Guyana Chronicle E-paper 10-4-2019

FRIDAY 4th OCTOBER, 2019

' No.105780

The disease that attacks Work to seal breaches without warning at Mahaicony to

PM candidate for coalition under active discussion …President Granger

-- GPHC records more cases of lupus than expected 08

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start this weekend

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‘Teaching must be innovative’ PAGE

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..President urges teachers to be more versatile in approach to teaching

Chronicle ‘batting on a good wicket’ -- says President Granger, urges staff to improve professional training 14 PAGE

Staff of the Guyana Chronicle listening keenly to President David Granger

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

ICJ Hearing on Jurisdiction…

Venezuela must indicate its participation ahead of March 2020 hearing

THE International Court of Justice (ICJ) has left the doors opened for Venezuela to participate in the oral arguments on whether it has jurisdiction over the case filed by Guyana – Arbitral Award of 1899 (Guyana v Venezuela) but the country’s legal representatives must indicate their participation ahead of the March 2020 hearing.

This is according to Guyana’s Foreign Secretary, Carl Greenidge. Although contending that the ICJ lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate in the matter, Venezuela has failed to submit its Counter-Memorial on Jurisdiction – in response to Guyana’s Memorial on April 18, 2019 – a date which was fixed by the court.

Nonetheless, the Spanish speaking country still has an opportunity to contribute to the process.

“Although Venezuela said it will not participate, they (the ICJ) said to Venezuela if you care to change your mind during the course of the deliberations, we will hear you, but Venezuela can’t turn up on the day of the hearing and seek to contribute to the exercise,” Greenidge explained to reporters during a press conference on Wednesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the case of the ‘Counter-Memorial,’ Venezuela has been sending mixed signals on its participation in that aspect of the judicial process.

“Venezuelans have indicated that they might be interested

ruling on the matter. “Under well-established judicial precedent, the Court will proceed to decide if it has jurisdiction over Guyana’s claims, irrespective of whether or not Venezuela participates in the proceedings. If it decides that it has jurisdiction, the Court will proceed to rule on the merits of those claims, and

the proceedings.

Nonetheless, Guyana remains hopeful that Venezuela will participate, to indicate respect for the Court and the international rule of law, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and the promotion of friendly relations between both States. “The Government of Guyana welcomes

pursuant to a treaty concluded by Venezuela and Great Britain in 1897. It said the record would show that Venezuela accepted the unanimous award rendered by five eminent jurists on October 3, 1899. The Spanish-speaking country had also participated in a joint

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Secretary, Carl Greenidge

but, then again, they might not be making a written presentation; so they try to leave the question open for them to intervene at any time by way of a written contribution,” the Foreign Secretary reported.

However, he took note of the fact that courts are particularly wedded to process, predictability and clarity. The oral hearings will be held in The Hague from March 23 to 27, 2020. The hearing will determine whether the Court has jurisdiction over the case filed by Guyana on March 29, 2018. By that case, Guyana seeks to obtain, from the Court, a final and binding judgement that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the location of the land boundary between then-British Guiana and Venezuela, remains valid and binding, and that Guyana’s Essequibo region belongs to Guyana, and not Venezuela.

Guyana filed its case be-

fore the ICJ after United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, António Guterres, in January 2018, referred the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela to the World Court. In making his decision, the Secretary-General was exercising the power vested in him in the 1966 Geneva Agreement between Guyana, Venezuela and the United Kingdom to decide how the controversy should be settled, the Foreign Affairs Ministry explained.

In a letter to the Court, Venezuela contended that the Secretary-General exceeded his authority under the Geneva Agreement, and that the Court, therefore, lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate Guyana’s lawsuit. On that basis, Venezuela has indicated that it will not participate in the proceedings.

Regardless of whether Venezuela participate or not, the ICJ will hand down a

The International Court of Justice

decide whether the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award and the border between the two States should be confirmed,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry explained.

It noted that under the United Nations Charter and the Court’s own rules, its final judgements, both on jurisdiction and the merits, will be legally binding on Guyana and Venezuela, whether or not Venezuela participates in

the prospect of a final and binding decision by the Court that will definitively resolve this long-standing controversy, and allow Guyana and Venezuela to proceed to develop excellent and close relations as neighbouring states,” the ministry stated.

In its submissions, Guyana pointed out that the boundary with Venezuela was established by an arbitral tribunal constituted

commission to demarcate the boundary on the ground, and insisted on the award’s strict implementation. Decades later, Venezuela, in anticipation of Guyana’s independence, cease recognising the award’s validity and binding nature, using that pretext to lay claim to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s territory.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

‘Teaching must be innovative’ ..President urges teachers to be more versatile in approach to teaching THE inaugural Teaching Conference opened on Thursday at the Pegasus Hotel with a challenge from President David Granger for teachers to be versatile in their approach, which he said, would result in maximum results, due to the simple fact that children learn differently.

He said there is a ‘geography of perception’ which reflects cultural differences and disparities which persist and cannot be ignored. “Teaching in Yakusari in Berbice cannot be the same as teaching in Yupukari in the Rupununi.

cultural diversity; respect for everyone’s right to practice their own cultures; and at the same time, protect the right of religious communities to instruct children.

The two-day conference is being facilitated by the University of Guyana (UG) Centre of Excellence for Teaching and Learning (CoETaL) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Cyril Potter College of Education.

Education and culture are connected inextricably, the President said as he delivered the feature address, noting that education not only helps

for free education from nursery to university, President Granger took note of the fact that,

Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry

The Higher Education Teaching Conference in session

Learners are not all the same yet, curricula tend to be the same, textbooks tend to be the same and examinations tend to be the same,” the Head of State told the teachers drawn from Guyana, the Caribbean and the US. Emphasising that “one size doesn’t fit all,” he said that education and culture must be made compatible for an inclusive system of education in a country such as Guyana.

As such, he said schools’ curricula must reflect Guyana’s

persons to adapt to society, but it also helps to preserve and transmit cultural knowledge, skills and values.

“Education and culture interact in the classrooms which, in many secondary schools, consist of a medley of ethnicities – Africans, Amerindians, Chinese, Indians, Portuguese and persons of mixed ancestry and religious denominations such as Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Rastafarians,” he pointed out.

As he continued his push

Inclusive education is one in which every citizen feels a sense of belonging and in

Guyana, within the first decade of Independence, launched a programme of free education across all four tiers of the education sector. This move, he explained, was intended to reverse the problems of inherited institutions and systems being in the hands of foreigners.

“The principal objective of public education is to establish a first-class, inclusive, globally-competitive tertiary education system which will generate a highly-skilled workforce.

which inequality is diminished. An inclusive education system requires increased attention to culture in education,” President Granger further explained.

Decades later, he said Guyana will return to that system of free education from nursery to university, to allow for more of its citizens to realise their full potential. “Education is a right accorded under the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

The ‘Constitution’ [at Article 27(1)] states: Every citizen has the right to free education from nursery to university. I intend to enforce that entitlement. The right to free education is not decorative or declaratory. It is decreed by the Constitution,” he underscored.

It is anticipated that the advancements and transformations within the Public Education Sector will take place during the Decade of Development 2020-2029. It is believed that the decade will accord the highest importance to education, including tertiary

education.

tellectual, professional and President David Granger

“It will ensure that every Guyanese child is afforded access to education, including by having at least a nursery school in every village so that children do not have to travel long distances to receive elementary education; encouraged to attend, to stay in, and to graduate from, secondary school; and afforded the opportunity to attend the University,” President Granger detailed.

With a reversal of the tuition system within the Public Education Sector, all teachers will have an opportunity to attend university and to benefit from improved teacher-training. This move, the Head of State said, is necessary, warning that educational standards will decline unless there is a corps of trained and qualified teachers capable of upholding quality assurance standards in education.

Zooming in on the conference, President Granger said the theme – “Investing in educators for academic growth and national development” – is relevant to the national discourse on education.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry said, after decades, education is now back where it belongs – at the top of government’s agenda. This, she said, is in keeping with the President’s vision for the education sector.

Turning her attention to the conference, Minister Henry said it signifies a constructive mechanism of preparedness for evolving growth and will adequately address the imminent evolution with in-

technological skills that will maximise benefits as well as ensure sustainability.

“The theme to my mind also illustrates the interconnected nature of tertiary education: firstly, linking tertiary education to individual growth which allows young people to become confident, engaged citizens; and, secondly, fully underscoring Guyana needs for a highly trained and skilled workforce to meet its economic, social and environmental challenges,” she posited.

Leadership in Higher Education; Partners, Leadership and Financing in Higher Education; Teacher Development and Support; and Skills for Success: Education Policy and Programme Evaluation are among the topics that would be covered during the conference.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE) and Chair of the University of Guyana Transitional Management Committee, Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin; Director of the Centre of Excellence for Teaching and Learning, Dr. Paulette Henry; Principal of the Cyril Potter College of Education, Viola Rowe and Dean of the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University, Professor Carole Basile were among the officials present.

The conference is being attended by a wide cross-section of persons within the public and private education sectors.

Teen to serve four years at New Opportunity Corps HIGH Court Judge, Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall, on Thursday, October 3, 2019, sentenced a 17-year-old boy to serve four years’ imprisonment for engaging in sexual activity with a 6-year-old girl, three

years ago.

On September 18, 2019, a mixed 12-member jury found the teen guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a child under the age of consent between November 16,

2016 and November 30, 2016 in Demerara.

He was 13 years old at the time.

The matter was held in camera in the Sexual Offenders Court.

On Thursday, a probation report in favour of the teen was read in court. The teen will serve his time at the New Opportunity Corps.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

Gov’t meets contractors in Mahaicony to seal sea defence breach 4 stone suppliers, 5 contractors with equipment were met on Thursday, pumps will assist in draining water from Bellamy Canal to the Atlantic MINISTER of Public Infrastructure, Hon. David Patterson, disclosed that he has met with contractors concerning the breach of the Mahaicony’s earthen embankment caused by the recent spring tides.

“They are to provide me

information by today [Friday] morning on what equipment they have, what stones they have available in their stockyards at the moment, and their opinion on what they see is the easiest and fastest way to get materials in here,” the public infrastruc-

ture minister said.

This comment was made while the minister was overseeing emergency works along Mahaicony foreshore.

Among the persons he met were four stone suppliers and five contractors with the necessary equipment and the

experience doing sea defence works.

Based on the current stage of the damage assessment to the foreshore, it is estimated that 50,000 tonnes of boulders are needed to execute emergency works along the impacted area between Dantzig and Fairfield.

Minister Patterson noted that his ministry’s primary focus is to seal the breaches as the next spring tide is scheduled to occur in 23 days.

“The next spring tide is October 26, so we are max-

Minister of Public Infrastructure, Hon. David Patterson, inspects the damage to the earthen embankment in Mahaicony with the Chief Sea and River Defence Officer within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Kevin Samad

Excavators removing mud from the Bellamy Canal to build a wall behind existing boulders along the foreshore at Mahaicony

imising on the time. As long as there is no rain, we should be able to at least get to all the breaches and do some intervention. While we may not be able to stop the overtopping by the 26, we want to stop the water coming in with free access,” Minister Patterson explained.

Currently, one of the breaches is inaccessible. To stop this situation, numerous excavators are extracting mud from the Bellamy Canal

to build a wall behind the existing boulders along the foreshore. This is needed to facilitate the traffic of equipment and materials to the sites that were breached.

Within the impacted zone, two pumps are being installed to drain water from the Bellamy Canal which runs parallel to the earthen embankment and the Atlantic Ocean. One is expected to be in operation by the end of Thursday, while the other

will be on-site and working on Friday, with more to be added in coming days.

Minister Patterson also met with residents in Mahaicony to reassure them that all of the government’s resources are being directed to ensure the breach is sealed.

It is estimated that 400 households across 65 coastal communities have been affected by the sea defence breach caused by spring tide during September 26 to October 2. In response, the 24-hour National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) was activated.

Thus far, the areas affected are farmlands in Mahaicony, and regions along the coast with the exception of Region One. The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and ministerial teams are coordinating the disaster relief efforts throughout the impacted areas. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

No substitute for therapy -- do not 'bottle up' mental health issues, experts urge

By Lisa Hamilton THERE is always a lot of talk about mental illness and how it affects Guyanese but not enough discussions on the importance of psychotherapy as means of preventing eventual worse-case scenarios.

These worse-case scenarios of untreated mental illness can come in the form of suicide -- for which Guyana still holds one of the highest world rates -- selfharm, depression, physical illness and even violent behaviour.

During interviews with Guyana Chronicle, both psychologists and those who seek therapy have agreed that, while the need for more persons to see therapists exists, acting on this need is challenging for the Guyanese society.

“It was very difficult. It was a decision that took me years to make,” 25-year -old Christopher France said, talking about his journey to accepting his need for therapy.

The young man told this newspaper that he was diagnosed with borderline per-

Christopher France

sonality disorder, a reality he accepted over time.

What led him to the decision to see a therapist were multiple difficult circumstances in his life, which all happened in domino effect.

“Within six months, my mom put me out; then, within four days of finding a place to live I got knocked down and couldn’t walk for three months; then I had final exams to contend with; then I lost my uncle unexpectedly who was like a father to me -- all while battling with my mental health.

That was what pushed me to finally be proactive,” he said.

However, long before this, he was encouraged by his friends to see a thera-

Psychologist, Caitlin Vieira

pist but never made a commitment and left room for escape.

But escape from what?

While there are many reasons a person may avoid seeking therapy, psychologist, Dr. Dawn Stewart said, in Guyana, there is a culture that relates to stereotypes.

She noted that there is a culture of scepticism in Guyana whereby people believe that their personal information shared with a therapist will somehow get out and “bring shame on the family”.

She also highlighted the popular misconception that if one is depressed for a long period of time that person will “eventually get over it” or, in other cases, someone

Psychologist, Dr. Dawn Stewart

has “worked” something supernatural on the affected individual.

Since 1998, Dr. Stewart has worked with soldiers in North America, assisting those mentally affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic due to circumstances while in line of duty.

In 2000, she returned to Guyana to render her services for the same cause and now conducts therapy, addressing a wide range of root causes.

“I believe stigma is the number one reason which can be linked to culture as it is passed down from generation to generation,” said well-known psychologist, Caitlin Vieira.

“Guyanese still use words such as ‘mad’, ‘crazy’ or ‘junkie’ and that scares or shames people away from seeking treatment.”

Back in 2008, author of ‘Internalising stigma associated with mental illness: findings from a general population survey in Jamaica’, Roger Gibson, conducted a research which showed that stigmatisation and negative attitudes are deeply entrenched in Caribbean societies.

He explained that this is so much so that these learned attitudes are “internalised by the mentally ill and their families”.

In the past, Dr. Stewart said that it was customary for elders within Caribbean villages to serve as the go-to for advice and counselling to their children and grandchildren.

However, she lamented that much has changed in recent decades to the point where many overlook the existence of mental illness and therefore the need for help.

“In our culture, it’s something that is not talked about. I grew up in a Caribbean-based Guyanese family where I never heard

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that word [depression]… so I internalised that depression and stress is something that White people deal with; Black people don’t have stress; Caribbean people don’t have stress. That’s what I internalised.”

Looking back at the therapy received, France stated: “It’s not that she [his therapist] has necessarily cured me of anything, it’s that she has taught me how to better deal with it.”

Through therapy, he has also learned the connection between his present challenges and his childhood; interpersonal skills; how to better cope with anxiety and stress; and the value of setting personal boundaries.

COST AND AVAILABILTY A 2010-2012 study conducted by the Dr. Jorge Balserio and Dr. Bhiro Harry of the Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation (GPHC) showed that over 200,000 Guyanese are affected by some form of mental illness.

Asked whether he thinks enough Guyanese utilise the availability of psychologists, TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

Strengthening the regional system GUYANA has 10 administrative regions, each of which has its line of demarcation, strength in agriculture, natural resources and respective cultures among the people. The regional system was shaped by a vision to advance self-determination of the people by using the resources available within for the people’s benefit.

A lot of thought and planning went into demarcating the regional boundaries, among them being consideration given to the topography of the country as to its high points and how the water from the rain will flow, which river or stream it will drain into, and where and how it will be managed.

The regional system started in 1980. With government having made a decision, guided by the aforesaid elements, the task of realising the development of the regions rests with the central and regional administrations working together to put systems in place for the region’s

development. President David Granger’s Government has since assisted regions in producing a Development Action Plan and also each region has its own flag. Recently we have also seen the posting of, in each region, a police commander.

President Granger had lamented that in all the years gone by, no attempt was ever made to marry the police divisions with the current regional administration, which allowed for a lot of anomalies.

These initiatives symbolise that the nation can move further in achieving Article 75 and 76 of the Guyana Constitution to bring about the prescribed autonomy in the regions. The pursuit of development of each region by its people is a positive response to Article 13 in the Constitution, which requires inclusionary democracy in the participation of citizens, their respective organisations, and groups.

The initial vision to strengthen the regional system allowed each region to have the authority of rais-

ing its own taxes, making its own laws, and having its own police force. It was also envisioned that the taxes earned from, for example, mining and forestry, would be shared between the central and regional government of the region that produced the products. This vision of economic self-determination would have placed each region in a position where their budget is developed based on the taxes it raised and not having to depend on central government to determine which project will be funded. This independence would also prevent central government from using budgetary allocations as a weapon to punish some regions and reward others as this nation has seen.

Economic independence would allow the regions to engage in improvement in public infrastructure such as roads and lifting the aesthetics of the community. This would remove the pressure from central government to have to attend to nearly every issue that arises in the

region, and allowing for more time to be spent on macro issues such as developing national policies such as in healthcare, education, internal and border security, national laws, immigration and so forth.

Strengthening the regional system will also encourage inter-regional trade and competition among regions which would attract business and investments, allowing for growth and development and boosting international trade. The people and resources are the wealth of the regions and where there is lucrative employment and economic opportunities, people will gravitate.

In 1990, a bill to develop regional government was tabled in the National Assembly by then PNC Minister of Regional Development, Jeffrey Thomas. Among the issues in that bill was the intent to pursue the establishment of a system whereby revenues garnered from the region will be shared on a percentage basis between central and regional

governments. This bill was tabled, but it was never debated. There is a belief that it never moved further because some Members of Parliament, on both the government and opposition sides, were uncomfortable in allowing the regions such political and economic autonomy. Thirty-six years after the regional system was established, efforts by the PNC 10 years into the system to bring a bill to the National Assembly to develop the regional system, and for the 23 years the PPP/C was in office, nothing has been done to strengthen the regional system consistent with what is outlined in the Constitution. Though it was necessary that the establishment of the regional system have government provide needed support, with an eye to weaning, the fact that the system still remains at its initial stage shows that the much-needed change has not come to this tier of government.

Parliament is not dead, PPP MPs still collecting salaries Dear Editor, I am referring to a letter that was published in the Kaieteur News dated September 28, 2019, titled “The National Assembly died on 18 September 2019; It cannot be resurrected”, by Joshua Singh.

In that letter, Singh stated, “The life of the National Assembly ended on September 18, 2019 as a result of the non-extension of its life by a two-thirds vote as required by the Constitution”.

Let me remind the Singh’s who want to remove the coalition government by any means necessary that, Article 106(7) stipulates that “Notwithstanding its defeat,

the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

Hence the government is legally and constitutionally in caretaker/interim mode.

However, as the government continues to govern, the caretaker/interim opposition leader has abandoned his post along with his members of Parliament. These parliamentarians no longer care

about day-to-day governance and the National Assembly, even though they continue to receive monthly salaries and daily enjoy the privileges/ benefits of their office.

President Granger on September 25, 2019, in his address to the nation, announced that after discussions with Chairman of the Elections Commission, Ret’d Justice Claudette Singh, and with his Cabinet, General and Regional Elections will be held on Monday, March 2, 2020.

The President’s statement followed the missive sent to him on September 19, 2019

by Chairman of the Elections Commission, Justice Claudette Singh, indicating

that, “the Guyana Elections Commission will be able to deliver credible elections by the end of February 2020.

Since it is not in the interest of the PPP/C to put Guyana and its people first, the President in his continued position of upholding the constitution for the conduct of free, fair and credible elections, President David Granger has since issued two proclamations for the holding of General and Regional Elections on Monday, March 2, 2020. The President, by the power vested in him by Article 61 of the Constitution of Guyana, by proclamation, appointed March 2, 2020 as the day on which an election of members of the National

Assembly shall be held.

Article 61 of the Constitution states: “An election of members of the National Assembly under Article 60 (2) shall be held on such day within three months after every dissolution of Parliament as the President shall appoint by proclamation.”

Similarly, President Granger has proclaimed March 2, 2020, the same day as appointed under Article 61 of the Constitution for the holding of elections of members of the National Assembly, as the day on which elections of members of the Regional Democratic Councils shall be held.

Article 73 (2) of the Constitution states: “Elections

of members of regional democratic councils shall be held and the councils shall be dissolved at such times as, subject to paragraph (3), the President may appoint by proclamation.” So, Mr. Singh the parliament has not yet been dissolved, so it is not dead, the life of the National Assembly did not end on September 18, 2019.

If it is accurately dead, why then are PPP/C MPs still collecting salaries from a dead parliament?

Regards Ceion Rollox

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

President Granger is not going to fade away for just now Dear Editor, The political scenario that exists today is no ordinary competition among two political leaders, but an articulate activity that the ordinary citizen can understand.

There is one leader, a former president, who wants to live up to the reputation of being a ‘bully’, and the other leader, a military man trained in the military tactics of the rules of engagement.

There was the long drawn out calls for ‘elections now’. There were the various protests by Bharrat’s followers, one of which escalated to the extent of surrounding the vehicle of a female minister of government.

Had David Granger acceded to the harassment and calls for ‘elections now’, he knew that he would have been ‘neturalised’ which is a military disgrace. Granger did not bring out his ‘party people’ to confront the protestors (and he has them)

because it would not have been a nice confrontation, but what he did was use the system of our political constitution to have the last laugh.

He was not ‘bullied’, but the military man, Granger, out witted the civilian caretaker opposition leader.

He not did not fall for the plot of political confrontation where Bharrat would have gained much leverage by shouting – ‘they assaulted my peaceful protestors’ – but from the protestors’ behaviour that Thursday

at Pegasus, all the PNC voters have come back home and will no longer say we are not voting. Bharrat you have reunited the PNC/AFC flock and you still have to wait until March 2 for election. Bharrat you have played right in the hands of someone who is not accepted as an article politician but someone who has been trained in the military art of neutralising his opponents.

To you reading this missive, I am at present not aligned to any

political party but here are my views as someone who has been on the frontline of Guyana’s politics for 65 years. Bharrat you have been neutralized, Guyanese old soldiers never die but just fade out. David Granger is not going to fade away for just now.

Regards, Murtland ‘Slugger’ Williams

Guyana must be allowed to chart its own course Dear Editor, I respectfully request that you grant me space in your letter column to inform the diplomatic community, not to be disrespectful to my President, the Rt Honourable President David Arthur Granger and the people of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

These diplomats enjoy the best of our hospitality and to sit in our country, an independent State, and put their mouth in our business is total disre spect and ‘eye pass’. Mr. Editor, their position in this country is to foster relationship with the parties in the political arena, the private sector etc., and not meddle in our affairs. The highest court in our land had already advised on the way forward in this matter.

How come they disrespect the Guyanese people and especially my President by telling him what to do in this country?

Mr. Editor, I David Noel call on them to withdraw their statement and offer an immediate apology to my President and all the Guyanese people.

Mr. Editor, I ask the diplomats the following questions: Why did they keep their mouths shut when the (PPP) Manickchand and Teixeira insulted the American Ambassador at

his farewell party in the presence of all and sundries.

Which political party guests at the same event immediately cried shame at the statement made by Manickhand and Teixeira? If the diplomats do not wish to answer, then let me remind them it was the APNU guests at

the function. Lest they play forgetful. Mr. Editor I beg of you to grant me, a senior citizen, this letter of mine the space in your column because this insult hurts me for them to insult my President and fellow citizens.

Regards David Noel

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

The disease that attacks without warning

-- GPHC records more cases of lupus than expected

By Navendra Seoraj WAKING up every morning not knowing whether she will have joint pains, headache or other debilitating pains, was 28-year-old Tiffiney Bel’s fate after she was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), commonly known as lupus.

“The disease affects different parts of your body and you don’t know what it is going to attack next,” said Bel, as she opened up about her battle with Lupus during a recent interview with Guyana Chronicle.

The mother of two was living a normal, healthy life until one year ago when she was diagnosed with lupus.

According to the Lupus Foundation of America, Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body including the skin, joints, and/or organs.

The foundation stated that in lupus, something goes wrong with the immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs (foreign invaders, like the flu).

“At first, I was shocked because I never heard of it (the disease) before… I had no clue what it was, so I did not know what to expect, but

after getting the diagnosis I wanted confirmation so I left and went to the States for further testing and when they told me about it, I was scared, I thought it would have been the end,” said Bel. The disease started attacking her Kidneys and the local doctors wanted to place Bel on dialysis because their assumption was that she had a kidney infection, but that was not the case. After realising that she was getting nowhere locally, the young mother travelled to the US where she was immediately placed on medication.

“It started to help me and eventually I was ready to get back to my life… since then I have had to take my medication and I attend clinic here (in Guyana) once a month,” said the young mother.

Today, because of her treatment, Bel said the disease is not life-threatening to her, but she would often wake up with joint pains and other debilitating symptoms.

Despite the aches and pains, the young mother is able to get up and get through her day and even spend quality time with her two daughters, who endured a lot when their mother was first diagnosed with the disease.

Just as she has been able to make it through so far, Bel

advised persons to take their medication, eat healthy and be positive. She encouraged others living with the lupus to not let the disease control them, but to be proactive and happy.

“Don’t be scared of it, I would say that to anybody and tell them don’t let the disease control you… I have been enjoying my life, socialising and making my days happy,” said the young mother.

Bel’s enthusiasm and positivity are things which doctors encourage lupus patients to portray and Senior Registrar at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr. Grace White confirmed that they would encourage persons to adopt healthy lifestyles, eat right, exercise and have a good social and spiritual life.

Dr. White, who is in charge of GPHC’s medical clinic, said she would encourage her patients to stay strong and stick to their medication.

The hospital had started a specialised clinic for rheumatologic diseases of which lupus takes up the majority of the cases.

MORE THAN EXPECTED “Right now in the clinic we have about 25 patients

enrolled, but of that 25, there are 18-20 lupus patients or patients with a combination of lupus and other diseases… we have not ignored the seriousness of lupus and that is seen in the fact that we have

GPHC Senior Registrar, Dr. Grace White

Despite having Lupus, 18-year-old Joel Cox is able to enjoy his life and do things such as play with pet rabbit (Adrian Narine photo)

been seeing more cases than we would have expected,” said Dr. White.

The seriousness of the disease, which affects celebrities like Selena Gomez and Nick Cannon, has not escaped GPHC. And according to Dr. White, they have many medications that are commonly used to manage the disease. The disease, she said is considered non-curable, but the medication can be used to manage the disease.

In addition to traditional medication, doctors in medicine have been turning their attention to non-pharmacological means of helping patients to manage lupus. Dr. White said other means such as counselling and coaching on lifestyle methods are used to deal with patients who suffer from lupus.

“Those things may help them to lead a healthier life… so with a patient who has been diagnosed with lupus, the first thing we need to let them know is that it is not the end of the world,” said the doctor.

The severity of the disease varies from person to person and it has been proven that persons are sometimes able to carry on very “close to normal” lives with the disease.

“For those with very severe symptoms that are resistant to many medications, the doctors try our best to limit the severity of the manifestations so patients can expect compassionate and diligent care from us at GPHC… rarely we find cases with persons who show severe symptoms,” said Dr.

Tiffiney Bel

Joel Cox shares a moment with his father, Tracy Cox and mother Alicia Cox (Adrian Narine photo)

White.

In the case of lupus, some of the symptoms can be severe because the antibodies are directed against many different kinds of tissues, especially connective tissues and serious membranes. And, according to Dr. White patients may have inflammation of the lining of the lungs, inflammation of the lining of the heart, arthritis and it may even result in brain disease, heart disease, lung disease and so forth.

Although GPHC has been doing its best to deal with the disease and treat patients with the care they deserve, a lot has not been done to keep track of the prevalence of the disease.

Dr. White said there is not a lot of prevalence data, but worldwide data shows that lupus predominantly affects women, but there have been rare cases of men contracting the disease. The Lupus Foundation of America said the disease tends to affect women more than men.

One of the rare cases was that of 18-year-old Joel Cox, who was diagnosed with lupus three years ago. Cox was what people would consider a “cool customer”, since he did not react negatively after being diagnosed with the disease.

“I just acted normal when I hear about it… but some of the things I love doing like taking care of my animals, catching fish and just hanging out outside, I cannot do as much anymore because I cannot really be in the sun,” said young Cox. Like Bel, some of his

days would be nice and on other days he would experience joint pains, get an outbreak of rashes and even feel weak.

I THOUGHT I WOULD LOSE HIM Although Cox was as cool as a cucumber after being diagnosed with lupus, his father Tracy Cox was worried that he would lose his son, especially in the early days after Joel was diagnosed with the disease.

“Back when he de first get diagnosed with it, he de experiencing severe symptoms and once I even looked at my son and said I gotta prepare for this, I gotta prepare for death,” said Tracy.

The mechanic said his son needed lots of support and attention in order to get back on his feet because, to which he received in abundance. This, he said, enabled his son to be much better today.

“My advice to anybody with the sick is to stick to what the doctor is telling you and ensure you stay close to those persons who care about you… stay strong and don’t give up,” said Tracy.

Even the Lupus Foundation of America believes that for persons living with the disease, being their own advocates or having someone, who can advocate for them, would help persons take charge of their physical and emotion health.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

PM candidate for coalition under active discussion …President Granger THE method of selecting the Prime Ministerial Candidate to run alongside President David Granger, in the next General and Regional Elections, is under active discussion as the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) revise the 2015 Cummingsburg Accord.

Though the AFC has submitted its Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, for the position of Prime Ministerial Candidate, President Granger said a decision, on that proposal, has not been made to date as the revision of the Cummingsburg Accord is still ongoing.

“I cannot say now, who I will be running with but...I can assure you that the two groups are reviewing the 2015 accord and we hope to come up with a revised accord,” President Granger told reporters on the sidelines of an education forum at the Pegasus Hotel on Thursday.

The revised accord will detail the method of selecting the prime ministerial candidate. Under the 2015 Cummingsburg Accord, which brought the two political parties together as a coalition on February 14, 2015 ahead of the elections, the APNU nominates the presidential candidate and the AFC, the prime ministerial candidate.

Added to that, APNU was allocated 60 per cent of the seats won by the government in the National Assembly while the AFC received the remaining 40 per cent.

Notwithstanding these facts, President Granger underscored the importance of adhering to the Constitution.

“The major aspect is that the two groups – the APNU and the AFC – should abide by the Constitution of Guyana that is the principle foundation of any agreement.

Nothing in the accord should collide with the Constitution,” he told reporters.

Thus far, the negotiating teams have agreed to the core principles that will guide their union as this country gears up for general and regional elections. Last September, the teams exchanged their proposals for various amendments to the accord.

It was agreed by both sides, that the accord must be in accordance with the Constitution. In the previous accord, the parties had agreed that Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, would chair cabinet, but later this proved problematic as according to the Constitution, cabinet must be chaired by the President unless he is out of the jurisdiction or unable to perform the function. There have been suggestions that

President David Granger speaking to reporters on the margins of an education forum at the Pegasus Hotel

the President could delegate this responsibility even if he is in the country.

This newspaper also understands that as part of the core principles, the parties agreed and committed to the establishment of a system of inclusionary democracy and the advancement of the country’s Green State development Strategy: Vision 2040.

They also committed to seeking electoral majorities at the general and regional elections and local government elections and agreed to select candidates for the

upcoming elections through participatory and transparent processes which guarantee that candidates enjoy the majority of their respective constituencies and satisfy all legal criteria for election.

On the issue of allocation of seats in the National Assembly, Cabinet, Regional Democratic Councils, Municipal and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, the sides agreed that this would be done on the basis of a formula. The sides agreed too that the prerogative of the President to appoint members

of cabinet and ministers and to assign specific ministerial portfolios is explicitly embodied in the Constitution and is inviolable.

Meanwhile, other aspects of the core principles include the cultivation of respectful relations and at all times the parties will act collectively in the best interest of the coalition. They also agreed to speak with one voice on issues of public policy, to support a common manifesto and to issue joint media bulletins and releases on electoral matters.

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Added to that, the parties agreed to abide by the principle of collective responsibility in respect of decisions emanating from Cabinet and to holding common positions on bills, motions and resolutions in the National Assembly. Each party also pledged to inform the other in advance of its inability at any time to support any measure in the National Assembly.

Other areas covered in the core principles are that of the publishing of a joint manifesto comprising 12 broad fields: constitutional reform, good governance, economic growth and development, education improvement, energy sector, environmental protection, Indigenous Peoples, infrastructural development, international relations, social protection and social cohesion, security and human safety, women, gender equality and youth. The parties agreed to jointly finance their elections campaign and also to campaign vigorously either on their own or collectively in each contested constituency.

Work to seal breaches at Mahaicony to start this weekend

By Clifford Stanley MINISTER of Public Infrastructure Mr. David Patterson told residents of flood-affected areas of Mahaicony in Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) that the ministry will start work on sealing the breaches along the battered coastline this weekend against a time lock of twenty-one days to get the work done.

Minister Patterson, who visited the sites of the breaches on Thursday, disclosed that the next spring tide will occur from the 26th of October and his ministry will strive to move a total of fifty tons of boulders as well as materials to block the breaches before this date.

The major area of focus will be the stretch of coastline between Dantzig in the west and Fairfield on the east.

The minister told residents that the required funds

will have to confront given the poor state of the access dams to the site as well as the turbulent nature of the Atlantic on this stretch which can hamper off-loading of stone brought by barges.

Minister Patterson also reassured residents that Government had agreed that the Ministry of Agriculture will conduct assessments of

losses to crops and livestock as soon as the flood waters recede with a view to helping the residents, most of whom are farmers, to recover from their losses.

The area between Dantzig and Fairfield was hard hit by spring tide on Sunday, September 29th, which created several breaches in the sea dam and flooded households

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson at one of the damaged sections of the coastline outside of Dantzig

will be requested from the Ministry of Finance today but his Ministry will move with funds at its disposal from this weekend until such time as that Ministry releases the emergency funds.

He disclosed that, as of Thursday, areas south of the damaged stretch were being empoldered by the National Drainage and Irrigation Au-

thority (NDIA) to prevent further incursions from the Atlantic and pumps are being installed at both ends of the stretch of coastline to get the water out of the empoldered areas.

He warned though that the logistics of getting the boulders into the area will be a major challenge that the Ministry and its contractors

Minister Patterson assuring affected residents of urgent action to seal the breach before the next spring tide.

and arable lands in these villages, with the village of Highdam, Mahaicony hardest hit.

Meanwhile, residents continued to receive relief in the form of food and potable water from Government agencies and voluntary organisations including Food for the Poor yesterday, as well as feed for the surviving livestock from the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA). They, however, spent last night, the fifth night in succession, away from home since the water has not yet fully receded from the residential areas. The affected families are being accommodated by friends and relatives, having declined offers by the government to provide emergency shelters for them.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

Hundreds of Guyanese diagnosed with hyperthyroidism

By Alva Solomon HAVE you noticed a swelling of the front of your neck? Have you simultaneously experienced a rapid weight loss, or rapid pulse?

And during this time, does your blood pressure rise rapidly?

Then you may be suffering from hyperthyroidism, a medical condition of the thyroid gland located in front of the neck. It occurs when there are too much hormones being produced by the gland creating an imbalance and visible changes to one’s physical features.

While research is still being done on the numbers, at the moment, an alarming number of Guyanese have been diagnosed with the condition, Cuban specialist, Dr Yaquelin Gozalez Ricardo told the Guyana Chronicle recently. She said that there are no published studies on the prevalence or incidence of thyroid diseases here in Guyana. The numbers of cases are in the hundreds.

“According to our experience in both public and private service, more than half of the patients who come to our clinic have thyroid diseases;

hyperthyroidism being the most frequent,” the endocrinologist said.

Dr Ricardo was recruited by the authorities, and in 2016, she relocated to these shores. Being the only endocrinologist in Guyana, she faced an uphill task in gathering data on the incidence of thyroid diseases here.

The initial plan, Dr Ricardo noted, was to create the database of consultation, which covers the years between 2016 and 2019. Following this task, an investigation was approved and undertaken and she noted that “with the specific numbers we can do the necessary proposals to the hospital, public health ministry, and whatever institution is pertinent”.

Dr Ricardo explained that endocrine and metabolic diseases are among the most common that can affect humans. In recent decades, she noted there has been an increase in the prevalence and incidence of many of them, especially those related to nutrition and metabolis. To this end, she listed obesity, diabetes mellitus and thyroid diseases as the prevalent ones.

According to Healthline. com, a number of conditions can cause hyperthyroidism. One such condition is Graves' disease, which is an autoimmune disorder, and the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. In this case, it causes antibodies to stimulate the thyroid to emit too much hormones. Graves’ disease occurs more often in

Cuban specialist, Dr Yaquelin Gozalez Ricardo is compiling data on persons diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in Guyana

hyperthyroidism.

FREQUENT COMPLAINTS According to Dr Ricardo, there are several common, frequent complaints from patients who are suffering from the ailment. They include frequent bowel movements, the presence of a goiter or a visibly enlarged thyroid or thyroid nodules, trembling in the hands, sweating, palpitations, restlessness, heat intolerance and weight loss.

To reduce the risk of the disease, Dr Ricardo suggested that controlling the intake of iodine-rich foods may be

SO WHAT CAUSES OF HYPERTHYROIDISM?

No substitute for ...

FROM PAGE

France gave a resounding “definitely not”.

However, he does not place the blame squarely at the feet of the average Guyanese affected but at existing stereotypes, an inadequate number of psychologists and therapists and the high cost associated with getting help.

“Truthfully, therapy is not available and accessible to everyone. It’s just a fact: therapy is expensive. I was able to get it free because of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination which has helped [to pay for] therapy for members of the community for free,” he said.

France detailed that his sessions cost some $6,000 to $7,000 for an hour and a half which is cheap compared to other existing services.

While Vieira agreed that cost can be an issue for those seeking private practice, there are free options at the GPHC’s Psychiatric Clinic and the National Psychiatric Hospital in Berbice.

However, considering that some 70 per cent of the population live in rural areas, Vieira said many do not have easy access to this form of health care.

France recommends that more organisations, much like SASOD’s initiative, reach out to persons with mental illnesses and fully cover or subsidise the cost for therapy.

Regarding the issue of inadequate psychologists, Dr. Stewart also agrees that such is the case.

women than in men. It tends to run in families, which suggests a genetic link.

Other causes of hyperthyroidism include thyroiditis, or inflammation of the thyroid, which causes the thyroid hormones, T4 and T3, to leak out of the gland. Tumors of the ovaries (women) or testes (men) and excess iodine in the body are also causes of

She noted that the University of Guyana in April 2019 set up the Jay and Sylvia Sobhraj Centre for Behavioural Research and Sciences which she hopes will churn out more psychologists in the next 5-10 years to address the growing issue.

THE DIFFRERNCE IN GENDER Telling more of herself, Vieira stated that she initially practised as an addiction specialist but after completing a second masters degree in general psychology, she branched out to dealing with persons challenged with anxiety and depression.

She believes the latter two are the most prevalent mental health issues in Guyana.

She also believes that people visit her because they feel overwhelmed and want to start learning how to better handle their stress and to develop new and healthier coping skills.

A matter raised by the newspaper was whether the ratio of the need for therapy is treated the same between men and women.

During her practice as an addiction specialist, Vieira stated that she saw far more men than women but, with her focus now on depression and anxiety, she sees more women than men.

While she noted that this is not an indication of which gender suffers more, she added that the ratio of attempted suicide by women to men is 4:1 in Guyana.

Explaining what can also contribute to the disparity, Dr.

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Stewart said that some men, conditioned from childhood to hold back on the expression of their feelings, may also opt out of visiting a psychologist to unpack years of emotional baggage.

HELP IS POSSIBLE However, when one finally decides to visit a therapist, France wants Guyanese to know that they are free to choose whichever therapist they feel most comfortable with and do not have to confirm to the first they visit.

He also advised: “If you go into therapy closed-minded thinking ‘this is not going to be confidential, I should hold information back’, realise that you’re harming yourself in the end because the therapist can only help you if you’re being completely straightforward. If you’re not honest, they’re only working with half the information.”

Meanwhile, Vieira explained that visiting a therapist greatly depends on the individual, his/ her illness, the severity of it and his/her willingness to do something about it.

“I strongly believe in the power of therapy,” she asserted.

“It teaches people how to effectively deal with not only the large burden they came in with but also daily life stressors.”

At the same time, Dr. Stewart reminds the general public that seeing a psychologist is not a one-time-fix and that when therapy alone does not help, medication may also be needed.

a way to reduce the risk of hyperthyroidism. However, she said that iodine is essential to carry out the body's metabolic processes, so any dietary restriction must have the approval and follow-up of a specialist.

She cautioned that if the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism of a patient has been attributed to another cause, such as in the case of overdose of thyroid hormones or iodinated substances , the solution would be ,”to use only the prescribed doses of iodine or when doctors prescribe them correctly.”

According to medical research, hyperthyroidism is more prevalent in women than in men. The reason behind this lies in the difference in the body’s immune system.

Canadian specialist, Dr Judi Marcin noted in the Healthline magazine that women have been found to have more intense immune responses to vaccinations, trauma, and infections, when compared to men.

As such, she said that it is likely that this highly active immune system puts women at risk for thyroid disease.

Teachers celebrate at NCC in observance of World Teacher’s Day, TEACHERS countrywide are, today, Friday, October 4, 2019, enjoying a day away from work granted them by the Ministry of Education in observance of World Teacher’s Day, also known as International Teacher’s Day, which is observed annually on October 5.

On Thursday, the Department of Education (Georgetown) of the Ministry of Education (MoE) hosted an appreciation forum themed “Our Tribute to Teachers” at the National Cultural Centre in recognition of the hard work teachers put out in the classroom.

During the well-packaged programme, attended by Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, the diverse audience of teachers, in addition to being treated to a rich arrangement of songs, dances, skits and fashion display by nursery, primary and secondary students, and video-taped messages from Minister of Education Dr. Nicolette Henry; Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson; Deputy Chief Education Officer (Administration) Ms. Ingrid Trotman; Principal Education Officer Ms. Volika Jaikishun; President of the Guyana Teachers Union, Mr. Mark Lyte; Administrator Allied Arts Unit, Ms Sauda Kadir.

In her message, Minister Henry reminded the teachers that they are one of this country’s valued assets, as they play an integral role in moulding the nation’s children.

She assured them that they can look forward to better wages in 2020, as promised by President David Granger.

According to Hutson, teachers are strategically positioned to be wonderful role models because they have the distinct advantage of becoming the window through which many students see their future.

Also, teaching is a profession that

teaches all the other professions, it is not just a job, it is a human service and must be conquered as a mission.

He further reminded that to the world they may be just a teacher but to the students, they are heroes.

Among the schools participating are North Ruimveldt Secondary, Precious Jewel Nursery, South Ruimveldt Secondary; Westfield Prep; the MoE Visually Impaired Resource Unit; The Bishops’ High; St Pius Primary School; Dolphin Secondary; Comenius Primary; Head Start Nursery; Tutorial High; St. Stanislaus College; Lodge Secondary, West Ruimveldt Primary and Morgan’s Learning Centre.

Local singing sensation, Mr Carlvin Burnett, had the audience on their feet and even some teachers dancing, when he sang Jamaican dancehall singer Christopher Martin’s song `You’re a big deal’ and improvised singing ‘Teachers you’re a big deal’ instead.

World Teachers' Day, which was established in 1994, and commemorates the signing of the 1966 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation/International Labour Organisation (UNESCO/ILO) recommendation concerning the status of teachers, which is a standard-setting instrument that addresses the status and situations of teachers around the world.

The recommendation outlines standards relating to education personnel policy, recruitment, and initial training as well as the continuing education of teachers, their employment, and working conditions.

World Teachers' Day aims to focus on "appreciating, assessing and improving the educators of the world" and to provide an opportunity to consider issues related to teachers and the teaching profession.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

Female police officers benefit from training at IAWP conference in the US - exposed to training in areas of leadership, origins of Sexual Violence, Gender Equality in Law Enforcement & Human Trafficking SIXTEEN female officers from the Guyana Police Force recently benefitted from upgrade training, at the International Association of Women Police (IAWP) 57th Annual Training Conference, in Alaska, United States of America (USA). More than 800 delegates from 43 countries were in attendance.

The opening ceremony was held, in September, at Anchorage, Alaska, at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center, followed by a parade of the nations through the downtown area of Alaska, with the Guyanese officers proudly carrying a large Guyana Flag.

Under the theme: “Mento-

ring the Next Generation,” the 16 female officers benefitted from training in areas of leadership, the origins of Sexual Violence, Gender Equality in Law Enforcement and Human Trafficking among other courses.

The Guyana Association of Women Police (GAWP), during its annual outreach pro-

grammes has been encouraging female officers to ensure they benefit from the training which will enhance their capacity and help them to perform more efficiently and effectively. This appeal has seen much success over the years.

The IAWP was founded in 1915 to strengthen, unite and raise the capacity of

The Guyana Police Force contingent during a parade of nations through the downtown area of Alaska.

women in policing internationally. The IAWP has members in more than 60

countries and supports the unique role women play in law enforcement.

GDF Coast Guard officer remanded, acquaintance released on bail Murray was released on $250,000 bail and ordered to lodge his passport at the court

Dominic Gilpin

Paul Murray

A COAST GUARD Lieutenant attached to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) who was found with a quantity of marijuana and an illegal firearm, along with his acquaintance, was, on Thursday, October 3, 2019, arraigned before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty.

30-year-old Dominic Gilpin, a coast guard officer of East Bank Essequibo and 30-yearold Paul Murray, a miner, of New Amsterdam, Berbice, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court and were jointly charged.

The men pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that, on September 30, 2019, at Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, they had in their possession five kilograms (11pounds) of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Gilpin however was charged separately for having a .32 Taurus pistol along with matching rounds of ammunition while he was not the holder of a firearm licence. He pleaded not guilty to the said charge.

Gilpin was represented by Attorneys-at-law Latchmie Rahamat and Siand Dhurjon while Murray was represented

by Attorney Patrice Henry.

Rahamat, in an application for bail, told the court that the cannabis was found in the trunk of Gilpin’s car while the firearm and ammunition were found in the middle compartment between the front seats.

The Attorney stated that there were several other persons in the said vehicle, when her client left the vehicle with the key in the ignition and

entered a building on Lombard Street to conduct some business.

Rahamat added that her client maintained his innocence and has no knowledge of the said articles found in the car.

Meanwhile, Murray’s Attorney also argued that her client has no knowledge of the illegal items and that he was just a passenger in the car.

Police Prosecutor Ceon Blackman noted that, on the day in question, about 14:00 hours, the Police acted on information received and intercepted motorcar PXX 94, the car owned and driven by Gilpin.

The Police told him of the information received and requested to conduct a search on the vehicle. Murray was a passenger in the vehicle at the time.

Blackman stated that Gilpin pointed to the middle compartment of the vehicle and admitted to the Police that he had a firearm inside which he uses for protection when he conducts financial transactions.

Blackman added that the ranks then proceeded to search the car and retrieved the said firearm and a bag with leaves, stems and seeds, believed to be cannabis, concealed in the corner of the car trunk.

The men were taken into custody and an investigation was launched.

Prosecutor Blackman objected to bail being granted to both defendants based on the seriousness of the charge and the amount of narcotics retrieved.

Magistrate McGusty remanded Gilpin to prison while

and report weekly to the police station until his next court appearance.

The matter was adjourned until October 17, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

PPP will consider cash transfers to poor families – Jagdeo THE People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) will consider targeted cash transfers to Guyanese from the oil and gas revenues, according to the party’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo.

“The PPP has to keep its mind open to any method that would reduce poverty, get more jobs to people, get more children to school, and getting the best quality education and healthcare, and in our manifesto we are going to be talking about conditional and targeted transfers

to vulnerable groups right at the beginning,” Jagdeo said on Thursday at his weekly press conference.

He explained that single parents, the elderly and children, will be priority in such a cash transfer in a sustainable economy.

In underscoring how other countries do such, Jagdeo said that in Finland, a universal basic income helped with employment, reduce crime and target the elimination of poverty.

“This result has been mixed based on universal basic income. Alaska does this… every year people receive a cheque from a sum of

money from a fund that they have because they produce oil, the things is that the sum varies, so if oil prices are high they may get a little more, and then it can go as low as US$700 a year if oil prices are low,” Jagdeo explained.

Alaska is a state in the US. “So they can spend as much US dollars as they wish without it having the effect of the Dutch disease and the biggest concern from developing countries is the change in relative prices because if you spend too much US$ in the economy the local currency appreciates and it kills off the productive sectors,”

PPP’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo

he said.

As such, Jagdeo said the macroeconomic impact on a smaller country is not the

same.

“Brazil did some of this, they said poor families will get a cheque from the government, but only poor families, not everyone. The obligation that you have after receipt of the cheques is that the children must attend school,” he said.

He continued, “In Guyana without oil money coming in we started to introduce a more targeted approach that is where we said that the $10,000 was for the school children. This would have grown every year up to a maximum of $50,000 per child and that was even without oil money.”

The idea of direct cash transfers from the oil revenues to citizens was first put forward by Economist, Professor Clive Thomas, an executive member of the Working People's Alliance.

However, Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Karen Cummings, recently told a news conference that the government is not immediately looking to give Guyanese handouts from the oil proceeds.

In fact, she made it clear that the government prefers to invest in education.

Barima-Waini man remanded for rape

A 39-year-man, charged for sexual assault, was arraigned before Princi-

pal Magistrate Faith McGusty, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

It was alleged that Jessy Boyal of Waramuri Village, Barima Waini,

raped a 14-year-old girl, between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, at Waramuri Village, Barima Waini.

Boyal was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

According to reports, the child was left in the care of Boyal, and it was while the two were alone that he allegedly had sexual inter-

Jessy Boyal

C&PA observe Child Protection Week with Rallies and Walks across the regions creating more awareness of child abuse

By Naomi Marshall IN an attempt to bring about awareness to the ongoing issue of Child Abuse, the Childcare and Protection Agency (C&PA), Kwakwani branch, held a grand “Break the Silence Rally” in observance of Child Protection Week 2018.

The rally was held in Kwakwani on Thursday under the theme, “Supporting families to prevent child abuse through education and community involvement.”

The event, which commenced at the Kwakwani Arch and ended at the Worrels ground, saw the participation of students from the community’s daycare centre, Kwakwani Primary and Secondary Schools, the Kwakwani Neighbourhood Democratic Council Probation Department, Kwakwani Hospital, Kwakwani Utility Inc., amongst others.

The Senior Childcare and Protection Officer attached to Kwakwani, Cameal Jeffery, said the Childcare and Protection Agency is taking a stand towards ending child abuse.

She noted that it is time the residents of Kwakwani

“speak up and speak out,” against child abuse. Community members were also encouraged to work together to make Kwakwani a “safe zone” for children.

A parade was also held in Linden last week, as they joined the rest of Guyana in the observation of Child protection Week 2018.

Regional Chairman of Region 10, Rennis Morian, in his remarks, urged fathers to get involved in their children’s lives. “I want to appeal to brothers in this community, our children need us, they need their fathers, I am sending out a call to our fathers, let us again stand with our children,” he urged.

In March 2018, Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), Ann Greene, disclosed that Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) has recorded the highest cases of child abuse, with some 22.1 per cent in 2017. It is followed

by Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) with 20.6 per cent and Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) with 17.6 per cent.

course with her.

The child later told her mother what had happened and the matter was reported. An investigation was launched and Boyal was arrested and charged for the crime.

Magistrate McGusty remanded Boyal and adjourned the matter until October 7, 2019.

Rape accused to face a new trial

Romal Jewan

RAPE accused, Romal Jewan, will have to undergo a new trial after a 12-member jury remained hung in its verdict, even after further deliberations, on Thursday, October 3, 2019.

Jewan of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, was on trial before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the Sexual Offences Court of the High Court, Georgetown for raping a 13-year-old girl on September 7, 2012.

The defendant was represented by Attorneys Pamela and Brandon DaSantos, while the State’s case was presented by Prosecutor Tariq Mohamed.

The jury, after almost four hours of deliberation, was unable to reach a verdict. Jewan will be retried at the next sitting of the Demerara Assizes.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

PhD, masters scholarships for 12 Guyanese academics TWELVE Guyanese academics will, over the next five years, benefit from a $781. 6M Advance Academic Research Programme in Sustainable Transformation scholarship aimed at boosting training and research in Guyana.

The four PhDs and eight masters students will attend Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, to expand their knowledge in five disciplines.

With funding from the Canadian Oil and Gas companies (CGX) and Frontera Energy Corp (FEC), the academics are expected to become the pivotal trainers of the next generation of highly skilled Guyanese required to truly transform the country into a robust sustainable economy.

At the launching ceremony on Thursday at the University of Guyana’s Education Lecture Theater (ELT), Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE), and chair of the Transitional Management Committee, Dr. Paloma Mohamed, said the project will open new doors for the country’s premier tertiary institution.

“It is going to pay for funding; it is going to pay for publication and travel; It is going to pay for accommodation and tuition for over five years. A very important aspect of this, which is important to UG at this moment during our transformational process, is that CGX and Trent will also lend technical support to the university in the areas of strengthening our financial, HR and security systems,” Dr Mohamed said.

A UG press statement

to 12 qualified UG students.

“While we do not expect this contribution to the University of Guyana to eliminate all the structural and institutional challenges the institution faces, it is expected to contribute in a significant way

Manager, Research partnerships of Trent University’s Office of Innovation, John Knight, signs the agreement as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Philanthropy Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE) and chair of the Transitional Management Committee, Dr. Paloma Mohamed looks on

stated that with the advent of significant commercial petroleum discoveries offshore Guyana since 2015, Guyana’s reserves of petroleum are currently estimated to be higher than six billion barrels of oil equivalent, with exploration increasing at an exponential rate.

“The country is, therefore, poised for massive economic growth but faces a serious challenge with respect to absorptivity for this growth among the local population and in the non-petroleum sectors. CGX and its partner, FEC, have responded to this need with this transformative programme and have engaged with partners, the University of Guyana and Trent University to address major national deficits in training and research related to the development of the sustainable sectors of the Guyanese economy as part of their CSR programmes in Guyana,” the statement outlined.

The programme is targeted at addressing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as they apply to Guy-

ana. As such, during the five years, the academics will be exposed to training and research in programmes focused on areas such as watershed ecosystems and water quality, sustainable food and agriculture, indigenous studies, natural products, materials, physics and chemistry.

Manager, Research partnerships, of Trent University’s Office of Innovation, John Knight, said the collaboration is a “strategic partnership with a purpose”.

Present at the event were Director of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe; representatives of the Canadian High Commission, CGX officials and Vice President of Operations Development, Frontera Energy Incorporated, Duncan Nightingale; and Trent University Professor, Dr. Suresh Narine.

Dr. Bynoe commended CGX Energy, Frontera Energy Corp (FEC), the University of Guyana (UG) and Trent University for a collaborative effort which will see CDN$5M scholarship opportunity being offered

towards building human and technical capacities for the evolving Guyana…

Investing in the University is one of the best ways to contribute to our society and its people. This is an investment in the future of Guyana, with the benefits

from these initiatives being long-lasting,” Dr. Bynoe said in his address at the launch of the programme titled ‘Advanced Academic and Research Programme in Sustainable Transformation for Guyana’.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

Chronicle ‘batting on a good wicket’ -- says President Granger, urges staff to improve professional training

By Navendra Seoraj THE Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), publishers of the Guyana Chronicle newspapers, received kudos from

President David Granger, who told the management and staffers that “you are batting on a good wicket”.

President Granger was the first guest on GNNL’ s inaugural online programme

“Vantage Point”, a programme which will be aired today at noon on Guyana Chronicle’s Facebook page.

After his interview with the Chronicle’s Editor-in-Chief, Nigel Williams

President David Granger greets General Manager (ag) of GNNL, Donna Todd and other managerial and senior staff of the company

on Thursday, the President took a moment to speak with staff and share his experience as a former employee of the company which, in his days, was called the Guyana Graphic.

“I always had a great love and respect for the newspaper business because that is where I started… it is a bit of homecoming for me because it is the only newspaper company I worked at,” said President Granger.

The President, who started working for the then Guyana Graphic as a journalist at the age of 20 years old, said it was great fun because everyone did their work and knew their deadline, so there was no time to slack on the job. His belief is that being a journalist was the greatest job a young school graduate could have gotten.

“It is a job for which you enjoy tremendous trust from the public… when you go around the country, people will not know what is going on unless you tell them,” he said, adding that in order for journalists to be able to sensitise the population, he or she had to be trained.

He said a journalist could not have put out information unless he or she was bounded by a certain code of behaviour. The President added that every journalist has a social responsibility and the public expects them to be truthful.

“If something is untruthful, I do not expect you to report on it… so similar to the knowledge that a journalist brings to the profession, is the ethical values and truthfulness that matters,” said President Granger, noting that he takes the profession seriously because he does not lie to the media.

TEAMWORK Another key component of success was teamwork, he said, adding that back in his days the senior journalists would guide the juniors and ensure that they learnt the profession.

In that regard, the President said it is important for

A moment of nostalgia for President David Granger as he pointed out where he sat during his days as a journalist at the Guyana Graphic

President David Granger shares a moment with Editor-in-Chief of the Guyana Chronicle, Nigel Williams (Adrian Narine photos)

GNNL staffers to keep the camaraderie among themselves.

“I will encourage you to have pride in the company, pride in the profession of journalism and you will discover that with your collective commitment, the company could become more profitable and you could be better paid,” President Granger told employees of GNNL. He believes that the company must get to a level where people must not want to pass 24 hours without reading what the chronicle has to say.

Employees were urged to have faith in the company and to continuously upgrade themselves in order to satisfy and convince themselves that they are performing a function which is essential to the nation.

“It makes no sense you have a newspaper which nobody wants to read, but if you have something that people want to read, it will be great…

improving the newspaper is part of your profession and that is what you must aim for,” said President Granger.

The President believes that it is an important time to ensure that the paper maintains a good standard because government has increased “regionalisation” by creating four towns, namely Mabaruma, Bartica, Lethem and Mahdia.

“Sometimes you went into some towns and there was no radio, no television; it was silent, but now they are coming alive and you too are coming alive because you have a studio, so you can convey reports through other mediums,” said the President.

The President further congratulated the Chronicle for maintaining a paper with professional reputation and record, which he personally has “great respect” for.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

The vision of pupils on display at STEAMS fair Officer (Primary), Ms Shaharazade Atkinson, during an interview, told this newspaper that, through STEAMS, society would have individuals who can cope with life and life’s issues.

Atkinson said that it was important that the next generation learns sufficient life skills in order to sustain human existence.

“Instead of wasting resources they would know how to use and manage same,” she stated.

Atkinson further noted that, by working together, using these various skills and techniques, Pupils from the Lusignan Primary School showcasing their ‘Lemon Battery’ project

Pupils showcasing their 21st Century project

By Malika Edmonds THE Department of Education, Region Four, on Thursday, hosted a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Spirituality (STEAMS) Fair, as part of Education Month, 2019, showcasing the creativ-

ity and talents of learners in the region.

The STEAMS fair was held at the Grove Primary School, under the theme ‘Developing life-long skills through STEAMS’. Some twenty eight primary schools participated in the innovative event.

Region Four’s Education

students will improve the standard of living in Guyana while making life better and easier for everyone.

She said “this STEAMS fair is to showcase the talent and the skills of the children and to help promote the primary level because there is where it all starts, there is where the foundation starts.”

“The children learn new ideas, with all these subjects coming together we will have dynamic individuals,” Atkinson added.

Project Coordinator, ProFuturo Guyana, Selwyn Griffith, who was also present, made brief remarks at the event.

He said that life-long learning was the “ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons. Therefore, it not only enhances social inclusion, active citizenship, and personal development, but also self-sustainability, as well as competitiveness and employability.”

Griffith also noted that

Education closet defines STEAMS as an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Spirituality as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

The vision of pupils on display at STEAMS...

“The end results are learners who take thoughtful risks, engage in experiential learn-

ing, persist in problem-solving, embrace collaboration, and work through the creative pro-

cess. These are the innovators, educators, leaders, and learners of the 21st century,” he added.

“Don’t just keep saying ‘one day’. Make today that day. Whether you’re a teacher, student, professional or other – make learning a priority in your life. If you wait for it to find you, you will limit the amount of information you know plus your ability to attain this knowledge over the longterm,” he encouraged.

During the fair, students and parents visited the different booths and were amazed by some of the new and recycled project ideas that were exhibited.

The publication visited several booths at the event.

During an interview with pupils from the Lusignan Primary School, representatives Kimberly Bomwaru and Suray Danraj, both of grade six, showcased a ‘Lemon Battery’ that would be able to power a small community, just by using lemon juice, nails, coins, alligator clips, and bulbs.

The model stood as a representation of the students’ vision on how society could attempt to lower the use of fossil fuel to provide electricity, with replacing it with alternative sources such as lemon juice.

FROM PAGE

Projects at the STEAMS fair

Projects at the STEAMS fair

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

‘Kes’ for 40 Shades of Gayle!

The Arthur Chung Conference Centre will come alive tomorrow night, as the Jamaican heavy weight and West I n d i e s Batsman, Chris Gayle celebrates his 40th birthday.

effort was placed in the

The title of the party, “40 shades of Gayle” marks its second anniversary this year and is considered the most highly anticipated event for the month of October. He i s well known for his accomplishments in scoring the highest runs in ODI & T20 Cricket, so support is always grand.

planning and what is in store, since Gayle it’s birthday.

It is expected to receive a huge response from patrons both locally and within the Caribbean as Kes the band, Brandon Harding and Steven Ramphal will be

performing.

In addition vibes will be provided by the most versatile DJ’s within Guyana.

General admission to the event cost $4000, Stage Front $10,000 and an Elevated All Exclusive VIP Section for $25,000.

However, this year extra

Ticket locations within Georgetown include That Look Boutique, Gizmos and Gadgets, The Hibiscus Restaurant, Exclusive Styles, Bistro Café & Bar, The Wine Vault, Marriot Hotel, MVP Sports, Urban Life Clothing Store, Kiosk.

Candy Boss in Berbice and Coleen’s Closet in VreedEnHoop. For persons unable to visit ticket locations can visit our online page at 40shadesofgayle. eventbrite.com Come celebrate with the Universe Boss!

This event is sponsored

by Star Party Rentals, HJ94Radio, P&P Insurance Brokers, Rooster’s Coconut Water, Marriott, Carib Beer, TVG, Travellers Sound, Safeway Security, Dave’s Guyanese Choice, The Hibiscus Restaurant, Queen’s Security Service

Steven Jacobs’ ‘Champion Party’ set for tonight in ‘PC’ It’s the season of the biggest party in sport – CPL, and the biggest party for the players of the sport goes down tonight at Palm Court.

J a c o b s Entertainment is hosting its fifth annual Champion Party, featuring artiste and cricketer, DJ Bravo, GBM Nutron, Ariel Alexa and DJ Ana, all out of Trinidad. Local DJ’s Gull Ras, Selector Diamond, DJ Akelo, Akeem and lots more are also expected to play and the grand party.

Jacobs Entertainment is owned by local cricketer Steven Jacobs, and is known for throwing the Caribbean Premiere League parties. He told ‘The Buzz’ that since CPL is widely known as the biggest party in sport; he thought it fit to host a party for the sportsmen.

Jacobs said that this party tonight will just as all

the previous years, have all the cricket teams present at the venue to socialize and mingle with their fans.

Persons who attend will get the opportunity to meet their favourite players and have photo ops, while in an ambiance of great music and vibes.

Tickets cost $2,000 and can be purchased at Fire Side Grill, Palm Court, Jacobs Jewellery and Pawn Shop, or persons can call 6224970 to purchase as well.

The price goes up at the gate, so persons are asked to grab their tickets early, and join the action from 9PM.

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Essequibo Night Exhibition and Fair set November 1-2

Region Two Regional Executive Officer (REO) Denis Jaikarran has declared that this year Essequibo Night Exhibition and Fair now known, as Regional Agricultural and Commercial Exhibition (RACE) will be on November, 1 - 2 at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground.

Jaikarran made this announcement during a meeting he had with members of the RACE committee at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground. The Coordinator for the event is Assistant Regional Executive Officer (AREO) Yveette Yastings.

Jaikarran said that the event will be hosted at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground which is a public place. He said although the ground is overlooked by the Anna Regina Town council many investments were made by the Ministry of Education on the pavilions.

Jaikarran, however, said that committee members look forward to working with councillors of the council in an effort to make the event a success.

The fair aims at fostering social cohesion as well as giving manufacturing agencies and

local farmers the opportunity to showcase their products and produce. Construction of the booths will soon commence and businesses can start registering to be part of the two-night events.

Security will be top priority for the twonight events and RACE committee will be working in close partnership with police from G division to ensure that there is a smooth flow on traffic. Special traffic arrangements will be made on the nights for those accessing the ground.

The committee will also, be making arrangements with the Transport and Habours Department for special concession to be given on vehicles utilizing the Ferry services.

Those persons applying for Food Booths should have a food handlers’ certificate and also will undergo necessary training by the Ministry of Public Health Officers. Gates will open on Friday, November 1 from 16:00 hours and the official opening will commence at 20:00 hours. Several Government Ministers are expected to attend the opening.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

Flash back! The NARI booth displaying some of the produce on behalf of farmers. In the photo are extension staffs of NARI.

Squash ready to clash with Alkaline

- Manager says ball in Vendetta’s court

Squash (left) and Alkaline

The new, hot faces of dancehall have been jeered in recent months for being nothing but “Instagram badman,” shying away from lyrical battles on stage unlike their forebears.

Vendetta boss Alkaline and 6ix frontman Squash are the latest to go for blows, with fans bleaching online for the next track to drop. In a recent interview, selector Ricky Trooper described the new wave of artistes as “cowards” for not putting their lyrical skills to the test offline.

“People waan see confrontation, but it hard fi happen cause all who have beef with each other, dem a coward, dem a social media warriors,” he said. “The man dem just deh pon social media and a give it to one another and a drop song, but when dem fi physically go and deal with it dem nah do it, so mi call dem coward. Mi naw talk bout Squash and Alkaline alone, look pon all di Masicka war dem, and all dem war deh a come dung. Anytime two a dem a beef, and di time come now fi dem deh pon a show, is like dis yah man nah tek di show wid di next man...” Trooper continued.

But, according to Squash’s manager, Junior ‘Heavy D’ Fraser, his artiste has no issues taking it to the main stage with Alkaline. Getting Alkaline on board, he says, is the problem.

“I think, at the end of the day, Squash woulda willing fi go pon stage with him, but I don’t think Alkaline woulda willing fi

go,” he told The STAR. “Mi nuh think him (Alkaline) woulda ever go pon a Sting stage go dweet, no matter who a di other person him a go clash with, him nah go think they are an opposition.”

Heavy D, also a former promoter of the island’s premier clash event, Sting, said that while the online space does not compare to the live event, it still keeps fans engaged.

‘THE PHONE IS LIKE THE STAGE SHOW’ “Sting was the only place you had that aggressive stage clash, the clashes online nuh so fierce, but dem nice in certain ways and excite the people,” he said. “The only difference is, the phone is like the stage show, that’s where everybody is, and everybody in the world can be involved in it at the same time. It a work because that is what dem have right now, cause there is no other platform for it.”

He added that it also proves more beneficial for some artistes.

“When you’re on stage clashing, some of the things weh you use online yuh cyan seh that onstage cause yaa go get boo,” he said. “If yuh seh something wrong bout somebody mother, sister or brother, it can go two ways; yuh can either get a big ‘forward’ or big boo, depending on what you say. So it end up seh you can get weh wid it online, but not on stage.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

Nine to vie for inaugural Miss Skeldon Heritage Resort Pageant 2019

Nine young beauties are vying for the inaugural title Miss Skeldon Heritage Resort. The pageant will be staged at the Skeldon Heritage Resort (formerly known as the GUYSUCO sugar estate) tomorrow night.

very heartened by the response they received. He said that some of them were unable to go further owing to the limited sponsorship opportunities in the area.

He said that after being entrusted with the management of the resort he decided to use the pageant as a marquee event for the resort.

This event will see the young ladies competing in four categories; the intelligence, talent, resort wear, and evening wear as they compete for the coveted crown and several attractive prizes. The theme of the pageant is ‘Diversity’ and this theme was fuelled by the fact that the contestants competing are from diverse backgrounds and races.

The contestants include Chovesha Tahal a 22 year old television hostess and marketing agent at Channel 19 TV station, 15 year old Renee France hailing from the Amerindian community of Siparuta, and Ishieka Nowrang, 18 years old and currently works as a cashier at Muchies Fast Food Outlet.

The delegates who hail from communities in and around Skeldon have all expressed confidence of doing well, and sparks are set to fly among two sisters who are competing head to head in the pageant.

Coordinator of the pageant, Linden Murray who is the brainchild behind the initiative said that it was over a year ago that he conceptualised the pageant and felt confident that if executed the response would be very good. He disclosed that when a call was made for contestants they were

Delegates vying for the Miss Skeldon Heritage Resort pageant.

Competing as well is 15 year old India Laljit who is currently a student at Skeldon Line Path Secondary School, Lalita Laljit who is the younger sister of Indira , and 19 year old Natoya Rawlins who is considered among the contestants as one of the two veterans owing to the fact that she has contested in six pageants already and won three of those. Atasha Pantlitz is a 19 year-old and is the other veteran who like Rawlins has competed in six pageants as well. Despite only winning two crowns

she is very confident of taking home the inaugural crown.

19 year old Latisha Boyce who is eagerly awaiting competition night to showcase her stuff is currently pursuing studies in her quest to become a Human Resources Officer, That aside, in the lineup also is 16 year old Felicia Reece, a fifth form student at Sheldon Line Path Secondary where she will be writing seven subjects at next year’s CSEC exams.

Meanwhile, the young ladies are being taken through their paces by popular pageant trainer Simeon Burnett who is also a television host of the popular Channel 19 programme in Berbice, Music Mix. Tickets for the pageant are already on sale at a cost of $1000, while music for the event would be provided by Uprising Sound Systems. It was disclosed that a number of popular artistes and performers will also grace the stage and Berbicians near and far, are guaranteed an exciting experience, come pageant night.

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LOUIE RANKING DEAD

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

‘Belly’, ‘Shottas’ actor and artiste Louie Rankin remembered

The death of Jamaican dancehall artiste and actor Leonard Ford, popularly known as Louie Rankin has sent shock waves and made headlines around the world. Rankin’s peers in the entertainment and film industries have since paid tribute to a “cultural icon.”

Entertainer and actor Spragga Benz, who starred alongside him in the movie Shottas, was in no mood to talk, but he told The Gleaner yesterday that he was feeling “total sorrow and mourning right now”. He had previously stated on Instagram, “Mi don’t even want to believe. S.W.A. King.”

Louie Rankin, who often referred to himself as the ‘Original Don Dada’’, had made a name for himself in the music world, and even won a Grammy award in 1992 for his popular song, Typewriter.

However, it was as an actor – Teddy Bruckshut (Shottas, 2002) and Ox (Belly, 1998) – that the man born Leonard Ford was best known and remembered.

He also appeared in the Netflix Movie The Intent Two,

in which dancehall star Popcaan made his acting debut.

The Ontario Provincial Police report that the sixtysix-year-old entertainer, who was living in Canada at the time, was killed when the vehicle he was driving in collided with a transport truck near Shelburne, Ontario, around 9:15 a.m. on Monday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ky-Mani Marley ( Shottas), Nas ( Belly), Sizzla, Bounty Killer, Chi Ching Ching, Spice, Jahvinci, Popcaan, Gramps Morgan, Nas, Stefflon Don and DJ Khaled all paid tribute on social media. “Legends don’t die!!!! Rest up fada Louie.

Your memories are forever!!!”

Popcaan stated on Instagram.

Mississauga rapper JD Era posted a lengthy tribute in which he said he “cried all yesterday at the news of ur loss.”

Louie Rankin (left) and Rapper/Actor DMX in a scene from the popular movie ‘Belly’

GUYANA CHRONICLE friday, october 4, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

Malik, spinners seal Amazon Warriors 77-run win

By Rajiv Bisnauth THE Guyana Amazon Warriors continued to stamp their authority in this year’s Hero Caribbean Premier League with a 77-run victory over the Jamaica Tallawahs who completed their wretched campaign last evening at the National Stadium, Providence, the penultimate night of the league stage.

The Warriors have been unstoppable this season, irrespective of the oppositions that have come their way with an unbeaten nine-game winning streak.

They were down and out at 8/4 earlier in the day, but Pakistan veteran Shoaib Malik played a captain’s knock to give them a respectable total.

In the second innings, it was the spinners who made life miserable for the chasing team by taking wickets at regular intervals.

Leg-spinner Imran Tahir (3-12), was the pick of the lot, while the captain finished things off by claiming the last wicket of the innings.

Malik hit an unbeaten 73, as the Warriors notched 156-6, before their spinners stifled the Tallawahs batsmen in an all-round effort which showed just how well tuned the Warriors outfit are this season.

Earlier, the Warriors made one change from their last game, with leg-spinner Qais Ahmad replacing Ben Laughlin, and after opting to bat, lost four quick wickets.

However, with the Warriors under pressure, Sherfane Rutherford and skipper Malik then stitched an 82-run partnership for the fifth-wicket. While the left-handed Rutherford perished while attempting to up the ante, Malik went onto register an innings off just 45 balls.

It was a calm knock from the captain who coupled sensible cricket with aggression, with just six dot balls while finding the ropes and beyond on seven occasions.

The Tallawahs new ball bowlers -- Oshane Thomas and Derval Green-surprised the hosts with pace, and picked up four wickets in four deliveries and both the bowlers were on a hat-trick simultaneously.

Thomas bowled Brandon King off the innings fifth ball for one before he had Shimron Hetmyer caught behind without scoring the next delivery, departing the scene furious with himself.

It was then a double-wicket maiden for Green at the start of the second over, who bowled Chandrapaul Hemraj (2), and then removed Nicholas Pooran lbw with the next delivery.

However, a recovery then materialise through skipper Malik and Rutherford, who in particular, batted with ferocious intent, plundering five fours and a six in his 43-ball 45 before he went to leg-spinner Imran Khan.

Despite losing the wickets of the set Rutherford and Chris Green (2), who was bowled by left-arm spinner Zahir Khan, the Pakistani, Malik, in company with Keemo Paul with an unbeaten 18, gave the Warriors a formidable target to defend.

Thomas leaked 26 runs off the penultimate over, which ensured a 150+ score for the Warriors, who have already clinched first place for the regular season with a match in hand.

Having muscled their way to 156-6 despite an unusual top-order wobble, the Warriors then strangled the Tallawahs through their battery of spinners.

The Tallawahs never looked comfortable against the early spin tactic used by skipper Malik, who employed off-break specialist Green and leg-spinning compatriot, Imran Tahir first up.

That proved a perfect decision as Chris Gayle was bowled through his defence by Green off the first ball to start off proceedings.

The loss of their talisman brought Chadwick Walton (8), to the middle but he succumbed to Tahir a few balls later after he failed to get the elevation against the legbreak, and lofted a simple catch to Green at long-on, sending Tahir running off for his trademark open-armed airplane celebrations.

Glenn Phillips, who struck three boundaries in his 21, did not last very long either, he went caught on the long-on boundary off Hemraj before Trevon Griffith was trapped lbw to Tahir for 11. Ahmad then removed both Dwayne Smith (2) and Khan (0), off consecutive balls, before a double blow from Paul in the 15th over. Tahir and Malik then claimed the final two wickets.

The Warriors will meet the Trinbago Knight Riders this evening from 20:00hrs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

Fiji beat Georgia to claim Ireland labour to bonus first win of Rugby World Cup point win over Russia FIJI claimed their first win of this World Cup as six second-half tries saw them ease past Georgia in Higashiosaka.

The Pacific Islanders took the lead through Waisea Nayacalevu but Soso Matiashvili’s penalty reduced the deficit to four points at halftime.

However, second-half tries from Frank Lomani, Josua Tuisova, Semi Kunatani, Api Ratuniyarawa and two from Semi Radradra gave Fiji a bonus-point win.

Mamuka Gorgodze got a consolation for Georgia as Fiji moved second in Pool D. Fiji were humbled by Uruguay in their last outing - albeit after only a four-day turnaround following the loss to Australia - but

the backs, who scored five of their seven tries, ruthlessly took Georgia apart after the interval.

They could have scored more but Nayacalevu dropped the ball with the line at his mercy as Georgia fell to their first tournament defeat to a Tier 2 nation.

Their second biggest win at a World Cup means Fiji are likely to finish at least third in the pool - and with that gain qualification for the 2023 World Cup. The Islanders face Wales in their final pool game on Wednesday, October 9, (10:45hrs BST), while Georgia conclude their campaign against Australia on Friday, October 11 (11:15hrs). (BBC Sport)

Apisalome Ratuniyarawa scored one of seven Fiji tries against Georgia.

IRELAND remain on course for a World Cup quarter-final after easing to an uninspiring 35-0 win over a toothless Russia in Kobe.

Rob Kearney, Peter O’Mahony and Rhys Ruddock scored first-half tries before Andrew Conway secured the bonus point in the 62nd minute.

Garry Ringrose’s late score put a final exclamation point on an otherwise flat second half performance.

Another five-point win over Samoa would guarantee a place in the last eight.

Ireland now have nine days before their final Pool A assignment in Fukuoka against the Samoans.

Five days on from their already famous defeat by Japan, Ireland knew there was little they could do to change the narrative of their World Cup campaign to date against a side as unfancied as Russia.

The best they could hope for was to secure all five points in a performance that exposed the chasm of quality between

Rob Kearney scored Ireland’s opening try in the second minute. the two sides and showed Ireland’s line-up having signs of a team with the missed the Japan match skill-set to match any side through injury. in the tournament.

HIs half-time withWhile the victory was drawal only served to never in doubt from the further underline how moment Kearney opened vital the 34-year-old rethe scoring with his fifth mains to this Ireland try in six World Cup side. matches inside two minWith the result of the utes, moments of real game beyond doubt, Joe quality were notable by Schmidt wasted no time their absence, particu- in ensuring his star man larly in an error-strewn left Kobe unscathed, as second half. he handed Jack Carty the reins for the second half.

SEXTON’S After Kearney raced IMPORTANCE over off the back of a AGAIN UNDERLINED neat set-piece move, Captaining the side O’Mahony added Irefrom the start for the first land’s second after 12 time on his 86th interna- minutes as he latched tional appearance, John- o n t o S e x t o n ’ s g r u b ny Sexton returned to ber-kick. (BBC Sport)

BCB/Let’s Bet Sports 100 balls tournament

RHT Bakewell, Blairmont, D’Edward, RH Tigers, Tamarind Root, No 72 Cut and Load among teams advancing to final stages THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)-organised Let’s Bet Sports 100 Balls cricket tournament continued last week with major matches across the county.

Heavy rainfall affected most of the matches in the New Amsterdam/Canje SubZone but all matches in Zone A and B were played.

The Let’s Bet Sports tournament involves the hosting of four different tournaments for teams in the West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne areas.

Each area would have its own champion, with the four champions going on to play in another tournament to decide the overall Berbice Champions. Among the teams advancing to the third round of matches were

Rose Hall Town Bakewell, Tamarind Root, Blairmont, D’Edward, RH Tigers, No 70 A, No 64 Fighting Marines, No 72 All Stars and No. 68 Turn Team.

The Let’s Bet Sports tournament continues next week Sunday and is on schedule to be completed by the end of November.

The Guyana Lottery Company has pumped $1.1M into the hosting of the five tournaments. 80 teams are involved in the tournaments, making it the largest cricket event in the West Indies.

Police defeated Edinburgh by 84 runs. Police 170-9 from 16.4 overs - B. Amsterdam 52, A. Griffith 42; D. Seepersaud 3-50 off 4.2 overs. Edinburgh - 86-9 from 16.4 overs. Bhiro Ra-

jbeen 31; Drakes 3-9 off 2 overs.

No. 70 Spartans beat No. 48 Challengers by 7 wickets.

No. 48 Challengers 99 off 16.4 overs. B. Seenauth 25; Naeem Yacoob 3-27 off 4 overs. No 70 A Spartans 100 off 11.1 overs. Tameshwar Ramoutar 32;. R. Potayaya 1-12 off 2 overs.

No. 64 Fighting Marines defeated No. 69 Vikings by 17 runs. No. 64 Marines 150 for 8 off 16.4 overs. Saeed Rahaman 34, Jason Itwaru 42. Viendra Gooniah 3-30 off 4.2 overs. No. 69 Vikings 133-6 off 16.4 overs S. Ramrattan 28. Charles France 3-16 off 4.2 overs.

No. 72 All Stars beat No. 72 Cut and Load by 2 runs.

No. 72 Cut and Load 162 all out in 16.4 overs. Rishi Persaud 47,Mahendra Bhoj 48;

Pradeep Gobin 3-14 off 4.2 overs. A. Singh 4-41 off 3.2 overs. No. 72 All Stars 164-7 off 16.4 overs. K. Chatterpaul 30, A. Hemchand 24. R. Persaud 2-35 off 4.2 overs.

No. 68 Turn Team defeated No. 70 Young Blood by 56 runs. No. 68-197-6 off 16.4 overs. Tootaram Persaud 79, Jason Hulosie 41. M. Asarudeen 1-19 off 3 overs. No. 70 Young Blood - 142 all out 16.2 overs. D. Rampersaud 53. Dhaneshwar Ghanie 3-29 off 3 overs.

RHT Bakewell defeated Albion Open by 60 runs at Area H Ground. RHT Bakewell 180-4 off 16.4 overs, Junior Sinclair 51, Sylus Tyndall 50 not out. P. Baldeo 3-33 off 3 overs. Albion Open 120 for 9 off 16.4 overs. Lyodi Lewis 38. Sylus Tyndall 1-16 off 3 overs.

RH Tigers defeated Kilcoy by 8 wickets at Area H Ground. Kilcoy 75 all out 11.3 overs. S. Mohabir 16, J. Persaud 14; Jamal Jarvis 4-8 off 3 overs. RH Tigers 79-3 off 10.3 overs. Mark Papannah 25, Delbert Hicks 21. H. Mohammed 1-9 from 3 overs.

Blairmont Cricket Club defeated Paradise by 35 runs.

BCCC 149-8 off 16.4 overs.

Zameer Inshan 36, Hanskumar Singh 35, Shabeer Baksh 28; F. Fordyce 2-29. Paradise 114 all out. G. Grant 27, P Raid 17; Javed Karim 4-16, Shabeer Baksh 4-22.

D’Edward defeated Achievers by 6 wickets in a match reduced to 7.4 overs due to heavy rainfall.

Achievers 50 for 8 Quancy McPherson 20; Heralall Bridgelall 3 for 8, Navin

Rampersaud 3 for 3. D’Edward CC 52 for 4 in 6 overs.

Jaipaul Hiralall 20 not out.

Most of the matches in Zone B (New Amsterdam) were washed out due to heavy rainfall. Most of these matches would be played during this weekend. To date, the teams remaining in the four different competitions are: Zone A - Blairmont, D’Edward, Bush Lot Rising Star.

The match between No. 5 and Cotton Tree remains in dispute via a protest.

Zone C - Albion, Tamarind Root, Rose Hall Town Bakewell, Rose Hall Tigers, Chesney, Fyrish.

Zone D - Bomb Squad, Dukestown, No 70, No. 72 All Stars, No. 64 Fighting Marines, No. 70 Spartans, No. 68 Turn Team.

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

UK Athletics under pressure to reveal extent of Alberto Salazar influence

UK ATHLETICS is facing calls for an inquiry into how much influence the banned coach Alberto Salazar, who mentored Mo Farah for more than six years, has had on athletes in its endurance programme.

The move comes after the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), that sanctioned Salazar on Tuesday for “orchestrating and facilitating prohibited doping conduct” while working with the Nike Oregon Project, said it also had serious concerns about his use of prescription medications on otherwise healthy athletes.

One of those is thyroxin, which UK Anti-Doping believes should be banned in elite sport because it has concerns over potential health risks for heart, skeletal muscles, bones, and metabolic pathways, and is now the subject of a WADA critical review.

According to the Times, one leading British coach in Doha has written to the UKA hierarchy calling for an investigation into whether such methods were ever employed by staff in charge of the British Athletics team.

On Wednesday the Guardian spoke to two elite GB athletes who shared the coach’s concerns.

UKA has declined to comment,

but before Salazar’s ban its performance director, Neil Black, called him a “genius” and described his relationship with him as one of “total trust, total belief, total respect”.

Travis Tygart, the USADA chief executive, has said that athletes under Salazar’s wing were often kept in the dark about the substances they were given and used as “laboratory animals”. Tygart told the German TV channel ZDF: “You must understand that the athletes really had no idea what was going on with them, what was being given to them. What dosage, whether the methods were forbidden or not, they didn’t even know.

“An athlete was even told she needed medication for a myoma (a tumour of the uterus), even though she didn’t have a myoma at all.

They lied to the athletes and did their medical experiments on them in the NOP. They were simply sent to the doctor and told they must listen to and trust him.”

Tygart confirmed that 10 athletes from the Oregon Project had helped USADA investigators. “All of them provided us with their medical evaluations. We found out they were fake and false information was added after we officially requested it.

Alberto Salazar “I hope Nike now sees this as a wake-up call. They can’t find any excuses anymore, they have to admit that experiments were done on athletes in their name and on their premises, and that was just wrong.”

Salazar, who was stripped of his world championships accreditation, continues to deny any wrongdoing and has vowed to appeal. Nike has also backed the coach and said that his four-year ban “had nothing to do with administering banned substances to any Oregon Project athlete”.(The Guardian)

Root excited to work with new coach and hopes Test cricket will be priority JOE Root is eager to begin working alongside a new England coach with Gary Kirsten still the firm favourite to succeed Trevor Bayliss.

Kirsten was initially thought to be out of the picture, due to the touring demands of the job and his recently-agreed role with Welsh Fire in the Hundred, but the England and Wales Cricket Board have been willing to remove both hurdles.

England are open to allowing assistant coaches to take an expanded role to allow the top man a less prohibitive schedule and the ECB may be tempted to use a vacancy in the Hundred to appoint an aspiring English coach such as Marcus Trescothick.

Kirsten, who had a fine track record with South Africa and India, could be appointed as early as next week if talks continue to go smoothly, while two members of Bayliss’ backroom team – Chris Silverwood and Graham Thorpe – have shown interest in stepping up to the top job.

The experienced Graham Ford has also been linked, but reports suggest former England captain and current

Former India and South Africa coach Gary Kirsten is favourite to succeed Trevor Bayliss. (Anthony Devlin/PA) Surrey chief Alec Stewart has now withdrawn.

As Test captain, Root is not directly involved in the process, with

director of cricket Ashley Giles in charge of making the appointment, but he has run the rule over the candidates and likes what he has seen.

“I’ve been made aware of who has been going in for interview and some of those candidates are really exciting.

You look at the list and I’m thrilled with the names involved,” he said.

“There’s a lot of noise around certain individuals but the group have all done special things and could bring good things to English cricket. Ashley has got an exciting but difficult decision to make. That’s not my pay grade.

“The sooner the better but ultimately I think Ash is just desperate to make the right decision.

“One thing you always want from a new coach is a bit of energy and a slightly different way of going about things. Trevor did a brilliant job managing English cricket but I’m sure whoever comes in will want to put their stamp on it quite early.

“Personally I’m looking forward to Test cricket being slightly more of a priority than it has been for the past few years.” (PA Sport)

Sri Lanka suffer ODI series defeat despite Gunathilaka century DANUSHKA Gunathilaka’s century was in vain as Sri Lanka slipped to an ODI series defeat in Pakistan.

The opener scored 133 from 134 balls in the third and final match in Karachi, but Sri Lanka could still manage only 297-9 from their 50 overs.

Fakhar Zaman (76) and Abid Ali’s (74) opening partnership of 123 laid the platform for Pakistan to overhaul the tourists’ score with 10 balls to spare.

Pakistan therefore won the three-match series 2-0 and focus now shifts to the threem a t c h T 2 0 s e r i e s , Daushka Gunathliaka his which starts tomorrow. 16 fours in his 133 from Gunathilaka hit 16 134 balls. fours and a six in an innings that was finally ended in the 45th over when he was removed by a Mohammad Amir yorker.

That his dismissal reduced Sri Lanka to 243-6 was indicative of the lack of support he received.

Lahiru Thirimanne (36), debutant Minod Bhanuka (36) and Dasun Shanaka (43) were the only other players to pass 13, while Pakistan’s bowlers all kept things relatively tight with the exception of Wahab Riaz (1-81 from 10).

Pakistan quickly set about making light work of the target, with 123 runs on the board by the time Abid fell to Wanindu Hasaranga in the 20th over.

Haris Sohail struck a 46-ball 50 as he and Sarfraz Ahmed (23) comfortably guided Pakistan towards victory, which was secured with successive fours from Iftikhar Ahmed after poor deliveries down leg from Nuwan Pradeep. (Yahoo Sport)

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26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

Johnson-Thompson wins World Athletics Championships heptathlon gold

KATARINA Johnson-Thompson has ended her wait for her first global outdoor title by powering to heptathlon gold at the World Championships.

The 26-year-old, previously without an outdoor medal at this level, won with a British record 6,981 points, beating 2017 champion Nafissatou Thiam by 304 points. Austria’s Verena Preiner took third.

It is Great Britain’s third medal in Doha following Dina Asher-Smith’s 200m gold and 100m silver.

“This is the result of so many attempts of trying to perform on this stage,” Johnson-Thompson told BBC Sport.

“The low moments have helped me come back and

look at myself. This has been my dream.

“It has been such a long road. I am just happy that I’m coming into my best in these two big years.”

Johnson-Thompson led Thiam by 137 points going into the concluding 800m and stormed to victory in two minutes 07.26 seconds - her fourth personal best of the competition.

The omens looked good for her when in the first event on day one she took 0.21 seconds off her previous best to win her 100m hurdles in 13.09 seconds.

The Briton’s high jump of 1.95cm was matched by Thiam, before she scored a huge personal best in the shot put - one of her weaker events. The distance of 13.86m was 71cm further

than she had ever gone before.

After the 200m, the Briton had a 96-point overnight lead over the Belgian, nine better than her advantage at last year’s European Championships where she eventually finished second.

The pattern continued yesterday as Johnson-Thompson’s consistency, paired with a below-par Thiam, saw the Liverpool athlete extend her lead.

In the long jump, another of her strong events, she leapt to 6.77m. Thiam, who managed 6.86m in Birmingham in August and defeated the Briton, only went out to 6.40m.

Then came the moments that effectively clinched gold for John-

son-Thompson as first she recorded another PB by throwing the javelin to 43.93m before Thiam, who had been struggling with an elbow injury, managed only 48.04m - her best is 59.32m - and skipped her final throw.

That gave her the 137-point lead over the Belgian going into the 800m, having previously trailed her rival at this stage.

Johnson-Thompson kept her cool during the final event which she won before lying down on the track to contemplate what she had achieved.

Her points total surpassed the previous best of 6 955 set by Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill at the London 2012 Olympics. (BBC Sport)

Russell, Maxwell but no AB de Villiers for main Hundred draft ANDRE Russell, Glenn Maxwell and Harbhajan Singh are among 165 overseas players to have registered for the inaugural draft of The Hundred, ESPNcricinfo revealed.

The first handful of overseas stars who have signed up for the tournament were released on Tuesday, and included many of the biggest names on the T20 circuit, including Rashid Khan, Chris Gayle, David Warner, Aaron Finch and Babar Azam.

The full list of overseas players, ahead of the main player draft on October 20, includes players from 11 different countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ireland and Nepal.

The most notable absentee comes in the form of AB de Villiers, who had previously expressed his interest to play in the competition. de Villiers said in January that he was open to playing in the tournament, but ESPNcricinfo understands that he has no plans to do so.

It is understood that de Villiers’ primary concern is not about money - the

Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson reacts after winning gold at Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffe)

Central Essequibo to bowl off Under-17 competition tomorrow CENTRAL Essequibo Cricket Committee will continue their developmental programme with an Under-17 40 overs cricket competition which will commence tomorrow with matches set for Queenstown, Reliance and Imam Bacchus grounds.

Four teams, namely Bacchus Bulls, Queenstown, Reliance Hustlers and Richmond Youths will compete in the round-robin format for trophies and other prizes.

The competition is being sponsored by private donors and will be coordinated by president of the CECC and secretary of the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB), Autto Christiani.

A number of talented players including Nayeem Mohamed, Aryan Persaud, Ravindra Ramballi, Azizi Christiani, Dreshawn Phillips and Renard Ramroop among others will be keen to showcase their skills. According to the coordinator, “These players will have an opportunity to stake claims on the Essequibo Under-19 inter-county squad for next year and so the selectors will be paying keen attention to their performances.”

Christiani is also appealing to the public to support the tournament by way of donations since the Committee has to provide free balls, refreshments and transportation for the various teams as well as umpiring fees.

Christiani can be contacted on 604-8148 for further information. (Elroy Stephney)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday October 04, 2019) Andre Russell top band of draft picks will be paid £125 000 for their involvement in the tournament - but instead scheduling, with each team’s eight group games spread out over the course of a month rather than a shorter time period.

He is due to play in the Big Bash League this win-

ter for Brisbane Heat, and remains one of the most sought-after figures on the global T20 circuit, so his non-involvement represents something of a blow to the competition.

As anticipated, India’s white-ball stars like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have not

entered the draft, in line with the BCCI’s refusal to allow active internationals to play in overseas domestic leagues that rival the IPL. Harbhajan is the only Indian player to have registered, and may have to announce his retirement from international cricket if he is picked up. (ESPN Cricinfo)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Sandeep Lamachanie (vs Patriots-Match #8) (2) Lendl Simmons (POS, 2013)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) What is the highest individual score ever made by a Tridents player against the Tallawahs to date?

(2) How many captains the Tallawahs have used in CPL 2019?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 4, 2019

Agarwal’s double-century puts India in charge against Proteas MAYANK Agarwal’s double-century helped India build up a huge lead before spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja tightened their grip on the first Test against South Africa.

Batting in only his eighth Test innings - and his first in India - Agarwal (215) became the 23rd Indian batsman to post a double-century in the longest format, having shared a 317-run opening stand with Rohit Sharma (176).

Virat Kohli eventually called his men in when they were 502-7 in the day’s final session, and Ashwin and Jadeja took three wickets between them in the 20 overs South Africa’s batsmen faced, to leave them firmly up against it.

Aiden Markram, Theunis de Bruyn and Dane Piedt all fell as the Proteas closed on

Mayank Agarwal’s double-century puts India in charge against Proteas.

39-3, still 463 runs adrift.

Rohit resumed on 115 and Agarwal, 84 overnight, soon joined him in reaching three figures - the openers then going on to become only the third Indian pair to have a first-wicket partnership worth 300.

South Africa finally made a breakthrough when

Rohit, one shy of his best Test score, was stumped off Keshav Maharaj (3-189) in his first innings as an opener.

Cheteshwar Pujara fell from the first ball after lunch and captain Kohli (20) meekly chipped back to bowler Senuran Muthusamy to give him his first Test

dismissal before Agarwal reached his double-century off 358 balls.

After Ajinkya Rahane became the fourth man out, Agarwal’s knock was finally ended when Piedt took a diving catch at deep midwicket from Dean Elgar’s only over, with Kohli declaring after Jadeja (30 not out) helped take India past 500.

South Africa then lost Markram at the start of their eighth over, a delivery from Ashwin (2-9) that snuck between bat and pad, and the same bowler found De Bruyn’s edge to leave the Proteas two down.

Nightwatchman Piedt was bowled by Jadeja (121) six balls later, meaning Elgar (27 not out) and Temba Bavuma (7 n.o.) will start day three needing to drag their team out of the mire.

SCOREBOARD INDIA 1st innings Mayank Agarwal c Dane Piedt b Dean Elgar 215 Rohit Sharma stp. Quinton de Kock b Keshav Maharaj 176 Cheteshwar Pujara b Vernon Philander 6 Virat Kohli c & b Senuran Muthusamy 20 Ajinkya Rahane c Temba Bavuma b Keshav Maharaj 15 Ravindra Jadeja not out 30 Hanuma Vihari c Dean Elgar b Keshav Maharaj 10 Wriddhiman Saha c Senuran Muthusamy b Dane Piedt 21 Ravichandran Ashwin not out 1 Extras: (b-4, lb-1, nb-2, w-1) 8 Total: (seven wkts, 136.0 overs) 502 decl.

Fall of Wickets : 1-317 Sharma, 2-324 Pujara, 3-377 Kohli, 4-431 Rahane, 5-436 Agarwal, 6-457 Vihari, 7-494 Saha Bowling: Vernon Philander 22-4-68-1, Kagiso Rabada 24-7-66-0, Keshav Maharaj 55-6-189-3 (nb-1), Dane Piedt 19-1-107-1, Senuran Muthusamy 15-1-63-1 (w-1, nb-1).

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings Dean Elgar not out 27 Aiden Markram b Ravichandran Ashwin 5 Theunis de Bruyn c Wriddhiman Saha b Ravichandran Ashwin 4 Dane Piedt b Ravindra Jadeja 0 Temba Bavuma not out 2 Extras: (lb-1) 1 Total: (three wkts, 20.0 overs) 39 Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-31, 3-34.

Bowling: Ishant Sharma 2-0-8-0, Mohammed Shami 2-2-0-0, Ravichandran Ashwin 8-4-9-2, Ravindra Jadeja 8-1-21-1.

Hull City rookie Elliot Bonds tipped for bright future after unexpected Championship call GRANT McCann believes rookie midfielder Elliot Bonds can have a bright future with Hull City after wasting no time in making a positive impression at the KCOM Stadium.

Bonds only joined Tigers last month, earning a one-year deal on the back of a successful trial period with the club.

The 19-year-old Guyana International player with the Golden Jaguars, was initially expected to be part of Jon Beale’s Under-23 ranks this season but

he found himself catapulted into the 18man squad for Hull City’s 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic.

Although Bonds’ surprise inclusion on the bench did not lead to a City debut when left as an unused substitute, it underlined the midfielder’s rising stock under McCann.

“He’s been really good,” said City’s head coach Grant McCann, who turned to Bonds ahead of former captain Markus Henriksen.

“He trained last week with us and

we’re really impressed by him. We think he’s going to be a big player for us in the future. He’s a good size, six-foot-one. He’s aggressive and he can play in any of the positions in midfield. He’s got good energy as well so I think it’s been a really shrewd signing from Jon Beale to bring him into the Under-23s. He’s looked a breath of fresh air.”

London-born Bonds previously spent time with the youth set-ups of Reading and Brentford before joining Dagenham

on a two-year scholarship in 2016.

A first taste of senior football followed with a National League debut in February 2018 but midway last season he was sent out on loan to Farnborough of the Southern League Premier Division.

Bonds spent a trial with City’s Under-23s based at Bishop Burton last month and showed enough for Beale to hand him an initial 12-month deal. City also have the option of extending that by a further year.

Malik, spinners seal Amazon Warriors 77-run win

Captain Shoaib Malik made a 45-ball unbeaten 73.

(Adrian Narine photos)

See story on page 23

The usual support for the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

Imran Tahir celebrates the wicket of Steven Jacobs.

CWI begins regional search for selectors Standings in the CPL ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced on Wednesday that it had started the recruitment process for selectors for all of its teams.

This is part of the new mandate for the structure of its selection panels which was approved at the regional governing body’s last directors meeting on September 7 and 8 in Tobago.

CWI said in a media release: “A total of 21 prospective candidates for the selection panels were identified by the Selection System Review Task Force, chaired by CWI vice-president, Dr Kishore Shallow, and 18 have since confirmed their interest.

“The candidates have partic-

ipated in a first-round exercise which will be used to determine a shortlist for follow-up interviews.

The selection panel interview process is planned for completion by October 18.”

CWI directors approved new structures for the selection panels that see the marquee West Indies Men’s and ‘A’ teams now being chosen by a group that includes an executive selector, a selector, the team’s head coach and three scouts.

A panel that includes a Talent Identification Manager, male selector and each team’s head coach will now select all West Indies Boys’ age group teams and will also have

the responsibility of identifying and managing the development pathway for these players.

All West Indies Women’s and Girls’ age group teams will be chosen by a single panel comprising an executive selector, a selector and the team’s head coach.

CWI directors have also formalised the match day selection panel which will choose the team that takes to the field.

When present, the Executive Selector/Talent ID Manager will chair the meeting; if not, the head coach.

A selection analyst will support each panel, providing critical statistical and analytical data.

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after Thursday’s match

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,(CMC) – Points table in the Caribbean Premier League following last night’s match between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Jamaica Tallawahs: Guyana Amazon Warriors 18 points Barbados Tridents 10 points St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots 10 points Trinbago Knight Riders 9 points St. Lucia Zouks 7 points Jamaica Tallawahs 4 points FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2019