Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 13 04 2017

1,900 gallons of

illegal fuel seized Page in Mahaica 16 – smugglers on the run

Border talks No. 104882

THURSDAY APRIL 13, 2017

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

Page 3

–– President meets UNSG’s Personal Representative on border controversy

Over 13,000 students sit NGSA

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Students of the Plaisance Primary School, East Coast Demerara all set to write the National Grade Six Assessment. [Samuel Maughn photo]

‘Put your house in order’ Page 15

–– envoy warns Guyanese living in the US

SARA ready

Page 2

–– some findings of forensic audits to be used to establish High Court cases

Schools, not the ministry

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–– which gave race-baiting FBO permission to do missionary work

SARA ready

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 13, 2017

–– some findings of forensic audits to be used to establish High Court cases

By Svetlana Marshall THE State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA) is expected to hit the ground running once the legislation governing its operation is passed in the National Assembly.

The National Assembly is expected to pass the State Assets Recovery Bill today, which when assented to by the President will allow for the establishment of SARA – an agency aimed at recovering illicitly obtained state property or any connected benefit derived from the criminal conduct of a public official.

Chief Executive Officer of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU), Aubrey Retmeyer on Wednesday told reporters that SARA will be using some of the findings of the forensic audit reports conducted under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (AP-

NU+AFC) Administration to establish a number of cases in the High Court.

“We have information that points to a number of individuals and some of them are clearly in those audit reports that were conducted

shortly after the change of administration. Some of those cases will certainly lend to asset recovery,” Retmeyer said.

Forensic audits were conducted into the National Industrial and Commercial In-

vestments Limited (NICIL), the National Communications Network (NCN), the Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL), and Atlantic Hotels Inc/Guyana Marriott Hotel, among others.

Retmeyer noted that

mately $188B. “Now this magnitude of loss for any state like ours could not be sustained,” he stated.

Retmeyer was a part of a team led by the Attorney General (AG) and Legal

From right to left: Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, SARU’s Legal Adviser, Brian Horn, Dr. Clive Thomas – Head of SARU, and its CEO, Aubrey Retmeyer while many countries address the issue of corruption by simply dealing with the corrupted officials, Guyana will be placing added attention on recovery of state assets in the interest of development.

According to him, for far too long the country has been losing vast sums of monies.

Procurement fraud, he posited accounts for $28-$38B, while illicit capital flight totals $90B annually. The underground economy, he added accounts for approxi-

Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, who addressed reporters on the State Asset Recovery Bill at the AG’s Chamber.

Head of SARU, Dr. Clive Thomas and the unit’s Legal Adviser, Brian Horn were also part of the team.

In light of criticism by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the Attorney General made it clear that the bill allows for civil recovery proceedings and not criminal proceedings.

“No one will be arrested,

no one will be charged, no one will be prosecuted…

There is nothing criminal about this bill,” he emphasized, while stating clearly that its primary purpose is to recover properties of the State.

Under the bill, only a High Court Judge may make civil recovery order. In making its case in the High Court, SARA will have to prove on a balance of probabilities (the civil standard), that there was unlawful conduct by a public official or other person to the tune of $10M or more.

“So the court is the final determinant,” Minister Williams assured, noting that there is also provisions in the bill for injunctions and appeals to be made.

Dr. Thomas, in making brief remarks, said some people are in the business of making mischief to create the impression that the bill will empower SARU/ SARA or the Government to penalise persons for crimes committed.

“The issue of constitutional right to property, we are protecting 100 per cent, but you can’t have a constitutional right to stolen property,” he posited.

Dr. Thomas noted too that the bill is in accordance with UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which states that each State party must “consider taking such measures as may be necessary to allow confiscation of property without a criminal conviction.” Guyana had signed unto the Convention in April 2008.

It was noted too that the bill would have received the strong backing of the Stolen Assets Recovery Initiative, StAR – a joint United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) and World Bank.

Border talks

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 13, 2017

–– President meets UNSG’s Personal Representative on border controversy

THE United Nations Secretary General’s Personal Representative on the Guyana – Venezuela border controversy, Ambassador Dag Halvor Nylander has arrived here and met with President David Granger last evening at State House.

A release from the Ministry of the Presidency confirmed that Mr Nylander and his delegation met with the President and other government officials; however details pertaining to the discussion were not revealed by the Ministry.

It was noted that other members of the high-level delegation were Mr. Guillermo Kendall of the UN Department of Political Affairs, Mr. David Hutchinson from the UN Office of Legal Affairs and Mr. Juan Jeannet-Acre from the Policy and Mediation Division in the Department of Political Affairs. They were accompanied by acting UN Resident Coordinator and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/ AIDS (UNAIDS) Country Director, Mr. Martin Odiit.

Accompanying the President at the meeting, were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Carl Greenidge; Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon; Guyana’s Ambassador to Venezuela Guyana’s, Ambassador Cheryl Miles;

Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Audrey Waddell; foreign policy expert, Sir Shridath Ramphall; in the role of Advisor and Legal Consultant, Professor Payam Akhavan.

Mr. Nylander, a Norwegian Diplomat, was ap-

that Mr. Nylander would visit Caracas before visiting Georgetown. Ambassador Ten-Pow had explained that this was because the UN envoys in previous missions would have visited Georgetown before going to Caracas. “I think in previous missions of the UN, they came

sponds to the first phase of that plan, which is basically to listen to the two parties.”

But although Guyana had been calling for a settlement through the Netherlands-based International Court of Justice (ICJ), President David Granger had said that the appointment of

engage the UN through confidence-building measures, while at the same time, doing whatever is possible to advance the process to enable the SG to make a decision about the juridical course of action requested by the country.

Mr. Nylander will con-

President David Granger (right) in discussion with UN representative in the Guyana – Venezuela border controversy, Ambassador Dag Halvor Nylander during a meeting at State House, as other officials look on pointed by the UN’s Secretary-General (SG), António Guterres in February of this year to facilitate the Good Officers Process in brokering a deal to settle the border controversy between the two neighbouring states.

Last week, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Michael Ten-Pow disclosed

first to Guyana and then to Venezuela. Now this time it’s going to be Venezuela first, followed by Guyana,” he noted.

The Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN said too that the Norwegian Diplomat’s visit forms part of his plan of action.

“He has a plan of action, and this first visit corre-

Ambassador Nylander is a positive move.

“We are confident that the appointee can do his job and we will abide by the Terms of Reference and the conditions that have been laid down by the United Nations’ Secretary-General,” the President had said.

The President noted too that Guyana will continue to

duct the Good Offices Process on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, and will actively engage the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela with a view to exploring and proposing options for a solution to the border controversy.

If, by the end of 2017, the Secretary-General concludes that no significant progress

has been made toward arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy, he will choose the ICJ as the next means of settlement, unless the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela jointly request of him to refrain from doing such.

Mr. Nylander was the Norwegian Special Envoy to the Colombia peace process (2012-2016) and served as Norway’s Head of Mission in Bogota, Colombia (20062008). Mr. Nylander was a delegate of his country before the United Nations in New York (2001-2004), and at the Norwegian Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina (1999-2001).

The border controversy, which dates back to the early 19th century, escalated in 2015 after a significant oil find was announced in an offshore concession granted by Guyana.

Venezuela claims that the area being drilled is in disputed waters, while that country has also laid claims to Essequibo – a county which constitutes two-thirds of Guyana.

A ruling had been made on the disputed territory in 1899 in favour of Guyana and although Venezuela had representatives at that meeting, the President of that country, Niolas Maduro, in 2015, declared the ruling null and void.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 13, 2017

‘Clamping’ affects people ‘psychologically’ -- APNU councillor tells parking meter consultation

By Telesha Ramnarine A PARTNERSHIP for National Unity (APNU) Councillor,Monica Thomas on Wednesday said she is against clamping vehicles found in breach of the parking meter regulations as this largely affects people negatively, even psychologically.

She was sharing her views on the parking meter project at a consultation meeting that the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) called in response to Government’s suspension of the project for three months, and its request to the M&CC to consider a number of questionable clauses in the contract.

“It (clamping) affects people psychologically because it’s not something Guyanese are accustomed to. It has a very negative effect on people and I think that’s why a lot of people didn’t support it. It is harsh. No one wants to be in chains if I can use that term figuratively,” said Thomas, who then suggested that other means of enforcement be looked at.

Although supportive of the

APNU Councillor,Monica Thomas The parking meter discussion in full swing on Wednesday

project, Thomas is of the view that the public needs to be more informed about it. In fact, she charged that there should be more public involvement in everything that City Hall is doing.

Councillor Ron Persaud called for a copy of the original contract to be produced and urged councillors to roll up their sleeves and take to the streets so that they can sell the project in a way that would result in more people being satisfied with the terms.

At yesterday’s meeting, councillors were still not in possession of the contract between M&CC and Smart City Solutions (SCS), the company that was granted the concession to install the meters.

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillor,Bishram Kuppen similarly asked that the contract be produced and offered that a mere amended document, which was given to councillors, would not suffice.

Kuppen, who noted that the terms of the contract were “overwhelmingly” in favour of SCS, said councillors should have been afforded the opportunity to leisurely review the contract.

He pointed to the fact that parking meters do not necessarily have to be installed in the entire City, and that the City Council itself was contributing to congestion by allowing vendors to overcrowd the streets.

UNACCEPTABLE Kuppen said the aggressiveness of the enforcement aspect was unacceptable, the penalties were too harsh and the fees too high.

Another PPP Councillor,Khame Sharma,voiced his disappointment that a copy of the original contract was not made available to councillors.

“I take umbrage to the fact that we have not seen the contract. Where is the contract?

You (the mayor) yourself said there is nothing to hide. The due process was not followed and so how can we support and vote on a contract we have never seen and perused?”

Sharma was chided by Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and Town Clerk Royston King for making the statement that businesses have experienced a drop in sales and that the City is facing an economic downturn.

Chase-Green and King wanted to expunge Sharma’s remarks from the records because they said he produced no evidence to support his claims.

Thursday, April 13 th 2017 - 05:00 hrs Friday, April 14th, 2017 - 05:00 hrs Wednesday, April 15th, 2017 -05:30 hrs

Councillor Welton Clarke stood up to say that if the Council allows this contract to go, anything else it comes up with in future will be protested.

“We have to pay a price for improvement. If we are not firm, they will take advantage of City Hall,” he stated.

Member of the Finance Committee,Junior Garrett noted that the City Council cannot ask for a 50/50 share because it is not putting anything into the initiative.

“This will have a serious impact on investors’ confidence in Guyana if this contract is scrapped. For just a couple of days, we were able to collect over $600,000.”

Garrett offered that the project reduces pollution, improves security on streets, and saves time and gas searching for parking.

Other councillors who contributed to the meeting included Heston Bostwick, Sophia Whyte, Oscar Clarke, and Ivelaw Henry.

The mayor ended the meeting by asking the town clerk to ensure that all councillors are given a copy of the original contract and she also did not object to a suggestion that a new team be formed to negotiate the contract.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 13, 2017

Three-lane design for new Demerara River bridge - Houston location proposed

THE preliminary findings for the first phase of the feasibility study for a new Demerara River bridge have indicated that a three-lane design is up for deliberation since it would ease traffic flow in the area.

Last November, the government had announced that Lievense CSO will conduct the feasibility study for the new Demerara River Bridge. Traffic Expert, Lievense CSO, Jacqueline Mouws making her presentation on the new Demerara River bridge feasibility study on Wednesday explained that though a two-lane option would be cheaper, it would result in similar traffic congestion currently faced with the existing bridge. If one of the lane becomes inoperable then there will be a heavy buildup of traffic in the area, Mouws stated.

The Traffic expert, speaking at a consultation on the feasibility study at the Pegasus hotel, further explained that with a four-lane bridge, there would be two lanes in different directions, which would provide more capacity. However, the amount of traffic that would travel with the four-lane structure would be too much for the road network, which would also lead to traffic snags. Therefore, “on a three-lane bridge you would have the option to do the double lane opening that you do now, but still make it possible for people to do the counter

flow so you would have the same system as now, you would have a double lane opening. It’s just that because you don’t have to stop the traffic on the other side they can still drive over in the morning from the East Bank to the West Bank and you wouldn’t get the block up that you have now at the entrance of the bridge,” Mouws explained.

The estimated traffic flow on the three-lane bridge include two lanes going from West Bank Demerara (WBD) to East Bank Demerara (EBD) in the morning and one lane going from EBD to WBD. In the evening there will be two lanes going from EBD to WBD and one lane going back

Venezuela’s Maduro pelted by protesters

[BBC] - Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has been pelted with objects by angry protesters as he left a military event. State television captured the moment the crowd began to mob the leftist leader’s vehicle in the south-eastern state of Bolivar on Tuesday.

Social media users said the objects thrown included stones and eggs. Mr Maduro’s presidency has come under increasing pressure as Venezuela’s economy collapses and opponents accuse him of creating a dictatorship. There have been five days of violent protest against Mr Maduro already this month, resulting in the deaths of two young men in the last week.

Opposition leaders are

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro

calling for a date to be set for postponed regional elections.

As for events on Tuesday, the Information Ministry did not respond to a request for further information from news agency Reuters.

Socialist Party officials

tweeted Mr Maduro had been received by a cheering crowd in San Felix, while state television cut off the broadcast as his bodyguards appeared to be seeking to regain control.

Guyana, Jamaica to receive international aviation award [CMC] — Two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries have been selected among 12 countries to receive the Council President Certificate of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority said that Guyana and Jamaica had been named among the 12 countries for the “significant progress” they have made in resolving their safety

oversight deficiencies and improving the effective implementation of ICAO standards and recommended practices.

The Council President Certificates are issued once each calendar year in recognition of States that have met the criteria during the previous year. The eligibility criteria used for the recognition are objective and transparent and are based on the results of ICAO

Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP CMA) activities, including audits, ICAO Coordinated Validation Missions (ICVMs) and off-site validation activities. The other countries to receive the awards are Bolivia, Egypt, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Paraguay, Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Uruguay, Vietnam and Zambia.

Traffic Expert, Lievense CSO, Jacqueline Mouws making her presentation on the new Demerara River Bridge feasibility study

from WBD to EBD. In the event of emergencies, there would still be more capacity to facilitate the traffic flow, Mouws added.

Additionally, Mouws highlighted that during the study it was also discovered that traffic on the bridge has increased significantly, especially since the economy is growing. Though this is a good thing, she said, it would require another road network. During the day, the route where the current bridge is located is plagued

with heavy traffic therefore the Houston to Versailles route is also under consideration for the construction of the new bridge, she added.

“If we are calculating the traffic time between putting the bridge at Houston and the bridge at Peter’s Hall, and because of the amount of people moving up and down, it doesn’t significantly differ the travel time if we put the bridge more north or if we keep it at its current location.

It’s balanced according to the amount of people using the

bridge at a certain area,” the traffic expert underlined.

In 2013, the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC), in collaboration with the Central Transport Planning Unit of the then Ministry of Public Works, conducted a pre-feasibility. That study concluded that a fixed high-level bridge was the best option to pursue. The Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, said the new bridge would lead to some land acquisition, but consultations will be made. Minister Patterson explained that, “at some point during the project there will have to be some land acquisition should we proceed with whichever option there is.

It’s unfortunate, but it is something that we have to do for the greater good.

We will have consultation with those persons whose homes or property will be affected.” The study which commenced on January 15, also looked at whether the bridge should be a floating, fixed, low- level or fixed high-level bridge. (GINA)

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Editorial Cannot be rice alone

WITH the collapse of the Venezuelan market less than two years ago, the fortunes of rice farmers have dwindled, and from all indications, the industry will take some time to recover.

It should be noted that even before the premium Venezuelan market fell through, all was not well in the industry, as it was subsidised by the then Government, which enabled farmers to make a profit.

Perhaps, the support was strategic since rice farmers aside from their significant work in ensuring food security and bringing in foreign exchange through the rice trade, are also traditional supporters of the former administration.

With a change in administration, the concessions they once enjoyed soon dried up, with Government pointing out that rice is essentially private business. Many rice farmers have since been complaining that they are feeling the squeeze but the point at some time would have to be made, and that is, firstly, the Venezuelan market was not a pact for eternity and at some time, it would come to an end and they would have to face the concomitant reality.

And secondly, on the international market arena, Guyana is but a small producer, and as such, it is not a price-maker but a price-taker for its rice. The issue here is not really about finding buyers for locally produced rice, but finding buyers who are willing to pay a price that is satisfactory to farmers. And from the look of things, unless Guyana can locate another friendly buyer, it will only be able to earn premium prices for her rice if one of

the big rice producing nations is beset by natural disaster or some other tragedy that grinds its production to a halt.

Rice is also not a climate-resilient crop and the local industry has had its fair share of challenges with the weather and other issues. While the local industry has not suffered any real major disaster in recent times, at times it has been at the mercy of poor weather, coupled with a host of problems, including millers not paying farmers on time.

These challenges point to the need for farmers to re-examine their level of involvement in rice and explore other crops and areas of agriculture to sustain their livelihoods. It is not a suggestion either for rice farmers to stop planting, but simply an indication that it would be wise for them at this time to scale back operations to avoid a loss and look at cattle, livestock and agro-processing to make a profit. Against this background, the recent Essequibo Agro Festival and Trade Expo, which sought to showcase the vast agriculture potential and other areas of interest on the region could not have been a timelier event, but one can only hope that it is sustained. And perhaps expanded to include companies in the Caribbean region and further afield.

The message of diversification has been catching on with farmers on the Essequibo Coast. Some farmers there have already begun to turn to cattle, coconut and agro-processing. Many more would get involved with Government providing some financial support and technical assistance. After all, the opportunities are there for

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 13, 2017

them for the taking and some of these opportunities are currently more profitable than rice, notably coconut.

With a production of 7000 nuts per acre annually, at $50 per nut, a coconut farmer easily earns $350,000 a year, more than double the amount of money a rice farmer earns annually for one acre of rice cultivated.

And some of the best coconuts are found in the Pomeroon, where alone, there are about some 20,000 acres of land that can be cultivated. These areas, if cultivated, will produce an estimated yield of 140 million nuts per year, and at $50 per nut, it is a $7B enterprise waiting to be tapped. The value-added products of coconut, which includes coconut oil, craft, and coconut water, is also estimated to worth around $7B in the Pomeroon alone. The dairy industry on the Essequibo Coast is also estimated to worth some $18B but, this too is untapped.

This is more than enough to inform rice farmers that going forward, they cannot solely depend on rice to secure their livelihoods but should look at cattle, livestock, other crops and agro-processing to return them to some level of sound financial footing.

GuySuCo focused on securing the livelihoods of employees Dear Editor, THE Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) wishes to respond to Mr. Seepaul Narine’s letters which were published in the Stabroek News on 1 April, 2017 and titled ‘GuySuCo’s desire to put profits above people will destroy the well-being of thousands’ and in the Kaieteur News on 4 April, 2017, which was titled ‘GuySuCo is an anti-worker corporation’.

In his letter Mr. Narine stated that the ‘Corporation closed Wales Estate and has put hundreds on the breadline’ and is ‘advocating further miniaturisation of the industry through further estate closures and sell-outs’.

Firstly, we would like to state that the Wales Estate,

as Mr. Narine is well aware, has not been closed; it is being used as our pilot location for the diversification programme. Nevertheless, the more substantive issue is that the Corporation has found itself in an extremely difficult situation: huge debt, aging equipment and factories due to lack of capital investment over the years; lack of the right capacities–human and otherwise; high production cost; declining market prices; and poor attendance at work, just to name a few.

The Government, Board of Directors and management responded to the challenge in a way that most corporations would, by examining their options; which includes reorganisation–diversification and increase productivity. As

a result, the Wales Estate was identified as the pilot location for diversification.

The Uitvlugt Estate, on the other hand, has enormous potential to increase its production over a short period from 20,000 to 40,000 tonnes of sugar. However, that estate has been experiencing a shortage of labour, which is seriously affecting the achievement of targeted production. The Corporation in an attempt to address this issue, has offered jobs to hundreds of employees from the Wales Estate. Such action would secure their livelihoods, along with those of the 1,750 employees at Uitvlugt Estate; to contribute to a buoyant economy in West Demerara communities.

While GuySuCo’s re-

sponds to find solutions to the challenges faced, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union’s (GAWU) has taken the following position: encourage the cane harvesters and cane transport operators from the Wales Estate to demand that their services be terminated so that they can get severance instead of encouraging them to take up employment at Uitvlugt Estate.

Ironically, the same Union is campaigning for their members to be given work at East Demerara Estate, yet they are not urging the planters to take up harvesting work, even though the harvesters’ turnout at that estate is an average of 59 percent for the crop–to-date.

So while on the one hand

the Union is not encouraging the employees to contribute towards the Corporations productivity, on the other hand it accuses GuySuCo of not achieving targets. It is important that the Union understands the critical link between the role of employees taking ownership and the productivity of the Corporation.

For e.g. every employee at the East Demerara Estate, has a responsibility to contribute towards the achievement of targets in order to secure their livelihoods.

GAWU’s overall response to the challenges which the Corporation is experiencing has been by either calling or supporting strike action. In 2016, there were 148 strikes and 44,500 man-days were lost. Over a

period 2005 to 2015, there were a total of 2,260 strikes and the total man-days lost to strikes for the same period, were 813,437. This response leaves much to be desired if GAWU is to be considered as a serious stakeholder and partner.

Finally, Mr. Narine’s assertion of putting profits above people is totally absurd, since the Corporation has not make a profit in almost ten years.

Regards Audreyanna Thomas Senior Communications Officer Communications Department Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 13, 2017

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it Dear Editor I HAVE been reading the letters that other concerned citizens have written to you and it pleases me to see that there are others who are able to analyse quite accurately what is currently occurring in this country.

When persons voted for change in 2015 the cesspit this country had found itself in was so horrible that those who campaigned, those who

supplied resources and those who voted came to an understanding that PPP should not be al lowed to win another election.

There is a famous quote that says, ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’ As a society we cannot be allowed to forget our not too distant history as it would condemn us to a path from which we may find it impossible to return.

Let us take a quick look at the economy.

Many are saying that the economy has slowed and ‘money isn’t stirring’ and many are laying blame at the feet of the government. However, if we take the time to analyse what is actually occurring, our perception of who is to be blamed may change.

This administration has declared a war on drugs. This administration has decided that the

scourge of drugs that has been associated with Guyana internationally must be removed. Remember the days when every other day cocaine was going out in fish, or corilla, or wood or in coconuts, to name just a few of the favourites.

This administration has decided that those days are going to end and Guyana would no longer be associated with terms such as ‘transhipment point’.

Now what does this

have to do with the economy?

The monies that helped to keep the economy afloat under the previous administration came from drugs. Drugs and other illicit activities kept our economy running. If we want an end to corruption and drugs then we are indirectly saying that we want an economy that is not consumed by these illicit activities. And if we are happy that the government is trying

to reduce corruption and the drug trade we cannot be upset that the amount of monies that are circulating has reduced. We must be able to recognise the relationship between the two and acknowledge that in order for us to grow and develop on a sound economic foundation we have to first face and accept the real state of our economy.

Regards Tabitha Sarabo-Halley

Prospects of economic take off loom in Region 2 Dear Editor HIS Excellency, President David Granger recently visited Region Two, including along the Pomeroon River. During his many observations, he emphatically acknowledged that Region Two can become the country’s food bowl, given its vast resources including land, rice, fish, coconuts and other agricultural products.

During the inaugural Essequibo Agro and Trade Exposition, which was sponsored by the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce, it was revealed that in 2016 Region Two produced 85,000 metric tonnes of rice, 810 metric tonnes of fish and shrimp, 44.4 metric tonnes of coconuts and 270,000 metric tonnes of other agricultural production. Such positive signals augers well for the continued growth and development of the Region, especially with the timely intervention of the Regional Administration. These sectors remain strong pillars of the Region’s sustainability, which can be further devel-

oped with the existence of industries that will promote processing, packaging and distribution.

I sensed that an Industry can be instituted in Dartmouth on the Essequibo Coast, where there is an abundance of land and the planting of peas on a large scale. In fact almost 180 acres of land is being cultivated by private farmers to produce peas, while plantains and mangoes are also planted in abundance. Additionally, almost 70 acres of untouched land remains available in the backlands, which can be utilised for economic gains for the residents of Dartmouth, given that there are also good access dams and irrigation within the village.

Then there is Mainstay/ Wayaka Mission, which is an Amerindian village that is situated to the west of the Essequibo Coast and leading into the interior of the Region. This prospering community has a pine factory that processes the product for exports, both locally and internationally. However during the past two years

the pine production has been reduced, due to the climatic condition which has led to the underutilisation of the factory.

Recently though, through a Community Development Project, which is funded by the United Nations Development Programme, in collaboration with the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs and the community, have been experimenting on the large scale production of coconuts and fruits, such as sour-sap, cherry and guava that can be processed and exported.

This venture is also creating opportunities for the residents to remain self-sufficient and independent. It is evident too that infrastructural developments are contributing to their progress since the access road leading into the interior is in good condition, while there is also access to portable water and electricity. The Community has also benefitted, for the first time , with the gift of a School Bus from the President’s plausible 3B’S country-wide initiative and which transports school children from both

Tapakuma and Mainstay to schools on the Coast.

This concept has brought a sense of belonging and integration among the children, many of whom would not have been attending school because of the high cost of transportation. The interior therefore is becoming inter-connected with the Coastland, with Amerindians contributing key services, including the production and distribution of building materials of various types of wood, as well as the selling of handicraft, wild-meat, cassareep, fruits and vegetables, which remains in constant demand from consumers. It is therefore quite pleasing also that the business community is placing confidence in the economic stability of the Region, with the establishment of several supermarkets and business consortiums along the Essequibo Coast.

The Coast is rapidly becoming a business hub, especially in the Township, where supermarkets are located in Pomona, Adventure, Suddie, Johanna Cecelia, Mainstay, Cotton Field, Henrietta and at Charity. Significantly these

businesses are also promoting local produce such as vegetables, fruits, dried-fish, bottled coconut-water from local entrepreneurs and even locally made cricket bats, craft and other sports equipment. The Region boast of producing quality rice for export from Imam Bacchus and Sons Limited, Caricom and Ramlakhan Rice Mills, cooking oil and drinking water from Alfro Alphonso Group of Companies, as well as bottled coconut water and plantain chips from Ramotar Investments, which are all collectively contributing to the local economy and creating jobs.

The Imam Bacchus Company also produces its own brand of chowmein, as well as chicken and eggs on a large scale. I have also seen both individuals and groups engaged in small scale packaging and labelling of local products such as pepper sauce, cassava bread, pickled fruits and local juices. There are many mobile enterprises that sell fresh local products daily that would reach the household, including cooking gas and kerosene oil too.

These smaller businesses are increasingly thriving, while new ideas and concepts are being developed with greater and easier access to technology and human resource. In fact some of their products are sent to Georgetown, given that faster and reliable access is guaranteed with the use of the modern ferries that ply on a daily basis. The utility sectors, including GPL and GUYWA INC are also improving their services that are designed to improve the lives of residents and even boost the tourism potential of the Region, which is cleaner and safer.

Indeed many challenges still exist, including unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, suicide; all of which are affecting the social and economic well-being of citizens in Essequibo.

Notwithstanding Region Two remains industrious and capable of becoming the country’s economic zone for growth, as well as the creation of wealth and prosperity.

Regards Elroy Stephney

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 13, 2017

Over 13,000 students sit NGSA

MINISTER of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and an entourage yesterday morning visited the Plaisance and Bel Air Primary Schools where he gave the students a motivational talk prior to the start of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). At the schools, Dr. Roopnaraine

reminded the children of the rules of the exam.

“You are at the beginning of a long journey with many stops, but it is important that you make a good start,” the Education Minister said. While regaling the students with reflections of his school days, the Minister urged the children to be excit-

ed about learning new things, since this is a life activity. They were also encouraged to participate in physical activities such as sports. This year a total of 13,657 students sat the exam The Minister was joined by the Chief Education Officer, Mr. Marcel Hutson; Assistant

Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine seeks to encourage and put candidates at ease, shortly before the commencement of the NGSA at Plaisance Primary School, East Coast Demerara, yesterday.

Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine offers words of encouragement to candidates writing the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) at Bel Air Primary School yesterday

Chief Education Officer, (ACEO), Mr. Orin Pollard and the District Education Officers from Region 4 and Georgetown.

Prior to the sitting of this year’s exam, Grade 6 students around Guyana sat three mock exams which were a part of the

mathematics Intervention implemented by the Education Ministry.

Over the last few months, the students and their teachers were exposed to a number of innovative ways of teaching and practicing maths. The intent is to

increase the performance of the students especially in mathematics. This initiative is a continuous process that will see positive results in the years to come; this will also impact students’ performance at the CSEC and CAPE levels.

Schools, not the ministry –– which gave race-baiting FBO permission to do missionary work

PERMISSION to conduct missionary activities in public schools was granted the US-based Faithful World Baptist Church (FWBC) by those institutions themselves and not the Ministry of Education.

This is according to the Ministry of Education which said in a statement on Wednesday that to date, the FWBC has only been able to access three schools here.

The Stabroek News on Tuesday carried a full-page advertisement in which questions were being asked on whose authority was the FWBC allowed to conduct missionary work in public schools across Guyana.

The advert, in the form of a statement, was endorsed by more than 108 Hindu Temples and organisations across Guyana.

Said organisations pointed out that Pastor Steven Anderson, who was carrying out the missionary work on behalf

of the FWBC, has a history of hate speech, and had at one time “demonised” the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., whom they referred to as “one of the greatest modern teachers of peace.”

They also charge that Pastor Anderson has repeatedly expressed racists views.

It’s in light of the foregoing charges, the organisations say, that they’re extremely concerned about the attacks of the Pastor on Hindus and Hinduism, and the emotional hurt and psychological damage to Hindu students.

CROSSED SACRED LINE The organisations say that “by allowing the use of State resources, the Ministry of Education has eroded the sacred boundary between Church and State”.

It’s a claim that the Ministry of Education is refuting, and on Wednesday issued a

statement saying that at no time did it grant FWBC permission to minister in schools; that based upon their investigations, that approval was given by the administration of the respective schools themselves.

Based upon their findings, the Ministry of Education said, “It was determined that, in all, three public schools were visited. It was determined that in each case, permission was granted via the individual school administration without sanction from the Ministry.

“The Department of Education had no previous knowledge of the school visits by FWBC, nor did it in anyway facilitate the visits.”

According to the Hindu organisations, Pastor Anderson had initially targeted a number of schools, among them Queen’s College, St Rose’s High, North Georgetown and Central High.

He’s even claimed, they

say, to have reached more than 3,000 students, and “saved” at least another 1,000.

KNOWN HATE GROUP After doing its research, the Education Ministry agrees with the Hindu organisations that the FWBC, which is headquarterd in Arizona, is indeed a fundamentalist Christian group with a history of making hate speeches. The group has been banned entry in at least three countries.

Further, the Ministry has pointed out that American hate-speech watchdog, the Southern Poverty Law Center, has listed the church as a hate group.

The Ministry has noted, too, that even before investigations were conducted on March 24, Principal Education Officer (PEO) Mr Immanuel Bridgewater sent out a circular to principals and headteachers, reminding them

of the need to seek permission from the Department of Education before external actors are allowed into the school system.

And as a result of the situation which obtained, the Ministry reported that “all administrative involved were reprimanded for the lapse.”

Further, the Ministry stated that the incident is “unfortunate as it was offensive”, as there is no place for proselytising, whether supposedly benign or overtly extremist, in the public education sector.

CLEAR GUIDELINES In moving forward, the government agency has committed itself to establishing clear guidelines against such incidents in the future.

These guidelines, the Ministry says, will be based on three key foundations.

The first is the Constitution of Guyana, which guarantees Freedom Of Conscience,

as well as Freedom From Religious Instruction within the public education system.

The second is a National Cultural Policy, which speaks explicitly to the issue of respect for all religions, and the equitable inclusion of the concerns of the religious community into public policy formulation and implementation processes.

The third foundation will be the revised Education Bill, which will also take into account constitutional stipulations on religion in the education system.

The Ministry sought to reaffirm that through the government, it recognizes and values the tremendous gift of Guyana’s unique and particular diversity.

“In this vein, we will continue to welcome citizen feedback on issues that impact upon that diversity and condignly correct lapses whenever they occur,” the Ministry concluded in its statement.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 13, 2017

AFC frets over Linden TV board meeting ‘walkout’ -- says efforts to operationalise Linden TV being stymied

By Vanessa Braithwaite SEVERAL executive members of the Region 10 arm of the Alliance for Change (AFC) have expressed dissatisfaction and frustration over the non- operationalisation

AFC MP Audwin Rutherford

of the Linden Television Station, although it was handed over to the town by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

Reference was made to the abrupt ending of the first meeting convened by the newly constituted board held two weeks ago, which was aimed at electing a chairman and

secretary.

This publication later learnt that the meeting ended after several members walked out after it was voted upon to have the elections done by secret ballot.

As a result of this, Lindeners are concerned whether the next general elections will come and the station will still not materialise.

It has been six years since the agreement was signed by the former administration and former Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon, and one year, nine months since the Coalition Government assumed office.

AFC Member of Parliament (MP) and Executive for Region 10, Audwin Rutherford, who was present at the meeting, believed that the directors, who walked out, do not have the interest of Lindeners at heart.

“It is clear that many of the directors are looking for personal glory and do not have the people at heart,” he said, reiterating, that the intention of the meeting was to solely elect the chairman and secretary.

“I am prepared to work with whoever is elected in a

democratic way and that is what every citizen I have spoken to wants,” the Member of Parliament said.

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland

BLIND DATE Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland, who admitted that he was the first to walk out of the meeting and was then followed by several present, said his move was merely a protest to the failure of the acting secretary, Sharman Solomon to provide pertinent legal documentation, as was requested

Two charged with attempted murder of security guard TWO MEN appeared b e f o r e C h i e f M a g i strate Ann McLennan on Wednesday, jointly charged with the attempted murder of a security guard outside Fogarty’s building, Water Street, Georgetown.

Murder accused, Jason Howard called ‘Smelly’, 21, of East La Penitence and former murder accused, Kevin France, 27 of East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, were not required to plea to the indictable charge. It is alleged that on October 21, 2016 at Water Street, Georgetown, they

Murder accused, Jason Howard

wounded Quacy Joseph with intent to murder him.

Joseph is a security guard attached to Electronics City branch on Water Street, Georgetown; he was shot during a robbery which took place within the store in the Fogarty’s building.

Over the past few months, the men were charged separately and placed before different courts for the said charge.

However, based upon advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the charges were withdrawn and a joint charge was instituted against them.

Prosecutor, Alwyn Moore had opposed bail and noted that Howard is before the court on a murder charge. He also pointed out that the men were also separately charged with other robberies.

France is currently out on $800,000 bail on robbery charges.

The Chief Magistrate refused bail for Howard and released France on $500,000 bail. The matter is adjourned until April 28.

by the newly-constituted board members.

He believes that the back and forth in the media will not solve the problems but the releasing of those documents by Solomon in a timely manner.

“I don’t subscribe to the back and forth in the press, I do not believe in [that] public naming and public shaming will be good for any development, and as such, I wish that there will be maturity in all of this and that people would sit and agree to disagree,” Holland said.

“The minutes of the meeting would prove [that] I asked some basic questions about

Former murder accused, Kevin France

APNU MP Jermaine Figueira

legal documentation that was promised since the meeting in GT… I got up and moved a motion for the meeting to be aborted earlier since we were clueless as to certain answers which was posted to the secretary and he could not have answered… the motion was seconded; however, the chairman did not move forward, he just disallowed the motion I moved and he said we are going to move ahead with this meeting,” Holland said, reiterating that he felt as though the directors were being carried on a blind date as those documents are not being released and that is what is stumbling the operationalisation of the station.

“I think it will only be prudent if we are furnished with

the rules, what we are voting for, what we are governed by, the articles of association, we need to see these things.”

SILLY EXCUSES AFC executive member and mayoral candidate for the Ambassador for Progress, Norris King, believes that the APNU politicians are making silly excuses in blaming their decision to walk out on the absence of the presentation of the documents and that those actions were strictly based on their inability to control the elections, which show that they do not have the residents of Linden at heart.

“Their actions would have confirmed same, why do you have to walk out of a meeting where the elections of the board members is supposed to be done to move the process forward, just because it goes to secret ballot… election should be a private affair so why should it be open,” Norris said, adding that he believes that the residents of Linden should take a stand in this matter since the television station belongs to them.

“It is for the Linden community to recognise and acknowledge that this is what we should have known and expected from these people in the first place. you can’t expect better from them and it is time for us to rally ourselves as a people and let the President and everybody else know that the irresponsible actions of these people would not be tolerated by the community because if the community would not put their foot down on it, it would never stop… is either their way or no way at all and 2020 is rapidly approaching.”

WOULD NEVER DENY APNU Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira, how-

AFC Executive Member, Norris King

ever rubbished these claims, contending that as a born and bred Lindener, he would never deny his people what is rightfully theirs.

“What is wrong with me requesting information that was promised to be provided several months ago? Wouldn’t it be insulting or moreover irresponsible for intelligent people to make a decision that will impact the lives of thousands of people, without information? The question therefore is why are those very important documents not being provided? Is there something afoot?

Is there something the holder of those documents wants to remain secret? What is the untold story? Don’t the people of our township/region deserve the right to know?” were some of the questions Figueira asked.

He added: “There is no obsession for power and titles as being touted; the only obsession is to have clarity of the unknown and bring a speedy closure to this exercise.”

The application for a television station was made after residents complained about the limited and bias content that they were subjected to.

The Government signed an agreement to grant the license on August 21, 2012 after a deadly protest which resulted in the death of three Lindeners.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 13, 2017

Five Miles residents struggling to cope without water –– Bartica Council steps in amid extended dry season

By Svetlana Marshall FACED with an extended dry season, residents of Five Miles Housing Scheme are struggling to cope with limited access to water.

Situated five miles from Central Bartica along the Potaro Road in the CuyuniMazaruni District, the housing scheme lacks basic necessities

Toshana Semple including access to potable water and electricity.

To survive, residents depend heavily on the rain but it has been days since it last rained in the community, leaving them at the mercy of suppliers who charge as much as $8,000 for a tank of water.

But for 27-year-old Toshana Semple and her family, $8,000 is hard to come by at times.

“Right now we don’t have any drinking water,” Semple said as she pointed to her empty tanks and drums.

Over the weekend, the mother of one had to seek the help of a neighbour for a few bottles of drinking water but when that is exhausted, she would have to settle for creek water located more than 30 minutes away from the Housing Scheme. “It may not be safe to drink but we aint get no choice,” she murmured.

After spending millions of dollars to construct her house, 33-year-old Odessa Prim-

us said relocating to Central Bartica may be the next best option.

“I have been living here since November 2016 and since then it has been a real struggle,” the mother of four said as she complained bitterly.

“It does be real hard, especially for people with kids….

Every day, you have to cook, you have to clean…it’s hard man, real hard. Imagine,I does got to take my clothes to Bartica to wash because we have no water here,” she lamented.

Because of the situation in the Five Miles Housing Scheme, Primus said she is seriously considering relocating to Central Bartica to take up residence in a rented house.

“I don’t know how long I could do this for…the majority of people have evacuated their homes to go to places where they can get water, I may have to do the same,” she said.

Though the Bartica Mayor and Town Council only supply the housing scheme with water during the dry season, Primus said they are grateful for the assistance.

“We must say thanks to the Council, and Mr. Mayor;he is working very hard, from the time that I am in here. The people mostly talk about him bringing water. He is the only source of water in here, the only source,” Primus posited.

On Saturday last, the Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall spearheaded a team distributing water to the affected residents.

Marshall told Guyana Chronicle that the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has signaled its intention to drill two wells in area, one at Three Miles, Bartica and the other between Three and Five Miles, Bartica.

“The intention is that those wells will bring some amount of relief to the people of Five Miles Housing Scheme. But in the meantime, Council would have to put some resources towards getting water to the

Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall assisting a team in distributing water to the affected residents

residents because we have an extended dry season going on and we can’t afford to let the residents go through this any longer,” the Mayor explained.

Saturday was the first time for this dry season that the Council has distributed water to the residents of Five Miles Housing Scheme. “Once it’s raining, we don’t bring water here,” he posited, noting

Odessa Primus that residents will be supplied twice a week with water until the extended dry season ends.

However, it is not recommended that the water be used for consumption.

Marshall said the Council is making this extra effort to assist the affected residents despite its limited finance. This exercise is costing the council close to $400,000 a week.

“In one day you will have to make about five trips and then you will have to return the next day for another five trips. It is something that we didn’t budget for but like I am saying, we just want to bring some relief to the residents of Five Miles Housing Scheme,” the Mayor noted.

He bemoaned the fact that the community lacks basic services. “It is unfortunate because these residents paid millions of dollars for their properties and all they have is a road. No water, no electricity and the basic services are absent.”

Commenting on the water situation, Ramchand Jailall, GWI’s Planning and Implementation Director,said GWI would have encountered difficulties while drilling the well.

“They (have) encountered heavy rock formation. So now they are upgrading the rig so they could go back to continue drilling because it is not clay, it is rock, so they now have to penetrate through those rocks to determine if there is water bearing stratum below those rocks,” Jailall explained.

According to him, within two to three weeks GWI will be able to determine if there is water-bearing stratum in the identified area. If the exercise proves to be futile, Jailall said another area would have to be selected.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 13, 2017

$150M repairs for US$12M water treatment plant in Linden

THE “flawed” US$12M Water Treatment Plant in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) is set to be rehabilitated by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) at a cost of $150 million.

The construction of this plant commenced in April 2012, under the then People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government and to date it is yet to be commissioned. But according to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GWI, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, the construction of the treatment plant is flawed, given the fact that GWI discovered issues with its design and filtration

system.

In an interview with the media at Lethem, Region Nine on Wednesday, the CEO said that the plant will have to undergo rehabilitative work to the tune of some $150M before it is officially commissioned. The water company will create a new design, the GWI boss said.

“We were supposed to commission the plant a long time ago but because of the bad design and bad calculations, we will have to go back to drawing board,” he lamented.

Additionally, according to the CEO, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) had

sent specialists to investigate the plant when they discovered that the filtration system was not properly installed; this has since resulted in the poor quality of water.

The water treatment plant comprises of a modern water treatment facility and a 3,200 cubic metre reservoir at Wisroc, a 2,800 cubic metre reservoir and a 200 foot well at Amelia’s Ward, which was geared at improving water quality and efficiency of the water supply system, and the Caribbean Regional Wastewater Management. (Navendra Seoraj)

AMERICAN oil giant ExxonMobil is taking more of a backseat with exploration and is now gearing up to shift gears towards production.

Guyana Chronicle understands that Exxon will soon utilise the services of Rod Henson, currently based in Argentina and specialising in the production phase of the oil operation.

Henson is expected to take over from current Country Manager, Jeff Simons, who has been heading the local exploration. The company’s Public and Government Affairs Senior Director, Kimberly Brassington, confirmed the new level of operation and change in management.

She explained that Henson would be the new country man-

ager taking the oil giant into the production phase. According to Brassington, Henson would commence work, “on or around May 1,” while Simons is expected to remain as part of the transition exercise.

Exxon has said oil production should commence by 2020.

In the meantime, preparation for production will be on the way.

The Water Treatment Plant in Linden

Exxon production team moving in “We start production in 2020, but leading up to that, there will be a lot of activities.

Around 2019, we will see a lot of movement… people coming and going.” ExxonMobil has already applied for production license from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and has submitted its production plan.

Only last month, the oil

giant reported success drilling the Snoek well, confirming another discovery in the Stabroek Block.

Before that, they confirmed success at their Payara well; the second oil discovery on the Stabroek Block, following the Liza discovery. Exxon has noted that the Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers). Esso Exploration

and Production Guyana Limited holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Limited holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 per cent interest.

It was reported last year that exploratory wells off Guyana discovered a “worldclass” reservoir with possibility of 1.4 billion barrels of oil.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 13, 2017

GWI opens office in Region 9 –– Mayor wants water billing system postponed

A resident of Lethem with the support of GWI, regional and government officials cut the ribbon to declare the GWI commercial office open

CEO of GWI, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles (second from right); Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Dawn Hastings (first from right) and Regional Chairman of Region Nine, Brian Allicock (third from right) along with residents and other officials during a tour of the facility.

By Navendra Seoraj THE Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) commissioned its first commercial office in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) on Wednesday, the first of its kind in a hinterland area.

Prior to the opening of this office, residents would travel to Georgetown in order to make simple queries about the availability and sanitation of water. There was also no billing system so persons had access to free water, which in some instances contributed to wastage.

With the arrangements now in place, GWI will be able to regularise the system and persons will be able to pay their bills and enquire about a problem without having to travel to Georgetown. The office is also equipped with a mini laboratory, which will be used by engineers and other trained persons to conduct tests on the water supplied to the region, so as to ensure that there is no contamination.

Aside from its generic benefits, the office will also provide employment for 11 persons from the region, who were trained by GWI. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, in his remarks, noted that the office is a step in bridging the gap between Coastland and Hinterland areas.

“We are seeking to address the inequities that exist between the two areas because it is one country and all persons should be able to have equal access to everything that is offered, especially by the public sector,” said the GWI boss.

Days before the office was commissioned, GWI held a two-day solar-power training programme to certify 27 persons from

various indigenous villages. They were taught how to deal with and report on issues affecting the solar-powered water wells, which provide water to over 50 villages in Region Nine.

The GWI’s initiative was lauded by Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Dawn Hastings and Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock. Both Ministers reiterated the benefits that will follow because of the establishment of the office in that region.

Minister Hastings pointed out that the office is the first of its kind in a hinterland region, as she encouraged GWI to install more facilities in other hinterland areas.

HOLD THE BILLING Meanwhile, the leaders of the village requested that the billing system be postponed until villagers are properly educated about the process.

Lethem’s Mayor, Carlton Beckles and Regional Chairman of Region Nine, Brian Allicock asked GWI to address some of their concerns before fully implementing the billing system.

“We want to be able to know how we can justify whether we are being charged correctly for the usage of water,” said Allicock.

He suggested that a sensitisation programme be held with residents of the region in order to educate them on how to measure the water they consume.

Both leaders however pointed out that the residents of Region Nine will have no issue with paying the rates once the concerns are addressed.

Meanwhile, GWI officials noted that the residents’ request will be taken into consideration.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 13, 2017

Ministry hammers Adonis for false, mischievous article –– legal action looms

FOR the second time in five months, legal action could be brought against owner of the ‘Guyana Guardian’, Dennis Adonis, for “false and mischievous” content in that publication, which implicated the Natural Resources Ministry.

Guyana Guardian, of which little is known, boasts of being owned and operated

by Dennis Adonis, a controversial figure in Guyana. The online publication, which is not recognised by the Guyana Press Association (GPA), carried an article on Tuesday, which implicated the Ministry of Natural Resources and subject Minister, Raphael Trotman in a corrupt transaction.

The article was carried under the headline, “$20 million dollar bribe allegedly pass to allow for the operation of a single oil and gas school”. In that article, Adonis alleged that an overseas oil and gas expert was being asked for $20M by the Natural Resources Minister to exclusively operate an oil and gas school here. “…the Minister of Natural Resources himself was demanding $20 million Guyana dollars to exclusively operate an oil and gas school here.

Hence he was only helping him out,” the Guyana Guardian article alleged.

However, the Ministry in a statement on Wednesday said it was in consultation with its legal department with

a view to addressing the contents of the article since it is libelous and defamatory.

“We have been guided that the allegations contained therein are libelous and defamatory, in addition to being false and can potentially damage the image of the Ministry of Natural Resources and its Ministers and staff,” the statement read.

Subsequent to the discovery of this “falsehood,” the Ministry said that efforts were made to locate and identify the existence of persons named in the report, but these efforts proved futile. The article was reportedly written under a pseudonym; the name used was “David Gajadar”.

The Ministry said that it welcomes any opportunity to meet with either the writer or the owner of that online entity. Further, the government institution said that it takes “umbrage” at the “false and mischievous publication” of the article and repudiates the contents of this reportage as “false, baseless, groundless and bereft of an iota of truth.”

“We strongly believe that the report is meant to cause mischief and to divert attention from an operation calling itself ‘Guyana Oil and Gas Academy’. It is no mere coincidence that ‘Guyana Guardian’ shares a physical address with ‘Guyana Oil and Gas Academy’, which is 328 3rd Floor, Sharon’s Building, Charlotte and King Streets,

Denis Adonis Georgetown,” the statement pointed out.

According to a source close to the Ministry, Adonis might have been angered by an earlier statement from the Ministry, which warned about bogus oil and gas institutions in Guyana. Subsequently, Kaieteur News carried an article about the ‘Guyana Oil and Gas Academy’ which that publication said, was linked to Adonis. The Kaieteur News article also mentioned several fraudulent activities which Adonis had been involved in.

The source said that after realising the Kaieteur News article could be damaging to him, Adonis attempted to distance himself from the Oil and Gas Academy which the Guyana Guardian article claimed was owned by a friend of Adonis.

“In an attempt to distance himself from the academy, so that its credibility would not come into question, Adonis implicated the Ministry and the Minister in a corrupt transaction which was conceived only in his mind,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry is urging the public to be wary of any institution for which little information can be found, especially those purporting to offer oil and gas courses. It reminded citizens that the Education Ministry remains the sole accreditation

authority for any academic institution seeking to offer courses in Guyana and persons are asked to register their interest there.

It was only last November that Adonis was slapped with a $500M lawsuit by Texila American University after the Guyana Guardian published a “defamatory” article about that university.

In 2010, he was charged with fraudulently converting $542,000 to his personal use after he had been entrusted with the money to purchase 100 modems.

Adonis had also collected money from the wider public a few years ago under the pretext that he was bringing professional wrestlers from the United States (US) to Guyana.

That scheme collapsed after it was exposed by the media.

Other scams included the promised provision of a wireless communication service, the Royal Antigua money transfer service, which collected people’s money from overseas but failed to deliver in Guyana; and there were numerous so-called training schemes

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 13, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 13, 2017

‘Put your house in order’ –– envoy warns Guyanese living in the US

THERE has been no significant increase of late in the deportation of Guyanese nationals from the US. And neither have there been any complaints of Guyanese citizens’ rights being violated since the coming into force early in the year of new immigration laws in the US under the Trump administration, says Guyana’s envoy to the US, Dr. Riyad Insanally.

“What I can tell you quite safely is that the deportations that were taking place before, we haven’t seen a significant increase in deportation since then,” he told the Guyana Chronicle last week at the conclusion

of a five-day conference of heads of mission at the Pegasus Hotel.

He did say, however, that there is some amount of uncertainty about the whole deportation issue, particularly in light of new executive orders signed by President Trump which in effect take a hardened approach to the country’s policies regarding legal and illegal immigration.

“There is a bit of uncertainty, and a bit of panic in certain quarters,” Dr Insanally said, since there are concerns among some sections of the US Diaspora about whether they are at risk; whether people would be rounded up; and that there would be mass deportation.

And while the uncertainty is not as pronounced in the Guyanese community, Ambassador Insanally said that should our nationals be caught up in the dragnet for whatever reason, he is hoping that due process will be followed.

He said that based on discussions he’s had with US officials, “We expect that our people are entitled to due process, and that their rights will be respected, as respect must be shown for the laws of the US.” Under the new regulations, anyone charged with, or convicted of, any criminal offense will face deportation. People with deportation orders will also be picked up, regard-

less of whether they have a criminal record or not.

Under federal law, the US government can quickly deport undocumented immigrants without allowing them to go before a judge.

In this new dispensation, however, the Trump administration said it will use the law to kick people out, and tackle a backlog of more than half a million cases in immigration court.

In the meantime, Dr Insanally said the embassy and consulate-general in New York are providing every assistance they can to persons in need of immigration advice.

“We have been advising our people to make

sure their papers are in order,” he said. “If they need to get anything regularised, they can come into the embassy, or the consulate-general in New York and get their papers regularised.”

If, for example, he said, someone is a permanent resident in the US, and eligible for their citizenship, then they are being encouraged to go ahead and get the process done.

Citizens, he said, also need to remember to abide by the laws of the land in which they live. “We are advising them to do just that; and if we can help with paperwork, we will do that,” Dr Insanally said.

Persons are also being advised to seek legal ad-

Guyana’s envoy to the US, Dr. Riyad Insanally vice on any immigration matter regarding their various concerns.

He said that the consulate-general can help in this regard to some degree, as they have a compiled lists of agencies that could deal with those immigration concerns.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 13, 2017

VAT on education to remain for now -- President Granger THE 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on private school tuition fees will remain for now until reviewed by the next budget in 2018.

Speaking on his weekly televised programme ‘The Public Interest’, President Granger said school operators have been given the assurance that VAT on private institutions will be reviewed in the next budget.

He said the Government needs the revenue and the tax-based needs to widen but it must not appear to be a punitive measure.

The President explained that Government has to find $30B for education and these funds are sourced from taxation.

“We are asking people to be more patient, more

tolerant, we have committed to reviewing it and I would like to see it lowered,” the head of state said.

He explained: “We have explained that we had to widen the tax base, there was widespread tax evasion, we need to collect taxation and that is how Governments work, once you see there is massive evasion and non-compliance, it then means that the Government work will be hampered.”

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and other Government officials, including Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and Public Telecommunications Minister,Cathy Hughes ,recently met with private schools officials at the National Culture Centre.

President David Granger

The prime minister made it clear in a recent column that VAT was introduced in 2007 by the Bharrat Jagdeo Government, with wide application at the rate of 16 per cent.

He said while the minimum wage was frozen and

increases were contained to an average five per cent annually, there was justifiable agitation for reduction of VAT to bring down the cost of goods and services.

But the Government held on to the 16 per cent, and refused to compromise.

It had argued that for every one percentage point that VAT was reduced the Government would lose $2.5B in revenues.

The prime minister said that as part of the sweeping tax changes advised by a Tax Reform Committee, the income tax threshold was raised to $60,000, which removed several thousands of wage-earners from the tax net and the rate of income-tax deduction was reduced to 28 per cent for persons earning up to $100,000 and one-third for persons earning more than that.

Besides, the minimum

wage and old age pensions were increased and public servants wages went up by 38 per cent.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had said there are some 86 private schools in Guyana, many of them making huge revenues.

Fees range from between $144,000 and $300,000 annually, which do not include extra lessons, uniforms, books, coaching fees, etc.

The top eight among these private schools rake in fees estimated at over $2B annually.

In spite of the spirited agitation for withdrawal of the 14 per cent tax, only about one-quarter of the private schools are registered for and are VAT-compliant, and prior to 2017, some of these entities were refunded some $150 million in VAT. It was expected that the refunds would have been

ploughed back into the school system, and resulted in reduced tuition fees, the Prime Minister reasoned.

Several private schools and some students have been clamouring for Government to reverse the 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on private tuition fees.

Dr Brian O’Toole, head of Nations University had told a consultation last Friday that the solution to the issue is “not to punish who pay tax” but to go after those who are not compliant.

He said 12 per cent of students pursuing the American Business Executive (ABE) programme at Nations have already dropped out of the programme in light of the increased fees following implementation of the VAT measure.

1,900 gallons of illegal fuel seized in Mahaica

-smugglers on the run INSPECTORS of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), with support from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), conducted an operation in the Mahaica, East Coast Demerara area, which resulted in the seizure of 38 drums of illegal fuel.

According to the GEA, during the course of the operation, officers observed two boats,

linked together, containing several drums in the area of Helena Number One. The occupants of the vessels refused to comply with instructions issued by the officers for them to come ashore,and initially started to sail away. However, shortly after, they abandoned the vessels by jumping into the river and making good their escape. Efforts to pursue them proved futile.

Some of the drums of fuel seized by GEA

One of the two boats seized by GEA

Public Communications Officer, Taiwo Williams said in a statement that public spirited citizens assisted by swimming and pulling the boats ashore. Upon retrieving the vessels, it was discovered that there were efforts by the occupants to sink the larger of the two vessels. Thirty eight drums containing fuel were also discovered which is estimated to be 1,900 gallons.

She explained that field tests carried out by GEA’s Inspectors revealed that the fuel was illegal as the marker concentration was

below the legal level. As a result, all 38 drums of fuel were seized along with both vessels, an outboard engine and a gasoline powered pump. Investigation into the incident is ongoing.

“The GEA lauds the efforts of its Inspectors and Field Operation Coordinator for their diligence and commitment in managing the operation.

Thanks are also extended to the GRA and GPF for their support and partnership which aided in making the operation a success,” she explained.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 13, 2017

Guyanese was killed in 3% decrease in crime recorded Laventille gang warfare … 26 road deaths, over 30 firearms seized

ANNMARIE Bunsee, the mother of murder victim Kern Alleyne, is adamant the 24-year-old was no criminal.

Speaking with the media shortly after viewing her son’s body on Monday, Alleyne said reports indicating her son was a criminal were hurting the family, including his fouryear-old son. Rather, she said her son was lured to his death.

Other female relatives completed her statements after she broke down in tears.

The women, all friends of Alleyne, said he was at a bar with his father when he received a call. After walking away a car sped towards his direction and Alleyne was shot. The killers took his phone before speeding off.

Police reported that around 20:00hrs on Friday, residents of St Francois Valley Road heard several gunshots and later found Alleyne’s bullet-riddled body.

The aspiring chef lived at Zed Road, Belmont, and worked at the Marriott Hotel as a chef’s assistant. He was described as a man “who could real cook”.

His mother said her son

was a ladies’ man and not a criminal and any link to him and criminality is a falsehood.

She also called for justice, noting another of her sons was killed eight years ago and no one was held.

Also seeking to clear the air on misconceptions were relatives of Ayinda Williams, 20, a handy-man who was also killed on Friday.

Police said around 14:45 hrs, a car drove along Old St Joseph Road and stopped outside a house Williams was in.

A gunman then opened fire, killing Williams on the spot.

Williams, police said, was killed because of an ongoing war in the area. His killing came one day after Guyanese national Raphael Collins was murdered.

The murder of Kenno Barnum, who was gunned down while driving along Erica Street on Sunday, is also being linked to the war.

Barnum, 38, was blocked by a vehicle around 15.30 hrs and shot. He was taken to the Portof-Spain General Hospital but pronounced dead on arrival.

The murders of Williams, Barnum and Collins all took place off the Old St Joseph

Murder victim Kern Alleyne Road, Laventille, which borderlines between the two warring gangs and relatives of each man said they were innocent.

Relatives of Barnum suggested it was a case of tit-fortat, where innocent men from one area were being avenged by the killing of other innocent men in another.

Police said they had heightened their patrols in the community in the wake of the killings. (Trinidad Guardian)

THE Guyana Police Force has recorded a three per cent decrease in serious crimes at the end of March 2017, relative to the same period last year.

Statistics released by the force on Wednesday revealed that there was a 43% decrease in murder, with an 87% clear up rate; a 7% increase in robberies where no instruments were used, with a 7% clear up rate; a 9% increase in robbery under arms where firearms were used, with a 28% clear up rate; a 12% increase in robbery under arms where other instruments were used by the perpetrators, with a clear up rate of 27%; a 48% increase in robbery with violence, with a 57% clear up rate; a 30% increase in robbery with aggravation, with a 38% clear up rate ; a 9% increase in larceny from person, with a 29% clear up rate; a 14% increase in rape, with a 33% clear up rate; a 2% increase in burglary, with a 32% clear up rate; and an 18% decrease in break and entering and larceny with a 27% clear up rate.

According to the statistics, 37 unlicensed firearms were seized, compared with 16 for the corresponding period. The

firearms included 18 pistols, four revolvers, seven shotguns and eight rifles.

“The reduction of serious crimes though not significant, coupled with the large amount of illegal weapons seized and the number of persons arrested and charged with indictable offences, are positive indicators that the Police Force is gaining the public’s trust and support in the fight against crime,” a police release stated.

26 ROAD FATALITIES As it relates to traffic management, there was a 21% decrease in fatal accidents. Twenty six fatalities were recorded at the end of March 2017, compared to 29 for the same period last year.

According to the statistics, serious, minor and damage accidents have been reduced by 23.3%, 36% and 37%, respectively.

“Enforcement is continuous countrywide with special emphasis on driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, music/breach of condition of road service licence, overloaded mini-buses and use of cellular phones whilst driving,” the

release noted.

It was noted that 17, 846 persons have been charged so far for this year with traffic violations.

TRAINING According to the police force, at present 274 recruits are in training at the various colleges in the three Counties. From January to March of this year, 35 officers and other ranks benefitted from overseas training in all aspects of policing including: Maritime Intelligence, Border Security, Crime Observation, Extortion, Cyber Crime, Immigration, Witness Protection Practitioners, Intelligence Gathering and Analysis and Human Trafficking.

It was noted that the Cops and Faith Community Network continues to be of significant assistance to the Force in their mandate.

In terms of Juvenile Offenders, they have so far dealt with 236 males and 139 females who have been spared the indignity of the Criminal Justice System, due to their intervention between the Complainants/Reporters, Victims and Police.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 13, 2017

Sugar workers take protest Prison Officer in custody for death of teen outside GuySuCo’s head office

A NUMBER of cane planters along with officials of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) staged a picketing exercise outside of the Head Office of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) on Wednesday.

A statement from GAWU noted that the protest is a continuation of workers’ effort to dissuade the administration and GuySuCo from closing the estate.

“For the planters, it is now five weeks since they have been able to work following a decision by the sugar corporation to cease planting at the estate,” GAWU noted.

According to the union, GuySuCo maintained that the planters must take up cane cutting tasks. “This is a difficult undertaking for many planters given a number of factors. Also in instances when cane planting is unavailable, the planters are offered certain other tasks which are currently

available on the estate but are not being offered to the affected workers. Such denial is not in keeping with the agreement between the Union and the Company

The planters are also upset that a request by GAWU to engage the Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder,remains unanswered at this time.

suggested that an audience with the Agriculture Minister be sought. The Union and the workers positively considered Minister Scott’s suggestion. However, so far,

Sugar workers protest outside GuySuCo’s head office and is another disrespect meted out by the Corporation to its hard-working employees.”

The planters are calling on the GuySuCo to provide them with their normal tasks or to pay them in lieu of the Corporation’s denial.

“The Union’s request to Minister Holder followed an engagement between the planters and the Union with Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott on March 27, 2017. During that engagement,Minister Scott had

we are yet to hear from the Agriculture Minister,” the GAWU release stated.

The planters and the Union are of the firm view that the halting of cane planting is indicating that plans are being made for the Estate’s closure.

THE Chief Prison Officer, who allegedly struck down a teenager on the Cotton Tree Public Road, West Coast Berbice on Tuesday, remains in police custody as investigations into the fatal accident continue.

Dead is 16-year-old Luke John of Waterloo, Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice; he was struck down by motor car PMM 3802, driven by the prisoner officer of Charlestown, Georgetown.

This newspaper understands that the car was proceeding south along the eastern lane of the Cotton Tree Public Road at a fast rate when the driver attempted to overtake a motor lorry and realised that another vehicle was coming in the opposite direction. To avoid a head-on collision, the driver swerved to the corner of the road where the teen was standing and crashed into him.

Reports indicate that the teen was flung several feet away and was later picked up by public spirited citizens and rushed to the Fort Wellington

Dead: Luke John Public Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The young man received injuries to his head, arms and legs. He was the youngest of three siblings. Guyana Chronicle understands that Director of Prison’s (ag), Gladwin Samuels visited the teen’s family and offered condolences on Wednesday

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 13, 2017

PAC gets tough with Region 8 –– asks auditor-general to audit its accounts

By Svetlana Marshall

THE Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Eight, Mr Rafel Downes,has been instructed by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to put his “house in order”.

The admonition follows Downes’ alleged failure to act on many of the recommendations made by the PAC and the Auditor-General more than two years ago.

Downes, who is no stranger to controversy, appeared before the PAC on Monday at the Public Buildings.

It was during that meeting that PAC Chairman, Irfaan Ali, its members and the Ministry of Finance’s Dr. Hector Butts,expressed their frustration and disappointment with Downes’ behaviour. During his appearance, Downes made numerous excuses for not addressing critical issues relating to overpayment to contractors and matters involving the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

When the first matter involving overpayment of salaries and deductions was raised, it was revealed that though the REO was advised on the matter in 2015, the $267,750 and $349,169 for the years 2012 and 2013,respectively,were not recovered from the various deduction agencies.

According to the REO, the Regional Administration had written the relevant agencies last November with the aim of recovering the amounts that had been overpaid, but that to date, he has not received any response from them.

This being the case, the REO said he’s left no alternative but to dispatch regional officers to the various agencies to have the matter resolved.

But PAC members were not buying that, and rebuked him over his sloth in dealing with the matter.

Minister of Public Health, Ms Volda Lawrence, who is a member of the PAC, told Downes that his response was unacceptable, and that she sees no reason why he has to wait to return to the Region to send an officer to the agencies, which are in Georgetown, mind you, when he can do it himself while he is here in the city.

SHEER ‘GYAFF’ Bearing in mind that this was a recommendation that PAC had made since last year, Minister Lawrence dismissed Downes explanation as nothing but sheer “gyaff”; the same “gyaff” he had fed them back in 2016.

Upon being thus upbraided by Minister Lawrence, the REO then informed the PAC that a Personnel Officer from the RDC had visited the agen-

cies in question but to no avail, and that as such he would have to take it upon himself to resolve the issue.

At this point, the Chairman reminded the Committee that this was the same commitment that the REO had made last year.

The REO’s mismanagement of the Region’s financial affairs was again brought into question when another issue involving overpayment to contractors surfaced. During the period 2011-2012, the RDC had overpaid six contractors in the sum of $4.710M. Additionally, the Regional Administration is still to recover mobilisation advances totaling $4.072M paid on seven contracts which were terminated due to failure to complete works within the contractual period. In both cases, the REO contended that he wrote the contractors, but only one responded.

Despite their owing the Regional Administration, Downes told the PAC that five of the 11 contractors secured new contractors from the RDC in 2016. One of the contractors, Mr Nigel Forde, has more than $3M outstanding, with no real commitment thus far to have the monies repaid.

It was noted that an agreement should have been reached between the Regional Administration and the contractors for the recouping of the outstanding monies before additional contracts were signed.

In offering his opinion, PAC Member, Mr Charandass Persaud said the REO should have taken legal action against the errant contractors.

CONTRITE After being repeatedly grilled by the members of the PAC, a contrite Downes apologised for his many lapses in judgement.

“Mr. Chairman, I have to apologise for my tardiness, but I have made very strong efforts to speak with the parties involved,” the REO said.

Given the REO’s inability to get things done in a timely manner, and the need for clarity, the Chairman asked that the Auditor-General, Mr Deodat Sharma,conduct an audit into overpayments made by the region, and the additional contracts offered to those in default.

The Finance Secretary, in expressing his frustration, said: “The Ministry has an opendoor policy, yet the REO and his officials have yet to take advantage of this facility.”

By now exhausted as well as exasperated, the Chairman suspended the PAC meeting, and instructed the REO and his team to take the necessary actions to clear all outstanding issues.

Minutes after the meeting

ended, Ali told reporters that the REO has shown no improvements when compared with 2016. “He seems not concerned at all about issues of transparency and accountability,” Ali posited, noting that Downes must make the necessary corrections before reappearing before the Committee.

“This same REO came last year; we gave him an opportunity to correct himself.

He has not corrected himself, and, as you can see, the PAC has not taken this lightly; we

Region 8 REO, Mr Rafel Downes have sent him back; we have given him specific timelines, and the Finance Secretary has now taken the matter up,” the

Chairman said.

Weighing in on the issue, Minister Lawrence told reporters that Downes clearly has a problem with management.

“I don’t believe that he is a good manager,” she said. “I think in terms of the accounting processes, he knows them very well but not management.”

Minister of Communities, Mr Ronald Bulkan is expected to be briefed on the performance and “tardiness” of the Region Eight REO. Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Ms Valerie Adams-Patterson; Members of Parliament, Bishop Juan Edghill, Jer-

PAC Chairman, Mr Irfaan Ali maine Figueira, Nigel Dharamlall, and Audwin Rutherford,were among those present.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 13, 2017

Gov’t vigilant against money laundering –Finance Minister

By Rabindra Rooplall

MONEY laundering has a corrosive effect on a country’s economy, investments and social well-being and requires an anti-money laundering framework for protection of the integrity and economic stability of Guyana’s financial institutions.

This perspective was shared by Finance Minister,Winston Jordan,who was at the time addressing the opening of a final two-day workshop on Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (ML/FT) and National Risk Assessment (NRA) on Wednesday at the Marriot Hotel.

The workshop was organised by the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Legal Affairs Ministry. The National Assembly in 2015 passed the Anti-Terrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Bill, the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill Number 1 and 2, and the AML/ CFT Regulations.

The Finance Minister said the workshop will better enable policy makers to understand and identify financial threats

and vulnerabilities across the economy.

Minister Jordan said Guyana’s geographic location, porous borders, international imports and the cash-based economy makes the country vulnerable to money laundering and terrorist financing.

He said money laundering is now shifting to more trade-related activities and Government is cognisant of the macroeconomic effect if left unattended, which can affect the stability of the financial systems. The minister said this can promote corruption and a lack of confidence in the economy while negatively affecting investments and ultimately retard economic growth.

He underscored that Government has been making stringent efforts to strengthen the country’s AML bills through appropriate enactments and amendments to relevant laws.

CONTINUED VIGILANCE “Even though we have made significant progress over the last two years with enhancing the AML regime,

Finance Minister Winston Jordan addressing the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (ML/FT) and National Risk Assessment (NRA) workshop on Wednesday. At the head-table, from left are: FIU Director Matthew Langevine; Senior Financial Sector Specialist of the World Bank,Stuart Yikona; Attorney General Basil Williams; and IDB Country Representative Sophie Makonnen we have effectively implemented many global standards and we will continue to be vigilant and move with alacrity to enact the relevant legislation to address new threats and vulnerabilities,” the Finance Minister noted.

He said the NRA working group has completed a comprehensive analysis of Guyana’s ML/FT and the national action plan that is prepared by the teams will form the basis of sufficient allocation of the country’s financial resources.

Adding that many developing countries including

those in the Caribbean are adversely affected by global banks de-risking practices, the finance minister said there are banking institutions that have completely loss or reduced relationships with corresponding banks which creates difficulties involving the trade of goods and services, including remittances.

He explained that an efficient anti-money laundering regime will protect countries from the severity of the de-risking practices and sustain a level of development in respective countries.

“Guyana is on a mission to enhance financial inclusion to promote poverty reduction and national development.

And so, I was happy to learn that financial inclusion was aptly addressed during the NRA exercise, because this Government wants to ensure that regulations do not unintentionally exclude businesses and individuals from the formal financial system, but instead, measures can be re-

laxed when financial products are not considered high risk,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister,Basil Williams said Guyana is in the fourth round of assessment and it entails and requires total commitment with all the relevant stakeholders.

WEAKNESSES OBSERVED He said companies will come under the microscope as many weaknesses within the sector have been observed.

One of the most serious microeconomic effects of money laundering is felt in the private sector.

Money launderers often use front companies, which co-mingle the proceeds of illicit activity with legitimate funds, to hide the ill-gotten gains.

According to the Attorney General, when left unchecked, money laundering can erode the integrity of a nation’s financial institutions. Due to the high

integration of capital markets, money laundering can also adversely affect currencies and interest rates.

Ultimately, he said, laundered money flows into global financial systems, where it can undermine national economies and currencies.

Williams said the state and all its law enforcement arms will have to collaborate in the exchange of information to ensure anti-money-laundering efforts, which are designed to prevent or limit the ability of criminals to use their ill-gotten gains, are both a critical and effective component of anti-crime programmes.

Among those in attendance at the workshop include Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) Director,Matthew Langevine;Senior Financial Sector Specialist of the World Bank,Stuart Yikona;IDB Country Representative,Sophie Makonnen, and acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Madame Justice Cummings Edward.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 13, 2017

PPP moves to Parliament to quash lands CoI MEMBER of Parliament of the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Anil Nandlall is seeking to have the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into land issues dismantled through a motion to be tabled in the National Assembly today.

Ahead of today’s sitting of the National Assembly, Nandlall wrote the Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland signaling his intention to seek leave for the suspension of the Standing Orders for the purpose of discussing the motion, which he considers to be a matter of urgent public importance.

The CoI was established on March 11, 2017

by President David Granger to examine all issues and uncertainties surrounding the claims of Amerindian land titling, the individual, joint or communal ownership of lands acquired by freed Africans and on any matters relating to land titling in Guyana. The seven-member Commission, led by Reverend George Chuck-A-Sang, is mandated to submit its final report, findings and recommendation to the President on or before November 1, 2017.

However, in his ‘whereas clauses’, Nandlall argued that the Commission “was established without any ‘Free Prior and Informed Consent’ consultations with the National Toshaos Council – the sole and legitimate representative body of the Amerindian peoples and communities, and, the recognised non-governmental organisations representing Amerindians in Guyana.”

In a bid to prove his case, the PPP Parliamentarian pointed out that the National Toshaos Council and its supporting organisations have all condemned the establishment of the CoI as a mechanism to guide the process of addressing the land issues as it relates to the Amerindian People of Guyana.

It is Nandlall’s belief that the Amerindian Act of 2006 provides a unique, comprehensive and robust legal framework that addresses Amerindian land rights and Amerindi-

publically objecting to the CoI. Through the eyes of the Council, the move by the Government to establish the CoI is a “blatant attempt” in trying to “dispossess” the Indigenous peoples of their lands.

The Toshaos Council strongly believes that two separate entities should be established to deal with the issues currently placed

PPP Member of Parliament, Anil Nandlall an communal land titling “forever and absolute” with “Free Prior and Informed Consent” of the Amerindian communities, in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana, statutes and international law.

“While the President is free to establish Commissions of inquiry to enquire into any matter of public concern, including issues touching and concerning the ownership of lands acquired by free African slaves and all matters in connection therewith, there is no historical, scientific, theoretical, legal or practical basis to comingle these issues with Amerindian’s entitlement to traditional lands in Guyana,” he stated.

According to him, the Commission is not only in violation of Guyana’s pre-independent commitment, but conflicts with the country’s international obligations under the Low Carbon Development Strategy.

“The Commission has the potential of further polarising our people along ethnic lines and constitutes an expression of gross disrespect to the Amerindian people of Guyana and indeed, Amerindian peoples everywhere,” Nandlall argued.

His motion is intended to revoke the establishment of the CoI and allow for additional consultations with all of the relevant stakeholders.

The motion is gaining the attention of the National Assembly at a time when the National Toshaos Council has been

under a blanket. But President Granger is maintaining that the National Toshaos Council was informed of the Commission long before it was set up.

“The proposal to announce a body was announced by me at the National Toshaos Council, I think in August last year”, he had told reporters, stating that the legal advisor

attached to the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, David James sits on the CoI. The President said that there “had to be some consultation and the persons who are on the Commission, have been drawn from a wide section of the community.”

He said that the Commission performs two functions; one for indig-

enous people’s rights and for the rights of Afro-Guyanese. However, the NTC in a release issued on Tuesday, noted that it was never consulted in the formation of the Commission and that it cannot, “with any degree of sanity nor confidence, respect such a body, and will refuse to cooperate with such a body.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 13, 2017

UEFA Champions League Roundup

Ronaldo double secures Real comeback 2-1 win over Bayern CRISTIANO Ronaldo became the first player to score 100 goals in UEFA competitions when he struck twice, as holders Real Madrid came from behind to win 2-1 at Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final yesterday.

Bayern’s Arturo Vidal opened the scoring and missed a penalty before Ronaldo volleyed the equaliser in the 47th minute and scored the winner 13 minutes from time when he was picked out by Marco Asenio and finished calmly. Bayern had won their last 16 home games in the competition since losing to Real in April 2014.

ATLETICO MADRID 1-0 LEICESTER CITY Leicester City kept Atletico Madrid within reach as they restricted the dominant Spaniards to a single goal in their Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Koke had already hit the visitors’ post in the first half when the referee judged Marc Albrighton’s foul on Antoine Griezmann had

Cristiano Ronaldo been inside the penalty area.

Replays showed contact was made outside the box but Griezmann duly stepped up to send Kasper Schmeichel the wrong way.

Fernando Torres slipped as the goal beckoned in the second half but, that chance apart, Atletico struggled to carve out clear-cut openings against a stubborn Leicester defence.

Robert Huth - who will be banned for the second leg after being booked - saw a shot blocked and Shinji Okazaki narrowly failed to make contact with a low cross in the best of Leices-

ter’s rare raids forward.

MONACO 3 – 2 BORUSSIA DORTMUND Monaco hold the upper hand over Borussia Dortmund after a thrilling 3-2 win in their Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Kylian Mbappe’s rise into the upper echelons of football’s elite continued as his star turn put Monaco on the path to the Champions League semi-finals with a 3-2 win at Borussia Dortmund.

The rearranged quar-

ter-final first leg was played just a day removed from an attack on Dortmund’s team bus which hospitalised defender Marc Bartra, and Thomas Tuchel’s fears that his side could struggle to compete were borne out in a one-sided first half.

Though Monaco lacked first-choice full-backs Djibril Sidibe and Benjamin Mendy, as well as midfield shield Tiemoue Bakayoko, they stifled Dortmund smartly, while the hosts were rickety in defence.

Fabinho’s penalty miss was soon forgotten when Mbappe opened the scoring and Monaco’s second away goal came via the head of Dortmund defender Sven Bender - deputising in place of Bartra in Tuchel’s back three.

Christian Pulisic’s halftime introduction gave Dortmund fresh impetus and stand-in left-back Andrea Raggi regular headaches, and they hit back through an Ousmane Dembele goal which owed much to a sublime touch from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the build-up.

It’s better for administrators to step aside than players - Viv continues WICB attack

FORMER West Indies captain Viv Richards has continued his criticism of regional cricket administrators insisting that it

Viv Richards is more beneficial to the game for officials to step down than players to be left out of the team.

In recent years, frequent disputes between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and numerous players, combined with various pieces of legislation, have left several players unavailable for selection. Richards, who recently chided the WICB for its role in what he believes to be the alienation of players, has continued

the attack.

“We have issues with our administrators. We have players defecting … they don’t want to represent their country anymore. They go for the easiest process ... all the leagues around the world. There is too much infighting in terms of players versus administration.

So there must be a reason for individuals to divert their interests. There is a huge problem there,” Richards said.

“There are personality

issues at administrators’ level which have gone to an all-time high in my opinion.

They should start governing the game properly for which they are elected. In our society there is no one who has respect, if he has failed to do something ... and so why not eliminate them from the whole administrative process?

There has to be a change. I don’t know, if that’s all because of money.

But it’s been going on for too long. No one is willing to say: ‘Okay we have failed in this and that: let me resign.’ I guess sometimes, that it’s too attractive and lucrative for individuals at that particular level to let go.”

Chris Gayle, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard number among those missing for the West Indies at various points, often opting to take part in various T20 leagues around the world.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 13, 2017

Hero CPL returns to the USA this year THE Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has confirmed that the biggest party in sport will return to the USA after the International Cricket Council (ICC) approved the staging of Twenty20 fixtures in 2017.

The Hero CPL has gained approval from the ICC to stage the event, who

are the approving authority while USACA’s membership of the ICC remains suspended. The fixtures will be played in Central Broward Stadium, Lauderhill once more.

In all, six matches were staged in 2016 which generated $12 583 246 into the local Florida economy. The Hero CPL invested $1 668

151 with the combined visitor spend of $4 751 872 being the highest in this year’s tournament overall.

With a TV audience of 12.7 million, in the region of 30 000 fans attended all six matches during the 2016 season and the CPL is confident that this number will increase even further.

“On behalf of Hero CPL,

I am delighted that the biggest party in sport will return to the USA later this year,” said Damien O’Donohoe, Chief Executive of the Hero CPL. In excess of 30 000 fans packed our American leg of matches in 2016, with over half of those attendees travelling south from New York and as far west as Texas and Los Angeles.

According to O’Donohoe, “Tourists who attended these matches also spent more than $4.75 million in the local economy. This indicates a huge appetite for the game across North America and we welcome the opportunity to play our part in USA cricket’s future plans. We have committed to a community outreach programme to ensure the

Damien O’Donohoe - Chief Executive of the Hero CPL The Hero CPL is schedimpact of the Hero CPL goes uled to take place from beyond the field of play.”

The CPL CEO said the August 4 to September 10.

USA matches provided Several fixtures are schedmany highlights last year uled to be played in Amerand he believes the quality of ica and ticket information cricket on the field, coupled for the coming season, as with the party off it, will well as all Hero CPL fixgenerate even greater inter- tures, will be announced in est for the upcoming season. due course.

Fast bowler Jerome Taylor available for selection in Test Cricket JEROME Taylor has formally indicated to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) that he has come out of retirement and is available for selection for Test Cricket. This decision means he is now available for selection in all three formats of the game.

Last July, the 32-year-old fast bowler had announced his retirement from the longest version of the game.

“I believe I still have a lot of cricket left in me and I know I can still offer a lot to West Indies cricket in the Test arena,” said Taylor. “If selected, I will look to put my best foot forward and give my all for the team. We have some young players in the group at the moment and I believe with my experience, I can add to the team going forward.”

Taylor has played 46 Tests, taking 130 wickets at 34.46 apiece, with best figures of 6-47 against Australia in June, 2015 on home soil at Sabina Park in Jamaica. He has also scored 856 runs, with a top score of 106

Jerome Taylor against New Zealand in December, 2008 at University Oval in Dunedin.

Chairman of the West Indies Cricket Board’s Selection Panel, Courtney Browne, welcomed Taylor’s decision to come out of retirement.

“It is good to see that Jerome has decided to come out of retirement and make himself available for Tests once again. When you look at the volume of cricket we

have this year, we will need to look at all the resources we have available, and having someone of his ability and experience adds value to our player pool,” Browne said.

West Indies are preparing to face Pakistan in a threematch Brighto Paints presents Q Mobile Cup series, later this month (April 21-25), starting with the historic 50th Test at Sabina Park.

Neymar banned from important game against Real Madrid BARCELONA’S Brazilian superstar Neymar’s fans will miss his presence in the biggest La Liga clash against Real Madrid on April 23 after suspension in three games.

He was first shown a red card of his career when Barca suffered a 2-0 defeat in Malaga on Saturday.

Neymar was also suspended for two more games. However, Barcelona will likely appeal against the decision.

Barcelona is expected to appeal the decision. He will also miss a potential La Liga title-decider at the Bernabeu, Neymar will be absent for home

games against Real Sociedad and Osasuna.

Madrid lead Barca by three points at the top of the table but also have a game in hand as they close on a first league title in five years.

Neymar was booked in the first half at La Rosaleda for delaying a Malaga free-kick by tying his shoelaces in front of the ball and then charged into Roberto Rosales 25 minutes from time to see his second yellow card.

“I think the interpretation of the yellow cards is special,” said Barcelona boss Luis Enrique after the game.

“We have to be very careful

in some games because there were some ugly challenges from behind that went unpunished and tying boots was.”

It is not the first time in recent weeks Neymar’s attention to detail with his boots caught the eye.

He changed his footwear whilst play was ongoing in Barca’s two previous games against Granada and Sevilla, leaving his side temporarily down to 10 men.

Neymar has a highly lucrative long-term sponsorship deal with Nike with suggestions his antics may be to ensure his boots get extra time on camera.

33

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 13, 2017

Pizza Hut GCC mauled GCC Spartans 7-0 PIZZA Hut GCC mauled GCC Spartans 7-0 when the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB)-organised Woodpecker Products-sponsored Women’s Hockey League got underway last Monday at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground.

Tricia Fiedtkou opened the scoring for the winners in the ninth minute and 15 minutes later Marrana Fiedtkou made it 2-0 for the winners. Kerensa Fernandes then closed off the first half with a 28th minute goal to

give Pizza Hut GCC a commanding 3-0 lead.

However, it was Under-21 player Aliyah Gordon, who played for the senior national team and who stole the spotlight in the second segment with a helmet-trick, with goals raining in the 40th, 54th, 57th and 58th minutes to give Pizza Hut GCC a 7-0 win.

She already had two goals from her last game against Old Fort Shooting Stars so her tally is now six and she has overtaken Sonia Jardine who scored five in

the first game.

The last field goal Jardine scored in the 58th minute. She showed great skill and speed, eliminating two defenders before dribbling the goalkeeper and walking into the goal with the ball.

During last Monday’s game, Spartans had quite a few tries that were futile.

This team is showing that the players will not be mauled by the more experienced team after Woodpecker Hikers were only able to score two goals the day before.

Pele FC Alumni to donate laptops to National Library today THE Pele Football Club’s Alumni as part of the club’s 46th anniversary celebration, will today present eight laptop computers to the National Library for use by students countrywide.

Patrick ‘Labba’ Barton The Pele FC was founded by former national player and coach Lennox `Mullen’ Arthur, after Arthur, a former midfield player left Santos FC and decided to form Pele, using the name (Pele) after Brazilian great `King’ Pele. This move attracted a number of youth players drawn mainly from schools throughout Georgetown.

Among the notable players who joined were Clive `Oiler’ Watson, son of the club’s first president, the late

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Frank Watson, who was an aircraft pilot. Sadly, Frank died in an aircraft crash in 1973, co-piloting a Cessna aircraft.

Others players that the club attracted were: Terrence Archer who served as the club’s captain from 1985 to 1992. Archer also captained the Guyana national team for a number of years and was an outstanding defence player.

Other outstanding players who represented the club and went on to represent Guyana at the international level were Wendell Manifold, who captained the team with distinction for a number of years; Patrick `Labba’ Barton, Ashton Taylor, Gordon `Ultimate Warrior’ Braithwaite and Terrence Haynes among others.

Two years after the club was founded in the Albouystown YMCA building, Pele FC became a dominant force on the local scene and subsequently won local tournaments at all levels of the sport.

In the early 1970s six of the club’s players received scholarships to Clemson University in the United States.

A few years later, those

players who received scholarships to Clemson and a few others, who migrated, formed the Pele Alumni in the US, which is currently chaired by Dennis Carrington. Every five years, they return to Guyana and

Frank Watson contribute not only to the development of Pele FC’s members, but other clubs and youth organisations with an aim of keeping youths involved in sports while encouraging Guyana’s youths to secure a sound education.

Current president of the club, Robbie Rambarran, Carrington and Alumni secretary Patrick `Labba’ Barton will be among other Alumni members handing over the computers to the National Library.

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Part of the action between Pizza Hut GCC and GCC Spartans on Monday

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 13, 2017

CARIFTA team departs for Curacao

By Tamica Garnett THE Guyana athletes to the 2017 Flow CARIFTA Games departed the Cheddi Jagan International Airport yesterday for Curacao, where they will be tasked with competing against the Caribbean’s best in youth and junior athletics, with Chantoba Bright “I feel good. I know I’m well prepared. I know I’ve covered more distance than last year, so I’m going into the competition with confi-

Compton Caesar events of the Girls’ youth (Under-18) categories.

This will be Bright’s second year at the competition, and a lot will be expected from the Upper Demerara Track Club

Daniel Williams try something new and I’m talented when it comes to jumps, so I decided to try the high jump and qualified even though I’ve only trained once or twice for it.

“But I’m confident,

sport and to me, I didn’t really know what happened. But this year I’m much more experienced at international games, and I’ll be much more comfortable competing,” Williams asserted.

Meanwhile, Schools Nationals record-holder Kenisha Phillips will continue her 100m and 200m Kenisha Phillips in the 400m, after he finished second in this race at CARIFTA last year but was later disqualified.

“My chances are pret-

Anfernee Headecker

Matthew McKenzie

hopes of garnering a few of those coveted medals.

This year’s team comprises only athletes who qualified in at least one event at the Games. However, team coach Johnny Gravesande revealed that some of the athletes will be allowed to also participate in events for which they did not qualify.

Linden’s Compton Caesar, who qualified for the Boys’ U-20 200m, will also be participating in the

campaign, where her SBs are 11.84s and 24.47s respectively.

Another athlete that much will be expected from will be the sole overseas-based athlete on the team Natricia Hooper.

Hooper is also the only athlete in the Girls’ junior (Under-20) category. She will be in the 400m and triple jump, and she too has been having a good season.

The other athletes on the team are: An-

The CARIFTA team with Director of Sport Christopher Jones (right). (Adrian Narine photo)

Samuel Lynch 100m, while his club-mate Onasha Rogers will also be in the 200m after having qualified in the Girls’ Under-18 100m. Claudrice McKoy will be in the Girls’ U-18 1500m as well as the 3000m.

As the athletes gathe re d a t t h e N a t i o n a l Gymnasium just before travelling to the airport, several of them were in high spirits.

dence and a willingness to work harder than last year,” jumper Chantoba Bright told Chronicle Sport.

Bright will be in the long, triple and high jump

Tortque Boyce

athlete.

Last year Bright was Guyana’s top performer at the meet, where she collected two silver medals in the long jump and triple jump. Expectations are running high again, given her improved season. She has a season’s best of 6.01m and 12.59m in the long and triple jumps respectively.

The only event that Bright is really worried about is the high jump, for which she only recently started training, but was able to make the CARIFTA qualifying time.

“I felt it was good to

I just know I can go out there and do my stuff, and I have nothing to lose, just stuff to win and prove,” the South American Youth bronze medallist said.

Bright, along with her fellow Upper club-mate Daniel Williams are the only athletes from the 12man squad doing more than two events.

A South American Youth (SAY) silver medallist, Williams will be in the 200m, 400m and high jump at CARIFTA, the same events he medalled in last year at SAY. At CARIFTA, Williams will be particularly focused

ty good, I’m a very confident athlete and once they can do it I can. Last year was my first year at CARIFTA and I was new to the intensity of the

Tremaine Browne

Claudrice McKoy

fernee Headecker (800 and 1500m Under-20), Tremaine Browne (long and triple jumps (Under-18), Matthew McKenzie (U-20 1500m, 5000m), S a m u e l Ly n c h ( U - 2 0 800m), and Tortque Boyce (U-18 high jump).

The team travelled with coaches Gravesande and Moses Pantlitz and team manager Yvonne October.

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 13, 2017

Johnson, Thompson and Doris lead National Sport Awards nominations NATIONAL record-holder Brenessa Thompson and table tennis player Chelsea Edghill topped the list of nominations for Senior Sportswoman-of-the-Year in the National Sports Commission (NSC) Sports Awards which will be held on April 21 at the Savannah Suites at the Pegasus Hotel.

Guyana Cricket skipper Leon Johnson, top-order batsman Shimron Hetmyer, Caribbean Super Bike champion Matthew Vieira, Kristian Jeffrey and Olympian Troy Doris are among those up for Senior Sportsman-of-the-Year.

According to a release from the NSC, a total of 21 categories will be awarded, since only 15 of the 43 asso-

Matthew Vieira

ciations and federations affiliated to them had submitted nominations.

The ceremony will take the format of a black tie dinner, where awardees will find

out their fate on the night of the awards.

Senior Sportswoman has just six nominations while the Senior Sportsman category has 16 choices; the Junior Sportsman-of-the-Year has eight, and the Junior Sportswoman-of-the-Year has seven.

The 19-year-old Vieira is also among the picks for Junior Sportsman-of-the-Year, where the lineup also includes table tennis player Kaysan Ninvalle, athlete Daniel Williams and Caribbean junior champion squash player Shomari Wiltshire.

In the Junior Sportswoman-of-the-Year, there are athletics’ Chantoba Bright, badminton’s Priyanna Ram-

dhani and table tennis Neveah Clarkson.

Athletics coach Johnny Gravesande and national table tennis coach Linden Johnson are up for male coach, while Tiffany Solomon from hockey and Shelly Daly-Ramdyhan from tennis are among the female nominees.

Two new categories for businesses have been added, namely Corporate Sponsor (Large Company) and Corporate Sponsor (Small Company). Large companies included Digicel, Banks DIH, Ansa McAl and Scotiabank among others.

Banks was also nominated in the small company category, where other submissions included Trophy Stall, Bounty

Farm, E-Networks and Fitness Express.

Guyana Chronicle’s Rawle Toney, and Tamica Garnett were nominated for Sports Journalist (Print), where Kaieteur News Rawle Welch, Sean Devers, Michael Benjamin and Claude David were also nominated. Stabroek News Emmerson Campbell and Duncan Saul are also in the running.

Garnett is the only female journalist in the pool, and only female journalist nominated in any category.

Toney also received a nomination Sports Journalist (Online), as did News Room’s Treiston Joseph, Avenash Ramzan and Capital News Esaun Griffith.

‘Nationals’ splits into separate primary and secondary competitions

By Tamica Garnett

THIS year ’s National Schools Championships, set for November, is expected to be a ‘farewell’ hosting, as the organisers are preparing to drastically change the current format of the Championships to have the secondary school level competition moved to be held in March

during the Easter term.

With this change, as of 2018, the Championships will see a separate hosting of the primary school level competition, which will continue to be held during the Christmas term..

However, sources say the Guyana Teachers Union is not in complete agreement with the moving of the Championships to the Easter

term. When contacted yesterday GTU president Mark Lyte said that he will not be commenting on the issue at this time.

In addition to the splitting up and moving of the secondary school competition, neither of these competitions will involve a teachers’ championships segment, as is the norm.

Head of the Physical Ed-

GABA unveils new executive

(L-R) Kester Gomes, Seraiah Clarke, Adrian Hooper, Natasha Narine and Rawle Toney. Jonathan Degroot and Nadine Luthers-Williams are not in photo) THE Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) yesterday unveiled for the first time, the new executive body that will manage the affairs of the game in the city.

At a simple event, president of the Association, Adrian Hooper, said that

he’s happy to present the group to the public following last weekend’s elections.

Jonathan Degroot and Kester Gomes will serve as first and second vice-presidents respectively, while Nadine Luthers-Williams is the association’s secretary.

Hooper will also have Natasha Narine as his trea-

surer and Seraiah Clarke the assistant secretary/treasurer.

Rawle Toney is the Public Relations Officer (PRO).

Hooper indicated that the group will meet shortly where they will collectively work on immediately getting basketball up and running once again in Georgetown.

ucation at the Unit of Allied Arts, Nicholas Fraser, said that the changes come as the organisers look to begin taking into consideration some of the recommendations made in a proposal submitted following the ‘Forum on the Development of the National Schools Championships in Guyana’ held at the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) back in January, 2015.

Fraser related that organisers are trying to gradually phase the recommendations contained in the proposal.

The suggestion to move the Championships was made so that it is better aligned with the ‘international calendar for sports’, Fraser said.

Nationals involves athletes from all across Guyana, grouped into 15 districts competing in athletics, cycling and swimming events, span across five days.

At a meeting held last month the Director of Sport Christopher Jones was charged with the responsibility of getting the various

Mark Lyte

stakeholders together for discussions on the way forward in implementing the changes.

The National Schools Championships is organised by the Ministry of Education and Guyana Teachers Union. The Ministry of Communities also had to be notified and involved in the discussions as each district is funded by its respective regional councils.

Sources say that all stakeholders unanimously agreed to the changes, and there were no objections from the GTU side, where representatives attending the meeting included Lyte, chairman of the sports committee Seon Bristol and the secretary Coleen Liddell.

Pele FC Alumni to donate laptops to National Library today See story on page 33

Johnson, Thompson and Doris lead National Sport Awards nominations

See story on page 35

Leon Johnson

CARIFTA team departs for Curacao See story on page 34

Brenessa Thompson

GABA unveils new executive See story on page 35

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Troy Doris

‘Nationals’ splits into separate primary and secondary competitions See story on page 35

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2017