Guyana Chronicle E-paper 11-30-2019

saturDAY 30th november, 2019

No.105837

Harmon rips PPP manifesto PAGE

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…says document short on new ideas, specifics …urges Guyanese not to be hoodwinked by old promises E

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maintains healthy bank balance―AGM

Bouterse convicted for 1982 executions

Large quantity of ‘ganja’ seized, several arrested

Christmas in the air!

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The Christmas Tree at Rahaman’s Park which has become part of the Guyanese Christmas celebrations was lit up on Friday night (Delano Williams photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 30, 2019

Harmon rips PPP manifesto …says document short on new ideas, specifics …urges Guyanese not to be hoodwinked by old promises

By Tamica Garnett DIRECTOR General in the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, is challenging the originality of the People’s Progressive Party Civic’s (PPPC’s) manifesto noting that it simply restates many developments already done or that are being carried out by the APNU+AFC government.

Addressing reporters at the PNCR weekly news conference, on Friday, Harmon

dissected several of the pledges contained in the PPP’s manifesto, zooming in on areas that focus on sugar, mining and oil and gas. The PPPC, on Friday, presented excerpts from their manifesto at the party’s headquarters on Robb Street, calling it a “Plan for Prosperity”.

PLAN OF POVERTY “I call this a plan for poverty of the Guyanese people.

Looking at it I can see a set of ideas and programmes which have already been put in place

by this administration being attempted to be warmed over and sold to the Guyanese public as something original from the PPP,” Harmon related.

“To repeat it as if this is something new when you are really warming up food that has been there already, and putting it out to the nation as if this is your thing, it is wrong.

They taking this thing already cooked put it in the microwave warm it up and serve it as if it is their own. All of these things that they have here, is really

an attempt to hoodwink the Guyanese people” In their excerpts the PPP spoke to pledges such as establishing “a fairer, more transparent system for allocating mining concessions” and says that they will “expand and upgrade roads in mining communities” and provide “training for miners through apprenticeships and education opportunities”.

All issues mentioned, Harmon pointed out, were already being addressed by crafted

programmes. As part of its efforts to ensure the fair distribution of mining lands to applicants, the Minister of Natural Resources through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) conducted a series of mining lotteries, which saw hundreds of miners being allocated lands in several districts. Preference was given to native residents of each respective districts.

Director General of the Ministry of State, Joseph Harmon

In 2016, the government launched the mining syndicate initiative, and in August of this year the National Mining Syndicate, a parent body of mining syndicates in Guyana, launched their constitution.

“The mining syndicate initiative has been responsible for giving hundreds of small miners greater access to land.

Four mining lotteries were held this year alone, which gave out over 500 mining blocks to small miners. The Guyana Mining School and the technical institutes have trained over 700 young miners in various techniques, including mapping, mined out pits, pit preparation and safety,” Harmon noted.

“The government over the last two years or so has spent over $4 billion on hinterland roads. Miners, foresters and residents in regions 1, 8, 9, 10 are singing the praises of the government for the roads which we have done in these communities.”

VAT REDUCTION Harmon also touched on the PPP’s manifesto promise which spoke to the Value Added Tax (VAT). VAT was introduced by the PPP in 2007, at a rate of 16 percent. Since entering office in 2015, the APNU+AFC has reduced the tax to 14 percent.

“They speak of VAT as if it is something that the APNU AFC just brought in. We have to remind people that this was something that was brought in by the PPP. They speak about tax concessions, and we have to remember that the VAT was introduced by the PPP, at 16%. When we came into office we reduced VAT in an incremental way to where it is right now,” Harmon noted.

In their promises for the oil and gas industry, the PPP said they would “establish” an arm’s length Sovereign Wealth Fund insulated from political interference, not-

withstanding there already being signed the Natural Resources Fund, which was renamed from the SWF, into law in January 2019.

The January signing made Guyana one of the few countries to have a SWF in place before “First Oil”. The law sees the setting up of a Public Oversight Committee (POC) to examine proposals to manage the fund’s resources, and comprises some 22 members, representing a wide cross-section of society.

“You can go to the law and you can find what they are saying here already in writing, debated and passed in the National Assembly.

We have a SWF which is an Act and incorporates all of the things that they have here. So to repeat it as if this is something new is really warming up food that has been there already. We done cook this food, we have it on the table,” Harmon expressed.

SUGAR ESTATES The PPP also reiterated their plans to reopen shuttered estates of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuco), even as the party and its presidential candidate continue to dodge specifics on how they plan to go about that without pumping losses into the industry. “These promises in very many cases bear no semblance to reality.

For the PPP now in their manifesto to say they would reopen the sugar estates, I would like to know on what information basis they are going to do that,” Harmon asked. “This blank statement that we will reopen sugar estates, when you examine it, when you go into the details you will see how fake this promise is. And it is not something that any right thinking Guyanese can take on face value.” Tearing into the issue further, Harmon questioned how the PPP could revive the industry given their stellar record of mismanagement, decline and unaccountability in the industry across the 23 years they oversaw it. “We need to go back a little bit so that we understand where we are with this PPP promise about reopening sugar estates. For the tenth parliament for almost every single budget the PPP promised to turn around GuySuco. There were so many turn around plans in the National Assembly that we were getting high-turn.

Every year, so many billions for a turn around, so many billions for a turn around,” he said.

Harmon is confident that Guyanese will not buy into the PPP’s schemes.

“I am quite positive that with the developments that would have taken place over these last four and a half years they will say yes Guyana is on the right track and we want this track to continue,” He said.

COME CLEAN 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 30, 2019

…PNCR repeats calls for clean, inclusive list …slams PPP objection to merging of H2H data …says party bent on hiding ghosts on bloated, uncleansed list

By Tamica Garnett

clean and inclusive list.

The ruling of the Chief THE People’s National Justice that the house-toCongress Reform has, house registration was once again, called for legal was accepted by all. a clean and inclusive The use of the data will list of voters and has not impact negatively railed against the op- on the election date. It position’s campaign to should, therefore, be used stop the merging of the in the interest of free and data gathered during fair elections, elections in the house-to-house reg- which every eligible and istration with those on qualified citizen is able to the existing National exercise the franchise.”

Register of Registrants.

According to HarSpeaking at the party’s mon, all registrants have weekly news conference a reasonable expectation on Friday, Director Gen- that their applications eral of the Ministry of would be processed in the Presidency, Joseph time for their names to Harmon, said that the be included in the Official PPP/C’s only interest in List of Electors for the preserving the bloated, elections scheduled for uncleansed and dated list 2nd March 2020. “The is so that their managed PNCR, therefore, relies ghosts could be more on the decisions already effectively hidden and made by GECOM, which thus more difficult to fer- have been reported in ret out. “The list in this the press, and the pubvulnerable state is prime lic assurances provided for voter manipulation, as through its Chairperson, was reported without re- Justice (Retired) Claudress in 2006; for which dette Singh, that all the a presiding officer was data collected during the fired on the spot in 2011; house-to-house registraand caused a registration tion exercise will, after officer to part company having been subjected with GECOM in 2018,” to the Commission’s Harmon a former senior well-established stanofficer at GECOM stated. dard procedures, be utiHe added: “The PNCR lised to update the existmaintains its call for a ing National Register of

Registrants database and consequentially the List of Electors to be used for the upcoming elections.”

APNU onboard Meanwhile, Harmon told the news conference that from the very inception, the PNCR through A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) supported GECOM’s intent to conduct house-to-house registration in 2019. He said in fact, the entire National Assembly, including the PPP, supported that intent by appropriating the required funds.

He said that with the passage of the No-Confidence Motion (NCM), the PPP/C reneged and called for immediate elections using the list derived from the National Register of Registrants (NRR) database consisting of data dating back to 2008.

“The PNCR recognising that the PPP’s intent to use a flawed list, immediately objected, and called for house-to-house registration to cleanse the old and padded list. After the old list was retired, GECOM began the process of house-to-house registration. Thousands of Guyanese were registered in this exercise; sev-

eral of them were young people who turned 18 years of age since the last elections,” Harmon stated.

and legitimate exercise.

Harmon said in the face of these new circumstances, the PPP/C still insists that the data gath-

General Secretary of APNU, Joseph Harmon

However, he noted that with the passage of time, due to the various court actions, the conduct of house-to-house registration, which was embarked upon no longer remained a delaying factor in the delivery of elections, more so after it was prematurely terminated, even though the Court ruled that it was a legal

ered during the houseto-house exercise should not be used. “If that position prevails, it means that over sixty thousand (60,000) new registrants, who were only recorded during the house-tohouse exercise, would not be committed to the database. Consequently, over 30,000 voters, those 18 years and over, will

not find themselves on the voters list and those persons who changed their particulars during the house-to-house period would be listed with the old particulars.”

He asked why should the PPP/C want to disenfranchise new wouldbe voters? “Moreover the tens of thousands who have changed their particulars? Why dishonest Irfaan Ali and the PPP are seeking to deny the young people of Guyana the right to vote?” Harmon said the PPP/C’s attitude to the electoral roll is further manifest in their approach to the distribution of ID cards.

GECOM has failed in its repeated efforts to locate several thousands of persons for the purpose of delivering ID cards. At this time, over 17,000 ID cards remain uncollected. While those persons’ existence remain in question, the only concern of the PPP/C is that those names (representing the dead, the living or the non-existent) should remain on the list. “We must all ask ourselves why.”

Over 550 house lots allocated in two days- Minister Ferguson WITHIN the space of two days, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) allocated over 550 house lots in Regions Five and Six. “We were able to put smiles on the faces of the residents in both regions,” remarked Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Annette Ferguson.

The Minister, along with CH&PA Chief Executive Officer, Lelon Saul, and several staffers from the agency, hosted a two-day land allocation outreach. On Thursday the team was in Corriverton, Region Six, and Friday saw

the team at the Regional Democratic Council in Region Five.

The objective of the exercise, the Minister explained, was to address the backlog of applications from 2010 and further back. However, due to the overwhelming response in both regions, persons, with more recent applications, capitalised on the outreach to have their applications processed, and received their house lots.

“What we found is that persons turned up with applications from 2011 and more recently. So, with the reserve that we had, we were able to provide land to those per-

sons,” she explained.

The minister acknowledged that the inherited backlog of house lot applications was an issue. The current administration was working assiduously to reduce same and ensure that every Guyanese receives a plot of land to achieve the dream of home-ownership. She reminded that His Excellency President David Granger had stated that the principal objective of the Government’s housing policy was to encourage “accessible and affordable housing, in sanitary and safe communities, with the necessities for wholesome and dignified living.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 30, 2019

Two killed in London Bride attack Two members of the public have died after a stabbing attack at London Bridge, in which police also shot dead the suspect.

The Met Police has declared the attack a terrorist incident.

The suspect, who died at the scene, was believed to have been wearing a hoax explosive device, police said.

Videos on social media appear to show passers-by holding down a man. An officer arrives, seems to indicate to the group to move, and fires a shot.

A Whitehall source confirmed two members of the public died to the BBC but

gave no further information.

Details are still emerging and Neil Basu, the head of UK counter-terrorism policing, said the force was keeping an open mind over the motive.

He said officers were called to a stabbing at a premises near the bridge just before 14:00.

BBC journalist John McManus, who was at the scene as it unfolded, said he had seen a struggle on the bridge, with several men restraining one man. Police then arrived quickly and a number of shots were fired at him, he said.

In footage shared on social media, the man could be seen being pinned down by mem-

bers of the public. Another man in a suit could be seen running from him, having apparently retrieved a large knife.

Mr Basu told a press conference: “A male suspect was shot by specialist armed officers from City of London police and I can confirm that this suspect died at the scene.”

He added that a “wide cordon remains in place” following the incident.

Mr Basu said: “Officers continue to carry out extensive searches in the area to ensure there is no further threat to the public.”

Mr Basu said the force would have extra police patrols

across the capital.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who returned to Downing Street from his constituency, said the emergency services and members of the public who intervened “represent the very best of our country”.

He said: “This country will never be cowed or divided or

A scene from the attack (BBC photo)

intimidated by this sort of attack and our values, our British values, will prevail.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan thanked the members of the public who showed “breathtaking heroism” in running towards danger - “not knowing what confronted them”.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct said it has begun a mandatory investigation into the shooting.

London Bridge station and Tube has now reopened after it was earlier closed, Network Rail said.

But trains may continue to be delayed, cancelled or revised while services are reinstated, it added.

SAT. November 30, 2019 - 05:30hrs ~07:00hrs

Both the Conservatives and Labour say they have suspended election campaigning for the night following the attack.

Witnesses have spoken to the BBC about what they saw.

Amanda Hunter, who was on a bus on London Bridge at the time, said: “All of a sudden [it] stopped and there was some commotion and I looked out the window and I just saw these three police officers going over to a man…

“It seemed like there was something in his hand, I’m not 100% sure. But then one of the police officers shot him.”

Bus driver Mustafa Salih, 62, was travelling from Borough High Street towards London Bridge where he saw emergency vehicles and the police cordon.

He told BBC London: “A police officer came up to me and said ‘turn off your engine, get off and run’.

“I looked up and I could see a crowd of people coming towards me.

“One woman was crying.

I ran back down to Borough High Street. It was all very scary as we did not know what was happening.”

London Bridge was the scene of another attack, on 3 June 2017, in which eight people were killed and many more injured.

This latest attack comes after the UK’s terrorism threat level was downgraded on 4 November from “severe” to “substantial”, meaning that attacks were thought to be “likely” rather than “highly likely”.

The terror threat level is reviewed every six months by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, which makes recommendations independent of government. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 30, 2019

Shooting sparks feminist outcry in Mexico The former head of Amazon Mexico is wanted for questioning after his wife was apparently killed by a hitman in Mexico City.

Abril Pérez Sagaón was shot dead in a car on Monday in front of two of her teenage children.

Juan Carlos García has not commented publicly.

The couple were in the middle of a divorce battle and Mr García had been freed on bail after a prior allegation of violence against her.

Ms Pérez said he had beat her with a baseball bat when she was asleep in January and she formally accused him of attempted femicide (murder of a woman because of her gender).

Mr García was held in pre-trial detention for 10

months, but the judge released him at the start of November, downgrading the charge to domestic violence.

she was sleeping at the time.

She had a restraining order against her husband and was trying to get custody of their

Abril Pérez Sagaón was killed in her car on Monday (BBC photo)

According to Mexican media, the judge - named as Federico Mosco González questioned the intent of the alleged crime, saying that if Mr Garcia had wanted to kill her, he could have done so as

three children.

El País newpaper said she had moved out of Mexico City but, according to relatives, she was briefly back in the capital on Monday to attend a meeting linked to the

custody battle.

A motorcyclist ambushed her vehicle while she was on her way to the airport afterwards.

No charges have yet been issued, but the killing has sparked fierce debate in Mexico about the wider problem of gender violence.

Activists have long accused authorities of not doing enough to protect women in abusive relationships. Many also insist the term “femicide” is necessary to give murders of women more visibility and ensure sentences fit the crime. The same judge who freed Mr García is now also under scrutiny for another decision: the release of a doctor accused of raping a female patient. Mexican media say Mr González insisted

Free solo climber falls to his death

A world-renowned American free solo climber has died attempting to descend the side of a cliff face.

Brad Gobright, 31, fell around 300m (1,000ft) to his death in El Potrero Chico in northern Mexico.

His companion, fellow climber Aidan Jacobson, 26, fell a shorter distance and survived with injuries.

Gobright was best known for free soloing, or climbing without any safety gear, but at the time the two were abseiling, a technique using ropes.

Abseiling accidents are believed to be the most common cause of fatalities in the sport.

The two men were simul-rappelling - a technique where two climbers descend opposite strands of an anchored rope, with their bodies acting as counterweights to each other - with an 80m rope, the Outside website reports.

“We started rapping,” Mr Jacobson told the Outside website, using the North American term for abseiling.

“I was a bit above him. I was on the left. He was on the right. Then all of a sudden, I felt a pop, and we started dropping.”

While Mr Jacobson crashed through a bush, which cushioned his fall, before striking a ledge, Gobright fell to his death.

“It was basically a blur,”

Mr Jacobson added. “He screamed. I screamed. I went through some vegetation, and then all I remember is seeing his blue Gramicci shirt bounce over the edge.”

Gobright, wrote on Instagram: “We will carry your spirit, dear friend.”

“The climbing world lost a true light. Rest in peace,” said Alex Honnold, focus of

Brad Gobright fell around 300 metres to his death (BBC photo)

Born in California in 1988, Gobright first started climbing at the age of six.

He reportedly dropped out of an Orange County community college in 2009 and worked odd jobs to fund his climbs around North America, before his talent began to attract sponsorship deals.

“I always worked for four months, climbed for eight, and started over,” he told Rock and Ice magazine for a 2017 profile.

Tributes to Gobright, who once held the coveted speed record on the Nose of El Capitan in Yosemite, have come in from across the climbing world.

Jim Reynolds, who set that speed record with

the Academy Award-winning documentary Free Solo.

“You will be dearly missed,” Free Solo director Jimmy Chin wrote on social media, calling Gobright “a true climber’s climber”.

“He had a magic about him on the rock, unlike anyone I’ve ever met,” wrote Alice Hafer, one of Gobright’s climbing partners.

“He was so supportive and encouraging, always pushing me harder and believing in me.”

It is unclear exactly what happened that caused Gobright to fall. But a Reddit climbing forum discussed the dangers of rappelling in the wake of Gobright’s death, posting statistics

which suggest more than a quarter of climbing accidents in North America happen during the descent.

“It feels like it’s always rappelling... it’s not over till you’re on the ground folks,” wrote one commenter.

Another said climbers can “let their guard down” after a long and tiring day, or become distracted in the rush to get down before the sun sets.

“It takes all of 20 seconds to check yourself, check your partner, and knot your ropes.” (BBC)

the evidence was insufficient.

Ms Pérez was killed on 25 November, the date the United Nations has designated the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Events to mark the day were held across Mexico before news of this particular case was public.

During the demonstration in Mexico City, key landmarks were defaced with feminist slogans, sparking

outrage. Some feminists said officials were more worried about monuments than women’s lives.

In August, a protest against sexual assault cases involving police officers also became heated and bus shelters were smashed.

The demonstration was held after several police officers in Mexico City were suspended as part of investigations into the alleged rape of two teenage girls. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 30, 2019

Boys must also be involved E

―in the battle against domestic violence

XAMINING the pictorial that accompanies News Source’s captioned story, “Education Ministry probing school-yard fight between male and female student of Richard Ishmael Secondary School” of November 28, 2019, should convey disturbing scenarios.

Though one will agree that school-yard fights are traditional, particularly male on male, or female on female, as in some cases, this clash is one that engaged a male and female and shows the male in the process of delivering the kind of physical punch one would on a male without due consideration that it is directed towards a female. From all appearances, he seemed to have been having the upper hand in this revealing exchange.

Yes, it is absolutely disturbing that his fellow male students could be seen casually standing against a section of the school building, as if watching a video game, unmindful that their male colleague, from all appearances, is bringing to bear his masculine strength on a female student as he aims a punch.

We stand to be corrected by making the observation that it would seem that one of the two student onlookers has a cell-phone and is more interested in recording another scene

for viral purposes, rather than joining with other fellow student for separating the two clashing students.

These students are indeed very young, however, one is certain that they should be aware that it would have been morally correct and thoroughly decent as young male teens for them to have made an effort to separate their two fellow students, especially in the case of a female being involved, rather than milking the satisfaction from the combat, as seemingly represented in the viral video.

One wonders what are these young men’s perception of the opposite sex, and their understanding of the relationship between the two, and the general role and position of women, who must be accorded the respect and protection of the male counterpart, rather than being beaten/chastised/ and made to know her place/submit to mighty man, as many of these young men seem to believe from the very bad examples around them. Are we looking at a video of unsympathetic and indifferent males when females are at the receiving end of male physical assault? These are questions which are equally applicable to the male involved in the fight.

It is ironic that such an incident is publicly highlighted

a few days after the observance of International Day For the Elimination of violence against women, which heralds the commencement of 16 days of Activism, a period during which the spotlight is focused again on the scourge of violence against women, inclusive of young girls. It is a social issue that continues to bedevil our society, and many others, and which must always be in the public domain because of its incidents and prevalence and the brutal violence that it entails, with often tragic endings.

Notwithstanding as to what may have been the circumstances that led to the two students involved in such an unfortunate exchange, it should inform us that fathers must also educate their sons on the critical social issue of domestic issue of domestic violence, since such a habit commences in the home; that young male teens must be included in audiences that have been convened for the purpose of domestic violence awareness programmes, with the theme broadened for an uncomplicated explanation of this social epidemic; and that domestic violence as a social ill, need to become a part of every school’s curriculum.

Our watchwords must be discipline and lofty principles Dear Editor,

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AST week we celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention Rights of the Child.

When Guyana ratified the Convention in 1989, I was in active service to the Nation. The principals and adumbrated in the articles of the Convention as contained in the article

by Ms. Thomas are perfect.

At the latter part of her letter, she stressed the importance of Educational Institutions having enough space for recreation and outdoor activities for students.

Unhappily, some of our Planners, including the Municipalities, seem to be unaware of this important requirement evident in Sections of our Capital.

But there is a more important matter that needs to be discussed.

Some of us emerged out of a generation where we were taught the wisdom of not ‘Sparing the Rod and spoiling the Child.’

Everything requires discretion and balance in its application.

The failure to engage balance and discretion is evident in our society today.

In some of our schools, we see where our children see nothing wrong in boldly and openly ignoring teachers, par-

ents and defying elders.

I say two things: First, Mankind’s history, whether we like it or not, is full of examples where the rod is used against those who break the rules.

Of course, there is the difficult question of who has the right to make the rules.

The majority of us subscribes to one faith or the other, whether it be Rastafarianism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism or Christianity.

Take the underpinning principles and beliefs of the last named (and a similarity exists among all religions).

If you obey the rules, that is, live to the dictates of the Ten Commandments, you enjoy the pleasure of ‘Heaven’ in the next life, but if you don’t, there is a horrible hold of ‘Hell,’ a place of torment and misery.

That is a clear application of the Rod. As we discussed the Convention, in our Schools, Churches, Mosques, Temples and the Community, we must, of course emphasize the Rights of the Child with equal fervor.

You must from the time of understanding that there are rules that need to be respected, in other words, from the cradle.

We must insert the watchword that children and adults, every hour of the day, and every day of the year, that they have a responsibility to be good citizens and to know the vast difference between right and wrong, poor performance

and excellence.

Around Guyana today, there is abundant evidence that we seem to know all of our rights, oblivious of rules and our responsibility.

The next decade must correct some of the flaws noticeable since we signed on to the Convention thirty years ago.

In case, someone accuses me of supporting violence against children. This is not the case. If you step out of line, there must be some punishment that need not follow the path of so-called civilized Nations.

Our civilization is the result of the several wars, conflict, and inquisitions. But whether we like it or not, this is the reality.

Remember the days in every yard, in every community, Teachers, Pastors and Elders were held in awe and respect by children.

This letter ends without giving the examples here and elsewhere of young men and women, who enjoyed these rights, ignoring or perhaps not knowing their responsibility and commit all sorts of crime including patricide and matricide, an age of spoilt brats.

Our watchword must be discipline and lofty principles.

Regards, Hamilton Green

Op-Ed

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By Ambassador Irwin LaRocque ON Sunday, 1 December, the Caribbean Community will join the world in observing World AIDS Day 2019. This year’s observance is occurring at a time when our governments and civil society organisations face the daunting task of adapting their life-saving initiatives in an environment of reduced financing from development partners for HIV prevention, support and treatment.

Hence this year’s World AIDS Day theme “Communities make the difference” is especially relevant as it turns the spotlight on the people and services which will truly make a difference in our race to end AIDS by 2030. I am referring to the civil society leaders, the community support groups, faith leaders, youth advocates, women and men’s groups and all those individuals who work at the grassroots level to reduce the prevalence of HIV in our region. These are the people that will make the difference as donor funding is reduced.

There is no understating the value and importance of Community-led organisations. In the HIV and AIDS response, this includes organisations by and for People Living with HIV or Tuberculosis and organisations by and for people affected by HIV, including groups most vulnerable to HIV such as people who use drugs, women and youth.

Key people-led organisations and networks and their expertise are anchored in their lived experiences, which determine their priorities. They are an intrinsic part of the global HIV response and a clear illustration of the value and the leverage community-led organisations can bring to the cause of ending AIDS in our region.

These organisations shape our lives, and in the case of the HIV response, they are saving lives. Through PANCAP’s work, we have seen how civil society groups, including groups that represent women and youth, have led responses that include advocacy, campaigning and holding decision-mak-

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 30, 2019

Building on gains in fight against HIV/AIDS

ers to account; monitoring of policies, practices, and service delivery; participatory research; education and information sharing; capacity building, and funding of community-led organizations, groups, and networks.

Community-led organisations have risen to the challenge of resource mobilisation. Generating income to sustain their operations is no longer an alien concept.

In that regard, PANCAP has highlighted the work of the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL), LIVE UP: The Caribbean Media Alliance and the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD Guyana), among others.

In the case of LIVE UP: The Caribbean Media Alliance, this community-based entity was able to create a unique private-public partnership with Scotiabank. This provides training and capacity building for local journalists and civil society groups from across the region on reducing stigma and discrimination.

Recently, SASOD (Guyana) secured funding for the

“Guyana Key Populations Viral Load Assessment” through the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), by way of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Global Fund to Fight Tuberculosis, AIDS and Malaria.

There was technical support from MEASURE Evaluation in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health’s National AIDS Programme Secretariat.

The ground-breaking study has brought tremendous value to Guyana’s Public Health as it sought to ascertain the level of difficulty experienced by People Living with HIV when accessing health services. This is a demonstration of how community-based organisations are now evolving to self-sustaining entities which mobilise finances that directly benefit the people they serve.

Our governments have also recognised the importance of grassroots, community-led organisations. Recently, National AIDS Programmes from several Caribbean ter-

ritories have commenced social contracting of civil society organisations and community-based groups.

This involves unique partnerships in which the national programmes employ them to provide services for vulnerable groups such as HIV testing, treatment, care and support. This partnership is critical for reaching the people who are most at risk.

For example, while drug

users may not seek health information and services directly from a National AIDS Programme, it is likely they would seek assistance from a community-based drug rehabilitation centre.

But not all of our critical community-based initiatives are benefitting from this type of partnership. We need to acknowledge that community groups cannot stand alone in response to HIV. Their sustainability is critical to the Region ending AIDS by 2030 and achieving the 90-90-90 Targets to diagnose 90% of all HIV-positive persons, provide antiretroviral therapy (ART) for 90% of those diagnosed, and achieve viral suppression for 90% of those treated by 2020.

I urge full support for the effort to sustain community-led organisations which are crucial to the Region’s HIV response. We cannot afford a reversal of all the substantial work done by governments, civil society and development partners to reduce the prevalence of HIV in the region.

Large quantity of ‘ganja’ seized --several arrested POLICE have seized and destroyed a large quantity of marijuana during several raids over the past few days.

On Friday, ranks from CID Headquarters arrested a male at a wharf in Georgetown with a quantity of articles suspected to be stolen or unlawfully obtained, including a large built-in music set which, when checked, was found to contain twelve hundred and thirty-eight grams of suspected cannabis. The suspect, who resides in Goed Intent,West Bank Demerara, is cooperating with investigators.

In another incident, also on Friday, an intelligence-led operation conducted by ranks of the Police Narcotics Branch at the Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara resulted in the arrest of two males with more than 44 kilograms of suspected cannabis.

The suspects are being processed for court.

Across in Region Six (East Berbice- Coren-

tyne), during an almost three-and-a half-hour cordon-and-search operation in the New Amsterdam/ Canje Station Districts, police on Friday arrested a number of persons for questioning in relation to several offences, including possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, and armed robbery; a quantity of suspected cannabis, which weighed 586 grams, was

found in one of the suspects’ premises at Palmyra Public Road, East Canje.

Meanwhile, ranks of the Guyana Police Force stationed in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) on Tuesday conducted a drug eradication exercise at 10 Miles Bosai Road, Linden. During the more than five-hour operation, the ranks found approximately two acres of cannabis under cultivation,

with about 1800 plants measuring from a foot to four feet in height. Additionally, the ranks found 30 pounds of processed cannabis. The plants and dried cannabis were photographed, samples obtained and thereafter destroyed by fire. A grid location of the area was made, and efforts are currently being made to trace the ownership of the land, with a view to instituting criminal charges

Some of the drugs that were destroyed during the Linden operation

Some of the drugs that were destroyed during the Linden operation

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 30, 2019

Christmas in the air!

Despite overcast conditions, dozens of families converged at Rahaman’s Park, East Bank Demerara, to witness the ‘lighting-up’ of the 60-foot Christmas tree.

Minister of Business with responsibility for Tourism, Haimraj Rajkumar, in his address to the gathering, on Friday evening, said the tree had become a part of the Guyanese celebrations of Christmas. He expressed profound gratitude to the Rahaman’s family for their continued efforts to organise the annual event.

“I would like to thank the Rahaman family and donors who contributed to make this ceremony a success. We have grown over the many years, 14 years to be exact, to expect the ushering of the Christmas season by the lighting up of the Christmas tree that the Rahaman family so graciously acknowledge and are willing to do every year,” Minister Rajkumar stated.

He added that the tree was a symbol of the Christmas season and the goodwill it brought to all Guyanese.

The minister stated that there was nothing like a Guyana Christmas and it was Guyana’s unique Christmas culture which made the country different from anywhere in the world.

“We have our pepper pot, our black cake, our masquerade, our Christmas culture is unique and it is different from anywhere and we know that, and I would like to thank Mr. Rahaman for having performances by a masquerade band to encourage and nurture the growth of the Guyanese culture,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the scores of children in attendance were treated to goodies and Christmas entertainment to prepare them for the exciting Christmas season.

A few of the many children posing with Santa Claus at the Christmas Tree light up (Delano Williams photo)

Three charged for Friendship robbery THREE men were, on Friday, charged after they allegedly robbed a 26-yearold female labourer of Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) of cash and articles valued $94,200, on

November 21, 2019, at Friendship Village, EBD. The suspects, Travis Benjamin, Dequan Chapman and Glenrick Ally, all of Linden, appeared at the Prov-

Remanded: Travis Benjamin

idence Magistrate’s Court. Benjamin and Chapman were remanded and Ally was placed on bail in the sum $300, 000. The case will be called again on December 16, 2019.

Remanded: Dequan Chapman

Minister of Business with responsibility for Tourism, Haimraj Rajkumar, addressing the gathering at Rahaman’s Park (Delano Williams photo)

The 60-foot Christmas tree

Enterprise family robbed while asleep HOURS after a family returned from overseas, bandits attacked them at their Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home.

Reports indicated that the persons returned from overseas, Thursday night, and, after having a family gathering with relatives, they retired to bed at midnight.

That same night, one of the relatives heard a strange sound and woke.

Upon checking, nothing was amiss.

However, in the wee hours of Friday morning, a woman was awakened from her slumber and noticed her purse was on the floor and her money and important documents were missing.

“When my sister get up around 04:30h, she holler out that she purse open and throw out in the house, ” Farook Khan said.

This prompted them to check the house. It was dis-

covered that the door on the lower flat of the house was pried open, the grill on the window was cut and some panes were removed.

They believed that the suspects then used the staircase to gain entry into the upper flat of the building.

Khan said over US$4500 was taken along with some Guyana currency, a passport, green card and other valuables.

He expressed relief that no one was injured.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 30, 2019

Education is more than academics ―First Lady tells Linden Foundation CSEC awardees

First Lady, Mrs Sandra Granger, presents a plaque to one of the outstanding students

FIRST LADY, Mrs. Sandra Granger, emphasized the importance of education in personal and national development, in her address, on Thursday afternoon, at the Linden Foundation Secondary School’s prize-giving ceremony.

The First Lady reminded the 82 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) awardees, teachers and well-wishers that education was more than just academics.

“Education as I understand it, also includes the moral values we instil in our children; awareness of their culture and consciousness of their place as integral members of the family, the community and the nation. Grounded in this education, our children and adults

First Lady, Mrs Sandra Granger, receives a gift from the teachers of the Linden Foundation Secondary School

[will] recognise their important role in the growth and development of our country” Mrs. Granger said.

She also encouraged the graduates to see education as a continuous process of lifelong learning. “No longer are we free to say ‘I completed secondary or university education’…The pace of development and innovation in the modern world demands that we keep abreast of these developments or we will be left behind,” she said.

Mrs. Granger, on behalf of President David Granger, later handed over the President’s Award for Excellence to the school’s 2019 Best Graduating CSEC student, Ms. Ronique Sancho. Ms Sancho who wrote 11 subjects obtained six Grade ones, four Grade

twos and one Grade three.

Headteacher, Ms. Verlyn Pitt, in her remarks, informed those present that the school recorded an overall 79% pass rate (Grades one to three) at this year’s sitting. She said it was the first time in the school’s history that one student gained more than four Grade ones. In addition to the CSEC students, 38 students from Grades seven to ten received prizes for their exceptional work during the last academic term. The simple ceremony was held in the school’s auditorium at the school’s location in Central Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden, Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region Ten). (Ministry of the Presidency)

Guyana must work towards meaningful economic reform ―says former Jamaican PM ―urges gov’t to ensure local businesses are not disadvantaged

By Navendra Seoraj GUYANA is on the cusp of transformation, and is set to take-off with the advent of the oil and gas sector, but Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Portia Simpson-Miller believes that Government must look at meaningful economic reform in order to create an inclusive and transparent system.

Simpson-Miller, who was Jamaica’s first female Head of State, spoke about the need for economic reform during her address to members of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) at the organisation’s 130th Annual Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner at the Marriott Hotel on Thursday evening.

“Your country is poised to embark on an exciting path to high levels of economic growth and huge development… It will happen through significant private, foreign and local investments in your economy, but major adjustments will have to be made as a nation,” said the former Prime Minister.

As Guyana moves ahead, the country will need to look at addressing things such as inflation, Simpson-Miller said, adding that those issues will be tackled through fiscal and monetary policies.

The former Head of State

of Jamaica told businessmen and women: “Fiscal and monetary policies are necessary in ensuring that prices remain low and stable, and since inflation is the greatest tax on the poor, low inflation is the best gift any Government can give to its people and private sector.”

foreign exchange and high levels of inflation, however, as a people and as a régime, we are not defined by that history; we have also been conscious of the fact that we are a resilient people, and if we are to combine our strengths, we will succeed… Together we

Government, she said, must look at implementing changes and creating the necessary legislation in order to avoid those shocks. In doing so, Simpson-Miller advised that Government should also collaborate with businesses and train local companies to participate in development.

“As your economy moves, it is vital that local businesses are not disadvantaged in participating and prospering,” said the former Prime Minister, noting that it is also important for there to be accountability and transparency.

President of the GCCI, Nicholas Boyer also believes it is important for there to be broad-based and inclusive growth. In order to achieve inclusive growth, he said, there must be structural reforms; structural changes he believes must include the implementation of a local-content policy and legislation, a Sovereign Wealth Fund that is non-partisan, and reductions in energy costs so that business owners can innovate and expand their operations.

Boyer said there have been significant investments by lo-

cal and foreign businesses over the years and even recently, despite the current political climate. He said the GCCI will continue to work towards assisting local businesses to develop capacity.

He said that with the help of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), GCCI will soon launch a US$134,000 project, which aims to improve the standards of agro-processors.

The GCCI was established under the name “The Chamber of Commerce of the City of Georgetown” in the year 1889.

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Portia Simpson-Miller (Delano Williams photos)

In examining fiscal and monetary policies, Simpson-Miller said it is imperative for Government to achieve stability in the foreign exchange market, since it is important for reducing inflationary pressures in the economy.

This, she said, will also enable businesses, especially those that import, to be better able to plan their transactions in a stable and predictable environment.

“We have had to deal with the challenges of shortage of

are stronger, and as a people and as a Caribbean family, we have too much to lose,” said the former prime minister.

She said Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean share a common heritage, but each country has its own challenges and advantages; advantages she advised the Government to exploit to the fullest. But in doing so, she warned, the Government must be wary of external shocks, since the Caribbean economies are dependent on the export of commodities.

A section of the business community at GCCI’s 130th Annual Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner at the Marriott Hotel

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 30, 2019

78 patient care assistants enter health sector

By Naomi Parris

SEVENTY-EIGHT patient care assistants from across Guyana graduated with 100 per cent passes from a six-month training programme at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Patient Care Assistant Training Programme (PCA).

Chairperson of the GPHC Board of Directors, Kesaundra Alves, who delivered the feature address at the Umana Yana where the ceremony was held, expressed immense pleasure with the graduates’ outstanding performances.

She urged them to work assiduously to improve the health-care services in Guyana.

“As you know, entry to this programme is very competitive, we get hundreds of applications, everybody wants to be in this programme, you were

the chosen ones, you were the lucky ones and you’ve done us proud and I hope you continue to do us proud,” Alves stated.

She added that it is now important that the graduates don’t forget their role to provide a comprehensive range of quality health care services in an efficient, effective, equitable and caring manner.

“Don’t forget your role, as a part of the country’s health system, is to serve the patients; so undoubtedly, the public health sector will be boosted with 78 qualified, eager persons whose service will help in ensuring that the GPHC achieves its mandate to provide health care for all our citizens, all our patients, everybody in Guyana,” she stated.

Valedictorian, Theressa Fredricks told Guyana Chronicle that her time during the programme was a life-changing one and urged persons to join

programmes such as the PCA training programme to develop themselves.

“I actually enjoyed the programme, it is very educational, it teaches you to be professional, show empathy to others and I would like to encourage others to get on a programme because this is like a life-changing event,” she stated.

Fredricks noted that her success would not be possible without the support of her family, friends and tutors.

“I would say I didn’t have an easy time, I couldn’t do this alone. I’ve had lots of help from my family, my friends and my tutors. They gave us the best knowledge and the best training to improve the quality practice as patient care assistance in Guyana,” Fredricks stated.

Orwin Corlette, the only male who entered the pro-

Chairperson of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation Board of Directors, Kesaundra Alves

gramme in 2019, stated that being in the medical field has always been a dream since he was a child.

“This was always one of my dreams since early childhood. I’m now in the health

The 78 patient care assistants gathered outside the Umana Yana for a celebratory picture

Former community policeman gets 19 years

--for bludgeoning partner to death LEONARD Allan, 64, who, in a drunken stupor mid last year, beat his partner to death with a wooden bicycle bar, was sentenced to 19 years in prison by Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Berbice Assizes on Wednesday afternoon.

Addressing the convict, who was initially charged with murder but later confessed to the lesser count of manslaughter, Justice Reynolds said, “Spousal abuse and alcoholism are a lethal combination. One of the worst scourges that are emerging in our society. The daily headlines scream the statistics.”

As he went on to say, “I consider that we come from a generation where men refer to their women as ladies…

Our era was that of chivalry, where men opened doors and tipped their hats. But this

is not your case. You succumbed to a drunken stupor...

You are a serial abuser...”

Though sentence ranged from 25 years to life, the judge deducted five years for Allan’s not wasting the court’s time and confessing to the crime, and an additional year for time spent.

Meanwhile, in her report, Probation and Social Services Officer Odessia Semple noted that after serving the Guyana Sugar Corporation for 40 years in varying capacities, Allan retired and became Chairman of the West Coast Berbice Policing Group.

It’s a position he held for a year, before seeking alternative employment as a security guard.

He was initially married to one Gaitree Sankar in 1975, with whom he had

three children, but that union was often plagued by domestic violence.

After one particularly bad beating, Gaitree reportedly suffered a broken hip, from which she never recovered.

In the end, she would die, and to this day, his children have not forgiven him.

According to Semple, when Allan picked up with Shabana Ishack, called Babita, they were initially friends before the relationship became physical. But alas, within six months, she was dead, as that relationship, too, was fraught with abuse, and fueled by alcohol. There were even instances, Semple said, when Allan would strip Shabana of her clothing and beat her mercilessly, causing her to run naked into the streets in search of shelter.

In a letter signed by Rena

Appiah, Shabana’s mom, and read by her aunt, Rosemary Brown, the court heard how traumatised Shabana’s death has rendered her and the two children she left behind.

However, after narrating the harrowing facts which led to Shabana’s death, State Prosecutrix Seeta Bishundial asked that the sentence reflect the gravity of the offence; how, instead of loving her, Allan beat her like an animal.

According to the facts, on July 3, 2018, at Railway Line, Rosignol Village, the couple was drinking when an argument arose because Allan felt that the food that Shabana had prepared had not been cooked to his liking, and began beating her with a bicycle bar.

A neighbour who lived some 25 feet away and witnessed the incident, claimed that the beating lasted some nine hours.

field, I’m happy and overjoyed with this step and I must thank my family, more so my mother who is my mentor. Many mornings I get up and I don’t come, she would say I have to go and I would get up and

bathe and come out,” he stated.

He added that being the only male among 77 females was challenging as he would have ‘falling outs’ with his classmates but he noted that their tutors always instilled in them that they must work as a team in order to provide efficient patient care.

Corlette, who also lost his brother to Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer during the time he was studying, stated that while he was saddened by his brother’s death, it motivated him to work even harder to succeed in his final exams.

“Just a day before my final exam, he passed away and I went to my exam and I said ‘Brother, I know you’re going to blow good breeze and I’m going to do this to you’ and I eventually went into my exam and scored 100 per cent and I’m thankful for that,” he stated.

Orwin Corlette receiving his certificate at the graduation ceremony

Guyanese seniors feted by U.S. Embassy, AMCHAM Guyana AMBASSADOR Sarah-Ann Lynch recently hosted over 100 Guyanese senior citizens at her residence, for a Thanksgiving luncheon, sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce of Guyana (AMCHAM Guyana).

In a release, the embassy said Ambassador Lynch congratulated AMCHAM Guyana on its initiative to spread Thanksgiving cheer to the community, and underscored the role of AMCHAM Guyana, and the wider business community, in engaging in social service initiatives for senior citizens, as part of their corporate social responsibility. President of AMCHAM Guyana, Zulfikar Ally, noted that the organization was pleased to give back to Guyana’s senior citizens who have contributed immensely to its development.

“It is a joy to share the tradition with Guyana, whose people treat U.S. diplomats, not as foreigners, but with open arms and a warm welcome. The first Thanksgiving celebrated the bounty of the fall harvest just as we celebrate the bounty of our friendships with the people of Guyana”, said the Ambassador.

12

Better individual responsibility needed to curb road deaths ― Min Ramjattan

PUBLIC Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan said additional patrols and ranks on the ground have now become a norm to ease traffic congestion.

The minister was at the time part of a panel discussion on VOG hosted for Road Safety Week. Other panellists included member of the International Road Federation and Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; Traffic Chief Snr. Superintendent, Linden Isles; Chairman of the National Road Safety Council and Vice Chairman Region Four, Earl Lambert and Guyana Road Safety Coordinator, Ramona Doorgen Minister Ramjattan said while the Police Traffic Department is also more ac-

tively involved in public awareness campaigns, there is need for better individual responsibility.

“If there are qualified persons – having passed the driving exam – driving irresponsibly causing deaths and damage to our public infrastructure as well as private property… it shows that the fault lies with individual driving, in my opinion.”

Minister Ramjattan noted that of the 91 fatal accidents for this year, 77 resulted from excessive speed or driving under the influence.

Once these are addressed, he opined, road fatalities can be reduced by half. He called on motorists, in particular, to pause and take a look at “what is happening to our society”.

Minister Patterson pointed to the fact that with the improved roadways constructed by the Coalition Government, “persons can commute quicker and at a safer rate to ease traffic congestion. However, some drivers have been taking advantage of this and that is a concern,” he said.

The public infrastructure minister opined that earlier education is needed and maybe relicensing and pledged to implement more safety structures such as overpasses at critical junctions on the East Coast Demerara.

“I will continue to make all the necessary interventions however nothing could be effective as persons taking responsibility for the rate of speed at which they drive,”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 30, 2019

Rice farmer dies in Devonshire Castle accident Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan

he remarked.

The use of speed bumps has proven effective in reducing accidents and unnecessary speeding at critical junctions according to Minister Patterson. This view was supported by Snr. Superintendent Isles, who called on the operators of heavy-duty commercial vehicles to remember that their use is restricted to hours of 7am to 9am on weekdays and any breaches will be dealt with.

The traffic chief noted that along with additional public education efforts, more enforcement efforts are being implemented. He called on drivers to pilot their vehicle “defensively” adding, “We need to know that the life we save may be our own.” (DPI)

A POPULAR rice farmer, Bissoonnnauth Ramnarine, called “Lora” of Devonshire Castle, Old Road, Region Two, lost his life Friday afternoon, after he rode into the back of a minibus. The accident allegedly occurred around 15:45hrs.

Ramnarine was allegedly under the influence of alcohol when he lost control of his motorbike and slammed into the back

of a minibus heading in the same direction. The impact caused him to end up in the path of another minibus heading in the opposite direction.

He was picked up in an unconscious state by residents and was subsequently rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Both minibus drivers were detained by police, pending investigation.

Tangible support for Yurong Paru

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Karen Cummings is greeted by Tosaho of Yurong Paru, Rovain Francis (DPI photo)

TA N G I B L E s o l u t i o n s in the shortest possible time were promised to the Yurong Paru community in the Rupununi when Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings met residents for an interactive session on November 25.

The minister said all efforts will be made to ensure the residents of Yurong Paru “are empowered so they can become part of the transformative process” as Guyana transitions to oil and gas production.

She also undertook to ensure that the requests put forward by Tosaho of Yurong Paru, Rovain Francis are forwarded to the relevant ministries and agencies for further action.

Issues raised included the need for the community’s primary school to have lights installed, construction of a secondary school, a truck for transportation and taking

produce to market, the establishment of an ICT Hub and an additional photovoltaic powered well. A request for sports gear was fulfilled on the spot with a donation by Minister Dr. Cummings.

The interactive meeting was among several hosted by ministers across the region, as part of an effort to understand some of the concerns and challenges facing the mostly indigenous populations and provide solutions.

Yurong Paru, 126km from Lethem, is a part of the Karasabai sub-district, located in South Pakaraimas, Region Nine.

The Makushi village rests at an elevation of 1,646ft with a population of approximately 400, whose main source income comes from agriculture – with cassava as the main crop cultivated. The village also produces meat-beef and pork. (DPI)

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 30, 2019

GNNL maintains healthy bank balance―AGM told

Staff and management of the GNNL in a group photo outside the Cara Lodge

GNNL board chair Juretha Fernandes addresses the AGM while other company officials look on. From left , Moshamie Ramotar , Company Secretary, Donna Todd , General Manager Acting and board member Terrence Moore

ALTHOUGH its profits ‘dipped’ in 2017, the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL) has maintained a healthy bank balance and the company is diligently pursuing measures to enhance its revenue earnings, while keeping expenses to a minimum.

Chair of the Board of Directors of the GNNL, Juretha Fernandes, told the Annual General Meeting

(AGM) of the company, on Friday, at the Cara Lodge, that the company had a “sound strategy in place “and possessed a highly committed and experienced staff who were the key architects of the strategy.

In a breakdown of the company’s financial trend, in 2016, the company recorded its highest profit over an eight-year period, ‘raking in’ $62M that year.

Fernandes, in her re-

port, said that, in 2017, the GNNL, publishers of the Guyana Chronicle, recorded a $35M profit before taxation, a figure which represented a decrease over the previous year. She said that several factors, including a decline in newspaper sales, as well as increasing administrative and publishing cost, contributed to the decline.

It was pointed out that internally-generated funds were used to purchase all

raw materials, pay salaries and wages as well as meet other financial obligations.

It was pointed out by the board chair that the company’s capital expenditure was funded by internally-generated funds, “without subvention from the government.” According to the 2017 financial report, advertising (73%) continued to be the major source of the company’s earnings.

The GNNL continued

Chair of the board of directors of the GNNL, Juretha Fernandes, as she addressed the AGM on Friday.

(Delano Williams photos)

to ensure safety remained a major priority, Fernandes noted, as she added that the board and management of the company were committed to continue to seek ways to improve safety practices at the organisation.

Upgrades to several departments, as well as the award of bursaries to children of members of staff were among the highlights pointed out by Fernandes in her report.

The GNNL, which is state-owned, was first incorporated in December 1953 as the Guyana Graphic.

Today, in addition to printing the daily and Sunday Chronicle, the company also prints newspapers for external agencies. The sale of newsprint by-products such as end-rolls, newspaper spoils and used printing plates were other sources of the company’s revenue.

The wait is over Mothers receive house lots

CHRISTMAS came early for widower Leslyn Downer who Friday received her plot of land at Experience, Region Five.

Downer told the Department of Public Information that she and her husband had applied for a plot of land back in 2010. Unfortunately, he passed away last year and was not there to see her receive her letter of approval for a house lot.

The mother of four is among the hundreds who flocked the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) compound in Mahaica -Berbice during a land allocation outreach held by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

An elated Downer, who currently resides with her mother after renting for several years, said: “I am happy that I have a house lot and can be on my own with my own roof over my head.”

Jasmattie Sookdeo, another mother of four children could not contain her joy.

“I am so happy that I received a house lot today because I am a mother of four and I think my children would be happy.”

After applying in 2008, the Bush Lot resident waited over 10 years before receiving her plot of land in the Experiment area. Sookdeo and her husband are focused on beginning the construction of their home.

“As soon as we are finished paying, we will start putting up the first post,” she said.

The two-day land allocation exercise commenced Friday in Corriverton, Region Six and is headed by Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Annette Ferguson and CH&PA Chief Executive Officer, Lelon Saul. Over 350 persons were allocated house lots at Friday’s session.

Addressing the residents gathered at the Region Five RDC compound, Minister Ferguson reiterated that the “government is committed to addressing the housing needs of its people… your government is working to ensure you

have a good life.”

The minister encour-

aged those persons who received their house lots to

begin building as soon as possible.

14

Linden student arrested after stabbing peer A 14-year-old student of the Linden Foundation Secondary School was on Thursday arrested by the police after he stabbed his school mate with a pair of scissors, several times about his body, causing him to seek medical attention at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC).

The incident stemmed from an ongoing feud between the perpetrator, his twin brother and the victim, which started about two months ago, this newspaper has learnt. This was however dealt with at the school level, but the victim reported that within the last two weeks, he was continuously provoked by the twins.

O n T h u r s d a y, t h e 15-year-old victim, who is a Grade Eight student, said he was minding

his business when the perpetrator pushed him with his shoulder. He paid him no attention and began walking to his class room. It was at this time, the 14- year-old boy, who was in possession of a pair of scissors, began to stab him about his body, including his chest, back, neck and left arm. The victim then managed to throw his attacker on the ground and his brother joined the fight and dealt him several cuffs about his body, while the attacker continued to stab and bite him. It was at this time that the teachers intervened and the matter was reported to the head mistress. The welfare officer was called in, as well as the police.

The attacker was arrested and placed in custody. The victim received several stitches at the LHC and was sent home. Police are continuing their investigations.

This stabbing incident followed a series of reports of bullying and physical attacks in schools across the country.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 30, 2019

PAHO campaign encourages health workers, youth to have open conversations about HIV

‘Talk to me openly’ – the slogan for this year’s World AIDS Day campaign by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), UNAIDS, UNICEF, the Latin American Network of Young People Living with HIV (J+LAC), and the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), seeks to ensure that health professionals talk about HIV with young people, without any form of discrimination, as a way to improve access to prevention and care services.

The campaign also aims to sensitise health workers so that more young people including young gay men and other men that have sex with men (MSM) feel welcomed and empowered to seek and obtain the information and support they need for a healthy sex life. It also aims to empower and inform young people, as well as to combat the stigma and discrimination that populations most vulnerable to infection experience in health services, which is one of the main obstacles to accessing care.

“We want health professionals to listen to young people and to have open, respectful conversations about HIV and sexually transmitted infections as part of the sexual and reproductive health services they offer” said Marcos Espinal, Director of the Department of Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health at PAHO. “The more that youth are made to feel comfortable, the more likely they are to access and stay in touch with health services for testing or to seek measures that can prevent them from contracting or transmitting HIV.” In Latin America, new HIV infections have increased by 7% since 2010. An estimated 100,000 people acquired HIV in 2018 alone, one in five of which were young people aged 15 to 24. In the Caribbean, 27% of new infections occur within this age group. Furthermore, both young and adult gay men and other MSM are disproportionately affected by

HIV, representing 40% of new infections in Latin America and 22% in the Caribbean. Worldwide, this group is around 22 times more likely to have HIV than someone from the general population.

“Communities, groups and networks of people living with or affected by HIV play a fundamental role in the response to the AIDS epidemic at local, national and international levels,” said Dr. César Nuñez, UNAIDS Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “The construction of a communication strategy such as this one, designed by and for young people from key populations, is an important step to break through the barriers imposed by stigma and discrimination against them. In fact, these young people are helping us to build the bridges they need to access combination HIV prevention services and care.”

Young people from Latin America living with and without HIV participated in the creation of the campaign and in the development of all communication materials, which include posters, social media cards, animated gifs and videos. They feature young people from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Suriname and Venezuela.

In one of the videos, Lucien Goovard, from Suriname, Member of the PANCAP Steering Committee and Vice-chair of the Caribbean Forum for Liberation and Acceptance of Genders and Sexualities (CariFLAGS), said stigma and discrimination is sadly “a reality in the Caribbean. It is something we know we need to tackle. There are some structural barriers that need to be moved out of the way legislatively and socially, but really it is about learning how to engage with one another at a human level, respect each other more and be more open to diversity.

This doesn’t require more investment than the choice to say “I am going to keep a more open mind.

New Amsterdam mayor, deputy re-elected MAYOR Winifred Haywood was nominated unopposed to her post as chief citizen of the New Amsterdam township while her deputy, Wainwright McIntosh maintained his position even though challenged.

Earlier, People Progressive Party (PPP) Councillor, Zabarally Armogan had

nominated his colleague, Dr Orville Grayson Halley, who garnered three votes compared to McIntosh who got eight.

The mayor and her deputy are both veteran educators, having collectively served over 50 years within the Ministry of Education. They are expected to continue to effectively manage Guyana’s oldest township.

Haywood is now serving a third term, having taken the helm over from Mayor, Kirk Wynter, who demitted office

on September 30, 2017, after serving for 17 months. Wynter, who has since migrated, served the shortest in the post of mayor at the New Amsterdam Municipality.

Wainwright McIntosh, an education officer, was relatively new to local politics but had made major adjustments and is one of the more popular faces of the municipality.

Following his re-election, he was quick to thank his political affiliates at the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) party, moreso, the

People’s National Congress (PNC) and supporters for having confidence in him.

He reminded the residents of the continual development drive, resulting in improvement around the township such as resuscitation of drainage, rehabilitation of neglected roadway and the installation of street lights, along with improved educational facilities.

Meanwhile, Town Clerk, Sharon Alexander acted as the returning officer for the internal elections.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 30, 2019

PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali flanked by executives and members of the party in the background

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PPP/C

launches Manifesto

― Ali says government under his watch will be more inclusive THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is pushing that if elected to government, it will create 50,000 new jobs during the first five years in office.

The party made the disclosure, along with a glimpse into some of its plans and programmes of the party’s elections manifesto.

In sharing aspects of excerpts of the party’s 2020 - 2025 Manifesto titled “Our Plan for Prosperity,” the party’s Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali, on Friday, divulged summaries of the manifesto at the PPP Headquarters Freedom House.

Adding that a full copy of the party’s manifesto will be presented in January 2020, the former minister of housing pleaded with the electorate for his party to be heard and to be given another chance at governing Guyana.

He said that the partial manifesto can be found on the PPP/C Facebook page.

He promised that a government, under his watch, would be more inclusive and would work for all Guyanese, those who support him and those who do not.

Underscoring some of the topics and issues that will be dealt with, Ali said a PPP government will address:- more jobs and less crime; better education; reduction of the cost of living; removal of VAT on utilities and exports; discarding of curfews; free university within five years; restoration of bonus for joint services; no additional taxes; reversal of VAT on building material and on mining, farming and forestry equipment amongst others.

Ali said the PPP/C will provide the enabling environment and incentives

for expansion of existing businesses and emergence of new businesses by removing obstacles to growth.

He said the traditional productive sectors must continue to play a significant economic and social role in the economy. Unlike the Oil and Gas sector which is capital intensive, mining, fisheries, agriculture, sugar, bauxite, rice and forestry are labour intensive and employ a significant percentage of the population.

Ali said Guyana’s infrastructure, including infrastructure for transport (overland/road, air and river), utilities (water, telecoms/ ICT, electricity), sea and river defence, drainage, garbage collection/sanitation, new hospitals and schools must be expanded, modernised and become more efficient to support a flourishing economy.

“When we speak of the economy and jobs, we are not only talking about the creation of jobs, but we are speaking about the creation of higher paid jobs, higher up the value scale and for this, it requires investor confidence, it requires us pushing boundaries and pushing the envelope and it requires us training our human capacity and changing the system, the education output to meet that economic requirement of our country.

For this to happen, we must have a strong analysis of the gap, as to where we want to be as against what we have to take us there,” Ali said.

The PPP/C Presidential Candidate began and ended his speech by calling on persons who have not historically supported the PPP and those who walked away to vote for the party come March 2, 2020.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 30, 2019

Essequibo nurse hit down by speeding car

A NURSE attached to the Suddie Public Hospital in Region Two was on Friday morning rushed to the said hospital in an unconscious after she was reportedly hit down by a speeding car on the Queenstown Public Road.

The nurse was identified as Dars Bissoon from Bartica. She was living at Windsor Castle at the time of the accident.

The accident reportedly occurred around 8:00 am Friday in front of the popular Gokul Hot Dog stand in Queenstown. According to a resident, Shelon Gokul, she was in her house when she heard a loud impact.

She immediately rushed out when she saw a nurse lying on the ground. The car driver was also around.

Gokul said she picked up the nurse in an unconscious state.

The police were summoned to the scene and the driver is currently in police custody. The nurse at the Intensive Care Unit at the Hospitalised: Dars Bissoon Suddie Public Hospital.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 30, 2019

No immunity for Malta journalist murder suspect

Malta’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has said a suspect in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia will not be granted immunity to reveal what he knows about the case.

Businessman Yorgen Fenech had requested a presidential pardon in exchange for information.

Caruana Galizia, a prominent anti-corruption blogger, was killed by a car bomb in 2017.

Mr Muscat is under increasing pressure to resign over the case.

The prime minister has previously said he will only step down when those who ordered the killing are identified.

However, the Times of Malta reported on Friday that Mr Muscat was preparing

to announce his resignation “immediately” amid the worsening political crisis.

Mr Muscat’s Labour Party has cancelled an event on Sunday at which the prime minister was due to speak.

Last week Mr Fenech was arrested in a dramatic raid on his yacht. He received hospital treatment after his arrest and has been given police bail.

Mr Fenech was identified last year as being the owner of a mysterious Dubai-registered company, 17 Black, listed in the Panama Papers a massive leak of documents from an offshore law firm in 2016.

Caruana Galizia wrote about 17 Black eight months before her death, alleging it had links to senior government figures.

(BBC)

Suriname President Bouterse convicted of murder for 1982 executions

A court in Suriname on Friday convicted President Desi Bouterse of murder for the execution of 15 opponents in 1982 following a coup to seize power, sentencing the man who has dominated the former Dutch colony’s recent history to 20 years in prison.

Opposition parties called for Bouterse, currently in China on an official visit, to step down. The military court that found him guilty has not yet ordered his arrest.

Bouterse led the South American country through the 1980s as head of a military government, then assumed office again in 2010 and secured re-election five years later.

The court ruled that Bouterse had overseen an operation in which soldiers under his command abducted 16 leading government critics - including lawyers, journalists and university teachers - from their homes and killed 15 of them at a colonial fortress in the capital Paramaribo.

One trade union leader survived and later gave testimony against Bouterse.

Bouterse, who has steadfastly denied the charges, is able to appeal the decision. So far he has made no comment on his conviction and he is expected to travel to Cuba, as planned, on Saturday.

In a statement, the Surinamese government said it had “taken note of the developments and calls on the community to keep the peace.”

The Dutch government said it was important that the final verdict be upheld and implemented once the appeals process is complete. “This is an important moment for determining the truth. After 37 years, the relatives have an answer,” Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said on Twitter.

Critics have vilified the 74-year-old Bouterse as a dictator who has clung to power in the country of 560,000 people, which gained independence from the Netherlands in 1975.

Angelic del Castillo, head of the opposition Democratic Alternative ‘91 party, said Bouterse had “disqualified himself” from remaining Suriname’s leader and demanded he immediately resign. “This is in the interest of the dignity of the office and of our nation,” del Castillo said in a statement.

In 1999, Bouterse was convicted in absentia of drug trafficking by a court in the Netherlands, though he has denied any wrongdoing. A Suriname judge in 2005 convicted Bouterse’s son, Dino, of leading a gang that trafficked in cocaine, illegal arms and stolen luxury cars.

As a junior military officer, Bouterse took part in the 1980 coup against Suriname’s first prime minister, Henck Arron, and immediately promoted himself to army chief-of-staff, becoming effective ruler of the government.

Bouterse left the army in late 1992 and went into business and politics, heading the pro-military National Democratic Party (NDP) and remaining a prominent if controversial national figure.

Bouterse and the NDP have consistently tried to obstruct court proceedings, which began in 2007. In 2012, the NDP-controlled National Assembly passed an amnesty law giving him immunity but that was later invalidated by a court ruling. (Reuters)

The government are facing calls to resign over the murder of Daphne Curuana Galizi (BBC photo)

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What awaits Suriname’s convicted president?

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 30, 2019

Suriname’s President Desi Bouterse, left, shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang before a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019. (Florence Lo/Pool Photo via AP) A court in the South American country of Suriname has convicted President Desi Bouterse in the 1982 killings of 15 prominent political opponents and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. The decision marks the end of a historic trial that began in 2007, the same year that Bouterse accepted “political responsibility” for the killings but insists he was not present.

A panel of three judges issued its verdict while Bouterse is in China on an official visit. However, they did not issue an arrest order for Bouterse, who could not be immediately reached for comment and whose attorney called it a “political verdict” and appealed the ruling. Meanwhile, government officials have asked for calm among the nearly 600,000 people who live in Suriname, a former Dutch colony located in South America’s northeast coast whose economy is largely based on oil and gold exports. Bouterse is scheduled to arrive in Suriname on Sunday and then leave for Cuba shortly afterward for an official visit. It is unclear if those plans remain unchanged.

WHY DID THE TRIAL TAKE 12 YEARS? The trial began in November 2007 and was hit by multiple setbacks, including efforts by Bouterse to end it. Shortly after he was elected president in 2010, Bouterse pushed through an amnesty law only to see it ruled unconstitutional.

Then in 2016, he ordered

Suriname’s attorney general to put a stop to legal proceedings in the name of national security, but a court ruled that he could not do so because the trial had already started. The murders are known as the “December killings” whose victims included well-known people such as lawyers, journalists and a university professor.

At the time, the killings prompted the Dutch government to withdraw about $90 million in annual aid from Suriname.

WHO IS DESI BOUTERSE? He first seized power in Suriname in a 1980 bloodless coup, five years after the country gained independence from the Netherlands. He then resigned under international pressure in 1987 in a move that led to a democratic election, only to briefly seize power again in 1990.

He was later elected president in a parliamentary vote in 2010 and re-elected in 2015 unopposed. In 1999, Bouterse was convicted by a court in the Netherlands in absentia of drug trafficking but avoided an 11-year prison term because he cannot be extradited under Surinamese law. In 2015, his son, Dino Bouterse, was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison in the U.S. after he admitted he offered a home base in Suriname to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Dino Bouterse had previously been picked by his father to lead a counterterrorism unit in Suriname. (AP)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 30, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, November 30, 2019

Warner, Labuschagne lead Australia

(REUTERS) - DAVID Warner and Marnus Labuschagne shone in the Adelaide Oval floodlights with back-to-back centuries and a record 294-run stand as Australia completely dominated Pakistan on day one of the second Test yesterday.

Opening batsman Warner was 166 not out and number three Labuschagne on 126, the duo having pushed Australia to an imperious 302 for one at stumps, only days after blasting big hundreds in the first Test in Brisbane.

Pakistan lost the toss but had started brightly in the team’s first day-night match at the venue, removing Joe Burns cheaply in the first half-hour as the ball swung in overcast conditions.

But the tourists soon lost their way in a wretched day in the field as Warner and Labuschagne set a record for a second-wicket partnership at the 138-year-old venue.

Already down 1-0 in the two-Test series after being thrashed by an innings and

five runs in Brisbane, it will take something extraordinary for Pakistan to turn the match around.

“It’s a bit surreal at the moment; it’s just amazing to be out here with Davey and put on a really big partnership,” said the impressive Labuschagne, who scored 185 in the win at the Gabba, his maiden Test century.

The South Africa-born 25-year-old now boasts a career average of 54.62 from his 11 Tests, 13 months on from his underwhelming debut against the same opponents in Dubai.

He and Warner had shown superb control to guide Australia to 139 for one at the dinner break on a rain-hit afternoon, but they were ballistic in the final session, piling on 163 runs.

After smashing 154 in Brisbane, Warner led the way with 19 boundaries in his 228-ball knock but Labuschagne was hardly less aggressive, hammering 17 of his own.

Pakistan dropped

16-year-old prodigy Naseem Shah and recalled the experienced Mohammad Abbas but the re-jigged pace attack fell flat and the largely meek field placements were picked off virtually at will.

Warner brought up his half-century with a touch of farce, earning six runs when a wild throw at the stumps split the covering fielders and raced to the boundary.

Paceman Shaheen Afridi also gave up four runs just after the dinner break when he bizarrely ran the wrong way at deep cover to give Warner a free boundary from a cut shot.

The seamer had Burns caught behind for four in the fourth over but it was to be the only highlight of an abject day for the bowlers, with debutant paceman Muhammad Musa conceding more than five runs an over.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah also had a torrid evening, leaking 87 runs from his 14 overs.

Marnus Labuschagne embraces David Warner after his hundred.

(Getty Images and Cricket Australia)

Latham spurs New Zealand on (REUTERS) - NEW ZEALAND’S Tom Latham managed to score his 11th Test century before heavy rain washed out the final session of the first day of the second Test against England at Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday.

Jofra Archer bowled three deliveries of the 55th over, with New Zealand unable to add to their tea score of 173-3 before rain swept across the area and ground staff rushed to cover the wicket block and parts of the outfield.

Umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Paul Wilson inspected the ground at 17:15hrs (0415 GMT) and decided there was no further chance of play.

The second day’s play will resume 30 minutes early today at 10:30hrs (2130 GMT).

Latham was on 101, his fifth Test century in his last 10 innings, while Henry Nicholls was on five when players left the field.

“If I knew what it was I’d be trying to bottle that up as much as possible,” Latham said about his run of form over the last two years.

“It’s just about trying to stick to a plan for long periods of time and that’s probably what’s given me success over the last year or so.

“I think sometimes you can get a little ahead of yourself and all of a sudden you’re walking back to the pavilion.”

England had chosen a five-pronged pace attack for the match with Chris Woakes coming in for left-arm spinner Jack Leach, although Ben Stokes ap-

peared to suffer discomfort in his left knee while bowling and only managed two overs.

The team said it was unclear if he would bowl again in the innings.

Despite having first use of a pitch that often gives bowlers some assistance on the first day, England wasted their chance to hammer home the opportunity that Stuart Broad and Woakes created by dismissing Jeet Raval and Kane Williamson in the first hour.

Raval (five) and Williamson (four) were both snapped up by Root in the slips before Ross Taylor (53) and Latham combined for a 116-run partnership to drag their side back into the match.

Taylor was the only wicket to fall in the middle session when he was caught

by Root on the ball after he brought up his 32nd Test half-century.

Latham’s 11th Test century was hardly chanceless but he rode his luck throughout the day.

England could have had a dream first session when Latham was given out lbw for 49 to Woakes in the final over before lunch only to have the decision overturned on review.

Latham continued to ride his luck after lunch when he was dropped at second slip by Stokes from an Archer delivery while on 66.

Tom Latham celebrates reaching his century. (AFP/Getty Images)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, November 30, 2019

American Racing Tips Aqueduct Race 1 Henni Penny Race 2 Dark N Cloudy Race 3 In Front Race 4 Mo Maverick Race 5 Secret Rules

Arsenal fire Emery (REUTERS) - ARSENAL have sacked manager Unai Emery after the Premier League club’s worst run in more than a quarter of a century and appointed former player and fans’ favourite

Race 6 Bray Race 7 Dubini Race 8 Tax Race 9 Romantic Pursuit Race10 Talent Scout

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Unai Emery (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

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Freddie Ljungberg as interim coach, the Premier League club announced yesterday.

Emery’s final match in charge was Thursday’s 2-1 Europa League home defeat by German side Eintracht Frankfurt which extended their winless run in all competitions to seven games, the worst streak since February 1992 under George Graham.

“It has been a year and a half full of emotions, of great moments and some other more bitter ones,” Emery said in a letter to the fans published on the club’s website here“But not a single day has gone by without me stopping to think about how lucky I have been to work for this club with these players and their professional and personal qualities.”

Spaniard Emery succeeded Arsene Wenger in May 2018 and took Arsenal to the Europa League final last year, but frustration with their erratic league form this season has grown, with the team sitting eighth in the table with 18 points from 13 games.

“The decision has been taken due to results and performances not being at the level required,” the club said in a statement here “We have asked Freddie Ljungberg to take responsibility for the first team as interim head coach. We have full confidence in Freddie to take us forward.”

Ljungberg, a member of Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ team who went an entire season unbeaten en route to the 200304 Premier League title, was

appointed assistant coach in June and will now take over while the club searches for a new head coach.

While Arsenal can still reach the Europa League knockout stages, supporters at a half-empty Emirates Stadium made their anger known on Thursday by booing the Spaniard, with a handful of them holding up cards saying

‘Emery Out’.

Josh Kroenke, on behalf of the club’s owners Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, said: “Our most sincere thanks go to Unai and his colleagues who were unrelenting in their efforts to get the club back to competing at the level we all expect and demand.

“We wish Unai and his team nothing but future suc-

cess.”The 48-year-old Emery, who won the Europa League three times with Sevilla, failed to lead Arsenal back into the Champions League after finishing fifth in the league and missing out on qualifying by losing 4-1 in the Europa League final to Chelsea.

“To all of you who have supported us from every corner of the globe, all of

you who have come to the Emirates, all of you who have waited in the rain and cold just to greet me after a game, I want to tell all of you that I have worked with passion, with commitment and with effort,” Emery added in his letter.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, November 30, 2019

Bottas leads free practice in Abu Dhabi (REUTERS) - VALTTERI Bottas led Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton in a practice one-two at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix yesterday before being reprimanded for a collision with Haas driver Romain Grosjean.

The Finn, who was also fastest in the opening session, improved on his afternoon benchmark with a lap of one minute 36.256 seconds under the Yas Marina floodlights.

The 30-year-old was 0.310 seconds quicker than Hamilton, who was third in the morning, and looked strong around the 5.5km layout.

Hamilton, who wrapped up his sixth Formula One title two races ago in Texas, said he had

struggled to get into rhythm but was also experimenting with an eye on 2020.

“I’ve been trying to explore some new avenues with the car. We already know where it works well, so I’m pushing the car into different places, just trying to see if there’s anywhere else I can exploit the car and the tyres for the future,” he said.

Bottas is set to start tomorrow’s race from the back of the grid, however, with the Finn penalised for exceeding his engine allocation.

His second session was far from flawless, with a rare coming together with Grosjean on a day when nothing is at stake.

The Mercedes suffered a broken front wing after the

Finn tried to dive through on the inside of the Frenchman, whose car was also damaged.

The stewards’ report said Bottas had accepted responsibility. The reprimand was his first of the season.

“I thought he had seen me going for the overtake on the inside, but by the time I realised that he hadn’t seen me, there was no way for me to escape anymore,” said Bottas.

LECLERC SCARE Charles Leclerc, seventh in the first session, ended the day with the third fastest time ahead of Ferrari team mate Sebastian Vettel.

The 22-year-old Monegasque suffered a scare during

the session, clouting the same barriers that Vettel had spun into only hours earlier.

The German, who collided with Leclerc in an incident that put both Ferraris out of the last race in Brazil, had been fifth in the morning despite the smash that ended his session.

Max Verstappen, winner two weeks ago in Brazil, dropped from second to fifth for Red Bull ahead of Thai team mate Alexander Albon.

Grosjean was seventh ahead of Racing Point’s Sergio Perez. Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly rounded out the top 10 for Toro Rosso.

Both of yesterday’s sessions were interrupted by red flags with the collision between

Bottas and Grosjean halting track action briefly in the evening.

An engine failure for Australian Daniel Ricciardo that saw his Renault spit oil and fire with Gasly close behind was the day’s first interruption.

Vettel’s spin into the barriers also halted the session.

“I was caught out a bit by surprise as I didn’t expect to spin. I knew going in that I would have to catch the rear, but it didn’t quite work, which was a bit unfortunate,” said the German.

Mercedes have won every race in Abu Dhabi since 2014 and Hamilton has won at Yas Marina a record four times.

Valtteri Bottas of Finland and Mercedes GP looks on at the Mercedes GP team photo, during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 28, 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)

Dinwiddie helps Nets beat Celtics 112-107 (YAHOOSPORT) - Kyrie Irving is getting closer to a return, and at some point he will face his former team.

When he does, Brooklyn Nets can only hope he plays as well as Spencer Dinwiddie.

Dinwiddie had 32 points and 11 assists while Irving remained sidelined, and the Nets beat the Boston Celtics 112-107 yesterday to split a home-and-home series.

Irving missed his eighth straight game with a right

shoulder injury but was at the arena to get an evaluation and he watched from the bench along with Kevin Durant.

Coach Kenny Atkinson said afterwards that the AllStar point guard has started work on the court and would miss one more game before potentially being ready to rejoin a team that have done well in his absence thanks to Dinwiddie’s strong performances. ‘’When Kyrie comes back I think that’s just going to give us a team with more

depth, a more powerful team.

But listen, he’s playing as good as anybody in the NBA right now in my humble opinion,’’ Atkinson said of Dinwiddie.

The Eastern Conference player-of-the-week last week matched his highest assist total of the season and was two shy of his best scoring performance of the season. ‘’The role is completely different so obviously there’s a change there,’’ Dinwiddie said. ‘’My approach to the game is very similar either

way, so whatever the team needs to win and then the role kind of dictates what that is.’’

Jarrett Allen added 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets, who bounced back from their 121-110 loss in Boston on Wednesday to win for the fifth time in six games.

Jayson Tatum had 26 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics, who had won two straight. Kemba Walker finished with 17 points and six assists, but the Nets handled Irving’s replacement much better this time after

he scored a season-high 39 points Wednesday.

Boston coach Brad Stevens talked about the importance of a strong start with the early tip, but the Celtics couldn’t deliver it.

They were called for a double dribble and a 3-second violation during a six-turnover first quarter, when the Nets opened a 14-point lead.

Boston were much sharper in the second, with Tatum making four 3-pointers, including one that cut it to 5855 at halftime.

The Nets extended it back to 14 in the third when Dinwiddie hit his second straight 3-pointer, but Boston got it back down to 87-81 by the end of the period. Again, Brooklyn pushed it back to double digits in the fourth and held on after Boston cut it to four in the final minute. ‘’It was too late,’’ Celtics guard Marcus Smart said. ‘’We tried to turn it on too late and it burned us in the end.’’

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, November 30, 2019

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Emerging players hold nerve to secure final spot (CMC) - GIANT-killers West Indies Emerging Players produced perhaps their biggest shock of the Regional Super50 when they held their nerves to upset high-flying Barbados Pride by three wickets under Duckworth-Lewis-Stern and clinch a place in tomorrow’s final.

In a nerve-jangling finish at Queen’s Park Oval, Emerging Players withstood several floodlight failures and a rain break to overhaul their revised target of 111 off 43 overs, and defy the odds yet again.

With tensions all around, Keon Harding (nine not out) whipped fellow Barbadian Chemar Holder to the mid-wicket boundary, to spark celebrations among the unit, hastily pulled together just prior to the start of the tournament.

Little known wicketkeeper Joshua DaSilva top-scored with 27 but it was Roland Cato who shone, fashioning a responsible unbeaten 25 to hold the innings together when nerves became frayed.

Kevin Sinclair of the WI Emerging Players does a back flip as he celebrates a wicket against Barbados Pride on Thursday. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)

Under-19 World Cupbound left-arm spinner, Ashmead Nedd, had earlier conjured a magical spell to finish with four for 29 as Pride were routed for 119 in the 32nd over.

Off-spinner Kevin Sinclair, who finished with two for 25 from 10 superb overs, also made key strikes

at the top of the order while leg-spinning captain Yannic Cariah supported with two for 21, as Pride found themselves unable to respond to a mesmerising spin attack.

Zachary McCaskie, in only his second match at this level, led Pride’s batting with 40 off 62 balls, but other than Nicholas Kirton with 26

and Ashley Nurse, 25, the favourites struggled to find momentum.

Sent in, Pride were in trouble as early when both openers Leniko Boucher (5) and Kjorn Ottley (0) fell cheaply to leave the innings tottering on seven for two in the second over.

Sinclair then turned the

game on its head when he struck twice in the seventh over, removing captain Jonathan Carter to a catch at the wicket for three, before trapping Kyle Mayers lbw two balls later without scoring.

McCaskie, who struck five fours in a 62-ball knock, came to his side’s rescue, however, posting 55 for the fifth wicket with Kirton, who faced 48 balls and struck one six.

Pride were beginning to regain their balance but McCaskie was run-out in the 20th over, and his departure saw the last six wickets fall for 47 runs.

Nurse tried to counterattack, lashing a four and two sixes in a 20-ball knock but Nedd pinned him on the back foot to gain an lbw verdict in the 28th over.

Defending their small total, Pride wasted little time in hitting back, quickly reducing the Emerging Players innings to 43 for four in the 15th over.

Leonardo Julien (1) was smartly stumped by Tevyn Walcott in the seventh over

off off-spinner Nurse (335) after over-balancing in his crease, Cariah (2) was lbw to the same bowler two overs later and opener Kimani Melius made 18 before recklessly holing out to cover off left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop in the 10th over.

When the in-form Justin Greaves (5) gifted his wicket by lifting Nurse to long on, the tide of the game had turned.

A crucial 33-run, fifth-wicket stand between DaSilva and Cato ensued as Emerging Players fought back, to get within touching distance of their target.

DaSilva, who struck two fours off 66 balls, fell to a catch at the wicket off Holder immediately after a break in play, and fast bowler Miguel Cummins accounted for Sinclair (8) and Dominic Drakes (3) in quick succession, to leave Emerging Players on 100 for seven in the 36th over.

But with the target revised, Cato and Harding played sensibly to see their side home.

West Indies pummel Afghanistan in one-off Test (CMC) - WEST Indies required just over an hour to thrash Afghanistan by nine wickets here early Friday and post an emphatic victory in the one-off Test at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Stadium.

The Caribbean side nabbed the last three Afghan wickets for 11 runs with fast-bowling captain Jason Holder accounting for all, as the home side’s second innings folded for 120.

Set 31 for victory, West Indies lost out-of-form opener Kraigg Brathwaite cheaply for eight before overhauling their target off 38 deliveries.

Left-handed opener John Campbell finished on a 16-ball unbeaten 19 which included four fours, the last of which was a belligerent punch over midoff off left-arm spinner Amir Hamza to end the contest.

“We played a really good cricket game, and we were clinical. I asked the guys to make sure we don’t leave any stones unturned,” Holder said afterwards.

“Probably (we) would have liked a little bit more in our first innings in terms of our batting, but we had a lead of 90. I think leads win games. Once you have

Kraigg Brathwaite works one on the leg side. (AFP) a hefty lead, it puts pressure on the opposition.”

Off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, who on Thursday became the first West Indies spinner to claim a 10-wicket match-haul on the subcontinent, was voted Man-of-the-Match.

Playing in only his second Test, he snatched seven wickets in the first innings to rout Afghanistan for 187 and then picked up another three wickets in the second innings to wipe out the hosts’ top order.

“Great credit to Rahkeem, he was outstanding throughout the match and did everything we asked of him,” Holder noted.

“He’s new to Test cricket, this

is just his second match and first away from home, and bowled an exceptional spell in the first innings and then backed it up really well in the second innings, supported by the other bowlers.”

Resuming on 109 for seven – a lead of 19 runs – Afghanistan lost captain Rashid Khan in the second over of the day when he edged a defensive stroke at Holder’s first ball of the morning, and was caught at the wicket.

Wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai (7) and tail-ender Yamin Ahmadzai (1) resisted briefly before Holder (3-20) knocked them over in successive overs. First, he removed Ahmadzai’s off stump and then found Zazai’s outside edge for wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich to complete formalities.

Brathwaite’s slump in international form then continued when he gloved Hamza through to Zazai in the fifth over. The right-hander has scored only 67 runs from his last eight Test innings at an average of eight.

Campbell endured no such horrors and finished the game quickly for the Windies.

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 24, 2019

GBTI GCC Tigers stamp authority on Diamond Mineral Water Hockey festival AS the second day of the Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival drew to a close, some teams had already begun to emerge as likely challengers for this year’s trophy.

The GBTI GCC Tigers brushed aside the challenge of Saints by 4-1 to chalk up their second convincing victory in as many matches of the ExxonMobil Women’s division.

Queen’s Park enjoyed a hard-fought win over Bounty GCC Men in their festival opener while Old Fort managed their second draw of the festival, this time against debutants TT Defence Force.

Saints managed to last a scoreless quarter against pre-tournament favourites, the GBTI GCC Tigers, in their ExxonMobil Ladies’ division matchup.

Immediately as the second quarter began however, striker Gabriella Xavier broke the deadlock by converting a crossed ball into the cage. The GCC pressure by this time started to produce

Old Fort’s Aderemi Simon makes a reverse attempt at goal against Queen’s Park.

cracks in the well-organised Saints’ defence.

Marzana Fiedtkou produced a second for the GBTI Girls before the half and captain Sonia Jardine and Ashley DeGroot completed the four GCC goals by full time. Saints managed to pull one goal back before the final whistle through Shania Azeez to produce a final score of 4-1 for GCC. The Spartans managed to overcome Red Wyne in the other ExxonMobil Ladies match of the evening with

Abosaide Cadogan scoring a double for the Spartans. Both goals came in similar fashion as speedy right winger Sarah Klautky out-paced her marker, drew the goalkeeper and slipped the ball across the open goal for the waiting Cadogan.

Red Wyne seemed to make a surge at the end and gained a penalty stroke which was converted by Minsodia Culpepper, but it was not enough to avoid the 2-1 loss to the Spartans.

The lone Lucozade Vet-

erans match of the evening saw Queen’s Park stamp their authority on the competition with an impressive 5-2 win over Old Old Fort. Former Guyanese national Jerry Bell, now playing with Queen’s Park, was the high scorer of the match with a double while teammates Azad Ali, Rob Wyatt and Reiza Hussein each added singles for the victors. Jason DeSantos and Aderemi Simon were the goalscorers for Old Old Fort.

Queen’s Park returned

in the Men’s division to all but match their Veterans achievement with a 5-3 beating of Bounty GCC. The high-paced match was competitive throughout and the scores were settled at 3-3 at the half.

Jerry Bell and Shawn Lee Quay, however, scored a double for Queen’s Park in the final quarter giving them a 5-3 win. Arrielle Bowen, Dominic Young and Marcus Pascal were the other goalscorers for Queen’s Park while Dwayne Scott with a double and Kareem McKenzie with a single were the scorers for GCC. The TTDF (Trinidad & Tobago Defence Force) versus YMCA Old Fort Men’s matchup proved to be the most entertaining of the evening. Christopher McKey was the lone scorer of the first quarter, slamming home a rebound for TTDF. With shots raining and some fine goalkeeping at both ends, Old Fort’s Theodore Thierens would draw the scores levelled at 1-1 just be-

fore the half. Old Fort would go up by one in the third quarter through an Aderemi Simon penalty corner but McKey scored his second for TTDF to keep it even.

Old Fort took the lead once more with 10 minutes remaining in the match, but five minutes later, the persistent TTDF drew the scores and the match at 3-3 with a final penalty corner goal by Keshen Johnson.

The PEPSI Hikers looked cool and collected as they demolished Saints by 10-0 in the remaining Men’s match of the evening. While the Saints side provided flashes of skill, the experience of the Hikers proved too much for the young unit to overcome in any meaningful manner.

Randy Hope and Robert France each managed hattricks for the Hikers while teammates Devin Munroe and Aroydy Branford scored two each.

Matches continue all week at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with the finals set for Sunday evening.

Rio Indoor Streetball Championship

… Round-of-16 action starts tonight AFTER the conclusion of the exciting group stage, the round-of-16 section of the inaugural Rio Indoor Streetball Championship kicks off tonight, at the National Gymnasium, on Mandela Avenue.

The opening game will pit the pride of West Demerara, Showstoppers, against the lone remaining East Coast Demerara outfit, BV, from 19:00hrs.

This will be followed

by Future Stars against surprise package Kingston at 19:30hrs, while newcomers and dark-horses, Rio AllStars, take aim at Tiger Bay from 20:00hrs.

In the fourth match at 20:30hrs, the always-dangerous Leopold Street battle the experienced Alexander Village.

Traditional giants Broad Street and Back Circle will then take centre stage at 21:00hrs in the fifth affair, with perennial contenders

Gold is Money tackling Albouystown from 21:30hrs.

National heavyweights Sparta Boss will oppose Avocado Ballers from 22:00hrs while tournament favourites Bent Street match skills with Sophia at 22:30hrs.

According to an official release from the tournament coordinators, Three Peat Promotions, “We are now at the business end of the tournament where the objective is simple - win and progress or lose and go home.

The tournament has witnessed quality and entertaining football from the start and the knockout round promises to be even more exciting and competitive; as the best teams have advanced and will compete.

The battle lines have been drawn, the fans have selected their favourite and we expect a wonderful night of action.

It’s D-Day in the National Gymnasium.”

The correspondence fur-

ther stated, “We would also like to thank the fans for their support during this inaugural venture as well as the lawmen who have carried out their duties with aplomb. The officers ensured that a safe environment was realised and created every evening, much to the satisfaction and appreciation of the fans and players who have witnessed and experienced an incident-free championship.”

Meanwhile on Thursday in the final group round, Bent Street, Showstoppers and BV were among the wins.

In other results, Leopold Street and Tiger Bay battled to a scoreless draw, while Broad Street and Ol Skool contested with an identical result.

Also, Future Stars and Albouystown played to a 0-0 scoreline. Below are the complete knockout fixtures, the results from the last matchday and the final point standings.

Part of the action in the Rio Indoor Streetball Championship at the National Gymnasium

Complete Knockout Fixtures Section-A (1) Leopold St vs Alexander Village (3) Gold is Money vs Albouystown (5) Sparta vs Avocado Ballers (7) Showstoppers vs BV Section-B (2) Bent St vs Sophia

(4) Back Circle vs Broad Street (6) Future Stars vs Kingston (8) Rio All-Stars vs Tiger Bay Round of 16 Showstoppers vs BV 19:00hrs Future Stars vs Kingston - 19:30hrs Rio All-Stars vs Tiger

Bay - 20:00hrs Leopold St vs Alexander Village - 20:30hrs Back Circle vs Broad St - 21:00hrs Gold is Money vs Albouystown - 21:30hrs Sparta vs Avocado Ballers - 22:00hrs Bent St vs Sophia 22:30hrs

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, November 30, 2019

31

Quarter-final action as Smalta Girls football continues tomorrow

FOUR intense quarterfinals are set for Ministry of Education ground today as Smalta Girls Pee Wee football tournament

continues.

North Georgetown are the first team to be in action from 13:00hrs with Smith Memorial carded as their

opponents.

The second game at 13:00hrs will pit Tucville against South Ruimveldt in a mammoth clash. Many are

expecting the former to win.

Timehri and West Ruimveldt clash at 13:50hrs with keen attention paid to that match as it could determine the

final.

In the other match, Redeemer play St Stephen’s on pitch two for the last spot in the following week’s semi-final.

The tournament, which is organised by the Petra Organisation, is sponsored

by Ansa McAl under the Smalta brand.

Emerging players hold nerve to secure final spot

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, November 30, 2019

PAGE

29

West Indies pummel 30 Afghanistan in one-off Test PAGE

Quarter-final action as Smalta Girls football continues tomorrow 31 PAGE

GBTI GCC and national striker Gabriella Xavier is challenged by Rene James of Saints.

Smalta Girls quarter-final takes place this weekend.

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2019