Guyana Chronicle E-paper 12-22-2019

22nd December, 2019

' No.105859

‘Out of economic bondage’

…PM, others hail start of oil production as opportunity for Guyana to realise full potential SEE STORY ON PAGE 03

‘Stop misleading the people’ ...Ministry of the Presidency condemns Jagdeo for lying to NY audience

SEE STORY ON PAGE 05

GECOM in race to verify H2H registrants -PRO says no hiccups as workers fan out SEE STORY ON PAGE 10

Lights beaming on Linden Highway SEE STORY ON PAGE 13

Minister of State, Mrs Dawn Hastings-Williams on Saturday joined Minister of Social Cohesion, Hon. Dr. George Norton in distributing toys to some 500 children of Port Kaituma, Matthew's Ridge and surrounding communities. In photo is Minister Hastings-Williams

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2019

‘Out of economic bondage’ 3

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2019

… PM, others hail start of oil production as opportunity for Guyana to realise full potential

Nagamootoo: “There has to be one coalition, one alliance, one partnership with one, united leadership”

By Navendra Seoraj AMERICAN oil giant, ExxonMobil has made its first lift of crude offshore Guyana, a lift that has not just raised the crude from underwater but one that also lifted Guyana from economic bondage.

“Congratulations Guyana! With first oil, Guyana has burst forth from economic bondage, and asserts freedom to realise her enormous potential for prosperity and greatness. When the oil economy begins to grow the soil economy, sweet oil will blend with fertile soil to realise the El Dorado Dream.

This is Guyana’s magic moment,” said Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, in his message on the occasion of “first oil,” on Friday.

Guyana is now an oil-producing nation due to the efforts of ExxonMobil, which will go down in history as the first company to pump oil for commercial purposes here.

TRANSFORMATION “For Guyana to take the big leap forward under coalition leadership, the time has come for qualitative transformation in the form and structure of executive authority.

There has to be one coalition, one alliance, one partnership with one, united leadership. The partners have to invest trust in its leadership, and embrace principles on which decisions have to be based, when made,” PM Ngamaootoo said.

He added that since resigning from the PPP, he has met and embraced young, visionary and committed leaders in the Coalition on whose shoulders would be the duty to take Guyana forward.

“In the new dispensation, they would need the Mujica quality to eschew narrow, personalised, self-interest for the nation’s good. I look

forward to our future with optimism and confidence.

The Guyanese people are embracing this development.

They were preparing for December 20. They were busy cleaning up, sprucing up and decorating as if to receive a precious visitor.

The shopping splurge was aided by what I saw as the back-pay bonanza, where public servants were given a tax-free, lump-sum as salary increases for 2019.”

In light of this feat, Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry joined Prime Minister Nagamootoo in wishing Guyana the best for the time ahead. She said, with proper management, the industry will take off and all Guyanese will benefit.

Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, said the new industry will create a brighter future for the people of Guyana, since he believes that the sector will be prudently managed and tailored to benefit every Guyanese and not the political leaders.

“It is something that we bring not for ourselves, but for the future generation so that they can have a good life…I believe it is a tremendous resource for us as Guyanese and we should make good use of the oil money so that all Guyanese can benefit from it,” said the mayor.

Confidence in government’s ability to efficiently manage the sector and ensure that it benefits Guyanese, was also shown by Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall, who said the right systems will be implemented to ensure there is transparency and equitable distribution of the benefits from the sector. He said the plan for such systems and measures will be revealed to the public when President David Granger announces the “Decade of Development.”

“President Granger’s heart is in the right place and he will ensure that the resources are equitably dis-

tributed,” said Marshall, adding that the “Decade of Development” will provide a guide for how the resource will be managed to benefit all Guyanese.

Among the benefits expected, is greater accessibility to the hinterland through the construction of better roads, bridges and other infrastructure, said the mayor.

In the short term, he said, his municipality is looking forward to the construction of a bridge from Parika to Goshen and then one from Goshen to Bartica.

“We are also hoping for better connectivity between Bartica and Mahdia and by extension Lethem and other hinterland areas,” said Marshall.

Shining light on the potential prosperity and development, President Granger had described petroleum production in Guyana as a transformative process in the country’s economic development. The petroleum sector will stimulate increased employment and expand services, he said. According to the President, the APNU+AFC Government will unveil a ‘Decade of Development, 2020-2029’ plan, aimed at ensuring that petroleum resources will be utilised to provide the ‘good life’ for all.

The ‘Decade’ is a 10-year plan to intensify development and improve citizens’ quality of life, he said. He noted that every Guyanese will benefit from petroleum production. “No one will be left behind,” he said. President Granger noted that the Department of Energy was established to manage the country’s hydrocarbon resources. He said it is seeking the best advice, including international best practices as it builds the institutional, legislative and regulatory capability to manage this sector effectively and efficiently.

He also noted the establishment of legislation

to regulate the sector. The Natural Resource Fund Act 2019 was passed by the National Assembly.

The Act provides for ensuring that the country’s resource wealth benefits both current and future generations; it incorporates oversight, accounting, reporting and auditing mechanisms to promote prudent, transparent and accountable management of oil revenues.

Guyana will lift its first cargo of petroleum produced at the Liza Destiny during February or March. This follows a handful of lifts by the Contractor Group, which includes ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC. The order follows international conventions for a “fair” lifting order that goes by whoever has the next largest entitlement percentage at that time.

sale to international traders who were expected in the country this week.

Through his department, Dr. Bynoe clarified misguided reports, by confirming that the country’s decisions are being guided by a full team of international experts, internal experts and the Guyana Public Procurement Commission (PPC).

Apart from HESS, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) holds 45 per cent interest and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narien

Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall The government will have the largest outstanding entitlement to lift by February – though of course royalties will be paid on all of the earlier cargoes.

During all of these lifts and for all future lifts, the oil-lifting process will be monitored by both independent third-party auditors and two additional government representatives.

Last weekend, Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe , said that the first three cargo lifts of Guyana’s crude following ‘first oil’ will be up for direct

CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a 25 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block.

It is estimated that there is over six billion barrels of oil equivalent in the oil-rich Stabroek Block, while the involved partners continue to see “multibillion barrels of additional exploration potential.”

ExxonMobil and its partners have racked up 14 commercial oil discoveries in the Stabroek Block, the last being the Tripletail-one exploration well located approximately three miles northeast of the Longtail discovery. The Tripletail discovery adds to the six billion barrels of oil equivalent.

The Liza Phase one project will produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day at peak rates utilising the Liza Destiny FPSO. It is expected to generate over $7B in royalty and profit oil revenues for Guyana over the life of the project.

The Liza Phase one development project features the Liza Destiny floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel moored 190 kilometres offshore Guyana, and four subsea drill centres supporting 17 wells.

The Liza Unity, a second FPSO with a capacity to produce up to 220,000 barrels of oil per day, is being constructed to support the Liza Phase two development. Front-end engineering design is underway for a potential third FPSO, the Prosperity, which is geared at developing the Payara field upon government and regulatory approvals.

The current discovered recoverable resource for the Stabroek Block is more than six billion oil equivalent barrels. It is anticipated that by 2025 there would be at least five FPSOs producing more than 750,000 barrels of oil daily from the Stabroek Block.

As a reminder of Guyana’s new dawn, President Granger declared December 20 as ‘National Petroleum Day.’ The President said: “the proclamation will remind Guyanese of our duty to protect the country’s patrimony and to ensure the sustainable management of finite hydrocarbon resources.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 22, 2019

Tens of thousands flee Syria’s Idlib as deadly bombings intensify (AL JAZEERA) Tens of thousands of civilians have fled Syria’s Idlib province to the Turkish border, after an increase in bombings by Russia-backed government forces, creating a new humanitarian challenge as the winter season arrives.

United Nations observers said on Friday that at least 18,000 people have been displaced in Idlib in just 24 hours, as the deadly bombardments continue.

On Friday morning, at least seven more people were report-

ed killed, after at least 19 civilians were killed on Thursday.

In the last five days, at least 80,000 Syrians have already fled near Turkey’s border, according to reports quoting Syria’s Response Coordination Group.

There are already about one million Syrian refugees living near the border with Turkey.

In September 2018, Turkey and Russia had agreed to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone.

Since then, more than 1,300 civilians have been killed in at-

tacks by the Syrian government forces in the de-escalation zone, according to reports.

Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Adow, reporting from Istanbul, said the Russian-backed Syrian government bombings include air raids, shelling and barrel bomb attacks in the town of Maarat el-Numan in southern Idlib.

Syrians living in the area said the attacks were indiscriminate with hospitals, markets and homes targeted.

On Friday, public anger against the offensive spilled onto the streets, with hundreds of people in Idlib taking to the streets to denounce what they called the neglect of their plight by the International community. They also called for a swift halt to the bombardment.

Witnesses also said that evacuees were targeted as they tried to flee their homes.

In the town of Sarmada, a hub for aid going into Syria and just a few kilometres from the border with Turkey, fighters from the opposition Hay’et Tahrir Sham set up barriers to stop protesters from walking towards the border.

Turkish security forces said they were forced to send reinforcements to ensure protesters did not cross into Turkey.

Cold, hungry winter Idlib is home to an estimated 2.4 million people, more than half of whom are internally-displaced and living camped out near the Turkish border.

With the intensified bombing campaign forcing thousands to flee, many face a cold and hungry winter.

Official camps on the Syria-Turkey border are already in full capacity, forcing many of the newly-displaced civilians to live in flooded makeshift

22 December, 2019 - 01:30hrs - ~03:00hrs

camps, where aid deliveries are few and far between.

Crippling fuel shortages, which have raised the cost of food and transport, also threaten medical care in the province.

Fuel prices have more than doubled in the past two months, and charities and hospitals said they are struggling to respond to the crisis.

As the situation on the ground deteriorates, the UN Security Council failed to approve any of the rival resolutions that would continue the delivery of humanitarian aid across borders to more than a million Syrians every month in mainly rebel-held areas.

A resolution, cosponsored

by Germany, Belgium and Kuwait and supported by the UN humanitarian office, which would have extended the mandate for deliveries for six months and cut one of four crossing points, was vetoed

by Russia, the Syrian government’s closest ally, and China.

A rival resolution sponsored by Russia and China, introduced only on Monday, was also defeated.

The current year-long mandate for aid deliveries through four border crossings in Turkey, Iraq and Jordan is set to expire on January 10.

Secretary-General Antonio

Guterres said in a report to the council circulated on Monday that “the United Nations does not have an alternative means of reaching people in need in the areas in which cross-border assistance is being provided.”

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric called the humanitarian situation in northwest and northeast Syria “horrific”, saying “it would be markedly worse without the cross-border operation”.

Attack on oil and gas facilities Elsewhere, Syrian state TV reported that near-simultaneous attacks believed to have been carried out by drones hit three government-run oil and gas installations in central Syria on Saturday.

No one claimed responsibility for the attacks, which targeted the Homs oil refinery - one of only two in the country - as well as two natural gas facilities in different parts of Homs province.

The government’s oil ministry said that several production units had been damaged and repair teams were working alongside firefighters to try to restore output as quickly as possible.

Government-held areas of Syria suffer from a chronic shortage of fuel, partly because of Western sanctions on crude imports and partly because the largest oil and gas fields lie in the east, which remains under the control of US-backed Kurdish forces.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 22, 2019

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‘Stop misleading the people’ ...Ministry of the Presidency condemns Jagdeo for lying to NY audience

THE Ministry of the Presidency has rejected and condemned “the dishonest, malicious and wicked remarks” reportedly made

by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, during his recent campaign appearances in North America.

According to the MoTP, Jagdeo, while in North America, made statements aimed at besmirching the character and reputation of President David Granger.

It said that the fallacious statements made by Jagdeo, who has proven him to be consistently malicious in his utterances about the Head of State, were patently designed to create mischief and mistrust among citizens in Guyana and within the diaspora.

According to the MoTP, the Opposition Leader said that the Chetwynd Learning Centre, named after President Granger’s father and located at Lot 5 Thorne Drive, Durban Backlands, Georgetown, is the recipient of state funds. This is farthest from the truth.

The Chetwynd Learning Centre, as the name suggests, is a centre for learning and the MoTP said that the centre provides information technology services to young people particularly, the awardees of the Burnham Education Scholarship Trust (BEST) and the Sophia Literacy Project, all aimed at supporting the delivery of education while providing opportunities for self-empowering learning

Students receiving computer training at the Chetwynd Learning Centre

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

and creativity.

The centre, which is located at President Granger’s former home and dedicated to the preservation and dis-

semination of the ideas and philosophies related to education, houses the Burnham Book Trust, the Burnham Research Institute and the BEST, and it is supported

by the Guyana Association of Georgia (GAOG).

The MoTP informed that during a visit by President Granger to the State of Georgia, in the United States of America in 2017, the GAOG adopted the Chetwynd Learning Centre and supported 10 regional Burnham Education Scholarship Trust (BEST) awardees.

It said that only recently, the GAOG, in addition to its continuous support, presented twenty-six laptop computers, two laser printers, a public address system and a 55-inch flat screen television to the centre.

President Granger has repeatedly said that at the

Scores of students have benefitted from training at the Chetwynd Learning Centre

Chetwynd Learning Centre “education is an entitlement.”

In 2017, at its launch, President Granger said the centre was opened to provide a public good while emphasising that it is not a political party campaign office.

“As our resources permit, all three agencies will be open to a wider range of Guyanese citizens. In years to come, I would like to see similar centres in every town in this country. This is not a substitute, it is a supplement to the education system,” the President said.

The centre allows young people to access a venue where they can access the Internet, do their homework and conduct research.

“The opposition leader must be reminded that he is the holder of a constitutional office and must act responsibly. Mr. Jagdeo has the public responsibility to be truthful and not use his office to spread untruths,” the MoTP said.

As it shot down other utterances from the opposition leader, the MoTP said that Jagdeo, during his North American visit “maliciously and spuriously” accused President Granger of using State funds to rehabilitate and install a swimming pool and other ‘fancy things’ at his private residence located at Pearl, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The Pearl, EBD house as referenced by the opposition leader was built by President Granger’s brother, Ceasare Francis ‘Frank’

Granger 27 years ago, the government said.

The MoTP said that the property has no swimming pool as alleged by Jadgeo and was rehabilitated by the Guyanese Head of State at his own expense after his brother died in September 2017.

The MoTP said that Jagdeo must be reminded that it was under his presidency that the January 2011 report by the Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) said that “Stagnation, violence, corruption, arch-sectarianism, and unfettered crime – is the heritage that President Bharrat Jagdeo will bequeath to his country.”

The Ministry of the Presidency called on the leader of the opposition, who is quoted as making spurious claims without providing any evidence or proof, to be honest in his public statements instead of spreading untruths to aid his desperate campaign to besmirch the character of President David Granger.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 22, 2019

First oil and social equality THE day has finally arrived.

On December 20, 2019, Guyana officially joined the elite club of oil-producing nations. It is a historic moment pregnant with expectations that up till five years ago was a distant dream; that dream has now become reality.

In the words of President Granger, “The ‘good life’ for everyone beckons…Let us work together to build a happy and prosperous country for the present and future generations.” The coming of oil brings with it new challenges, but the joy cannot be overstated.

It is ironic that exactly one year after one man sought to derail the will of the majority of the electorate, we are entering into new territory.

In a sense, the announcement of first oil allows the country to put closure to that misadventure that occurred

last year. We head into the new year with a new purpose and mission. A central part of that mission should be righting the historical wrongs that have been heaped on the backs of the working people and the working poor, thanks to policies which have not prioritised investment in people. The issue of social equality must be central to the plans for the oil economy.

First oil means that the nation can now be assured that there will be more revenues to do the things which our foreparents could only dream of. From educational uplift to adequate health care to infrastructural overhaul, those dreams can now become reality. Our president has already assured the nation of a first-class education system in which every child will be guaranteed the right to be educated. That

the state would assume responsibility for this human right speaks to a commitment to utilise the oil wealth to lift the material circumstances of the broad masses of people.

Of course, there is a relationship between first oil and who governs.

In that sense, oil will be on the ballot on March 2, 2020. As we have been warned, corruption accompanies oil wealth. It means then that we have to be careful not to put in office those with a track record of wanton corruption. There is a clear choice for the electorate. Either we choose a team whose name has been synonymous with institutional corruption, or one which is associated with anti-corruption.

President David Granger has made it clear that under his watch, the oil wealth would not find its way into the pockets of rich men. This

is a very timely reassurance from the Head of State. It is no secret that the vultures are waiting at the gate to get their sticky hands on the oil money. They must be stopped in their tracks. There must be an unambiguous policy of redistribution of the returns downwards. Our working people have carried Guyana on their backs in the period of little. Now that we have embarked on a period of relatively plenty, it is those working people who must be at the front of the line.

This newspaper is uncompromising on that score. We note that while the prophets of doom rail about bad contracts they are silent on the issue of equitable distribution of the expected resources. There is no doubt that the private sector must be central to any developmental initiative, but that should not be

translated into a monopoly of the financial benefits . We reject the neo-liberal approach to development, whereby the fortunes of those at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder are peripheral.

We are not talking of empty electoral promises. On the contrary, we call on the contestants for high office to make clear where they stand on the upliftment of the poor. Trickle-down policies are not options. We have been down that road before. What is needed are clear and commonsense policies that aim at the heart of the problems. The working people must not be objects of promises, but the very subjects of the policy proposals.

Republic Bank charges are pernicious Dear Editor, I WAS heartened by media reports, just over a week ago, that the Governor of the Central Bank contemplated penalties against Republic Bank if it did not make speedy amends to its prolonged, unacceptable service to customers.

The fundamental of banking is depositing and lending.

Depositors are encouraged to place their funds into banks as savings, invariably bearing minimal returns as taxable interest; the banks in turn reinvest those deposited funds through loans, mortgages and other lines of credit at a spread of comparatively increased interest rates. Interest earned on lending facilities are generally the sources of income that fund banking operations. Banks also increase their revenue earnings

through various charges, exogenous services and fees.

In Guyana, Republic Bank is guilty of double charging its customers. Customers are charged $200 on salary deposits, plus ATM charges of $70 and over-thecounter transaction charges of $300, respectively, for withdrawals below $100,000.

If, for example, someone’s salary is below $100,000 (which is the case for most Public Servants), additional charges of $300 per teller withdrawal are attracted to the already imposed $200 monthly salary deposit. If you decide to withdraw a S70, 000 salary in four parts, additional combined charges of at least $1400 will be incurred. Most, if not all, government employees have to comply with local AML guidelines that salaries be routed through the national

banking system. Employees are therefore being held to ransom and are being fleeced mercilessly by Republic Bank’s double-charging system. In a recent discussion with some individuals within the financial sector, I was informed that most banks adopt similar practices. If that is indeed the case, the regulatory body should intervene to protect the citizenry from this well-organised pernicious imposition.

Republic Bank also offers its customers an ATM card with a limited lifespan. Upon expiry, that card now attracts a fee of $1000 for its renewal/ reissuance. This is not the same as a replacement fee for a card that has been lost or damaged by the customers’ own negligence. It is an imposed fee for an otherwise basic service. This is the same ATM card that custom-

ers are encouraged to use to access ABMs as a cost-saving alternative to in-house OTC – teller consuming transactions which attracts the $300 withdrawal fee for amounts below $100,000.

In other words, a customer is trapped by charges either way to gain access to his/ her own hard-earned funds.

I have suffered financially at the hands of Republic Bank. In July of this year while conducting official business in Tobago, the sister island of Trinidad, I was unable to access available funds from my local account despite prior formal notification to the Guyana branch. The inconvenience was apparently occasioned by internal factors. Even after the most diligent and persistent efforts of some local staff contacts and an affiliate Senior Manager of their Auchenskeoch

branch in Tobago for me to access funds from my account, I could not get a single dollar and was left completely stranded. As a result, I suffered financial embarrassment and unavoidable expenses, having to obtain money through individual borrowing. Upon my return to Guyana, I was denied compensation by the bank although providing comprehensive documented and corroborative evidence of the occurrence. In short, the bank took a most unconscionable position by positing that I should have sought other alternatives to reaching them; just another kerfuffle!

Republic Bank owes more than a passive apology to its customers and the people of Guyana for the recent spate of its unsatisfactory service and resulting inconvenience. The com-

plexity of doing business, time consuming, lengthy, and slow-moving queues at branches nationwide have been unbearable for years.

Suggestion boxes are mere placebos for affected or disgruntled customers.

Thank God the government held firm to its disapproval of Republic Bank acquiring Scotiabank Guyana – for they would have monopolised us to debt or ultimate death.

It would be interesting to see what form Republic Bank’s promised nationwide compensation would take if it sincerely wishes to avert losing customers and/ or legal action as a consequence of its unmitigated recalcitrance.

Sincerely, ORETTE CUTTING

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 22, 2019

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Further evidence of why PPP, Sasenarine Singh cannot be trusted with sugar industry Dear Editor, I WRITE today, not to engage Sasenarine Singh since I’ve long concluded he is a toddler-level sweetie stand “accountant” masquerading as a Turnaround Specialist. Rather, I write today to engage the electorate on why the PPP and Sasenarine Singh cannot be trusted with the sugar industry. I also write today to speak directly to our brothers and sisters in the sugar industry, to remind them of the need to be aware of false prophets who will present themselves to you, promising the moon and the stars, with the sole aim of getting your vote.

Today, I will use the PPP’s mouthpiece Sasenarine Singh’s words against him as we place the PPP under the microscope. This microscopic examination will reveal further evidence why neither the PPP and Sasenarine Singh should not be trusted to run the sugar industry. Like the PPP, Sasenarine Singh will change his position to one that will best satisfy himself.

In a letter to the editor on January 2011, running up to the general elections, Sasenarine Singh wrote this, “Mr Granger quoted the latest Household Income and Expenditure Survey which disclosed about half of the population is not gainfully employed. On the other hand, the PPP’s Minister of

Labour in September 2011 asserted, with official truth, that only 10.7 per cent of the country’s total workforce is unemployed. These apparently contradictory figures have been arrived at because it is the convention throughout the world to record as “unemployed” only those who have officially sought, but have not obtained, employment.

However, despite the validity of the official statistics, the sad fact is that, in addition to the 10.7 per cent of our workforce that is officially unemployed, many who would like to work are not actively seeking jobs, simply because they have abandoned all hope of ever finding suitable occupations, while others, though nominally employed, are earning incomes and wages that condemn them to “livelihoods” below the poverty line and exist outside of the official economy, deeming them “part-time employed phantoms” with little or no fringe benefits.

The recommended methodology to more accurately understand the employment crisis in Guyana is to conduct a comprehensive labour-related survey. These kinds of study were the antithesis to the Jagdeo regime. They did not have the political appetite and strategic intellect to deal with these human development realities, so the easy way out for them; guess the unemployment figures.” In effect, Sasenarine Singh had

full faith in Mr. Granger as it pertains to the issue under discussion-- unemployment.

As it relates to the PPP, he described the party as lacking the “strategic intellect” and a party and government that guessed the unemployment rate i.e. lying about the employment rate. Mr.Granger was prepared to confront the hard truth while Jagdeo and the PPP misrepresented it.

Now I will venture into Sasenarine Singh’s sweet tooth area, ie sugar. He wrote this in the very letter, “The empirical evidence for my statements can be found from the army of ex-sugar workers, bauxite workers and public servants who have left their official occupations but have not registered themselves as being unemployed. Instead, they occupy themselves as hucksters, as petty traders, and as small-time entrepreneurs, barely managing to survive and are non-existent on the PPP’s unemployment register.“ What is evident in Sasenarine Singh’s missive is that the former sugar workers, bauxite workers and public servants were “barely surviving” under the PPP. Were these the Guyanese that Jagdeo and the PPP left hungry? Apparently, Jagdeo thought they were still hungry when he recently spoke to a gathering in Queens New York. That’s ok Mr. Jagdeo, the caring APNU+AFC government placed food on their tables, so they are no longer

hungry. Also what is obvious from this snippet is that the sugar industry was in serious crisis, with our brothers and sisters “barely surviving,” but yet the “internationally renowned Turnaround Specialist” did nothing. Why? Politically, it did not suit him.

Also, he alluded to the bauxite industry which was also in crisis. I argued from day one that planned re-opening of the sugar industry is political and not economic. This is evident in this snippet where the bauxite industry is not afforded such financial support.

Sasenarine Singh then had this to say about his new friend, Bharrat Jagdeo, “Thus it is fair to conclude that the Jagdeo years were disastrous years for employment creation in Guyana. We were told by GO-INVEST that the privatisation deal with Queens Atlantic was supposed to create 180 bio-technology and textile-related jobs in the medical plaster industry among others, with cash investments into the economy of $3.4 billion into this venture. Judge for yourself the track record of this deal that benefitted from tens of millions of dollars in tax holidays. This is a clear example of PPP public policies not driven by job-creation projects, but more focused on ulterior agendas that benefitted a select few at the expense of the many.” So Jagdeo and the PPP were disastrous for job creation

then, why should we believe that the very people can create 50,000 jobs now? No need to answer Sasenarine Singh, since it is a rhetorical question and I’ve already concluded that you are not my intellectual equal.

In concluding, Sasenarine Singh had this to say, “We as a nation must legislate to our government that they must never submit us to follow unassailably poor public policies that are driven by economic forces that reward political rulers and their business buddies, rather than the nation such as the Queens Atlantic deal or the “Fip” Motilal deal?” This is painfully self-explanatory.

Before concluding, I do wish to speak to the electorate. Under Dr. Jagan, the PPP was a working-class party but under Mr Jagdeo, the PPP has moved away from its working-class roots and is now a party of the wealthy business class. It is obvious for all to see and Sasenarine Singh said as much based on this letter. The second point is that the PPP cannot be trusted to tell the truth: they lied about the unemployment figures, they promised 180 jobs and never delivered and they gave their rich friends and families rich deals and tax breaks. The crumbs are what you received.

To our sugar workers.

This government did not wish to make any of you redundant; unfortunate-

ly however, they had to because they were dealt a very bad hand by the PPP due to 23 years of mismanagement of the sugar industry. On taking up office in 2015, this government was confronted with a sugar industry that had no money based on what the CEO had reported. This government provided many financial support packages because they care. The industry had to be downsized because that was the only way to save it. Could they have done it better with the process of downsizing?

Absolutely yes, but they had acted in good faith. I say this because from this letter by Sasenarine Singh, who is now their mouthpiece on the sugar industry, it is obvious that they knew that your industry was in very bad trouble.

They kept that from you because they wished their poor management be kept secret. Because of this, you should NOT trust the PPP; they are using you as a political football. You deserve better than that. On the contrary, Mr Granger and Mr.Nagamootoo may say or do things that you would rather not hear, but you can rest assured that they are acting in your best interest and telling you the truth.

Regards Dr Mark Devonish

Stabroek News reportage on oil continues to be blatantly biased Dear Editor IN a single article in Saturday’s Stabroek News on the statements by ExxonMobil and President Granger heralding the start of oil production in Guyana, SN devotes seven paragraphs (or 25%) to the views of unnamed critics of various

aspects of the oil issue.

Totally absent from the SN report are positive or professional comments from such sources as the Head of the IMF Guyana Mission; energy intelligence firms such as Rystad Energy and Wood Mackenzie; and our own Professor Clive Thomas.

In its generally highly-negative reporting on the oil issue, SN has not been alone. Its main newspaper rival, Kaieteur News, has clearly beaten it into the second spot. While SN does on rare occasions intermix balanced reporting on the issue, KN never lapses in its

out-and-out criticism.

These observations do not ignore the important role of our newspapers to keep the public informed and to scrutinise and examine the actions of the government. Both newspapers, however, have shown no inclination to report the facts

in a balanced fashion and to leave it to the citizens to judge for themselves.

Instead, they have engaged in blatant one-sidedness, casting every aspect of the oil agreement and government’s management as utterly bad. Where is the fair and balanced reporting in

SN and KN on this matter?

This cannot be their idea of what good journalism looks like.

Regards Sherwood Lowe

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What effect do candidates have on entrenched ethnic bases?

LET us not kid ourselves, if Guyana were a homogeneous society devoid of ethnic voting patterns, there would have been no contest between the His Excellency David Arthur Granger and the PPP presidential candidate, Mr Irfaan Ali. The gulf in class is inescapably conspicuous. So the question has to be begged, why are we even having this conversation? Based on the political and historical evidence, it is well established that we are plagued with tribal politics and this discussion exists due to our sad reality.

Enough ink has been splashed on this phenomenon and it has been litigated ad nauseum. However, this intervention seeks to draw attention to the fact that ethnic voting has never been tested like this before. The selection of Irfaan Ali, in a context where there are clearly better candidates who can mount a formidable challenge to the incumbent, has essentially thrown down the gauntlet to the unthinking flock. This conceited action has presented a shocking and dangerous message to the republic. Hypothetically, it has grandiloquently proclaimed: we can put up a mop stick as our candidate, you must do your ethnic duty and support it, even if it is at the expense of the country.

What effect does a

candidate have on the entrenched immovable ethnic bases?

THE IMMOVABLE ETHNIC BASES THEORY Researchers and scholars have examined the effects of candidates’ ethnicities on the choices of voters, Barreto, Fraga, McConnaughy and Prez have studied this.

They have concluded that racial identity and shared experiences can help candidates appeal to their ethnic communities in a unique way that is not easily paralleled by a candidate of a different ethnic origin. In the Guyana context, there is a theory of the immovable ethnic bases in Guyanese politics. Some have argued that there is a failure of majoritarian democracy, inclusionary domination and the dialogue to significantly reverse ethnic conflict (Hinds 2011). According to Ravi Dev, racial polarisation in Guyana is a fact of life.

It has been observed, ‘The two main ethnic masses – except a relatively small percentage of independent voters – vote for their respective ethnic leaders. The party which wins the election will draw supporters from its ethnic group to form core government positions’ (Khemraj, 2016). Others

have submitted that we are never going to end ethnic voting (Jeffrey 2016). Ralph Ramkarran has noted, ‘Guyana’s ethnic groups still vote for their ethnic parties regardless of their performance in office.’ A leading proponent of power-sharing, Mr. Sherwood Lowe, has consistently alluded to the immovable ethnic bases which he believes forms the nucleus for justification for his advocacy.

Others are of the view that politicians are to be blamed for exploiting identity politics (Kissoon 2017).

Based on the voting patterns at national elections, it is extremely difficult to present argumentation against this thrust of theorizing, but it has to be noted. Political scientists consistently complain about the difficulty of disentangling whether a voter decides due to tribal consideration or ideology. Be that as it may, the question remains, how immovable are these ethnic bases? Can manifestos, the content of a presi-

dential candidate’s character, grandiose speeches, programmes, policy proposals and committed campaigning change the mind of hardened, blind loyalists? Further, can the fact that the worst candidate selected and is being put forward for a clear puppet presidency arrangement have any effect? There is research that suggests this is a difficult task. In an article, ‘Racial or spatial voting? The effects of candidate ethnicity and ethnic group endorsements in local government elections’, published in the American Journal of Political Science, Cheryl Boudreau et al established, ‘…ideology strongly influences voters’ choices in a multiethnic local election’. Perhaps, the example of Barack Obama’s victory in the 2008 US elections is quite instructive. In my view, the candidate does matter, regardless of the electoral context.

The immovable bases can be swayed, they are either demobilised due to

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2019

an extremely poor choice available to them, or they can be made more excited by an exceptional candidate .

THE REPUBLIC FACES A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT The pursuit of power at all cost by one man has saddled the republic with a scenario that portends to place this country on a dangerous path.

If this engineered candidacy which is lacking the most basic global standards of attempts to occupy the highest office works, tribalism will be laid bare. A

victory for this electoral audacity will ensure all chances and goodwill for the nation dissipates. There will be no way to explain how a man with absolute integrity, vision and all the right qualities of leadership and a four-year track record of unprecedented achievements, ends up on the losing electoral end.

If so, all fingers will be rightly pointed at the tribal monster.

Such a development, if it occurs, teems with nation- breaking implications. Surely, the ethnic base cannot be this immovable.

Joy cometh in the morning … For oil to work for Guyana, say NO to the PPP SO here we are, one year after the PPP enticed Charrandas Persaud to jump ship and try to bring down the duly-elected government.

Both Exxon Mobil and the Government of Guyana have announced the commencement of oil production.

The news must gladden the hearts of all Guyanese at home and abroad. As Psalm 30:5 in the bible says, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

As a country, we have wept for a long time. Entrapped by poverty and smallness, our options for development have been almost non-existent. Now, with this announcement, Guyana can now look forward to better days. Yes, better days are coming. Cuffy and Acabreh and Damon and the host of freedom fighters must be smiling from their special places among the ancestors.

And yes, Burnham, Jagan and Rodney must be so glad that this day has come.

It is the best Christmas gift that Guyanese could receive. Christ came to save the world. The revenues that are expected from oil and gas would snatch Guyana from the clutches of underde-

velopment. Make no bones about it, we are on to something that is potentially transformative. The rest of the Guyanese economy will benefit from oil revenues.

The Oil and Gas industry is the gateway to economic expansion.

This is what the magazine Foreign Policy wrote about the Guyana situation: “Guyana is a country of about 780,000, and it could produce the same number of barrels of oil per day. At a price of $50 per barrel, that means a total revenue of close to $15 billion per year within the next decade—a staggering sum that other nascent oil nations have struggled to absorb effectively. And those numbers are just from one company—ExxonMobil. Others such as Total and Tullow Oil are actively engaged in the country as well—the latter announced positive results from offshore wells 14,000 feet deep in August. Tullow’s investments may reap up to 200 million barrels in recoverable reserves, though concerns remain about commercial viability given the fields’ high sulphur content. As a result of all this activity, the International Monetary Fund has predicted the country’s economy could grow 86 per cent

next year. “That’s 14 times the projected pace of China,” Bloomberg reported.”

The returns are going to be big—far bigger than we earn now. In January alone we are talking about one million barrels. If the price holds at 50 dollars per barrel, we are in business. Many of the elites are warning us about the dreaded “Resource Curse.” That may be an issue. But the Teacher is more concerned about a different curse—the curse of the wrong government. The last government with far less money at their disposal turned Guyana into a kleptocracy. Imagine what would happen if they are put to manage what is coming.

So, the next step is the March 2 election. We must ensure that the PPP does not get back into office.

Corruption and oil is a bad combination. And that is what a new PPP government would mean. The money would disappear into the pockets of the rich and the mighty. The criminal State would return. Guyana would become a haven for international bandits.

If we want Oil and Gas to work for us , say NO to the PPP.

FIRST OIL!

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2019

THE buzz was in our ears that First Oil was expected “within days, within hours” when I met on Wednesday last with Cabinet’s Sub-Committee on Legal Affairs and, afterwards, with our public information caucus.

Our PR tzars were on top of possible response scenarios for First Oil - from an Address to the Nation by His Excellency President David Granger, to spontaneous celebrations in the streets.

The news came Friday night after I had settled down in a Miami hotel, ahead of a family vacation/re-union.

The dependable Imran Khan sent a terse Whatsapp note that Guyana has drawn First Oil, and that President David Granger was about to make an address.

SERENE CELEBRATION At the time, Sita and I were watching a video of the Iowa All State Orchestra in which our grandson, Wayne, was playing the viola.

They were playing Symphony No.1 by the German composer, Gustav Mahler, as if in measured and serene celebration of the magic moment of Guyana’s unfolding greatness.

As the Guyana National Service theme song, “can we do it?” trumpeted in the background before the President started his address, I looked through the huge glass window of my room at the brightly-lit, giant 35-floor, guitar-shaped, Hard Rock building. I imagined the psychedelic electric guitar to be fireworks of brightly contrasting colours, which were exploding in the hearts of my Guyanese brothers and sisters in joyous celebration of that “first oil” moment.

President Granger has named December 20 as our National Petroleum Day. It will be a day to remember--forever perhaps--when Guyana’s destiny was defined; when the world would no longer find us to be just a dot on the map for mere curiosity.

As the President spoke, my wife, children and grandchildren cheered lustily and loudly. Our heart was throbbing collectively with pure joy and unrestrained happiness.

TRANSFORMATIVE PROCESS The reason is self-evident, but the President saw the need to stress that petroleum production in Guyana would spur the “transformative process in the country’s economic development.”

It will stimulate jobs and expand quality services for our people who have hitherto been victims of the ravages of colonialism and neglect caused by persistent under-development.

With honest and responsible leadership since 2015, all of that would soon change for the better. That was foremost on my mind as we left the Miami airport in the wee hours of the morning. A taxi had patiently waited for us as it took a while to de-plane, since we were seated in row 16, in economy class.

When the driver said that he was from Uruguay, the conversation immediately focused on the former President, Jose Alberto “Pepe” Mujica. I told the driver that Mujica was my hero, and that I had told him that when we met three years ago.

After I congratulated the former Tupamaros guerrilla fighter, who was imprisoned for some 12 years during the military dictatorship, he threw his right hand over my shoulder in a warm hug of friendship.

LEADERSHIP QUALITY Mujica was widely celebrated as the world’s poorest president, who rejected perks and privileges of office. He lived in his own house, and travelled to work in his own car.

With the expected oil boom, Guyana would need leadership quality and style of a Mujica, to ward off the lure of corruption that has haunted almost every coun-

try that benefitted from oil wealth.

My man for the Mujica image in Guyana is David Arthur Granger who, so far, has given to the presidency an aura of selflessness, a strong religious/moral suasion and calm, and re-assuring leadership.

As happened elsewhere, this may be the time also for internal temptations at vacillation and political opportunism. It was the weakness of vacillation and treachery, motivated by self-enrichment, that caused the crisis of governance a year ago.

I have over many years of association with revolutionary movements around the world seen the weaknesses of governments in transition, about which I have been warning.

I have often cited the examples of opportunistic leadership divisions during the 1980s in Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Grenada, and warned against the fight for positions.

BIG LEAP FORWARD For Guyana to take the big leap forward under coalition leadership, the time has come for qualitative transformation in the form and structure of executive authority.

There has to be one coalition, one alliance, one partnership with one united leadership. The partners have to invest trust in its leadership, and embrace principles on which decisions have to be based, when made.

Since I resigned from the PPP, I have met and embraced young, visionary and committed leaders in the Coalition, on whose shoulders would be the duty to take Guyana forward.

In the new dispensation, they would need the Mujica quality to eschew narrow, personalised, self-interest for the nation’s good.

I look forward to our future with optimism and confidence. As I commented, with first oil, Guyana has burst forth from economic bondage and asserts freedom to realise her enormous potential for prosperity and greatness. When the oil economy begins to grow the soil economy, sweet oil will blend with fertile soil to realise the El Dorado dream.

This is Guyana’s magic moment.

The Guyanese people are embracing this development.

They were preparing for December 20.

They were busy cleaning up, sprucing up and decorating as if to receive a precious visitor.

The shopping splurge was aided by what I saw as the back-pay bonanza, whereby public servants were given a tax-free, lumpsum as salary increases for 2019.

GUYANA GOING PLACES Part of the welcoming mood was generated by

the arrival on its inaugural flight New York-Georgetown of American Airlines.

It was timed for December 18 when it made its inaugural Miami-Georgetown flight last year, but touched down the following morning.

There are some 18 other major airlines, including Jet Blue, that have signed on to do the Guyana route. Guyana is finally going places.

First Oil has changed the way the world sees us. We also need to see ourselves differently and worthy of the blessings of first oil.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2019

Understanding Energy

What first oil means for Guyana’s future GUYANA is now officially an oil producing country. Not only that, but within a few years it could be one of the largest in the Western Hemisphere.

As a nation, we have suddenly arrived at a position of global prominence that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

It’s worth taking a moment to celebrate the occasion and re-examine how we got here.

Although it has only been a few years since oil was first discovered offshore, Guyana has long been a focus of the global oil industry. Dozens of exploration wells had come up dry over the years, prompting many international companies to walk away empty handed after one too many disappointments.

That all changed, however, when the Liza discovery was finally made in 2015, more than 16 years after ExxonMobil and the government’s agreement was signed.

That first successful well was in waters so deep that drilling wouldn’t even have been considered possible a couple decades ago –

the technology simply was not capable of accessing it cost effectively. But since then, 13 more discoveries on the Stabroek have made Guyana one of the more unexpected hotspots in the global energy industry. To date, there have been upwards of 6 billion barrels of oil equivalent discovered.

With production underway, Guyana is just a few months away from getting its first cargo, or “lift,” of oil for sale on the international market. A lift is common terminology in the industry that refers to the process of offloading and selling freshly produced crude oil.

According to recent statements from the Department of Energy, the government has already solicited bids from international traders to market and sell that oil in the short term. In the meantime, the government will work towards a more permanent solution for selling our crude.

The majority of lifts in the first few years will be divided between Exxon, Hess and CNOOC. These companies invested billions of US dollars of up-front capital needed to

finance development and are now allowed to recover those costs through a share of production. Per the terms of the production sharing contract, they can recover a maximum of 75 per cent of their costs in a given year and the remaining 25% will be profit oil which will be split 50-50 between Guyana and the companies. By late February, it will be Guyana’s turn to claim and sell our first oil lift.

Once the initial costs are paid off, the revenues from the 50-50 profit share will increase substantially. Guyana will also receive a two percent royalty on all production.

Liza Phase 1 is just a first step in Guyana’s eventual overall production. If assessments from international analysts are correct, we could be producing more oil than Venezuela or Mexico within just a few years.

But that steady progress will require that additional phases of production are approved and brought online smoothly. Liza Phase 2 is already well advanced and Payara—the third project on the Stabroek Block—will likely

receive final approval from the government early in 2020.

Combined, these two projects will help Guyana reach nearly half a million barrels of production per day before the mid-2020s.

All the while, further exploration and development will be taking place offshore and at least two more potential projects could be in progress by 2025.

The revenues from this massive production can be spent on all manner of vital needs within Guyana, from better healthcare to infrastructure such as a new road system, bridges, seawalls or an updated electric grid for Guyana.

It’s a historic moment that holds risk and promise, the same way first oil was for so many other countries.

With the right steps towards careful, safe and transparent development, we can reshape our future—investing to make Guyana a better place to live and do business for future generations.

GECOM in race to verify H2H registrants ––PRO says no hiccups as workers fan out

By Navendra Seoraj THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)’s field (house-to-house) verification of over 16,000 persons is going smoothly, said GECOM’s Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward.

“I haven’t received any information from the field about adverse effects…so far everything is going well,” said Ward in an invited comment on Saturday.

The verification exercise, which started on Thursday, will come to an end today.

At the start of the exercise, GECOM had issued a notice which stated that all new registrants from the houseto-house registration exercise which ended in August, must be on the lookout for a team from GECOM. The teams have since been visiting places across the country. Ward was unable to say how many persons have been verified so far, but said she will be able to provide a more conclusive

figure at the end of the verification exercise today.

The commission, however, anticipates a successful outcome because teams have been deployed to regions across the country and are working to complete the task.

Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield had said that it is critical that verification of new registrants is completed within its five-day limit as failure to do so could affect the commission’s planned timelines.

Lowenfield has said a team of scrutineers would be working up to Sunday to ensure that they can verify the existence of some 16,300 new registrants.

The need for verification comes as there have been instances of duplicates whereby persons already on the National Register of Registrants Database (NRRDB) were found to be listed as new registrants. Lowenfield said that the activity will bring closure to GECOM’s preparation of a Revised

List of Electors (RLEs); the RLE will be the final list published for review before the Official List of Electors (OLEs).

“The exercise seeks to confirm the identities of 16,300 persons approximately. Working along with our staff and members of the scrutineering teams, we will be moving to ensure that those persons are found. If not found, then the commission, at the next statutory meeting…will deliberate on further actions to be taken.

“It is imperative that that decision [be] made over that period because our work plan indicates that we should start production or printing of the revised list of electors on or before December 29, 2019,” said Lowenfield.

Providing data, the CEO said that the largest concentration areas of new registrants to be scrutinised are located on the East Coast corridor with 2,300; South Georgetown with 2,106; North Georgetown with 1,528 and Parika with 1,241.

The total new registrants in other areas include: Mabaruma 511; Moruca Sub Region 176; Charity 451; Anna Regina 682; Vreed-en-hoop 851; La Grange 947; East Bank of Demerara 1,428; New Amsterdam 600; Whim 541; Corriverton 601; Bartica 182; Kamarang 100; Mahdia 105; Paramakatoi 56; Lethem 218; Mackenzie, Linden 459 and Wismar, Linden 451.

Following the verification process, the commission will provide reports on how the individuals will be committed for production of the RLEs Meanwhile, government-appointed GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander had said the process, while legal, is useless, because the problem the commission is faced with, has to do with the question of duplicates and a verification will not in any way determine whether there are duplicates.

“Re-visiting people does not determine duplicates or

otherwise. What is required are two acts. One act is the act of cross-matching from the fingerprints — there’s some difficulty with those.

The other thing that is required for GECOM to do [is] side-by-side comparison between the existing National Register of Registrants, the house-to-house registration and the Claims and Objections to see if across those there are names which are duplicates that have not been identified by the biometric matching,” said Alexander.

He said when dealing with duplicates, there is a normal process which involves an investigative process which is followed by a hearing in some instances. “What we do with the remaining instances of duplicates, where there is a duplicate and we do not find anybody duplicating fraudulently, the more recent information supersedes the previous information,” said Alexander.

Alexander was reported

Public Relations Officer of GECOM, Yolanda Ward as saying that there had been a gross misrepresentation of what verification meant and it was surprising that the very opposition, which withheld its scrutineers needed for the verification of the information during house-to-house visits, was now all in for verification.

“Unfortunately, the PPP boycotted the exercise and are now trying to get to do what they hadn’t done previously,” he said.

GECOM has decided to post, for public scrutiny, the names of the new registrants at various GECOM offices.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2019

Trade unions hail coming of oil … urge prudent management of resources

By Tamica Garnett REPRESENTATIVES of Guyana’s two main umbrella trade union bodies – the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) – have hailed the announcement of first oil and urged the country’s leaders to manage prudently, the resource, which they say can transform this nation.

President David Granger, on Friday night, made the announcement and also indicated that December 20, will be declared National Petroleum Day. Since the announcement, Guyanese have been jubilant, with many taking to social media to celebrate the momentous occasion.“The GTUC is extremely happy. This, in simple terms, is saying Guyana will be even wealthier, there will be more recognition and respect… [it] will open the doors for many more investors. Guyana will be able to compete with other territories within the Caribbean and further afield,” shared Coretta McDonald, President of GTUC. “Guyanese will be able to live that life that we have all been yearning for. More job opportunities, this will also spark a boom in other sectors. It’s means that our education,

President of GTUC, Coretta McDonald health and other services will be world class.”

Similar sentiments are shared by FITUG. “We are very much upbeat about it, we have been talking.

There have been efforts to explore oil in Guyana so long and they all proved unsuccessful in being able to extract oil in Guyana in commercial quantities. This will be a real change in the life of the Guyanese people and it should reach down to the bottom of the Guyanese people and uplift thousands of people out of poverty,” shared, FITUG Vice-President, Komal Chand.

First oil, the first cargo of oil from the Liza-one well, had initially been expected in the first quarter of

2020, however, last October it was first announced that ‘first oil’ would most likely come in December, more to it, even before Christmas, just days away. The Liza Phase one project will produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day at peak rates utilising the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel. Liza Phase one is expected to generate over $7B in royalties and profit-oil revenues for Guyana over the life of the project.

For McDonald, first oil signifies more than just economic opportunities for Guyanese, but brings about a patriotic pride amongst Guyanese that would see us putting our differences aside, perhaps much like we do at cricket time.

“We expect that the drawing down of oil will create the opportunity to foster unity amongst our people,” McDonald said.

Since oil find was first announced, the trade unions have not left out their voice in their hopes and expectations for the use of the massive resources expected from the industry, and suggestions on where it should go.

Both McDonald and Chand stressed the need of prudent management of the sector. “It depends on the management, it depends on the legislation, it depends

President of GAWU, and VP of FITUG, Komal Chand upon the rights we have. We have to be able to put all of this together and know and see the management, how well it will be managed to ensure that we don’t have the sad situation as we see in some countries,” Chand, who is also president of the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union, warned.

McDonald highlighted that all Guyanese should be able to see the benefits of this industry.

“With oil, over time we will see the eradication of poverty. Our concerns are the management of the finances which would have been received from sovereign wealth funds, man-

agement of the operations, and arrangements to deal with oil spills and its consequences. Our deals for future contracts. The system that will be used to ensure that every citizen receives a direct benefit from the proceeds,” she said.

For their part, the opposition said ExxonMobil’s announcement that oil production has started from the Liza field offshore Guyana is testimony to the visionary leadership of the late Janet Jagan, former President of Guyana. Guyana started oil exploration long before Mrs. Jagan came on the scene.

The party said under the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government, it was Janet Jagan who moved to engage the oil company and signed the initial contract in 1999.

Earlier this year, President David Granger has pledged to “ensure that the revenues which accrue from the [oil and gas] sector will not be squandered but, instead, will be invested strategically in building human and institutional capacity, addressing our infrastructural deficit and providing economic security for future generations.”

Towards that end President Granger has dubbed the next 10 years as the “Decade of Development for Guyana”. Guyana’s oil and gas management is currently being handled by the Department of Energy, headed by Dr. Mark Bynoe.

As it pertains to the direct impact of oil and gas on the unions’ operations, McDonald sees the need for growth in the sector to correspond with the new labour demands of the developing Guyana.

“For the unions under the umbrella of the GTUC, they are the ones that will see and experience changes in their operations – positive changes. There will be a swell in membership thus making us stronger. There is need for more training opportunities within the unions and it is against this background that the GTUC will see changes in its operations,” McDonald notes.

Notwithstanding the excitement around first oil after the four year wait since 2015, Guyanese would still need to remain patient even as the process continues.

Monies from this production are not going to be flowing in Guyana in 2019 until certain processes are out the way. Exxon Mobil, HESS and its third partner CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, will first have to be paid their share before revenues come to the government.

Dr. Bynoe had also stated that the department is aware of the risk associated with not getting this right which is why industry-standard documents based on the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators Crude Liftment Agreement is being applied.

Union wants thorough investigation into RUSAL employee-electrocution incident GENERAL SECRETARY of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GB&GWU), Lincoln Lewis, says a lack of funds has stymied investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Department (OSHD) of the electrocution of employees at the RUSAL-owned Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI).

Two BCGI employees were hospitalised last Sunday at the Kwakwani Hospital after suffering electric shocks while on duty. The union and workers are unhappy with the manner in which management dealt with the matter, given that senior management did not summon transportation to take the in-

jured to the hospital at the time when the incident occurred.

Lewis said a report has been made to the OSHD, but there are impediments to the investigation being conducted. “My understanding is that the department was informed by the company of the incident; the department has not yet been able to get anybody on site. Basically, my understanding is that money is not available for officers to travel to the site for the investigation to commence. The department has its own difficulties,” Lewis explained.

Lewis said the latest incident vindicates the union’s long-held position that safety measures at the bauxite company are lax. The union continues to state to the public, the government and every-

body that safety is not a priority for that company. Safety and health, this in itself exonerates the union,” Lewis noted.

The union is currently in stalemated talks with the company over negotiations for salary increases and a new collective labour agreement. After negotiations fell through when the Union refused the company’s maximum 6 per cent salary-increase offer, the Department of Labour was called in for the process to move to conciliation.

The Union is calling for the process to move to the next step, arbitration, as the conciliation process is stalemate.

The two sides have not had a meeting in approximately a month, according to Lewis’ estimation. “What we want is

for the Ministry [of Social Protection] to declare a deadlock and give the Union the opportunity to request arbitration.

The Labour department has to do its job, if it cannot get the issue resolved between the two parties, it has to declare a deadlock,” Lewis asserted.

“What we are asking for is voluntary arbitration, between the company and the union, which the grievance procedure makes provisions for. But the ministry is not responding with an understanding consistent with the grievance procedure.”

Lewis said the Union wrote the Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, earlier this week, and is awaiting a response.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 22, 2019

Farmers’ Market

gets overwhelming support

By Elvin Carl Croker SCORES of early morning shoppers flocked the D’Urban Park tarmac in Georgetown as early as 6:00am Saturday to cash in on agricultural and other products being made available at the Guyana Marketing Corporation’s (GMC) sixth Farmers Market.

Public Relations Officer of the GMC, Shavon Nedd, in an invited comment, related that the exercise was aimed at encouraging persons to support local products, noting that some of the products are better than some of the imported ones.

“Today, we had our second Christmas market day and the sixth farmers’ and agro processors’ Market Day and based on the response from exhibitors, it was very good because persons had queued up long before 6:00pm to purchase items,” Nedd said.

The event drew over 70 farmers, agro processors and other exhibitors of locally-made items, she said.

“Producers have been upping their game by producing quality items [with] improved packaging [and] because of this the response has been overwhelming, the eggs didn’t even get to land properly; as soon as they came they were sold out,” the PRO said.

She explained that a much sought-after group is the Region Six farmers’ group which has become very popular after taking part in all the market days held by the GMC. Lloyd Millington, one of the exhibitors who was selling meat, said he belongs to a group called the ‘Mary Friends’ Co-op Society in Friendship, E.B.D. He said his group sold a variety of meat products which included about 600 pounds of beef, 1,000 pounds’ pork and 100 trays of eggs, all of which, he said, finished “in a jiffy.”

“Today, we had a lot of challenges but we came through good in the end.

I was about an hour late and persons were lined up waiting on us because they

know the quality of the products from the previous events,” he explained.

Also, Andrea Seechun, a cash-crop farmer who hails from Adventure Village, said all of her produce was also sold out in a short space of time. She said she had joined with two other farmers and brought out 200 watermelons, a variety of fresh organic mixed seasoning and a large quantity of assorted vegetables. The watermelons, she said, were being sold for between $100 and $800 each.

“This is by far the biggest Farmers’ Market, everything was sold out, and it was a very successful venture,” the happy farmer said.

The GMC provided accommodation for all the exhibitors free of cost.

One of the many locally-made items

A customer checking one of the many exhibits

Watermelon being sold at the Farmers’ Market

Andrea Seechun and her farming partners

A happy customer walking away with his just-purchased watermelon A member of the Mary Friends’ Co-op Society selling meat to a customer

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 22, 2019

13

Lights beaming on Linden Highway

By Vanessa Braithwaite FOR the first time in the over 60 years that the Linden Soesdyke Highway has been in existence, energy- efficient lights are now being installed by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, bringing great progress to a project which started some months ago, with the placement of poles to facilitate these lights.

Driving on the highway at night now brings a whole new feeling of security for drivers and passengers at a time when road accidents have increased. The project has been dubbed a historic and a timely one, giving the upsurge in vehicular and fatal accidents, not only on the highway, but countrywide.

The 45 mile uninterrupted stretch from Soesdyke to Linden, was engulfed in pitch darkness, with regional officials then calling it a virtual death-trap, especially when it fogged heavily.

One Linden-to-Georgetown driver hailed the project as progressive and said it will put a lot of drivers at ease and also cause them to ply the route later, being of service to many University of Guyana students and other persons who work in Georgetown and who travel late at night.

“Many drivers don’t want to work late because of the

darkness of the highway and how dangerous it is and some people does left stranded in town most nights, so now more drivers will feel safer travelling at nights. It is very encouraging, is long now we drivers calling for lights on the highway and I’m happy it finally happening,” Keon Tappin said.

LAUDABLE PROJECT Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira, also lauded the efforts of the government and the MoPI for answering the call of the drivers and residents. “It shows that the government cares for the people and for their safety, so to have this part of the project expedited before the actual rehabilitation, I think it was very prudent of Minister Patterson and I applaud him for it and all residents of Region 10 welcome it,” he said.

The feasibility study for the rehabilitation of the highway is being conducted by Bestion SRKN’gineering Company and the consultants would have briefed Region 10 officials twice on their work thus far. They would have also presented activities and findings thus seeking their input on the project.

The rehabilitation will commence from the Soesdyke junction and will end at the Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge, where a new bridge will also be constructed. The fea-

The Soesdyke-Linden Highway is now illuminated

sibility for the bridge has also commenced. The World Bank will cover the funding for the feasibility study of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway DO NOT CAPITALISE Meanwhile, Region 10

Traffic Inspector, Sherwin Henry, is urging drivers not to capitalise on the lights, to speed. Speeding is one of the leading causes of most traffic accidents on the highway. “We don’t want divers

to capitalise on the lights to speed because their visibility would have increased, some of them might want to start working late, pulling more trips and their bodies can become drained and run

down, we are urging drivers to be careful and don’t miss the purpose of the lights,” he said.

He said the division will not use this time to be complacent, but will be increasing its patrols, particularly night patrols and has commenced collaborated patrols with the Soesdyke Highway Out post-Traffic Department. These patrols will be heightened on the weekends, since it was ascertained that most accidents occur during that time. Sensitisation is also important to the division, Henry related. “We have our traffic awareness programmes on the media; we also go to the parks and speak with the drivers and the passengers as well, urging them not to encourage speeding. We are also encouraging divers not to move along the road left and right to avoid road damages because that can endanger other road users,” Henry posited. Ranks have also commenced a 06:00hrs speeding exercise to help curb speeding at the Millie’s Hide-Out Junction in Linden and the Bamia Police Mobile Outpost.

Religious political parties potentially ‘problematic’ move--- says SASOD ismenta people and people, to stress that KLM

WHILE the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) is open to dialogue with recently formed religious parties, the human rights organisation believes that it would be “problematic” for a religious party to evenly represent the interests of all Guyanese.

At least two religious-based parties – the People’s Republic Party (PRP) and the Kingdom Liberal Movement (KLM) – have been formed recently hoping to contest the March 2020 elections with key support from their church members.

On Wednesday, the KLM met with SASOD with the intention of demonstrating the inclusiveness of the movement and its openness to meet with people and groups who possess different beliefs and culture.

KLM described the engagement as meaningful, noting that it affirmed its belief that God has designed sex to be solely between male and female and the party is deeply concerned about the hearts and souls of those who identify themselves as LGBTQ. “We continue

irrespective of race, colour, class, identity, or whatever persuasion or belief are a priority to the God we serve,” the party stated.

“We believe that it’s the work of any civilised government to govern in a fair way for all its citizens and therefore should be considerate and open to meeting people’s basic human rights. When it comes to extra-rights that’s something different.”

Founder and Managing-Director of SASOD, Joel Simpson, on Friday confirmed that the meeting was fruitful and one which his organisation is willing to see continue. However, he said that several issues with regard to human rights and inclusivity can arise from a case whereby a religious party enters government.

“What we made clear to them is that Guyana is a secular democracy and that the presentation of any political party as religious and the representation of a particular religious faith is problematic, because we are not a theocracy. We are a diverse society made up [of] multiple

Kingdom Liberal Movement (KLM) party members meet with the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD). Standing from left to right are: Ms Valini Leitch (SASOD); KLM Campaign Strategist Apostle Y. Abernaty Jeune; Sister Lurline Smith (KLM); KLM presidential candidate Bishop Linden Hercules and Founder and Managing-Director of SASOD, Joel Simpson

religions and also people who don’t hold any religious affiliation,” Simpson reasoned.

The KLM had told this newspaper previously that while its logo depicts a golden crown, synonymous with the Christian religion, it is open to members from the Muslim, Hindu and Rastafarian communities. “Even though I said it’s made up of mainly pastors,

this is just at the forefront. In no way we want to characterise our brand, the movement, as a party who endeavours to Christianise Guyana,” KLM Campaign Strategist Apostle Y Abernaty Jeune had said.

Simpson stated that while the KLM claimed that it could provide secular representation in parliament, it is still unclear to SASOD how this would

work out, being that party’s values are unlikely to change and remains highly religiously motivated. He said that the deliberations they shared saw SASOD stressing that political parties should push for ethical values instead of Christian, Muslim or Hindu values as being ethical; and having integrity is not limited to those who associate themselves with a religion.

“We felt that the fact that we’re having this dialogue – it was first time that we are meeting – that we should continue the dialogue particularly after the March 2 elections,” he said.

KLM stated that through the dialogue it understood that, unlike the common belief that SASOD’s agenda is to have same-sex marriages legalised, this is a separate issue to the body.

“We’re interested in the decriminalisation of same-sex intimacy which is currently criminalised under the Criminal Law (Offences) Act,” Simpson confirmed. He explained that its focus is more on protecting persons from discrimination.

Additionally, the KLM told this newspaper that the Guyana National Service (GNS), another party contesting the 2020 elections, has signalled its interest in a coalition with the KLM through its presidential candidate, Oral Semple.

The KLM said: “KLM has accepted Mr Semple and GNS and we are in the process of further engagement and discussions.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 22, 2019

T.Wee Gourmet Shoppe opens at the Giftland Mall

ANSA McAl Trading Limited opened its T.Wee Gourmet Shoppe at the Giftland Mall on Saturday December 21, 2019. The T.Wee Brand started out as a line of duty free stores originating in Trinidad and only recently made its way to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport after the brand came under the control of Ansa McAl Trading Limited.

The T.wee Gourmet Shoppe is an extension of the duty free stores offering Guyanese persons the chance to purchase wines, champagnes, Eldorado products as well as an extensive selection of chasers, chocolates and even teas in an easily accessible environment.

Speaking with the Country Manager of T.wee Gourmet Shoppe and T.wee duty free stores in Guyana, Tanya Wilcott, she related that the

T.Wee Gourmet Shoppe at the Giftland Mall

gourmet shop is aiming to give persons a new and exciting experience that would

draw them in. “It is going to give persons a different type of feeling when they come in

here; it’s something different.

We are offering a wide range of beverages, both local and

international brands, to cater to all, for whatever specific taste you may have as an individual, we would have something to offer you.”

In addition to the wide variety of beverages that customers will be able to choose from, T.Wee is also offering to its customers a fine wine and coffee bar where the customers can drink at the bar and even have deli meats as they enjoy a one-of-a-kind ambiance that is the T.wee Gourmet Shoppe.

“At the back, were going to have a fine wine and coffee bar, and every day you have deli sandwich meats prepared, there will even be caviar, it has the wines, the spirits, it has a wide variety of wines, the teas coffees, chocolates, pretty much anything you can find local in Guyana,” Wilcott explained.

TWEE Ltd, initially a

family-owned and operated business, was incorporated since 28 December, 1961, to operate as a Duty Free Shop at Piarco International Airport, Trinidad & Tobago to trade in wines and spirits, tobacco and confectionary to the travelling public.

On January 1st, 2013, Ansa McAl Ltd acquired the business as a going concern and has continued to provide its customers with prestigious brands from select suppliers, while showcasing a portfolio of extensive Wines & Spirits such Grey Goose, Patron, Bacardi, Jack Daniels, Courvoisier, Dewar’s, Laurent Perrier and Fantinel. The company operates 24hours a day, 365 days a year.

Some of the wines available at T.Wee Gourmet Shoppe at the Giftland Mall

Wines on display

Sol Guyana customers win $2M in Christmas prizes WINNERS of Sol Guyana “Win All your Christmas Needs with Shell” promotion were awarded at the Regent Street, Georgetown service station on Saturday.

The winners of the promotion opened to all drivers filling up with Shell fuels, including Shell V-Power, Shell FuelSave and Shell Diesel, are Xavier Mann (first); Vidwattie Sukraj (second); and Clay Flatis (third).

Sales Executive of Shell Service Stations, Renée Armstrong-Joseph, said there was no better time for Sol Guyana to help meet the needs of loyal customers than at Christmas.

Armstrong-Joseph indicated that the Christmas prizes, which included a grand prize of

GYD $1,000,000, second prize of GYD $500,000, and third prize of GYD 250,000, would go a long way to meet needs and make Christmas truly merry for deserving customers.

The promotion ran from November 8 to December 20, 2019 and offered “Festive Friday” weekly draws for one-month free groceries, onemonth free fuel, GYD $30,000, Sol Gas and Shell Christmas gifts. “We know that Christmas is a time of year when everyone can benefit from a little extra help and we look forward to rewarding deserving customers with prizes that will do just that, including generous cash prizes to make Christmas 2019 merry and memorable,” Armstrong-Joseph said.

Customers spending GYD $3,000 on Shell FuelSave, Shell V-Power or Shell Diesel were eligible for the Grand Prize or any of the weekly prizes. Additionally, customers who spend GYD $5,000 in Shell fuels during the weekly Happy Hours will benefit from additional chances to win prizes of free groceries, cash, Sol Gas and Shell Fuel and Shell Christmas gifts.

Armstrong-Joseph said Sol is passionate about offering quality, high-performance fuels proven reliable to its customers. She encouraged new customers to also try their range of Shell V-Power, Shell FuelSave and Shell Diesel fuels.

Renée Armstrong-Joseph, Sales Executive of Shell Service Stations (centre) and colleagues displaying some of the many items that were also given away to drivers and persons who visited the Shell Service Station on Saturday

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2019

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2019

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2019

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Mashramani fever hits Port Kaituma

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THE streets of Port Kaituma came on Saturday when the Department of Social Cohesion took a jumpstart to the Mashramani 2020 celebrations to the Barima-Waini region.

A Mash “pop-up” concert, featuring local and regional music, attracted hundreds of residents from Port Kaituma and the surrounding villages to the community ground. The audience was serenaded

with Soca and Chutney performances from local artistes, Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts, Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo, Chutney King-- Stephen Ramphall, Brandon Harding and Chutney Queen-- Vanita Willie.

Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton, who was active in Friday night’s celebrations, said he was excited about the event spreading throughout

Brandon Harding

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2019

Guyana. He noted that the concert is one of a series of similar activities so far being held in Bartica, Linden and Georgetown.

Mashramani Coordinator, Andrew Tyndall, explained that the festival is an integral part of Guyanese history, therefore, the Department of Social Cohesion decided to “bring Mash to several regions” so that residents on the coast and in the hinterland can equally participate in

Chutney Queen, Vanita Willie

Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts performing in Port Kaituma

the rich culture associated with the festival. These activities also serve to usher in the 2020 Mashramani theme “Guyana Together: Reflect, Celebrate, Transform”.

The country will also be observing its Golden Jubilee Anniversary, in the new year, celebrating fifty years as a Republic Nation. Pre- Mashramani celebrations continue on Monday, December 30 in Charity, Region Two.

Stephen Ramphal performing Soca and Chutney hits

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2019

Compton Babb Art Encounter celebrates first successful batch

THE Compton Babb Art Encounter, a fine-arts creative platform, hosted the closing session to its eight-week programme at the Sophia Training Centre, where it honoured the first batch of students with medals and prizes.

The programme was facilitated to teach young artists and individuals to learn portraiture-drawing and painting and featured budding artists from the ages of 12 to 25 years old.

The Guyana Chronicle

spoke with coordinator of the programme, Campton Babb, who explained the rationale behind starting the programme: he explained that he had noticed that there was need for a platform for developing artists to enable them to learn to master their craft in Guyana; and it was his decision as a local artist to help his fellow local artists by offering his skills and expertise.

“This is so vital and necessary because we have so many creatives out there

who do not have the opportunity to exercise that ability within; there’s so much talent that we have within us but we don’t have too many avenues where they can actually go and learn how to use them. So many times they would be at home drawing a cartoon character, they’re drawing something on their own and they really don’t know how to move that to the next level. This to me is an opportunity where they can actually go in depth as to

A student of the programme, Shondell Marshall, exhibiting her art piece

how can I now become a better student in this field of art; they can now become better CSEC students doing art,” Babb said.

Babb related to the Guyana Chronicle that during the training students learnt to construct the human figure, understand the tones on the human face and how it moves: “We learnt about light and dark; we learnt about shadows; we learnt about perspective.” Further, he stated that the students not only learnt practical knowledge, but always were taught to understand the value of their craft and how they can tap into those areas that can be so marketable, and to become an asset -- local and abroad -- spreading their wings.

A student of the programme, Shondell Marshall, related her experience, saying, “It was actually very interesting because at first I didn’t know I could be this good, because when I first started the programme, I started like two weeks late and at that time when I saw the sketches the other students were already doing, I felt like I was a bit behind, and that maybe they’re better than me and so on; but through Mr Babb’s help and guidance I was

Coordinator of the Compton Babb Art Encounter, Compton Babb able to catch up and the art that I produced at the end surprised even me. I really think it’s a good initiative and I would encourage any other developing artists, whenever they hear about programmes like this, to take advantage of the op-

portunity.”

The programme, according to Babb, will be seeing a second batch sometime in the near future and will be expanding to facilitate more students in an effort to reach a wider variety of local artists.

Participants of the Compton Babb Art Encounter holding some of the final art pieces they produced during the programme

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2019

President Granger participates in Soldiers’ Day –– urges them to take advantage of training opportunities

COMMANDER-in-Chief, President David Granger, has extended Christmas greetings to officers and ranks of the Guyana Defence Force as celebrations of Soldiers’ Day kicked off at Base Camp Ayanganna on Friday.

“Today, we are here to celebrate the tradition of Soldier’s Day, a tradition which we inherited from the British and it is a tradition in which the officers serve the soldiers. The day begins with ‘Gunfire’ and is an opportunity to build camaraderie. Regardless of rank, we all serve together to defend and protect Guyana,” he said.

President Granger noted that 2019 has been a good year for the GDF, with soldiers benefiting from significant salary increases since his government took office.

He explained that the

President David Granger participated in the distribution of food at the Soldiers’ Ayanganna on Friday success of the GDF this year resulted in the GDF moving ana’s territory, the Presican be attributed to changes ahead purposefully. dent urged the soldiers to which have occurred in the Reminding them of the remember the dedication staff structure of the Force. role of the GDF in protect- and commitment of the Those changes, he said, have ing and defending Guy- military veterans.

“Remember what the veterans accomplished. It was the GDF that went into the Rupununi and stopped the rebellion. That very year, 1969, it was also the GDF that went into the New River area to route the Surinamese who sought to annex that part of our country. It is important that you remember that it is because of the GDF that we have today this nation, Guyana,” he said.

Noting that many sol-

Day event at Base Camp diers will be away from their families during the festive season, President Granger extended the thanks to them of a grateful nation.

“The nation is eternally grateful to the GDF even while we recognise that eternal vigilance is necessary. I was happy to be with you at the Exercise Greenheart this year.

These exercises are essential and every soldier must be exercised accordingly,” he said, adding: “Congratulations on a good year’s performance.

Thank you for your service and thanks too, to

your families.”

Explaining that Guyana is headed into a decade of development, beginning in 2020, the President urged soldiers to take advantage of training opportunities presented to them in all areas.

He noted that as Guyana’s development gathers steam, they need to be prepared for taking up various roles in that development process and urged that they be prudent with their salaries and save.

“On behalf of the Defence Board and the Government of Guyana, I extend best wishes to you for the holidays. Convey to your families our best wishes for Christmas and the New Year!” he said.

Earlier, GDF Chiefof-Staff, Brigadier Patrick West thanked the commander-in-chief for his support and that of the government in ensuring that the GDF realised the progress it has made.

President Granger joined the chief-of-staff and other officers in serving lunch to the assembled troops.

Despite this being the festive Christmas season, the soldiers will be on defence and security duties at interior locations and at bases across the country.

A section of the gathering at Soldiers’ Day at Base Camp Ayanganna

KWANZAA 21

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2019

CELEBRATION BEFORE December 26, the first day of Kwanzaa, the day of Umoja or Unity, the entire house is cleaned.

The home is then dressed in the colours of red, green and black. African motifs are often displayed along with other cultural articles.

The Kwanzaa table or corner is set up in the home. The table consists of the Kwanzaa symbols. First the straw mat is laid. On this mat rests the other symbols

the next seven days.

A community feast or family gathering occurs on any day during the seven days of Kwanzaa. On this day the entire family/ community assesses its failures and accomplishments, and establishes goals for the upcoming year, in achieving the principles of Kwanzaa.

Elders, youths, and other persons who have upheld any of the principles are honoured accordingly. Since Kwan-

A CELEBRATION OF THE GOOD The seven day celebration which runs from December 26 to January 1 is a synthesis of various continental and Diaspora African cultural elements. It also incorporates those values that are essential to Africans throughout the world in their various struggles.

and articles. The candleholder with the seven candles is then placed on the mat, along with the bowl of fruits and ears of corn. Any other product which the family has produced during the year can also be displayed.

On the morn of the 26th, the entire family gathers around the Kwanzaa table.

Libations are offered to the creator and ancestors. The candle is then lit, starting with the red candle. The family then discusses their failures and achievements in fostering unity in the family and community over the past year. Habari Gani (or what is the news for today?) is asked. Unity or Umoja is the answer given by others. The candle of Umoja is then lit. It is important that the children and elders participate in the ceremony with the view of bridging the generational gap, thus continuing the tradition. If anyone has exemplified this principle during the previous year, Zwadis or gifts are given.

This ceremony is repeated with each principle being the center of discussing for

zaa is a family oriented celebration, the entire family is expected to participate.

Saba or seven principles.

These are the minimum set of values needed by Africans to reconstruct their lives in their own image, to build their communities and to resuscitate their culture. The Nguzo Saba are:

KWANZAA: AN AFRICAN HARVEST FESTIVAL In many traditional agricultural societies the harvest is an important celebration for the family and community.

Agricultural societies in Africa celebrated the harvest in various ways. Harvest time meant not only a “ Celebration after hard work”, but also an assessment and evaluation of the past year’s achievements and failures.

The origin of Kwanzaa (a Swahili word meaning “first fruits”) is to be found in the agricultural and harvest celebrations of traditional African societies. Kwanzaa contains the key elements of these celebrations.

These elements are: The ingathering of people Reverence for the Creator and Creation Commemoration of the past Recommitment to the basic tenets of African culture

PRINCIPLES At the core of Kwanzaa is the Nguzo

1. Umoja (Unity) * To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community and race.

2. Kujichagulia (Self Determination) * To define ourselves instead of being named, spoken for and created by others.

3. Ujima (Collective work & responsibility) * To build and maintain our own manufacturing and commercial businesses and financial organizations, and to profit from them.

4. Ujamaa (Co-operative Economics) Collective economic strength.

5. Nia (Purpose) * To make our collective vocation the continuing development of our community in order to restore our people to their tradi-

tional greatness.

6. Kuumba (Creativity) * To do always as much as we can, in any way that we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

7. Imani (Faith) * To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

SYMBOLS The symbols of Kwanzaa are a straw mat, a candle holder, a bowl of fruits, seven candles and ears of corn. * The straw mat symbolizes our rich traditions and is the foundation of all the other symbols. * A bowl of fruits signifies rewards after hard work. * The seven candles symbolize the seven principles. * The ears of corn symbolize the ability of Africans to reproduce and service despite various setbacks.

THE COLOURS OF KWANZAA ARE RED, GREEN AND BLACK * Red signifies the blood shed through the various struggles of Africans all over the world. * Green signifies the richness and fertility of the African continent. * Black signifies the color of the people.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2019

LTI graduates seeking self-employment – owing to decline in bauxite production

By Vanessa Braithwaite EVERY year, the Linden Technical Institute (LTI) turns out over 150 graduates.

This year there were 164 to be precise, and of the lot, only a handful are employed at the bauxite company in Linden, which is a significant departure from what obtained in the 1900s and early 2000s, when almost all of the students were guaranteed employment at the company.

In fact, the school initially served as an institution to provide the theoretical aspect of vocational skills needed in the industry, after which the students learnt the practical at the company and then they automatically became employees.

Today, the narrative has changed significantly. In 1958, the first intake at the DEMBA Training Centre (which is what the LTI was previously called) was a small batch of 12 students, and they all sought employment at DEMBA. Today the intakes are more than ten-fold, and many of them do not set foot in the bauxite industry, which is the largest employer in Region 10 (Up-

per Demerara-Berbice).

Presently, Bosai Minerals Group Guyana has over 600 employees, and there is an active apprenticeship programme which sees a small batch of students from LTI being enrolled, and if successful, become employed at the company. The rest, however, seek employment at other expatriate companies in interior locations, or become another statistic in Linden’s high unemployment ratio.

Commendably, many students are determined not to become another statistic, and are finding innovative ways of self-employment, and have testified that while their initial goal was to be employed in the bauxite industry, they do not regret not being called after an interview, since being their own boss is way better.

One of those youngsters is Rawle Hinds, who completed his courses in Internal Combustion Engine and Motor Vehicle Works in 2012.

He was placed at a mechanic and body work shop as an apprentice, but was eventually laid off. Deciding not to sit on his laurels and become another statistic, Hinds decided to use the training he

got at LTI to commence his own mechanic operation in his yard. This move would have attracted previous clients that he worked for at his former place of employ, as well as new ones. In the interim of attracting enough clients to make it his sole means of earning, he worked taxi with his car, but now that things are better at the mechanic shop, he is hoping in the new year to establish a more permanent setting and have a registered business, since it is presently in his yard at Lovers Lane Amelia’s Ward. He has no regrets of attending LTI, and is advising other youths to do likewise after completing high school despite the employment situation in Linden may be dismal.

He related that it was the constant playing of video games that made him develop a love for cars and engines, and because he knew what he wanted from ‘the get-go’, he made the best use of his training at LTI. “You just have to know what you want to do, and I would advise youths to attend the institution if they want to learn a trade, because the theory is very

important.” Rawle said, adding: “The theory helped me a lot in my career, especially the exams, because when you actually come to do the work, it becomes easier.”

DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL He believes that the LTI gives youths like him, who may not be academically inclined, a chance to do something meaningful, and more so, be their own boss.

Another former student of LTI was Steve Marks, who studied welding and fabrication at LTI, and was also able to start up his own business with the training he received.

He said that his skill is the only means of providing for his family, and after completing about eight months of an apprenticeship programme, he decided it was time to go on his own.

“I decided that I want to go on my own,” Steve said. “I decided that I can do this on my own, so I

went on with a little savings that I had, and invested in my own welding machine and I started many projects because of the love I have for the work,” he related.

Marks’ clientele soon grew, and pretty soon, everyone was hiring him to fabricate portable shops, grills, centre table designs etc.

While he, too, was hoping to be employed at the bauxite company initially, he does not regret attending LTI and learning a trade, and is advising youths in Linden to put all negative thoughts aside and do the same, as they too can become self-employed.

“It was a great step for me, and I would advise any young person in Linden to go to LTI and pursue a skill, as it is one of the best gifts one could get. More so, there are more companies and so coming to Guyana that need skills in the oil and gas industry.

And I would advise them to do something that you enjoy doing; choose a trade that

you love, because, if you love it, you will take pride in what you do.”

Last week at LTI’s graduation, guest speaker Pastor Selwyn Sills encouraged the graduates to also seek self-employment, as this will assist in lowering Linden’s high unemployment ratio.

To be successful in doing so, however, he urged them to be more than vocationally-skilled.

The graduates were urged to seek out cognitive skills, which include basic literacy and numeracy skills, socio-emotional skills, which will enable them to develop interpersonal relationships in the work place, technical skills which will make them marketable in the technical fields of the oil and gas industry, communication skills, and most importantly, financial skills which will enable them to stay and grow in the market place, thus keeping ahead of their competitors.

Fire destroys house occupied by ‘Spoil Child’ THE house located in Fairs Rust, Mackenzie, in which ex-cop, Teon Allen, known as ‘Spoil Child’, was an occupant, was early Saturday morning burnt down and it is speculated that the fire was another gang-related incident, targeting Allen, by the infamous ‘Cayenne Gang’.

Allen was not at home at the time and is currently nursing injuries which were inflicted during a recent shooting incident, involving members of the Guyana Police Force. The fire occurred around 03:30hrs on Saturday and while the members of the Guyana Fire Service, along with ranks of the Region 10 Police Division turned up to quell the blaze, they were unsuccessful in doing so and what was once a two-story wooden structure, now remains a shell.

When the Guyana Chronicle contacted Commander of Region 10, Superintendent Courtland Winter, he related that the police responded promptly to the scene but it is still too early to pronounce on whether it was arson or the fire originated from some other cause. He said neighbours, when questioned, were tight-lipped about the matter and no one reported seeing anything strange.

The division, however, has not ruled out it being a

The house that was destroyed in Fairs Rust Mackenzie gang-related incident and investigations into the operations of the ‘Cayenne gang’ remain open, since several of its members are still wanted by the police.

This newspaper contacted the owner for the house, who said that he has no affiliation to Teon Allen and, in fact, never rented him the house but placed a trusted caretaker to look over the property. It was about a year ago, when he was contacted by a company to rent the house temporarily, when he heard Allen was occupying same. Since then, he tried to get him out, but his efforts proved futile. He was even forced to employ a lawyer to fight his battle. The owner said that his losses are estimated to be around $ 9M but he is remaining positive.

“I am looking at the positive side, it is ashes, but we can

rebuild, the main thing is we have life,” he said.

Last Monday, Allen was released on $240,000 bail

by Magistrate Faith McGusty, for having in his possession, several firearms, without a firearm licence.

Allen is a known figure in the courts and was placed in the spot light recently for gang-related incidents involving the ‘Cayenne Gang’. Over the last few months, a member of the gang allegedly opened fire on Allen in the presence of police ranks and in the East La Penitence Market, burnt his car; killed his cousin and shot his girlfriend, bombed his Wismar Housing Scheme home and stabbed affiliates of Allen.

Some of the members were charged for some of these crimes, while some remained wanted.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2019

Rupununi farmers receive cassava harvesting machine

Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture with responsibility for Rural Affairs, Valerie Adams-Yearwood, hands over a harvesting machine to Regional Agriculture Officer of Region 9, Dr. Darren Halley. Also, in photo are Chief Technical Officer George Jervis and Gavin Glen, Technical Officer of the Rural Affairs Secretariat

Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture with responsibility for Rural Affairs, the Hon. Valerie Adams-Yearwood thoroughly inspects the harvesting machine as Dr. Darren Halley looks on

FARMERS of the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region are now better equipped to harvest their cassava crops, following the donation of a harvester to the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

The equipment was gifted to the farmers by Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture with responsibility for Rural Affairs, Valerie Adams-Yearwood on Friday.

During the simple handing over ceremony at the Guyana Livestock Development Authority’s Headquarters, Mon Repos, Minister Adams-Yearwood highlighted that the promise to deliver to the Region Nine farmers was made October last, during the Farmers’ Symposium held in the district.

“Most of the farmers in Region Nine plant cassava and we have a large intake of cassava being used in Guyana coming from that region,” she noted.

According to the minister, the harvester was handed over specifically to the RDC to ensure equal utilisation by all the farmers, while adding that it receives maximum maintenance at all times. Accepting the gift on behalf of the farmers, Region Nine’s Regional Agriculture Officer, Dr. Darren Halley, said the area is outfitted with 1,170 registered farmers and there is a production of 2,100 kilos of cassava yearly.

“I will ensure that this equipment will be used properly,” he remarked. Chief Technical Officer, George Jervis, and Technical Officer of the Rural Affairs Secretariat, Gavin Glen, also witnessed the handing-over ceremony.

Career criminal arrested on Essequibo Coast A man who was sentenced in absentia to two years imprisonment was arrested Friday after he was found stashed among coconuts in a canter truck on Cotton Field Public Road, Essequibo Coast.

Taxi driver, Stravo Evans, who has had many brushes with the law, was charged

along with a group of men for carrying out a multimillion-dollar robbery at the Bourda Post Office in 2015.

Reports indicate that a party of policemen stopped a red and grey motor canter on the Cotton Field Public Road, Essequibo Coast with two occupants in the front seat and the driver.

Upon inspection, police noted that the vehicle, which was loaded with water coconuts, had someone hiding among the produce.

Police immediately observed that it was wanted man, Stravo Evans. He was arrested and taken into police custody and was handed over to the prison

authority to commence serving his time.

Evans was also wanted by police in October last when he threatened to kill a mother of six, who is a nursery school teacher.

In addition, he was under investigation in cases that involved armed robbery, abduction and murder.

Arrested: Stravo Evans

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2019

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2019

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 22, 2019 From page 27

Pope hits ton for England as trio ...

England when illness put a sizeable dent in their bowling attack.

He was still pleased with his effort, a first century in an England shirt as he looks to secure a place in the team for the first Test of the four-match series against South Africa that will start in Centurion near Pretoria on Boxing Day. “It felt good, I have got close a few times, but it is a good feeling to get it out the way,” Pope told reporters.

“If it was the first Test it would be even nicer, but it is all about the getting ready for that game.”

Pope, who can also keep wicket and has four Test caps, added he was happy to take up the number six position in the batting lineup if that is what is required of him.

“As long as I am getting a game, I’m happy. It was nice to get that first score under my belt in New Zealand (75) and I’m hoping to kick-on from there.”

Archer, Broad and Leach all had a net session for the first time yesterday after being laid low with flu, but are unlikely to feature on the final day of the match against South Africa A. The status of the fixture means they could either bat or bowl if it is deemed necessary, with none having so far featured at all in the middle on the tour ahead of the first Test.

27

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 22, 2019

New KFC Goodwill football champions to be crowned tonight WHEN the dust settles this evening, new KFC Goodwill football champions will be crowned.

From 19:00hrs, Lodge Secondary, champions of the GUYOIL Tradewind Tankers Football tournament will have a chance to double their money when they clash with Annai in the final.

The venue is the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue.

Defending champions Shiva Hindu Boys College can only hope for third place as they battle Waramadong from 17:00hrs.

But for the finalists, glory awaits.

Lodge are riding high, having done something no other local team have done by beating the touring Trinidad Shiva team.

Albeit that a goal wasn’t scored in

regulation or extra time, the Lodge side will be comfortable knowing that they held off the attacks of the Trinidad side, who ran so many teams ragged over the duration of the tournament.

Lodge won the semi-final 3-0 on penalties thanks to some expert goal-keeping.

No doubt this staunch bit of defending will be Lodge’s game plan heading into tonight’s final, but don’t think for a second that they aren’t good offensively.

Dorwin George has four goals in the three games played thus far and will be looking to increase that tally.

On the other side, Annai have been known to produce some high-scoring games heavily favouring the offensive side of the game. With players like Amir Robertson, Junior Rodrigues and Italo

Benjamin among others, they have the attacking prowess to get the job done.

Their 2-1 win over Waramadong DC Caesar Fox (Waramadong) Secondary was a thrilling encounter for those in attendance Vito Cambridge opened things up for the eventual winners just as the whistle went to start the half, setting the tone early.

Ovid Andrews responded in the ninth minute to bring things level and from there, the match was on.

It wouldn’t be until Raul Sway’s 65th minute goal that a decider was found.

Still, today’s third-place playoff means that Waramadong have a chance at redemption when that match gets going at 19:00hrs.

Liverpool win Club World Cup as Firmino sinks Flamengo

By Simon Evans DOHA, Qatar (Reuters) - An extra-time goal from Roberto Firmino gave Liverpool a 1-0 victory over Brazil’s Flamengo to win the Club World Cup at the Khalifa International stadium yesterday.

It is the first time Liverpool have won the competition, which features each continent’s champions, and they became only the second English team to lift the trophy after Manchester United in 2008.

Brazilian Firmino drilled home the winner in the ninth minute of extra time to secure victory for Juergen Klopp’s European champions and Premier League leaders.

The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in normal time was when Firmino hit the post two minutes after the break and there was drama after Liverpool had a stoppage-time penalty award reversed, following a VAR review.

Liverpool, with Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk

returning to the side after illness, started brightly and Firmino had an early chance but blasted over.

Naby Keita was also badly off-target after being set up by Mohamed Salah, who again had his every touch roared by a large Egyptian contingent in the 45 000 crowd.

Trent Alexander-Arnold drilled a fine long-range drive just past the post as Liverpool looked to capitalise on their early domination.

But, backed by a noisy 13 000 travelling support from Brazil, Flamengo grew into the game and began to pose questions of Klopp’s defence.

Joe Gomez had to make a last-ditch tackle to foil the dangerous Bruno Henrique and with skipper Everton Ribeiro dictating in midfield, Flamengo were showing exactly why they became South American champions under the wily charge of Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus.

Liverpool regrouped at the break and they should have gone in front when Firmino chested down a pass from Jordan Henderson and

created space but could only strike the post with his shot.

LOPP SHAKEN Salah went close and Flamengo’s much-soughtafter number nine Gabriel Barbosa twice forced Alisson Becker into action before a moment that left Klopp looking shaken.

Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain landed badly after an aerial challenge, hurting the same right knee which he suffered ligament damage to in 2018 and which sidelined him for a year.

The looks on the faces of the players suggested the England international’s injury could be serious and another lengthy absence would be a bitter blow to the 26-yearold.

Salah had the ball in the net in the 76th minute but his effort was rightly ruled out for offside and Flamengo keeper Diego Alves was at full stretch to keep out a curling Henderson shot.

Then came the drama - an interesting but not memorable game had been missing - Sadio Mane burst goal-

wards and Rafinha made a desperate sliding tackle from behind as the Senegalese forward fired wide.

Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim pointed to the spot, ruling the former Bayern Munich defender had fouled Mane but left the field to check the VAR monitor and changed his decision after deciding the incident occurred outside the area.

That meant 30 minutes of extra-time and the threat of a penalty shootout but the game was settled thanks to a classic Liverpool counter-attack.

Henderson found Mane with a brilliant ball and the Senegalese striker span and fed Firmino, the Brazilian calmly cutting inside, losing his marker and drilling home.

There was still time for one last opportunity but it was not to be Flamengo’s night, substitute Lincoln firing over after he was picked out by a smart ball from Vitinho, and the Brazilians who had trekked from Rio to the Gulf were left to watch Klopp and his players enjoy another night of celebration.

Pope hits ton for England as trio overcome illness to train JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) - The illness that swept through the England camp has eased with bowlers Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and Jack Leach returning to training as Ollie Pope struck a century in the three-day warm-up fixture

against South Africa A in Benoni yesterday.

The home side closed the second day on 154 for two in reply to England’s first-innings total of 456 for seven declared, where Pope top-scored with 132 to go with Joe Denly’s 103 on the

opening day.

Pope’s ton will not go into the record books though, as the match was stripped of first-class status and reduced from four to three days at the request of TURN TO PAGE

26

Abid Ali, Masood tons flatten Sri Lanka in Karachi

Abid Ali celebrates with Shan Masood.

(Source: Twitter/@TheRealPCB)

LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) Abid Ali - Pakistan openers and Shan Masood smashed hundreds and forged a 278-run stand to flatten Sri Lanka in the second and final Test in Karachi yesterday.

Bundled out for a paltry 191 in the first innings, Pakistan finished day three on 395-2, with a commanding lead of 315 runs, after a vastly improved batting display at Karachi’s National Stadium.

Abid, followed his century on debut in the drawn Rawalpindi Test with a career-best 174, which included 21 boundaries and a six.

Shan’s 135 was also his highest Test score, studded with three sixes and seven boundaries.

Skipper Azhar Ali (57) and Babar Azam (22) will return today hoping to bat Sri Lanka out of the contest and inch closer to a series victory.

On a pitch offering little to the bowlers, Abid and Shan batted fluently to deny the Sri Lankans in the morning session when they

scored at a four-and-half per over rate.

Abid took two off left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya to bring up his century and it did not take long before Shan completed his hundred.

The last time both Pakistan openers smashed centuries in the same innings was in 2001 when Saeed Anwar and Taufeeq Umar got hundreds in a Multan Test against Bangladesh.

Lahiru Kumara finally separated the duo when Shan attempted a pull shot and the top-edge found Oshada Fernando at deep square leg.

It was the end of Pakistan’s highest second-innings stand for any wicket.

Abid was looking good for a double-century but he perished lbw trying to flick Kumara.

The two-match series, part of the World Test Championship, marks Pakistan’s first Tests on home soil since the 2009 militant attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore.

Scoreboard PAKISTAN 1st innings 191 SRI LANKA 1st innings Oshada Fernando c Mohammad Rizwan b Shaheen Afridi 4 Dimuth Karunaratne b Mohammad Abbas 25 Kusal Mendis c Haris Sohail b Mohammad Abbas 13 Angelo Mathews c Mohammad Rizwan b Shaheen Afridi 13 Lasith Embuldeniya c Asad Shafiq b Mohammad Abbas 13 Dinesh Chandimal c Shan Masood b Haris Sohail 74 Dhananjaya de Silva c Mohammad Abbas b Shaheen Afridi 32 Niroshan Dickwella b Mohammad Abbas 21 Dilruwan Perera lbw Shaheen Afridi 48 Vishwa Fernando not out 5 Lahiru Kumara b Shaheen Afridi 0 Extras: (b-4, lb-10, nb-3, w-6) 23 Total: (all out, 85.5 overs) 271 Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-39, 3-61, 4-78, 5-80, 6-147, 7-184, 8-235, 9-271.

Bowling: Shaheen Afridi 26.5-5-77-5 (nb-1), Mohammad Abbas 27-9-55-4 (w-1), Naseem Shah 16-1-71- 0 (w-1, nb-2), Yasir Shah 13-0-43-0.

PAKISTAN 2nd innings Shan Masood c Oshada Fernando b Lahiru Kumara 135 Abid Ali lbw Lahiru Kumara 174 Azhar Ali not out 57 Babar Azam not out 22 Extras: (lb-5, w-2) 7 Total: (two wkts, 104.0 overs) 395 Fall of wickets: 1-278, 2-355.

Bowling: Vishwa Fernando 21-2-84-0, Lahiru Kumara 22-588-2, Lasith Embuldeniya 37-3- 136-0 (w-1), Dilruwan Perera 17-1-63-0 (w-1) Dhananjaya de Silva 7-0-19-0.

28

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 22, 2019

Series defeat won’t hurt Windies long-term planning: Simmons CUTTACK, India (CMC) – West Indies face India in today’s decisive third OneDay International knowing victory will see them end a near two-decade wait for a series victory on the subcontinent.

The Caribbean side stunned the hosts by eight wickets in the opening ODI in Chennai before succumbing by 107 runs in the second match in Visakhapatnam last Wednesday.

Should West Indies overcome the odds and beat India, the series will mark their first on Indian soil since Carl Hooper’s team won a seven-match rubber back in 2002.

Left-hander Shimron Hetmyer bats during a training session ahead of today’s decisive ODI. With the importance of the contest looming large, however, West Indies head coach Phil Simmons sought to downplay its significance, pointing out that the current long-term team-building would continue even if they lost.

“The thing is we’re trying to build something and the game … does not influence the

direction in which we’re going,” Simmons told a media conference.

“I think all the guys know we want to play our best … and even though we play our best, we might not win. We might now beat India but we’re trying our best to build something and continue going in the direction we’re going.”

Contrasting hundreds from Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope in the first ODI saw the Caribbean side overhaul a testing target of 288.

Similarly, stroke-filled centuries by openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in the second game, powered India to a massive 387 – their second highest-ever total against West Indies.

Faced with a record run chase, West Indies stumbled to 280 all out, undermined by left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav’s second career hat-trick.

Simmons said it was important to maintain discipline in their bowling right throughout the innings as this had cost the Windies dearly in the last game.

New WADA report shows jump in global doping cases (REUTERS) - More drug cheats are being caught in global sport with the latest World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) figures on Thursday showing a 13.1% rise in anti-doping rule violations (ADRV).

The WADA report detailing doping offences during 2017 counted 1 804 cases, which was up sharply from the 1 595 recorded in 2016 although down from 1 929 in 2015.

The country with the most violations was Italy with 171 followed by France (128) and the United States (103).

Russia, who earlier this month was hit with a four-year WADA ban from international sporting competition - including the next two Olympics - over doping, was fifth with 82 violations.

The country said on Thursday it will appeal the sanctions barring athletes from competing under its flag.

Body building, which was a medal sport at the 2019 Pan Am Games and is bidding to get on the Olympic programme, had the most ADRVs with 266 followed by athletics (242) and cycling (218).

WADA director general Olivier Niggli said the results showed progress was being made in the fight against doping, particularly in the area of investigation and intelligence-based testing.

The majority of violations (1 459) were positive tests with the other 345 classified as non-analytical, where no prohibited substance was detected but investigations

Olivier Niggli

found athletes or their support staff were in violation of the WADA Code.

“While in- and out-of-competition testing remains critical to detect doping, events have recently shown that investigative work is becoming even more important as we look to protect clean athletes’ rights worldwide,” said Niggli in a statement. “... the report also reminds us of the importance of evidence-based education to prevent doping in the first place.”

A total of 245 232 samples were collected in 2017 with the 1 804 ADRVs coming from 93 sports and disciplines involving athletes from 114 countries.

Left-hander Shimron Hetmyer bats during a training session ahead of today’s decisive ODI.

“In the last match, we thought that 320, 330 would have been a good score to chase on that ground but in the last four, five overs we let them get away and that’s where we lost the game.”

Much will depend on Hope, Hetmyer and Pooran all of whom have already posted big scores, but the spotlight will fall on captain Kieron Pollard who has managed just 35 runs from three innings since his return to ODIs. Pollard, like his opposite number Virat Kohli, suffered the indignity of a one-ball ‘duck’ in the last match and will be hoping to redeem himself quickly.

A win will hand West Indies their first ODI series win over India in 13 years but Simmons said regardless of the outcome, he had been impressed with the way his side had challenged the powerful hosts.

“They’re definitely the best team in their home conditions and for us to be playing the way we are and giving them a run, it’s great for us to see,” he said.

BCB pleased with 2019 achievements

WITH 2019 nearly over, Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) seemingly met this year’s mandate as an official release confirmed that the board are satisfied with their goals attained for the calendar year.

According to a release from BCB public relations officer (PRO) Simon Naidu, the board, known for hosting a number of activities on a yearly basis, has again lived up to its mandates with regard to cricket development in Berbice.

Below is a list of the activities as well as goals that the BCB successfully achieved for the year 2019: 1. Launched and hosted over 60 cricket tournaments over the last 22 months, despite a combined eight months of rain in 2018 and 2019. Tournaments organised were at the U-13, U-15, U-17, U-19, U-21, Female, Inter-Primary, Inter-Secondary, Intermediate, Internal Zone, Village, Double Wicket, Second Division and First Division Levels.

2. Led the revival of every member club of the BCB which was once dormant.

3. Raised $2M in cash to develop Berbice Cricket.

4. Transparent Audit reports: To date, the last treasurer of the GCB-backed board (2017 to February 2018) has failed to account for over $2M, withdrawn from the account for unknown reasons, despite receiving written request to do so.

5. Led a remarkable restoration of the BCB office into a modern one.

6. Spearheaded the successful celebration of our 80th anniversary with over 15 major programmes.

7. Hosted two highly successful Awards Ceremonies and Cricket Academies in 2018 and 2019. We also invested heavily in numerous club academies across Berbice.

8. Dozens of young cricketers received cricket gear, educational materials and bicycle.

9. Clubs across Berbice benefitted from millions of dollars’ worth of cricket balls, scorebooks, cricket gear, stumps, water pitchers, bicycles, educational materials, raincoats, trophies, special prizes and medals.

10. Invested heavily into the educational development of our youths by printing educational posters, youth information booklets etc.

11. Donated over $700 000 in financial stipends to youth and female cricketers.

12. Hosted numerous programmes like Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh coaching programme, Mother-of-the-Year, Father-of-the-Year, Pre-Level One Coaches Seminar, Tribute to Retired Cricketers, Hall of Fame for Administrators, Tribute to Heroes, Wall of Fame, Cricketers Hall of Fame, Inter-County MVP, Inter-County Cap System, Dare to Dream among others.

13. Numerous players drawn from clubs across Berbice gained selection to the Guyana and West Indies team.

14. Inter-County Cricket returned to Berbice after an absence of over a decade.

15. Following a 15-year absence, 2-day first division cricket returned to Berbice.

16. Publication of a 256-page book on the history of Berbice.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 22, 2019

England World Cup winner Peters dies aged 76

By Martyn Herman LONDON, England (Reuters) - England World Cup winner Martin Peters has died, aged 76, his former club West Ham United said yesterday.

Peters was part of the 1966 World Cup-winning side and scored in the final against West Germany.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce that Martin passed away peacefully in his sleep at 04:00hrs yesterday,” said a statement from his family, posted on West Ham’s website.

“A beloved husband, dad

World Cup winner Martin Peters, who scored in the 1966 final against Germany, has died. The former West Ham and Tottenham midfielder was 76.

and grandad, and a kind, gentle and private man; we are devastated by his loss but so very proud of all that he achieved, and comforted by the many happy memories we shared.”

Peters is the fifth member of England’s World Cup final team to have died, after captain Bobby Moore, Alan Ball, Ray Wilson and Gordon Banks.

Peters joined West Ham in 1959 as a 15-year-old, made his debut in 1962 and was a key player in the side who won the 1965 Cup Winners Cup final at Wembley.

The midfielder, described

by former England manager Alf Ramsey as “10 years ahead of his time” won 70 senior caps for his country.

He scored 100 goals in 364 appearances for West Ham before moving across London to join Tottenham Hotspur in 1970 in a deal that saw striker Jimmy Greaves go the other way.

Peters won the UEFA Cup and two League Cups with Tottenham before spells with Norwich City and Sheffield United.

“We extend our sincere condolences to his family and many friends in the game at this sad time. A truly foot-

balling great has left us but his memory will live on,” a tribute on Tottenham’s website said.

Geoff Hurst, England’s hat-trick hero in the World Cup final and a former West Ham team mate of Peters, described him as one of the all-time greats.

“A fellow World Cup final goalscorer and my West Ham partner for years along with Bobby Moore.

RIP old friend,” Hurst said.

Fletcher hundred propels Thunder to crushing win CHATTOGRAM, Bangladesh, (CMC) – Andre Fletcher struck a maiden Twenty20 hundred while Johnson Charles narrowly missed out on a second, as the two exiled West Indies stars propelled Sylhet Thunder to a crushing 80-run victory over Khulna Tigers in the Bangladesh Premier League here Saturday.

In a one-sided contest at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Fletcher slammed an unbeaten 103 off 57 balls to help lift Thunder to an imposing 232 for five off their 20 overs.

Charles fell short of three figures with 90 off 38 deliveries, but shared in a shared in a rollicking 150-run, second wicket stand with Fletcher, to pull their side around from 11 for one in the opening over after being sent in.

Fletcher, who last featured for West Indies 17 months ago, smashed 11 fours and five sixes as he raced to his half-century

off 26 balls before reaching his hundred off another 31 deliveries.

Charles, without an appearance for the Caribbean side in three years, also blasted 11 fours and five sixes during his stay at the crease. He was first to his fifty off 25 balls and appeared set for a hundred when he was second out in the 13th over, lbw to seamer Shafiul Islam.

Fletcher, however, saw the innings to the end, adding a further 39 for the fourth wicket with captain Mosaddek Hossain (11).

In reply, Tigers were in a strong position on 75 for one following a 75-run, second wicket stand between South African Rilee Rossouw (52) and Saif Hassan (20).

But once four wickets tumbled for 25 runs to see

the

innings slump to 100 for five in the 13th over, not even South African Robert Frylinck’s 20-ball 44 could revive the run chase.

In the other match played, West Indies opener Lendl Simmons perished for a four-ball ‘duck’ as leaders Chattogram Challengers went down by six wickets to Rangpur Riders.

Andre Fletcher

Cottrell lacks the quality to justify price tag, says Gambhir KOLKATA, India (CMC) – Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir has criticised Kings XI Punjab’s million-dollar acquisition of West Indies speedster Sheldon Cottrell, labelling the move as a “desperation” buy.

Cottrell found himself at the centre of a bidding war between Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals and Kings XI before Kings XI finally secured his services

for US$1.2 million.

Speaking following Thursday’s auction here, Gambhir said he did not believe Cottrell possessed “enough quality” to justify the lucrative price tag.

“There were no better options, Pat Cummins and Chris Morris both were sold out. They tried hard to get Morris but it didn’t work,” said Gambhir, who twice led Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL titles.

“I still don’t think

Sheldon Cottrell has enough quality to become a (US$1.2 million) bowler.

He’s still to build on accuracy and speed yet that he can bowl at 145 (kph) speed. He can look at putting cutters but that might not help at Mohali.

“I think Anil Kumble (Kings XI director of operations) picked him up in desperation since they couldn’t get Chris Morris or Pat Cummins. If the demand is high and supply is

low, these things happen.”

Cottrell has had an outstanding year for West Indies, taking 30 wickets from 23 One-Day Internationals and 14 from 12 T20 Internationals.

He also led the attack during a wretched ICC World Cup campaign by the Caribbean side to finish with 12 wickets and was also instrumental in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with 12 wickets at an economy rate of just

Fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell

under eight runs per over for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

At Kings XI, Cottrell joins West Indies teammates Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran

who were both retained following the last IPL season, and Barbados-born England fast-bowling all-rounder Chris Jordan.

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 22, 2019

KSM Investments on board with KMTC ahead of Boxing Day horse race KSM Investments has joined the list of high-profile sponsors to hop on board next Thursday’s annual Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) Boxing Day horse race.

At the business’ Good Hope East Coast Demerara site, president of the KMTC Justice Cecil Kennard on Friday morning was presented with the sponsorship cheque

by CEO/Director Mahadeo Panchu and family.

The sponsorship, which has now marked its third year, was directed towards covering the main prizes for the J and K Lower 7-furlong race. Winners of that event will bag a 1st place prize of $200 000 while 2nd place will take home $100 000, 3rd $50 000 and 4th $25 000.

CEO Panchu said his company was more than happy to continue supporting the horse racing fraternity and plans to do more in 2020.

“We (KSM Investments)

recognise the importance of the sport of horse-racing. We also recognise the importance of horse-racing to Berbice, especially on the Corentyne area so we plan to continue supporting the Club in 2020”.

Justice Kennard, in his brief response to the kind gesture, said that the relationship between the two entities has grown over the years and he hopes that the next year will bring more for the sport, adding that sponsorship is very

From left, KMTC president Justice Cecil Kennard accepts the sponsorship cheque from one of the company’s directors and son of the CEO, Arvind Panchu, in the presence of KSM secretary/director Shanta Panchu. (Clifton Ross photo)

essential for the promotion and overall sustenance of any event.

Meanwhile, Justice Kennard said that he expects a

brilliant day of racing come next week and stated that the turf is in excellent shape despite rain but they will be

banking on good weather to facilitate what he said could be one of the biggest races in recent times. (Clifton Ross)

Canberra Big Bash called off due to bushfire smoke BCB annual general

Umpires deem conditions in Canberra too hazardous to continue. (CA photo)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday December 22, 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)

Lance Gibbs

(2)

Courtney Walsh

Today’s Quiz: (1) Who is the first WI to play 100 Test matches?

(2) Who is the first WI player to register a debut Test ton overseas?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Smoke from bushfires raging across eastern Australia prompted match officials to abandon yesterday’s Big Bash League cricket match in Canberra over what they called “dangerous and unreasonable playing conditions”.

Chasing 162 for victory against Adelaide Strikers, Sydney Thunder were 40-1 in the fifth over when the contest was halted because of lack of visibility and poor air quality caused by smoke.

“After a delay, officials deemed conditions were unsuitable for play to resume ...” BBL said in a statement.

Sydney captain Callum Ferguson was upset at being

stranded four balls away from victory with his side already past the five-over target.

Umpire Paul Wilson said there was no way they could have gone ahead with the contest.

“I understand that the Thunder have four balls to go. We can’t take that into consideration,” Wilson told Fox Cricket after play was halted.

“It’s about air quality.

We would not have started (the match) like this.”

Close to 100 fires were burning across Australia’s eastern state of New South Wales yesterday of which six were characterised as “emergency level”.

Earlier this month, players complained of “toxic” conditions at the Sydney Cricket Ground during a Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Queensland which was blanketed in a smoky haze.

Australia’s sports federations were forced to postpone a number of youth matches across New South Wales two weeks ago.

Australia has been fighting wildfires for weeks, with blazes destroying more than 700 homes and nearly 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) of bushland.

meeting set for today

Hilbert Foster

THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) will host its Annual General Meeting (AGM) today, Sunday December 22, at the board’s office in Charlotte Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Proceedings are expected to begin at 11:00hrs, when 38 delegates from 13 clubs and 3 Sub-Association will meet under the chairmanship of president Hilbert Foster to discuss the affairs of Guyana’s most vibrant cricket board during 2019.

The delegates are expected to discuss reports from the president, secretary, treasurer and chairman of the Competitions Committee. At the end of the AGM, the BCB would hold crucial elections for the positions of president, 1st vice-president, 2nd vice-president, 3rd vice-president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer and assistant treasurer.

Foster indicated that he would be seeking re-election after successfully transforming Berbice Cricket over the last 22 months. Under his administration, the BCB has raised more than $20M in cash over the past two years.

Meanwhile, clubs expected to vote are: Kildonan, Whim, Port Mourant, RHTY&SC, Albion, Chesney, Young Warriors, Rose Hall Canje, Mental Hospital, Mt Sinai, Guymine, Blairmont, Police while three sub-associations are Upper Corentyne, West Berbice and Berbice River.

31

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 22, 2019

Bryan, McRae flawless in first round of Seniors Partners versus Juniors TT battle NIGEL Bryan and Curtis McRae stormed to a 3-0 win in their opening clash of the Seniors Partners with Juniors Table Tennis Team tournament last evening at the Malteenoes Sports Club.

The two-day event, which is organised by senior national players Shemar Britton and Joel Alleyne, attracted 18 players (nine juniors and nine seniors who have paired up to form nine teams). Group One has four teams and Group Two five. Last evening the round robin battles took place with the semi-finals and finals scheduled for this evening at the same venue.

In their opener, former national champion Bryan and McRae were able to better the pair of Elishaba Johnson and Christopher Barrow 13-

11, 11-1 and 11-8.

The 3-0 win was followed up by a tense senior clash with Bryan and Johnson.

Johnson had played excellent table tennis to surge to a 2-0 lead (11-9, 11-7), but Bryan fought back hard to win three consecutive games (11-7, 11-5, 11-7) to keep his side flawless.

The clash ended when McRae overcame Barrow in an exciting clash 13-11, 5-11 8-11, 11-6 and 11-8.

Britton and Yeudistir Persaud claimed a 3-1 victory when they challenged Orin Hickerson and Niron Bissu.

In an exciting doubles clash, the eventual winners prevailed 3-2 (11-7, 11-3, 5-11, 6-11 and 119), while Britton thrashed Bissu 3-0 (11-6, 118, 11-3). Persaud was competitive against Hickerson, and

won two games, but the senior emerged victorious 3-2 (8-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-6, 11-6).

In the battle of the seniors, former Caribbean U-21 champion Britton made no mistakes as he won 11-8, 11-6, 11-4, for a 3-1 overall victory.

The lone female in the competition, U-18 champion Thuraia Thomas and seasoned senior player Christopher Franklyn also got past the team of Warren Hackshaw and Isaiah Layne.

Franklyn and Thomas won the doubles 3-1 (7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8), while Franklyn defeated Hackshaw 11-8, 11-4, 11-6 before U-18 National Schools’ male champion Layne got the better of his female counterpart Thomas 11-8, 11-8 and 11-9.

National captain Franklyn then eased past Layne 11-7,

Some of the best senior and junior TT players are competing in the event.

11-9 and 11-6.

According to Alleyne, the idea of the competition was to bring greater camaraderie between the seniors and the

juniors. He added that the event was geared to help the players learn from each other.

The GTTA, which has sanctioned the competition,

sponsored the trophies, while the entrance fee of $2 000 per team will go towards a social gathering today at the same venue.

New KFC Goodwill football champions to be crowned tonight PAGE

27 Multiple Olympic and World Champion Usain Bolt ‘competes’ on the track at the opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Stadium.

Olympics: Bolt takes to track to open Tokyo national stadium

By Jack Tarrant TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) - Sprinting great Usain Bolt ran on the track at Tokyo’s newly completed National Stadium yesterday during an event to celebrate the opening of the venue, set to be the centrepiece of next year’s Olympics.

Bolt, the eight-time Olympic gold medallist, jogged around the track as part of a relay race in front of an audience of approximately 60 000 people, who were the first members of the public to watch an event in the National Stadium.

Work on the stadium, built at a cost of 156.9 billion yen ($1.44 billion), was finished in November, nine months before it hosts the Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 24.

“It was a great experience being in here and running in front of so many people,” said the 100 and 200 metres world record holder.

“I was happy and excited because I won’t be getting to compete at the Olympics so the fact that I got to run on the track was an experience in itself.

“I am actually in pain right now from the little run I just did.”

Before Bolt took centrestage, the audience watched a smaller version of what might be expected from the Tokyo 2020 opening ceremony, with troupes from around Japan taking part in a traditional ‘matsuri’ festival, dancing and chanting their way around the track.

Soccer player Kazuyoshi Miura, who still plays professionally at the age of 52, and several of Japan’s rugby players also took part in the event, which, barring a slight glitch, when Brave Blossoms captain Michael Leitch was interrupted by the PA system, ran smoothly.

The first sporting event to be held at the National Stadium will be the Emperor’s Cup soccer final on January 1 and the venue will also host the Tokyo 2020 athletics test event in May.

Annai will have a shot at glory when they play in the final of the KFC goodwill series.

Liverpool win Club World Cup as Firmino sinks Flamengo 27

Cottrell lacks the quality to justify price tag, says Gambhir 29

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It is the first time Liverpool have won the competition. (Reuters photo)

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2019