Guyana Chronicle E-paper 11-7-2018

WEDNESDAY 7th November, 2018

BBCI complies with order No.105451

Some NA 25 Hospital doctors back on the job PAGE

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…as gov't 02&03 dismisses claims of nationalisation

Matthews Ridge to Baramita road nearing …company wants ‘legal evidence’ to support ministerial order completion 24 PAGE

Members of the Sukar family of Campbellville, Georgetown, lighting diyas as they celebrate Diwali (Delano Williams photo)

Illegal Guyanese nabbed in T&T after shocking video

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No nationalisation

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

… Min. Patterson dismisses Berbice Bridge takeover claims

THE Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson has rejected what he described as misinformation by the opposition that the government has nationalised the Berbice River Bridge, or has future interest to take over the legitimate operations of private businesses or enterprises.

This announcement comes on the heels of criticism from some members of the parliamentary opposition who have since found fault in the government’s decision to supervise the maintenance and operations of the river bridge to stave off astronomical increases in tolls, which it said was a threat to public safety.

On Monday, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament (MP) and former Attorney-General Anil Nandlall, took to

social media to accuse the government of taking possession of the bridge under the “guise” of public safety.

“This is nothing short of the State compulsorily acquiring private property without any expressed intention to pay adequate compensation at market value as is required

by Article 142 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” Nandlall had stated.

However, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, condemned these remarks and those made by his counterparts to be “a campaign of misinformation to spread propaganda”. A release from the ministry reminded the public that the decision taken by the government is in accordance with the Berbice River Bridge Act and even falls under the provisions of a law passed by the PPP. “The ministry, therefore,

rejects the spurious and inflammatory claims by the opposition that a private property has been expropriated in breach of Article 142 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and emphasised that no property has been seized or otherwise taken by the government,” the release stated, adding: “The claim by detractors that the government has nationalised the Berbice River Bridge is appallingly incorrect and mischievous. We should remind the opposition PPP that the action that has been taken is under the provisions of a law passed when they formed the government and we invite them to resist their usual urge to play politics as the government takes action to protect the interests and safety of the Guyanese people.”

In his social media post, Nandlall also claimed that

“the reins of government are in the hands of authoritarians” accusing the administration of utilising “bullyism” for the “stealing of private property”.

The release further denounced these assumptions and assured the business community that the PPP holds a misguided interpretation of the government’s aim to protect its citizens.

“The Coalition Government has no policy to nationalise or take ownership control of any businesses operating legitimately in the territory of Guyana, and we will aggressively resist and push back against any such labelling of our administration.”

“The Coalition Government would also like to assure the business sector that there is no policy or interest to interfere in or take over private businesses or enterprises,” the document stated.

It further added that the action taken is in keeping with the government’s responsibility to ensure public order and safety and to guarantee continuous operation of the infrastructure critical to the region.

The Berbice River Bridge, it said, operates as an essential service and like any other in such category requires government action in times of national emergency.

“The social good provided by this bridge ranks similar to other important social services such as healthcare and education. Its value to the economic fortunes of many of our people is also well recognised. No responsible government could sit and wait for the stalemate, arising from the unreasonable unilateral action of one party, to continue, which could lead to massive disruption and dislocations in people’s

lives…this government will not be accused of failure to act in the people’s interest or for dereliction of duty in protecting the vital economic region of the country which is showing signs of economic recovery and growth,” the release declared.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure took up the supervisory role of the bridge after the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) announced its intention to raise the tolls by threefold on November 12, 1018.

The maintenance and operation of the bridge will now be managed by the government until an agreement can be reached with the other stakeholders in the dispute.

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BBCI complies with order GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

… but wants ‘legal evidence’ to support ministerial order

THE Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) said it has no alternative but to comply with the Order issued by Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson to put the company under the supervision of the government and to prohibiting the entity from implementing the Toll Order Adjustment announced on 16th October, 2018.”

However, the company wants the government to provide legal evidence to support its decision to temporarily supervise the bridge operations-- a decision which has thwarted attempts to raise tolls by close to 400 percent.

The bridge company said subsequent to receiving a response from the minister, it will make its next move which does not rule out a “legal challenge” against the government.

On Monday, Patterson announced the government’s decision to supervise the bridge, stating that it is in keeping with Sections 4 (1) and 11 of the Berbice River Bridge Act. His decision was backed by an Order cited as the Berbice River Bridge (Public Safety) Toll Order 2018, which was gazetted on November 1, 2018.

It meant that effective immediately, the functions of the concessionaire (BBCI) to maintain and operate the bridge would be exercised by the Government of Guyana until a date specified by the minister.

Patterson had clarified that there would be no toll increase; no change to the BBCI’s operational struc-

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson ture; no changes to its board and that no staffing complement, contractors or suppliers would be affected during the temporary arrangement.

When the news broke, several residents of the East Berbice-Corentyne region expressed their appreciation and relief that the set deadline for the increase, November 12, 2018, would not come to fruition.

However, just one day after the announcement, the BBCI in a press release dated November 6, 2018, deemed the Toll Order signed by Patterson as “unlawful.”

“The Berbice Bridge Company Inc. considers, based on legal advice, that the Order is unlawful and ultra-virus [sic] under Section 11of the Berbice River Bridge Act on which it is based,” the release stated.

In addition, the BBCI corresponded with Patterson citing Section 15 of the

Judicial Review Act and requesting that he supply the company with “facts and reasons” upon which the Order is based.

In the letter similarly dated November 6, 2018, the company, represented by its Corporate Secretary Stephen Rambajan, addressed the minister, stating: “Pursuant to Section 15 of the Judicial Review Act, I write to request, that as a body affected by the Order, that you supply BBCI with a statement setting out the findings on material questions of fact, referring to the evidence or other material on which those findings were based and giving the reasons for the decision.”

Attached to the request was a 14-day deadline by which the bridge company stated that it looks forward to a response. Further, in its release to the media, the BBCI corresponded: “Subject to the minister’s response, the BBCI will consider its options which do not exclude a legal challenge to the Order.”

The proposed increase announced by the company are: cars: G$8,040; pickups: G$14,600; 4WD: G$14,600; minibuses: G$8,040; small trucks: G$14,600; medium-sized trucks: G$27,720; large trucks: G$49,600; articulated trucks: G$116,680; freight: G$1,680 and boats: G$401,040.

The government on numerous occasions has maintained its ‘no tolerance’ for the increase, stating that such an action would significantly impact the cost of living and goods and services in the region.

The Berbice River Bridge

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Democrats seek to capture U.S. Congress WASHINGTON (Reuters)Americans on Tuesday cast votes nationwide at the end of a divisive campaign to decide whether President Donald Trump’s fellow

Republicans maintain their grip on the U.S. Congress.

Early results began to trickle in from states such as Indiana, site of a vital U.S. Senate race, and Ken-

tucky, home of a pivotal U.S. House of Representatives race, but it could be hours before the winners are determined. Democratic Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a 2016 presidential contender, and Tim Kaine of Virginia, Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential nominee in 2016, easily won re-election, news networks projected.

Republican Mike Braun opened an early lead in the crucial Senate showdown in Indiana with incumbent Democrat Joe Donnelly, but the race was too close to call with just 9 percent of the votes in. Tightly contested Senate races in Florida, Ohio and West Virginia were too close to call, as were high-profile races for governor in Ohio and Georgia.

Voting was expected to close in 18 states at 8 p.m. EST

Hotly contested battles in Georgia and Florida pitting liberal black Democrats against white Republicans supported by President Donald Trump headline the three dozen governors’ races being contested in Tuesday’s U.S. elections. (Reuters photo)

(0100 GMT). A full picture

of the voting results will not emerge for hours.

SPONSORED The first national elections since Trump captured

Wed., Nov. 7, 2018 04:30hrs - 06:00hrs/14:30hrs - 16:00hrs

the White House in a 2016 upset became a referendum on the polarizing president, and a test of whether Democrats can turn the energy of the liberal anti-Trump resistance into victories at the ballot box. The Democrats are favored by election forecasters to pick up the 23 seats they need to gain a majority in the House, but opinion polls show they have slimmer hopes of picking up the two seats they need to gain control of the Senate.

All 435 seats in the House, 35 seats in the 100-member Senate and 36 of the 50 state governorships were up for grabs. The volatile midterm campaign was marked by clashes over race, immigration and trade. In the final stretch, Trump hardened his rhetoric on issues that appealed to his conservative core supporters, issuing warnings about a caravan of Latin American migrants headed to the border with Mexico and condemnations of what he called U.S. liberal “mobs.”

Many Democrats, already benefiting from anti-Trump enthusiasm, focused on bread-and-butter issues like maintaining health insurance protections for people with pre-existing medical conditions and safeguarding the Social Security retirement and Medicare healthcare programs for senior citizens.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Guyanese among 11 illegal aliens nabbed in T&T after shocking video

A VIDEO on social media showing several persons jumping from a fishing boat and wading ashore at a beach in Erin, Trinidad and Tobago, triggered a police raid that led to the capture of 11 illegal aliens on Tuesday.

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the video resulted in an exercise being launched

by Senior Superintendent Adams and Superintendent Basdeo, at the Los Iros Beach area.

A party of officers led

by Sergeant Corrie, of the Erin Police Station, conducted a search of a hotel, where seven male and four female foreign nationals were found. The men, ages ranging between 31 to 55 years, included five Venezu-

elans, one Guyanese and one Syrian. The women, ages 18 to 49, were three Venezuelans and one Syrian. The 37-year-old female proprietress of the establishment was also taken into police custody.

The foreign nationals have been handed over to the Immigration Division.

In response to the video, National Security Minis-

Democrats seek...

FROM PAGE 4

If Democrats capture the House, they could block Trump’s policy agenda and launch congressional investigations into Trump’s administration, including his tax returns, possible business conflicts of interest and the nature of his 2016 campaign’s ties to Russia. A Republican victory in both chambers of Congress would be a validation for Trump’s polarizing style, a month after he solidified a conservative majority on the Supreme Court when the Senate confirmed his nominee Brett Kavanaugh after a fight over sexual misconduct accusations against the jurist.

Striking a dark tone at a rally in Indiana on Monday evening, Trump accused Democrats without offering any evidence of “openly encouraging millions of illegal aliens to break our laws, violate our borders and overrun

our country.”

U.S. stocks ticked higher in thin trading on Tuesday, as investors awaited the election results. Analysts expect pressure on stocks if Democrats gain control of the House and a sharper downward reaction if they win the Senate, too.

If Republicans hold their ground, stocks could gain further, with hopes of more tax cuts ahead.

SOME VOTING PROBLEMS REPORTED Problems with voting machines prevented Americans from casting ballots in a dozen states, U.S. rights advocates said, following complaints about registration problems, faulty equipment and intimidation they have received throughout early balloting. But a U.S. Department of Homeland Security official said the reports of voting technology failures

appeared so far to have had no significant impact in preventing people from voting.

Voter turnout, normally lower when the presidency is not at stake, could be the highest for a midterm election in 50 years, experts predicted. About 40 million early votes were likely cast, said Michael McDonald, a professor at the University of Florida who tracks the figures. In the last such congressional elections in 2014, there were 27.5 million early votes.

“I have worked at this poll the last three elections and this is the biggest turnout ever,” said Bev Heidgerken, 67, a volunteer at a polling place in Davenport, Iowa. At least 64 House races remain competitive, according to a Reuters analysis of the three top non-partisan forecasters, and Senate control was expected to come down to a

ter Stuart Young said that more resources would be dedicated to border protection and he would be taking certain initiates to Cabinet. Local Government councillor for Cedros, Shankar Teelucksingh, told the Express that what was seen on the video was nothing new. It was an everyday occurrence, he said. (Trinidad Express)

half dozen close contests in Arizona, Nevada, Missouri, North Dakota, Indiana and Florida.

In his time in office, Trump has pushed tax cuts through Congress and overseen a period of economic and jobs growth but has failed so far to deliver on presidential campaign promises to replace the Obamacare healthcare law and build a wall on the Mexican border that he has said is needed to combat illegal immigration.

DEMOCRATIC PUSHBACK A Democratic victory in the House would further hinder the border wall plan and complicate congressional approval of a deal to update the North American Free Trade Agreement. Trump also

A screenshot from the video showing the illegal aliens coming ashore

could face more pushback from Democrats on trade tariffs he has introduced, particularly in farm states hard hit by retaliatory measures from China or manufacturing states hit by higher steel and aluminum prices.

A debate about whether Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric encouraged extremists erupted in the campaign’s final weeks after pipe bombs were mailed to his top political rivals allegedly by a Trump supporter who was arrested and charged, and 11 people were killed in a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue.

Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden called on Americans to use their votes to reject Trump. “This is the single most important off-year

election of my lifetime. I really think it’s more than just about a specific issue. I think it’s about the character of the country,” he said in Wilmington, Delaware, where he voted. Democrats also could recapture governorships in several battleground states such as Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio, a potential help for the party in those states in the 2020 presidential race. It was the first national election in the United States since the 2016 race in which Russia interfered, according to U.S. intelligence agencies, with a campaign of hacking and propaganda to sow discord, harm the Democratic presidential candidate and boost Trump’s chances. Russia denies meddling.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Youths for LGEs

LOCAL Government Elections are just a matter of days away. However, given the critical role that this second tier of government is expected to play in the furtherance of national democracy, for the changes that it can bring about at the grassroots level, it is again opportune that it be highlighted.

There have been a number of emergent factors in the national preparation for this very important constitutional exercise that must be applauded. First, the number of young people, not only as party supporters, but also as candidates from within their respective communities-particularly from the APNU and Alliance For Change (AFC) segments of the coalition-- and even the opposition. It is instructive to note that there has not been wide publicising of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) representatives.

What is clearly discernible is an opposition party that has been using its campaign time to continue its vilification of the coalition government. This, instead of encouraging its constituencies and constituents to elect persons who are genuine in care and concern for the advancement of their respective municipalities and NDCs, and to help usher in a new dispensation in local governance. This should not be surprising, given the fact that there were no LGEs for the 23 years of PPP/C governance.

Indeed, it is a breath of fresh air to have so many young persons-- male and female-- who are bright and intelligent and articulate in their world-view understanding of local government as it relates to their communities and what the latter could do for the transformation of such environments. This has translated

into increased participation and involvement with a deeper sense of purpose and motivation.

It is very opportune that this very important category of the nation’s population is rising to the challenge of leadership at this particular first level of governance, given the fact that it has been dominated by mostly senior citizens for decades.

But this landscape has been gradually changing, where more young people feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for their community. There are already, a mayor and deputy mayor, both of young age, who lead the Bartica municipality; in the Georgetown municipality, the deputy mayor is a mere 21 years old, in addition to also being the city’s youngest councillor.

Young people and as to their adequacy and responsibility for leadership positions within Guyana,

have become since 2015, a national topic for debate.

This is in view of the fact that their relative youth and perceived inexperience have perennially been cited as chief reasons for unsuitability for such elevation. It is a view from which we differ; it is mired in traditional and rather archaic and prejudicial thinking. As purported facts, it bears no actual relationship to what is the new reality of the roles that young people have of recent times been playing in the decision-making process of our society.

Today, young Guyanese professionals occupy places on especially the many state boards, and constitutional commissions; while there are many serving at middle-level positions within the Public Service. Virtually all of them are already holders of first degrees with some acquiring post-graduate status. The numerous

youthful law graduates --many of them excelling at law school-- should inform us as to how much the world, inclusive of Guyana, has changed; since gone are the days when such a category was of a much more mature age. And there are very young medical doctor graduates as well, even specialists, too.

It is comforting as well that within recent times, there are young Guyanese who have been very vocal about the burning issues of the day, such as the scourge of domestic violence in all its brutal forms; they have also been taking leadership positions in the formation of awareness organisations.

On so many media platforms, there is a ubiquitous presence of young Guyanese who are making their views/ opinions known on the seminal issues of the day, even outlining suggestions for solutions. These profiles

are evidence that they have been observing and thinking about what affects society as a whole, inclusive of their respective communities.

When people work together to meet their changing social and economic needs, community development is successful and sustainable; the result is long-term, locally motivated change. Therefore, it stands to good reason that many of these young Guyanese professionals and youth leaders, since they have originated from communities which have been deprived of social amenities for so long, would most naturally aspire to community leadership; this is with a view to bringing about change. With such talent and interest, local government can provide an avenue for its inclusivity for improvement of communities from the grassroot level, up.

Diwali – an occasion for self-reflection Dear Editor

YESTERDAY, Guyana joined with the Hindu community-- regionally and internationally-- in celebrating the festival of Diwali, popularly known as the Festival of Lights.

Diwali, also spelt Divali or Deepavali, is a Sanskrit word which when translated into English means row of lights. It is a Hindu festival which is a week of celebrations observed on the darkest night of the month, usually in November of its celebration. This is said to provide the best environment for the twinkling lights of the lighted diyas that is the highpoint of this most auspicious occasion.

This festival, which primarily signifies victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance, has as its religious centrepoint and focus, dedication to and worship of the goddess Maha Lakshmi, the goddess of light, fortune and abundance.

It is an occasion that makes for the renewal

of kinship among relatives; friendship, and love among friends and neighbours; as well as heralding the beautiful occasion of the entire Hindu family worshipping at dusk, before adorning their homes and immediate surroundings with lighted diyas.

Although this wonderful occasion is primarily of Hindu origin, culture, and celebration, it is one of the most popular festivals in the Hindu calendar; and in Guyana, celebrated as a national holiday, it has assumed what can be described as a truly national festival.

This is best manifested by the thousands of Guyanese from all walks of life, and ethnicities that traditionally line the route along which the annual Maha Sabha – sponsored motorcade of floats, passes. Apart from the lighted diyas, it can be described as the other highpoint of this auspicious occasion, which is always well received by a largely multi-ethnic crowd.

Such a celebratory occasion that has perennially attracted Guyanese-- irrespective

of cultural and ethnic affiliation-- illustrates a nation, which people are truly appreciative; and respectful of their fellow Guyanese individual religio-cultural leanings, without any pretence or show of intolerance. It is an acknowledgement of our maturity and understanding of each other as Guyanese.

But Diwali is being observed at a time when our world is beset by challenges of an extreme nature; where hatred of all types continue to threaten the peace and harmony which should be upheld as the beacon and guide for all mankind to live better and productive lives, and be of service to those in need. Murderous attacks, taking the lives of innocent persons and senseless in every way, are being carried out in the name of religion, whereas, religion should serve only as a moral and spiritual compass for better lives.

Rather than being used for the advancement of universal learning, whereby cultural diversity is seen as a light for enlightenment, thus deepening the bonds of international

brotherhood, it is used instead, to foster ill-perceived differentiation that inevitably gives rise to daily conflict.

In Guyana, where there is much suspicion and fear among our people, the occasion of Diwali, apart from being customarily celebratory, should be used as an occasion to reflect on our personal lives, thus ushering in light to remove darkness in the form of ignorance; rejecting hate and prejudices that continue to dampen our spiritual lives, while by extension darkening our horizon; preventing the better understanding of our fellow Guyanese, which will make living of better lives, and at peace with our fellow Guyanese.

Above all, let us use this occasion, which among other tenets is about showing love and compassion to those in need, strive in unison for the good of all.

Regards Dillon Goring

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

The system of local government ought to be given a chance to function

Dear Editor

THE ministry wishes to refute the baseless and myopic assertions made by Mr. Rudolph Singh in his letter titled, “After spending $1.5 billion, very little will change after LGE” [KN Nov 4, 2018].

While on a general note the ministry is heartened that local government has found its way-- as it rightfully should-- in the national discourse, the unwarranted public bashing of the system and efforts directed at its resuscitation and rehabilitation are frequent and seem to be the fun thing to do. Despite its ‘enthusiastic’ campaign in these elections, the PPP and its acolytes ironically continue to question the relevance of the system of local government and in so doing, continue to expose their opposition to peoples’ empowerment.

In his myopic tirade, Singh lamented that $ 1.5 billion will be ‘wasted’ on local democracy. At the minimum, he was able to get at least one thing right, i.e., democracy is costly. It begs the question: can we afford not to make such an investment? Or is Mr. Singh suggesting that we revert to the old system by which the Minister of Local Government sits in his Fort Street, Kingston, office and handpicks local leaders for our ten (10) towns and sixty-two (62) Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and impose them on residents in the form of Interim Management Committees (IMCs)? Singh should ask the Bartica Town Council of the onerous liability it inherited from the odious IMC that was imposed on the people by Mr. Ganga Persaud. Same for the Ireng/Sawariwau now Lethem Town Council

imposed also by Mr. Persaud.

Up until the holding of local government elections in March, 2016, local democracy has been absent for over two decades; so far removed was the concept of local government that many persons are unaware of its functions and benefits. The restoration of functionality is therefore not an overnight occurrence but is a process, one to which this administration has demonstrated unwavering commitment.

This administration is not labouring under the delusion that LGEs are the panacea to rehabilitating the system; and that with the holding of elections, development is axiomatic as is suggested. To the contrary, after years of intentional neglect of the system of local government, the regular holding of elections is a first step to the restoration of functionality to the system. Renewal of democratic credentials is, therefore, part of our three-pronged approach; the other two being institutional strengthening and capacity-building and strengthening the financial security and funding of councils. Much has been done with regard to the latter two, which continues to be a work in progress. Citizens are now empowered and many are seizing the opportunity to improve the management of their areas.

The ministry will not engage Mr. Singh on his misplaced pessimism in relation to the issue of improvement in services offered by councils. While there is certainly room for improvement, the transformation that took place in many communities post-March 2016 is there to show the difference good governance makes.

Never seen GECOM reduced to such crass level of politicking Dear Editor IN recent times, Ms. Bibi Safora Shadick, one of GECOM’s commissioners, has taken it upon herself to weekly report in the newspapers letter columns and other media, on the statutory meetings of GECOM. I consider her action unethical for a range of reasons, including the disclosure of the names of those who are responsible for the issue on which a report is being made. Given the nature of GECOM’s undertakings and what is chosen to be reported on, such reports may well put commissioners and staff in harm’s way of over-zealous political activists, as well as they may discredit and undermine the work of the organisation.

That apart, the most recent report of Nov. 1 clearly revealed the agenda-driven, impartial, biased and vicious nature of Shadick’s reporting. She found it newsworthy to indicate that the chairman came ahead of his secretary; the CEO was “belligerent”; the DCEO “overwhelmed”; the PRO accepted biased advice from vendors; and she doubted whether the organisation could implement its plan which she declared to be “good on paper”, among other things; all of which were either irrel-

evant to the outcome of the meeting and/or opinionated.

What, however, is most noteworthy was her omission of the most important issue that was interrogated/discussed at the meeting-- a matter that has serious implications for the conduct of the upcoming polls and the execution of which left much to be desired. Given my own disposition to reporting as she has been doing, I will not mention the specifics of the matter; suffice to say that the officer responsible for that matter is kih and kin to her and has been openly and overwhelmingly favoured by her in past events.

I can therefore come to no conclusion other than that Ms. Shadick’s reporting is an extension of the PPP/C’s campaign to cast aspersions on, and malign the PPP/C’s proclaimed 90 per cent African-Guyanese staff at GECOM and GECOM itself.

In my 11 years of service at GECOM, I have never seen GECOM reduced to such a crass level of politicking. We now have some commissioners who are essentially fifth columnists, in my view.

Vincent Alexander GECOM Commissioner

The system of local government ought to be given a chance to function. We encourage eligible voters not to be distracted.

Citizens are reminded that their vote matters and should be used on November 12 to select the best possible leadership for their

communities. This is visible proof that you are interested in the development of your communities.

Regards Samuel Parris Ministry of Communities

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GECOM beware!

Dear Editor, ON November 1, 2018, readers of Stabroek News were once again subjected to the ongoing diatribe of Commissioner Bibi Shadick in a letter captioned, “Logistical details for election day look good on paper,” in which she vented her spleen on developments at the meeting of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), which took place on October 30, 2018.

As usual, her obsession with misrepresenting information and misinforming the public, dominated her narrative of the events. In this letter I do not propose to address all of the issues raised by the commissioner; however, I will refer to a few of them while making some general comments on the situation at GECOM The first point I wish to make is this: I

gather that the little lady was terribly hurt by my contradiction of her blatant misrepresentation of facts surrounding a number of issues that engaged the attention of GECOM, over a period of time. This point is reflected in her sarcastic reference to “Commissioner Trotman does not like the record of what he is reported to have said, he tries to correct it so that his contribution sounds better.”

Something is seriously wrong with this individual. It is true that I was dissatisfied with what was reported in the minutes of the meeting and I was duty bound to correct it. In doing so, I did what every member of the commission does, including Ms. Shadick. The records will show that she, along with Commissioner Robeson Benn, more than any other commissioner, does the same thing. She is fully aware that it is an acceptable norm in every organisation, where, under the agenda item – Omissions

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

and Corrections of Minutes – participants seek to clarify by insertion or deletion in a reported text, the substance/meaning of what was really said. At GECOM it is no different.

My second point is in reference to the ongoing attacks on the Chairman, CEO and DCEO, which continue unabated and have assumed ridiculous proportions. The PPP commissioners are very critical of their every effort. While it is true that at the meeting of October 30 there was no direct attack on the legal officer, she is very often subjected to derogatory remarks which leave no doubt of their contempt for her, whether she is present at, or absent from the meetings.

Thirdly, Commissioner Shadick went to great lengths in her letter to show the disparity in the fees charged by Attorney-at-Law Roysdale Forde and the Law Firm of Fraser, Housty and Yearwood and Senior Counsel Ashton Chase. She seems to have conveniently forgotten that on a previous occasion, when this matter came up for discussion at a meeting of the commission, I raised the question as to whether there was/is a fixed rate to be charged by attorneys for work done; and she said the fees are left to the discretion of the individual attorney. So what is her point?

Fourthly, I want to use this opportunity to congratulate the DCEO for her objective critique of the weaknesses/shortcomings, which were highlighted in her preliminary report on the Nomination Day exercise.

The relevant recommendations from her to improve the system are timely and deeply appreciated and are intended to improve the operationalisation of the system. This is what good managers do. I also want to congratulate the PRO for working over and beyond the call of duty, particularly during this period that GECOM is engaged in. Her contributions to the Civic and Voter Education Programme are tremendous; even the little lady was forced to acknowledge this.

Some of us, in recommending her for the position, were convinced that she possessed these qualities. Our confidence in her has not been misplaced.

My three final points are:(i) The need to fill a number of senior positions at GECOM is becoming more urgent as the days go by. Appointing persons to these positions will allow for greater planning, execution and coordination of GECOM’s work. The blame for the failure to fill these positions must be placed squarely at the doors of Commissioners Benn and Shadick, who are of the view that until the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) completes its findings on the allegations they have made to it against GECOM, they are not prepared to continue interviewing applicants for the unfilled positions. It seems to me that they are trying to put pressure on the ERC to arrive at a decision that fits into their game plan. I take this opportunity to warn them and to inform the Guyanese public that even in a fully staffed organisation/ work environment, hiccups are present. In GECOM’s case, where several senior positions are still to be filled, chaos could result.

These positions can and must be filled by persons, who, on the basis of meritocracy, are found to have the required attributes. (ii) It must be realised that GECOM’s staff are human beings and must be treated as such. They exist in a situation at GECOM where at least two PPP members of the commission believe that staff members should be treated as if they are less than humans, to be

intimidated and dealt with in the worst possible way. While it is true that cases must be dealt with in such a way that leaves no doubt about the seriousness of commissioners to ensure that GECOM’s business is dealt with in a transparent and accountable framework, each case must be dealt with on its individual merit. It is clear to me that the PPP commissioners do not understand how to function in a democratic environment. They have been close to the power centre for too long and seem incapable of tailoring their behaviour, which is clearly authoritarian, to a new dispensation. They give the impression that the only views that matter are those which they hold. If this is not a nonsensical position, what is? I want to plead with them to adjust their attitudes; try to work with the people whom they refuse to accept as having an ongoing role at GECOM. As far as I can see, those persons whom they have rejected are going to be here for a long time, even beyond 2020, unless something untoward happens. I do believe that once they are here for the 2020 elections they will deliver results that will be applauded locally, regionally and internationally. The PPP commissioners will have to live with that reality. (iii) I want to thank Commissioner Shadick for inadvertently disclosing information that is vital to the work of GECOM, which was given to her outside of the knowledge of at least three other commissioners. This information is contained in her observation in the first paragraph of her letter in which she said, “Today’s meeting oddly starts on time. It is as if the chairman, having just recently signed his contract has decided that meetings need to start at 1pm. Imagine, he did not even send his secretary to find out if there was a quorum, as is his usual practice.”

My concern is not about the commencement time of the meeting, nor, is it even about whether her assertion about the reason for the chairman calling the meeting to order is correct or not. My concern is about the information with respect to the chairman’s contract being known by PPP commissioners at a time when it has not been discussed at any meeting of GECOM; how the information was revealed to them and by whom?

Were the details of the chairman’s contract the subject of a senior management discussion of GECOM’s secretariat? If that has not been the case, then that information could only be known to at the most, three highly placed GECOM functionaries. Releasing that information violates the principle of safeguarding confidential information within the organisation and the source should be quickly identified.

I say this because inherent in what has transpired in this matter is the possibility that persons within GECOM’s employ may, out of partisan political interests, or, for a price, or both, go in the direction of compromising the integrity of GECOM’s operations with serious consequences for the future. Further, GECOM should not rule out the possibility that those who are in the business of accusing GECOM of working to rig the 2020 elections are themselves putting in place a mechanism to guarantee for themselves a result that is most favourable to them; or be in a position to cry foul if that objective is not achieved. GECOM beware.

Regards Desmond Trotman GECOM Commissioner

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Be bold, be brave on legalising marijuana Dear Editor, I WRITE as a sincere, solid supporter of President Granger and the coalition.

However, it is useful to discuss in public a matter that bothers me. It is the question of marijuana in our society.

Earlier, many of us felt that its use could only add to our woes and therefore, did not support those who argued about its usefulness.

I attended the CARICOM-sponsored forum which was held some months ago at the St. Stanislaus College and heard the passion of those who use the ‘weed.’ Outside of Guyana, I shared similar discussions on this matter of marijuana use.

It is now my considered opinion that the government should be bold and be positive in dealing with this matter and have it decriminalised forthwith. This week I raised the question with a senior Cabinet member, who could not provide me with lucid answers; in fact, that person seemed clueless regarding the next step to be taken. Speaking with experienced medical persons, I was convinced that they all felt that a movement forward on ‘medical marijuana’ would be a good thing.

I’m not sure which minister or ministry should take the initiative, but full, open discussions should be held earliest. Let us hear from all. The Internet is available to all who can read about the latest development worldwide.

To date, thirty (30) countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel and Jamaica have legalised marijuana for medical and recreational use.

Canada and Australia are looking at a billion-dollar resource.

They have taken advantage of the fast-changing perception on dealing with this plant everywhere. Last year October, a Gallup survey showed that 64% of persons wanted to see ‘weed’ legalised. We have had advanced many negatives, but what is broader, deeper and wider is how our parents, educational institutions, communities and religious organisations can guide this generation to act responsibly at all times, to anchor our lives on lofty moral principles and learning to care and respect one another.

Next, there is the contention that the use of marijuana can change our ‘personality or behaviour.’ If this be the case, then we should prohibit the manufacture, sale and use of all liquor and alcoholic beverages.

Growing up, I have had the experience of a close family member who normally was docile, calm and rational, but after imbibing alcohol became aggressive and behaved in an unacceptable manner. Daily we have examples of people doing wrong and illegal things when under the influence of liquor. I say to those purists, should we therefore ban the manufacture, sale and use of alcohol?

Beyond the above, we are missing an opportunity to cash in on something we can produce for export to ready markets. A friend told me last week that an expert in Jamaica told him that the marijuana harvested from a certain area in Guyana was of the highest quality.

May I add this caveat: unlike gas and oil, as my wife quipped in a recent conversation,

we don’t need to import skills to make millions for marijuana –it is apparent we already possess those skills - so I say to my government, what are we waiting for?

Be bold be brave. Be the beneficiaries of the Creator’s bounty. Don’t let us be like King Canute who tried to hold back the tide. I have sent copies of this letter to the His Excellency the President; Hon Prime Minister and Ministers responsible for Public Health, Legal Affairs, Agriculture, National Security and Social Cohesion.

Regards Hamilton Green

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Families illuminate their homes for Diwali

AS day turned into night on Tuesday, families in Guyana illuminated their homes with hundreds of lights- be it with small earthen pots called diyas or with artificial ‘fairy lights’.

For some it was a mixture of both.

The Sukar family in Austin Street, Campbellville was one family that ensured almost every nook and cranny of their house and yard was lit. Both, the young and the old, came together to light the diyas as they celebrated the Hindu Festival of Lights.

Just opposite the Sukar family was Lena Singh, who decorated her home exclusively with artificial lights. This was perhaps the best thing to do, since it was quite breezy on her end.

But the main attraction was at D. Singh Trading at Delph Street and Campbell Avenue, in Campbellville. The business was illuminated from bottom to top with lights of all shapes and sizes and the proprietor- who calls himself “Appleman”shared that Diwali is a very important festival for his family.

In other places, like in Alberttown or on the East Bank of Demerara, at Diamond, Diwali celebrations were in full swing. You could not miss the rows of diyas or escape the loud and sometimes obnoxious sounds of the fireworks!

Another young man spinning his steel wool [Vishani Ragobeer photo]

These family members posed by their Rangoli created at First and Light Streets, Alberttown [Delano Williams photo]

This beautifully decorated house illuminated Diamond, on the East Bank of Demerara [Adrian Narine photo]

This man took his celebrations to another level by spinning the steel wool [Adrian Narine photo]

“Appleman” and his wife at their beautifully decorated home in observance of Diwali [Delano Williams photo]

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

The cries of a reluctant Guyanese voter

THERE was once a time, during the 18th century in Guyana that the colonies of Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo were under the control of the Dutch and governed by a Court of Policy that consisted of persons appointed from a list that emerged from the College of Keizers, in an electoral college system that had no regard for the will of the people.

The masses had no say over government during this period. The first massbased elections were held in Guyana in 1953, thereafter in times of independence, free and fair elections were practically non-existent.

From the deadly slave rebellions to the sacrifices of the Enmore Martyrs, the right to have a say in your destiny was not an easy road for Guyanese. It is for this reason, I cannot heed the cries of those who refuse to vote.

The reluctant Guyanese voter normally presents several arguments; ‘It ain’t gon mek no difference if I vote or don’t’, ‘ things ain’t gon change anyway’, ‘I ain’t even know is who on the ballot’, ‘politics is a dirty game’, ‘I too busy trying to survive’, ‘What elections got to do with the price of cheese?’. None of these arguments can withstand scrutiny. These are sim-

ply excuses to justify laissez-faire citizenship. One of the most sacred aspects of a democratic political system is the ability to choose leaders of your choice. It provides the freedom and opportunity to express your will at different intervals. If you are upset, you express that at the ballot box. If you are happy with the state of affairs, you reflect this by exercising your franchise to register your satisfaction.

Refusal to flex your electoral muscles means you essentially lose your right to complain.

That being established, bad leadership fears the diligent voter, it is for this reason Guyanese were denied the chance to have local government elections for 22 years under the PPP/Civic government, even though the Constitution explicitly states that local government elections are a vital part of democracy. Guyana could have had 11 local government elections in 22 years.

During the period of the denial of this right there was the installation of 35 Interim Management Committees (IMCs) in 11 years.

The IMCs are the complete opposite of the expression of the will of the people, it is the will of the dictatorial authority. Friends and cronies are imposed on the

communities to exercise the party’s agenda.

In the final analysis, the return of local democracy to the Guyanese political process presents the opportunity for voters to choose representation at the community level. The myriad of issues that are on the ballot range from, but not restricted to, accountabil-

ity, independence v party control, youth leadership, parking meters, the desilting of neighbourhood trenches, the clearing of alleyways, the resurfacing of roads, the construction and repair of bridges and more.

When you ponder on the occasion, it is difficult to agree with the cries of a reluctant Guyanese voter.

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Addressing S poverty

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

O I had another assignment that led me to write on this week’s piece. It concerns the sustainable development goals and as I was researching, I realised the first goal is to reduce poverty.

Why is that so? When we speak of poverty, we stress on the economic poverty. Globally, I’d say there’s no fixed definition as it may vary in different societies. Perhaps it’s the lack of education, not being able to buy food or even ignorance. Here in Guyana, we’d call someone poor if that person doesn’t have the financial means to buy things they want, moreover needs, like an average citizen. For me personally, I take sides with the saying, ‘some people are so poor all they have is money.’

In a country such as ours, with abundant and underutilised resources, why does poverty still exist? In excess of 800 million persons currently live in poverty worldwide, that’s a better statistic than 1 billion persons, in the year 1999. There’s hope for our country with the oil industry and it’s promised wealth but one can only wonder, if we have gold, bauxite, timber, sugar, tourism, coconut and countless other exports and resources, why was progress still very slow? And what makes oil outshine the others?

A country and the way it manages its resources, job availability as well as inclusion of all the regions into the economy plays a key role in this topic. I find it ludicrous when a country, whether it be Guyana or any other, boast about its country and there are still exceeding numbers of hungry bellies and home-

less souls on the streets.

Perhaps, we also fail our people when we do not teach them better.

Budgeting, how to calculate taxes, how to write a CV, emergency plans for failed industries and natural disasters, the value of money, are all things that are not often emphasised. I also believe we should teach people how to be more independent; grow your kitchen gardens, start small home businesses, save money and make personal investments.

Economic growth and plans should include everyone. The government and NGOs have many programmes in place to help eradicate poverty and in many countries the numbers have surely been decreasing. However, it makes no sense there are many programmes and there’s still a stigma attached to poverty.

There are many persons who are afraid to ask for help because of what people will say. In many ways the wealth shared is unequal. Females especially, are very underprivileged when it comes to economic wealth. The feminisation of poverty is a world-wide issue even in developed countries.

The reduction of poverty is everybody’s business. No human being should fight for survival when they’re many others dwelling in luxury. To put into better words, ‘Poverty is not a lack of character; it’s a lack of money, a lack of opportunity, a lack of investment. It’s when society turns its back and makes you invisible.’

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

The struggles and triumphs of Tamya Healis

–– Young Bartican set to graduate from UG with distinction in Economics

By Gabriella Chapman

AS Tamya Healis anxiously awaits graduation from the University of Guyana (UG) on Saturday, she anticipates her dream to take her hometown, Bartica, to higher heights in terms of development.

This 23-year-old expressed her passion to the Guyana Chronicle while sharing her prolonged years of accomplishments in Bartica. She has been an academic highflier since sitting the National Grade Six Assessment in 2007, emerging as the third best graduating student in Region Seven with 511 marks. She went on to pursue her secondary education at the Three Miles Secondary School, and in 2012, emerged as the best graduating student for Region Seven at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), with 11 subjects.

Healis said her next step after her high school graduation became blurred as she had lost her grandmother to cancer, a few days prior to the release of the CSEC results. But after a year of finding herself and consulting persons for advice on the way forward, she finally decided to venture off to UG and read for a degree in Economics.

“I consulted one of my past teachers and she suggested I try Economics. At that point I wasn’t 100 per cent into it, but I felt like this is what I needed to do.

So I came to UG and at first it was a battle, after all Economics is one of the toughest programmes at UG,” she said.

UG STRUGGLES Healis said her maintenance at UG became quite a hassle, that it forced her to juggle her studies with multiple side jobs to sustain herself throughout the four years.

“As you know, a girl has needs and not everything your parents can provide for you, so that’s when I started venturing off into part-time jobs so as to be able to maintain myself. The first one I did was selling honey roasted nuts to my classmates, which was very profitable. It even grew and ended up at the canteen, so I had a large customer base. And that’s how most of my personal bills got paid off,” the young woman shared.

“But after I grew, I moved on to other things. I was actually asked to tutor one of the courses under the business management depart-

ment (Computer Studies). So I eventually did away with the honey roasted business and focused more on the tutoring. And that lasted throughout my university life and still is ongoing for a two-year period,” she added.

In addition to the tutoring, because she always had a love for nature and taking pictures, Healis shared that she grew into the habit of capturing scenes and sharing those captures on her social media platforms.

This grabbed the attention of her fan base on social media, to the extent that persons started asking her why she hasn’t tried photography.

The constant confrontation of the question lead her to take on the challenge, so she saved her tutoring money and purchased a professional camera and started photography as another part-time job.

“Balancing those two jobs and studies was quite challenging, especially coming down to my final year.

I had a lot of times wanted to give up. But there was always that inner voice that said ‘keep going, you’re on your last lap’. Now here I am today, awaiting graduation day where I’ll graduate with a distinction in Economics.

So my four years of rough road paid off,” she said with a glistening smile.

WHERE IT ALL STARTED Though losing sight of her lifelong goal after her grandmother’s death, Healis said that her tertiary achievements were not coincidental.

In fact, it has always been her childhood dream and she knew all along what she will become one day.

“From a very tender age, it wasn’t clear as day, but I knew I wanted to move Bartica forward. Because knowing that [in] Region Seven most persons vote for the green party and growing up, we were under the leadership of the red party, and we were starved in many areas under their leadership. And seeing Bartica being constrained for so many years, and knowing its potential, that’s what started to drive me. I kept telling myself ‘I gotta do well in school, I gotta make that step to make this place better’,” she said.

The young woman shared that what she really loves about Bartica, is its potential.

And knowing that under bad management, or persons who do not have that vision, the potential can be lost, she said that it motivates her to be educat-

ed and take up these roles so that she can make her hometown a better place.

PLANS AFTER GRADUATION After graduation on Saturday, Healis said her next step is to work along with leaders in her hometown to give it the boost it so deserves.

“Seeing that Bartica is on the verge of becoming

a tourist destination, I believe that everyone in Bartica needs to be on that very page, otherwise the goal will fail.

The people are the ones who have to ensure that it gets to that point and be maintained because their actions play an integral role in the development and having it being sustained,” she said She added that sensitisation through seminars, workshops and outreach, among

others, are most definitely important to ensure that everyone knows the role they have to play in development.

“Leaders are the most powerful in a community, I am by no means conforming to a specific group of leaders, I am however, conforming to being a liaison individual with the leaders, to aid as a spokesperson to assist in the execution of pushing our town on the

Tamya Healis global map,” she said emphatically.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Believe in self, network, break down barriers – women entrepreneurs urged, as WeLead2018 conference concludes

Jacquelyn Shipe the CEO of Global Ties Alabama, speaking during the conference in the presence of Fashion Designer and Author Sonial Noel (centre) and overseas-based Guyanese Michelle A. Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nico Consulting Inc (right)

Co-founder of Winedays, Michelle Howard

By Svetlana Marshall AFTER two days of intense discussion, some of Guyana’s female entrepreneurs and potential businesswomen are now better equipped with the knowledge needed to effectively compete in the business world.

On Tuesday, as the curtains of the Empowered Leadership Conference (WeLead2018) came down at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, the participants, the majority of them women were taught the importance of believing in themselves, networking and establishing core values.

Fashion Designer, Entrepreneur and Author Sonia Noel, said the lack of a high self-esteem is often a factor that hinders women from launching their own business or better positioning themselves. It is time to break down the barriers, she said, as she praised overseas-based Guyanese Michelle A. Nicholas, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nico Consulting Inc., and Jacquelyn Shipe, the CEO of Global Ties Alabama.

“I find that as I interact with women, the lack of self-confidence keep them from really fulfilling their potential, so I would love for women to really believe more in themselves, and know their worth,” Noel told the Guyana Chronicle on the sideline of the event.

Nicholas, who was recently named one of Westchester’s “40 Under 40” Rising Stars by the Business Council of Westchester in the US, for her work on bridging the gap between available resources and those

Sophia Dolphin, Sales Manager at Gizmos and Gadgets and CEO of GLOSEESALES

Hafeeza Mustafa

who need them, said she was once an introvert but in order to succeed there was need for her to step out of the box.

In the world of business there is no room for isolation, Nicholas said as she underscored the importance of networking and building partnership.

“I used to always keep things to the vest. I wanted to work things out on my own and not include others. I believed that I could do it all on my own and didn’t need anyone. Not true! After a while it all felt like a burden to carry. I was experiencing losses which broke my heart, and I was experiencing joys that I had no one to share them with. I had to change that way of thinking.

I had to learn to be more open and gather the support from others who may have been in the space before, or who can provide some objective thoughts. I can’t do it alone.

You can’t do it alone,” Nicholas said on Monday, when she delivered the keynote address.

During the breakout session – “She Means Business” – with Noel and Shipe, Nicholas’ message was no different.

TURN TO PAGE 15

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Fatal accident cop reportedly commits suicide RELATIVES of Police Constable Oswin Argyle of Supply, Mahaica on the East of Coast Demerara are trying to come to grips with his sudden death which comes days after he crashed a car killing Keiolla Thomas, at Bee Hive, a village also an ECD. The Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday spoke with Andrea Jackson, the mother of the dead policeman, who disclosed that she returned from work on Monday and was making supper when she received a call from a policewoman informing that her son fell down at work and was vomiting, and that she should visit the hospital. The woman said when she went there she saw her son briefly, but opted to come out from the room as she could no longer bear to watch his condition. Shortly after she was told that he passed away.

The mother said that her son was never suicidal and she is at a lost as to what really happened to him. In fact,

on Monday afternoon, he reportedly visited his mother’s home but she was not there, however, based on the other interactions he had with other relatives he appeared to be in very high in spirits up to the time he left the village.

Asked what time he left home, relatives said it was after 17:00hrs. They further indicated that it would take the longest about 15 minutes for a person to catch a bus out of the area, as buses run very frequently in the community and especially at that time of the day.

Argyle reportedly never reached the Vigilance Police Station until sometime close to 21:00hours, which is inconsistent with the normal time to travel from Supply Mahaica to the Vigilance. Relatives estimated the time of travel between Supply and Vigilance to about 30 minutes. So far, however, the police are treating the death as a suicide. A post- mortem is expected to be conducted today.

On October 29, Argyle

Believe in...

FROM PAGE 14

Meanwhile, Shipe underscored the importance of establishing clear values and standards in the establishment of a business.

KEY VALUES Honesty, integrity and transparency were among values, Shipe said, businesses must have in this competitive business environment.

“I think it is really important that we always talk about having a design or a product that we want to sell in our business, but I think having the foundation of values and ensuring that there are standards for both ourselves and anyone who works in our business is incredibly important for them to think about, to consider and for them to put into action,” the Global Ties Alabama CEO said.

Failure to clearly state core values and standards could result in breaches that could have a negative effect on a business.

For the women participants, the Empowered Leadership Conference was an inspiring and motivational event that stimulated their interest to either establish their own business or build on the existing one.

Co-founder of Winedays Michelle Howard, said she is ready to take on new challenges and overcome her fears. “I am an introvert, extrovert, at moments when I know I have to do something I usually push my husband to do it, and so from this experience I have learnt that pushing myself to go out and not stuck in the idea that I don’t like to do it is important,” she told this newspaper. Sophia Dolphin, Sales Manager at Gizmos and Gadgets and CEO of GLOSEESALES, said the forum created a platform for women to further develop themselves in the field of business, in particular single parent mothers.

“For women, especially single parent mothers who are working so hard to get by and maintain their independence, the connection, the networking and having the support system is very important,” she posited.

Hafeeza Mustafa, who was among the youngest potential female entrepreneurs in the audience, said the forum renewed her enthusiasm to expand her family’s business – New Step Boutique GY, in Linden to Georgetown.

“The main thing that got me is that you should find a niche, a market niche, what differentiates you from the others in the field and how you can get your values out from your customers and what you can give them,” she said.

The Empowered Leadership Conference, held under the theme “When Women Prosper, We all Prosper”, was the brainchild of the CEO of Community Health Care, Abbigale Loncke. It attracted a diverse set of women from not only Guyana but from the U.S and other parts of the Region.

and a female companion were in a car that crashed along the Bee Hive public road. That crash claimed the life of the 27-year-old married woman, whom Argyle’s mother confirmed he was having an affair with, and for which she had spoken to him on several occasions to desist as the woman had her husband and he, him-

self, has his reputed wife.

The vehicle they were in was heading east when the driver lost control and crashed into a utility pole before coming to a halt in trench. The female companion died on the spot. Argyle subsequently told police ranks and his relatives that it was the woman who was driving. However, one

of the first responders who spoke with this newspaper on Tuesday, and who pulled the policeman out of the vehicle, confirmed that it was the cop who was driving at the time of the crash and that he was the person who was removed from the driver’s seat.

Over at the home of relatives of the dead wom-

an, they too said it was the woman who was driving.

They have since indicated that the burial for her will take place next weekend after a wake which relatives are expected to hold in the United States. The young lady was expected to travel back to the US, the day following the accident.

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Essequibians celebrate Diwali in grand way

HINDUS in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on Tuesday lit diyas and made their beautifully decorated Rangolis as they celebrated the festival of lights- - Diwali.

Diwali signifies the com-

ing of Goddess Lakshmi after she emerged from the Milky Ocean. She came to restore righteousness in the Hindu Dharma. A drive along the Essequibo Coast saw many homes beautifully lit with rows of diyas and celebra-

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

tions commenced as early as 18:00hrs. Many mandirs conducted services earlier in the day in reverence to mother Lakshmi, the giver of health, wealth and prosperity, according to Hindu teachings.

Many families also con-

Children performing Lakshmi puja on Tuesday morning at the Golden Fleece Vishwa Jhotir ducted individual Lakshmi Pooja in their homes before they started to light the earthen lamps. Housewives were also busy throughout the entire day preparing Indian delicacies to share with neighbours and passers-by.

Diwali the festival of light is celebrated throughout the world. The most popular story pertaining to the festival is that of Rama and Sita: Lord Rama was a great warrior King who was exiled (or sent away) by his father Dashratha, the King of Ayodhya, along with his wife

Sita and his younger brother Lakshman, on his wife’s insistence. Lord Rama returned to his Kingdom Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, in which he put an end to the demon Ravana of Lanka, who was a great demon and wanted to rule the kingdom.

After this victory of Good over Evil, Rama returned to Ayodhya. In Ayodhya, the people welcomed them by lighting rows of clay/mud lamps. So, it is an occasion in honour of Rama’s victory over Ravana, or the good over evil.

Guyana, U.S. reflect on security cooperation programmes

From (right) US Ambassador Perry Holloway, Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Deputy Terry Steers-Gonzalez.

MINISTER of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan on Monday met with U.S. Ambassador, Perry Holloway as he winds up his tour of duty here.

The meeting was also attended by Terry Steers-Gonzalez, Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy here. In a release, the ministry said the meeting was a meaningful engagement, as both sides reflected on the cooperation programmes which exist between the US Embassy and the Ministry of Public Security, over the last three years.

Some security areas of mutual interest were highlighted. These include: the National Plan of Action for Prevention and Response to Trafficking in Persons, and the identifying, targeting, investigating, and arresting of major narcotics traffickers operating in Guyana.

The Minister of Public Security repressed sincere thanks to the U.S. Ambassador for the U.S Government’s support to the Government of Guyana.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

China’s import expo opens, Xi urges building an open world economy

CHINESE President Xi Jinping announced the opening of the world’s first import-themed national-level expo in Shanghai on Monday, calling it a “trail-blazing” move in the history of international trade development.

A total of 172 countries, regions and international organizations from five continents will showcase their development achievements and international image at the first China International Import Expo (CIIE).

More than 3,600 companies from different countries will hold discussions and seek common development with over 400,000 purchasers from China and overseas.

The CIIE is “a major policy for China to push for a new round of high-level open-

Chinese President Xi Jinping takes group photos with foreign leaders before the opening ceremony of the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai, east China ing-up and a major measure for China to take the initiative to open its market to the world,” Xi said when delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony.

He again underscored the role of economic globalization, saying that it is “an irreversible historical trend” and provides strong momentum for world economic development.

An Iranian investor at the expo

“All countries should be committed to opening up and oppose protectionism and unilateralism in a clear-cut stand,” Xi said, calling for joint efforts to build an open world economy.

In a time when the waves of protectionism and unilateralism are threatening global growth, the expo is expected to muster support for free trade and inject certainty to the world economy.

The fair will be the epitome of the global economy, with various quality exhibits ranging from German machine tools, Japanese robots and U.S. medical equipment to Australian wine, Brazilian farm produce and South Sudanese handicrafts.

With the slogan “New Era, Shared Future,” the expo is the brainchild of Xi and is set to become a platform for win-win economic cooperation and a landmark project in the country’s higher-level opening up.

China will stimulate the potential for increased imports,

continue to broaden market access, foster a world-class business environment, explore new horizons of opening up, and promote international cooperation at multilateral and bilateral levels, Xi said.

“We are encouraged to hear from President Xi the reaffirmation of China’s support of global trade, and China’s plan to further open itself to the world,” said Robert Aspell, president of Asia Pacific for the U.S. agribusiness company Cargill, which is an exhibitor at the CIIE and has already decided to participate in the second expo.

“This is a great start of the first CIIE,” Aspell said.

The inaugural expo comes at an inflection point as China transitions to high-quality development and shifts from the world’s workshop to the world’s market, with the world’s biggest middle-income population demanding higher-quality consumer products.

Xi announced Monday China’s imported goods and services were estimated to exceed 30 trillion U.S. dollars and 10 trillion U.S. dollars, respectively, in the next 15 years. China has been the world’s second largest merchandise importer for nine consecutive years.

Joseph Boahen Aidoo,

chief executive of Ghana’s cocoa industry regulator Cocoa Board, expressed hope that the fair would open a new chapter in the west African country’s cocoa exports.

“We believe that we can expand our market horizons in China. We are talking about 1.3 billion people, and even if we can get one percent of that market, it is very huge. So everybody is looking to China,” Aidoo said.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up, and has seen a flurry of concrete measures taken by the country to open its doors wider.

“China will not close its door to the world and will only become more and more open,” Xi said. (Xinhua)

A staff member demonstrates playing table tennis with an Omron robot

WB President: China’s poverty reduction experience deserves world attention CHINA’S 40 years’ reform and opening up has made it the second largest economy in the world, and the country is now within striking distance of eliminating extreme poverty, said World Bank President Jim Yong Kim in Beijing on Nov 1.

China has become “one of the few countries that will soon have made the journey from low-income country to high-income country,” said Kim in his keynote speech at the International Forum on Reform and Opening Up and Poverty Reduction in China.

He noted that over the past four decades, more than 800 million people have escaped from poverty in China. The country’s share in the world economy has surged from 1.5 percent in 1978 to 15 percent today, and its per capita income increased 25-fold from US$300 in 1978 to US$7,300 in 2017.

China’s reform and opening up program and a focused and sustained effort targeted

at poverty reduction are the two major elements responsible for China’s extraordinary success in reducing poverty, Kim stressed.

He also pointed out six key features to China’s poverty alleviation efforts that the world should learn from.

First, from very beginning, “poverty alleviation received strong political support form the highest levels of government,” and “the strong leadership set the tone for all levels of government to pursue poverty alleviation in their locality or area of responsibility.”

Second, China set up a dedicated organization, the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, to fight against poverty. The local poverty alleviation and development offices are also key actors in poverty reduction.

“They have designed policies to combat poverty and implemented those plans under local circumstances.”

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim Third, most of the poor lived or are still living in rural areas, so developing agriculture is a highly effective means of poverty alleviation.

“For every 1 percent GDP growth, poverty declined by 0.97 percent between 1981 and 2017.”

Fourth, China has targeted the poorest and most vulnerable groups, allocating them

more resources. “In the past 5 years, ‘Precision poverty targeting’ based on a database of 70 million households is supporting the government in targeting the remaining poor in the Final Mile.”

Fifth, rising inequality has become a concern for policymakers and the public. “In recent years, the bottom 40 percent of the population has gained more in income than the average. In the decade to 2012, consumption growth for the bottom 40 percent reached 8.1 percent per year, slightly higher than the national average of 7.9 percent.”

Finally, China has focused on building human capital.

The rapid expansion of compulsory education and tertiary education, the improvement in health insurance, and the reforms in health services have significantly improved equality in the labor force and the overall health of the general public.

Kim said that according to the first Human Capital Index

- published recently by the World Bank - which measures the investment that countries make in the health and education of their people, China ranks 46, higher than most middle-income countries at the higher end, and closing in on levels achieved in OECD countries.

China is now a higher middle-income country and will soon be a high-income country. However, Kim also indicated that China’s income level is only one quarter of that of the average OECD country, so it “still needs strong growth to achieve its two centennial goals”. He noted that “China’s growth will have to rely increasingly on productivity increases and innovation.”

This new direction requires further reform and opening up, Kim said. “Reforms will have to continue strengthening the institutions that will make China’s mixed economy work. And further opening up will not only pro-

vide China the markets it needs, but also the technology, managerial talent, and ideas to further catch up with more advanced countries.”

With regard to China’s international contribution, Kim observed that China’s increasing economic power makes it a more significant contributor to global growth. “The country has assumed leadership on key issues such as climate change and has been a strong voice for developing countries in international fora.” China has also “assumed a leadership role in development finance” and become “a key promoter of using knowledge for development”.

“Other countries are looking to China as a source of knowledge and experience, and the World Bank Group, which has been a committed partner to China for most of its reform journey, will continue to support China’s growing international role,” Kim added. (China.org.cn)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Office of the First Lady launches ICT training programme in Anna Regina

THE Office of the First Lady, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT) on Monday launched the fourth Information Communication Technology (ICT) training programme

for the year at the Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI), Anna Regina in the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region (Region Two).

During the launch of the programme which is aimed at providing youths with skills in the areas of infor-

mation technology, literacy and numeracy, entrepreneurship, sexual reproductive health, and Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Principal of the ETI, Mr. Rawl Pearce offered two-year scholarships each in ICT, to

the Valedictorian and the Best Graduating student of the BIT-ICT programme.

“We are going to offer scholarships for two years for the valedictorian and best graduating student. Let this be the drive to push you to do well in this pro-

Representative of the Office of the First Lady, Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) Yvonne Smith, addresses the participants of the BIT-ICT training programme

Principal of the Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI) Mr. Rawl Pearce delivers remarks at the opening of the fourth BIT-ICT training programme. gramme,” he stated. Mr. Pearce urged the 30 participating youths to take full advantage of the opportunity afforded them to further their education. He reminded that ICT is becoming increasingly important and is used in almost every facet of life.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mohammed Shaeed, a representative of the BIT, encouraged the participants to complete the five-week programme as it provides a platform for elevation. “It is the mandate of BIT to offer a skill set to youths and vulnerable sections of the society, so that they can be equipped with the requisite skills necessary to become more competitive… We are hoping at the end of this five-week programme you

can look at this programme as one that you can build on,” he said.

Additionally, Chairman of the ETI Mr. Dileep Singh, said the ICT training programme being offered by the Office of the First Lady is timely, as it targets vulnerable youth. “We have a beautiful country to develop and young people are the most important assets to that development that we [Guyana] have, and we want to ensure that you are equipped for that task,” Mr. Singh said.

The programme is being facilitated by Mr. Fitzroy Younge. At the completion of the programme participants will receive accredited certificates from the BIT. (Ministry of the Presidency)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Close to 300 students educated on work of Iwokrama

Students of Westfield Primary School being educated on the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development (Iwokrama).

Students of Cummings Lodge Secondary School participating in an interactive session during the visit by the team from Iwokrama TWO hundred and eight students were recently given the opportunity to learn about the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development (Iwokrama).

The students, drawn from four schools, were educated on the centre’s work and a myriad of environmental topics.

In a release on Tuesday, it was stated that the centre’s staff, during the course of last week, visited Westfield Primary, Cummings Lodge Secondary and Graham’s Hall Primary, and had the privilege of hosting the Tuschen Deaf Academy in the board room of the High Street office.

According to the centre, presentations and discussions were focused on protected areas, biodiversity, climate change, sustainable development, sustainable tourism and the centre’s work. “The sessions were interactive, and students were given the opportunity to win small tokens by correctly answering questions,” the statement read.

The Iwokrama International Centre (IIC) was established in 1996 under a joint mandate from the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat to manage the Iwokrama forest, a unique reserve of 371,000 hectares of rainforest “in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the

world in general”.

The centre, guided by an international board of trustees is unique, providing a dedicated well managed and researched forest environment. The forest is zoned into a Sustainable Utilisation Area (SUA) and a Wilderness Preserve (WP) in which to test the concept of a truly sustainable forest where conservation, environmental balance and economic use can be mutually reinforcing.

The IIC collaborates with the Government of Guyana, the Commonwealth and other international partners and donors to develop new approaches and forest management models to enable countries with rainforests to market their ecosystem services whilst carefully managing their resources through innovative and creative conservation practices.

Iwokrama brings together 20 local communities and approximately 7,000 people who are shareholders and participants in the IIC’s sustainable timber, tourism, research operations and forest management activities through complex co-management and benefit sharing arrangements.

It also creates a platform for scientists and researchers to engage in ground breaking research into the impacts of climate change on the forest and measuring the scope and value of its ecosystem services.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

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National Youth Council readies for elections

THE Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) is calling for nominations for young people as it readies to elect its 2019/2020 Executive Committee.

According to information released by the council through its Facebook page, “Over the past couple of weeks, GNYC’s constitution committee headed by Chairman Chevy Devonish and his seven-member committee has been working to finalise the governance structure of the new GNYC.” This structure will see persons being elected as

Guyana Chronicle recently.

As the council seeks to broaden its base and include more youth into a national network, it opened membership applications in August, 2018.

Young persons may become eligible to vote and contest at the GNYC’s General Assembly and Executive Elections once registered with the council between August 20 and October 31, 2018.

Persons must also fall within the category of ‘youth’, that is, be between

President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Sports Development Chairperson, Policy and Advocacy Chairperson, Resource Mobilisation Chairperson, Monitoring and Evaluation Chairperson and Inclusion and Regional Participation Chairperson.

Nominations are also open for the Chairpersons of each of the 10 Regional Youth Development councils (YDCs) to be established in each administrative region.

“The council has been governed by a steering committee for quite some time and it is now time for persons who have led this ambitious venture to hand it over to the young people to whom it belongs,” steering committee member, Derwayne Wills told the

the ages of 18 and 35 years old.

The general assembly and elections will be held later this month as the GNYC seeks to formalise its members and kick start the council to foster greater youth development in Guyana.

The council came into being in 2014 due to cognisance that there was a gap in youth representation in Guyana.

Later, it functioned to promote active citizenship among youth. And while there are a plethora of youth organisations across Guyana, there is no umbrella organisation which amalgamates the common interest of developing youth and that also led to the creation of the GNYC.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Farmers urged to settle outstanding accounts –– MMA/ADA says money needed for vital services

THE cash-strapped Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/ Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) will be unable to prevent losses by farmers caused by unmaintained and deteriorating Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) systems this crop.

According to the authority, things will only change unless the beneficiaries of the project pay up outstanding debts.

The warning was issued by the General Manager Aubrey Charles during a recent open-day event hosted by the MMA/ADA in observance of Agricultural Month.

Speaking at the open day event, Charles reported that payments by farmers for the services rendered to them by the MMA/ADA this year to date was 11 per cent of the target for 2018.

“Farmers have been complaining about the condition of the secondary drains and canals but we are cashstrapped and unable to do much,” he said.

He mentioned, as an example of the precariousness state of the D&I infrastructure, the situation during the last crop where the MMA/ ADA main road before the main canal had deteriorated to the extent that it became impassable.

“We have managed to repair that stretch of road but the materials ran out and the road is incomplete. But what was done was done to such a stage that farmers could traverse easily but once the rainy weather starts within another month or so, it will be devil of a job to traverse that section of the road.”

He stressed that the beneficiaries must appreciate that the 11 per cent collection rate is extremely low and appealed to those who benefit

from the D&I services to visit the authority as a payment plan can be worked out.

The MMA/ADA is responsible for the operation and maintenance of 784 miles of drainage and irrigation canals; 381 structures, including kokers, sluices, bridges, aqueducts and regulators and four pump stations. A total of 169,878 acres of land are utilised for agricultural purposes. The MMA/ADA received $357 million from central government in 2017 since the then existing D&I rates and land rent charges were too low to enable it to recover its operating costs.

The MMA/ADA subsequently increased its D&I rates from $2,500 to $8,000 per acre and the rental of lease lands from $1,000 per acre to $7,000 per acre.

The increases sparked protests from rice farmers and there are those who believe that the low rates of payment may have caused the increases. Officials however, noted that several farmers had been defaulting even before the increases.

Despite the low rates of payment to the MMA/ADA, farmers utilising its D&I resources produce 48 per cent of the paddy harvested in 2017 and up to late last month, 43 per cent of the paddy produced nationally for 2018.

Charles reported that notwithstanding the constraints, the MMA/ADA over the past year managed to complete empoldering approximately 800 acres of land for cattle rearing in the upper reaches of the Perth Biaboo Canal.

Similar works within the Abary/ Mahaicony area and to a lesser extent in the Abary Berbice area were done where the authority brought 400 acres of land under production.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Declining int’l prices to ease food-import burden … FAO’s Food Outlook warns of impact of price, currency trends on smallholder incomes

DECLINING international agricultural commodity prices should ease the bill the world’s poorest countries pay for food imports, although the strengthening U.S. dollar poses “serious concerns”, a new United Nations report says.

Worldwide food imports are likely to reach $1.467 trillion in 2018, 3.0 per cent above the previous year’s level but slightly down from the July forecast, according to the Food Outlook, a semiannual publication by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Declining prices for coffee, tea, cocoa and sugar are easing global import costs, although the rising freight charges are expected to offset that effect. For Least-Developed Countries (LDC) and Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries (LIFDC), sharp drops in the international price of sugar are offsetting rising costs for imported vegetables and cereals.

Broadly speaking, the outlook for global food supplies in the coming year remains in line with earlier assessments, with robust production prospects and inventory levels taming prices. However, erratic weather, trade policies and currency exchange rates all pose mounting uncertainties, FAO says. Food Outlook analyses trends and developments in the markets for cereals, the oilseeds complex, sugar, meat, dairy and fish products.

The November edition also offers a detailed analysis of the cassava markets and the protracted decline in international coffee prices.

An additional feature article analyses the recent conditions in the global markets for bananas and major tropical fruits, where world trade is foreseen to surge by 18 per cent from last year.

TRENDS IN THE CASSAVA MARKET The Food Outlook review of the trends in the main food commodities, including cereals - wheat, maize and rice - points to generally tightening conditions, compared to a robust baseline for supply and stocks.

The focus of this report is on markets for cassava, an important crop for food security with highly regionalised nature. Worldwide production in 2018 is projected by FAO to rise to 277 million tonnes, a 0.5 per cent annual increase after two decades of much more rapid expansion. Trade volumes, meanwhile, are forecast to decline by 36 per

cent.

That slowdown mostly reflects uncertainty in Southeast Asia, where cassava is widely grown by smallholders for export to China. China, which typically accounts for twothirds of world cassava imports, is auctioning off large stockpiles of maize, the crop’s main rival for energy, feed and industrial use, in a process that could last several years. The prospects for an international cassava market expanding beyond Asia “remain largely elusive,” says FAO. Whether some farmers will be driven out of business because of declines in Chinese imports and lack of compensating demand from elsewhere remains a big question mark. Output in sub-Saharan Africa as a whole, where cassava is a major food crop, is expected to grow by around two per cent to reach a record level of 161 million tonnes.

This would translate into a per capita availability of cassava as food of around 86 kilograms, a slight decrease from the year before due to faster population growth in the region.

WHAT’S BREWING IN THE COFFEE MARKET? Coffee prices on international markets today are in real terms 45 per cent below their levels in 2011, a protracted decline that is rekindling memories of the sector’s crisis in the early 2000s.

As coffee is the most widely traded tropical product and generates sizable export earnings for countries that rely on food imports to meet their needs, the precipitous price fall is a concern, especially as it impacts the living standards of the roughly 25 million smallholder producers around the world who account for 80 per cent of the world’s output. The role of coffee can be large - it accounts for more than two-thirds of agricultural exports in Burundi and close to, or more than, a third in Colombia, Ethiopia, Honduras, Rwanda and Uganda, triggering significant multiplier effects on employment and incomes and increasing migration pressures, notes FAO economist El-Mamoun Amrouk.

While various factors, including slow consumption growth and possibly excess market power by the major coffee roasters, may play a role, weak coffee prices are largely the result of oversupply conditions in world market. This year’s production is expected to

reach 170 million bags, a record high, and add to the global inventories, which are also at an all-time high.

Last month, coffee growers from more than 30 countries appealed to chief executives in the coffee indus-

try for coordinated action to mitigate the impact of depressed prices. Some sort of coordinated international action is required to tackle the problem, yet what is urgently needed is cooperation that ensures the

reasonable expansion of the sector, according to FAO. As price changes affect smallholder coffee growers with much greater speed and intensity than consumers, a promising strategy would be to create

more value-added coffee products at origin, El-Mamoun says, noting that this would require major importing countries to reduce their often-constraining tariffs on processed coffee products.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Matthews Ridge to Baramita road nearing completion RESIDENTS traversing the Matthews Ridge to Baramita Road, in Region One, will have a smoother ride as a massive road rehabilitation project from Matthews Ridge to Baramita advances.

The rehabilitation of the approximately 40 kilometres of roadway commenced in March this year and is expected to wrap up before the end of the year if favourable weather permits.

A $318M contract was awarded to A and S General Construction Incorporated for the rehabilitation of laterite road. The Acting Foreman for the project, Vincent Pancham, said to date the work is 50 per cent complete. He explained that prior to the works, the road was heavily covered with ‘bush’ and was inaccessible, which required

The Matthews Ridge to Baramita road nearing completion crucial work.

Pancham explained, “if it weren’t for the weather the work would have been completed. The scope of works includes: excavation of the road, the establishment of the carriageway which is 24 feet and the placement of laterite on the road. We also had to do the drains and shoulders of the road and widen it.”

The unpredictable weather pattern continues to be a challenge for hinterland road projects. As a result, the contract for the rehabilitation of the Matthews Ridge to Baramita roadway was extended to eight from the original six. Pancham assured that providing there is favourable weather, the works will be completed in four weeks’ time.

“We’ve had other unforeseen challenges which were dealt with. The laterite, while accessible, was difficult to dig up. Our excavator was occupied for one month getting the laterite. Bridges were also a challenge; we replaced the beams of the 26 bridges along the route to cross them. Nevertheless, we do expect to complete the works within four weeks, as long as there is good weather,” the Acting Foreman related. The Matthews Ridge to Baramita Road Project is a follow up to the major rehabilitation works undertaken in 2017 to restore the Port Kaituma to Matthews Ridge corridor which was observed to still be in good condition. The Port Kaituma to Matthews Ridge and the M4 Bridge at Matthews Ridge are already completed.

Several other rehabilitation projects are ongoing in Region One including the upgrade of roads in central Port Kaituma to concrete structures. This project is being executed by International Imports and Supplies and the main access from the Airstrip into Port Kaituma is being completed by KP Thomas.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure has allocated $1.5Billion this year for the development of hinterland roads. (DPI)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Some NA Hospital doctors back on the job

DIRECTOR of Regional Health Services in Region Six, Jevaughn Stephens has confirmed that 12 doctors attached to the New Amsterdam Referral Hospital, remain on leave while the others have been recalled, including Medical Superintendent Dr. V. Khirodhar.

Stephens made the statement, as he attempted to clarify, the issues as it relates to the number of doctors sent on annual leave at one instance.

On Thursday, the Region Six Administration expressed outrage after Stephens had confirmed that 18 doctors proceeded on their annual vacation leave.

At the time he was quick to clear himself of any wrong doing, and placed the blame squarely at the feet of Medical Superintendent Dr. V. Khirodhar, who is tasked with preparing the roster for the doctors. Addressing Regional Chairman David Armogan at the monthly statutory meeting, Stephens said, “Chairman, I have not seen the leave applications, but the ministry is addressing the issue .This is unacceptable. Khirodhar has the responsibility of scheduling the doctors, and she is also on leave.”

Responding, Armogan said, “This is totally unacceptable for health services.

Something is wrong with the rostering of the leave.

The roster should have been prepared in such a way that the system does not suffer its beneficiaries.”

Armogan has since suggested that some doctors be recalled, while charging the director to ensure that there is a full complement of doctors to meet the demand.

However, at Monday’s press briefing Stephens noted that the absence of the doctors caused no major setback, as the health institution has a total of 80 doctors 55 of whom are Guyanese. The others are Cubans.

According to him, while, 60 doctors were left to manage the regional referral hospital, it was only the Accident and Emergency Unit which was affected, as there was a longer waiting period for patients seeking medical intervention at that department.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that the doctors might have deliberately taken their leave--though all were not approved--to coincide with the annual visit of an overseas-based medical team due to an inappropriate verbal assault meted out to the medical professionals by an official of the Ministry of Public Health.

Meanwhile, Stephens also took the opportunity to address reports of malfunctioning health centres at

Director of Regional Health Services in Region Six, Jevaughn Stephens Number 76 Village, Corentyne and at Plegtanker, East Bank Berbice. These multi-million dollar structures were constructed from the 2016 and 2017 budgets, respectively. The issue was initially ventilated by Deputy Chairman Dennis De Roop, who had lambasted the regional administrators for spending money on projects which are not beneficial to the citizenry in a timely manner.

The director had explained on that occasion, that the setback was due to remedial works, which included plumbing and electrical works, and that the contractor was asked to correct the deficiencies. Accordingly, the engineering department was yet to hand over the building.

But, DeRoop had questioned if after three years, the issue of structural deficiencies is now ventilated and deemed the response as totally unacceptable.

However, Stephens has since related that furniture has since been procured, and staff have been trained to attend to the scores of residents in the various communities, when the centres open shortly. In the meantime, with respect to the electricity shortfall at the Skeldon Public Hospital, which resulted in the nonoperation of the x-ray , ultra sound , and physiotherapy departments, along with the air cooling units, the director revealed that the upper Corentyne health institution usually receives electricity from the Guyana Sugar Corporation, but, the hospital is no longer connected to GUYSUCO. Consequently, there is need for rewiring and a new transformer. However, despite the ongoing challenges, Stephen said that in cases of emergency, patients can access the ultra sound and x-ray services.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday November 7, 2018

Windies Women head into warm-up action tonight

(Delano Williams photos)

WINDIES Women T20 team will head into action tonight when they face New Zealand Women in a warm-up match at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence from

20:00hrs.

They were seen working on their batting in the nets yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club ground and will be hoping to find some fluency ahead of the open-

ing day of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on Friday.

The West Indies are the defending champions, having won the tournament for the first time back in 2016.

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Warm-ups

Australia Women outplay South Africa in low-scoring encounter

By Michelangelo Jacobus AUSTRALIA women cricketers had a resounding 51-run victory over South Africa in a low-scoring encounter in their warm-up match at Guyana National Stadium, Providence last night.

Australia were made to labour for their runs after winning the toss and electing to bat. However, they managed to compile a respectable 130-4 off the back of a solid half-century by captain Meg Lanning (65 not out) who pulled the innings together along with Rachael Haynes (29 not out) after a top order collapse.

Lanning came to the crease with Australia tottering on 8-3 as opener Alyssa Haley (7), Ashleigh Gardner (0) and Elyse Vilani (0) were all removed cheaply.

Healey was the first to go in the second over bowled by medium pacer Shabnim Ismail who was the pick of the South African bowlers.

Gardner came to the crease and was also out, bowled two balls later without troubling the scorers.

That wicket capped a superb second over by Ismail who

left the Australians on the back foot. Vilani’s scalp was captured by Marizanne Kapp in the very next over as she attempted a loose stroke to be caught by Sune Luus.

Ismail, who ended with 2-19 from her allotted four overs, received valuable support from Luus and Kapp, who took a wicket apiece and helped to keep a stranglehold on the Aussies’ batting.

Lanning struck up a brief partnership with opener Beth Mooney. Together the pair took Australia from 8-3 to 38-4 before Mooney was bowled by Luus.

Haynes then took to the crease and along with her captain guided the team to what seemed a below-par total. While Haynes was more conservative, she hit three boundaries while Lanning struck eight fours and a six.

South Africa, needing 131 to win at a rate of 6.55 runs per over, got off to the worst possible start as Lizelle Lee lost her stumps off the very first delivery of the innings; a ripping in-swinger from 20-year-old right-arm medium pacer Tayla Vlaeminck.

Delissa Kimmince bowled

Robyn Searle (9) to leave South Africa 17-2.

After that the South Africans never quite found their bearings as Laura Wolvaardt was the next to perish for eight, caught by Gardner off the bowling of Ellyse Perry at 21-3.

The Australian bowlers maintained a strict line and length to stifle the South Africa batters who were never able to string together any meaningful partnerships.

With the run rate always mounting the South Africans lost their wickets at regular intervals with loose shots as the Aussie bowlers piled frustration on them.

Only three batters reached double figures; Chloe Tryon was the top scorer with 14 while Luus (11) and Mignon du Preeze (13) were her main supporters.

South Africa managed not to be bowled out and ended on 79 for 9. Jess Jonassen was the pick of the Aussie bowlers, ending with figures of 2-10 off four overs. She was supported

by Vlaeminck and Nicola Carey who grabbed two wickets apiece while Perry and Kimmince had one wicket each.

WINDIES T20 women feted ... has not only touched it, we have in fact smashed it and I think that the T20 competition in Guyana featuring women’s teams would be amazing to all of us, who would like to see the full empowerment of our women, not only in the arena of politics and administration but also in the arena of sports and the arena of culture,” said Nagamootoo.

“Who better than women can send a message to the world that it is possible to live together, to work together, to play together and to become friends and partners rather

than antagonists and confrontationists.”

West Indies will do battle in Group A alongside England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh while Group B comprises 2016 losing finalists Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Ireland.

Holly Colvin, head of ICC Women’s Cricket, said the tournament would be a boost for the development of women’s cricket in Guyana “We have a chance in Guyana to inspire young girls across the world to take up cricket, and that

FROM BACK PAGE

could be playing on the pitch, it could be officiating, it could be coming to watch a game for the first time,” Colvin said.

“And I think it is a really exciting opportunity and I am looking forward to what the next two weeks have in store.”

The November 9-24 tournament will also see preliminary round matches played at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia while the semi-finals and final are scheduled for the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in Antigua.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday November 7, 2018

Zimbabwe end 17-year-long wait with historic win over Bangladesh ON November 19, 2001, Zimbabwe posted their first Test win against Bangladesh in their own den. The African nation had to wait another 16 years and 11 months to register their next Test win in Bangladesh, and they did it in some style with a 151-run victory in the first Test in Sylhet, to take a 1-0 lead in the series yesterday.

The hosts could muster just 169 in pursuit of a sizeable target of 321.

For a side that have gone through turbulent times, which included crippling financial problems and missing out on qualification for the 50-over World Cup, the Test victory would hopefully help Zimbabwe to steer out of troubled waters and navigate through

the tides of change.

It was a clinical performance from especially Zimbabwe’s bowlers as they bowled with impressive discipline and penetration to take 20 wickets.

Bangladesh started the day, needing a further 295 runs.

However, on a positive note, the hosts had all 10 wickets intact. The opening duo of Liton

Das and Imrul Kayes (43) took the side to 56 for no loss.

The pair had their fair share of scares, with both of them getting a reprieve, but the openers showed the required batting aptitude by pinching singles and twos.

At that stage, Zimbabwe’s fielders seemed to be getting a tad frustrated. It was Sikandar Raza who provided the breakthrough by dislodging Liton, leg-before. Initially not given, but Hamilton Masakadza opted for the review and the ball-tracker displayed three reds, with the on-field umpire overturning his decision. Kyle Jarvis, who was unlucky during the first hour then prised out Mominul Haque.

Kayes, who was consistently troubled by Raza, eventually lost his wicket to the Zimbabwe all-rounder.

The opener tried to sweep but could only glove it onto the stumps. Mahmdullah and Nazmul Hossain Shanto didn’t last long as Zimbabwe went into the lunch just five wickets short of a well-earned win.

After the break, Bangladesh’s slim hopes of charting a comeback depended on the shoulders of Mushfiqur Rahim.

However, Brandon Mavuta, who was introduced into the attack just before lunch, ripped his leg-breaks and landed it on the seam to exert pressure on Rahim.

In an attempt to break free, the ‘keeper-batsman tried to play the sweep, but could only top-edge it to deep backward square leg where Wellington Masakadza took a sharp catch.

Once Rahim was dismissed, the rest of the lower order crumbled as Bangladesh were bundled out in the 64th over. Ariful Haque, who topscored in the first essay, was the last man dismissed, caught by Regis Chakabva. The ecstatic Chakabva took a stump out

as a souvenir to celebrate the triumph.

Raza was the star performer in the second innings, snaring three wickets. He also took a sharp catch to send Shanto back to the pavilion.

Mavuta also showed plenty of promise and took four scalps.

The pace duo of Tendai Chatara and Jarvis bowled with immaculate control and took six wickets between them in the match. Sean Williams also

deserves his fair share of credit for compiling a noteworthy knock of 88 on a tricky pitch in the first essay.

The significance of this victory for Zimbabwe can be gauged by the fact that this is only their third Test win away from home and the African nation’s first Test win since 2013. The second Test of the series will start on November 11 in Dhaka.

(Cricbuzz)

Brandon Mavuta picked up four wickets to dismantle Bangladesh. (AFP)

SCOREBOARD

ZIMBABWE first innings 282; Bangladesh first innings 143; Zimbabwe 2nd innings 181 BANGLADESH 2nd innings (o/n 26-0) 23 Imrul Kayes b Sikandar Raza

43 Mominul Haque b Kyle Jarvis

9 Mahmudullah c (sub.) b Sikandar Raza

16 Nazmul Hossain Shanto c Sikandar Raza b Brandon Mavuta 13 Mushfiqur Rahim c Wellington Masakadza b Brandon Mavuta 13 Ariful Haque c Regis Chakabva b Wellington Masakadza 38 Mehedi Hasan c Regis Chakabva b Brandon Mavuta 7 Taijul Islam c Brendan Taylor b Wellington Masakadza 0 Nazmul Islam lbw Brandon Mavuta

0 Abu Jayed not out

0 Extras: (b-5, lb-2)

7 Total: (all out, 63.1 overs) 169 Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-67, 3-83, 4-102, 5-111, 6-132, 7-150, 8-151. 9-155.

Bowling: Kyle Jarvis 14-5-29-1, Tendai Chatara 9-2-25-0, Sikandar Raza 17-1-41-3, Sean Williams 8-2-13-0, Brandon Mavuta 10-2-21-4, Wellington Masakadza 5.1-0-33-2.

Munisar, Gilgeous lead Lower Corentyne to female U-17 victory ALL-ROUND performances from Ashmini Minisar and Lafona Gilgeous propelled Lower Corentyne to a seven-wicket victory over East Bank in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Female U-17 Secondary Schools Franchise League T20 tournament Monday at the DCC ground.

Minisar, who finished as the player of the game, grabbed two wickets and scored 21 runs, while Gilgeous also scored 21 runs and finished with one wicket.

East Bank, who won the toss and batted first, were helped to 100-4 off their allotted overs after the Corentyne bowlers combined for 35 wides, which, according to competition rules, amounted to 70 runs.

Afruica Gentle, who scored 89 against Georgetown a few days ago, led the attack with 13 runs, while Dalary Seecharran added seven runs.

Munisar captured two wickets

for two runs from four overs with her off-spin, while seam bowler Gilgeous took 1-9 from four overs.

When Lower Corentyne batted, they lost Shenia Simon without score, but fellow opener Munisar partnered with Niveena Ramnauth (5) for a second-wicket partnership of 32 and with

Gilgeous for a third-wicket partnership of 31.

The 14-year-old opener stroked two fours and a few doubles in her 21, while 17-yearold Gilgeous ran several singles to go with her three boundaries to propel Lower Corentyne to 101-3 in 14.3 overs.

Ashmini Minisar (left) and Lafona Gilgeous had all-round performances for Lower Corentyne.

33

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday November 7, 2018

Debutant Foakes engineers England recovery in Galle GALLE, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - England’s Ben Foakes made a memorable debut to help the tourists recover from a terrible start and reach 321 for eight wickets on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka yesterday.

With England reeling at 10 for two and then 103 for five, even the 200-mark looked difficult but Foakes forged 50-plus stands with Jos Buttler and Sam Curran to drag them back into the contest.

Foakes, replacing the injured Jonny Bairstow in the side, was batting on 87 at stumps, having been impressive with his batting while his glovework remains to be seen.

Jack Leach was on 14 at the other end after quite a turnaround by the tourists in the last two sessions.

England had earlier made an unconvincing start to life following the retirement of stalwart Alastair Cook, after captain Joe Root opted to bat first to avoid the prospect of having the final innings at a famously spin-friendly venue.

It was the early pace of Suranga Lakmal, however, that undid the top order of a side playing their first Test without England great Cook who left the international arena in September.

Opener Rory Burns (nine) disappointed on his Test debut and Moeen Ali failed to justify

Former Guyana youth player donates gear to Reliance Hustlers

his promotion to number three as Lakmal claimed two wickets in two balls.

Root denied Lakmal a hattrick and started the rebuilding job, initially at a run-a-ball rate, with Keaton Jennings.

GOLDEN HERATH Sri Lanka wasted both their reviews inside 12 overs but it was the golden arm of retiring 40-year-old Rangana Herath that ended Root’s 62run stand with Jennings.

Herath, given a guardof-honour by his team mates ahead of his 93rd and final Test, yorked an advancing Root to claim his 100th wicket at the venue where he made his Test debut in 1999.

Root hit five boundaries in a fluent 35 before paying for his recklessness.

Dilruwan Perera (4-70) dismissed Jennings for 46 and Ben Stokes for seven in his second spell, clean-bowling both left-handers.

Buttler and Foakes sensibly abandoned the ultra-aggressive batting which had cost England dear in the morning session and combined in a 61-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Even after Perera dismissed Buttler for 38, Foakes raised 88 runs with Curran, who hit three sixes before falling for 48, while Adil Rashid contributed a quick-fire 35 down the order.

Rovendra Mandolall’s daughter Ronesha hands over the cricket gear to Gangadeen Lall. Others in picture (from left) are Rovendra and his siblings Ravendra and Narindra.

Ben Foakes drives down the ground during his unbeaten 87. (©Getty Images)

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND 1st innings Rory Burns c Niroshan Dickwella b Suranga Lakmal 9 Keaton Jennings b Dilruwan Perera

46 Moeen Ali b Suranga Lakmal

0 Joe Root b Rangana Herath

35 Ben Stokes b Dilruwan Perera

7 Jos Buttler c Niroshan Dickwella b Dilruwan Perera

38 Ben Foakes not out

87 Sam Curran c Dinesh Chandimal b Akila Dananjaya 48 Adil Rashid c Dhananjaya de Silva b Dilruwan Perera 35 Jack Leach not out

14 Extras: (b-1, lb-1)

2 Total: (eight wkts, 91.0 overs)

321 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-10, 3-72, 4-98, 5-103, 6-164, 7-252, 8-306.

Bowling: Suranga Lakmal 15-4-57-2, Dilruwan Perera 28-470-4, Akila Dananjaya 20-2-96-1, Rangana Herath 25-4-78-1, Dhananjaya de Silva 3-0-18-0.

RELIANCE Hustlers Sports Club, Essequibo was recently the recipient of a quantity of cricket gear, compliments of former Guyana Youth player Rovendra Mandolall.

Currently residing in Canada, Mandolall, who also skippered Essequibo at the senior Inter-county and Under-19 levels, pointed out that his desire is to see cricket being played on a regular basis in the Cinderella County.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Toronto, Mandolall disclosed that he was happy to donate the gear to the village where he played most of his cricket during his younger days. “I know we have produced a lot of talented cricketers and I have no doubt

the village will continue to churn out more quality players.”

Former Reliance veteran cricketer Gangadeen Lall accepted the gear on behalf of the Reliance Hustlers Sports Club, expressing his gratitude to Mandolall for such a wonderful gesture. He also assured the donor that his contribution would help in the continued development of the club.

The right-handed batsman, who now plies his trade exclusively at softball in the Greater Toronto Area, is the eldest of four brothers to represent Essequibo at various levels.

Among the players coming out of Reliance is Guyana and West Indies fast bowler Ronsford Beaton. (Frederick Halley)

Melbourne Cup

Cross Counter first British-trained horse to win Australia’s famous race

CROSS Counter has made history by becoming the first British-trained racehorse to win the Melbourne Cup. Charlie Appleby saddled the 8-1 winner, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, in the 158th running of Australia’s famous race.

Cross Counter led home a 1-2-3 for British-trained runners from Marmelo and A Prince pf Arran.

The Cliffsofmoher, trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien, was put down after sustaining a fractured right shoulder early in the race.

Cross Counter is owned

by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin team, which also won the Derby at Epsom for the first time this year with the Appleby-trained Masar.

“This is everybody’s dream. This year has been so

incredible, winning a Derby and now this. I don’t want it to end,” said Appleby.

The Newmarket-based trainer said he had spoken to Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, who had been

trying to win the race for 30 years and was “over the moon” with the result.

“It’s a challenge that’s been a long road. It’s a very special day and one I will never forget,” said Appleby

Cross Counter crosses the finish line first in the Melbourne Cup, which was first staged in 1861.

after the victory, which was watched by a crowd of 83 000 at Flemington Racecourse.

Runway set the early pace on rain-softened ground in the world’s richest twomile handicap race worth

A$7.3M (£4M) and Australian jockey McEvoy managed to avoid serious trouble at the rear of the field as The Cliffsofmoher, ridden by Ryan Moore, was injured.

McEvoy claimed his third

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy and trainer Charlie Appleby celebrate Cross Counter’s win.

Melbourne Cup after switching wide to launch his challenge in the straight, passing the Charlie Fellowes-trained A Prince of Arran and Marmelo, representing Hughie Morrison.

“I thought, mate, is this happening again?” said the ecstatic 38-year-old jockey from Streaky Bay, who also won on Brew (2000) and Almandin (2016).

Australian Hugh Bowman, the rider of runner-up Marmelo, was given a 35-meeting ban for careless riding, excessive whip use and weighing in overweight.

Five other jockeys, including McEvoy (A$3,000/£1,650), were fined for breaching the whip rules.

Finche in fourth was the best of the Australian challengers, with O’Brien’s Rostropovich fifth (BBC Sport)

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday November 7, 2018

TURBO KNOCKOUT FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

Carbon copy wins for Riddim Squad, Rangers CARBON copy was the way to describe the opening night of the second annual Turbo Knockout Football tournament on Monday at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue.

Northern Rangers and Riddim Squad were the first two teams that booked their spots in the quarterfinals of the 16-team knockout tournament.

In the feature match of the night, Northern Rangers had a comfortable win over Western Tigers with Steven Sankar firing the victors ahead in the 11th minute of the clash with a composed finish, before Adolph George completed a brace in the 30th and 69th minutes.

Western Tigers would have felt that they had a good chance after Joshua Britton had netted to pull

their deficit to one goal with almost half of the game to go in the 47th minute but

the Ruimveldt-based team were completely outplayed.

Meanwhile, in the open-

Winners Northern Rangers made light work of Western Tigers during the 3-1 result on Monday.

ing game, Riddim Squad’s Kevin Agard banged in a hat-trick to ensure the Mocha Arcadia-based team pulled off a come-from-behind win against Pele Football Club, who went ahead first through Abosi Jarvis in the 20th minute.

All of Agard’s goals came from set pieces with him curling the last past Pele’s custodian to take the score to 3-1.

Round-of-16 matches continue tonight with two games from 18:30hrs. In the first match, Santos will match skills with Buxton United while the feature match, which will kick off at 20:30hrs will be an engagement between Police Football Club and Beacon.

The winners of the competition will pocket $800 000, second place $400 000, third $200 000 and fourth $100 000.

Pooranmall, Persaud win titles at National Draughts Championship

KHEMRAJ Pooranmall and Devanand Persaud emerged winners of ‘A’ division and ‘B’ division when the first leg of the National Draughts Championship was held last Sunday at the National Gymnasium.

A year’s hiatus from the game did not stop Pooranmall from dominating in the senior division. He scored a whopping 27 points. Godfrey George captured the second place trophy after finishing with 23 points, while defending champion Jairam Ramdeen ended third. Ramdeen was tasked with fending off eventual fourth-place finisher Ulric Brathwaite from Kuru Kururu in a tie-breaker.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday November 07, 2018)

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

(1) (2)

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: India won by 5 wickets Kuldeep Yadav (IND)

(1) (2)

TODAY’S QUIZ: Who has scored most T20 Int’l runs for the WI to date?

Who has scored most T20 Int’l runs for India to date?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

By Zoran Milosavljevic BELGRADE, Serbia (Reuters) - Red Star Belgrade wound back the clock to their European heyday as two goals from towering striker Milan Pavkov helped the Serbian side to a memorable 2-0 Champions League home victory over a subdued Liverpool in Group C yesterday.

It was the Serbian side’s first-ever win in the Champions League group stages on their maiden campaign in the present format of Europe’s elite club competition and their most memorable night since they won the 1991 European Cup. It was also thoroughly deserved after a spirited performance from the home side in the cauldron of Red Star’s Rajko Mitic stadium.

The result left Liverpool facing a tricky path to the knockout stages, although they still have their fate in their own hands.

Liverpool were provisionally top of the group on six points from four games, with second-placed Napoli (five points) at home to third-placed Paris St Germain (four points) later yesterday.

Red Star also have four points after they bounced back from successive drubbings by Liverpool and Paris St Germain following their opening goalless home draw with Napoli.

Liverpool are away to Paris St Germain in their next match before a potentially decisive clash with Napoli at Anfield.

Visibly disappointed after what could prove to be a costly setback, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp conceded his side played well below par in a cracking atmosphere.

“It was a good football atmosphere, not one where it would have been impossible to perform, to be honest,” he told a news conference.

“We had our moments but we never really clicked or got back into the game after falling two goals behind. We gave them too many set pieces; they were more aggressive and deserved to win.”

Red Star Belgrade goalscorer Milan Pavkov was one of several changes to the side who were defeated 4-0 at Anfield in October. (BBC Sport)

TITLE DEFENCE

In the B category, Tuschen player Persaud defended his title after securing 20 points.

Esan Anderson finished second with 14 points, while Lyndon Heywood

Pavkov double gives Red Star shock 2-0 win over Liverpool

The various winners of last Sunday’s competition Khemraj Pooranmall, is stooping (left) while Devanand Persaud is standing second from left.

grabbed third place with 12 and Dexter Johnson from Linden, fourth with eight points.

According to information from Ramdeen, Persaud has been promoted to the senior category, due to his back-to-back wins.

The top finishers from both categories were awarded with trophies.

The championship concludes this Sunday with the

international 100-square competition.

Among the sponsors are Trophy Stall of Bourda Market, RUBiS Bel Air, Noble House Seafoods, Puran Bros Disposal Inc., Atlantic Marine Supplies Eccles, Brans Security Service, Colours Boutique, Attorney-at-Law Elias Gentle and Travis Lyken, Manager of Sivert Design on Russell Street.

MEMORY LANE Red Star’s fervent fans were taken down memory lane before kick-off, as several of their stalwarts who were part of the team that beat Liverpool 4-2 on aggregate in the 1973-74 European Cup were paraded by the touchline.

Pavkov, a surprise starter up front as Red Star’s third-choice striker, gave the home side a 22nd-minute lead when he headed home from the edge of the six-yard box after a Marko Marin corner from the right.

It was no more than Red Star deserved after the opening 20 minutes, with centre back Vujadin Savic firing over early on before El Fardou Ben Nabouhane forced Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker to palm his low drive from 25 metres around the post.

Alisson could do nothing, however, as Marin swung in the corner and Pavkov rose above his markers to spark wild celebrations among the fervent 55 000 home crowd.

The atmosphere reached fever pitch seven minutes later as Pavkov doubled the home side’s advantage, rifling a screaming shot from 25 metres into the right corner of the net with Alisson well beaten.

Liverpool, whose midfield struggled against their more aggressive opponents, lost possession on the halfway line and Pavkov shrugged off Georginio Wijnaldum to find the time and space to unleash an unstoppable shot.

Mohamed Salah fired over the bar shortly afterwards to sum up a poor first half for Liverpool, with Daniel Sturridge also missing an early chance for the visitors when he skied his volley from close range.

Salah missed two good chances within a minute for Liverpool midway the second half, forcing a good save from Red Star keeper Milan Borjan before he shaved the outside of the post with a shot from the edge of the penalty box.

The outstanding Borjan again denied Salah from close range in the 82nd minute as Liverpool piled on the pressure but the visitors could not find a way through Red Star’s packed and well-organised defence.

“This is a fantastic win for our club and our nation, we have now raised the bar and have to look ways to keep improving,” said Red Star’s delighted coach Vladan Milojevic.

“We’ve beaten a Champions League contender and I am very proud of my players.”

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday November 7, 2018

Dismal Windies concede T20 series with crushing 71-run defeat

LUCKNOW, India (CMC) – Another dismal performance led to another depressing result as West Indies suffered yet another series defeat with a heavy 71-run crushing at the hands of India, in the second Twenty20 International here yesterday.

Chasing an imposing 196 for victory at Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Cricket Stadium after captain Rohit Sharma clobbered a record fourth T20I hundred, West Indies fell apart in their run chase, stumbling to 124 for nine off their 20 overs.

Left-hander Darren Bravo top-scored with 23 and tail-ender Keemo Paul got 20 but they were the only two to pass 15, as the innings never got going for the second straight outing in the threematch series.

For the Caribbean side, the

series defeat was their fourth consecutive and they have now also lost nine of their last 11 T20 Internationals inside the last 12 months.

Opting to field first, the Windies were battered up front by a record 123-run first-wicket stand as the incomparable Rohit Sharma slammed an unbeaten 111 off just 61 deliveries and partner Shikhar Dhawan, 43, to get India up to 195 for two off their 20 overs.

The right-handed Rohit counted eight fours and seven sixes, racing to his half-century in the 13th over off 38 balls before upping the tempo to reach triple figures off 58 deliveries, when he scooped a low full toss from captain and seamer Carlos Brathwaite to the fine leg boundary in the final over.

Left-hander Dhawan, meanwhile, struck three fours in a 41-ball knock, surviving

a chance on 28 to Keemo Paul in the deep off Brathwaite in the ninth over, before perishing in the 14th – caught by Nicholas Pooran running to his left at deep square.

Rishabh Pant depart ed cheaply for five when he found Shimron Hetmyer at deep mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Khary Pierre in the 16th over but KH Rahul joined Rohit to add a further 62 off 28 balls, in a cavalier unbroken third-wicket stand.

Rahul slammed two fours and a six in a 14-ball unbeaten 26 as India gathered 66 runs from the last five overs, with the last over from Brathwaite leaking 20.

West Indies never looked the part in the run chase and Shai Hope (6) lasted just eight balls before missing an ungainly swing at left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed (2-

30) and having his stumps rattled in the second over.

Hetmyer, promoted to opener, was quickly into stride and had struck three fours in 15 off 14 balls when he failed to clear the ropes at long on with Khaleel, and was taken

by Dhawan just inside the boundary.

Bravo looked the Windies’ best hope of making anything of their innings, the left-hander notching four boundaries in his 18-ball stay at the crease.

But magical left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav (2-32) intervened, accounting for Bravo and Pooran (4) in the space of four deliveries to stymie any comeback. First, Bravo edged a cut for Rohit to snare a sharp chance to his right at slip and Pooran failed to pick the googly and was bowled playing back.

Reeling at 52 for four in

CARICOM Insurance chips in for GMR&SC Ignite

A HEAPING helping of sponsorship came the way of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) for its Ignite event set for this weekend.

The club last week collected sponsorship from CARICOM Insurance Company ahead of the November 10 and 11 event at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri.

In collecting the sponsorship, GMR&SC, through its representative, Saurica Singh, thanked the company for its support for the event.

Meanwhile, the club has confirmed that with the exception of the Jamaican competitors and two CAMS Cars out of Jamaica, all other containers

are in port Georgetown.

It is expected that clearance and transportation of the containers to the Timehri facility will be done between today and tomorrow with competitors expecting access on Friday.

Ignite, which will double as the final leg of the Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC), will feature competitors out of Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, United States and Europe.

The two days of racing action will feature competition in the Street and Sport Tuner class as well as the Choke Starlet Cup, Street Cross Motorcycles and the 125cc Lightweight

Saurica Singh (right) collects sponsorship from CARICOM insurance company’s representative.

Bikes.

On the regional scene, Groups 2-4 action as well as the Superstock and the Radical Caribbean Cup will be featured over the two days of action.

Tickets for the 27-race programme are on sale at the

Rohit Sharma scored his fourth T20I century - the most by a batsman.

the eighth over, West Indies were in desperate need of a partnership but none was forthcoming.

Veteran Kieron Pollard, who has not passed 20 in 10 innings inside the last two years, added to those miserable stats when he scooped a pull at an innocuous delivery from Jasprit Bumrah back to the bowler in the 11th over.

And when Denesh Ramdin clipped seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2-12) off his legs to

… Foreign competitors to begin arriving tomorrow

cost of $2 500; children $1 000 at B.M. Soat Auto Sales, Croal Street office.

On Saturday time trials for all classes begin at 10:00hrs; followed by official races in the Street Cross Motorcycle, 125cc Motorcycle,

Street Tuner, Choke Starlet Cup and Sports Tuner, from 13:20hrs.

The feature race on Saturday will be the SR3 Radicals Caribbean Cup. Action on Sunday will begin at 08:00hrs.

Azeez, Redman spur Transport to easy win over Sophia

EIGHT wickets between Azeem Azeez and Akeem Redman helped Transport Sports Club to a nine-wicket win over Sophia Cricket Club when action in the New Building Society (NBS) 2nd Division 40-Over cricket competition continued on Sunday at the DCC ground.

Sophia were bundled out for 114 in 17.4 overs, while Transport raced to the needed total in 7.2 overs with Azeez playing his part with the bat.

SOPHIA’S INNINGS Dwayne Peters led Sophia when they batted. The opener hit five fours and three sixes in a top score of 43, but pacer Redman ensured that the Sophia opener had a constant turnover of partners after dismissing the first, third, fourth and fifth batsmen (M. Morris (4), G. Thompson (0), G. Stephens (0) and M Vaughn (6) respectively) - three of the wickets fell in four balls.

A few other batsmen had starts including Zalim Rasheed and Anand Persaud. Rasheed, batting at number six finished with 22 (1x4, 2x6), while the number eight batsman Per-

saud added 19 (3x4), but both became victims of off-spinner Azeez, who cleaned up the lower order.

Azeez finished with 4-3 from 1.2 overs, Redman with 4-47 and Keon Morris, who got the wicket of Peters, with 2-22.

attack mode in the third over of the game as he hit skipper Malcolm Morris for three sixes and a four.

The pair did significant damage and pushed the total forward before Morris trapped Nandan lbw with the first ball of his third over (the fifth over

Azeem Azeez (left) and Akeem Redman took four wickets each for Sophia.

Transport were ultra-aggressive in the middle, with Adrian Hinds hitting a four off the first ball. His partner at the other end, Devon Nandan, also started aggressively as he belted a six to set off his innings. Nandan went in

of the game). Nandan finished with 32 runs (1x4, 4x6s).

Azeez then joined Hinds and the pair raced to the winning total. Hinds (3x4s, 2x6s) ended on 28 not out while Azeez (3x4s, 2x6s) finished on 33 not out.

Rohit at square his 17-ball labour over 10 ended and West Indies were declining quickly at 81 for six in the 14th over.

New batsman Fabian Allen’s dismissal off the very next delivery summed up the Windies misery. He pushed the first ball he faced to cover and took off for a suicidal single and Krunal Pandya promptly threw down the stumps at the striker’s end, leaving the right-hander short of his ground.

Aruba, Jamaica, Mexico keep winning in CONCACAF U-20 GROUP B of the 2018 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship football resumed on Sunday with Aruba, Jamaica and Mexico all posting decisive wins.

Aruba earned their first-ever CU20 triumph by topping Grenada 3-0, thanks to goals from Keano Maduro (1st), Glenbert Croes (6th) and a Chad Phillip own goal (45th).

Jamaica were equally impressive in their 3-0 win against Nicaragua.

A Tevin Rochester goal in the third minute of first half stoppage time kick-started the Reggae Boyz attack, which was then boosted by goals from Jamoi Topey (75th) and Nicque Daley (90+1minutes).

Mexico rounded out the day in Group B with a decisive 4-0 win against Saint Martin.

El Triclor enjoyed a quick start and held a 3-0 lead by the half-hour mark, thanks to a brace from Gilberto Sepulveda (5th, 25th) and a Jose Juan Macias score (20th), before Edgar Lopez’s goal in the 47th sealed another three points.

Cayman Islands ‘stun’ Guyana 3-2

Thair Britton battles Cayman Islands’ captain Eric Wilson during Guyana’s 3-2 defeat at the CONCACAF U20 Championship.

By Rawle Toney KELSEY Benjamin’s heroics failed to inspire Guyana, as they fell 2-3 to Cayman Islands and ultimately lost their second consecutive game in the 2018 CONCACAF U20 Championship in Bradenton, Florida, USA. Playing at the IMG Academy yesterday, Guyana showed glimpses of their high skill level against a well-oiled Cayman Islands side, as Benjamin, who was probably the best player on the field, created havoc for the opposing side’s defence.

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Warm-ups

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31

Australia Women outplay South Africa in low-scoring encounter

Australian captain Meg Lanning plays a shot through the leg-side during her half-century against South Africa.

Kelsey Benjamin makes his way around Cayman Islands captain Eric Wilson during Guyana’s 3-2 defeat at the CONCACAF U20 Championship.

Five minutes into the contest, Western Tigers talisman scored from inside the 18-yard area to give Guyana their first goal of the tournament and the lead against Cayman Islands.

Guyana, through Benjamin, continued their relentless attack on Cayman Islands, but just before the stroke of halftime, UKbased defender Kwai Marsh-Brown received a questionable call by referee Filip Dujic, after fouling Cayman Islands’ Leighton Thomas in the box.

Albertini Holness was the man who stepped up to the mark, and his shot beat Guyana’s Johnathan Vaughn in

goal, as Cayman Islands levelled things up 1-1 heading into the second half.

In the 58th minute, Kareem Foster put Cayman Islands in the lead. However, that would be short-lived, with Chris Macey making it ‘square’ for Guyana two minutes later.

Jabari Campbell scored the winning goal for Cayman Islands in the 67th minute to secure their three points, while Guyana remain winless.

Guyana will face Curacao tomorrow before closing their group stage against El Salvador on November 10.

WINDIES T20 women feted on arrival for ICC event

Dancers perform one of their cultural routines during the cocktail reception for Windies Women.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – West Indies were given a warm reception when they arrived here Monday evening to complete their final preparation for the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup which bowls off at the Guyana National Stadium on Friday.

The reigning World champions were hosted in a cocktail reception at the cultural Umana Yana venue.

Guyana’s Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Director of Sport Christopher Jones, along with several other government officials, attended.

West Indies will face New Zealand in their final

official ICC warm-up tonight before clashing with Bangladesh in their opening preliminary match two days later.

The fixture will be one of 11 preliminary matches being staged at the national stadium here and Nagamootoo said Guyana’s hosting of the tournament – the first ICC standalone women’s event – was a major turning point in sports for the country.

“When we talk about the glass ceiling, Guyana

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See Page 31 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2018