can possibly make, and to do the least amount of damage, which, in some cases, can be very tricky to accomplish, given the delicate nature of the situation.

Their goal is to also make decisions that are in the best interest of not just the victims, but the offenders as well. Noting that there are instances whereby the defendants can be rehabilitated, she

said, “So we need to hear you, so that we can have a perspective. Your role is not investigative; I understand you are not the police, but you are there to help us to understand the mental and physiological mindset of the parties.”

Throughout her presentation, Magistrate Daly made it a point of impressing upon participants how important their services are to the lower courts in particular, especially where matters pertaining to domestic violence, sexual offences, and juvenile offences are concerned.

But the list does not end there, she said, as their services are also needed in matters related to maintenance, access or visitation orders, to present pre-sentencing reports in summary jurisdiction offences, and just about anything to do with criminal law matters, she told the mixed group of officers from the school welfare system, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and from NGOs who work with children, families, and vulnerable groups.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

Empower girls, secure their future - Allen urges AS Guyana joined the world once again in the celebration of International Day of the Girl Child on Friday, October 11, 2019, a number of young girls and teenagers attending various secondary schools along the East Coast of Demerara, were urged to work assiduously towards achieving a status of independence.

During motivational remarks, Chairperson of the Demerara-Mahaica Regional Democratic Council (RDC)Region Four, Geneviene Allen, encouraged the students “to build your self-confidence and build your self-esteem and stand up boldly to fight against any challenges.”

The chairperson noted that the International Day of the Girl Child is a worthy celebration since Guyanese girls and women are privileged to participate in many activities, compared to those residing in other countries.

Allen advised the students to continue enrich-

ing themselves with higher knowledge, which, she noted, will guide them to attaining well-respected careers and positions in the future.

Sharing similar sentiments were Jenel Greene and Charlene Stephen, of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) who made presentations on the various types of abuse, their effects and steps being taken to curb this behavior.

Jillian Frank, social worker and youth officer at the Department of Social Cohesion, speaking with the Department of Public

Information (DPI), noted that the event was planned mainly to raise awareness among young women in schools across the region.

“In our ministry, we have five thematic areas; one of them is youth-in-education.

We believe as we educate our young people, we will be able to inspire, empower, mould and motivate them so that they can make a difference in themselves as an individual, their community and country at large.”

The initiative was a collaboration between the Ministry of the Presiden-

Young girls paying attention to the presentations

A section of the gathering at the celebration of International Day of the Girl Child.

‘West Dem.' man shot in ‘drive-by’ ALANKA Hompus , 27 , of 644 Best Village, WCD, was shot in his abdomen early Sunday morning by persons unknown at Crane Public Road, also on the West Demerara.

Police said the incident occurred about 02:30hrs while Hompus was in the company of others, walking on the Crane Public Road, WCD, when he was shot once in the left region of his abdomen by

an occupant of a passing motorcar, which is presently being sought. The victim is receiving medical attention at a medical institution and his condition is regarded as critical. Investigations are in progress.

cy, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport and the Demerara- Mahaica Regional

One of the students demonstrating careers that girls can consider

Geneviene Allen, Chairman of the Demerara-Mahaica Region, during her remarks at the ceremony

Democratic Council (RDC) Region Four.

At the end of the ceremony, a representative of Massy Industries, one of the sponsors of the event, presented hampers to the young ladies.

The schools also received plants, as Thursday marked National Tree Day. Around the world, October 11 has been marked as the International Day of the Girl Child. The day aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face while promoting girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

Guyana in preparation mode - as aviation sector gears for takeoff

By Wendella Davidson AVIATION in the next 50 years is expected to expand significantly with an increase in air traffic and would require more personel to serve the blooming industry. However, according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation

(ICAO), youth interest in aviation is a mere 14 per cent.

Against this backdrop, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on Friday launched NexGen, a programme that seeks to attract youths to the sector.

The event was held at the Umana Yana and was

attended by Minister of Public Infrastructure (MoPI), David Patterson; Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Annette Ferguson; GCAA Director-General, Lt Col (ret’d) Egbert Field and students from a number of secondary schools.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Patterson said many

Minister of Public Infrastructure (MoPI), David Patterson; Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lt. Col (ret’d) Egbert Field (left of minister) and others at the launch of the GCAA NexGen programme

Participants at the launch of the GCAA NexGen programme

people depend on air-links for their daily survival and aviation contributes 3.5 per cent to the GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

Also, over the years, there has been a significant development in the local aviation sector with the growth in passenger travels continuing to increase.

But according to the minister, the present batch of aviation personnel will not be fully able to serve the future goals of this sector; as such, there is a growing need for air traffic controllers and aircraft engineers.

The oil and gas sector also needs the support of the aviation sector, he added.

On the local front, there is the presence of American Airlines; JetBlue is expected to begin service here next year; Copa Airlines is increasing its frequency of flights to Guyana; the Cheddi Jagan International Airport has been expanded and the Eugene F Correia Airport is looking to expand. The GCAA also recently turned the sod for construction of a new headquarters.

The GCAA director-general, who at age 17 was among 12 persons whom the Government of Guyana had

granted scholarships to pursue studies to become pilots, said that with the doubling of aviation, there will be need for close to 500, 000 pilots, engineers and other personnel in the aviation industry.

According to Field, the ICAO had launched a NexGen programme a couple of years ago and Friday’s launch indicates that Guyana is now embracing the initiative by launching its own programme.

“Today is about you, the students, the future aviators, the future engineers, the future flight attendants, the future pilots, the aviation financials and everything that goes in the aviation industry,” Field told the students.

He reminded the students that no matter who they are, where they came from and what they do, they can achieve their dreams and likened the launch of NexGen as “an opportunity” for them to do so.

Field also Thanked Ministers Patterson, Jaipaul Sharma and Ferguson (who formerly was attached to the MoPI), along with the GCAA board of directors for their continued support to the aviation sector.

Meanwhile, included in

the strategic approach of the NexGen initiative to address the emerging aviation growth in Guyana are a number of engaging programmes, which have been developed from the data collected.

These are intended to address the needs of the local and international aviation committees and are geared at retaining sufficient competent personnel to sustain the air transportation system.

The programmes include a Group ‘C,’ which is a Galactic Expo for students aged two to 12 years billed for November. The children will have an opportunity to be part of aviation for a full day under a Star Wars theme that will consist of simulators, robots, star wars, costumes and aeroplane craft competitions, among others.

A Regional Aviation High Flyers Club comprises Group ‘B,’ which targets children aged 12 to 18 years.

There will be subscriptions to a quarterly newsletter, work-study placement during the summer and internship and mentor programmes, especially for disadvantaged youth and girls.

In Group `A’, which comprises students 18-25 years, there will be an Aviation Open House of technical institutes and universities gathering of students where they can meet with practitioners and others in the industry to learn more about aviation and job prospects.

The launch, chaired by Saheed Sulaman, GCAA Director of Air Transport Management, also featured an address by Lolita Fernandes, an air traffic controller and steel pan music by students of the Dolphin Secondary School.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

First Lady urges pensioners to remain active in society FIRST Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger on Sunday urged pensioners to boost their acquired work experience and skills with technology, so that they will be able to further contribute to the growth and development of Guyana.

Mrs. Granger made this plea during a Presidential Brunch held at the Baridi Benab, State House Compound to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Government Pensioners Association of Guyana. “In this Age of Technology which has also been called the Fourth Industrial Revolution, you can develop and enhance your skills in information and communication technologies. Then, applying those skills and experience together with the knowledge and expertise you acquired during your careers in the public service, you can work from your homes, work full time or part time, and provide the services needed in Guyana’s expanding economy,” Mrs. Granger said

while delivering the feature address.

The First Lady was accompanied by President David Granger.

Mrs. Granger said it is interesting that this year’s celebration is being held under the theme “The Age of Promise”. “One would have

thought that at this time in your lives…you would have been inclined to rest on your laurels and take advantage of quiet days of rest and relaxation. Instead the theme for this commemoration gives the impression of anticipation, of hope and of eagerly awaiting fulfilment of certain

goals and objectives,” she said.

The First Lady complimented the pensioners for not “sitting back and anticipating quiet days at home”.

Mrs. Granger reminded the pensioners that their presence at the brunch is testimony of the shared knowledge of

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, addressing members of the Government Pensioners Association of Guyana during a Presidential Brunch held at State House to celebrate the Association's 70th Anniversary

the rules and procedures of their various ministries and agencies, of working towards deadlines and crunching numbers in their respective budgets and of hustling to transmit documents to Permanent Secretaries and or Ministers.

“This proves that your lives have meaning, with the skills and expertise you share. It also means that you can continue to be rel-

evant if you take advantage of the opportunities offered in this era of lifelong education,” Mrs. Granger said. Those in attendance were treated to poems, music and songs. This milestone celebration is occurring during the month in which senior citizens are honoured. (Ministry of the Presidency)

President David Granger greets a member of the Government Pensioners Association of Guyana. Also pictured is the Association's President, Mr. Kerry Barker (fourth left).

Consultation on cultural policy moves into second phase The Government of Guyana, through the Department of Culture, will be furthering its commitments to implement a national cultural policy by hosting a series of consultations scheduled for October 15-17, 2019 at the Hotel Tower, commencing from 9:00hrs daily.

The consultation process – spearheaded by Director of Culture, Tamika Boatswain with assistance from Ruel Johnson, Cultural Policy Adviser to the Government of Guyana – was launched in 2015 based on a commitment from the current administration to main-

stream culture in development, protect the country’s cultural heritage, and support the development of the cultural and creative industries.

In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Social Cohesion explained this second phase of consultation will see the government partnering with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to execute the three-day exercise which targets government agencies, the private sector and non-governmental stakeholder organisations.

Lead facilitator for the work-

shops is Jamaican Sydney Bartley, a leading regional expert on cultural policy. Bartley will be accompanied by Yuri Peshkov, Programme Specialist for Culture in the UNESCO Kingston Cluster Office.

Prior to the launch of the national consultations on cultural policy development in 2015, Guyana saw the development of a UNESCO-sponsored document on cultural policy in 1977, written by A.J. Seymour, the then Director of Creative Writing in the Institute of the Creative Arts.

Today, the global consensus is

that it is critical to have a policy in place that mainstreams culture and creativity in development. This view was reinforced by Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton during the June 2019 meeting of the CARICOM Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD).

That meeting was held under the theme ‘Leveraging CARICOM’s Cultural Assets for the Sustainable Development of the Community.’

“It is up to us, the policy makers, to foster an environment which lends support to the ar-

tistic community through development-friendly policies which address capacity building, technical assistance and assistance to source funding which will inevitably transcend into economic value for each nation and the community at large,” Minister Norton stated in his address to the Council. The Opening Ceremony of the consultations begins at 9 am, Tuesday, October 15th at Tower Hotel.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

Gov’t ministers laud Guyana-ITEC relationship

--particularly organisation’s role in professionalising local workforce

By Rabindra Rooplall THE Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme has played a vital role in the development of Guyana’s technical workforce, Education Minister, Dr Nicolette Henry said.

The minister made the remarks at ITEC Day, an event to commemorate bilateral relations between India and Guyana under the flagship programme, ITEC of the Government of India.

Speaking at the event on Friday evening at the residence of Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K.J Srinivasa, Karona Avenue, Happy Acres, East Coast Demerara, Dr Henry told the gathering, which included Public Service Minister, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley; Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams; Public Telecommunications Minister, Catherine Hughes; members of the diplomatic community and special invitees, that the

From left: Public Service Minister, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley; Education Minister, Dr. Nicolette Henry; Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams; Public Telecommunications Minister, Catherine Hughes; and Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. KJ Srinivasa participate in a light ceremony before the commencement of the ITEC Day event (Elvin Croker photo)

ITECH programme epitomises the saying “you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed”.

She said the ITEC programme is a significant component of bilateral relations with India, and the areas of

focus and training are mutually agreed upon.

“As minister of education, I have vested interest in

the human and social development agenda, and as you know, education is the key to national development,” Minister Henry said.

Some of the programmes offered by India range from information technology, rural development, parliamentary practices, entrepreneurship and marine aeronautical engineering.

“The wide appreciation of these courses indicates the efficacy of the courses for capacity building, empowerment and upgrading of skills. The pathway that Guyana now embarks upon demands empowerment and capacity building in all of these areas,” the education minister said.

Next year, the government plans to launch an initiative called Decade of Development and all skillsets would be required, said Dr Henry.

Minister Sarabo-Halley said India and Guyana have shared an amicable relationship even before establishing diplomatic ties in May 1966.

This relationship has grown stronger over the years.

As public service minister, she said numerous training activities have been made possible for public servants through India in various fields.

The government, Sarabo-Halley said, is focusing on bringing the public service up to the standards of the modern world.

“As you know, we are committed to the education of our nation and the ITEC programme and other programmes that the Republic of India has made available to Guyana has helped in this process. These scholarships will empower our public servants with professional skills and also prepare our public servants for an increasingly globalised world,” Minister Sarabo-Halley said.

‘VERY THANKFUL’ Minister Hastings-Williams said Guyana and her citizens are very thankful for the cultural and economic ties built through the years with India.

Cooperation among countries, she said, can help TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

QC old students elect new executive

THE Queen’s College Old Students’ Association (QCOSA), on Saturday, held an extra-ordinary general meeting at Queen’s College, Camp Street and Thomas Lands, Georgetown, during which it elected a new executive to run it affairs.

The meeting was attended by approximately 60 former students of the school in this the 175th Anniversary of Guyana’s premier high school. The returning officer appointed, Mr. Khalil Alli, duly declared the positions therein vacant and commenced elections to fill eleven (11) vacant positions on its executive committee.

According to a release from the body following the electoral process, the following persons were elected to fill the corresponding positions: 1. Dr. Aaron Fraser – President 2. Ms. Pauline Chase – First Vice-President 3. Ms. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon – Second Vice-President 4. Ms. Martina McDon-

New QCOSA President Dr Aaron Fraser addressing the gathering following his election

ald-Johnson – Secretary 5. Ms. Babita Ram – Assistant Secretary/Assistant Treasurer 6. Ms. Nelsonia Persaud Budhram – Public Relations Officer 7. Mr. Kawbina Griffith – Physical Educator & Sports Advisor

8. Mr. Sanjeev Datadin – Member 9. Mr. Samuel Hinds, OE – Member 10. Mr. Devindra Kissoon – Member 11. Mr. Pearson BurchSmith – Member The Executive Committee is made up of fourteen

(14) positions. Ms. Mizana Gonsalves is the current treasurer. Mr. Errol Ramdhanny and Mr. James Rajroop are the other two members of the executive committee.

The members thanked outgoing Secretary and Chair of the morning’s proceedings, Ms. Sharon

Singh-Kreuter for her dedication and time, serving over the years. The Annual General Meeting of the Association is constitutionally due in March of each and every succeeding year. The Association has not held an AGM in the last three (3) years. The meeting saw the

largest turnout of members in over a decade where Dr. Fraser was elected unopposed. The College celebrates its 175th anniversary this month, for which several exciting activities are planned.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

Improved security for the hinterland - Ramjattan promises MINISTER of Public Security, Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan, has assured the leaders of the various Indigenous communities that security will be enhanced throughout the hinterland.

This assurance was given at the 13th National Toshaos' Council (NTC) Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC). During the session, the leaders raised several issues relating to their safety. These included increased patrols, firearm licenses, upgrade to police stations and outposts, the establishment of community policing groups and the need for professionalism within the police force.

Minister Ramjattan, in response, said these are issues which will be addressed. He highlighted that to effectively deal with security, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has since aligned every region with a divisional commander. That move, he said, will allow the police force to be more hands-on with matters relating to their respective regions.

He also highlighted that the Public Security Ministry has already begun taking steps to increase police patrols in the hinterland regions. “Because of the terrain, we have also started a process of mountain patrols… it is a useful alter-

CH&PA to expand hinterland housing programme AS the 13th Annual National Toshaos Council wraps up a week of deliberations, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan on Friday announced that the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is about to expand its housing programme in three of the four hinterland regions – namely Regions 1, 7 and 9.

The minister reported there have been successful interventions in these regions and more can be expected in the coming year. “As far as the CH&PA is concerned, it is the intention that in 2020 and beyond that we will be able to expand this programme, taking it to other communities but as we all are aware government resources are not unlimited so there is the question of priorities.”

Some Toshaos and other village leaders attending the conference commended the housing initiative of the government and opined that the vision of further expansion in the hinterland is timely, as requests for more housing development were made.

David Emmanuel of Waramuri in the Moruca Sub-Region of Barima-Waini specifically spoke about homes being constructed for persons in Haimacabra, a sister village where construction has started and which is ongoing. “I would like to say thank you for the 13

houses that were built so far in Haimacabra and presently there is the [construction of] ten additional houses ongoing in that same area. I would like to say thank you very much,” he said.

Also, a request was made by representatives from villages in Middle Mazaruni on behalf of residents there who need proper housing. The Hinterland Housing Solutions initiative forms part of the CH&PA’s agenda and the agency has committed to this being a priority on its 2019 programme and onwards. It was noted that $200M was set aside in this year for houses to be constructed in Regions 7 and 8.

Meanwhile, in Region 9, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, more homes are expected to be constructed. This is being facilitated through an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan granted in July 2015. This project will include a total of 12 communities and their satellites in Regions 1 and 9.

His Excellency, President David Granger at a housing event hosted earlier in the year, said his government will not overlook rural areas. “I will not neglect hinterland areas. This programme of regionalisation is to ensure equality of access wherever you are.” (DPI)

Minister of Public Security, Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Paul Williams

native to get into areas where vehicles cannot get into at this time,” he explained.

To complement what is already ongoing, Minister Ramjattan further explained that “the transportation at the borders will have to be enhanced. Speedboat and speedboat engines will have to be provided. We had made preparations in the 2020 budget for a number of these transportation allocations for all these frontier territories.”

With that, Minister Ramjattan called on the Indigenous leaders to encourage more of the residents in their respective communities to join the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

“I would like [to encourage], especially the young men and women joining up so that you can return and serve in your communities.

What has been the benefit of policemen who know the Indigenous way of life… they make better policemen for those communities” Minister Ramjattan underscored.

He also urged them to form policing community groups and pledged to provide uniforms and transportation for the CPGs to conduct patrols at a later date. He noted that CPGs have proven to be effective in complementing the Guyana Police Force to better curb crime.

Minister Ramjattan dis-

closed that an ATV, boat and an outboard engine will be delivered to the CPG in White Water, Mabaruma sub-district, and Barima-Waini (Region One) next weekend.

On the issue of lack of professionalism with some officers of the force, Minister Ramjattan assured the leaders of the communities that all complaints against officers of the force will be thoroughly investigated. He cited examples of rogue police officers who have been dismissed after being found guilty of the allegations made against them. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

Gov’t ministers laud Guyana...

FROM PAGE

solve problems through sharing of knowledge and best practices.

The minister of state noted that Guyana has benefitted from expert services under the ITEC programme, as the Government of India continues to offer scholarship and training to Guyanese.

More public servants and, if necessary, private sector employees, she said, will benefit from such trainings to

serve Guyana.

According to Minister Hastings-Williams, President David Granger aims to prepare youths for jobs of the future that will help them to enjoy the good life.

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. KJ Srinivasa said ITEC is celebrating its 55th anniversary with 116 partners in various countries.

“We are sharing India’s unique growth experience

of building the expertise and training with over 200,000 government officials and professionals from 116- partner countries. So far, we have a wide variety of course from renewable energy, to IT, to irrigation, to agriculture, to audit etc and at the same time we work towards the key aspects of development cooperation. This has always played a central role in India’s foreign policy,” the

high commissioner said.

He said that principals of cooperation are based on equality, mutual respect for sovereignty and freedom of action and choice, not on competition or conditionality.

Adding that mutual learning for a shared and sustainable growth is the end goal, Dr. Srinivasa said India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently in a meeting with the CARICOM leader-

Education Minister, Dr. Nicolette Henry

ship on September, 25, 2019, in New York, announced special capacity building courses, training and line of credit for all CARICOM countries.

The ambassador said many of the projects which are being actively coordinated with other countries in CARICOM on solar, renewable energy and climate related projects.

The diplomat said access to affordable and quality health care, professional skills and higher education are vital factors in helping people to maximise their growth potential.

“India is very acutely aware of their role in determinants of human development. The Government of India has recently launched on its 55th ITEC Day celebrations, new capacity building initiatives, that is e-ITEC and ITEC executive which will meet the popular demand for innovative courses to cater to a wider cross-section of users and professionals,” the high commissioner said.

FILLING KEY GAPS He said within the last five years, ITEC has been upgraded with an aim to provide support to partner countries in filling key gaps in

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human resource development in the delivery of affordable and quality health services.

“We have about nine slots every year under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarship that assists any graduate student to go to India and study a graduate or post graduate of his choice. I am very happy to say that Guyana has been fully utilising these slots under the ICCR scheme which is separate from the ITEC

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. KJ Srinivasa

scheme. Now I am actively working to increase the same to maybe around 15 or 20 lots a year,” Dr. Srinivasa said.

Further, he noted that India is a leader in climate change action and the country’s initiative in the solar alliance is a testimony that India is committed to a clean and sustainable future for the future generation.

“We have the world’s fastest energy growing programme and a target of 135 gigahertzes of renewable energy that India has set itself as part of an aggressive solar alliance initiative which seems to be working at a rapid pace,” he said.

Man strangled during Church St. scuffle POLICE are investigating the murder of a man who, up to press time, was unidentified. He was allegedly killed by a 24year-old male of A Field Sophia who is in police custody assisting with the investigation.

The body of the man, of African descent, is clad in a pair of short camouflage pants, blue jersey and a pair of fawn Clarks. Police said the killing occurred on Friday about 21:38hrs on Church Street, Queen-

stown.

According to a security guard, the suspect and the now deceased were seen scuffling and the suspect wrapped a belt around the victim’s neck and strangled him; he (suspect) was apprehended by public- spirited citizens and handed over to the police. The Guyana Police Force is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the body which is presently at the Lyken’s Funeral Home.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

Christal DeJesus’ pageant journey

Defying the status quo - with confidence, body positivity IT is believed that pageants are just for slim girls with well-toned bodies and long legs; however, 17-year-old Christal DeJesus of Victoria village, East Coast Demerara, changed the perspectives of many when she won the crown at the first-ever Miss Teen with A Purpose Pageant last month.

The aspiring nurse told

all pageant experience has made her believe in herself, despite what others may think or say.

“My experience leading up to the pageant was very nerve-wracking, there were critics on why I was even in the pageant, but despite all that, I had to challenge myself, find my purpose but most of all build my confidence; however, it

Miss Region Four Teen with a Purpose winner, Christal DeJesus

the Guyana Chronicle that she was never one who was inclined to be in the spotlight, but was encouraged by her friends to give pageantry a try when her secondary school held a fair and pageant in 2017.

“When there was the first Hope school fair and pageant and my friend went up and she won, I was like, this should be fun and my friends encouraged me to go for it; but the only thing that was left to do is to be bold and I was always a shy person,” she explained.

She noted that they were a few persons who discouraged her and told her that pageantry was not for thick girls like herself. However, DeJesus said that the doubt of others made her challenge herself even more to be confident.

“I challenged myself to be a confident person and I did it and won and from that moment on, persons kept on encouraging me to join pageants,” DeJesus said.

DeJesus was one of nine young girls who participated in the recent Miss Teen with A Purpose Pageant.

She stated that the over-

was also a fun experience. I found eight new sisters, we supported each other step by step all the way; together we empowered each other, made each other strong and so we were unstoppable,” she explained.

DeJesus explained to this newspaper the feeling she had when she found out she had won the pageant: “When I learnt that I was the queen, the feeling was out of this world, I was speechless, I was shaking, I was lost; it took me a while before I realised that "yes, Christal, you finally did it, you have done it."

It was a moment of mixed emotions to be honest and also I was surprised of the way some of the persons in the crowd reacted. It was actually sad to know that they would discriminate [against] someone because of their body structure; and the amazing part is that my talent piece for that night mentioned "I felt the hits and kicks of society being called names from fat to unworthy" and that is exactly what they did that very night,” she explained.

DeJesus added that she experienced some difficul-

ty balancing her studies at nursing school and preparing for the pageant.

“The most challenging part of this pageant was balancing my schooling at the nursing school, while trying to meet a certain criteria for the pageant. It was very hard to be practising every day after classes and having to study for exams,

but nothing good comes easy. I have made sacrifices and it was all worth it,” she stated.

DeJesus will collaborate with the Ministry of the Presidency Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport to host a literacy camp in her community for a three-week period.

She added that the camp is intended to educate 60 children in Victoria between the of ages of 5-14 with better reading and writing skills; she also noted that at the end of the camp each child will be awarded a certificate.

DeJesus added that she will use her platform to be a role model to other girls

like herself, promote body positivity and self-love, empower other young ladies to find their true meaning in life and to educate the youths in her community through the literacy camp.

DeJesus will represent Guyana in the Miss Caribbean talented teen pageant in St Kitts, come December.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

AMERICAN RACING TIPS Belmont Park Race 1 Freudian Sip Race 2 First Appeal Race 3 Smiles From Sadie Race 4 Keep Your Distance Race 5 Leeway Race 6 Smack Race 7 Mubarmaj Race 8 Catholic Boy CANADIAN RACING TIPS Woodbine Race 1 Congeniality Race 2 Attuck Race 3 Adelle’s Princess Race 4 Bella Figura Race 5 Golden Vision Race 6 Secret Masquerade Race 7 Samurai Queen Race 8 Stop Who’s That Race 9 Sabina Park SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Flamingo Park 08:40 hrs Eskista 09:15 hrs Short Skirt Flirt 09:50 hrs Inn Flitemode 10:30 hrs All The Sevens IRISH RACING TIPS Gowan Park 0-8:35 hrs Arthur’s Kingdom 09:05 hrs Haparanda 09:35 hrs Calonne 10:10 hrs The King Of Kells 10:40 hrs Conversant 11:15 hrs Lady Scathach 11:45 hrs Proxy 12:20 hrs Harvest Bow ENGLISH RACING TIPS Musselburgh 08:20 hrs Not On Your Nellie 08:50 hrs How Bizarre 09:20 hrs Tarboosh 09:55 hrs Jewel Maker 10:25 hrs Tribal Warrior 11:00 hrs First Flight 11:30 hrs Catch My Breath WINDSOR 09:00 hrs Hermocrates 09:30 hrs Santorini Sal 10:05 hrs Tambourine Girl 10:35 hrs Handytalk 11;10 hrs Skyman 11:40 hrs Wemyss Ware 12:10 hrs Critical Time YARMOUTH 09:10 hrs Alibaba 09:45 hrs Society Lion 10:50 hrs Dreamboat Dave 11:20 hrs Osmosis 11:55 hrs Purgatory 12:30 hrs Stallone

Nicholas Narain wins Lucozade Handicap Squash Tournament THE Ansa McAL-sponsored Lucozade Handicap tournament closed out yesterday with Nicholas Narain (-15) being crowned king after a three-game point-for-point battle that had spectators spellbound with the standard of play.

Daniel Ince took the plate title, while Louis DaSilva achieved his first title in the Category A group and Lajuan Munroe nabbed the A plate.

Nicholas Verwey (-10) was truly a worthy opponent in the ultimate match-up for the title; showing evidence of his disciplined training regime and enthusiasm for the game.

Narain tactically kept Verwey off the T and worked him around the whole court in the first game.

Verwey’s retrieval skills kept the rallies running long and often 20 plus shots were kept in play by either player performing the almost impossible. In the second, Verwey used his drops effectively and worked Narain into the corners to secure his win. The third game of an outstanding match of great depth, great squash and great athletes, landed on the side of the experienced Narain for the 15/14, 13/15, 15/11 win.

In the open plate, after a game apiece, tired legs from both players in the third between Daniel Ince (-9) and Ian Mekdeci (-4) slowed down what had been a fast-paced clash. Ince took the first in smooth fashion with tight lengths and low drops.

Mekdeci pulled it back in second pushing to hold Ince off at 15/14. Relying on talent in the decider rather than fitness, Ince was able to move up his deficit and close off the game at 15/9, 14/15, 15/11.

The title of the Category A was earned by a much improved Louis DaSilva (-8) over Zachary Persaud (-8).

DaSilva came out strong and played a clever tactical game from the outset, placing his shots to get them past Persaud. Persaud came out determined in the second game and made his bid to stay in the game with tighter play which set him ahead. DaSilva kept his head and worked away to even out and eventually push in the last two points to close off in straight games 15/6, 15/14.

For the Category A plate, Joshua Verwey made a valiant effort with good lengths against eventual winner,

Lajuan Munroe.

Munroe forced young Verwey into every corner of the court, working him through most of the rallies; Verwey stuck with it and kept the scores close. Munroe managed a 13/15 win in the first and Verwey answered with a 15/14 win in the second but couldn’t quite hold on in the third and conceded the decider.

Munroe triumphed 15/13, 14/15, 15/12.

Results for Sunday’s play OPEN CATEGORY Winner: Nicholas Narain Second Place: Nicholas Verwey Third place: Deje Dias Fourth Place: Gianni Carpenter

OPEN PLATE Winner: Daniel Ince Second Place: Ian Mekdeci Third place: Kirsten Gomes Fourth Place: Ethan Jonas

CATEGORY A Winner: Louis DaSilva Second: Place Zachary Persaud Third place: Shiloh Asregado Fourth Place: Matthew Spooner

CATEGORY A PLATE Winner: Lajuan Munroe Second Place: Joshua Verwey Third Place: Teija Edwards Fourth Place: Angel Rahamin

OPEN CATEGORY Nicholas Narain (-15) defeated Nicholas Verwey (-10) 15/14, 13/15, 15/11 Deje Dias (-15) defeated Gianni Carpenter (5) 15/, 15/

OPEN PLATE Daniel Ince (-9) defeated Ian Mekdeci (-4) 15/9, 14/15, 15/11 Kirsten Gomes (0) defeated Ethan Jonas (4) 15/9, 12/15, 15/12

CATEGORY A Louis DaSilva (-8) defeated Zachary Persaud (-8) 15/6, 15/14 Shiloh Asregado (3) defeated Matthew Spooner (9) 15/8, 15/6 CATEGORY A PLATE Lajuan Munroe (5) defeated Joshua Verwey (3) 15/13, 14/15, 15/12 Teija Edwards (0) defeated Angel Rahamin (2) 13/15, 15/12, 15/9

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Ruthless India crush South Africa in Pune to clinch series MUMBAI (Reuters) India maintained their formidable home record by crushing South Africa by an innings and 137 runs in the second Test at Pune to clinch the threeTest series with a match to spare on Sunday.

Made to follow on, South Africa were bundled out for 189 in their second innings in a little over two sessions as the hosts took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

It was the fourth straight win in as many Tests in the World Test Championship for Virat Kohli’s men, who also won 2-0 in West Indies, and India have now won 11 consecutive test series at home.

The last time the world’s top-ranked Test side lost a Test series at home was in 2012 when England beat them 2-1.

Replying to India’s mammoth first innings total of 601 for five declared, the touring side were all out for 275 at the close of third day’s play on Saturday and Kohli decided to put them in again.

The fast bowlers responded to their captain’s

Scoreboard

India beat South Africa in second Test by a massive margin in Pune.(AFP) call with an inspired spell A nervy Theunis de before completing the when they swung the new Bruyn opened his ac- catch. ball prodigiously with count with a missed run Ashwin struck again in South Africa’s batsmen out chance and then his next over when Elgar looking completely at sea. Kohli dropped him at slip miscued a lofted shot to be Needing to bat the bet- but the batsman could caught at mid off for 48. ter part of two days to keep not make the most of his Temba Bavuma, who alive any hopes of a draw, reprieves. made 38, and Quinton the touring side got off to a India wicketkeeper de Kock fell to left-arm horror start to their second Wriddhiman Saha proved spinner Ravindra Jadeja innings when opener Aiden why Kohli thinks he is before the South African Markram fell for a pair, his the best glovesman in the lower order staged a brief second dismissal without world when he flung to resistance. scoring in the test. his left to hold on to a Vernon Philander and Hi s d is m i s s a l w a s one-handed catch to send Keshav Maharaj, who identical to his first in- back de Bruyn for eight off combined for 109 in the nings failure and he fell Umesh Yadav. first innings, added 56 for leg before on the second Elgar and South Afri- the eighth wicket to delay ball he faced from fast ca skipper Faf du Plessis, India’s win before Yabowler Ishant Sharma. who made five, combined dav finally broke the stand M a r k r a m c o n s u l t - to hold off India’s march when Philander edged one ed opening partner Dean with a 49-run stand for down the leg side to be out Elgar but did not review the third wicket before for 37. though replays suggested the latter was out to RavYadav and Jadeja the ball would have missed ichandran Ashwin with took three wickets each the stumps.

Saha juggling the ball for the hosts.

King Kohli passes Bradman as records tumble INDIAN captain Virat Kohli has moved past batting royalty like Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting, scoring his seventh Test double century in the just conluded second Test against South Africa.

Kohli moved to 200 early in the final session on day two in Pune, joining England great Wally Hammond and Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene in scoring seven double tons in Tests.

Only the great Sir Donald Bradman (12), Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara (11) and West Indies icon Brian Lara (nine) have posted more scores of 200 or more in Test cricket.

Tendulkar, Ponting, Younis Khan, Javed Miandad, Virender Sehwag and Marvan Atapattu all

scored six double hundreds.

Playing his 81st Test, Kohli also reached the milestone of 7000 career runs on Friday, moving past Bradman’s iconic figure of 6996 runs that came in 52 Tests.

The Indian skipper is the equalfourth fastest man in history to the 7000-run mark, levelling Sangakarra and West Indian Sir Gary Sobers in achieving the milestone in 138 innings. Hammond’s 131 innings remains the benchmark.

Remarkably, Kohli’s seven double tons have come in the space of just 40 Tests since his first in July 2016, during which time he’s averaged almost 67 with the bat.

For context, Bradman’s 12 double

tons came in 52 career Tests.

In his 50th match as skipper, the 30-year-old posted his ninth score beyond 150 as captain, breaking Bradman’s record of eight.

He finished unbeaten on 254 from 336 balls, with 33 fours and two sixes, as India piled up a monster score of 5-601 declared.

Most Test double hundreds

12 – Sir Donald Bradman (52 Tests) 11 – Kumar Sangakkara (134 Tests) 9 – Brian Lara (131 Tests) 7 – Virat Kohli (81 Tests*) 7 - Wally Hammond (85 Tests) 7 - Mahela Jayawardene (149 Tests)

INDIA 1st innings 601-5 declared South Africa 1st innings 275 South Africa 2nd innings Aiden Markram lbw Ishant Sharma 0 Dean Elgar c Umesh Yadav b Ravichandran Ashwin 48 Theunis de Bruyn c Wriddhiman Saha b Umesh Yadav 8 Faf du Plessis c Wriddhiman Saha b Ravichandran Ashwin 5 Temba Bavuma c Ajinkya Rahane b Ravindra Jadeja 38 Quinton de Kock b Ravindra Jadeja 5 Senuran Muthusamy c Rohit Sharma b Mohammed Shami 9 Vernon Philander c Wriddhiman Saha b Umesh Yadav 37 Keshav Maharaj lbw Ravindra Jadeja 22 Kagiso Rabada c Rohit Sharma b Umesh Yadav 4 Extras 8b 3lb 0nb 0pen 2w 13 Total (67.2 overs) 189 all out Fall of Wickets : 1-0 Markram, 2-21 de Bruyn, 3-70 du Plessis, 4-71 Elgar, 5-79 de Kock, 6-125 Bavuma, 7-129 Muthusamy, 8-185 Philander, 9-189 Rabada, 10-189 Maharaj Did Not Bat : Nortje Bowling : Ishant Sharma 5 - 2 - 17 - 1, Umesh Yadav 8 - 3 22 - 3, Mohammed Shami 9 - 2 - 34 - 1 (2w), Ravichandran Ashwin 21 - 6 - 45 - 2, Ravindra Jadeja 21.2 - 4 - 52 - 3.

Ireland to play All Blacks in last eight after Japan beat Scotland IRELAND will play holders New Zealand in the World Cup quarter-final after Japan topped Pool A with victory over Scotland on Sunday.

The hosts will face South Africa after their 28-21 win over the Scots meant Joe Schmidt’s men finished the group in second place.

The All Blacks, winners of the last two World Cups, finished top of their group.

Ireland beat New Zealand for the first time on home soil last November.

Ireland’s last eight match will take place in Tokyo next Saturday.

The game against Steve Hansen’s side will be played at the Tokyo Stadium, starting at 11:15 BST. Ireland secured their first win on home soil over the All Blacks last November when a superb chip-and-gather try by Ulster wing Jacob Stockdale helped them to a 16-9 win at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

That added to their historic first win over New Zealand in Chicago two years earlier.

Hansen’s men have lived up to their billing as pre-tournament favourites so far in Japan, topping their group with three wins including an impressive opening weekend victory over South Africa.

By the quarter-final, it will have been two weeks since the All Blacks’ last game, as Typhoon Hagibis forced the cancellation of their final Pool B fixture against Italy. (BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

Bottas wins in Japan, Mercedes celebrate six title doubles

By Abhishek Takle SUZUKA, Japan (Reuters) - Valtteri Bottas swept to victory in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix as Mercedes clinched the Formula One constructors’ championship and guaranteed themselves an unprecedented sixth consecutive title double.

The Finn crossed the line 11.3 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who made a hesitant start from pole position and had to fend off a charging Lewis Hamilton in the closing laps.

The result moved Mercedes 177 points clear of Ferrari, allowing them to wrap up a record-equalling sixth consecutive constructors’ crown, with a maximum 176 points from four races still to be won.

It also assured Mercedes of the drivers’ title with only Bottas now capable of challenging five-times world champion Hamilton, whose lead narrowed to 64 points.

Mercedes have now equalled Ferrari’s record six constructors’ titles in a row between 1999-2004. The Italian team won five successive drivers’ crowns with Michael Schumacher from 2000-04.

“Starting third is never easy here but there’s no point giving up,” said Bottas after his third win of the season and first since the Azerbaijan

Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan - October 13, 2019.

Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas celebrates after winning the race. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji Grand Prix in April.

“I had a really nice car and Sebastian had an issue, so it was good to get the lead.

Really proud of the team, a sixth title in a row is so impressive.”

Ferrari looked like they might delay the title celebrations after locking out the front row in a qualifying session held on Sunday morning, after being postponed from its traditional Saturday slot due to Typhoon Hagibis.

But both Vettel and team mate Charles Leclerc ran into trouble at the start.

Vettel launched off his

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Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

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Today’s Quiz:

(1) How many Group games the Barbados Tridents won in CPL 2019?

(2) How many TKR won?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

grid spot a fraction too soon and slammed on the brakes before moving again. He was investigated for a false start but let off without a sanction because his car had not crossed the line.

The momentary hesitation was enough to allow Bottas to sweep around the outside and into the lead.

Leclerc collided with Max Verstappen as the Dutchman tried to pass around the outside, damaging the Ferrari and pushing the Red Bull, which later retired, into a spin.

The Monegasque nevertheless carried on, crucially holding up Hamilton as his car shed bodywork in a shower of debris before eventually pitting for repairs at the end of the third lap.

PENALTIES Leclerc, 21 and winner of two of the last five races, crossed the line sixth but dropped to seventh behind Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo after being slapped with two post-race time penalties.

He collected a five-second penalty for the Verstappen incident and a further 10 seconds for continuing to drive a car deemed to be in an

unsafe condition.

Ferrari were also fined 25,000 euros ($27,600) for the latter offence while Leclerc was given two penalty points on his superlicence.

Ricciardo and 10thplaced team mate Nico Hulkenberg could still drop back, however, with Racing Point lodging a protest against the French manufacturer for an alleged brake bias infringement.

“The lights were on but it was my mistake (at the start),” said Vettel, a fourtime winner at Suzuka.

“The Mercedes were difficult, they had more pace than us and Valtteri was flying. I’m not happy with the start of the race but everything else was fine, just lacked a bit of pace.”

Hamilton’s joy at Mercedes’s success was muted after the team gambled on a one-stop strategy for the Briton, even as Bottas and Vettel opted for two.

With tyre degradation higher than expected, the 34-year-old was forced to pit a second time and lost track position to Vettel.

“Firstly, congratulations to the team,” said Hamilton, who can still clinch the drivers’ title at the next race in Mexico.

“That’s the main point. I just wanted to bring home good points for the team.”

LAP EARLY The race officially ran for only 52 of 53 scheduled laps after the chequered flag was shown a lap early on the digital displays around the track.

Drivers, who did not see the chequered flag display on their steering wheel dashboards, continued to race around but the order at the end of the 52nd lap was declared as the result.

As a result, Mexican Sergio Perez retained his ninth place finish for Racing Point, despite crashing out after contact with Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly at the start of the final lap.

CWI target early 2023 prep with staging of Regional Super50 ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Trinidad and St Kitts will host this year’s Regional Super50 starting next month, with Cricket West Indies hoping the tournament provides an early launch pad for preparation for the 2023 World Cup in India.

Title-holders Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners will headline Group A in St Kitts where Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Jamaica Scorpions, Barbados Pride and Canada will also do battle.

Last year’s losing finalists, Guyana Jaguars, will contest Group B in Trinidad alongside Windward Islands Volcanoes, United States, West Indies Emerging Players and hosts Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

CWI director of cricket, Jimmy Adams, said the tournament would be an important one as selectors

Title-holdes Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners. begun to assess players ahead of the next 50-overs World Cup. “With the new World Cup cycle beginning now, this tournament, among other things, presents a starting point towards the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023,” Adams said.

“It will allow us to start identifying players who will go on to play a role in our qualification. Though some of our international players will be touring India with the West Indies during the competition, it allows more opportunities and exposure for our young players.”

Once again this year, CWI have included a developmental squad in the November 6 to December 1 tournament, with the hope of exposing younger players who missed out on selection to the six regional franchises.

Labelled the West Indies Emerging Players, Adams said competing in the Super50 would also build on the work done in the High Performance Programme.

“A young player may miss out on selection at their franchise if they are up against two or three internationals with similar skill-sets,” said the former Test captain.

“The Emerging Players squad aims to provide the platform for these players to perform and reward the hard work they have been putting in following their stints at the HPC.” International venue Warner Park and Conaree Sports Complex will host matches in St Kitts while historic Queen’s Park Oval and the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, will be the stage for the Trinidad leg.

A total of 40 group stage matches will be played, with the two groups running concurrently.

Marooners will raise the curtain on the tournament when they clash with Hurricanes on November 6 at Warner Park while Group B will get underway when Jaguars take on Emerging Players at the Brian Lara Stadium the following day.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

American Gauff becomes youngest WTA winner in 15 years (REUTERS) - American teenage sensation Coco Gauff became the youngest player to win a WTA title in 15 years as she beat former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the Linz Open final on Sunday.

The 15-year-old Gauff, who started the season ranked well outside the world’s top 600, beat Latvia’s Ostapenko 6-3 1-6 6-2 in a topsy-turvy contest.

She becomes the youngest WTA singles title holder since Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic claimed her maiden crown in Tashkent at the age of 15 in 2004.

Gauff raced to a 5-0 lead in the final set before Ostapenko rediscov-

ered her rhythm to save two match points and hold on for 5-1.

Ostapenko went on to break Gauff at love to make it 5-2 but the American held her nerve to seal victory on her third match point.

It concludes a remarkable week for Gauff, who went from failing to win her qualifier to entering the main draw as a lucky loser.

Gauff made her opportunity count by beating Stefanie Vogele, Kateryna Kozlova, top seed Kiki Bertens and Andrea Petkovic to reach the final.

“I’m still overwhelmed and shocked,” Gauff told reporters. “I guess

it’s crazy to say it’s my first WTA title.

“This was definitely not on the calendar at the beginning of the year, because I didn’t think I’d have a chance to get in, and now I’m the champion, so it’s crazy.

“My dad told me when I got in, before the first main-draw match ‘You can’t lose twice in the same tournament!’ I’m sure he never thought it would come this far, to being the champion, but I guess he was right.”

Gauff, whose popularity soared at Wimbledon when she beat Venus Williams on her way to the fourth round, is projected to move inside the top 75 in the WTA rankings today.

Britton storms to U-21 title at Trinbago Open GUYANESE Shemar Britton proved his might when he copped the Trinbago Men’s U-21 table tennis title at the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua, Trinidad and Tobago, on Saturday afternoon.

The former Caribbean U-21 champion, who had won the Men’s Singles Open title a week prior, told Chronicle Sport that the win was special.

“It feels great; today’s win was the icing on the cake after last week’s performance. Also, it was a great way to cap off my U-21 career since this is probably the last U-21 event I’ll ever play in.”

Initially, this competition (which included players who turned 21 this year) was set for two weekends ago, but torrential rain due to the passing of Tropical Storm Karen, forced its postponement.

Reggae Boyz trounce Aruba 2-0 to remain on top KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – Unbeaten Reggae Boyz remained firmly on course for promotion to League A and qualification for the CONCACAF Gold Cup when they brushed aside Aruba 2-0 in the Nations League here Saturday night.

Devon Williams put the hosts ahead in the 13th minute and Shamar Nicholson scored late on after missing a second half penalty.

The victory was Jamaica’s third on the trot and left them top of Group C of League B with nine points, three clear of Antigua and Barbuda.

Playing at the National Stadium in the country’s capital, the Reggae Boyz went quickly in search of the opening goal and it came when Kemar Lawrence crossed from the left for Williams to finish with his left foot from just inside the 18-yard box.

Goalkeeper Eric Abdul then denied Dever Orgill

and Nicholson to keep the scoreline intact and Aruba in the contest at half-time.

Jamaica had a wonderful opportunity to double their advantage when substitute Javon East was brought down

by Hoah Harms in the area in the 76th minute but Nicholson blasted the resulting penalty well over the crossbar.

Nicholson made amends two minutes from time, how-

ever, when he kept his composure to poke home a close range finish.

In the other games in League B, St Lucia remained winless with a 3-0 defeat away to the Dominican Republic in Group B while hosts Montserrat perished 2-0 at the hands of El Salvador to concede defeat for the first time in three matches.

In League C, Nicholas Blackman’s second half free kick was enough to seal Barbados’s 1-0 win over US Virgin Islands, and return them to the top of Group A on six points.

Cayman Islands, who went down 3-0 to Saint Martin, lie second also with six points but are behind on goal difference.

Anguilla, meanwhile, suffered elimination in Group C after going down 5-0 to Guatemala at home at The Valley, leaving them without a win in two outings.

Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, Brazil - Athletico Paranaense’s Leo Cittadini in action with Flamengo’s Gerson REUTERS/Rodolfo Buhrer

kept the Rio club on top of Serie A with 58 points.

His clinical finishing made up for the absence of top goalscorer Gabriel Barbosa who was on international duty.

It was the first time Flamengo have beaten Athletico away in the league since 1974.

Palmeiras, who beat Botafogo 1-0, are eight points adrift in second.

Third-placed Santos, who could only draw 0-0 at Internacional, are two points behind Palmeiras.

Guyanese Shemar Britton has now won two titles at the Trinbago Open.

Some 44 players competed on Saturday.

Britton, who represented the Queen’s Park Club, first got past Matthew Moira and Nicholas Baksh in the preliminary rounds via 3-0 wins (11-7, 11-3 and 11-6 and 116, 11-2 and 11-8); he then beat former Caribbean ju-

Coco Gauff started the season ranked well outside the Top 600, she will move inside the top 75 after the win.

nior silver medallist, Luc O’ Young, in the quarter finals.

In the semi-finals, he defeated club-mate Joshua Maxwell 3-1 (11-8, 11-4, 7-11 and 11-5), before he got past another club-mate, Derron Douglas 3-1 (11-9, 12-10, 9-11 and 11-6) in a tense final.

Jamaican Shamar Nicholson … scored one goal and missed a penalty.

Flamengo win again to stay top in Brazil CURITIBA (Reuters) Bruno Henrique scored twice as Brazilian league leaders Flamengo extended their unbeaten run to 15 games with a

2-0 win over Athletico Paranaense on Sunday.

The striker struck just before halftime and then again in the dying seconds to complete the win that

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 14, 2019

Bullish Beaton, classy Savory help Essequibo dismantle Georgetown by 122 runs

By Clifton Ross A venomous spell of fast-bowling by Ronsford Beaton, coupled with Kemol Savory’s fifty, took defending champions Essequibo to a whopping 122-run win over Georgetown as the 2019 SBF/CGI Jaguars One- Day League bowled off yesterday at the GCC ground, Bourda.

Savory led Essequibo’s charge with a stylish 81 from 112 balls that included six crisp fours and two big maximums. But it was a returning Beaton, seemingly faster and more confident, who dismantled the Georgetown side with returns of 5-18 from 6 overs of hostility.

Quinton Sampson smacked 3 sixes and a four in his 28 with Beaton chipping in with a useful 26 as Essequibo posted 221-9 from their 50 overs.

Youth pacer Qumar Tor-

rington snared 3-64 with support from veteran seamer, Paul Wintz, who grabbed 2-42 as Windies U-19 spinner, Ashmead Nedd and Steven Jacobs, grabbed two scalps apiece.

Georgetown, in reply, made a mess of the chase and found themselves blown away for just 99 in 26 overs. Apart from wicket-keeper Joshua Persaud (26), Jacobs (24) and skipper Leon Johnson (23), it was a woeful batting performance as the champs ran roughshod over the home team in their backyard.

The spin twins, brothers Akinie and Captain Anthony Adams, spun webs around the batters as they snatched 2-28 and 2-26 respectively, duly supporting Beaton.

Georgetown suffered a great setback after the former Windies speedster removed Raymond Perez (6), Robin

Man-of-the-match Ronsford Beaton(left) accepts his trophy from match referee Grantley Culbard.

Bacchus (0) and Winston Forrester (4).

Johnson looked good during his stay before Akinie Adams had him caught by his brother to end the stay of the Georgetown skipper. Beaton had earlier removed Chris Barnwell

John ounce of gold richer after copping Kadir Mohamed Memorial Cycle road race

The various winners after the race.

GUYANA’s current number one ranked cyclist, Briton John, is an ounce of gold richer after he won the lucrative annual Kadir Mohamed Memorial Cycling road race, yesterday morning.

Some of the country’s top cyclists battled through a gruelling 80-miler, which started and ended at Homestretch Avenue after proceeding to Dora on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway and back.

Briton John stormed to the finish line in three hours, 18 minutes and 23 seconds to beat Michael Anthony (second place) and defending champion, Jamaul John (third).

Walter Grant-Stuart ended in fourth position, followed by Jornel Yearwood, Andrew Hicks, Christopher Griffith and Marcus Keeler.

Jamaul John, Deeraj Garbarran and Balram Narine finished with two sprint prizes each while Briton John, Anthony, Grant-Stuart and Keeler had one apiece.

JUNIOR BATTLE Meanwhile, Berbician Ajay Gopilall continued his good form with a victory in the Junior category of the eighth annual event.

He finished his ride in a time of three hours, 22 minutes and 30 seconds. Jason Seenarine and Jason Sampson finished second and third respectively.

Lear Nunes stormed to victory in the veteran U-45 division. He finished in three hours, 29 minutes and 47 second, which placed him ahead of Paul Choo-Wee-Nam, Kwame Ridley and Junior Niles.

In the veteran over 45 event, Ian Jackson was the first across the finish line. He won ahead of Nigel London and Oliver Young.

Mario Washington, who finished ahead of David Hicks, Steven Bhim Shing and Sherwin Sampson respectively, won the Juvenile’s battle. Meanwhile, in the mountain bike race, Ozia McCullay won ahead of Jamal Kapil and Jermain Jordon.

for a duck after deliberations between the umpires while the Adams boys cleaned up the tail.

Beaton then bagged his fifth victim when Jacobs edged one to the wicketkeeper Savory; bringing the home team’s innings to a

screeching halt.

Earlier, opener Kevon Boodie was removed for zero

by Jacobs who also trapped Ricardo Adams for 1 to leave the champs in a spot of bother, batting first.

Parmesh Parsotam stroked two good-looking fours in his 23 but had his stumps uprooted by a fiery delivery from the stampeding Torrington, who also removed Marvin Williams for a duck as the Champs struggled to 50-4 in the 15th over as the home team were all over their batsmen following the collapse of the top order.

Savory remained firm and anchored down as he took his score to 50 with a thumping drive for four which inevitably brought up the Champs hard-earned 100 in the 28th over.

Skipper Adams succumbed for 8 runs to the skills of the veteran Wintz; he was brilliantly caught by

the diving Johnson in slips.

Savory and Beaton steadied the ship with the former West Indies pacer showing his class with the bat as he found the ropes on a few occasions.

Savory cut loose on spinner Steven Sankar, who was hammered for two fours and a six, which took the lefthander into the 70’s.

Nedd got into the action at a good time, removing a dangerous looking Beaton, LBW ,to keep the hosts in the game. The Windies U-19 spinner then bagged the big wicket of Savory, who slicked one to Barnwell at backward point.

Sampson walked out like a man possessed, smashing a few sixes, but Georgetown continued to take wickets and Wintz struck again as he easily took a catch off his own bowling to remove Neil Cadogan cheaply.

Three first division female clashes on opening day of National Indoor Hockey Championships THREE first-division female games, including one between defending champions the Woodpecker Hikers and Saints will highlight the opening day of the 2019 GTT National Indoor Hockey Championships, which starts this afternoon at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

According to president of the Guyana Hockey Board, Philip Fernandes, all systems are in place for today’s openers.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport during a practice session yesterday, Fernandes, who plays in the veteran division and serves as the GCC female teams’ coach, indicated that the one-week event is expected to be competitive.

“This year we have more juniors than in the past and we expect really good quality hockey.”

The juniors in both male and female divisions will look to prove themselves against their peers and their older counterparts. Again, club pride will be at stake in the multi-category championships.

Various clubs are using the tournament as a warm up for the upcoming Diamond Mineral Water International Hockey Festival.

Today’s schedule The feature female game on the opening day is scheduled to start at 20:20h, followed

by the men’s first division opener between Bounty GCC and YMCA Old Fort.

Action bullies off from 17:00h, with Saints Sensations tackling YMCA Old Fort Hard Ball in a second division Men’s Group A battle.

GBTI GCC Spice and YMCA Old Fort Bloods will then match sticks from 17:45h in the female first division opener, which will be followed by another female clash with GBTI GCC Tigers playing against the GBTI GCC Spartans.

The lone Over-35 clash is scheduled to start at 19:35h between Bounty GCC Vintage and Antonio’s Hickers.

The male defending first division champions, the Pepsi Hikers, who are again favourites to win the title, will be in action in the feature clash of another six-game battle tomorrow evening.

At least six games will be played per night for the rest of the week before quarter-final actions takes place on Saturday from midday. The semi-finals will take place on Sunday morning and early afternoon, before the over 35-final is played at 16:00h, the men’s second division final is at 17:00h, while the women’s first division final is at 18:00h and the men’s first division final at 19:00h.

Philip Fernandes, middle, going through a coaching session with the GCC female players yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Golden Jaguars in ‘must win’ clash against Antigua and Barbuda tonight THE Golden Jaguars, following their 2 – 1 lost to Antigua and Barbuda on Friday last in St John’s, will host the ‘Benna Boys’ tonight at the National Track and Field Centre, in a game that they will have to win to keep their 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup hopes alive. Kick off time is 18:00 hrs.

Guyana, following their 1 – 0 opening CONCACAF Nations League win against Aruba in Curacao, went down 4 – 0 to Jamaica at home.

After three games in Group C of League B, Guyana sits behind leaders Jamaica (9 points) and Antigua and Barbuda (six points) in third position.

No team has scored against the Reggae Boyz who have scored 12 goals of their own, while Antigua scored four goals and conceded eight (-4), and Guyana scored two conceded

Head Coach Marcio Maximo (centre) with Captain Samuel Cox (left) and Neil Danns six (-4).

It means not that Guyana will have to not only win, but do so with a superior goal difference in an effort to lock up that second spot in the group.

“The result (against An-

tigua) was disappointing and the programme is in a transitional period as we speak. We have to manage expectations of the fans and public on what we’re trying to achieve,” Captain Samuel Cox told reporters

at Sunday’s pre-game press conference.

The UK-based defender added that “Yes, if you look at te game against Antigua, possession wise, I thought we dominated and I think if it wasn’t for a sloppy 15

minutes, I’m sure the results would’ve been different but you know, that has given us motivation going into the game tomorrow (today).”

Guyana’s head coach, Marcio Maximo, strongly believes that Guyana will

bounce back telling, pointing out that “the first place will be for Jamaica but the second spot is still open; we have the same chance like Antigua because we have an equal opportunity.”

Asked about the composition of the team for today’s game, Maximo said his mantra when accepting the job to coach Guyana, was to find a balance and bridging the gap between local and overseas-based players.

“I don’t believe that you can compete with teams without any local players, for me it’s not development.

Also, you can’t give up on our international players to compete; it’s a balance. I’ve been coaching football for almost 30 years and I have never seen somebody all my life just wake up and start winning.

You should work in two departments – Development and compete,” the Brazilian said.

Clarke cops gold at CAC –– Grimes finishes third in Men’s Physique

Kerwin Clarke (middle) won gold in the light middleweight division.

GUYANA ended the 46th annual Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships with two medals, including a gold from five-time Mr. Guyana, Kerwin Clarke.

Clarke, who is one of the most decorated local bodybuilders, was unstoppable in the light middleweight division (80kg).

The Space Gym athlete is now a two-time winner at the prestigious regional championships, which was held this year in the Dominican Republic.

Along with Clarke, Yannick Grimes also won a medal. He placed third in category A (height dictated the categories) of the Men’s Physique competition in his first ever CAC outing.

Four-time Mr. Guyana (Men’s Physique)

Emmerson Campbell, who competed in category B, failed to medal. Campbell is a previous CAC silver and bronze medal winner.

Darious Ramsammy, who competed in the Open Class Junior Category and the U-70kg, also represented Guyana at the event.

Meanwhile, president of the GABBFF, Keavon Bess, was elated with the results and thanked the pair for their hard work.

He called Clarke the CAC king of the 80kg category.

“The Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation thank you for your hard work and dedication to the sport and for your representation of the Golden Arrowhead. We are proud of another gold medal from this champion athlete.”

Winners of the respective categories for this year’s Ansa McAL-sponsored Lucozade Handicap Tournament.

Nicholas Narain wins Lucozade Handicap Squash Tournament See story on page 23

Bullish Beaton, classy Savory help Essequibo See story dismantle Georgetown by 122 runs on page 27 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

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019