Guyana Chronicle E-paper 12-15-2019

15th December, 2019

' No.105852

Police launch major road safety operation today

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…as part of efforts to stop road carnage …traffic plans finalised for 2020 Oil traders due ‘Lift up your voice against violence’ this week

…President encourages churches to use ‘moral authority’ to tackle violence, guide families

…to engage local stakeholders SEE PAGE 10

ASL pilot survives plane crash

SEE PAGE 03

GECOM holds briefing sessions with Coalition, Opposition SEE PAGE 18

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President David Granger unveils the centennial scroll plaque of the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Family Life Ministries. Also in photo are: Pastors Richard James, Director of Family Ministries; Pastor Phillip Bowman and Executive Secretary of the conference, Pastor Jumoul Sancho

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

‘Lift up your voice against violence’ …President encourages churches to use ‘moral authority’ to tackle violence, guide families

By Navendra Seoraj VIOLENCE is unnatural and was invented by people who aim to achieve certain ends, but President David Granger believes it is time to get to the root of that invention in order to move into a violence-free future.

“Violence is not a biological necessity, people invented violence to achieve certain ends… it is not natural, so don’t let us feel that violence in Guyana is here to stay… for several years we have been bedevilled by violence, so it is time we study violence separately,” said President Granger during his address to a congregation of Seventh-day Adventists during the celebration of the centennial of the Adventist Family Ministries at the Central Seventh-day Adventist Church on Saturday.

The President spoke extensively about the impact of violence on families, noting that family life is not immune from the public exhibition of violence, because when a child sees the exhibition of violence he or she tends to replicate it.

President David Granger showcases a plaque which commemorated the centennial of the Family Ministries of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Looking on are Director of the Adventist Family Ministries of Guyana, Pastor Richard James (right) and other church members (Delano Williams photo)

Persons are more exposed to violence because of social media, and according to President Granger: “Nowadays you have devices that record violence and within a few minutes it goes viral… violence is then no longer a private matter, it becomes headline news and gets likes on social media.”

He, however, made it clear that there is nothing to “like” about domestic violence, homicide, femicide and other forms of violence.

The President singled out domestic violence as one of the most vicious crimes in Guyana, noting that domestic violence increased by 14 per cent between 2011 and 2017; females accounted for 80 per cent of the domestic violence cases.

“We regarded domestic violence as a private matter 30-40 years ago… it was regarded as a family affair… things have since changed; interpersonal violence has become a public security concern,” said President Granger. He added that domestic violence can be found in the schools, the homes, the mining camps, TURN TO PAGE

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

Police launch major road safety operation today …as part of efforts to stop road carnage …traffic plans finalised for 2020 THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) will today launch an aggressive road safety operation today code named “Safe Road” in all 10 administrative regions.

The operation comes following a meeting on Saturday with the Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, and all traffic heads countrywide.

The meeting was held in the Commissioner’s Conference Room, Eve Leary. In the meeting, the Traffic Chief presented two Power Point presentations, highlighting traffic plans for 2020 and plans to deal with current traffic issues respectively.

Coming out from the meeting, a decision was taken to launch operation “Safe Road” which will commence from 06:00hrs on Sunday, December 15, 2019 across the 10 administrative regions.

President David Granger, last month, described as “insane” the recent increase of road accidents over the past few weeks. Speeding and alcohol were the main factors which led to 21 persons being killed in November.

There is a fix, according to the President; the police force, road safety bodies, civil societies and others will have to play a role to make the roads safer.

The issue of road safety

has been a headliner in recent weeks, as public outrage rose over a number of accidents, many of them due to carelessness and speed.

The blame was laid at the

ery accident is one too many; every death is too great a loss that our country cannot afford. The record is grave: Young persons between the ages of 16 and 42 years com-

will help to promote greater safety on the roads with regular and rigorous patrols of notorious, high-risk zones conducted during daylight and at night.

Commissioner of Police, Leslie James (centre) flanked by his deputies and traffic heads of the administrative regions

feet of especially bus drivers (many of them young) and taxi drivers. The accusations were that many of them were paying bribes for their driver’s licences.

THREAT TO HUMAN SAFETY President Granger made it clear that he is distressed by the deaths, disabilities and injuries and damage to property caused by accidents on the roads.

According to the President, road accidents represent a threat to human safety. “Ev-

prised more than three out of every five fatalities.”

According to President Granger, he had proposed a three-point approach to road safety in an address at the launch of Road Safety Month, on the 4th of November 2015. The three-point approach involved more stringent enforcement of the traffic laws, including those driving under the influence of alcohol; playing distracting music and the use of cellular phones while driving.

According to the President, stricter enforcement

He noted that that speed limits and limitations on the lawful complement of cargo and passengers by commercial and public transportation vehicles, must be established.

The Head of State also called for greater road safety education through a systematic and sustained countrywide campaign to be conducted.

With regards to the problematic driver’s licence system, the President had called for the process to be strengthened to ensure that only competent and responsible persons are certified to

ASL pilot survives plane crash THE Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is investigating an incident in which a single engine aircraft struck a fence and crashed after take-off at Von Better, an aerodrome in the Mahaica/Mahaicony area, on Friday.

Reports are that on Friday afternoon, the pilot, whose name was given as Gary Sahai, was operating the aircraft when it clipped a fence on take-off. The aircraft, which is commonly called the 'Trush Commander', belongs to Air Services Limited(ASL).

Director General of the GCAA, Lieutenant Colonel Egbert Field, told the Guyana Chronicle that aviation inspectors are investigating the incident. He said the pilot escaped unhurt.

ASL provides agricul-

A Trush Commander aircraft operated by ASL (ASL photo)

tural services in the area. In January 2017, the company signed a lease agreement with the Mahaica- Abary

Rice Development Scheme (MARDS) which formed part of a US$10M investment by the airline.

ASL provides aerial application of crop-protection products to rice farms in the area.

drive vehicles.

President Granger said that no-parking zones and bus stops must be marked; traffic signals should be maintained in working condition and traffic policemen must be deployed at high-risk zones to deter lawlessness and direct the safe flow of traffic on urban and rural roadways during peak hours and, particularly, during the most deadly days and nights – Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

“I urge all road-users to observe the Guyana Police Force’s code of behaviour – care, caution, consideration, common sense and courtesy – as they drive on our roadways. I am confident that the government, police force, non-governmental organisations – such as regional road safety associations – and civil society could combine their efforts to make road use safe for everyone,” the President had noted.

BRIGHT LIGHTS Additionally, the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) has noted the increased use of bright lights by drivers and has said that this is responsible for many of the road accidents which happened recently. In an interview with this newspaper, Head of NRSC, Ramona Doorgen, called on motorists to show consideration for others who are using the roadways by dimming their lights where possible.

“You don’t have to drive with your bright lights all the time; you can dim your lights. Try to consider the drivers that are coming from the other end, so you wouldn’t be driving with your bright lights in anybody’s face,” she advised.

She spoke especially in the context of the recent spate of fatal accidents in the country. “We are still encouraging persons to slow down; the weather sometimes is very bad. When we visited the hospitals and saw some of the survivors of road crashes, one of the excuses we got was that they saw a bright

light coming, and it was so bright that that’s how they got into the accident,” she recalled.

Speeding and driving under the influence, however, remain the top factors causing accidents, Doorgen said.

“Definitely speeding is the major cause and the major factor causing road crashes; a lot of inattentiveness. If people start to slow down, I think we would have a reduction in road accidents.”

She added that in many cases, exercising common sense was all that was needed to prevent an accident. “You know, it really, really bothers me. Why are we not adhering to what we learned while we were driving? Commonsense can tell us sometimes; simple negligence is causing these road accidents.”

She added that road safety is an individual responsibility as everyone should caution a driver who is speeding or drunk. She also called on the churches to do more. “We’re calling on the churches to step up. They’ve taken a back seat for too long.

They have to start to promote road safety in the churches, whether Muslim or Hindu.” Doorgen said the overhead crossings, pedestrian crossing, traffic lights, and other facilities by the government must be used according to the rules that are governing them.

Every year, the Police’s Traffic Department and the NRSC would dedicate the last week in November towards the awareness of road safety. During this period, numerous campaigns are launched across the country to educate the public about the importance of using the road in a safe manner. However, Road Safety Week 2019 came to a horrific end and has proven to be one of the deadliest weeks for the year so far.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

Anger erupts at UN climate summit as major economies resist bold action Major economies resisted calls for bolder climate commitments as a U.N. summit in Madrid limped toward a delayed conclusion on Saturday, dimming hopes that nations will act in time to stop rising temperatures devastating people and the natural world.

With the two-week gathering spilling into the weekend, campaigners and many delegates slammed Chile,

presiding over the talks, for drafting a summit text that they said risked throwing the 2015 Paris Agreement to tackle global warming into reverse.

“At a time when scientists are queuing up to warn about terrifying consequences if emissions keep rising, and school children are taking to the streets in their millions, what we have here in Madrid is a betrayal of people across the world,” said Mohamed Adow, director of Power Shift Africa, a climate and energy think-tank in Nairobi.

The annual climate marathon had been due to conclude on Friday, but dragged on with ministers mired in multiple disputes over implementing the Paris deal, which has so far failed to stem the

upward march of global carbon emissions.

Long-time participants in the talks expressed outrage at the unwillingness of major polluters to show ambition commensurate with the gravity of the climate crisis, after a year of wildfires, cyclones, droughts and floods.

The European Union, small island states and many other nations had been calling for the Madrid decision to signal that the more than 190 countries participating in the Paris process will submit bolder pledges to cut emissions next year.

The agreement enters a crucial implementation phase in 2020, when countries are supposed to ratchet up their ambitions ahead of the next major round of talks

15 December, 2019 - 05:30hrs - 07:00hrs

in Glasgow.

If big economies such as China, India, Japan, Brazil, Australia and others fail to agree on more meaningful climate action soon, then scientists say already slim hopes of averting catastrophic temperature rises will all but vanish.

‘STRONG MESSAGE’ Although no advanced economy is yet on track for the kind of action scientists say is needed to steer the climate onto a safer path, all the EU’s 28 member states, bar Poland, agreed in Brussels on Thursday to target net zero emissions by 2050.

Krista Mikkonen, Finland’s environment minister, speaking on behalf of the EU, told the talks it would be “impossible to leave” without agreeing on a “strong message” on the need to redouble pledges to cut emissions next year. Ministers broke into groups on Saturday for eleventh-hour negotiations on a tangle of issues, including finance for climate-vulnerable countries, carbon markets and the all-important issue of the strength of the summit’s final text.

With the clock ticking, Andrés Landerretche, Chile’s summit coordinator, said the goal was to conclude on Saturday. “The vast majority of delegations are asking for a more ambitious text, and that’s what we’re aiming at,” he told reporters.

Campaigners had said a draft text circulating earlier was among the worst they had seen at climate negotiations.

“The approach Chile has taken on this text shows how it has listened to the polluters and not to the people,” said Jennifer Morgan, executive director of Greenpeace International.

The Paris process has been weakened by a move

by U.S. President Donald Trump to begin withdrawing the world’s largest historical emitter from the agreement last month, making it easier for other big countries to backslide.

(Reuters)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

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Toni-Ann Singh, Miss Jamaica World, is Miss World 2019 Miss World 2019, Toni-Ann Singh

Singh won from a field of 114 contestants at the 69th edition of the pageant in London on Saturday.

She now becomes the fourth Jamaican to win the title — Carole Joan Craw-

ford in 1963, Cindy Breakspeare in 1976 and Lisa Hanna in 1993. Singh, who had secured her place in the top 40 by winning the talent competition at the “Beauty with a Purpose” Gala Dinner in London,

advanced to the final round of the competition along with Miss Nigeria, Miss Brazil, Miss India and Miss France.

In addition to dancing to Jamaican singer Koffee’s Toast, she also

performed her version of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” live.

Singh was ahead of France who was second and India who was third.

(Jamaica Observer)

TT imam denied bail for demanding money Hassan Ali was denied bail on Friday when he appeared before magistrate Cheron Raphael in the Arima First Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with demanding money by menace.

Ali, the father of Dana Seetahal murder accused Ra-

jaee Ali, was arrested earlier this week.

The Carapo imam was arrested in November 2018 in connection with a report of kidnapping and assault, but was later released.

A special police unit, acting on information received

on alleged gang-related activities in the Carapo district, went to Ali’s home, where he was arrested.

Ali was not called upon to plead, as the charge was laid indictably.

He was denied bail, as the police did not produce

a case file so there were no summary facts with which to charge him.

Ali and co-defendants Isiah McDonald and Balmatie Harry were remanded in custody and will return to court on December 17. (Trinidad Newsday)

Imam Hassan Ali

Jamaican church leader charged with rape THE Hanover police on Friday reported that they have charged a church leader with seven counts of rape and he is to appear in the Hanover Parish Court next Tuesday.

A law enforcement source told the Jamaica Observer that the man is connected to the controversial Qahal Yahweh religious sect in Paradise Gardens, St James which was last month raided by police and soldiers who took three children from the compound.

According to the police, the man was arrested on Monday, December 10 by a patrol that saw him beating a child at Barnes Lane, Mount Pelier community in Sandy Bay, Hanover.

“After conducting follow-up enquiries, the sexual misconduct allegations came to the fore, and detectives from the Hanover Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) were called in to bolster the investigative team,” a news release from the police force’s Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) said.

The police said their investigations turned up several allegations of sex-

ual misconduct concerning children in the community, and after collecting several statements, the man was charged.

“Investigators are now appealing to people who may have been victims of the man, or who may have any information that can assist them, to contact the Hanover CISOCA at 876-9535312, or 956-2304, Police 119 emergency number, or the nearest police station,” the CCU said.

The Qahal Yahweh group gained national attention last month when officials of CISOCA and the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) went to the premises following reports of child abuse, abduction of children, among other alleged atrocities carried out by members of the church against children.

“The occupants of the premises have children who don’t attend public school, they are schooled on the premises and are sometimes allegedly beaten after being accused of demon possession,” a senior police officer told the Observer at the time.

“They are also accused

of forcibly marrying off the children as soon as they reach the age of 16,” the police officer added.

Upon arrival at the premises the CISOCA and

CPFSA team were denied entry by members of the church and the security forces had to be called in.

(Jamaica Observer)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2019

Elections do have consequences

WE were reminded by Mr Carl Greenridge in Saturday’s edition of this newspaper that elections have consequences.

Speaking at the PNCR’s weekly press conference, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs cited the experience under the previous government as a stark reminder of the importance of elections: “Elections have consequences…In 2015, the PPP was removed from office because after 23 years they had accumulated and unenviable record of scandal, dishonest practices, corruption and human rights abuses.

While in office, assets acquired by senior PPP government officials and corrupt businesspeople bore no relationship to their incomes and earnings.

One only has to look at the mansion that Irfaan Ali built after just one year as a government minister. We are not going back.”

Mr Greenridge’s exhortation is most timely. As we head into the festive season, we should not lose sight of the fact that there is an election in less than three months. The consequences of that election will determine the short to medium-term fate of this country and by extension the wider Anglophone Caribbean. Mr Greenridge’s reminder of the nature and content of governance under the PPP stands in

contrast to that of the current government, which has sought to correct the deep scars inflicted upon our country.

Given the sometimes sharp edge of our politics, many citizens have over time become very cynical about elections. Too often, political parties have made grand promises at election time only to disassociate themselves from them once they attain office.

And given the ethnic voting patterns, some have concluded that there is little room for voting based on the issues that the country faces. In a real sense, our people have been let down by the inability of successive governments to grasp the need for a politics that inspires confidence among the people, especially those at the bottom of the social ladder.

Yet, in the last analysis, elections do matter. The vote is one of the few effective tools in the hands of citizens.

It is the primary basis of governmental change in an open, democratic society.

The vote was attained after centuries of bitter struggles for the full humanity of the enslaved and the colonised. It was part of the right of self-determination that gripped the world for most of the 20th century. Without the vote, citizens could not determine who governed them.

Those who monopolised power at-

tached conditions to the right to vote in order to maintain their iron grip on the society and its political economy. In colonial Guyana, the property qualification was attached to that right—only those who owned property could vote.

This meant that the vast majority were intentionally denied the right to determine who governs them. This denial of a basic human right only came to an end at the 1953 election, when for the first time the franchise became universal. This achievement was a central aspect of decolonisation.

The vote determines who governs and who governs determines the shape, tone and content of the government.

It is well known that in Guyana, government is the most critical player in national development: it determines who gets what, when and how. This was most visible under the PPP’s rule when, as Mr Greenridge reminds us, that party turned the government into a medium for the decadent form of politics since the advent of independence in 1966. It took the vote at the 2015 election to rid the country of that scourge. That election turned the tables on the traditional ethno-based monopoly that the PPP had hitherto taken advantage of. It was a combination of cross-over voting and increased voter turnout that made the difference.

The change of government brought a new dispensation to Guyana. The political thuggery that dominated governance at the highest level has been dispensed with. The ethnic dominance that formed the ideological underpinnings of the PPP’s thinking and political practice has been erased from the governmental landscape. Normality has been restored to the country’s politics—Guyana breathes again.

As we prepare for the coming election, the attitude of 2015 must be replicated. The choice could not be clearer—we ether choose to press forward with what has been restored and advanced since 2015, or we go back to the scary times of the immediate past. That decision is in the hands of the electorate. What is certain is that it would be perhaps the most consequential election in our post-colonial experience. Every vote is valid. Each good choice cancels out the bad choices.

As the benefits from oil and gas begin to take hold, who governs would determine whether those benefits are pilfered for the benefit of the few or turned into liberation for the many.

The former is most undesirable—it must never materialise. And it is the wise use of the vote that will make the difference. At the end of it all, elections have consequences.

Guyana moving ahead Dear Editor, GUYANA has made significant progress in providing greater access to potable water.

According to the report, 96.0 per cent of the country’s population has access to improved drinking-water resources, while 86 per cent of the population is using improved sanitation facilities.

Additionally, 88.8 per cent of the rural population has access to electricity. This

is according to a report in the Guyana Chronicle dated Friday, December 13, 2019 This indicates that Guyana is on the cosmos of ensuring that every citizen enjoys the good life.

Between 2015 and March, 2019, 75,000 Guyanese gained access to potable water.

The water system now provides firsttime access to potable water in the homes of more than 1000 residents.

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) says that “Water is life, save it. “ This means that Guyanese from all walks of life can enjoy good-quality water from the comfort of their homes and from their taps, which in itself speaks to the caring nature of this administration.

Great achievement, though seemingly insignificant to some, is certainly a step in the right direction and a boost for Guyana’s peoples.

Our nation is known as the land of

many waters, but from research, many residents from various communities were without potable water coming through their taps.

I applaud efforts undertaken by this administration to ensure that there is excellent, quality water in every home of the 10 administrative regions of this country.

Regards, George Goring

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2019

Rohee could not put his small toe in these men’s shoes

Dear Editor,

OLE people often say some people like to put their curse on you. To hear Mr Clement Rohee in his letter, “Granger administration’s blunders in international arena will result in disaster for Guyana,” speak of the Foreign Service and refers to a period he calls the “Burnham dictatorship,” one wonders (SN Dec 14, 2019).

Why is the former Minister of Foreign Affairs attributing his destruction of the Foreign Service to the one who built it and elevated it to a standard where it was second to none in the Caribbean. There was no “diplomatic gallivanting” of the Forbes Burnham administration. His foreign policy, in the Cold War era and the period of struggles against colonisation and apartheid, was studiously conceptualised and executed with precision by personnel of competence.

It was during Mr Rohee’s tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs that the service began a drastic decline, evident in he who held the portfolio coming after greats such as Fred Wills, Sir Shridath Ramphal, Rashleigh Jackson and President Desmond Hoyte. President Hoyte held the portfolio after Mr Jackson’s resignation. Qualitatively and quantitatively in the field and having the intellectual acumen to adroitly function in same, Mr Rohee could not

put his small toe in these men’s shoes.

The Foreign Service foundation and international alliances we have were put in place by the Forbes Burnham administration. It was also during this period that Guyana represented sister Caribbean countries on the international scene. This was the level of respect and admiration for our intellect and ability.

It was Mr Rohee, who early on assignment, representing this country, saw no harm or felt no insult parading a paucity of knowledge of Guyana’s interest by casting a vote at the United Nations in favour of The Dominican Republic instead of the Commonwealth of Dominica. The ignorance and threat to our national and regional interests were on international display.

Shouldn’t Mr Rohee account to us for this disaster, which is recorded in the annals of history at the world’s highest decision-making forum? Prior to that incident-- and the disastrous ones that followed during his leadership of the ministry-- in spite of the ills (real and fabricated) said about Guyana on Foreign Service, Guyanese’s intellectual acumen and nimbleness were never questioned.

Even after leaving office he is still mixing up the names of countries. In his instant letter he refers to the “Constitution of the Republic of Guyana.”

If he is talking about this country, its name is the Cooperative Republic of

Guyana, and having served in the Foreign Service he more than most should know the importance of name and having it properly attributed.

Regardless of what any may think of Mr Burnham during his time, Guyana was a leader, mover and shaper on the international scene, holding its own as an equal partner and shaping the global landscape to bring about our quest, as a small nation, for worldwide comity (i.e. peace and harmony). As the Jamaicans would say “Wi likkle but wi tallawah.” We did not have to fear that leaders or representatives would chuckle or knit their brows at our intellect and ability to grasp and respond to issues. We fearlessly held our own and earned our respect to meaningfully participate and influence. We have the achievements to show. Undoubtedly, some may not have liked us, a constant feature of human behaviour, but they damn well respected us. That changed when Mr Rohee arrived at South Road.

There are some things about Dr Cheddi Jagan that I admire, but on his choice of Minister of Foreign Affairs he made a serious blunder in selecting Mr Rohee. To head this ministry, it requires much more than the ability to sell the party’s newspaper, possessing a party card, and being a contributor in the party’s newspaper. This remains a blot on Guyana’s foreign service legacy and an unmitigated disaster of the Cheddi Jagan government.

The former minister had the honour

and privilege to serve among a distinguished group and brought dishonour to Guyana on the international stage; it is no wonder, that we are probably still feeling the effects of never being able to “fit in,” he found the opportunity to pounce on President David Granger’s recent shuffling of personnel in the service.

This is not to say what he may be saying could not be reviewed for merit or demerit. Should one be informed by “The Desiderata” of Kahlil Gibran, all, “even to the dull and ignorant, they too have their story,” and Mr Rohee should speak. But to seek to use President Granger’s action to make a quantum leap and take a broad swipe at the Foreign Service during the era of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham is incredulous and unacceptable. You can say what you want about Mr Burnham, but when it comes to the Foreign Service, respect due!

How dare Mr Rohee. He who retains the notoriety, on assuming office in 1992, in carrying out a cleansing of the professionals from the Foreign Service where one of the criteria was ethnicity, not competence. He should be the last to speak on any issue pertaining to re-organisng, save to share what he did and ask of others to learn from his folly.

Regards Minette Bacchus

They are just reporters with an agenda Dear Editor, I AM quite surprised that the Demerarawaves blog had announced findings from a U.S. professor regarding which political party will win the upcoming elections.

Where is the research that was conducted to make such a statement?

While it is common for media agencies to “guesstimate” who would win an election using qual-

itative and quantitative research polls, I did not see this finding on the statement. Therefore, the way that those statements were published gives one an impression to demotivate others from voting (because they might believe that their vote doesn’t count). This doesn’t happen with professionally conducted polls, where the entire sample is recorded rather than a generalised statement that is backed with no supporting

evidence.

Furthermore, I would encourage those who are registered to vote in the elections, regardless of the naysayers and those who are thirsting to reclaim a coercive grip on the population again. They are trying very hard to bring in overseas-based Guyanese to vote in this election, and this is documented across many platforms, and is truly not hearsay.

The change starts with one’s

dedication to vote for the right government.

Random statements, such as those coming from the Demerara Waves and other media agencies, have no effect on the elections.

They are just reporters with an agenda. Voters have to make the change.

Regards Riaz Hamid

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2019

The PPP tried to rig the elections in 2011 and 2015 … they are trying again in 2020 THE PPP intended to rig the coming elections from the outset. But they have been thwarted at every step along the road.

They tried to get control of the GECOM machinery. The figure that that is where they can make the most inroads. The wanted a Chairperson they could control.

They also wanted to put back some of their old lackeys, but that still didn’t work out.

Everything they tried thus far has been unsuccessful.

So, they are running scared. They know that their chances of regaining the government is slipping away by the day.

Consequently, they are trying every trick in the book to turn the tables in their favour.

GECOM is one of their favourite targets.

They are desperately trying to eliminate the data collected by the recent House-toHouse Registration from the final voters list.

Their original plan was always to go to the election with the old list without any form

of sanitization. They are still hoping to get GECOM to go along with their trick.

One of the reasons the PPP hit the roof when GECOM sought to put conditions on the uncollected Identification Cards is because they believe that many of those cards belong to their potential supporters who have migrated. They want to bring those people back to vote on election day. They are also hoping that some of those cards can be utilized by fictitious voters. They are frustrated by the vigilance of some of the GECOM commissioners.

What is not generally known in Guyana is that the PPP are master riggers. They have always rigged the vote in areas under their control. The way the PPP rig elections is by stealing votes by the handful—a few dozens from each ballot box. By the time you know it, they have stolen two seats. This has been their practice since 1992. They have stolen votes by working in coordination with their

people planted at GECOM. They had placed people in the supervisory aspects of the machinery. Then they put their people in critical IT positions.

In 2011, they attempted to steal a seat in South Georgetown from the APNU and give it to the PPP. They were caught red-handed

by Vincent Alexander. This was rigging in broad daylight. They were caught just in time. Then in 2015, they tried to pass fake Statements of Poll. But they were again caught. The PPP will stop at nothing. They try to be clever by accusing others of rigging while they do the actual rigging. They are angry that they don’t quite control things at GECOM like they used to. They didn’t want to renew the contract of the CEO simply because they don’t think they can control him.

It is now an open secret that the PPP is full of money which they are using to try to buy people in strategic positions. We have to be vigilant against these attempts at

bribery. It is the PPP’s trademark. They use planted people who don’t look like them to make the monetary offers to help them rig the election. We have to expose these people when we catch them. The money comes from the bunch of people that they made rich when they were in office. It’s payback time now.

But back to those people from overseas who they are bringing home to collect the ID cards and vote. The Political Teacher was reliably informed that the party people in New York are trying to raise money to fly people in on Election Day. But they are not making much progress on the front. People are chasing them away.

Many people in Richmond Hill are reminding them of what they did to their own when they were in office. So, things are not working out well for them. But they will keep trying and hope for the best. The rigging machine is still in place

Understanding Energy

Stabroek Block continues to be a rare bright spot for Guyana Basin

AFTER 14 major discoveries on the offshore Stabroek Block and with first oil coming within a matter of weeks, Guyana is progressing rapidly towards its new status as a major oil producer. Yet even on the eve of first production, discussion surrounding future exploration and development is already underway.

Despite the success offshore Guyana, it is not a given that all subsequent wells drilled in the Guyana-Suriname Basin can be commercially developed. Guyanese will recall that prior to the recent run of successes, exploration in the deepwater offshore had been characterised by a series of failed wells.

Since 2015, there have been exploration wells in blocks adjacent to the Stabroek but little success so far.

This has raised questions for investors and companies about whether the Guyana-Suriname Basin can be considered “de-risked.” Even the Stabroek Block is only partially explored.

Extensive programs of expensive seismic exploration have covered the full block but test drilling has mostly focused on a small section of the block far from the maritime border disputed by Venezuela. -Just last week, Apache Corp. announced another round of poor luck at their well off the coast of Suriname, called Maka-one. After announcing exploratory drilling efforts at three different depths so far, the company has not revealed a commercial discovery. That well is in a block just across the maritime border with Guyana and sits adjacent to the Stabroek. The sites share many geological similarities as well.

As a result, international analysts are skeptical, despite the field’s proximity to Exxon’s successful finds. In October, Devin McDermott of the firm Morgan Stanley puts the odds at less than 20 per cent that Maka-one will be a commercial deposit at this point.

Bloomberg noted to investors in its analysis that Apache trying its luck at new, deeper

drilling zones suggests that the company is struggling to find commercial deposits so far and is “cause for greater concern.”

In Guyana’s own offshore waters, exploration companies Tullow Oil and Eco Atlantic have had only mixed success in the Orinduik Block. The Orinduik lies along the western side of the Stabroek Block and hopes had been high that the same geological structures would result in similar successes.

So far Tullow Oil, which operates the block, has found only less valuable “sour” crude—meaning it has higher sulfur content that has to be extracted at refineries through a costly process. Tullow’s stock had the biggest drop in its history when the company announced it was reassessing the commercial potential of the block.

In addition to exploration success, fiscal terms also play a role in the valuation of oil resources. Brazil’s recent issues with its own deepwater Atlantic areas serves as a reminder

that drawing investors for capital intensive ultra-deepwater deposits like Guyana’s is a delicate balancing act.

Despite numerous finds and significant production, a recent auction of new offshore blocks failed to attract any bids from major global oil companies.

The auction was set to be the largest ever for Brazil’s prolific offshore production areas but analysts speculated that harsh contract terms kept away most bidders. In the end, state company Petrobras was the sole bidder for most of the blocks sold. Guyana will have to navigate similar challenges as it considers how to manage future exploration and production. While the 14 discoveries in the Stabroek certainly increase attractiveness, the discoveries are relatively concentrated and can be contrasted against recent failures nearby despite similar geologic traits.

These are all factors to be considered as Guyana turns increasingly to the future.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2019

MAGIC MOMENT AT the dawn of 2020, two precious words – Sweet Oil – will be on the lips of every patriotic Guyanese.

It will be Guyana’s magic moment of First Oil. It will be the beginning of a promising rags-to-riches epic – a composite of Cinderella and the pauper-to-prince, surreal, fairytales.

Amidst rising expectations that Guyana will soon lead regional economic growth, and from press disclosures yesterday, ExxonMobil still clings to hope for its first oil production from its Liza-One deposits this December month-end.

According to The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Guyana’s growth rate is projected at 85.6 per cent next year, as compared to 4.5 per cent at the end of 2019.

Elsewhere, projections from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the giant, trillion-dollar stock broker, Nasdaq, have placed Guyana at the top of the five fastest growing economies in the world. The other countries are Ethiopia, Rwanda, Bangladesh and India.

GUYANA AT THE TOP These disclosures should give us reasons to feel good about ourselves, that Guyana is clawing herself back to the top, when she was once glorified as the “breadbasket of the Caribbean”.

The good news reverberate in my heart like the nostalgic lyrics of Ben E. King and the Drifters when they sung about “this magic moment”, being “so different and so new”, and “sweeter than wine”. Like every humble Guyanese in the context of the oil era, we hope even unrealistically so, that it could last forever, “till the end of time…”

There is nothing wrong for us to feel this way, to have our moment of upliftment, even pride. Our Guyanese people are already basking over the prospects of the better life. They are caught up in a shopping frenzy to receive the good news of first oil with the brightest Christmas ever.

This time around, they determined that no treacherous political Grinch should steal Christmas from them. First oil should come like our Guyana joy which we gladly share with the world.

DOOMSDAY PICTURE But already the naysayers are busy at work. They are busy painting a doomsday picture that the foreign oil producers will steal all of our new wealth.

They publish daily anonymous advertisements. The cowardly publishers, obviously with deep, money-lined pockets, do not reveal their crooked identities.

One such fear-mongering “paid advertisement” in yesterday’s Kaieteur News read, inter alia: Do you know what happens when private companies strike oil in developing countries like Guyana?… them busy shipping away all yoh oil wealth from right under your nose…leaving many countries dirt poor and billions in debt after the oil companies leave.

This is the kind of sleaze that our Guyanese people, who hope for betterment, have to cope with from those

pessimists. They would rather, out of an insane obsession or naked spite, that we leave our projected six billion barrels of oil, right there at the bottom of our sea.

FENCES ERECTED Our government has erected fences to protect our oil wealth. We have set up a Natural Resources Fund (NRF) under an Act of Parliament “to manage the natural resource wealth of Guyana for the present and future benefit of the people” and “for the sustainable development of the country”.

But elements from the doomsday gang are clawing at the fund, hoping to tear it apart, or pull it down, even before the first dollar from oil is deposited into it.

They are opposed to audits of oil revenues being done by the competent state authority – Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). Out of a perfidious self-interest they are demanding that these audits should be farmed out to private entities.

Y2K FEARS Like a new breed, the Y2K-20, they are spinning similar fears as in 2000 when doomsday prophets spun the yard that the world would come to an end at the dawn of the new century.

I recall in 2000 how widespread was the fear that the computer system would crash, the power grid would shut down, and there would an electronic meltdown. Business would come to a halt, traffic will be chaotic, trains will go berserk, etc.

Otherwise intelligent people then believed in the big bluff. While visiting my old Guyana-born friend, Joe, in the US Midwest, he showed me the expensive stove that he had installed in his basement. He had stalks of wood both inside the basement and outside in the yard. He was preparing for the Y2K implosion and, for him, a near-real crash of the electric grid. He stacked up an entire expanded cupboard, packed with canned foods, and dried meats.

I can understand when fears spring from lack of information, which was the situation many years ago, during my childhood. At sunset, I stood at the side of my mother who had squatted before a basket of fresh fish on the bridge to our house at Whim Village on the Corentyne. The revered, aged village fish-vendor, Kabollay, approached us. She was hysterical. With tears trickling down her face, she pointed towards some dark lines in the western sky. There were flashes of lights beyond the dark lines.

“De world coming to end, Chunoo,” she said to Ma.

“Kalyug coming, Chunoo!”

The dark lines turned out to be new telephone wires that were installed earlier that day from the public road to the Whim post office and the police station. It was the first time that I too was seeing the wires that were strapped to tall poles. And the frightful, flashing lights emanated from contraptions at the Coney Island circus some distance away in Canje or New Amsterdam.

I survived Kabollay’s Kalyug, and the Y2K fraud. I am just too old now to believe this new yarn that with oil wealth, Guyana will go down the dark hole of eternal damnation and perdition.

As I write I am singing in my mind, “this Magic Moment” and, like all right-minded Guyanese, I will not be bothered by these doomsday ghouls. According to the Oxford Dictionary, they are persons morbidly interested in disaster and death, and would rob graves and feed on dead bodies if ever they should return to power.

We have learned over these past years since 2015, when the APNU+AFC Coalition Government came to office, that we could quickly distance ourselves from the dreaded past when we experienced the politics of broken promises, corruption and failures. We have collectively said, “no more”. We have moved forward in these four plus years.

GUYANA – STABLE AND PEACEFUL Elsewhere, there is turmoil. The mighty President Trump has been cited for two counts of abuse of power, and will face formal impeachment charges.

Former Bolivian President, Eva Morales, who was first granted asylum in Mexico, has been received as a political refugee in Argentina. He too faces claims that he had abused power. In Chile, the President is accused with abuse of power in using excessive force against citizens. And in the UK, the Labour Party suffered its worst defeat ever at the December 12 polls at the hands of Prime Minister, Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party. They say that Labour was rejected because it had lost touch with the working people.

Here in Guyana, those who are beating the dead drum of desperation over our impending new status as an oil economy, and are sowing hopelessness in our future, are also out of touch with the hitherto barefooted man and woman, who want and deserve the better life.

Our country is stable and peaceful. And President David Granger stands tall as a defender of the Rule of Law, and is eminently re-electable.

Steps being made to achieve universal health coverage –– Minister Lawrence

COUNTRIES in the Americas, including Guyana, are focusing on achieving Universal Health Coverage through a Regional Compact on Primary Healthcare for Universal Health entitled PHC 30-30-30.

The document which was launched on April 30, calls on regional member states of PAHO to make primary healthcare the lynchpin of their health systems to fast-track the movement towards universal healthcare and the achievements of the 2030 SDGs. During the observance of Universal Health Day on December 12, Minister of Pub-

lic Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence, remarked that it drew into sharp focus the aims of the PHC 30-30-30 which entails reducing the barriers that hinder access to healthcare by 30 per cent and allocating at least 30 per cent of the entire public health budget to the first level of care by 2030.

Stemming from the report, 10 recommendations were made focusing on ways in which primary healthcare could be advanced and achieved by 2020. According to the minister, four speak directly to Guyana given our demographics and social composition and aptly highlights the measures that need to be considered and implemented.

These are: – Develop people and community-based PHC-based models of care that take into account human diversity, inter-culturalism and ethnicity – Creation of social participation mechanisms that are genuine, inclusive and accessible with a perspective of intercultural and functional diversity to guarantee full exercise of the right to health – Recognition that human resource has a leading role in the construction and consolidation of PHC models of care – Development of a financing model that

ensures sufficiency, quality, equity, efficiency and sustainability Minister Lawrence said from 2018, the Finance Ministry increased its allocation to the health sector paving the way for intensified efforts towards achieving Universal Healthcare. She thanked PAHO for its continued technical support in ensuring the response to this Compact PHC 30-30-30 is accelerated and actualised.

PAHO/WHO’s Country Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow, in support of the minister noted the implementation of robust primary level healthcare is key to achieving universal health coverage. (DPI)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2019

Oil traders due this week … to engage local stakeholders

GUYANA’S oil and gas sector is one step closer to realisation, with oil traders heading to the world’s newest petrostate to engage local stakeholders and bid on the “first oil” cargoes this week.

According to a report from Bloomberg, at least half a dozen traders from Houston, Geneva and London will land in Guyana this weekend to bid on some of the first-oil cargoes produced here.

The Bloomberg report further said Guyana is poised to produce more oil than neighbouring Venezuela, but the country has no experience in trading oil and is looking to learn the basics from its very first buyer. Just last week, Government sent a letter to refiners around the globe inviting them to bid for 3 million barrels of Liza Blend crude, the light-sweet oil it will start exporting next year.

The catch is that the buyer must take the unusual role of handling “all operating and back-office responsibilities” related to exporting the crude, according to a document seen by Bloomberg.

“On top of that, the bids must be offered “face to face” -- in the country’s capital of Georgetown -- starting

Monday. Such a voyage is rare for traders, who do most of their business on instant-message platforms and by phone,” said Bloomberg.

According to the report, the Liza field is scheduled to start production this month and will reach 120,000 barrels a day next year. By 2025, it is expected to ramp up to 750,000 barrels daily. At that rate, Guyana is set to produce as much oil as Venezuela in five years.

“Guyana’s output boom comes at a trying time for global oil markets. The U.S., Brazil and Norway are all growing production even as the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies cut their own output in a bid to curb a global supply surplus. Guyana’s Liza blend has similar characteristics to grades produced by Nigeria and Angola and is also seen as an alternative to U.S. oil,” said Bloomberg in its report.

Local online media, Oil Now, had reported that Fitch Ratings, one of the “big three credit rating agencies” in the US, sees oil prices averaging $65 per barrel towards the end of 2019 and into 2020, around the time the South American country of Guyana is expected to

begin producing oil.

Fitch Ratings’ Senior Director, Dmitry Marinchenko, told Reuters in an interview that a faltering global economy may start eating into demand for oil as early as this year, pushing prices lower.

This is against the backdrop of Brent crude (Guyana’s likely benchmark) currently trading at around $70 per barrel, its highest so far for the year.

According to the report, the rating agency expects global economic growth to slow to 2.8 per cent in 20192020 from 3.2 per cent in 2018.

It sees 2019 oil prices averaging around $65 per barrel, falling to $62.50 in 2020 and $57.50 by 2022.

It reported that ExxonMobil found more than 5.5 billion barrels of recoverable oil in Guyana. And as production draws close, the US oil giants, ExxonMobil and its partners are conducting the final testing of systems and equipment onboard the Liza Destiny Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel in preparation for ‘first oil’ still possible in December 2019.

“The risers have been hooked to the Liza Destiny, so we’re now in the commissioning phase which

The Liza Destiny, Guyana’s first oil production vessel includes testing the equipment – pressure testing – and ensuring that everything is working smoothly,” Public and Government Affairs Adviser, Janelle Persaud, told reporters on Thursday.

Risers are pipes which connects an offshore FPSO or a Drilling Rig to a subsea system for production purposes. They connect the flowlines to the surface facility and transport fluids.

ExxonMobil and its partners are meticulous when it comes to safety and the go-ahead for oil production will not be given until they are sure all that are needed are in place. ‘First oil’ will be determined when a formal decision is given for the goahead and oil flows through the choke up to the surface which could take a matter

of hours.

Meanwhile, Guyana has already started to make preparations for the incoming revenue from the sector.

Just last week, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan and the Governor of the Bank of Guyana (BoG), Dr. Gobind Ganga, entered into an operational agreement for the management of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF).

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was handed over to the governor at the Ministry of Finance in accordance with sections 11 and 12 of the NRF Act 2019. “The Bank of Guyana has been mandated by the NRF Act to ensure that the NRF is managed prudently.

Other countries that have similar funds managed by their Central Banks include

Norway, Chile and Botswana. The inflows to the NRF will be in United States of America dollars which will be deposited in US bank accounts held by the Bank of Guyana,” the finance minister stated.

He continued: “It is important to note that most central banks and SWFs manage reserves by holding them in foreign-denominated currencies outside of their jurisdiction. In preparation for its role as operational manager of the NRF, the Bank of Guyana has begun building additional capacity, supported by the World Bank’s Reserves Advisory and Management Programme (RAMP), with whom an agreement was signed on October 1, 2019.”

Barabina to get footpath bridge WALKING through muddy water will soon be a thing of the past for students, teachers, and other residents who use the bridge that leads into Barabina in Region One. Regional Executive Officer, Randolph Storm, said a new footpath bridge would be built to replace the current dilapidated structure following intervention by Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally. The minister made the call after witnessing the struggle Barabina residents faced daily.

The RDC will build the structure which should be finished in January. Rayann Chan, a teacher at the Barabina Primary for 14 years, said it was a challenge getting to and from the school since it cost $2000 to cross the bridge by vehicle. “Sometimes when the rain falls, especially at this Christmas time, the water gets very high,

we usually have to get the boat to cross, or sometimes we walk through the water that is over our knees,” she explained.

Dale Ossorio, another teacher of Barabina Primary, welcomed the news. “It is a good initiative because since the high tide and heavy rainfall, the water has been up to my knee and some morning I have to fetch the children on my neck to come to school. It is very difficult. So, this initiative will help us because the children depend upon us and about 70 per cent of the teachers work in Mabaruma and every day they have to cross that little path there with water to come to school. So, if this is done, we will be so grateful.”

Regional Education Officer, Nigel Richards, commended the initiative and thanked Minister Ally for her intervention.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

178 students graduate with range of technical skills from GITC

ONE hundred and seventy-eight students graduated from the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC) last week at the institution’s 53rd Graduation Ceremony and Prize Giving Exercise.

The graduates completed programmes in data operations, masonry, metal work engineering, plumbing, motor vehicle repairs, furniture making, electrical installation and welding, a release from the Ministry of Education said. Chairman of the GITC and Government Technical Institute (GTI) Board, Mr. Vincent Alexander, said that the graduates are now certified with both a National Vocational Qualification certificate and a Caribbean Vocational Qualification certificate. He asked the graduates to understand the standards they were exposed to and realise that they were not just for certification purposes but also for purposes of work. He also encouraged them to be tolerant of each

Some of the graduates of GITC

other as individuals and communities.

The graduates were urged

by Mr. Alexander to keep studying and to stay abreast with developments in their particular field so that they can remain relevant. The administrator of the GITC, Mr. Dexter Cornette, said

that the theme for the graduation, “embracing change, and strengthening capacity” teaches that it is essential to remain relevant to create impact.

He said that this year, the centre graduated its largest batch in history. Also historical is the enrolment for the

2019-2020 year which totals 401. While highlighting the successes and challenges of the institution, Mr. Cornette noted that the GITC intends to focus more on developing the soft skills and work ethics of its students to make them more employable.

He added that the insti-

‘Lift up your voice ... the hinterland and other areas.

Domestic violence has resulted in discord, division and even death. This form of violence is no longer isolated and that has resulted in it becoming more pervasive.

“As a result of this, we are experiencing the secondary impact of violence… children are growing up in communities where there is violence and they want to practise violence themselves,” said President Granger, adding that the lessons children get during the first 10 years of their lives will affect them for the rest of their lives.

Problems such as child abuse and incest, which often go undetected, tend to have an impact on a child later in his/her life, said the President. He noting that attention must be placed on reducing conflict and violence in the home and at the level of the family.

MORAL AUTHORITY President Granger said churches have the moral authority to ensure that there is reduced conflict and

tution will be adding two new programmes, specifically Office Administration and Refrigeration and AC Repair. Delivering the feature address was Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Michael Scott. He said that the graduates should always

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President David Granger (centre) is flanked by members of the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Delano Williams photo)

violence in the home and in the family. His belief is that a church is essential to building social cohesion and building families.

The church promotes happiness by fostering family life and it is preordained with the task of ensuring that families are happy. The President said the church’s mission must be to proclaim, perfect and protect those institutions (families).

President Granger’s theory is that happy families will foster happy households, happy households will foster happy communities and happy communities

will create a happy state.

“Families are the cradle of life, a cradle of safety, a cradle of society and a classroom of culture… family is a divine creation,” said the president, adding that the United Nations (UN) had underscored the importance of a family, noting that it is the most important institution in shaping a child’s character.

The family has always had a traditional structure in which the father was identified as the provider and the enforcers of rules, while the mothers shared care, compassion and love. Pres-

ident Granger said a child is nurtured in such an environment, which is balanced between the one who makes the rules and the one who extends compassion and love. Such an environment has become a natural place for the well-being of children.

Director of the Adventist Family Ministries of Guyana, Pastor Richard James, who spoke before President Granger, highlighted similar points; Pastor James noted that the family ministries’ aim is to build stronger families, promote stronger marriages and build strong

churches for God. He said apart from the local chapter of the family ministries, the global branch has made vital contributions to strengthening families around the world. Pastor James said the ministry will continue to respond to the call to build healthy and strong families.

According to the website of the global Adventist Family Ministries, the over-arching objective of Family Ministries is to strengthen the family as a centre of discipline.

The Family Ministries said the family was estab-

11

acknowledge that other people such as their relatives and spouses have caused them to be who they are.

He said that the graduation exercise marks the provision of employable people in the new dispensation within Guyana. He told the graduates that this phase of education has ended but education continues.

He encouraged them to set themselves another target. His advice was, “it’s better to aim at something and miss than to aim at nothing and always hit it.”

The graduates were advised that the journey now begins for continuous enhancement. The graduates were then given the charge

by Dr. Astell Collins who said that Guyana has embarked on empowering the unutilised human resource and that they are part of that process. He charged them to be the best that they can be as they enter into another phase of life.

lished by divine creation as the fundamental human institution. It is the primary setting in which values are learned and the capacity for close relationships with God and with other human beings is developed.

Family Ministries is a ministry of grace which acknowledges as normative, the biblical teachings relating to the family; it holds high, God’s ideals for family living. At the same time, it brings an understanding of the brokenness experienced by individuals and families in a fallen world.

Thus, Family Ministries seeks to enable families to aspire to divine ideals, while at the same time ever extending the good news of God’s saving grace and the promise of growth possible through the in-dwelling Spirit.

Family Ministries focuses on people in relationships. It is a ministry that provides tools for couples, parents and children, single adults, and all members of the wider family circle as they pass through life’s predictable stages and confront unexpected changes in their lives.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

AG Chambers cheers children of Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre

Attorney-General Basil Williams distributing toys to one of the children of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre ( Adrian Narine photo)

THE Ministry of Legal Affairs and Attorney General’s Chambers put smiles on the faces of children at the National Rehabilitation Complex (formerly the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre) through a Christmas cheer visit on Friday, when numerous gifts were distributed.

Attorney-General Basil Williams led the team during the event. “This is the celebration of Jesus Christ and it’s a Christian celebration; but not withstanding that it’s Christian in nature and orientation, all Guyanese, regardless of religion, race, colour or creed, celebrate

Christmas as we know it in Guyana,” Minister Williams said in remarks.

He added that the season is really one for children and one to remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

“At this time things look very bright for you, the children of Ptolemy Reid, because you have oil and we will ensure that the newfound wealth that is generated from the oil will be spent toward the centre. Our aim is that the centre would be a centre that caters to all types of physiotherapy, and we will ensure that when we get the funds to do it, there

will be a brand new facility so that in an effort to ensure that our children could be rehabilitated, we know the technology and the experts that do it are very expensive, but we will encourage the minister to budget for several children a year to have the opportunity to get their specific procedures done, so that you would be able to have the chance to run and play and have access to every opportunity that life has to offer,” said Williams.

The event was the third celebration hosted by the ministry, which believes that such efforts help to focus on the true mean-

Staff members of the Attorney General’s Chambers entertaining the children with Christmas carols (Adrian Narine photo)

The children of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre during the Christmas celebration ( Adrian Narine photo)

ing of Christmas. At the event, the children were

entertained by songs, poems, gifts from the AG’s

Chambers staff and each child received a meal.

Rotaract distributes 100 Hampers to Plastic City residents The Rotaract Club of Georgetown Central on Saturday distributed 100 food hampers to residents of Plastic City on the West Coast of Demerara. The gesture was welcomed by particularly since it is the Christmas season.

President of the Rotary Club Central, Georgetown, Andrew Boyle said the holiday hampers were assembled through strong group effort and the support of corporate Guyana. “We came into Plastic City very early this Saturday, we gave out vouchers before distributing the hampers, this is our first time here in the community and there will be other initiatives like this in the future. Our mandate is to provide service above self and that is what we upkeep,” Boyle mentioned.

Chatting with DPI, resident Damjeer Sookdeo, said the initiative is timely as many of the villagers will be able to put a hot meal on the table during the Christmas season. “It’s a wonderful idea

One of the Rotaract members handing over a food hamper to a resident

for the families who cannot afford some groceries for the Christmas holiday. This is a wonderful act and on behalf of myself and family, we are very thankful.

Samantha Ramdass is a single mother of seven chil-

dren and would normally sell confectionaries, such as fudge, sugar cakes, plantain chips to maintain her family. “I have tears in my eyes right now, the little money I make from the snacks I sell, is not enough for me to purchase all the grocer-

Some Plastic City residents returning to their homes with their hampers

ies I received here today. I am very grateful and my children and I will make good use of this hamper. Many of the mothers of Plastic City will be happy as I am,” Ramdass remarked.

Rotary Club of George-

town Central is in existence for thirty-six years and has played a major role in executing projects geared towards community development. These projects surround Rotary’s areas of service, including Peace

Building and Conflict Resolution, Basic Education and Literacy, Disease Prevention and Treatment, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Economic and Community Development and Maternal and Child Health. (DPI)

13

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2019

THE POST-2015 GUYANA STATE APPARATUS DOES NOT SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF VIOLENCE

THE regimes of Adolf Hitler (1933-1945), Benito Mussolini (1922-1943) and General Franco (1939-1975) were undergirded by different views of fascism but they all spoke the language of violence. They were vicious and diabolic with perceived enemies of the state.

The language of violence was also clearly spoken by the Duvalier and Trujillo regimes. Their demonstration of how the state apparatus, if left unchecked, can exact violence on its citizens is not easily paralleled. Guyana’s ethno-monolithic regimes in the post-1997-2015 period present an ignominious example that harks back to the aforementioned dark historical periods. This violent vindictive state took its last breath on May 11th, 2015, when the people of Guyana decided that enough was enough.

Four years later, it is worth the ink to reflect on the transformation of the state apparatus from a violent entity to one that does not speak the language of violence.

THE LANGUAGE OF VIOLENCE AND THE CHARACTER OF A PRESIDENT The character of a President in any political circumstance leaves its print on a society.

There is no escaping this inextricable link. It can be safely argued Guyana was furnished with a vindictive state apparatus on August 11th, 1997 when Bharrat Jagdeo became President after some intricate executive bureaucratic shenanigans. Once he held his hand up and took the oath of office, his character immediately permeated the halls of power and by extension the wider society.

The institution of the Presidency plays a key role in the affairs of the Guyana state; this is

efficiently enabled by Article 184 (1) of the Guyana Constitution which ascribes presidential immunity. Make no mistake, it can be argued without successful contradiction that the language of violence was spoken by the Guyana state apparatus between 19972015 due to the mindset of a President and subsequent former President in whom power continues to reside. Over the years, this continues to haunt and it remains so with the spectre of a possible puppet Presidency. One of the key reasons for the absence of the use of violence as a mechanism by the present Guyana state is down to the character of the sitting Presidency. It is no accident.

The President does not embrace the philosophy of vengeance or ‘no man, no problem’. This is a key reason why Guyana state apparatus no longer speaks the language of violence.

THE RETURN OF PEACEFUL PROTEST The concept of good’ in ‘governance’ is an appendage to the word ‘governance’ and it is seen as the process and institutions by which authority in a country is exercised (World Bank, 2004).

Furthermore, governance includes how governments are selected, held accountable, monitored and replaced with an emphasis on the capacity of government to manage resources and respect the rule of law (World Bank, 2004; Boyte, 2005). Therefore, the word ‘good’ in governance connotes the proper exercise of authority, management of resources and respect for the rule of law in accordance with laid-down principles for the benefit of all in society. A certain recourse available to citizens that holds governments to account is the right to peaceful protest.

This has always and will continue to be the most legal efficacious avenue to express the concerns of the people between electoral cycles and as a mechanism for peacefully removing bad governments that present an existential threat to society.

Political scientist, Erica Chenoweth, collected data on all major nonviolent and violent campaigns for the overthrow of a government or territorial liberation since 1900. Based on the data she uncovered, this has led her to the conclusion that non-violent resistance is far more effective than violent resistance. This research provided a stark reminder about the value of peaceful protest. This extremely valuable democratic tool was vilified, maligned and criminalized during the vindictive tutelage of the Guyana state apparatus pre-2015.

Some peaceful protestors were executed and others were shot with live rounds. This is the regrettable circumstance that obtains when the state speaks the language of violence.

The post-2015 state, under the leadership of David Arthur Granger, has consistently demonstrated its penchant for nurturing and encouraging the right to peacefully petition the government.

Peaceful protests have returned and are now normalized because this is no longer the modus vivendi of the current state apparatus.

THE BLOSSOMING OF DEMOCRACY AND THE RISE OF SMALL PARTIES Recently, there has been the rise of a plethora of political parties.

Pastors, businessmen and women,

$11M Orealla stelling to provide greater opportunities FOR indigenous communities in riverine areas of Guyana, structurally sound stellings are critical. This need is emphasised for areas such as Orealla in Berbice, that have a high influx of visitors and are located along economic hotspots.

On Saturday, Orealla became the latest community to benefit through the government’s efforts to enhance infrastructure in hinterland communities with the commissioning of an $11Million stelling.

In an invited comment, Toshao Carl Peneux summed

up the significant occasion for the community.

“Small and large boats can now moor and so we can get our lumber, we can get our farm produce… whatever they [the residents of Orealla] bring from the coast can be [offloaded] quite easily here,” he explained.

Toshao Peneux noted that added feature of a shed covering the stelling is an asset for the residents, particularly during heavy rainfall.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, the Hon. David Patterson remarked that every step of the project was

done with the community in mind. “For all the work that we did, all of the material was purchased from Orealla,” he related.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure deems it necessary that contractors operating in Indigenous communities utilise local resources – human and/or materials.

In conjunction with the project, river defence works were also executed which entailed the construction of 30 metres of Gabion Mattress Slope.

Accompanying Minister Patterson was Minister of Public Security the Hon.

teachers, young leaders and ordinary citizens have stepped forward to present themselves to the electorate. This development warrants some analytical introspection.

Some have argued that this is due to the collapse of the Alliance for Change (Ramkarran 2019). For me, this is not so, any fair and objective reflection has to lead to the inevitable conclusion that this is definitely due, in large part, to the fact that the present Guyana state apparatus does not speak the language of violence. If there is any doubt, a cursory glance at what obtained pre-2015 would suffice.

The pre-2015 status quo made politics and civic participation seem like very dangerous affairs. It was indeed a dangerous business. Those who engaged in political organization during this period were subjected to victimization, treason charges, death, maiming or the possibility of faeces and dangerous substances being thrown in their faces.

This scared citizens and the thought of forming political parties to solicit support in the heavily fortified ethnic enclaves loyal to the vindictive state was tantamount to suicide.

This is no longer the case and it most definitely due to the complete different posture of the present posture of the state apparatus.

Armed bandits rob Canje supermarket

Minister of Public Infrastructure the Hon David Patterson Khemraj Ramjattan and Minister of Public Telecommunications, Hon. Catherine Hughes.

The ministers held a community engagement to update residents on government projects and to address issues and concerns. (DPI)

ABOUT five armed bandits, on Saturday evening, attacked the Chenick and Son Supermarket at Betsy Ground, East Canje and subsequently escaped in the owner’s car, a Toyota Verossa.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that police arrived at the scene within a short period of time and gave chase, but only found the vehicle abandoned in the vicinity of the New Forest area.

The vehicle was taken to the Reliance Police Station. According to information received, at approximately 20:30hrs, the robbers visited the supermarket which was still open with customers present.

They demanded that everyone lie on the ground and surrender their cash and valuables. During that time, the owner, who was outside, was struck to the head.

Guyana Chronicle was told a second person was also injured but up to press time, the severity of the injury, and what was stolen were unclear.

Residents also recalled hearing about 15 gunshots. An investigation is currently underway.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

A Perspective on Caribbean Post-Cotonou Negotiations

By Junior Lodge Current Atmospherics THE African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group and European Union (EU) began negotiations in September 2018 to replace their current Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA) that expires on February 29, 2020. These negotiations – often referred to as the “Post-Cotonou negotiations” – have yielded significant progress as can be gleaned from the existence of stabilised texts.

Notwithstanding the progress already made, a series of outstanding differences remain while substantive treatment of additional areas in the negotiations are yet to commence. In this context, negotiations are unlikely to be concluded in

time for the March 1, 2020 deadline and, accordingly, transitional arrangements are being crafted to legally extend application of the CPA to December 31, 2020.

Post-Cotonou negotiations are being impacted by a number of global, EUand ACP-specific factors.

First, notwithstanding the recent conclusion of global agreements, multilateralism remains severely challenged as can be evinced from rising political weight of nationalist cum populist parties in the EU. In this context, signs of a sustained realignment of EU trade and development policy should be closely tracked.

A number of EU Member States failed to sign the UN Global Pact on Migration while others concluded bilateral agreements with select third countries to repatriate

African migrants. These are only two recent examples of the EU’s failure to fully embrace multilateralism.

Secondly, the EU’s main objective in forging a post-Cotonou relationship with the ACP remains that of overturning the traditional donor-client relationship.

The EU had signalled a shift in its development policy in the 2018 EU Council decision on Overseas Countries and Territories which noted, inter alia, the “special relationship between the Union and OCTs in moving from a development cooperation approach towards a reciprocal partnership to support OCTs’ sustainable development.”

The following extract from the EU negotiation mandate for post-Cotonou negotiations is instructive – “[t] he Parties will cooperate to

create an enabling economic environment to significantly increase the level of sustainable and responsible investment flows to their mutual advantage”. That statement stands in stark contrast with the stated objective of the CPA “to promote and expedite the economic, cultural and social development of the ACP States”.

Thirdly, the ACP is facing a major existential challenge as evinced by both the review of the Georgetown Agreement that established the Group in 1975 and the thrust of post-Cotonou negotiations. The ACP is seeking to transform itself into an intergovernmental organisation, develop relationships beyond the EU by forging partnerships with BRICs, promote South-South and triangular cooperation and position itself as the leading global advocate for developmental policy. Allied to this, the current crafting of EU regional protocols with the three constituent regions, i.e. Africa, Caribbean and Pacific, constitutes a radical realignment of its relationship with the ACP. ACP Group efforts to reinvent itself should be framed by Africa’s stated objective of forging its own relationship with the EU, independent of the longstanding Lomé/Cotonou framework. Africa’s political stance is strengthened by recent developments, most notably, the conclusion of the African Continental Free Trade Area, establishment of an African peace and security architecture resulting in AU field operations in Somalia, Sudan, Comoros and Central African Republic, and sustained economic growth that could result in a US$2.6 trillion continental economy by 2020.

Fourth, the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU (i.e. BREXIT) tempers the value of the Caribbean-EU partnership. The UK remains the export destination in the EU for most CARIFORUM States. For example, UK merchandise imports from Grenada, Guyana and Jamaica in 2017 were 97.2%; 63.5% and 76.6%, respectively and therefore the commercial value of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) will significantly decline after Brexit. In addition, the UK’s prospec-

tive exit from the EU would dispossess the Caribbean of its main ally within the EU given the UK’s support during the longstanding EUUS dispute on bananas, and more recently, on securing advanced commitments for Caribbean services suppliers to access the EU market under the CEPA. BREXIT will also diminish the value of the CARIFORUM-EU partnership given the fact that 5 of the 16 EU territories in the Caribbean are British. The shared CARIFORUM-EU objective of strengthening trade and functional cooperation with the EU overseas territories and OCTs will be negatively impacted by BREXIT. NEGOTIATION PROCESS AND RESULTS Post-Cotonou negotiations have been structured into two distinct phases. The first phase seeks to treat with All-ACP-EU issues with results to be captured in a Foundation Agreement. The All-ACP-EU negotiations addresses overarching themes defining the relationship such as General Provisions, Strategic Priorities, Means of Cooperation, International Cooperation, Institutional Framework and Final Provisions and would be applicable to all signatory states.

The second phase centres on the negotiation of regional protocols with the three constituent regions of the ACP. The conclusion of these EU protocols with Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific would allow for the centre of gravity of ACP-EU relations to be shifted to regional partnerships. The three regional protocols will be annexed to the Foundation Agreement to constitute a single, legally binding ACP-EU Partnership Agreement.

NEGOTIATION OF THE FOUNDATION AGREEMENT Negotiation of the Foundation Agreement has thus far resulted in the emergence of stabilised texts on most areas of the Strategic Priorities.

More specifically, advanced texts have emerged on human rights, democracy and governance in people-centred and rights-based societies (Title I); Peace and Security (Title II); Human and Social Development (Title III); Inclu-

sive Sustainable Economic Growth and Development (Title IV); and Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change (Title V). A series of negotiations has been conducted on Migration and Mobility (Title VI) with initial exchanges held on General Provisions; Global Alliances and International Cooperation; Development and Means of Implementation; Institutional Framework and Final Provisions.

The existence of stabilised text in the Foundation Agreement notwithstanding, considerable differences remain on a number of salient issues. For example, the ACP objects to the reference under Title I (Human Rights, Democracy and Governance in People-Centred and Rightsbased Societies) obliging Parties to “promote and respect sexual orientation and gender identity”. Also under that title, ACP proposed language barring EU unilateral and coercive action with respect to tax governance is yet to meet EU accord. In Title II (Peace and Security), the most notable issues concern ACP insistence on maintaining the principles of sovereignty, non-intervention, and non-interference, especially in the context of internal conflicts or crises and the EU demand that Parties should cooperate with the International Criminal Court. In Title III (Human and Social Development), there is no agreement on sexual health and reproductive rights. Under the same Title, the EU has withdrawn its earlier consent to the restitution and return of cultural artefacts by contending that this is an area within the competence of individual Member States as opposed to the Union.

With respect to Title IV (Inclusive Sustainable Economic Growth and Development), recent exchanges have resulted in a narrowing of outstanding gaps between the ACP and EU. However, a number of stark differences remain with the EU seeking to incorporate trade-related provisions already enshrined in EPAs and, in some instances,``` exceed them. It appears that the EU is seeking to use post-Cotonou negotiations to frame the terms of any future trade agreement with Africa.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

A Perspective on Caribbean ... appears bent on securing additional access to ACP markets without offering anything tangible in return. For example, while the EU has tempered its original demand for the ACP to liberalise its public procurement markets, it still demands transparency requirements and non-discriminatory treatment among competing firms (that is, regardless of national origin).

Yet another EU demand is for ACP countries to liberalise their respective markets for environmental goods. In tabling such a proposal, the EU wants ACP WTO Members to assume commitments under the Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA). This is a WTO exercise with the aim of settling on an open plurilateral, thereby extending the benefits of liberalised trade in environmental goods to all WTO members. However, the current draft text of Title IV lacks provisions to allow for sustained capacity-building support (both productive and regulatory capacity) to seize additional market access opportunities.

The EU text on public procurement mirrors the Union’s approach to EGA by seeking to require the ACP to exceed the Group members’ current WTO commitments. Moreover, such ACP deeper commitment would be accompanied without the Group securing any tangible benefit in return. This is a primary example of the EU seeking commercially relevant commitments from the ACP by arguing the need for a mature relationship or one based on a partnership of equals. However, in contrast, such a seemingly noble pursuit is negated by the EU failing to support the economic empowerment of the ACP. Such an imbalance could be addressed, inter alia, through the provision of concrete measures to assist ACP firms to contest the EU public procurement market. Here, the EU patently demands reciprocal trade liberalisation but fails to facilitate the Group’s economic empowerment by committing to the requisite capacity-building support and maintain policy space.

The treatment of development cooperation (Part IV) constitutes the final area of ACP-EU major divergences. The EU is averse to using the traditional Lomé/Cotonou construct of “development cooperation and means of implementation” and instead proposes “means of cooperation.” This language, in part, reflects the bloc’s preference to advance other development cooperation instruments, such as domestic resource mobilisation, tax reform and remittances as prioritised sources for development support. Beyond differences over nomenclature, no substantive negotiation on development cooperation has taken place due to the state of internal EU consideration of its 2021-2027 Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF). The European Commission (EC) tabled its MFF proposal in May 2018 that included, inter alia, collapsing all EU aid instruments to support external action into one development cooperation instrument. It is anticipated that a EU decision will be made at the December 12-13, 2019 meeting of the European Council.

A. NEGOTIATION OF A CARIBBEAN-EU REGIONAL PROTOCOL CARIFORUM States have agreed

to a two-tiered negotiation structure to craft the region’s post-Cotonou relations with the EU. At the Ministerial level, negotiations are overseen by a Central Negotiating Group (CNG) comprising The Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica and Saint Lucia. Technical negotiations are marshalled by an Ambassadorial CNG whose members mirror that of the Ministerial CNG and chaired by Guyana. In addition, a slate of technical negotiators manned by Brussels-based Ambassadors has also been established, whose work is being complemented by capital-based officials and technical experts at relevant Caribbean regional institutions. Another plank of technical support stems from regular meetings of the CARIFORUM Technical Advisory Group (TAG) convened by the CARIFORUM Directorate. It should be noted that the TAG membership extends beyond capital-based senior officials and experts at regional organisations to non-state actors such as the UWI and Caribbean Policy Development Centre.

The Caribbean and the EU have developed an indicative slate of sensitive issues to be developed in their regional partnership. Nevertheless, key critical areas such as mobility and migration; international business services; tax governance; and actors remain bracketed.

Both sides have developed their respective versions of consolidated texts in key strategic priorities in order to facilitate the start of formal negotiations. It has also been agreed that prioritised treatment of issues will be reserved for those sufficiently advanced in the negotiations of the Foundation Agreement. Thus far, negotiations have been held on Title IV (Human Development and Social Cohesion) and Title III (Human Rights, Peace and Security) resulting in the emergence of stabilised text. Negotiations of the regional protocol have been adversely affected by the limited traction in the negotiation of the Foundation Agreement, itself partially due to the switch to a new EU College of Commission.

The current contemplation remains that negotiations can be completed by April 2020, but this remains subjected to progress at the level of Foundation Agreement negotiations.

Caribbean Ambitions In its negotiation of a Regional Protocol with the EU, the Caribbean has developed a number of cardinal objectives. First, the region-specific commitments should deliver the effective operationalisation of the ACP-EU Foundation Agreement to advance Caribbean sustainable development.

Second, notwithstanding Caribbean tabling textual proposals on trade and economic cooperation, the integrity of the CEPA should not be compromised through the adoption of additional commitments in the Regional Protocol.

Third, regional integration and cooperation should be supported while also recognising the differing integration and cooperation streams within the Caribbean. Fourth, the provisions of the recalibrated partnership with the EU should seek to address the myriad forms of CARIFORUM economic and environmental vulnerabilities. Fifth, concrete support measures across the span of specialised disciplines of the regional protocol should be crafted for Haiti to reflect that country’s status as the sole UN-designated least developed country (LDC) in the Western Hemisphere.

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Sixth, in light of the overall aim that the renewed partnership with the EU should be transformative and therefore the EU best-endeavour commitments will be resisted.

Beyond this, CARIFORUM should seek to leverage the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework to harvest concrete measures supportive of its sustainable development ambition. Indeed, the bi-regional negotiations should result in the harnessing of global public goods, albeit specific to the region’s needs. Outside of the SDG framework, the Caribbean could consider operationalising other multilateral initiatives.

Developing the WHO’s Global Skills Partnerships would be illustrative of both CARIFORUM and the EU harnessing global frameworks to deliver concrete results. Specifically, a skills pact would allow Caribbean health professionals to temporarily work in the EU (up to 36 months) and return to their respective countries with enhanced earnings and improved professional experience. A recent study of Malawi-UK partnership for nurses highlighted a number of benefits, most notably, increased income, strengthened professional competence and the partner country (i.e. the UK) benefitting from reduced training costs. A Caribbean-specific approach could also entail securing increased EU investment to increase the Caribbean-based training facilities for health professionals and attracting EU nationals to study in the region that would pay market-based tuition fees.

Such an initiative could generate an additional stream of income for CARIFORUM States. From a development policy perspective, there would also be real value of implementing this cluster of measures to mitigate the long-term damage of wealthy EU States (and other industrialised countries) poaching Caribbean nurses to work in their respective jurisdictions. However, the real import comes from CARIFORUM empowering itself by developing new and radical initiatives to address its own development challenges. The unrestricted movement of Caribbean health professionals constitutes not only a transfer of wealth from poor Caribbean states to their wealthier industrialised counterparts - a condition compounded by the absence of financial compensation to affected governments that are all fiscally constrained. The development of global skills partnership could, therefore, become a benchmark to gauge the results of CARIFORUM-EU intent to recalibrate their longstanding partnership. *Junior Lodge has advised CARIFORUM on post-Cotonou negotiations and is formerly Technical Coordinator on both EPA and DDA negotiations for the CARICOM Office of Trade Negotiations. The views expressed here should not be attributed to the CARIFORUM Directorate.

Young cancer patient flown to US for treatment

Avisha Best

YOUNG Avisha Best, who was diagnosed with Leukemia, was flown to the United States of America (USA) for advanced medical treatment.

Best, who was hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for 45 days, departed Guyana for the US on December 9, 2019, to begin the much-needed treatment.

The toddler’s treatment and transportation was organised, coordinated and funded by the Saving Hands Emergency Inc (SHEA) Foundation.

“Sincere thanks to everyone who donated to make this treatment a reality for Avisha. You are true Earth Angels,” said the foundation after they were able to successfully raise the funds to support Best.

According to SHEA, the debilitating disease had taken a toll on Best’s health. The organisation said despite incredible efforts from local doctors to treat the child, her condition continued to worsen as time passed.

According to the American Society of Hematology, Leukemia is a type of cancer found in the blood and bone marrow and is caused by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells. These abnormal white blood cells are not able to fight infection and impair the ability of the bone marrow to produce red blood cells and platelets.

Leukemia can be either acute or chronic. Chronic leukemia progresses more slowly than acute leukemia, which requires immediate treatment. Leukemia is also classified as lymphocytic or myelogenous.

Lymphocytic leukemia refers to abnormal cell growth in the marrow cells that become lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that plays a role in the immune system. In myelogenous leukemia, abnormal cell growth occurs in the marrow cells that mature into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Despite being able to arrange treatment and transportation for the toddler, SHEA said they are still in need of funding to assist Best throughout the treatment.

Persons interested in donating towards the cause are asked to do so by either visiting the following link: https://savinghandsemergencyaid.org/ avishabest or making a donation at a local branch of Demerara Bank under the name Lori Narine, using account number: 006002041325.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2019

Newly restored Cashew Grove Park formally handed over

CENTRAL Lethem’s Cashew Grove Park has been formally handed over to the township after the restoration was completed by the Ministry of Natural Resources, through its Clean and Beautiful Communities Project.

The park which was overgrown by weeds and vegetation is now a green space for recreational use.

In a simple ceremony early Saturday, Minister of Natural Resources, the Hon. Raphael Trotman formally handed over the park to Town Clerk, Keisha Vincent, who represented the Mayor of Lethem at the

one of the areas that we would like to invest in and we have done so. It was also a commitment we made to the former Mayor to do some work on this park and I am happy today that it is at a stage that we could hand it over,” he stated.

The Minister also committed to ensuring that the park is outfitted with lights for use in the evening hours. Town Clerk, Keisha Vincent, assured that the Town Council will do its part in upkeeping the facility. Residents in the meantime expressed their gratitude for the newly refurbished facility.

Izvestia Wilson said it was indeed a great initiative. “It is really good for the commu-

Minister of Natural Resources, the Hon. Raphael Trotman gather with residents of Lethem to cut the ribbon to the newly Restored Cashew Grove Park

Newly Restored Cashew Grove Park event.

“As I hand it over today, I, promise continued support and also ask in return that you care the park,” Minister Trotman requested.

According to the Minister, Lethem lacked recreational space and facilities, hence the decision to invest in this restoration.

“As part of the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Clean and Beautiful Communities Project, we had identified Cashew Grove as

nity and the children who live here because we didn’t have a recreational park to use on the weekend.” Sharing his thoughts, Godfrey Williams said, “I am excited about the park, for years we wanted this and so it happened by the APNU+AFC government, I am proud about it, and it is really important for the kids.

He also requested the installation of swing sets and seesaws for the children.

(DPI)

The Cashew Grove Park

Caribbean leaders congratulate British Prime Minister Johnson

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Dec 13, CMC – Caribbean leaders were on Friday extending congratulations to their British counterpart, Boris Johnson, following the Conservative’s party emphatic victory in the general election on Thursday.

St. Lucia’s Prime Minister, Allen Chastanet, who the chairman of the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping said congratulated Johnson and the Conservative Party for “their massive win at the polls in the UK. “The government of St. Lucia lends its full support to the new administration bearing in mind the deep ties which exist between our two countries,” Chastanet said, adding “democracy has spoken once again, and in the wake of these results the UK will undoubtedly engage in a period of reflection and ultimately embark on a meaningful way forward for all its people.

“St. Lucia stands ever-ready to be a long term partner with the government and people of the United Kingdom in the years ahead,” he said in his congratulatory message.

For his part, St. Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris said that the “historic

St. Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet (left) and Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Right) in conversation (file photo) landslide victory has delivered the biggest win for the Conservatives since 1987 during the era of Margaret Thatcher, with 365 seats won yesterday in the 650-seat House of Commons.

“With this comfortable majority, you and your Conservative party have been handed a

sweeping mandate to achieve the will of the people and implement your agenda, which includes moving quickly to take Britain out of the European Union.”

Harris told Prime Minister Johnson that his ‘successful campaign, which ran on the

promise to ‘Get Brexit Done,’ resonated with a large swath of the electorate who also responded well to your vows to lower taxes, prioritize help for those who struggle to meet the cost of living, and increase the living wage.

“Now, the people have spoken, entrusting you and your Conservative party with the country’s future,” Harris said, adding “my Cabinet colleagues and I extend best wishes to you and your government, and I take this opportunity to convey our sincere interest in dialoguing and working together to advance our nations’ efforts and commitments to our people, both at home and in the diaspora.

“We also look forward to holding meaningful discussions on how we can develop our trade relationship post-Brexit, as well as enhance areas of cooperation in part through our membership in the Commonwealth.”

Johnson’s victory was a crushing defeat for the opposition Labour Party, whose leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said he would step down after a “process of reflection.”

The leader of the pro-Remain Liberal Democrat party, Jo Swinson, lost her seat, as the Scottish National Party swept the board in Scotland.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

GECOM holds briefing sessions with Coalition, Opposition THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have commenced briefing sessions with the major political parties as the country prepares for the March 2, 2020 regional and general elections.

Government Chief Whip and Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, told the Guyana Chronicle that the governing coalition-- A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC)-- engaged GECOM in a briefing session earlier in the day on

Saturday.

She said the opposition’s People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was also briefed by the electoral body on Saturday.

PPP officials also confirmed that party’s participation in the session.

Ally noted that all parties within the coalition are prepared to engage the elections body in such sessions.

In a notice published in the daily newspapers on Saturday, GECOM said that on December 19, 2019, it will host a briefing session at the Arthur Chung Conference

Centre with all parties interested in taking part in the

March 2020 polls.

GECOM has already set

aside January 10, 2020, as Nominations Day. Each contesting political party must submit each of the Lists of Candidates on Nominations Day, one National Top-Up List, at least six Geographical Constituencies’ Lists and the Regional Democratic Councils’ Lists that the given Party may seek to contest on that day.

The various Lists of Candidates must comprise registered voters who are eligible to be elected as members of the National Assembly.

The governing coalition– A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change– is seeking re-election for a second term.

Several weeks ago, Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, and Chair of the Commission, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, told reporters at a press briefing that GECOM is on track for elections on March 2, 2019, as plans such as the procurement of election materials and the preparation of

polling stations and staff are falling into place.

On elections day, Lowenfield said that there will be more or less 2,350 polling stations countrywide – susceptible to change based on the commission’s decisions on the use of private residences for polling stations.

Training for polling day staff has already been completed with a total of 13,500 persons trained, who will be retrained at the appropriate time.

As the date for elections nears, a number of small parties have been formed and their leaders have announced their intention to contest next year’s elections.

The list includes the Liberty and Justice Party, Change Guyana, the New Movement, the Citizen’s Initiative and the Peoples Republic Party, dubbed the ‘pastors party’, among others.

All UG staff, students to benefit from human relations course THE University of Guyana’s Academic Board and Council last week approved the roll out of a programme aimed at supporting exposure, dialogue and modelling appropriate attitudes and behaviours amongst its community of staff and students.

The programme will include a human relations course, a mural campaign on the campus; and a t-shirt and social media campaign beginning this weekend. This first of its kind Human relations course will be a 12hour, five modules offered online or face-to-face which all students and staff – from now on – will have to take as a prerequisite for graduation or career development.

The five modules will include – M1: Soft Skills – Etiquette, self-care, grooming, emotional intelligence, Social Media etiquette.

M2: Gender and Social Justice – including sexual harassment, disabilities and violence.

M3: Guyanese History and Cultural Diversity – including race, religion and nationalities.

M4: Intro to Entrepre-

neurial Thinking.

M5: Guyanese geographies, including physical, legal, environment and civics.

In a release, the university said it is collaborating with various individuals and entities to develop and deliver the course to ten thousand of its staff and students in the next year. Collaborators include the Ministry of Social Cohesion, the Carnegie School of Home Economics, SEBI, and the Institute of Peace Action (InPEAC).

Human Relations 101 will begin in January 2020 with two weekend offerings in Berbice and Georgetown to 300 faculty and staff who can volunteer to take the programme in its initial test phase.

A mural painting exercise on the Turkeyn and Berbice Campuses, and a social media and t-shirt campaign focusing on four hashtags: #UGloveeachother; #UGrespectdiverstity; #UGThinkb4uClick; #Careb4Ushare and UG#PeaceforGuyana begin this weekend and run through April 2020.

The university’s task force developing the TURN TO PAGE

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

Overseas-based Guyanese invents Mathematics board game

CANADA-BASED Guyanese, Clyde Pestano, has invented a mathematics board game which he believes will solve numeracy issues encountered by children in the subject area, “in a fun way.”

Pestano, a Berbician and former sports journalist, told the Guyana Chronicle that soon after his arrival in Canada, he pursued university studies and started a career as an educator. During his early teaching career in Canada, he realised that numeracy was not a problem or issue that was confined to Guyanese or Caribbean students but rather, it was also a problem in Ontario.

He said this was based on his personal experiences,

Canada-based Guyanese Clyde Pestano with his board game , Maths Ops.

several local studies and poor results from government-mandated assessments.

As a numeracy teacher, Pestano said he thought “about a fun and engaging way” to deliver his math program so that students would thrive and adopt a positive mindset to mathematics.

This, he said, was what inspired him to conceive the board game.

He said the game was conceived as a method of overcoming the real or perceived fear of Mathematics, especially by primary and middle-schoolers. The insight to call this game “Math Ops” came with the realisation by the inventor that indeed most of what is being taught in the subject, are operations – be it adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing.

According to Pestano, the primary goal of the board game is to increase the efficacy or aptitude of children, “so that they can engage in knowledge building, creative thinking and problem solving around math processes and concepts.”

He said the secondary goal of the game is to bring

families together. He explained as an example, a parent can play the game as homework with their children.

Pestano said at the tertiary level, educators can use the game as an assessment tool for knowledge and understanding, formative and cumulative learning whether the beginning, middle and or end of a topic or unit or school term.

The inventor said he is hoping to partner with other stakeholders in the education sector here, such as the Ministry of Education, STEM Guyana, public and private libraries, local government organisations and non-governmental organisations committed to make Guyana an education nation as posited President David Granger.

Pestano , who has been working as an educator for the past 13 years in Canada, said that as an educator and inventor his challenge was to design an educational game that had a “balance” of fun along with age-appropriate mathematical knowledge and understanding of concepts.

This “journey”, he said, led to game spots in the playing process, as he mentioned other exciting aspects of the game.

The game is now available in Guyana in Georgetown and interested persons can contact local distributor, Mr. Charles Adrian, on telephone number 653-5130 for information on acquiring the game.

The game is priced competitively, he said and this was due to the fact that it is unique and of a very high quality based on feedback from customers in Guyana, Canada and the USA. Interested persons can also visit the website www. math-ops.com for more information.

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All UG staff, ...

programme is led by Prof Paloma Mohamed, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chair of the Transitional Management Committee. Other members of the task force are Dr. Paulette Henry, Social Worker and Director of CoETAL; Dr. Jewel Thomas, Sociologist; Ms. Nelsonia Budram, Director of the Centre for

Communication Studies; Ms. Lisa Edwards Researcher in the Institute of Gender Studies; Ms. Daniella King, Assistant Registrar Students Welfare; Ms. Juanita Cameron, University Counsellor; Mr. Jaffar Gibbons (Student President) and Prof. Subrahim Gomatanyam, Director of the Berbice Campus.

Tina and Mona say sorry SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

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…reach out to Minister Broomes for support in battle against depression

By Gabriella Chapman WHILE many may see the recent fiasco on social media with the two Berbician sisters, Tina and Mona Ramsew, as intolerant, many may have missed the underlying issues that resulted in their behaviour.

On Friday, the two sisters and their family met with Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency with responsibility for Youth Affairs, Simona Broomes, at the Cara Lodge in Georgetown, to share their side of the story. Both Tina and Mona first apologised for their behaviour that was posted on the Internet. The sisters said that it was out of provocation and frustration that they behaved in that manner. “I would like to apologise for all the negative words that I said in the station towards the police and the names that I called [them]. I know it wasn't right but it was due to frustration. I said it out of frustration. I'm not racist. I have nothing against Indian people or African people, or any of the races in Guyana. Out of frustration I said stuff that I didn't want to say,” Tina told the Guyana Chronicle.

Noting further that the whole experience has added to the depression she is currently battling with. “The whole experience depressed me. I'm depressed with everything that's going on now and how they treated us at the station. It was very irritating.

We're human beings just like them and should not have been treated like that. They treated us like animals. I still have marks of violence on my skin, it is still hurting,” the 22-year-old said.

Mona, who is the elder sister, said that the police pointed guns in their faces and told them provoking things that caused them to lash out in the manner they did. Nonetheless, the young mother of one said that she is truly sorry for her behaviour that day. In fact, Mona said this year had dealt her several blows, all of which she is still battling with.

She said that in May of this year, she was raped by a Pandit in her village, and the matter is currently at the DPP waiting to be called.

Amidst that, she recently

went through a divorce from a husband who was abusive.

There was also a video of her that the husband made and posted on social media. All these traumatic experiences caused Mona to attempt suicide more than 20 times.

Now the recent Police station video is but another experience added to her trauma.

However, Mona said that Steve Harvey helps to pull her out of her depression, and she is continuously making efforts to ensure that she lives a meaningful life.

In fact, she said she is very artistic, as she does paintings, poetry and writes music. She is also competing in the Chutney Monarch 2020.

“Depression, the more you sit down, the more it takes you over. So everyday I try to find something to do.

I write, I paint, I draw and I make music. Now we're very popular, all over the country, so we will eventually use our platform to positively influence other young girls. But right now we're dealing with everything that is happening right now, then we will later focus on releasing positive energy into society,” Mona said.

Her song for Chutney Monarch she said she wrote in 10 minutes, and it speaks to the love she has for her country and it speaks to unity amongst our people.

Also present at Cara Lodge with the sisters was Trauma and Moral injury Specialist, Sharmin Prince, who will be assisting with counselling the sisters over the next few months.

Prince told this newspaper that she saw the anger, frustration and resentment being displayed in the video, and she knew that something had to have been happening in their lives. “The thing is, there is a lot of underlying trauma occurring in both Mona and Tina's life. Those underlying trauma are triggers and being in the police station with men can be a trigger because as a victim of domestic violence and rape it's a violation. So being violated in any form would trigger the anger, would trigger the resentment. Thus, we saw those behaviours in the video. So I'm here to provide my expertise and you would see the results in

Trauma and Moral Injury Specialist, Sharmin Prince; Mona Ramsew; Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency with responsibility for Youth Affairs, Simona Broomes, and Tina Ramsew

a few months,” Prince said.

She alluded that the actions displayed in the video is the face of mental health, and many people know of mental health but they have no idea what it looks like. The sisters' outburst, she said, is a representation of what mental illness looks like, since they both were diagnosed with depression.

Minister Broomes said that when the sisters reached out to her for help, she remembered the scripture, “he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone”, and she believed that they should be given the air to apologise and turn their lives around to be young advocates.

“When it comes to women and girls and troubled situations, I really do have a deep passion for that. This is who I am. I cannot have two young girls reaching out to me for help, and turn a deaf ears or a blind eye. I have to stop and give them guidance and advice. That is all they need,” Broomes said. The sisters will be receiving counselling over the next couple and months, and Prince assured that the country will see a transformation in their lives.

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Police boat captain dies after falling overboard THE family of Police Special Corporal 11907, Chakumba “Peter” Scipio, 43, of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, was thrown in a state of shock and mourning after they received the tragic news that he drowned in the Berbice River.

Scipio’s lifeless body was pulled from the river about an hour after the boat in which he and eight officers, along with two civilians, were in, suddenly ‘swayed’, causing him and two other policemen to tumble overboard.

Dead: Police Special Corporal, Chakumba “Peter” Scipio

The incident occurred in the vicinity of Bermine at around 09:30 hrs. At the time, the team, led by a chief inspector, was making a trip into Sand Hills, Berbice River to investigate a number of thefts within the riverine communities.

According to information, the boat encountered an issue and was taking in water. The Guyana Chronicle was also told that the river was very “rough” at the time.

The Guyana Police Force, in a statement, said while the team was in the

Cleveland Scipio

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2019

The boat which the police officers were in when the incident occurred vicinity of Bermine, the boat “He was a loving man, suddenly swayed and Scipio both a mother and father to fell overboard. It was report- his wonderful daughters, he ed that he went under and will truly be missed,” Clevefailed to resurface. Despite land said. valiant efforts to rescue him, Cleveland noted that his his body was later retrieved brother has made the trip by ranks of the Coast Guard. up the Berbice River on nuIt is currently at the Arokium merous occasions and was a Funeral Parlour awaiting a good swimmer. He was perpost-mortem examination. plexed as to how Chakumba Scipio served as the divi- may have met his demise. sional electrician and CoxCleveland was moved swain and was attached to to tears as he reminisced the Central Police Station in seeing his brother on Friday New Amsterdam. He was a evening and was hoping to member of the Force for the see him again on Saturday past 20 years. before he left for work.

Speaking with Guyana The police have since Chronicle, Cleveland Scip- launched an investigation io, the younger and only into the incident. Scipo sibling of the deceased cop, leaves to mourn his three described his brother as “ev- daughters, ages 15,17 and erything good”.

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More schools for Panorama 2020 THE Ministry of Education has been working to boost interest and participation in the annual Mashramani Panorama competition by getting more schools involved.

THE ministry’s Allied Arts Unit has started steelpan programmes in several schools to foster interest in the art, and they are expecting greater participation at next year’s Panorama.

“We [Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport] are looking out for the new bands from Regions Two, Three, Five, Six and Ten,” Mashramani Coordinator, Andrew Tyndall told DPI recently. They are also looking to host the competition at a larger venue.

“We are looking at options, and while we would like to move from current venue [Cliff Anderson Sports Hall] to accommodate more persons who would like to attend the festival, we have to take in consideration the impact this decision will have on the bands, particularly the smaller bands,” Tyndall disclosed.

The steelpan competition has drawn huge crowds annually. Tyndall noted that more than 25 bands participated this year, which led to congestion at the ‘Sports Hall.’ He added that moving would mean hosting the event at an open-air venue. According to Tyndall, the department would decide on that soon.

At this year’s Panorama, Dolphin Secondary School emerged victorious with President’s College and the Berbice High School placing second and third respectively in the small youth band category.

In the large youth band category, the crowd favourite-- GBTI Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra-- copped first place followed by West Demerara Secondary and The Bishops’ High School respectively. Some 1,180 students have so far benefited from the Pan Minors Music Literacy Programme since Panorama’s launch in 2009. (DPI)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

P&P donates $1.5M to 12 caregiving charitable organisations P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited recently hosted its annual Christmas-donation exercise. The company has been making donations to several organisations over the past years to assist them in their humanitarian relief efforts. This year the company extended Christmas cheer to 12 caregiving, charitable organisations, donating $125,000 each to them. The donations were made at the company’s headquarters on Lamaha Street, Georgetown.

Executive Director Vikash Panday, stated that in the spirit of Christmas the company makes these donations every year to aid these organisations with their charitable works throughout the upcoming year.

“We make this Christmas presentation to 12 organisations. We are donating $125,00 to each Organisation, making the contribution $1,500,000.

Regrettably, one of the organisations that was a regular recipient, is now defunct. But instead of reducing our contribution we have replaced them with another organisation, the Joshua House Children’s Centre.

We hope that you will use this money prudently and the real beneficiaries are the persons you serve and help,” stated Panday.

Further, he stated that the donation is just one of the channels the company uses in an effort to facilitate aid and relief to the citizens of the country; he related that the organisation is also involved in medical outreaches and facilitates educational and sporting events.

The organisations that have benefitted from the company’s donations are: Bless the children Home; Canaan Children’s Home; the National Rehabilitation Complex (formerly the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre); Uncle

The Panday Family along with representatives of the 12 caregiving, charitable organisations that received donations today (Adrian Narine photo)

Eddie’s Home; Friends of the Archer’s Home; The Dharam Shala; the David Rose School for the Handicapped; Cheshire Homes Guyana; Hauraruni Girl’s Home; the Tina Insanally Foundation; Bal Nivas Shelter; and the Joshua House Children Centre.

Foreign Ministry hosts workshop on trade remedies vailing measures, and special economic zones and the subsidies and countervailing measures agreement.

Trade remedies are measures used to counter instances of unfair trading practices such as dumping by exporting countries that can suffocate local industries producing similar products.

Guyana presently does not have domestic legislation or a regime to investigate and

discipline such practices.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also currently engaged in efforts to have legislation related to anti-dumping and countervailing measures enacted.

The workshop sought to build an understanding of the issues and to help the relevant agencies acquire the necessary skills to investigate instances of unfair trading practices.

Seref Gokay Coskun, Counsellor at the World Trade Organisation, facilitated the three-day workshop

THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the World Trade Organisation (WTO), recently facilitated a national capacity building workshop on trade remedies for public and private sector representatives.

The forum provided an overview of safeguard measures, anti-dumping measures, subsidies and counter-

Participants engaged in exercises to further their understanding of trade remedies and unfair trading practices

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

Sol Guyana ushers in festive season with first Christmas Village SOL Guyana Inc., ushering in the festive season, hosted a grand Christmas Village on December 14, 2019, at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac.

During the event, the sound of music, laughter and the aroma of popcorn wafted

the products we have to offer; so we have our staff here that would be able to give advice and information and so on.

So basically everyone would benefit.”

Further, she related that the event was organised as one of Sol’s many events that

cater to the public and that are aimed at giving back to the citizens of Guyana.

At present, Sol Guyana markets and distributes petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel and cooking gas.

Sol Guyana Inc first Christmas Village.

through the area, as visitors to the Village made their way around to the various booths.

The event, which was the first of its kind for the petroleum company, was organised to provide children with a day of fun to usher in the Christmas season.

Assistant Thandi Bryan said, “The event we have organised is one that caters to all members of the family, both children and adults.

We are giving the kids the chance to come and enjoy themselves , play games, go play on the bouncy castles, do face-painting, and even win prizes. And for the parents, in addition to being able to give their children the chance to have a day full of activities that they would enjoy, we are also giving the parents the chance to learn about Sol and

Some of the visitors taking part in the activities at Sol Guyana’s Christmas Village.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

Global Tours Travel Company offers Guyanese Carnival Cruise Line travel -- touts Cuba as ‘Pearl of the Antilles’ WITH the recent establishment of the Global Tours and Travel Company (GlobalTT), Guyanese can create a bucket list of destinations they would like to visit.

According to Senior Travel Consultant, Adunni Orderson, the Global Tours and Travel Company’s packaged tours and all-inclusive vacation plans are a truly stress-free experience.

He explained that Guyanese can set sail for fun and excitement with a Carnival Cruise Line.

“If anyone is seeking the ultimate vacation, including multiple destinations, great food and pulsating onboard entertainment often day and night, along with special amenities, like pools, whirlpools, spas, fitness centres and even shopping, a Carnival cruise may be your ideal choice. Their cruise ships aren’t just floating hotels, they’re like a city on the water, offering almost everything you could ever think of for a vacation experience like no other,” Orderson noted.

Adding that persons can visit the US, Canada, Latin America and Caribbean destinations, Orderson said for one flat price, the all-inclusive holidays often include meals, snacks, drinks, day and nighttime activities, along with lodging.

Additionally, he said the company specialises in designing individual travel, family vacations, packaged tours, destination weddings, honeymoon holidays, group travel, adventure trips and much more to the Republic of Cuba.

He explained that Global Tours and Travel has partnered with Cubatur, the largest destination management agency in Cuba, which has offices all across that country, with more than 55 years under its belt and over 300 specialised guides fluent in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Czech and Japanese.

He said the travel consultant noted that Cubatur has experienced staff for comprehensive support and assistance to visitors.

“For every tour GlobalTT offers to Cuba, their clients will receive the expert attention of Cubatur’s knowledgeable English-speaking guides – in order to provide them with the best onsite activities and to enhance their travel experience in Cuba,” he said.

At its offices locally, he said GlobalTT has on its staff, senior Cuban travel consultants who have lived and travelled extensively in Cuba, allowing them to give clients genuine advice from their own experiences.

“These travel consultants will listen carefully to what clients need and want and design a perfect trip based on their interests, requirements and budgets. Cuba is one of the hottest travel destinations around the world and it is easy to see why. Being the largest and most populous island in the Caribbean, it is the ‘Pearl’ of the Antilles and a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. Largely uncorrupted by the over exposure to commercial tourism, which has blighted some other Caribbean territories, Cuba is a destination for travellers with an adventurous soul as it still retains its sense of adventure and mystery and its reputation as one of the most fascinating countries in the Americas,” the travel consultant noted.

He noted that Cuba is an island that is full of life, history and culture.

“Its history with both Spain and Africa makes Cuba not only a culturally diverse place but also a unique meeting of the eastern and western worlds. Behind the hum of vintage cars, the pastel hues of colonial buildings and wafts of cigar smoke, the real Cuba shines bright,” he said.

He said that their all-inclusive tours will allow visitors to watch as Cadillacs roll down the coastal boulevards, “will let them walk through traditional tobacco plantations in Vinales and see cigar production in full swing.”

He added GlobalTT’s clients can also laze on the shores of the Caribbean on some of the world’s whitest sands, and feel the sultry and spicy vibes of salsa as they dance the night away in Havana.

“With Global Tours and Travel there is no stopping their clients from checking out Cuba’s kaleidoscope of colour and charisma,” he noted.

He explained that Global Tours and Travel Company has partnered with major airlines, cruise lines, hotel chains, resorts, car rental agencies and destination management companies in order to provide its clients with the best service, widest range of activities in the Ca-

ribbean, Latin America, the United States and Canada all at the lowest prices in order to enhance their travel experience.

He said persons who are ready to start planning an adventure of a lifetime can visit their office located at 33 Sheriff Street, Campbellville, Georgetown or contact 226-4752.

One of the many Carnival Cruise Line ships heading to Cuba

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Burns, Labuschagne fifties push Australia’s lead to 417

By Tristan Lavalette

PERTH, Australia (Reuters) - Marnus Labuschagne and Joe Burns notched half-centuries before New Zealand’s unflagging attack yielded late wickets, but Australia had built a near insurmountable lead of 417 by stumps on day three of the first Test yesterday.

Australia reached the close of play at 167 for six with Matthew Wade on eight and Pat Cummins on one.

New Zealand quicks Neil Wagner and Tim Southee shared the spoils with six wickets between them.

Australia suffered a late collapse but remain in a strong position. The highest successful run chase in Test history is 418, achieved by the West Indies against Australia in 2003.

“Bit disappointing to lose wickets tonight but in the grand scheme of the game we are in a good position and in control,” Burns told reporters.

Burns (53) and Labuschagne, who has now passed 1 000 Test runs in 2019, did the bulk of the heavy lifting in an 87-run partnership.

South Africa-born Labuschagne’s bid for a fourth straight Test century

New Zealand pacer Tim Southee has so far taken four for 63.

ended when he mistimed a pull short on 50 off Wagner, who persevered with aggressive short-pitched bowling.

Australia’s tactical approach to bat carefully and set New Zealand a big target was exemplified by Burns, who did not score until the 25th delivery he faced. His patient knock, however, ended when he was undone by a searing short delivery from Southee.

No play on day four in Pakistan’s Test against Sri Lanka LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - The fourth day of the opening Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was called off without a ball bowled yesterday due to rain and a wet outfield.

The two-match series marks Pakistan’s first Test on home soil since a militant attack in 2009 on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore. The weather-hit opening match has not had full play on any of the four days and not even one innings has been completed since tourists Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat.

Sri Lankan batsman Dhananjaya de Silva hopes play will resume on the final day to allow him to score the 13 more runs he needs to complete his sixth hundred in Tests.

Dilruwan Perera was not-out on six at the other end with the touring side on 282 for six wickets.

Steve Smith, who scored a massive 774 runs in the Ashes tournament in England this year, fell shortly before stumps for 16 to continue a recent barren run.

David Warner, who passed 7 000 Test runs, was Australia’s sole loss in the middle session after he miscued a pull shot off Southee on 19. His sluggish 63-ball innings was in contrast to his majestic unbeaten 335 in the last Test against Pa-

kistan in Adelaide.

Even though they lost late wickets, Australia’s commanding performance gave them a stranglehold on the day-night contest. The hosts gained a sizeable 250-run first-innings lead after bowling New Zealand out cheaply on the stroke of tea.

New Zealand, in reply to Australia’s first-innings 416, were dismissed for a tame 166 with veteran Ross Taylor playing a lone hand with 80.

Mitchell Starc claimed his second five-wicket haul in as many Tests after missing most of the recent Ashes series.

He led a disciplined attack which was short-handed after Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the Perth Test, having suffered a hamstring injury on day two.

Taylor acknowledged that New Zealand faced a daunting prospect with widening cracks marking the Perth Stadium pitch.

“It’s going to be tough but the strength of the side over the last few years has been the fighting spirit,” he said.

Both teams are without a paceman after debutant New Zealand quick Lockie Ferguson, himself a replacement

SCOREBOARD AUSTRALIA 1st innings 416 NEW ZEALAND 1st innings o/n 108 for 5 Jeet Raval b Josh Hazlewood Tom Latham c&b Mitchell Starc 0 Kane Williamson c Steven Smith b Mitchell Starc 34 Ross Taylor c Steven Smith b Nathan Lyon 80 Henry Nicholls c Tim Paine b Mitchell Starc 7 Neil Wagner b Mitchell Starc 0 BJ Watling b Pat Cummins 8 Colin de Grandhomme c Steven Smith b Mitchell Starc 23 Mitchell Santner b Marnus Labuschagne 2 Tim Southee c (sub.) b Nathan Lyon 8 Lockie Ferguson not out 0 Extras: (b-1, lb-2) 3 Total: (all out, 55.2 overs) 166 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-77, 4-97, 5-97, 6-120, 7-147, 8-155, 9-166.

Bowling: Mitchell Starc 18-2-52-5, Josh Hazlewood 1.2-1-0-1, Pat Cummins 14.4-3-46-1, Matthew Wade 2-0-8-0, Nathan Lyon 14.2-2-48-2, Marnus Labuschagne 5-1-9-1.

AUSTRALIA 2nd innings David Warner c (sub.) b Tim Southee 19 Joe Burns c Henry Nicholls b Tim Southee 53 Marnus Labuschagne c Mitchell Santner b Neil Wagner 50 Steven Smith c Jeet Raval b Neil Wagner 16 Matthew Wade not out 8 Travis Head c Colin de Grandhomme b Tim Southee 5 Tim Paine b Tim Southee 0 Pat Cummins not out 1 Extras: (lb-3, nb-5, w-7) 15 Total: (six wkts, 57.0 overs) 167 Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-131, 3-148, 4-154, 5-160, 6-160.

Bowling: Tim Southee 19-6-63-4 (w-3), Colin de Grandhomme 13-2-26 - 0 (w-1, nb-2), Neil Wagner 17-2-40-2 (w-3, nb-3), Mitchell Santner 8-0-35-0.

for injured spearhead Trent Boult, damaged his calf on day one.

Oppressive weather conditions continued for the third straight day as the temperature peaked at 41

degrees Celsius.

New Zealand have won only one Test in Australia since their sole series triumph across the Tasman Sea in 1985-86.

Barca stumble to draw at Sociedad after penalty protests SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain (Reuters) - Barcelona lashed out at the referee after their sixgame winning streak in all competitions came to a halt yesterday with a 2-2 La Liga draw at Real Sociedad, in which they conceded a penalty and had an appeal for a spot-kick turned down in added time.

The draw leaves Barca still leading with 35 points from 16 games but Real Madrid, on 34, can take over at the top with a win at Valencia today, perfectly setting up a mouth-watering midweek clash between the two giants at the Camp Nou. Sociedad are fourth in the table on 28 points, three points behind third-placed Sevilla who play today.

The hosts went ahead in the 12th minute with a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty but goals from Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suarez either side of halftime put Barca in front, only for Alexander Isak to level shortly after the

hour mark.

Both sides went looking for a winner in a frantic finale and

bing Diego Llorente’s shirt early in the game.

An aggrieved Busquets questioned why

lot of penalties. The VAR should have intervened in the last play, it’s a clear penalty against Pique,” he said.

“I think the referee saw it but he didn’t want to award it. I don’t know why the VAR didn’t intervene.

I’d like to hear an explanation but there won’t be one.”

NO CELEBRATION Spain international Oyarzabal sent Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen the wrong way from the spot to give Sociedad the lead Anoeta Stadium, San Sebastian, Spain but Griezmann levelled - Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in action with Real in the 38th minute by Sociedad’s Mikel Merino REUTERS/Vincent West scoring against the club where he began his Barcelona had a strong referee Javier Alberola career. penalty shout waved Rojas was not instructed The French foraway in stoppage time by the video assistant ward, who entered Sowhen Gerard Pique was referee (VAR) to review ciedad’s youth academy tugged by defender Di- the late incident involving aged 13, opted against ego Llorente.

Pique on the screen. celebrating after nonThe incident appeared chalantly scooping the to provide a stronger case ADVERTISEMENT ball over keeper Alex for a penalty than when “If you set the bar so Remiro, to score, havBarca’s Sergio Busquets low as in the first penalty ing been played in by was punished for grab- then you have to give a Suarez in a sweeping

counter-attack.

Suarez put the Catalans ahead in the 49th minute, passing a lay-off from Lionel Messi into an empty net.

But Sociedad levelled when Ter Stegen failed to properly punch away a cross from Nacho Monreal and Swedish youngster Isak pounced on the loose ball to smash it home from close range.

“Both teams had their moments and their chances and either side could have scored a third goal,” said Griezmann.

“It’s a shame we could only draw. We gave everything but now we have to learn, improve and focus on the Clasico. They made a very good start and we got our tactics wrong, but in the end we fixed it and we created chances to win the game.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

Liverpool extend lead, Leicester held at home

By Simon Evans (REUTERS) - Liverpool moved 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League after beating Watford 2-0 yesterday, while second-placed Leicester City were held 1-1 at home by lowly Norwich City, ending the Foxes’ eightmatch winning run.

Chelsea’s poor run of domestic form continued with a shock 1-0 home defeat to struggling Bournemouth, while recently-promoted Sheffield United moved up to fifth with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa.

With third-placed Manchester City 17 points behind Liverpool ahead of their trip to Arsenal today, Juergen Klopp’s side are in a commanding position heading into a busy period of fixtures. The leaders had Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah to thank for their latest victory.

Liverpool took the lead with a characteristic counter-attack in the 38th minute Sadio Mane collected the ball on the left and found Salah, who burst goalward before cutting in and curling a shot home with his right foot.

Mane thought that he had doubled the lead five minutes after the break but the VAR review showed he was marginally offside when nodding the ball in from Xherdan Shaqiri’s whipped cross.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates.

(REUTERS/Phil Noble)

Liverpool had to wait until stoppage time to make sure of the victory thanks to a superb back-heeled flick.

Watford, with new manager Nigel Pearson in charge for the first time, are rooted to the bottom of the league with just one win this campaign and were left to regret wasted opportunities in front of goal, particularly a glaring second half miss from Ismaila Sarr.

It was far from classic Liverpool, but Klopp was pleased with the way his team had ground out the win.

“That’s how it is. At 1-0,

that’s the result you never can rely on that the game is decided.

No problem with that. In December and January especially, you need to show resilience – that’s the most important thing,” said the German.

Teemu Pukki gave Norwich a 25th minute lead with a clinical finish before visiting keeper Tim Krul scored an own goal in the 37th, failing to deal with a Jamie Vardy header when the league’s top scorer got on the end of a James Maddison corner.

Vardy missed a pair of gilt-edged chances to complete

Leicester’s comeback before the home side were twice let off the hook in the closing stages.

Livewire Pukki saw a shot blocked by Ricardo Pereira and the home team’s centre back Caglar Soyuncu cleared a Christoph Zimmermann effort off the line from the resulting corner.

“It just looked like one of those games,” said Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers.

“It’s a point and we need to look forwards now. The players have been brilliant.

When you are on that winning run, you believe you are

going to win every game, but of course it does not work like that. We were not 100% on it. We need to set the reset button now,” he added.

Sheffield United continue to impress on their return to the top flight and took the lead against Villa with a brilliantly worked opener, Chris Basham back-heeling the ball to John Lundstram who fired it across the box for Fleck to lash home from close range.

The build-up play for Fleck’s second goal was equally impressive as the Blades worked the ball in from the left before striker David McGoldrick hooked a pass over his shoulder to Fleck, who again finished confidently.

The visitors were thrown a lifeline when the video assistant referee (VAR) called play back to award them a penalty for handball. But Jack Grealish thumped his spot kick off the crossbar and the ball was cleared by Lundstram.

It was the third straight loss for Villa, who will find themselves in the relegation zone if Southampton avoid losing to West Ham later yesterday.

A 58th minute header from Chris Wood gave Burnley a 1-0 win over Newcastle at Turf Moor, ending Sean Dyche’s side’s three-match losing streak.

Busta Champions of Champions, Ivan Madray finals pushed back due to rain HEAVY rainfall has forced the postponement of two mouth-watering finals this weekend, as Rose Hall Town (RHT) NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour and long-time adversaries Albion, will have to wait to settle their score.

Both teams have been playing out of their skins, doing well to reach the finals in both the Ivan Madray and Busta Champion of Champions 1st division tournaments.

Following a few days of heavy rainfall throughout Guyana, the Ancient County

Arch rivals Rose Hall Town and Albion will be hoping to wrap up their last battle before 2019 ends.

was no different as inclement weather forced the Berbice

Cricket Board (BCB) to put an indefinite time frame on the two

respective finals.

Yesterday the two teams were expected to do battle in the Ivan Madray T20 final at the No. 69 Viking Ground while tomorrow’s encounter was for the coveted Busta 40-Overs title.

With a new date for the finals yet to be announced, both teams will now have additional time in order to get themselves fully prepared for the double-header.

Albion, with the likes of Kandasammy Surujnarine, Adrian Sukhwa, Sharaz Ram-

charran, Rajiv Ivan, Anthony Bramble, Jonathan Foo, Veerasammy Permaul, and Devendra Bishoo, have been among the top performers to date in both competitions.

Meanwhile, RHT Thunderbolt led by all-rounder Eon Hooper with the talents of Junior Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair, Jason Sinclair, Delbert Hicks, Jonathan Rampersaud, Sylus Tyndall and others will be keen on maintaining their phenomenal run as they prepare to oppose familiar foes.

Lack-lustre Chelsea slump to 1-0home defeat by Bournemouth

By Clare Lovell LONDON, England (Reuters) - Chelsea suffered a dispiriting 1-0 loss at home to Bournemouth as a late Dan Gosling goal secured all three points for the visitors to end their five-match losing streak and condemn the London side to a fourth defeat in five Premier League games.

Gosling, making his first start of the season, was left alone as Chelsea’s defence rushed out and he looped a shot high over goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in the 84th minute. Although the linesman raised his flag for offside, referee Graham Scott awarded the goal after a lengthy VAR check. Chelsea remain fourth with 29 points from 17 games, while Bournemouth rose to 14th on 19, four points above the relegation zone after their third win in five visits to Stamford Bridge.

The hosts looked off the pace after qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages with a nervy 2-1 home win against Lille on Tuesday. They had over 60% possession

and buzzed around the penalty area to create chances for Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic but struggled to create clear opportunities against a side missing several key players through injury. Cherries’ keeper Aaron Ramsdale pulled off fine reaction saves in each half from midfielder Mount and full back Emerson to keep the south-coast side in the game before Gosling’s goal delighted the travelling fans on a chilly afternoon.

Chelsea coach Frank Lampard said the defeat, after recent losses to West Ham United and Everton, was a reality check for his young players who had racked up a string of wins earlier in the season with attack-minded football.

“If we’re not at our best, if we’re not able to break down teams that are organised ... then we need to find another way,” he said, dismissing suggestions from a reporter that a flat mood among the home fans contributed to the loss.

“Some responsibility is on the players to excite them, to have the personality and the guts to take the ball in an area and beat someone or play forward,” said Lampard who suggested this week he wanted a striker in the January transfer window.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

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592 Beer Inter-Village Football

… Stage set for scorching quarter-final double-header today ORGANISERS of the inaugural 592 Beer Inter-Village football competition have pulled out all the stops to make the event a memorable one for teams participating in the tournament.

In an effort to adequately compensate the teams for their steadfast support, the organisers have decided to increase cash prizes on offer for the respective winners, rightly providing them the enticement during the business end of the tournament.

Tonight the quarter-finals commence with an anticipated exciting double-header at the Buxton Community Centre ground.

In the opening encounter, the Clive Andries-led Friendship will aim to defend home-turf when they square off against Mahaica.

This clash will be followed by the other surviving team from the community with Buxton hosting Paradise and this

Organiser Eon Havercome, along with 592 Brand Manager Seweon McGarrell and Ansa McAl’s PRO Treiston Joseph at a press conference hosted last Friday.

encounter promises to provide sizzling action for the expected

large turnout of supporters from the area.

Andries, a former national youth cricketer and national

footballer, is the leader of a side that is loaded with natural talent and many expect this team to go all the way.

He will have as support the likes of Delon Wright and Okenie Fraser, two players who are having solid performances to date.

On the other hand, Mahaica will be led by the experienced Eion Abel, who has been a thorn in the flesh of opposing sides, while Azuma Roberts is his main henchman.

The Buxton versus Paradise affair is a definite headliner and is too close to call.

Buxton will need all the home support to get past a determined Paradise unit, led by the big central defender Quincy Adams.

He is a player who can be utilised in any position, but has preferred to do his thing in defence, marshalling the troops with his vast experience.

His main support will come

from Tyreke Cummings and along with a few other players who are capable of turning a game on its head, Paradise present a formidable opposition to the hosts.

Eon Costello is one of the key players for Buxton and he will be hoping for more support along with that of the entire community to get past the tough and resolute Paradise side.

With $500 000 and an impressive trophy up for grabs, the foundation for the teams to entertain the loyal fans with a top brand of football has been laid.

The runners-up, third- and fourth-place teams will receive $200 000, $150 000 and $100 000 respectively along with trophies.

The competition resumes with more quarter-final action next Sunday, at the Golden Grove Community Centre ground.

Boucher open to asking AB de Villiers to come out of retirement MARK Boucher, South Africa’s new head coach, would welcome the availability of Kolpak players and recent retirees, including AB de Villiers, as he plots the national team’s way forward.

Having worked in the franchise system for the last four seasons, Boucher has first-hand knowledge of the calibre of players available to the national side and acknowledged that the country’s talent pool could do with deepening.

Asked whether he would like to be able to select players based abroad, Boucher said: “If I can answer from a coach’s perspective, absolutely. If you

AB de Villiers retired from all formats of international cricket in May 2018.

look at rugby, the way the Springboks won the World Cup … the experience they got from players playing overseas was

invaluable.

From a coach’s perspective, I’d love to have the opportunity to deepen and

strengthen the squad. It will keep everyone on his toes and will bring more excellence into the game in this country.”

While Boucher is not in control of the regulations around Kolpak, he may be able to have a say among recent retirees, especially those with whom he has a close relationship. Boucher played with de Villiers and currently coaches him at the Tshwane Spartans, who will play in the Mzansi Super League final tomorrow. de Villiers is fourth on the tournament run-charts and has demonstrated strong strokeplay and innovation

throughout the tournament.

His white-ball form remains consistent and his ability unmatched. de Villiers retired from all formats of international cricket in May 2018, citing a heavy workload, but with a T20 World Cup 10 months away, Boucher was not averse to trying to convince de Villiers to come back.

“When you go to a World Cup, you want your best players playing for you,” Boucher said. “If I feel he is one of your best players, why wouldn’t I want to have a conversation with him? I’ve only just got into the job; I

might have conversations with quite a few players and see where they are.”

He also indicated players may be allowed greater flexibility if they can add value to South Africa cricket. “You want your best players playing in the World Cup and if there are a couple of issues you need to iron out, with media, with team-mates, and if it’s for the good of South Africa, why not, let’s do it.”

(ESPN Cricinfo)

Exciting double-header to kick off GFF Super 16 ... by the local casting & machining specialists.

The historical presentation of the first trophy ever developed by this means has been described as a work of art and a work of craftsmanship by Pompey.

“It signifies what Guyana can do as a country and what we can do collectively.

We trust that as the trophy is handed over and it makes its journey around the football arena, it would be appreciated as a trophy of value to this sport.”

Pompey noted that foot-

ball has value in Guyana as it relates to community development for the nation’s youths, pointing out that the work the GFF has been undertaking in terms of re-branding and re-developing needs to be supported by corporate and all Guyana.

“Football has a positive influence and can develop our communities in a positive way. So BACIF’s association with this project … we’re extremely delighted and happy to be a part of it and I want to thank Forde and his team for demon-

strating the faith in BACIF to provide something that will truly represent not only our country and BACIF but also the GFF’s image.”

The trophy would have been conceptualised by Forde and Pompey during a conversation before it was then drawn up on paper before the experts and engineers came into the picture to manufacture same, some five weeks or so ago.

Forde, who commenced his engineering career at BACIF a few decades ago, described the trophy as a

spectacular piece of engineering and craftsmanship realised.

The GFF Super 16 Cup which would have been an undertaking since this new administration took office some four years ago has been adding more value to the competition ever since then, Forde stated.

He further noted that it was against this backdrop that the idea of producing a trophy by a local company with the requisite expertise would add further value to a quality tournament that

the Federation is striving to realise. Forde also indicated that the GFF Super 16 Cup has now taken on an international flavour.

“GFF has shared with FIFA, CONCACAF and our colleagues within the CFU region the design of the trophy, the concept of the trophy and it has drawn a lot of attention and excitement. We will be sharing the images of the final product with our governing bodies and hope that it inspires similar initiatives across the football community.”

FROM BACK PAGE

Forde expressed gratitude to Pompey and his hard-working staff for contributing to what they see as a wholesome sporting initiative within the communities.

The GFF president said, “Football has the power to bring people together; it allows our young men and women to put their energies and invest their time in a valuable way, in a manner that returns to them a measure of success over the course of their most productive years.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

Veterans will boost T20 squad, help young players - Bravo CHENNAI, India (CMC) – All-rounder Dwayne Bravo has hinted at the return of seasoned Twenty20 campaigners Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, and believes their presence will have a significant impact on the young West Indies side.

The 36-year-old Bravo on Friday confirmed he had ended his retirement and would be available for West Indies selection, and said once the highly-rated trio were back in Windies colours, it would augur well for the unit.

Left-hander Gayle made himself unavailable for the current tour while it is understood offspinner Narine and all-rounder

will love to have him around as he’s a father figure for all of

Dwayne Bravo Russell are not yet fit enough.

“If Russell is back, myself and Narine are back … we don’t know what the Universe Boss (Gayle) is doing but you never know,” Bravo was quoted as saying after announcing the end of his retirement.

“He can also be available. We

forward to put the squad together. Whenever we put an XI on the field, it will be an XI that people will come to watch.”

Bravo has not played for West

Sunil Narine us and we respect him. Having a Chris Gayle in the team is always special, but it’s up to him to make his decision.

“But, like I said, we’re looking

Andre Russell Indies in 15 months while Gayle has not turned out in a T20 International in 10 months,

UDFA GT Beer football Topp XX shock Botofago 1-0, Coomacka stop Net Rockers 2-1 UPSETS marked the opening night of this year’s Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) 7th edition of the GT Beer yearend football championship.

Topp XX scored 1-0 win over Botofago and little known Coomacka from the mines

YBG Basketball KWAKWANI made a statement in their opener of the U-16 battle of the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) Titan Bowl X by humiliating Plaisance Secondary 68-5 on Friday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Plaisance Secondary could not get past the defence of the Berbice River school and they struggled to get quality shots off. In the end,

upended top-ranked Net Rockers 2-1 Friday night, at Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

Tonight, two more matches are set for the tournament venue, MSC ground. The action in Group B will start at 19.00hrs when Winners

Connection challenge Hi Stars and from 21.00hrs in Group C the Aroiama side will take on Amelia’s Ward Panthers.

In Friday night’s opening fixture in Group A Topp XX gained a free kick in the 26th minute of the game against Silver Shattas and that proved the decider as

Travis Waterton netted from the spot kick to hand them the decisive goal .

Botofago were unable to catch their rivals and first half ended with Topp XX leading by the solitary goal. The second half failed to change the outcome and at the final whistle Topp

following the England series in the Caribbean earlier this year.

Russell has been plagued by an injury which abruptly ended his World Cup campaign last June while Narine last played in August when India toured the Caribbean.

Bravo, a veteran of 450 T20s, said he expected the younger players to accelerate their development with the seasoned players alongside them.

“We just have to talk to them and allow them to make their mistakes and allow them to figure out their game,” Bravo pointed out.

“Give them the opportunity and let them know that they belong to the system. What used to be

the problem in the past is if a player played two-three games and he didn’t perform, he gets dropped.

“In these formats, you expect players to fail, especially when you’re a top-order player because your responsibility is to get the team off to a flier and that takes a lot of risks.

You just have to give players opportunities and back them – whether they’re performing or not.”

West Indies are preparing for the defence of their T20 World Cup title at the showpiece in Australia next October.

XX were ahead, 1-0.

The second game was one that produced more excitement in Group C play with Coomacka gaining an early goal. The Rockers goalkeeper failed to hold cleanly and the alert Jamal Whyte stunned one of the tournament favourites with that 1-0 lead which came in the 6th minute.

The first half ended in Coomacka’s favour but the ever-trying Denzil Pryce levelled things for the Rockers

in the second session, when he netted in the 68th minute as both sides were trying hard to take the initiative.

When the final whistle for the regulation period came it was 1-1. In extra time Coomacka came away with the deciding goal, a 2-0 advantage in the 90 plus 6 minutes through Kenston Thom - a lead they did not relinquish and earned the important win in their group play.

Kwakwani annihilate Plaisance Secondary in Titan Bowl’s U-16 clash to grab a whopping 27 rebounds to go with 16 points. Brandon McKoy was the next best finisher with seven points.

In the other U-16 clash of the day, Bishops’ High edged past St Rose’s High by a single point, 3534.

Keron Bacchus led the winners with 20 points and 12 boards, while Chris Perez was equally impressive for St Rose’s High with 20 points and six rebounds.

Ishmail Chapman led his side with just three points in a performance the East Coast school would want to forget.

Elijah David and Clint Adolph led the attack with 15 points and six rebounds and 14 points and six rebounds respectively for the winners.

The U-16 competition started with Arima Secondary whipping President’s College 40-17.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday December 15, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL- Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel-225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 1930)

Andy Sandham-325 (ENG vs WI, Jamaica,

(2)

Brian Lara-400* (WI vs ENG, ARG, 2004) Today’s Quiz:

(1) What are the best innings bowling figures by a player on his Test debut?

(2) What are the best match figures by a player on his Test debut?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Jether Harris scored a massive double-double (28 points, 23 rebounds) for Marian Academy U-16 male team.

Kevon Phillips and Kasim Academy, led by a tournamentEnglish were the main scorers for high 28 points and 23 rebounds the Region Ten school with 11 from Jether Harris, were able to points and eight rebounds; and knockout St Stanislaus College eight points and four rebounds 42-34. respectively.

Dwayne Best added 10 points for Kemal Mentore led PC with the winners. eight points and five rebounds.

Mustapha Kadir attacked the In another U-16 clash, Marian boards with ferocity for Saints

FEMALE DEVELOPMENT Meanwhile in the Female Development competition, Kwakwani Secondary gained revenge over three-time defending champions of the YBG National Schools Basketball Festivals, Marian Academy, by defeating them 39-23.

Shania Sears powered her way to 19 points, 10 rebounds and six steals for the Festivals’ runners up, while Atalia Rose added 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Aaliya Singh, who scored nine points and five rebounds, led Marian Academy.

St Stanislaus also showed massive improvement when they took down Queen’s College in their encounter. The last time the two

teams met was in the Festival’s East Coast/GT Regionals semifinal and QC had defeated Saints 14-7. On Friday, Saints gained revenge with a 40-27 win.

Leana Benons exploded with 18 points, seven rebounds and six steals for the winners, while QC were led by Naiomi Barkoye, who finished with a double-double (14 points and 16 rebounds).

Saints had a chance to re-write another defeat, when they tackled Marian Academy in the semifinals yesterday afternoon.

Several key players who were missing in the first-round clash (against Kwakwani) were expected to compete for Marian.

When the two teams last met, in the first round of this year’s Festival, Marian had shut down Saints 31-2.

The U-16 semis were also scheduled for last evening, followed by the U-18 semis. All three finals are scheduled for today. Action tips off at 17:00h with the female battle.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

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Windies have `clear plan’ as they face India in first ODI today CHENNAI, India (CMC) – West Indies face India in the opening One-Day International here today, once again aware of their status as underdogs but armed with “a clear plan” on how to produce an upset in the first of the three-match series.

They are without a series win against India in 13 years, without a series success on Indian soil in nearly two decades and have won just four of the last 21 bilateral ODIs against the subcontinental powerhouse.

And despite their whitewash of Afghanistan in a similar three-match series last month in Lucknow, captain Kieron Pollard said India presented a completely different challenge and the task before his side was to stay focussed and execute.

“What is important is that we came with a clear mission and a clear plan of how we want to approach our 50-over cricket, how we want to approach playing the game and getting guys in certain situations to be responsible and accountable for those things,” he told a media conference here yesterday.

“So there’s a process, there’s something we’re actually going through and as I have said, the results might not show straightaway. Yes, we won 3-0 against Afghanistan but we’re coming up against better

TALKING STRATEGY: Captain Kieron Pollard (second from right) chats with head coach Phil Simmons (backing camera) as Hayden Walsh (left) and Shimron Hetmyer listen in. (Photo courtesy CWI Media) opponents – not saying that Afghanistan is a bad opponent … they have world class cricketers in their bowling lineup and batting lineup as well. “But it’s a matter of focussing on what we need to do going forward. Again, there are things internally that we’re working on and hopefully the runs and results will take effect in time to come. Obviously it’s not going to happen overnight but we’re willing to work and at the end of the day, where it takes us, it takes us.”

He added: “We’ve sat and discussed how we want to play this format as a team and the

guys are aware of their roles and responsibilities and again it’s a matter of them going out and executing their roles.”

West Indies will look to key players in the squad for matchwinning efforts, especially based on recent performances.

Against Afghanistan, strokemaker Shai Hope gathered 229 runs at the same average, highlighted by an unbeaten hundred and unbeaten halfcentury while off-spinning allrounder Roston Chase averaged 72 and led the bowling attack with six wickets.

And Pollard believes Chase, in

Fourth defeat rings alarm bells for Young Windies ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Alarm bells continued to ring for West Indies ahead of their campaign in the ICC Under-19 World Cup next month when they slumped to their fourth defeat in five matches in the TriNations Series here yesterday.

Asked to chase their highest total of the tournament, after Sri Lanka posted 234 for nine off their 50 overs, West Indies Under-19s folded meekly for 104 inside the 35th over, to go down by 130 runs at Coolidge Cricket Ground.

The hosts have now not won a game since their opener against England nine days ago at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.

Once again, they owed their heavy defeat to their listless batting which had previously yielded totals of 164, 140, 137 and 116.

Kevlon Anderson top-scored with 25 while openers Mbeki Joseph and Kimani Melius both scored 20 but the remainder of the batting struggled against legspinner Kavindu Nadeeshan who snatched four for 17 and left-arm spinner Dilum Sudheera who

claimed three for 10.

Middle-order batsman Nipun Dananjaya had earlier missed out on three figures when he was dismissed for 91, as Sri Lanka flourished following an uncertain start.

Ravindu Rasantha chipped in with 43 and Sudheera got 27, efforts which helped the tourists to recover from 95 for six in the 27th over.

Fast bowler Matthew Forde was the Windies’ best bowler with four for 31 while off-spinner Avinash Mahabirsingh supported with two for 42.

Sri Lanka were tottering on 16 for two in the ninth over before Rasantha, who struck four fours and a six off 59 balls, rebuilt the innings in a 62-run, thirdwicket partnership with Ahan Wickramasinghe (14).

When Rasantha was bowled

by Forde in the 19th over, Sri Lanka had lost four wickets for 17 runs before captain Dananjaya came to their aid in a knock that required 98 balls and included two fours and half-

dozen sixes.

Importantly, he added 67 for the seventh wicket with Sudeera and a further 31 for the ninth with Nadeeshan (11).

In reply, Joseph and captain Melius put on 39 for the first wicket before the rot set in, with West Indies losing nine wickets for 65 runs with Ramon Simmons unable to bat.

Melius played across one and was lbw to Sudeera in the 15th over and off the very next delivery, left-hander Leonardo Julien played back and was trapped lbw on the crease.

When Joseph was deceived by a slower ball from seamer Kavishka Gamage and also fell lbw in the 18th over, West Indies were slumping quickly at 50 for three but Anderson arrived to inspire a 30-run fourth-wicket stand with Kirk McKenzie (15).

Anderson struck two fours in a 41-ball knock but once he lost McKenzie in the 27th over, bowled missing a tentative drive at a full-length googly from Nadeeshan, the innings fell away again.

particular, can be a key player against the Indians especially with the all-round qualities he brings and having played Test cricket extensively.“First of all, he’s a Test batsman – he has Test hundreds – so that in itself is a great asset for us, having a guy who bats in the middle order in

Test cricket coming in and playing any role,” Pollard explained.

“And given that he can bowl as well, gives us another opportunity to play an extra bowler or an extra all-rounder or an extra batter as well so he’s been very valuable for us. We saw his talents and we’re trying to exploit (them).”

West Indies are in rebuild following a disastrous World Cup campaign earlier this year and young players like leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr, batsman Brandon King, fast bowler Romario Shepherd and Khary Pierre have been incorporated into the unit.

Pollard said it was important for these inexperienced players to focus heavily on their preparation for international matches.

“For the younger guys in our team, it’s about changing your training habits and being more focussed on what you want to do and what you want to achieve and putting more into your game,” he stressed.

“I’m not saying guys have not done it – guys have done it …

sometimes results do not reflect but sometimes you need to do the extra and … I’m really excited about this bunch of guys we have because these guys are really putting in the hard work behind the scenes.”

The contest at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium bowls off at 09:30hrs (04:00hrs Eastern Caribbean time).

SQUAD: INDIA – Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.

WEST INDIES – Kieron Pollard (captain), Shai Hope, Sunil Ambris, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.

Exciting double-header to kick off GFF Super 16 tournament tonight

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 15, 2019

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Super 16 tournament will kick off tonight at Guyana Police Force Sports Club ground at Eve Leary, with two exciting matches in a win-orgo-home formatted championship.

With over $4M up for grabs from 18:30hrs, Elite League side, Milerock FC will play Pele, while Guyana Police Force FC and East Bank Football Association team, Timehri Panthers, will collide from 21:00hrs.

Meanwhile, at a simple but significant handing-over ceremony at the Brass Aluminium and Cast Iron Foundry Ltd (BACIF) West Ruimveldt business area, Managing Director Peter Pompey officially handed over to GFF president, the GFF Super 16 trophy that was manufactured Turn to PAGE

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GFF president Wayne Forde accepts the GFF Super 16 Cup trophy from BACIF’s Managing Director, Peter Pompey.

Woodroffe, Gonsalves lead charge on night three for Dorado swimmers VLADIMIR Woodroffe and Elliott Gonsalves continued to impress in the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ASATT) Invitational Swimming Championships, by adding to their tally of wins on the third night of action at the National Aquatic Centre in Couva, T&T. Both swimmers registered podium finishes before teaming up to hand Dorado Speed Swim Club a second team gold, when they competed in the 4x50m Medley Relay in the Boys’ 11-12 age division.

Woodroffe, who won individual gold and a silver on the opening day and team gold on day two, exploded with two individual gold medals and a team gold on Friday evening.

In the Boys’ 11-12 200m backstroke, Woodroffe won gold after clocking 2:35.27. His teammate Alex Bentham placed seventh 2:53.20, while Noel Raekwon finished fifth in the 13-14 age group in a time of 2:30.09.

Woodroffe’s second individual gold happened later in the day in the 800m freestyle, after he clocked 10:01.25.

He also finished fifth in the 200m freestyle in a time of 2:18.43 ahead of Stephen Ramkhelawan (seventh), who finished in a time of 2:20.92. It was Gonsalves who won a medal in that race. The 12-year-old missed first place by under a second after clocking 2:14.12. His other silver medal was in the 50m breaststroke, where he clocked 35.87s.

Some of the younger winners on night three. From left: Noel Raekwon (gold), Prior to that, Gonsalves had won the Boys’ 11-12 400m Individual Medley Monique Watson (silver), Vladimir Woodroffe (two individual gold medals and in a time of 5:15.90, while Stephen Ramkhelawan was third in 6:02.77. a team medal), Elliott Gonsalves (individual gold, two silver medals and team Dorado’s other individual gold on day three was in the 13-14 400m IM, where gold) and Stephen Ramkhelawan (bronze and team gold).

Raekwon clocked 5:09.39.

Ethan Gonsalves had placed sixth in that race, in a time of 5:32.83.

The 11-12 relay team won their second gold medal, when they competed in the Monique Watson, who has also been outstanding with standout performanc- 50m Medley Relay. es, won a silver medal in the Girls’ 11-12 200m backstroke. The 12-year-old Alex Bentham led the way in the 50m backstroke. He finished his leg in approxiclocked 2:49.69s, just behind Black Sands’ swimmer Jamie Joachim, who won mately 3rd place, before Elliott Gonsalves did the second leg (breast) and brought the in 2:49.20s. Third place went to Giani Francis in 2:52.12. Meanwhile, Athalcy team into the lead by about two body-lengths.

Hunte placed fifth in 2:55.14.

Woodroffe then did the third leg (fly) and increased the lead slightly while Daniel Scott won a bronze when he competed in the Boys’ 15-and-over 200m Stephen Ramkhelawan finished with the final 50m (freestyle) and held on for a freestyle. His time of 2:02.38 was just behind the top two finishers.

RELAY GOLD comfortable win by approximately 15 metres.

Windies have `clear plan’ as they face India in first ODI today Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2019