Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 18 03 2017

Hughes to prosecute Crum-Ewing’s case Page 15

SATURDAY MARCH 18, 2017

Price: $80

Misinterpreted No. 104856

(VAT Inclusive)

– Justice Pollard differs on third-term ruling – says no violation of sovereignty of people – no need for referendum

Page 3

Gov’t lays out diversification plans for Wales

Page 2

This Wales Estate worker was among the many persons who asked and received answers to their questions during a ministerial outreach to the community on Friday to address issues of restructuring in the sugar industry (Adrian Narine photo)

Nobel Laureate Sir Derek Walcott dies Page 10

Moruca Parking businessman Meter by-laws chopped to death suspended Page 13

Page 19

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

Gov’t lays out diversification plans for Wales

By Svetlana Marshall

DIVERSIFICATION of the sugar industry, including the Wales Estate, will serve as a catalyst to re-invigorate the West Demerara economy, Government said on Friday as it explained to

additional payout of $375M in severance. However, in light of threats to legal recourse, the Government said if the matter is won by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) in the courts, it will respect the court’s decision and pay the

of transition, the cane harvesters were given the option to remain in the industry and be transferred to the Uitvlugt Estate or to be made redundant and be paid their severance packages. Some 389 persons were made redundant, while 428 persons were expected to

remain with the Sugar Corporation with the majority (374) expecting to be transferred to the Uitvlugt Estate.

Additionally, the Public Security Minister said GUYSUCO is bankrupt and as such is in no position to make additional payments

Government ministers and officials of GuySuCO during the outreach sugar workers why it was critical for the more than 300 cane harvesters and support staff from Wales to take up employment at the Uitvlugt Estate.

But Government’s plan to transfer the 374 cane harvesters and support staff from the Wales Estate to the Uitvlugt Estate was met with resistance by some workers who have been pressing demands for severance. The Government, however, is maintaining that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) is in no financial position to make an

for severance to those persons who now want to exit the industry. He pointed out that already a sum of $339M has been paid to the workers who were made redundant. Should government pay the $375M, Ramjattan believes that the result would be catastrophic, thereby causing the collapse of the Uitvlugt Estate.

“At this stage, there are three reasons: the option that you took earlier in the transition, the one that we don’t have the money, the $375M to pay and thirdly, the fact that it would necessarily mean a collapse of Uitvlugt if the workers don’t go there,” Minister Ramjattan summarised.

However, some of the workers present were not in agreement. In an emotionally charged atmosphere, the workers argued that of the lot, only five persons had opted to remain within the

in 2011. The sugar worker said now that the situation is reversed, action is being withheld on the part of the administration. “This is the Government we vote for, why y’all doing this to we, we got families to feed,” another cane harvester shouted.

In an attempt to quell the situation, Ramjattan said that at that time GUYSUCO had the money to pay the sugar workers. It was explained too that in the case of Diamond, the workers were made redundant by GUYSUCO and as such were required to have their severance paid. He noted too that since taking office in 2015, the Government has pumped $32B into the ailing sugar industry.

Meanwhile, the harvester said he was among the group that opted to be transferred, however, when he went to the Uitvlugt Estate, he was made

$375M the best way possible.

The issue surfaced during a meeting at the Wales Community Centre with those affected and Agriculture Minister Noel Holder who had the full support of his Cabinet colleagues – Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; and Minister of Public Telecommunication, Cathy Hughes. GUYSUCO’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Errol Hanoman and other officials were also present.

Minister Ramjattan explained that during the period

Public Telecommunication Minister Cathy Hughes, minutes before the meeting assuring the cane harvesters that the issue of severance would have to be addressed (Photos by Adrian Narine) industry, while the majority opted to take their severance.

Pointing out that it was a bread- and-butter issue, the workers pleaded with the Government ministers to have the money paid.

One of the cane harvesters posited that the transfer from Wales to Uitvlugt would put a great strain on the workers, while explaining that they would have to travel 22 miles to reach the Uitvlugt Estate and another mile to reach the back lands.

Another harvester recalled that while in opposition, Minister Ramjattan defended more than 300 sugar cane workers of the Diamond Sugar Estate who before the closure of a legal battle had gotten their severance pay.

Some $209M was paid to the 381 affected sugar workers

to do menial tasks. The harvester’s claim along with that of the remaining cane cutters who had opted to receive their severance pay will be investigated Minister Ramjattan assured, while noting that Government was unaware of some of the issues raised by the sugar workers.

The issues are to be deliberated at the level of cabinet, while stating that “nothing is written in stone.”

DIVERSIFICATION PLANS Meanwhile, subject Minister Noel Holder in laying out the diversification programme, announced that an agreement will soon be signed between Guysuco See page 8

3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

Misinterpreted – Justice Pollard differs on third-term ruling – says no violation of sovereignty of people – no need for referendum

RETIRED Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Professor Duke Pollard, has disagreed with the ruling of the Appeal Court and High Court in the third-term case, saying that Act No. 17 of 2000 does not offend or infect either Article 1 or Article 9 of our Constitution, which speaks to sovereignty of the people and that it is in full compliance with the provisions of the proviso of Article 164 of this instrument.

“Consequently, its validity or constitutionality does not depend on the favourable outcome of a referendum as posited by the aforementioned learned judges of the Guyana Supreme Court,” Justice Pollard declared. Observers say Pollard’s comments would be seen as sound and credible, having served as a judge on the CCJ panel for five years between 2005-2010.

The Court of Appeal by a 2-1 majority on February 22, upheld Justice Ian Chang’s High Court ruling back in 2015 that the presidential term limit is unconstitutional and void. Now retired Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Carl Singh, and Justice BS Roy upheld Chang’s ruling, while the then Chief Justice (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards disagreed. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, has since indicated that government will file an appeal to the CCJ. The original court action was brought by the still unknown Cedrick Richardson of South Ruimveldt, who many believe was used by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, who from all appearances is seeking a third term as president.

Justice Singh in delivering his decision had said that laws which in effect will prevent citizens from their Constitutional right to freely elect someone of their choice are

unconstitutional. “In my view, the critical question which must be determined in this appeal is whether by altering Article 90 of the Constitution, Act No17 of 2000 also alters Articles 1 and 9 of the Constitution. It would be important to closely examine whether any of the core features of Articles 1 and 9 would be affected by Act No.17 of 2000.”

He noted that the provisions of Articles 1 and 9 of the Constitution, which speak to sovereignty of the people, ought not to be “lightly regarded” as they are deeply entrenched and provide substantive protection to the people of this country.

CAREFUL ANALYSIS However, in a letter to the editor of this newspaper, Justice Pollard said that careful analysis of the decision of Chang does appear that he reached his determination in the case by a finding that Act No. 17 of 2001 was not exempted from the requirement of a referendum to establish validity by the proviso in Article 164 of our Constitution. Chang had submitted that: “Since the alterations effected by Act No. 17 of 2000 to Article 90 also dilute and diminish democratic sovereignty (whatever that may mean) under Articles 1 & 9, the holding of a referendum was required to achieve legal validity and efficacy. None was held.”

Justice Pollard observed that Justices Singh and BS Roy had also concurred in the finding of Chang, saying that: “The legislatures under the Caribbean constitutions although extremely important, cannot, as Parliament can in the United Kingdom, claim superiority over the other two branches of government. Caribbean Parliaments are not at liberty to legislate whatever or

however they see fit without having regard to the limits enshrined in the Constitution which ultimately have to be construed and guarded by the judiciary.”

Justice Pollard said in his letter that in effect, given the role of the judiciary as guardian of the constitution, this intractable issue appears to resolve itself into the aspirational concept of judicial supremacy, notwithstanding the expressed provisions in the Constitution designating this instrument as the supreme law. He said concerning the construction to be applied to “democratic” in Article 1 of our Constitution, Chang determined it to mean the disaggregated, discrete rights of the electorate including the right to elect the President and which in his submission could not be diminished nor diluted without a referendum.

“In concurring in this opinion, the Honourable Chancellor (Acting) determined that “[t] he constitutional elements of sovereignty and democracy are not issues the Court can likely ignore. These are matters that touch the constitutional entitlements of our people. The Court must be prepared, and indeed it is the duty of the Court to ensure that the constitutional entitlements of the people are not eroded.

A restrictive interpretation of the concepts of sovereignty and democracy, limiting them as being attributes of the state, without reference to the people goes against the grain of the approach to constitutional interpretation advocated by jurists in the Region and to which I referred earlier in my judgment.”

EXPONENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL INTERPRETATION However, Justice Pollard quoted Francis Bennion,

a leading exponent of constitutional interpretation in the international legal fraternity, who said that: “A statutory term is recognised by its associated words. The Latin maxim noscitur a sociis states this contextual principle, whereby a word or phrase is not to be construed as if it stood alone, but in the light of its surroundings. While of general application and validity, the maxim has given rise to particular precepts such as the ejusdem generis principle and the rank principle.”

(Francis Bennion, Statutory Interpretation, 4th Edition, at p. 1049) Undoubtedly, Justice Pollard said the constitution is a statute of inordinately peculiar significance and as determined in the celebrated case of Collymore v Attorney General: “No one, not even Parliament can disobey the constitution with impunity. The constitution is therefore the ultimate source of power and authority.” (R. M. Belle Antoine, Commonwealth Caribbean Law & Legal Systems, at p. 98) And in the authoritative submission of the internationally recognised Durga Basu, where the constitution has definitively, decisively and conclusively determined an issue, curial intervention is not to be entertained.”

The retired CCJ judge said in his respectful submission the construction applied

by Justice Singh to the term “democratic” in Article 1 is “materially dysfunctional and egregiously flawed, if only by reason of the generally accepted rule of statutory interpretation enunciated by Francis Bennion above and encapsulated in the maxim noscitur a sociis.” Pollard argued that this maxim has given rise to particular precepts such as the ejusdem generis principle and the rank principle, which he said has been abolished.

between that of the Honourable Carl Singh, the Honourable Chief Justice Chang (Acting) and the leading authoritative jurist Francis Bennion,” Justice Pollard said.

Justice Duke Pollard “However, what is important to bear in mind for present purposes is that the abolition of this derivative principle leaves essentially unimpaired the original principle of statutory interpretation from which it is derived.

“In the ultimate analysis, therefore, it follows as a matter of ineluctable inference that the term “democratic” must be construed in the same manner like the surrounding terms “indivisible”, “secular” and “sovereign,” all of which speak undeniably to a unified political entity in diametrical opposition to the Honourable Chancellor’s (Acting) concept of “constitutional entitlements of the people” which are not to be eroded and must be construed to comprehend, among other things, the right of electors to elect a President. But, needless to say, this interpretation of “democratic” must be seen to accommodate a construction that patently goes against the generally accepted construction in the international legal fraternity and enunciated by Francis Bennion.

And in the premises, the interpretation of choice is

DOES NOT OFFEND OR INFECT According to Justice Pollard, Act No. 17 of 2000 does not offend or infect either Article 1 or Article 9 of our Constitution and is in full compliance with the provisions of the proviso of Article 164 of this instrument.

“Consequently, its validity or constitutionality does not depend on the favourable outcome of a referendum as posited by the aforementioned learned judges of the Guyana Supreme Court.”

Justice Pollard urged that before terminating discussion on this issue, “It may be useful to remind the reader that in his judgment the Honourable Chief Justice (Acting) relied heavily on the relevant dicta of Chief Justice Conteh of Belize in the aborted Bowen v Attorney General and the judgment of the learned Chief Justice Sitri in Kessavada Bharati v Attorney General of India. However, Chief Justice Conteh in his relevant determination had identified the separation of powers doctrine and the rule of law principle as constituting the normative requirements of the constitution, both of which appear to be in compliance with Chief Justice Sitri’s “basic structure” doctrine of the constitution.”

“Indeed, semantically, it is virtually impossible to construe the surrounding terms of “indivisible”, “secular” and “sovereign” employed in Article 1 of the Constitution as speaking to the disaggregated discrete rights of the electorate in a democratic society.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 18, 2017

No Oval Office handshake between Trump, Merkel

US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (GETTY images) (CNN) President Donald Trump shared an awkward moment with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit to the White House Fri-

day, apparently declining to shake her hand, a traditional gesture in such settings.

During an Oval Office photo-op, a tense Trump

barely looked at his German counterpart while quickly answering a few questions from the press.

“Send a good picture back to Germany, make sure,” Trump jokingly told

photographers.

The President said his meeting with the Chancellor was “very good” and said the pair talked about “many things.”

However, when asked to shake hands by reporters and photographers, Trump and Merkel remained stationary. It wasn’t clear if the two heard the request, and the two had shaken hands when Merkel arrived at the White House and they shook hands again after a White House news conference.

The tense moment between the American and German leaders comes after Trump repeatedly bashed Merkel on the campaign trail and accused her of “ruining Germany,” citing the nation’s policies allowing refugees into the nation.

Merkel, who enjoyed a close relationship with former President Barack Obama, is concerned with the President’s negative comments about NATO and the European Union.

Saturday February 18th, 2017 -08:30 hrs Sunday, February 19th, 2017 - 09:00 hrs Monday, February 20th, 2017 - 10:00 hrs

Secret Service laptop containing Trump Tower evacuation and floor plans stolen (CNN)A laptop with highly sensitive information was stolen from a Secret Service agent’s car Thursday morning in Brooklyn and has not been found, according to two senior New York law enforcement officials.

The officials said the laptop, which was highly encrypted and contained floor plans and evacuation protocol for Trump Tower, cannot be traced or erased by officials remotely, leaving the information at risk of being discovered.

The agent described the incident as a compromise of national security, according to one of the officials.

Also stolen were the agent’s lapel assignment pins that gave her access to security details that protected Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, the pope and the United Nations General Assembly.

The laptop and pins

were in a backpack that was taken from the car, which was parked in the agent’s driveway.

The backpack has since been found, but not the laptop.

Secret Service spokeswoman Cathy Milhoan confirmed that the laptop had been stolen and that an investigation is underway. “ S e c r e t S e r v i c e - i ssued laptops contain multiple layers of security, including full disk encryption, and are not permitted to contain classified information.

An investigation is ongoing and the Secret Service is withholding additional comment until the facts are gathered,” Milhoan said. “The Secret Service requests anyone with information regarding this crime to please contact the New York Police Department and the US Secret Service New York Field Office.”

DATE: DATE: 26/11/2016 15/03/2017 26/11/2016 17/03/2017

15 14 22 19 26 19 02 06 12 17 18 25 28 N K 11

06 02 13 06

14 13

21 21

24 26

26/11/2016 17/03/2017

04 02

07 07

03 05

26/11/2016 17/03/2017

05 01

04 05

01 03

26/11/2016 17/03/2017 02 02

09 04

10 10

11 13 13 14 14 15

18 16

5

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2017

Central Bank says Barbados has stable financial system The Central Bank of Barbados (CBB) says key financial sector indicators point to the continued stability of the Barbadian financial system during 2016.

It said the banking system remained the largest and arguably most central group of institutions within the financial system.

Central bank of Barbados “The overarching feature of the commercial banking environment continued to be extremely high levels of liquidity as banks reduced their holdings of government securities and overall loan growth remained weak.

“Against this backdrop, banks still managed to increase profitability, due primarily to lower interest expenses.

Though there was no increase in their credit portfolios due to the continued weakness in business-related lending, an overall improvement of credit risk was reported as the banks’ non-performing loan (NPL) portfolio continued to subside,” the CBB said in its “Financial Stability Report 2016” released here on Friday.

According to the CBB, capital remained above international guidelines even with the introduction of capital

reporting using Basel II requirements.

“The strength of the parent companies remains critical to these institutions’ soundness, and is a significant safeguard against potential spill-overs, since most inter-bank exposures are between domestic affiliates and their parents. The parent entities continued to obtain strong reviews from domestic regulators and international ratings agencies.”

The CBB noted that while their focus have been on personal lending, credit unions reported robust growth in loans and investments, an improvement in the ratio of non-performing loans to total loans, and increased profitability.

However, a significant proportion of their NPLs have not been serviced in over a year and their provision levels remain significantly below those of banks.

The performance of the insurance industry was mixed during 2015, the last full year for which data is available. The industry as a whole recorded an overall increase in assets but the general insurers experienced a fall in their asset base.

“Several general insurers registered losses leading to

an erosion of capital buffers in this subsector. However, life insurers recorded strong growth in premiums and a marginal increase in profitability,” the CBB said, adding that “stress tests performed on the financial system suggest that the system is generally stable and can survive a range of adverse events.

“In particular, stress tests for banks continued to emphasise their resilience to a variety of economic shocks.

Deposit-taking finance and trust companies were also robust, although specific vulnerabilities emerged under less adverse conditions than for banks.”

The CBB said that for credit unions, capital levels in the industry are adequate to absorb potential losses due to credit risk shocks and liquidity was sufficient to buffer potential deposit runs.

“Stress tests for the insurance sector, including the impact of recessionary, pandemic, natural disaster shocks and banking and sovereign crises, indicated that the overall industry appears to be reasonably resilient, though some companies faced significant losses of capital,” it said. (CMC)

Haitian Senate passes resolution condemning arrest and extradition of colleague The Haitian Senate has approved a resolution strongly condemning the arrest and extradition of Guy Philippe to the United States in January on drug trafficking charges.

At least 19 of the 24 Senators voted on the resolution during a sitting earlier this week that also demanded the return of Philippe “and all those who are illegally detained in the United States under the agreement of 17 October 1997.”

Philippe, 48, who is in a US federal jail in Miami, had been elected as a Senator last November to represent the Grand Anse region, in southwestern Haiti.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges of cocaine trafficking and money laundering from 1997 to 2003. If convicted, he could face up to life in prison.

The US Attorney’s Office said it is also seeking to recover US$1.5 million in drug profits from Philippe, a former member of the now disbanded Haitian army and a former police commissioner.

He rose to international prominence 13 years ago after leading a caravan of heavily armed militiamen into Port-au-Prince amid a bloody coup that removed then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide from power on February 29, 2004.

According to the resolution, the arrest of Philippe constitutes “an attack on democracy, human rights and to the rule of law, which are the foundations of the mission of the United Nations, of the OAS […]” and also a lack of respect “of rights to self-determination of the Haitian people.”

The Senate is also recommending that the governments of Haiti and the United States correct the errors contained in the 1997 Convention in order to maintain good diplomatic relations and make an injunction to the Haitian Government to undertake without delay “all the necessary diplomatic steps” for an immediate return to Haiti of elected Senator Guy Philippe”.

The Senators have also said they want to impeach the outgoing Justice Minister Camille Edouard Jr in order “that he be tried before the High Court of Justice for a crime of high treason.”

The resolution also urges the lawmakers to assist Guy Philippe and the members of his family.

Philippe is due back in a US court during the week of April 3. (CMC)

Jamaica looking to Europe to boost trade Jamaica says it is committed to expanding exports and satisfying customer demand in the United Kingdom (UK) and the wider European Union (EU) market.

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Karl Samuda, says as a result, the government embarked on a programme to significantly boost exports of sweet potato to the UK through the production of United States varieties and the trialling of melon varieties requested by buyers in the UK. “We recognise that to (boost exports), we have to organise that in a more sustainable way,” he said in a speech delivered by Chief Technical Director, Stephen Wedderburn, at the opening of the second day of the UK Food and Drink Exhibition.

Samuda said having more sustainable exports involves identifying markets, training farmers and potential exporters

in international business best practices, exposing them to the requirements of the markets in an organised way, and bringing them into contact with the markets.

“So (we have been) facilitating interaction between farmers and agro-processors on the one hand, and buyers on the other, in a structured way,” he said.

The government has also been targeting the UK market through the forging of linkages with the Fresh Produce Consortium, which is a trade association for fresh fruit, vegetables and the flower industry, representing retailers, wholesalers, importers and packers in that region.

As a result of this cooperation, Jamaican farmers and exporters have conducted transactions for the supply of sweet potato; yam; Julie mangoes, ginger, nutraceuticals, such as moringa and castor oil; a

variety of herbs and spices and a range of fruits.

Samuda said Jamaica has been making headway in the UK marketplace, citing an increase in exports since 2012, underscoring a long history of trade and good relations between the two countries.

Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Jamaica, David Fitton, urged UK-based companies to take advantage of any gaps in the local import market and to seek to contribute to the growth drive by the Jamaican Government as well as other governments in the Caribbean.

The UK Food and Drink Exhibition, which ends on Friday, is organised by the British High Commission.

At least 30 British companies are participating in the event as well as representatives from Jamaica, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados. (CMC)

6

Editorial

The Netherlands election WEDNESDAY’S election in the Netherlands, for those concerned about the direction the world has taken since last June when the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union (EU), would be seen as going against the tide of an emerging political order.

Incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte won, dealing a decisive blow to the far-right Party for Freedom whose candidate was Geert Wilders. Wilders’ one-page manifesto focused on immigration and Muslims which read:- Stop Muslim immigration, leave the EU, ban the Quran, and close mosques. In the multi-party system where a coalition is needed to form the new government, Rutte has ruled out the Freedom Party.

The new brand of populism sweeping Europe and the United States (U.S.) would no doubt be of concern to those interested in creating a world that is inclusive and respecting of all.

No law-abiding person would object to any country wanting to protect its borders and enforce its laws, for the sovereignty of a nation is threatened in the absence of such. The objection is taken when the claim is made that the protection of sovereignty requires banning or calling for the expulsion of groups based on identity. None can fault a country for the manner in which it manages its resources when it does not seek to treat others in a lesser manner. But where populism is careening on isolation and exclusion, it allows for persons

to be targeted not because they violate the law, but based on who they are. This is a dangerous place for the world to be in the 21st century.

Unlike the last century, modern technology and military advancement can wreak havoc without having to leave one’s domain. There are new forms of warfare, fuelled through cyber-security threats, recruitment of terrorists from anywhere around the world, and the ability of non-state actors to fund same through money-laundering and other acts. Whereas in the past the state propelled warfare in controlled environments, today non-state actors, not bound by any rule or public outcry, can inflict deadly consequences on others.

At the state level, though there are internal checks and balances for some countries going to war, where war is instigated based on false information, missiles and nuclear tests are carried out without regard for established conventions, where power is vested in the hands of nihilistic leaders, and there is little respect for the judiciary and state institutions, uneasiness lies.

The conflicts that led to World War I and II were largely due to isolationist thinking and behaviour, that informed notions of superiority, where justification was felt in exterminating the identified inferior. Isolationism, by its very nature, breeds intolerance. Intolerance closes the door to listen to and

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 18, 2017

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

Editorial: 227-5216; 227-5204 guyanachronicle.com wnigel10@hotmail.com gnnleditorial@gmail.com

Editorial

understand the world from the perspective of others. There are too many hot-spots and trouble zones around the world that risk the potential of creating new wars. Though Europe and the U.S. have within their history systems of oppression, which they also inflicted around the world, none can deny efforts by both, through establishment of international institutions, to check themselves.

These institutions, while they acknowledge the economic and military might of the more developed countries, have too embedded shared responsibility of these nations in working with others in creating the environment to foster mutual respect and dignity for the common good of all. These aspirations and values remain relevant now more than ever. With the Netherlands election decided and the two that are upcoming, in France and Germany, with candidates of Wilders’ ilk, time will tell if the Dutch have started the process of restoring a tolerant world order.

Justice Pollard weighs in on third term ruling Dear Editor,

Careful analysis of the decision of the honourable Ian Chang, Chief Justice (Acting), does appear to confirm that our learned Chief Justice (Acting) reached his determination in Cedric Richardson v Attorney General of Guyana & Raphael Trotman by a finding that Act No. 17 of 2001 was not exempted from the requirement of a referendum to establish validity by the proviso in Article 164 of our Constitution.

Consistently with this determination, the honourable Ian Chang submitted as follows: “Since the alterations effected

by Act No. 17 of 2000 to Article 90 also dilute and diminish democratic sovereignty (whatever that may mean) under Articles 1 & 9, the holding of a referendum was required to achieve legal validity and efficacy. None was held.”

In the opinion of the honourable Chancellor (Acting) who unreservedly concurred in the finding of the honourable Chief Justice (Acting): “The legislatures under the Caribbean constitutions although extremely important, cannot, as Parliament can in the United Kingdom, claim superiority over the other two branches of government. Caribbean Parlia-

ments are not at liberty to legislate whatever or however they see fit without having regard to the limits enshrined in the constitution which ultimately have to be construed and guarded by the judiciary.”

In effect, given the role of the judiciary as guardian of the constitution, this intractable issue appears to resolve itself into the aspirational concept of judicial supremacy notwithstanding the express provisions in the Constitution designating this instrument as the supreme law.

As concerned the construction to be applied to “democratic” in Article 1 of our Constitution the honourable Chief Justice (Acting) determined it to mean the disaggregated discrete rights of the electorate including the right to elect the President and which in his submission could not be diminished nor diluted without a referendum. In concurring in this opinion the honourable Chancellor (Acting) determined that “[t]he constitutional elements of sovereignty and democracy are not issues the Court can likely ignore. These are matters that touch the constitutional entitlements of our people.

The Court must be prepared, and indeed it is the duty of the Court to ensure that the constitutional entitlements of the people are not eroded. A restrictive interpretation of the

concepts of sovereignty and democracy, limiting them as being attributes of the state, without reference to the people goes against the grain of the approach to constitutional interpretation advocated by jurists in the region and to which I referred earlier in my judgment.”

Contrast in this context the approach to statutory interpretation divined by Francis Bennion, a leading exponent of constitutional interpretation in the international legal fraternity: “A statutory term is recognised by its associated words. The Latin maxim noscitur a sociis states this contextual principle, whereby a word or phrase is not to be construed as if it stood alone but in the light of its surroundings. While of general application and validity, the maxim has given rise to particular precepts such as the ejusdem generis principle and the rank principle.” (Francis Bennion, Statutory Interpretation, 4th Edition, at p. 1049) Undoubtedly, the constitution is a statute of inordinately peculiar significance and as determined in the celebrated case of Collymore v Attorney General: “No one, not even Parliament can disobey the constitution with impunity. The constitution is therefore the ultimate source of power and authority.”

(R. M. Belle Antoine, Com-

monwealth Caribbean Law & Legal Systems, at p. 98) And in the authoritative submission of the internationally recognised Durga Basu, where the constitution has definitively, decisively and conclusively determined an issue, curial intervention is not to be entertained.

In my respectful submission the construction applied by the honourable Chancellor to the term “democratic” in Article 1 is materially dysfunctional and egregiously flawed if only by reason of the generally accepted rule of statutory interpretation enunciated by Francis Bennion above and encapsulated in the maxim noscitur a sociis. This maxim has given rise to particular precepts such as the ejusdem generis principle and the rank principle. In this context, let me hasten to acknowledge with appreciation that by reason of Article 5 of the Interpretation and General Clauses Act of Guyana the ejusdem generis principle has been abolished in Guyana and which was drawn to the national attention by the erstwhile Attorney General.

However, what is important to bear in mind for present purposes is that the abolition of this derivative principle leaves essentially unimpaired the original principle of statutory interpretation from which it is derived.

In the ultimate analysis, therefore, it follows as a matter of ineluctable inference that the term “democratic” must be construed in the same manner like the surrounding terms “indivisible”, “secular” and “sovereign” all of which speak undeniably to a unified political entity in diametrical opposition to the honourable Chancellor’s (Acting) concept of “constitutional entitlements of the people” which are not to be eroded and must be construed to comprehend, among other things, the right of electors to elect a President. But, needless to say, this interpretation of “democratic” must be seen to accommodate a construction that patently goes against the generally accepted construction in the international legal fraternity and enunciated by Francis Bennion. And in the premises, the interpretation of choice is between that of the honourable Carl Singh, the honourable Chief Justice Chang (Acting) and the leading authoritative jurist Francis Bennion.

To conclude, Act No. 17 of 2000 does not offend or infect either Article 1 or Article 9 of our Constitution and is in full compliance with the provisions of the proviso of Article 164 of this instrument. Consequently, its validity or constitutionality does not depend on the favour-

able outcome of a referendum as posited by the aforementioned learned judges of the Guyana Supreme Court.

Before terminating discussion on this issue it may be useful to remind the reader that in his judgment the honourable Chief Justice (Acting) relied heavily on the relevant dicta of Chief Justice Conteh of Belize in the aborted Bowen v Attorney General and the judgment of the learned Chief Justice Sitri in Kessavada Bharati v Attorney General of India. However, Chief Justice Conteh in his relevant determination had identified the separation of powers doctrine and the rule of law principle as constituting the normative requirements of the constitution both of which appear to be in compliance with Chief Justice Sitri’s “basic structure” doctrine of the constitution. Indeed, semantically, it is virtually impossible to construe the surrounding terms of “indivisible”, “secular” and “sovereign” employed in Article 1 of the Constitution as speaking to the disaggregated discrete rights of the electorate in a democratic society.

Regards Professor Justice Duke Pollard

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2017

Presidential immunity has Georgetown no place in democratic bereft of zoning regulations societies-WPA IN the light of President Jagdeo’s recent invoking of presidential immunity, the WPA wishes to reiterate its historical opposition to the inclusion of presidential immunity in the Constitution of Guyana. We continue to oppose presidential immunity as an unnecessary and outdated provision. It has no place in democratic societies. The commitment to the rule of law and good governance should always be sacrosanct. When this provision was included in the 1980 constitution,the WPA opposed it then and continues to do so today.

It should be recalled that the 1980 Constitution was devoid of popular sup-

port.

It is our view that presidential immunity offers penitential and actual cover for rulers who engage in wrongdoing. In this regard, we are concerned that former president, Bharrat Jagdeo, has instantly invoked presidential immunity in the ongoing Pradoville2 probe. Ironically, the late President Burnham, who is often berated by the PPP, never invoked presidential immunity.

The WPA resolutely holds that unconditional presidential immunity is against the democratic spirit. Courts around the world, when called upon, have generally imposed limits on such immunity. The presi-

dent is not a monarch of the pre-democratic times nor is he or she above the law.

The WPA firmly feels that the constitutionality of presidential immunity should be tested in the courts of law.

Arguments of its legitimacy and applicability must be decided there. In the final analysis, the WPA urges immediate review of this constitutional burden on the society With reference to the case involving the Pradoville2 investigations, the WPA supports SOCU‘s action to uphold the power of the police to question anyone it has credible reasons to believe is associated with or benefits from criminal wrongdoing. We

believe that the need to detain Jagdeo and other PPP leaders, albeit briefly, became necessary in the face of a deliberate attempt by the PPP leadership to have its members defy a lawful request from the police as a form of political grandstanding.

The WPA is deeply concerned that former President Bharrat Jagdeo may feel emboldened that his claim of presidential immunity is supported by the most powerful politician in the land. This in our view would be a most unfortunate development.

Regards Working People’s Alliance

GTUC calls for probe into $605M drug purchase Dear Editor THE Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is calling on the Government to uphold the Rule of Law in every aspect of governance. There should be an immediate investigation surrounding action taken by Minister of Health Volda Lawrence in the $605m authorisation of spending for the purchase of drugs , which is in breach of the tender board process and public procurement laws.

The GTUC is seeking to improve the system of government and the behaviours of some members within the government suggest disregard for the embrace of the rule of law and restoring financial accountability and prudence to government. That these acts cast aspersions of corruption is evident in the recent act of the Minister of Health, knowing fully well

that such authorisation is not within her remit.

The establishment of the Public Procurement Commission was fought for, and whilst it is important to remember that the PPP/C was recalcitrant in having it established, the coalition insisted on it.

Now a senior minister of government has arbitrarily determined that she alone, having the best interest of Guyanese at heart, will operate in breach of the law and good practices, on the pretext that there was no other way to meet the immediate demand. That said minister failed to recognise that such concern could have been channelled to the relevant tender board authority for expediting ‘a national need.’

Acts such as these if not nipped in the bud,would become pervasive and threaten the welfare of the society. This is how the PPP started and the few

that came out to condemn were told to give them a chance, which resulted in full-fledged rape of the economy and the country being ranked the most corrupt in the English-speaking Caribbean by Transparency International. Avoiding continuing along this path requires nipping every errant conduct in the bud and holding these responsible to account.

The coalition government is reminded that whereas their current shortcomings pale in comparison to those of the PPP/C, these acts of ministerial impropriety and poor governance mark the beginning of what can well develop into more severe circumstances. The government, if serious about its image of stamping out corruption must not appear to condone or ignore the violations in financial accountability. It is therefore called upon to launch an investigation into

this violation committed by the minister and to ensure a strong signal is sent to others by meting out the appropriate sanctions.

It is noted that Minister Lawrence is also Chairman of the PNC/R Georgetown District and therefore her position may be seen as significant to the party and government. However, such consideration should not be allowed to override any act in violation of the laws. Acts like those, regardless of who committed them should not be allowed to jeopardise the common good. It is also unreasonable to expect silence from sections of society amidst glaring cases of irregularity and impropriety. Failure to act indicts this government.

Regards Guyana Trades Union Congress

THE Mayor and City Council, earlier this year, cited their intention to re-introduce zoning in the city of Georgetown.

To me, that is an unenviable task and a valiant effort to restore order within the capital city. Guyanese, at home and abroad, like to boast and impress others about their visits to other cities in the world where public order is evident. It is obvious that such developments did not occur by mere wishes in those countries. So, it is timely that we move beyond admiration of others and seek to realise similar standards at home.

The need for public order is indeed overdue, something zoning can ably correct. It will require massive adjustments and may not be as easily attainable, unless the citizenry and business community fully comprehend and endorse the M&CC’s ultimate objectives. What the M&CC should consider, however, are the mood and intellects of citizens as it pursues this initiative.

We do not need another ‘Parking Meter’ type fiasco.

There is a whole new generation of citizens who seem out of touch with internationally acceptable norms and modern urban standards.

Some do not even understand what a residential area is. I can say so unreservedly because in almost any area one can find people placing large sound systems in their vehicles or on their verandahs to blast off melodies at decibels that would literally crack the walls of neighbouring buildings, not to mention the ears and chests of

living creatures within proximity.

With a generation that seems to enjoy the free for all of living however and wherever, without the basic recognition or regard for such areas as “silent zones” -- honking their vehicle horns near hospitals and courts of judicature, or playing music carts near churches and schools, the efficacy of zoning by-laws would be more than welcome.

They will, however, require consistency in their implementation and effective policing to ensure that there is public adherence to the relevant by-laws.

The M&CC, therefore, will need to embark on mammoth public consultation and education.

They must also ensure that zoning implementation does not create undue contention or violation of property rights.

The M&CC, through its twinning and collaborative relations with other cities, can present ‘Best Practices’ as ‘buy-ins’ to posit their initiative for zoning, and create awareness of the benefits associated with such standards .

Zoning will not only restore order and civility within the capital but will, by extension, be the catalyst for urban expansion with the creation of new industrial areas, particularly for those types of businesses that present environmental and safety hazards within traditional residential areas, or those that may need to be relocated for violation of operational regulations within the city.

Regards Orette Cutting

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 18, 2017

Gov’t lays out diversification plans ...

From page 2

and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), in which the GRDB would fund a seed paddy project.

“As soon as the land dries out over the next few days, land preparation will commence. Contrary to what is being said, the country is in great need of good quality seed paddy and we are looking to Guysuco to produce this,” Holder said. He also dsisclosed that plans are in the pipeline for an aquaculture pilot project which will come on stream by April, as well as a number of viable non-sugarcane crops and livestock activities. Holder also announced that land would be leased to employees by October, 2017 to shift them into becoming farmers .He said a European Union-funded study would shortly be undertaken.

The Agriculture Minister said said that 60 percent of the canes that previously went to the Wales sugar factory will now be milled at Uitvlugt.

“These farms are in fact closer to the Uitvlugt factory and the farmers would benefit from reduced transportation cost as well as better recoveries,”

Holder said, noting that bad weather has been hampering the construction of an all-weather road and bridges from Wales to Uitvlugt.

Additionally, the Agriculture Minister said land closer to Uitvlugt would be made available to farmers who would like to remain in cane farming and told the gathering that 14 farmers have already been awarded leased lands close to Uitvlugt and other applications are being evaluated.

The Agriculture Minister said farmers who opt to remain at Wales, where they have their farms, but find it uneconomical to remain in cane would be encouraged to diversify in line with the diversification plans for Wales.

OVER-RELIANCE Meanwhile, Holder said the decision to remove the over-reliance of the community on sugar should have been taken a long time ago.

“The sugar industry has been struggling for some years and the recession in the West Demerara econo-

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, making a point in the presence of Agriculture Minister Noel Holder my has been a gradual process,” he posited. He said the West Demerara economy was already depressed when the Government took office. However, Holder noted that diversification

of the economy will address many of the problems facing the industry and the people who benefit from it. “An important part of our strategy to make our people more resilient and

independent is to lease land to employees to transition them into becoming farmers, to be more in control of your destiny, to give you a greater stake in the wealth to be generated in

the community,” Minister Holder explained. The Agriculture Minister said while it will take some time, Government is hoping to conclude certain aspects of its diversification plan by October 2017.

Minister Holder explained that 1118 workers attached to the Wales estate stand to be affected by the transition process. However 675 persons are to remain employed with the estate, 374 of whom are required to complement cane harvesting at Uitvlugt estate.

“Sadly, many of these persons have been misled to take severance rather than take up employment at Uitvlugt estate.

Not going to Uitvlugt would put Uitvlugt’s survival at serious risk. Fifty four have been transferred to other estates and unfortunately, 389 persons have been made redundant,” Minister Holder said.

The final redundancy cheques were to have been issued Friday afternoon, Minister Holder said.

Inmate who lost wrist at Lusignan Prison must be compensated Dear Editor I SUPPOSE the name Harley English may be written on several pieces of paper in the coming weeks, this would be only if there is an inquiry to determine why this 21-year-old lost his right wrist.

Of course, many Guyanese do not know him or his name, save maybe those in his immediate community or those of us who were shocked to read of how he lost his wrist in the Kaieteur News edition of Wednesday 14th March, 2017. It happened that young Harley English was asked by the prison authorities to make some hollow concrete blocks, for the prisons. The article did not state whether or not this young man was supervised while making the blocks, nor did it state if he had training in the safe and effective use

and care of the machine he was allowed to use to make the blocks.

However, as fate would have it, the machine developed a problem, which the young man felt he was capable of fixing. In a normal industrial situation, Harley English would have been compensated by his employer and be given a disability benefit from the National Insurance Scheme.

In this instance though, the young man was working under instructions; the situation is not what one would consider normal industrial. He was a custodian of the state, and should have been up to Saturday 18th March, four days after losing his wrist.

Not sure if anyone has moved to ensure that he is removed from that environment.

The fact that Harley English lost his right wrist while following instructions to do work would not allow him to benefit from fine prints within the

Master-Servant contract under which employees operate in industry, nor will he be eligible for benefits from the National Insurance Scheme or any similar mechanism under which workers are covered against accidents such as the one that occurred within the Lusignan prison walls this week. The article by which I learnt of this accident if accurate reveals at least two administrative lapses which should be laid at the door of the prison authorities and especially the administration of the Lusignan Prison.

• It seems that the inmate was not supervised.

• It is clear that he was not adequately instructed in the rudiments of safety with respect to that machine.

In my opinion, parts of any machine can be converted to weapons, in a prison environment. Hence, once a machine is being used by a prisoner, he must be super-

vised, since to do otherwise is to introduce a security risk element to others. If the young man had been trained in the safe use and maintenance of that machine, he would have been aware of the possible danger of putting his hand where he put his.

Whatever happens from now onwards, will not change the fact that this man for the rest of this natural life would not have the use of his right hand. In other words, he is now considered a person with a disability, or should I say,a cripple. Yes his actions alongside the machine were unsafe, but should he be the one to carry the burden of that accident? I say no.

• Consider what would have been the result if he had refused to make those blocks.

• If there was supervision, then when the machine developed a problem, someone else would have taken the responsibil-

ity to have it fixed.

• When he was incarcerated, his safety became the responsibility of the state, hence,the state should now be held responsible for his disfigurement.

It is a norm for convicted persons to work, if fit, while in prison. Such work affords them an opportunity to earn, while in prison, and also to be equipped with a skill which can be utilised after leaving prison.

The latter is all a part of the more important role of the prison system which is to realise the rehabilitation of inmates while in custody.

Such rehabilitation is aimed at producing socially worthwhile individuals, who would through accepted means be able to among other things earn a living and be socially comfortable with the rest of society. In effect, the prison authorities are there to afford convicts an opportunity to

be trained for better roles in society.

Thus my question again.

Was Harley English under training, or did the prison authorities feel he had developed the competencies to use the block-making machine? The event which prompted this question definitely brings to the fore the fact that the prison system of Guyana continues to fail in the execution of its mandate of rehabilitation. This accident occurred in prison, and similar to an accident occurring within an industrial environment where compensation would be considered, one can logically conclude that the Guyana Prison Service in this instance owes this 21-year-old person compensation and should make efforts to do so without fail.

Regards Elton McRae

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

Indian Arrival Monument sign unveiled

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Indian High Commissioner to Guyana H.E. Venkatachalam Mahalingham on Wednesday unveiled the sign for the Indian Arrival Monument at Palmyra Village, East Berbice, Corentyne.

The construction of the $97M monument is dedicated to the arrival of Indians in Guyana, a project between the Governments of Guyana and India.

Speaking at a simple unveiling ceremony, Prime Minster Nagamootoo said the monument serves as a tribute to all the ancestors who came from India to the then British Guiana.

“We look forward to the $97M edifice that would be erected as a lasting tribute to our ancestors,” said the

Prime Minister, who noted that he was honoured to meet the sculptor of the six bronze statues when he visited India last year.

Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingham, said his government is pleased to partner with Guyana on the project and expressed gratitude to the government for facilitating the project.

The Indian High Commissioner said that the government of India had spent US$150,000 to complete the six-foot statue depicting six bronze figures of three men, two women and a child. The statue illustrates Indians in their everyday life.

The bronze-sculpted edifice will sit on a one-acre plot of land at T Junction, Palmyra

Village, on the eastern side of the Berbice River Bridge. It was designed

by Philbert Gajadar and Winslow Craig after a national competition was held in 2013.The sculpted figure has already been completed, has arrived in Guyana and is awaiting installation. The monument is expected to be completed by May 2017.

Several ministers of Government, including Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton; Minister of Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes; Mrs.Sita Nagamootoo, wife of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and many regional officials were present at the unveiling ceremony.

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingham , unveil the sign for the Indian National Monument

Health Ministry launches $1.6B maternal and child health project PUBLIC Health Minister, Volda Lawrence on Thursday plugged sustained local and international support to guarantee the success of the five-year US$8M Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) backing to fund the Maternal and Child Health Improvement Project, she launched.

Lawrence is worried about Guyana’s continued high rates of maternal and infant mortality and said reversing those trends cannot be the sole responsibility of her ministry, her ministry said in a release.

“The health sector, you and I know, is faced with a myriad of challenges at all levels and in varying degrees with our maternal and infant mortality appearing high on that list; our maternal mortality rates [are] estimated at 121/100,000 live births and infant mortality rates [are] estimated at 22/1000 live births,” Lawrence reminded specialist participants at the Grand Coastal Inn, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara.

The IDB, PAHO/WHO, USAID, UNICEF and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) have stood out as major partners backing the local public health sector in the last decade, “supporting health initiatives aimed at enhancing the delivery of primary health care to our people,” Lawrence said.

Nevertheless, the health

sector challenges have remained daunting, Lawrence noted, highlighting the “proposed interventions of the bank in this particular initiative with the Maternal and Child Health Unit (MCH), which is beset by problems involving inadequate access, use [and] quality of reproduc-

“The US$8M IDB support will boost this sector and make a significant difference in the lives of Guyanese mothers and their offspring and will be used to strengthen reproductive, maternal and neonatal health; strengthen the healthcare network and invest in administration and

reducing the number of maternal and infant deaths in our communities and regions,” Lawrence said, building on Dr. Hamilton’s disclosures.

The health sector improvement, plan must be threepronged Lawrence counselled, focusing on the structure or context, the process and the

mortality rates remain among the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean areas.

The IDB-backed initiative will support an in-depth revision of all guidelines, protocols, and strategies related to health of women of reproductive age, pregnancy, delivery, emergency care, and

Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, addressing the gathering at the event tive maternal and neonatal health services.”

“At present, there exist countless constraints that militate against the effective operations of this unit and result in the demise of our mothers and infants. This phenomenon, I want to reiterate, undermines our national health priorities and depletes our national human resource assets,” the minister said.

evaluation,” Dr Ertenisa Hamilton, MCH Director (ag) told participants.

“We, in the ministry, welcome this technical support, since we envisage that capacity-building will be engendered, resulting in the strengthening of the organisation of the health care network, enhancing the efficacy and effectiveness of our maternal, perinatal and neonatal units and ultimately

outcomes of this sector, “all of which are closely integrated,” which in the end should bring down the maternal, perinatal and neonatal death rates.

Local figures have indicated that some 95 per cent of Guyanese depend on the public health sector, which is funded from the national purse. Despite progress in the sector over the years, Guyana’s maternal infant

postpartum challenges. The programme also envisages a focus on specific needs of adolescents, men and indigenous peoples.

The project also intends to provide quality reproductive, maternal and neonatal care; strengthen the supply chain for contraceptive methods and drugs and blood products; and all processes relating to planning, procurement, stor-

age, distribution, monitoring and evaluation, new management practices will become time-sensitive. The bank’s financial help will also fund improved collection, systematisation, reporting and use of generated data to improve the quality of health information.

None of the interventions of the health improvement programme must “trample on the cultural beliefs and practices” of beneficiaries, Lawrence counselled, adding that we have to respect women’s rights and devise ways of promoting the implementation of patient-centred and culturally appropriate care, ensuring that women and their families are empowered, and are treated with respect.

“The health of our nation is a priority. It is most opportune for the citizens of this country to become recipients of a safe and well-structured Maternal and Child Health Department in each of the communities, so that referrals to GPHC are minimised for low-risk births and each community, district, facility can boast of quality care in the service of delivery of MCH. It is my hope that through this project, and our collaborative efforts, we can change attitudes and lifestyles in our residents and thereby create a climate of health consciousness and well-being,” Lawrence said.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

Amendment of Integrity Commission Act to ‘give it teeth’ –Harmon

CABINET Secretary and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, has dismissed statements made by former President and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on the amendment of the Integrity Commission Act. Jagdeo has indicated that his party, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), would reject the proposed

amendment to the Integrity Commission Act. “We will oppose this amendment, because this amendment is another tool to [make it] seem as though they are doing something about a code of conduct for ministers, to seem as though they are pursuing transparent, accountable lives, but, on the other hand, they are setting

the basis for further witchhunt and to come after PPP members,” Jagdeo stated.

However, Harmon in response said Jagdeo needs to spend time reading and understanding the intent of the Act. “… the opposition leader should take the time to read the Act and amendments and code of conduct attached to it [and] I believe he would come to a different conclusion,” Harmon said on Friday, while

noting that the amendment of the Integrity Commission Act will give it teeth.

Harmon during his weekly post-cabinet press briefing told reporters that the Integrity Commission Act, which makes provision for the establishment of an Integrity Commission, orders that public officers disclose their financial assets and liabilities on or before June 30, each year.

The Act became law in

1997 and provides for the formation of the Integrity Commission and makes provisions for the purpose of securing the integrity of persons in public life.

“The first had to do with the enforceability of the decisions of the Integrity Commission; the Act itself lacks the capacity to be able to enforce things and so what it does, it requires the Integrity Commission to lay a report to the President,” he explained.

Harmon continued: “What we are trying to do is ensure that the Act covers a code of conduct for Ministers and Members of Parliament and it also gives it some amount of teeth in the enforcement.”

He said the Act denudes some of the power which requires the commission to lay a report to the President. “This makes the Integrity Commission a stronger body.”

Nobel Laureate Sir Derek Walcott dies THE death of sir Derek Walcott, a Nobel prize-winning poet died in St. Lucia on Friday at the age of 87 after a prolonged period of illness. The literary giant’s death is being mourned globally, but has hit home more in the Caribbean.

In Guyana, literary minds celebrate his life and have described him as one of the greatest literary minds that has graced the Region.

Walcott’s works throng national libraries and academic institutes globally and are common on the shelves of many writers, in English Literature classrooms.

Government Advisor on Cultural Policy, Ruel Johnson, himself a poet and award-winning writer, told the Guyana Chronicle that his work was greatly inspired by the Nobel laureate, whom he first met in Guyana during Carifesta in 2008.

Though he writes fiction as well, Johnson said the poet was his greatest influence in writing.

“I started writing poetry, proper poetry, after having read his ‘Another Life’,” Johnson told the Guyana Chronicle on Friday as he described the literary giant as the “first among equals… the pioneering giant of Caribbean Literature.”

Walcott’s name is placed with other Caribbean writers such as E.R. Braithwaite and V.S. Naipaul, to name a couple, and with writings “too far-ranging” for the selection of a single best piece, Johnson said, ‘Hic Jacket’ is

one which won his heart and sealed his position as a writer in Guyana.

“But the work that made me want to stay and live as a writer in Guyana, despite the drawbacks, was a poem called ‘Hic Jacket’.”

Johnson said the legacy of Walcott is “incomparable” in helping the Caribbean define itself not as “merely peripheral former colonial subjects,” but as human beings.

“His death will be a reason for profound sadness, but his legacy is incomparable in helping us in the Caribbean to define ourselves as human beings and not merely peripheral former colonial subjects.

He gave us the idea that we possessed a soul worthy of celebration in poetry and that goes beyond any indicator of self-determination and self-development we could conceive of,” Johnson said.

Walcott’s work includes In A Green Night: Poems 1948 - 1960 and his epic work, Omeros, which draws on Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. In 1992, he won the Nobel Prize for Literature and in 2011, the TS Eliot Prize for Poetry, with his collection ‘White Egrets’, which judges in the TS Eliot Prize for Poetry called “a moving, risk-taking and technically flawless book by a great poet.”

Meanwhile, writer and poet Dr. Ian McDonald, said he will forever remember how remarkable a playwright and poet Walcott was. The Guyanese-born McDonald wrote a comprehensive feature on the poetic stalwart

headlined, ‘The unshakable faith of the humble’ on page 271 of his own book, ‘A Love for Poetry’ published by the

language. As he has grown older his work has grown if anything denser, more beautiful, more compelling,” Mc-

Poet Derek Walcott in 1988. Doug Griffin / Toronto Star via Getty Images Caribbean Press in 2013.

Walcott’s writings captured his attention from his very first collection of about 25 original poems released in 1959. At the time, Dr McDonald said he was still in school and his own writings had just begun.

“I was at school and I remember when his first collection of poems came out.

It was about 25 poems. It impressed people right away.

He was 19 years old…So he’s been on the West Indian scene and on the world scene.”

He told the Guyana Chronicle that he read many of the works of Walcott and other writers. “Derek Walcott stands out as the greatest poet now writing in the English

Donald, himself one of the Caribbean greats, wrote.

He called the St. Lucian a “true West Indian man” and said even as he travelled the globe, “he remained rooted in the West Indies. His universal theme springs from a deeply felt West Indian experience.

He is by far the best playwright the West Indies has yet produced.”

‘A letter from Brooklyn’ had really captured McDonald’s literary love, and he pointed out that “in a small compass” there is a demonstration of “what it sometimes takes whole volumes to explain – the unshakable faith of those who are humble and the redeeming power of unquestioning love.”

The poem he called “miniature but perfect in scale,” and McDonald added, “One of Walcott’s fundamental motivations is “to speak the name of all the humble.”

The two writers met about four times and accompanied by his work, his presence was enough for McDonald to conclude that the man was “a world figure [and] the greatest poet the West Indies has produced… But never forget that he is also a very, very good playwright.”

McDonald told the Guyana Chronicle that Walcott had made a positive change in Caribbean poetry and brought a fresh confidence and image to the lives of Caribbean poets.

“In those days the influences on young poets in the West Indies tended to be not from the West Indies (but poets who were Englishmen).

Derek Walcott came on the scene with his first collection of poems and he was immediately seen as a very, very good poet. I remember as a schoolboy reading his first poetry and saying ‘but this is lovely, and he is a West Indian like me’,” McDonald stated.

He added: “When he first came on the scene he inspired a lot of young West Indian poets to realise that they did not have to write like the English poets. They could now write like Derek Walcott about their home scenes and their own people and their own events. And so he was very influential in that way.”

Similarly, Al Creighton,

literary and art critic, said he was shocked when he heard of the death of Walcott. “I really never expected that of Derek Walcott -- not at this time. He seemed such an important fixture in our literature and it is hard to imagine it without him. Not that there are not several other outstanding heroes, but he became such a colossus -- he spoke a lot for the Caribbean Region and the forms of Caribbean literature, those that he utilised and those to which he gave shape.”

Creighton said the death of Walcott represents not only the loss of one man or one writer, but “the end of an era.”

“Walcott grew to be the most outstanding poet in the world; the best poet/playwright. Standing there on his own after his late friend and co-conspirator, Seamus Heaney. The world will feel the actual absence of its best poet and playwright,” Creighton added.

He posited that West Indian literature will now have to make do with the heritage of Walcott’s brand of theatre.

“When you look at his plays and at his poetry; when you read his critical essays -- you find he was thoroughly Caribbean, yet he was what his greatest critic Edward Baugh called him -- the universal humanist.”

The Nobel Prize in Literature 1992 was awarded to Walcott “for a poetic oeuvre of great luminosity, sustained by a historical vision, the outcome of a multicultural commitment.”

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

Nascimento walks away from SCS –– MAPM takes protest to Water Street

PUBLIC Communications Consultants Limited (PCCL) has terminated its contract with Smart City Solutions Inc. (SCSI) as of Friday March 17, 2017, as the controversial parking meters contract is under government’s micro-

the issue, while pointing out that the suspension of the metered parking system would amount to a breach of contract, for which the municipality would have to compensate contractor Smart City Solutions.

King in his letter told Minister Bulkan that

mately 30 cars, deliberately being parked in this vicinity, as a show of defiance to Smart City Solutions.

This initiative was taken by MAPM supporters, given the fact that Water Street (among others) falls under the purview of the Ministry, placing the current

should not have sought any clarity on the suspension, since he believes that government’s position is clear on the matter.

“The government has been very clear on their position, what has led up to their decision at Cabinet and so I see no reason

MAPM organizer, Marcel Gaskin

Members of the Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM) took their protest to Water Street, Georgetown as a show of defiance to Smart City Solutions [Samuel Maughn photos] scope.

A statement from PCCL on Friday noted that all media queries should be directed to SCSI’s office on telephone numbers (227) 5045/5046 and 2317275. It is unclear why the Public Relations Agency ended the contract, but the decision comes four days after Cabinet strongly suggested that the controversial parking meters contract be suspended for three months.

Despite government’s suggestion, Smart City Solutions – a Mexican company – is still enforcing its implementation and drivers’ vehicles continue to be clamped. Additionally, Town Clerk of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Royston King has written to Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, seeking clarity on

there is no provision in the contract between the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and SCS to suspend the project and warned of the implications of doing so.

WATER STREET PROTEST Meanwhile, the Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM) took its protest to Water Street, Georgetown, where SCS has illegally placed parking meters.

This week, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) revealed that Water Street falls under their responsibility and SCS did not seek prior approval before placing several parking meters there.

The protest was held under the theme, ‘Right to Meter-Free Parking’ and demonstrated approxi-

parking meter project in direct violation of existing laws.

Protesters were in possession of black flags, symbolic of death to businesses in the city since the introduction of the parking meters. One of the MAPM organisers, Marcel Gaskin believes that Town Clerk of the M&CC is stalling the suspension.

“Royston King is clearly stalling; this is a money making exercise for SCS; so he is trying to ensure that they stay in the game for as long as possible. I think the signs are clear that this game is going to shut down shortly, but they’re trying to stall to get as much money out of the system as they can,” Gaskin said.

Additionally, Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan reiterated that the Town Clerk

why we need to have any more clarity on the matter.

We should go ahead and suspend this contract,” Duncan told reporters.

The Deputy Mayor is of the view that if allowed, the parking meters will result in the death of Georgetown.

“If these parking meters continue, it will mean the death of the city. Lots of businesses have already complained about drop in sales, drop in foot traffic on the business premises and so

we believe that if this continues, if the parking meters project goes forward, it will mean the death of Georgetown and we love our city too much before it dies.”

Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia ChaseGreen is currently in the United States and is expected to return on March 25, after which a statutory meeting will be convened and a decision will be made by the M&CC on the suspension of the contract.

12

Finance Minister, BoG Governor to meet with IMF, World Bank officials GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

–– Guyana to be represented at several international forums

FINANCE Minister, Winston Jordan and Governor of the Bank of Guyana (BoG), Dr Gobind Ganga, will soon be attending the spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group to be held next month in Washington D.C. Cabinet Secretary and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, told reporters on Friday that cabinet has approved the duo’s attendance at the meeting and noted that representatives of the private sector and central bankers will also be

part of the meeting, which starts on April 19 and ends on April 23.

Harmon said, while in Washington Dr. Gobind Ganga will be part of bilateral discussions and attend constituency meetings with the IMF and World Bank.

Meanwhile, Cabinet has also approved the attendance of other forums to be held overseas. Guyana will be participating in the telecommunications unions Information and Communications Technology (ICT) week and symposium to be held in Antigua and Barbuda from March 2025, 2017.

According to Minister Harmon, the symposium will bring together CARICOM leaders and technical officers to develop mechanisms for establishing ICT projects and sharing ideas and expertise to promote regional ICT development.

It will also address the establishment of the region’s single ICT space. Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes and her ICT advisor, Lance Hinds will attend.

Guyana will also attend the National Law Enforcement academy extortion course, which is scheduled to be held on March 31 in

El Salvador. The Minister of State said the course will assist participants to enhance their skills in investigative techniques and prosecutorial methods for dismantling criminal enterprises involved in extortion.

Inspector Nigel Stephens, Sergeant Rodwell Sarabo, Kester Merrier, Colin Ross, Hamlet Martine Da Silva and Quails Baggot of the Guyana Police Force; and Assistant Commissioner, Earle Daniels and Junior Legal Officer, Jason Moore of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will attend.

Additionally, Guyana

will participate in the technical working group of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative to be held in Trinidad from April 4-6, 2017.

Minister Harmon said that meeting will focus on ‘at risk youth and the vulnerable population’.

Discussions will be held on reaching the highest risk youth, evidence-based decision- making and implementation of a work programme. Kavita Bowani, research officer in the Ministry of Public Security will attend the meeting.

Further, Guyana will also attend the Caribbean technical sponsored work-

shop on institutionalising management within tax administration to be held in St Lucia from March 21-24.

The workshop will enable participants to identify key performance indicators to be used in measuring core functions in tax administration, identify resources to track performance indicators and develop baseline data to measure progress in achieving outcomes. Senior financial analysis, Gracelin George of the Finance Ministry and Wendy Vyphuis will attend.

AME Church leaders meet with President Granger

From left: Mr. Damion Edwards from Ohio; Mr. Gordon Holder, Mr. Troy Parris, Mr. Andrew Morris Grant, President David Granger, Bishop Dr. E. Anne Henning Byfield, Ms. Maylene Loncke, Ms. Marci Stanford, Mr. Carlos Perkins of the United States Virgin Islands, Mr. Sam Chetram from Suriname and Mr. Rawle Wilson BISHOP Dr. E. Anne Henning Byfield and a delegation from the St. Peters African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church paid President David Granger a courtesy call on Thursday.

According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, some members of the delegation are in the country for the Guyana-Suriname Annual Conference, which commenced yesterday and

concludes on March 19 at the Wright’s Temple AME Church in East Ruimveldt.

The meeting was held at State House.

During their discussions, Bishop Byfield told the Head

of State that the AME Church is committed to doing its part to assist in national development. In this regard, she spoke of a number of programmes and areas in which the church can partner with

the Government to support vulnerable groups, particularly youths.

After listening to their plans, the Head of State said that much of what he has in mind for young

people revolves around education and training and assured the delegation of his Administration’s full support for any such initiatives that are organised by the church.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

Moruca businessman Miner busted with chopped to death illegal gun, ammo –– Suspect in police custody

A 52 YEAR old Moruca businessman was early Friday morning chopped to death by a man who is reportedly of unsound mind, as he was walking to his farm located at Coco Island, Santa Rosa, North West District (NWD).

The dead man has been identified as Ganga Persaud Changa. Commander

of ‘F’ Division, Ravindradat Budhram, told the Guyana Chronicle that the incident occurred at approximately 06:30hrs.

The Divisional Commander said Changa was walking to his farm where he was scheduled to meet his son when the incident occurred. It has been reported that Changa was attacked by a cutlass wield-

ing man who approached him from the opposite direction.

The suspect, a 31 year old man is currently in police custody but is tight lipped about the incident.

Residents of the community said the man has been seen wandering in the community for weeks and was heard saying he will kill someone.

POLICE arrested a resident of Mongripper Hill, Bartica, Region Seven, on Thursday for the unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition.

According to a police report, ranks acting on information went to Honey Camp Backdam, Middle Mazaruni, at about 17:00hrs and conducted a search on the 34-year- old miner and found an unlicensed .32 pistol with two (2) live matching rounds.

He is being processed for Court.

The unlicensed .32 pistol with two live matching rounds that were found

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

Mae’s School to protest VAT on private education

MAE’S Private School, one of the country’s leading private institutions, has signalled its intention to protest the government-imposed 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on private tuition.

At a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting held on Thursday at the institution’s Subryanville location, it was said that though VAT on private tuition has been

implemented since February, the protest will serve as a means of fighting the decision.

It is hoped that by protesting, the Government will be forced to reverse its decision to implement VAT on private education. The protest is planned for March 23 between noon and 13:00hrs between the Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo’s residence

on Main Street, Georgetown.

But even as the school has indicated its intention to protest the imposition of VAT on education, it is currently finalising arrangements with other private institutions that are also against the imposition of VAT on private schooling.

Another meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday and it is hoped that all other private schools get will get on board to ensure that the 14 per cent

VAT is reversed.

Meanwhile, School of the Nations, another private institution had launched a petition against the imposition of VAT on private education and received significant support from many.

The school’s director, Brian O’Toole, during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle recently, said he believes that the move by the government to impose VAT on private education is an unjust one, as many students are finding it difficult to pay the existing tuition fees.

O’Toole argues that with the imposition of VAT, many students attending private institutions may be forced to withdraw because they cannot afford to pay the increase.

“There are more than 2,300 students from preschool to Sixth Form and others pursuing international diplomas, degrees and MBAs from centres of excellence such as the University of Cambridge, University of London, ABE and the Australian Institute

of Business.

“Some of those students arrived at Nations in the latest RAV4s or BMWs, but others arrive on foot. Some represent some of the most affluent sectors of the Guyanese society,” said O’Toole who called on the administration to find alternative ways to garner revenue.

But, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, told reporters that many of the private institutions operating within the country are evading the tax system and noted that very few are tax-compliant.

The Finance Minister said though parents will be forced to pay the additional 14 per cent VAT on their children’s tuition, it is not his administration’s intention to implement measures that will prove burdensome on citizens.

He noted however, that the time has come for all tax evaders to pay up and reminded that many of the schools operating in the country are not registered with the Guyana Revenue Authority

(GRA) while others are not submitting their returns.

The Finance Minister believes that private institutions can well absorb the 14 per cent tax which has to be paid by students and suggested that there be some level of compromise for those parents who really cannot afford to pay the extra money.

Jordan said too that “VAT is not a cure for social ills; it is first and foremost a fiscal tool. I said we are aiming to reduce VAT, but in doing so we will seek to broaden the base as wide as possible.

There is no VAT on public education; it remains a choice of the parent. Government is not making that choice for them.”

The Guyana Chronicle understands that many of the private schools, 33 of which operate within Georgetown, are unrecognised. According to information received, of the 33 schools in Georgetown, 21 are unrecognised while 12 are. (Telesha Ramnarine)

Ex-soldier charged with rape Winston Carlos Haynes

– two others fired

CITY Magistrate Judy Latchman on Friday placed a former member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on $600,000 bail after he was charged with the offence of rape.

Winston Carlos Haynes, 27, of Inner Bagotville, West Bank Demerara, is accused of raping a 21-year-old woman at Base Camp Stephenson January 28, 2017. Haynes was represented by Attorney-at-law Dexter Todd and the matter was held in camera (out of the public view). The case was adjourned to March 29, 2017.

Last week, Haynes and two other GDF ranks were fired, following the outcome of a Board of Inquiry into the rape allegations. The former soldiers were stationed at the GDF base, Camp Stephenson, located at Timehri, East Bank Demerara. The accused reportedly told investigators that a GDF

corporal had sex with her without her approval and the other ranks (privates) stood by and watched.

A statement from the GDF on Friday noted, “According to the findings and recommendations of the inquiry, the ranks were found to be, not only, in contravention of the Security Standing Orders, but also a number of other Standing Operating Procedures of the Force.”

Reports indicate that the young lady was taken to the base in one of the army vehicles and taken to the barrack room, where she was sexually assaulted. A medical examination, police said, confirmed that she was sexually assaulted.

According to the army, the GDF remains committed to the preservation of law and order and will deal condignly with all transgressors.

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

Nigel Hughes to prosecute Crum-Ewing’s murder case

THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Madam Shalimar AliHack, has re-opened the investigation into the murder of political activist, Courtney Crum-Ewing, who was gunned down on March 10, 2015, in Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

A statement from the DPP’s office on Friday noted that the sole purpose of this is to take further evidence from police witnesses and to rule on the voluntariness of all oral statements of the accused.

According to the statement, the matter will be prosecuted by Special Prosecutor Attorney-at-Law Mr. Nigel Hughes.

Regan Rodrigues was initially charged with Crum-Ewing’s murder, however on September 14, 2016, Magistrate Judy Latchman dismissed the charges when the Preliminary Inquiry was first conducted, following a nocase submission which was filed by his lawyer, Adrian Thompson.

In her ruling, Magistrate Latchman had said that while she was satisfied that the gun, which was used to shoot Crum-Ewing was found at the home of the accused, the evidence offered by the prosecution

did not implicate Rodrigues in the actual murder.

As such, the Magistrate dismissed the murder charge against Rodrigues and informed him that he was a free man. Rodrigues, 37, is however still in prison as he is currently serving a three-year sentence at the Camp Street prison for

Dead: Courtney Crum-Ewing escaping lawful custody.

Rodrigues was charged with Crum-Ewing’s murder on August 7, 2015.

He had told the court that “money was passed” and the real man that assassinated the political activist had walked away scot-free.

Crum-Ewing was assassinated while urging resi-

dents of Diamond to vote for the Opposition Coalition prior to the May 11, 2015 general and regional elections. He was shot five times, including three times to the head at point blank range.

Relatives and supporters of the ‘Justice for Courtney Crum-Ewing’ campaign commemorated his second death anniversary last week with a protest outside the office of the Attorney General, crying for justice and closure of the case. “…is two years since the murder and obviously we haven’t had closure or his case has not been solved…his killers are all out there,” father of the murdered man Clifford Crum-Ewing told the Guyana Chronicle last week.

Ten protestors stood holding banners which carried the message, “Justice for Courtney Crum-Ewing,” and included activists, family and members of the Alliance For Change (AFC) political party.

Clifford Crum-Ewing said the family believes that the police should look harder into further investigating the case and begin to call even some politicians for questioning.

They also suggest that Rodrigues be further

questioned so that police can understand who had

possession of the gun the night of March 10, when

Crum-Ewing was shot dead.

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

U.S.-TSA donates US$90,000 explosive trace detection machines to GCAA, CJIA

THE United States Transportation Security Administration (U.S.-TSA) on Friday handed over two state-of the-art portable Explosive Trace Detection (ETDs) Machines to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

The ETDs valued US$90,000 or G$18.9 Million were handed over to the Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson on Friday at the Ministry in Kingston, a statement said. The Minis-

ture and by extension the Government of Guyana, we thank you very much for this gesture received from the Government of the United States of America,” Minister Ferguson said.

The Minister highlighted the challenges faced

by Guyana in the area of aviation security and emphasised that the machines will be used for their intended purpose. Minister Ferguson noted the cost of the equipment and lauded the U.S. Government for

security-related standards, procedures, policies, and modernising its oversight infrastructure.

Several personnel from the GCAA and CJIA will be trained in the use of the equipment which can detect a wide range of substances used in the creation of explosive materials and devices. Prior to the training, the equipment will be handed over by the GCAA to CJIA, to be placed into operation shortly as the GCAA and CJIA work collaboratively

come here and share their expertise,” he added, while reiterating the U.S. government’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with Guyana through capacity building and improved security.

The receipt of the two ETD machines from the U.S.-TSA comes at a time when the GCAA has committed to developing its aviation security policies and regulations to better regulate the aviation sector after Guyana had under-

gone a security audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), conducted under the Universal Security Audit Programme, Continuing Monitoring Approach framework during June-July of last year.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure said the CJIA is taking bold strides to improve and modernise the airport security infrastructure with plans to procure new security equipment to satisfy ICAO’s requirements and to match interna-

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Hon. Annette Ferguson (third right) and Mr. Terry Steers-Gonzalez, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy, with the equipment following the simple handing over ceremony. With them are Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Lawrence London, Chairman of the GCAA’s Board (second right); Mr. Abraham Dorris, Manager of the Aviation Security Dept. of the GCAA (First left); and Mr. Alvin Majeed, Airport Security Manager of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) (right) ter received the items from Terry Steers-Gonzalez, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy.

Also present at the ceremony were Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Lawrence London, Chairman of the GCAA’s Board; Abraham Dorris, Manager of the Aviation Security Dept. of the GCAA; and Alvin Majeed, Airport Security Manager of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC).

The U.S.-TSA is the body largely responsible for safeguarding the USA’s air transport sector from terrorism and, during the simple ceremony Minister Ferguson expressed her gratitude for the donation.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Public Infrastruc-

its continued investment in the improvement of aviation security.

Similarly, Mr. Dorris thanked the U.S.-TSA and indicated that security will be significantly improved.

“We’re glad to indeed have this opportunity and we thank you,” he said.

The provision of the equipment by the U.S.TSA was made possible by a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed between the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, on behalf of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, and the US-TSA on November 16, 2015. The MoA allows Guyana to access technical support and other expertise to assist the GCAA in developing and improving

to improve and maintain the airport security system, the statement from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure stated.

Meanwhile, Mr. Gonzalez of the U.S. Embassy thanked the Government of Guyana, the GCAA, and CJIA for the cooperation and collaboration shared “across the board and on this specific project”.

“It truly is a pleasure to collaborate in this way and to provide these sensitive pieces of equipment and training.” Describing the equipment as “state-ofthe-art,” Gonsalves said he looks forward to seeing the equipment in use the next time he visits Guyana.

“We’re thrilled that our experts were able to

tional best practice, which will essentially improve the effectiveness in passenger and baggage screening and the screening of outgoing cargo and mail passing through the CJIA. The CJIA will also continue to recruit and train new security personnel while improving the standard of performance of the security system. These developments are concomitant with the airport expansion project which has a defined timeline of completion by year-end, the statement said.

The ceremony marks the continued partnership between the Government of Guyana and the United States, both of whom are committed to ensuring that aviation security measures and surveillance activities are continuously improved.

These efforts are in order to ensure the safety of the travelling public by largely safeguarding all civil aviation operations which includes airline operations, airport operations, and air cargo operations from acts of unlawful interference, other forms of terrorism, and any criminal activities that may pose a threat to the civil aviation sector.

The donated Explosive Trace Detection (ETDs) Machines

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

CDB funds project to prevent loss of Crime Chief to attend cyber security forum correspondent banking relationships

THE Board of Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved funding of US$250,000 to strengthen financial transparency, and assist in preventing the loss of correspondent banking relationships (CBRs) in the Region.

In the Caribbean, CBRs facilitate a number of payment systems, including international trade, cross-border payments and receipt of remittances. Recently, some large international banks have started terminating or severely limiting their CBRs with smaller local and regional banks, in an effort to reduce exposure to risks associated with money-laundering and the financing of terrorism. This process, known as de-risking, has negative implications for the Caribbean, potentially resulting in the loss of trade relationships and negative economic impacts.

“CBRs are fundamental to the efficient operation and resilience of the global financial system. This project will contribute to a more stable financial system in the Caribbean, which will in turn allow more banks to access CBRs, so that they can continue to carry out international transactions.

This is critical if the Caribbean is to reduce poverty and spur economic development,” said Daniel Best, Director of Projects at the CDB. The project will be a pilot initiative, and will include The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Jamaica, and members of the Organisation of Eastern

Caribbean States. It has three components: 1. Strengthening the implementation of, and compliance with, international financial integrity standards by governments in the Region, including updating laws and regulations as required.

2. Increasing the technical capacity of banks and credit unions in the Caribbean to conduct customer due diligence, and adopt anti-money laundering best practices. This will include training for staff at financial institutions.

3. Improving public-private sector coordination with regulators to more effectively address de-risking and develop a mechanism for ongoing dialogue between this group and external regulators and foreign banks. The project will be implemented over three years in partnership with the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a member of the Inter-American Development Bank Group. The MIF will also manage the project. Components two and three will be executed by the Office of the Secretary of the Association of Supervisors of Banks of the Americas.

Back in February here, CARICOM had said it will be contracting a lobbyist to help make its case against the withdrawal of correspondent banking services within the Region, even though leaders had acknowledged that there is a virtual stay on the implementation in recent times.

The decision was arrived at during CARICOM’s 28th Inter-Sessional Meeting of

the Conference of Heads of Government at the Guyana Marriott. CARICOM has long argued that the threat by banks in developed countries to withdraw correspondent banking services would exclude the Region from the global finance and trading system with grave consequences for maintenance of financial stability, economic growth, remittance flows and poverty alleviation.

The threat to Caribbean economies from large-scale withdrawal of correspondent banks was high on the agenda of policymakers attending the 2016 High-Level Caribbean Forum in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on November 2, 2016. “The withdrawal of correspondent banking relationships presents a clear and present danger to the Caribbean,” declared IMF Deputy Managing-Director, Tao Zhang, in opening remarks at the forum, which was co-hosted by the IMF and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. A survey conducted by the Caribbean Association of Banks last year had showed banks in 12 countries in the Region experienced loss of correspondent banking, among them The Bahamas, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and countries in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union.

On the sidelines of the high-level regional meeting, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne,

in his capacity as Chair of the Committee on Correspondent Banking, told reporters that the lobbyist will assist in managing the existential threat currently facing the Region. He said in arriving at the decision to employ the services of the lobbyist, the Heads of Government would have first reflected on the progress made over the last year. A presentation was also made by the Governors of the Central Bank Committee.

The Region, Prime Minister Brown said, has managed to gain the attention of a number of multilateral financial institutions, such as the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF), through its active advocacy initiative to bring awareness on the issue of de-risking. De-risking is the decision taken by financial institutions to exit relationships with and closing the accounts of clients considered “high risk.”

“Our advocacy would have helped to bring the issues, the consequences, potential, intended and unintended consequences to a number of stakeholders globally. Even within the U.S., the Office of the Comptroller would have issued certain guidelines for Corresponding Banks to deal with the issue of de-risking and to avert the type of willy-nilly de-risking that we would have seen in the past,” Prime Minister Browne pointed out.

CRIME Chief Wendell Blanhum will represent Guyana at a meeting on cyber security and cybercrime to be held on March 24, 2017 in Antigua and Barbuda, Minster of State, Joseph Harmon, announced on Friday at a post-Cabinet briefing held at the Ministry of the Presidency.

Harmon told reporters that the meeting is aimed at informing attendees about the state of cybercrime in the Caribbean, while providing insights into building a strategic cyber security awareness programme and develop a model cyber security awareness and education campaign for the region.

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan had said that Guyana is moving to remedy a number of loopholes which would in effect drastically reduce the possibility of cybercrimes, ranging from website hacking to fraud.

Ramjattan noted that experts are being trained in cybercrimes legislation and enforcement, while plans are on the drawing board to enact several laws related to cyber security.

Cyber Security attacks on websites such as defacement and other types of crimes can be reported to the Guyana National Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT) located at http://www.cirt.gy/ The Latin American and Caribbean Cyber Security Trends report states that since GNCIRT’s creation in August 2013, Guyana has experienced numerous cyber security incidents, including the

defacement of government websites, credit card fraud, as well as the defrauding of a prominent businessman.

Although authorities do not have hard data indicating a quantitative increase or decrease in the number of incidents, the report states there

Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum has been a clear rise in the number of incidents reported by the public.

Meanwhile, Traffic Chief Superintendent Dion Moore will participate in an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) sponsored study tour to be held in Mexico and Colombia from March 25 – April 1st.

The tour will facilitate a study to diagnose urban transport problems and trends, while seeking to provide recommendations on matter of public transport infrastructure, operations, financing and institutional organization.

Guyana to attend Caribbean Convois GUYANA will be participating in a Caribbean Convois, which will be held from March 19-26 in Trinidad and Tobago to discuss indigenising education for Caribbean development, Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary Joseph Harmon disclosed on Friday at a post-Cabinet press briefing.

He said the event will be hosted by the Caribbean Yard Campus, an educational enterprise designed to network traditional knowledge systems in the Caribbean. Ovid Williams of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs will represent Guyana at the Caribbean Convois.

The Minister of State said too that the in-

fluence of traditional knowledge on modern Caribbean society, as well as the use of culturally relevant approaches to development challenges in the Region will be discussed.

The Convois 2017 is a multi-location event held in association with community partners from both Trinidad and Tobago.

It is a week-long exploration of Caribbean knowledge and indigenising education for Caribbean development.

The Convois will feature expert practitioners, interactive demonstrations, heritage exhibitions, innovative technologies, inter-disciplinary dialogue, Caribbean marketplace, performances, languages and spirituality.

19

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

Parking Meter by-laws suspended

THE Government of Guyana on Friday suspended the Parking Meter bylaws, by-laws No 1 of 2017, which allow for a metered parking system in Georgetown. The move by the administration follows a recommendation by Cabinet for City Hall and Smart City Solutions (SCS) to suspend the Metered Parking System for a period of 90 days.

The suspension order signed by Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, said “It is declared that the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown are in default of their functions with respect to the Georgetown Metered Parking ByLaws and I hereby direct the Mayor and Councillors to suspend the Georgetown Metered Parking By-Laws for three months commencing on the 17th March, 2017.”

Meanwhile, earlier Friday Minister of State Joseph Harmon at a post-cabinet press breifing said government has the authority to suspend the parking meter contract if the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) refuses to heed Cabinet’s call for a 90-day suspension of paid parking.

Harmon said that Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, was asked to communicate Cabinet’s decision

to the M&CC. According to Harmon, government has two options: “One is suspension, or the other is revocation and if the intervention of a party under what might be termed force majeure [unforeseeable circumstances that prevent someone from fulfilling a contract] exist, then certainly the parties to the contract can understand what needs to be done and the contract spells out itself in clear terms what force majeure is and what needs to be done.”

The State Minister also pointed out that the Mexican company tasked with implementing the project,Smart City Solutions (SCS), failed to include provisions for the police, army, ambulance and fire service vehicles. This and other issues forced the APNU+AFC coalition government to review the situation, which resulted in Cabinet’s decision.

“Some of the issues addressed at Cabinet were installation of parking meters on streets that were within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the use by the concessionary company of parapets that were not under the jurisdiction of the M&CC, the cost of parking in the city,” Harmon said.

He explained also that Cabinet has zeroed in on the financial aspects of the contract and primarily the

concerns of citizens.

“It was a strong view of Cabinet that the concerns of citizens always must be taken into consideration in these matters.”

The M&CC has been officially informed of Cabinet’s suggestion and Town Clerk Royston King has since written Bulkan seeking “clarity” on government’s suggestion of suspension.

King also informed the minister that City Hall will have to compensate SCS millions of dollars if the contract is suspended.

When asked about this, Minister Harmon said, “Those are legal issues which will be dealt with, but the government made its concern very clear and, therefore, whether there is to be compensation or not that’s a matter to be addressed in the process.”

According to the Minister of State, government expects that City Hall would heed its advice and take the matter to the 30-member council at its statutory meeting for ratification.

“Cabinet has given its advice and we expect that the advice will be heeded by the City Council,” he said.

It was reported that SCS has earmarked US$10 million for the parking meter project and has agreed to give City Hall 20 percent of gross earnings. Latest figures

show that due to the boycott of the parking meters, City Hall’s stake was just over GY$250,000 last month.

The decision by Cabinet on Tuesday last to suspend the parking meter project came as weekly protest

action by the Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM) continued with signs of intensification.

Meanwhile, the Transparency Institute of Guyana, the Private Sector Commission and the

Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry are among stakeholders that have called for the contract to be scrapped, citing no public tender and lack of transparency.

(Rabindra Rooplall)

Guyana rubbishes Venezuela’s latest call for cessation of oil exploration THE Government of Guyana on Friday rejected statements by Venezuela’s Energy and Petroleum Commission which called for Guyana to cease all on-going offshore oil exploration activities occurring in the Stabroek Bloc.

On March 15, in the Venezuelan newspaper, El Nacional, it was reported that the Energy and Petroleum Commission of its National Assembly said that it is convinced that the on-going oil exploration violates the 1966 Geneva Agreement as well as Article 10 of the Bolivarian Constitution of Venezuela, which states clearly that the identified location is part of Venezuela’s territory.

Venezuela has for decades been claiming Guy-

ana’s territory despite the settling of the matter in 1899. However, in a strongly worded statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made it clear that the resolution titled ‘Approved Agreement to reject oil operations in the Essequibo’ is of no substance and is riddled with factual and legal errors.

“Such deliberate provocations and absurd demands that Guyana halt all development activities, especially when for over 50 years Venezuela has intimidated Guyana and obstructed a resolution of the controversy in accordance with international law, only serve to undermine this final opportunity for the parties to once and for all bring an end to this matter by agreement,

failing which adjudication will be the only remaining means of settlement,” the statement said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs contends that the Venezuelan government has not adopted or otherwise endorsed the resolution it referenced and described the resolution as “inflammatory.”

The suggestion that offshore activities recently started in Guyana’s waters is erroneous on the ground that the Stabroek Licence was awarded in 1999 and exploration began one year later.

Additionally, the Guyana government contends that Venezuela has erroneously stated that Guyana is prohibited from developing its resources in the identified area because of

Article V of the Geneva Agreement.

“But nothing whatsoever in the terms of that provision indicates that the parties cannot exercise jurisdiction over their sovereign territories. Otherwise, it would mean that for the past 50 years, Guyana had no right to develop 70% of its territory, and the same applies to Venezuela’s development of the Orinoco region and adjacent maritime area which, like the Essequibo, was the subject of the 1899 Arbitral Award.

Needless to say, such an argument is manifestly absurd.”

The statement noted that the “political posturing” by the Venezuelan government comes at an unfortunate time when the United Nations (UN) Sec-

retary-General António Guterres has appointed Ambassador Dag Nylander as his Personal Representative to provide Guyana and Venezuela a final opportunity to resort to the Good Offices process.

A resumption of that process is aimed at resolving the on-going Guyana-Venezuela border controversy, which arose out of Venezuela’s contention that the 1899 Arbitral Award delimiting the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela is “null and void.”

The parties have until the end of 2017 to make significant progress in arriving at a final resolution of the controversy, failing which the secretary-general will refer the matter to the International Court of Jus-

tice (ICJ).

Guyana’s position remains that the ICJ is the best suited way to conclude the controversy once and for all, but has fully committed to the search for a full and final resolution of the controversy under the Good Offices process in the limited time that remains.

Meanwhile, Guyana said it remains committed to friendly and neighbourly relations with the Government and people of Venezuela, “but it will categorically refuse to surrender any of the sovereign rights to which it is entitled under international law, not least in this, the 51st anniversary of its independence from colonial rule, as a new period of prosperity awaits its people.”

20

‘We can suspend the thing’ – Duncan

By Telesha Ramnarine

THE Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM) on Friday said it believes that City Hall should immediately implement the recommendation of Cabinet to suspend the parking meter project instead of waiting until City Mayor Patricia Chase-Green returns to Guyana.

“We see that as a stalling mechanism. Smart City Solutions (SCS) is here to make money. They claim that they’re here to bring order to the city; that is total nonsense. We reject that,” MAPM member, Marcel Gaskin told reporters at a press conference held at the Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Waterloo Street.

The suspension of parking meters is reportedly awaiting the return of Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, who is currently in the United States on an official visit.

Gaskin is of the view that the implementation of Cabinet’s recommendation is being stalled to allow SCS to rake in as much revenue as it can in the meantime.

“The enforcement aspect of the project brings in more revenue than the actual parking, so the spate of clamping that we’re seeing

now is to make up in the shortfall of revenues that they’ve experienced over the last month. The Cabi-

is nothing precluding the City Council from moving ahead to implement the recommendation immediately. “We can go ahead now. We can go ahead and suspend the thing. Why

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

“Majority are APNU councillors so I don’t know who will vote against the recommendation of Cabinet. I don’t know why we have to wait until she (the Mayor) comes back.

can’t make a bad thing good just like that; you need to scrap it and start from scratch.”

Head of the Private Sector Commission, Ramesh Persaud said that the com-

MAPM and PSC Members from left are: Pauline Chase, Marcel Gaskin, Nadia Sagar, Ramesh Persaud and Komal Ramnauth (Adrian Narine photo) net, government, should be firm with them.

If Mr. Duncan is in fact the defacto mayor at this time, he should be allowed to function and make the decisions; so the government needs to ensure that due process is followed at City Hall,” stated Gaskin.

When contacted on Friday, Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan said there

keep stalling and asking for clarity? The mayor can call me from the U.S .and I’m sure the Town Clerk has been in contact with her.

This is not rocket science.”

According to Duncan, all that needs to be done is for King to call an extraordinary statutory meeting at which 16 out of 25 votes would be required to suspend the project.

We should go ahead and suspend this thing. There is nothing precluding us.”

Meanwhile, at the press conference, Gaskin said the MAPM is fully supportive of Cabinet’s decision regarding the project. “The government may not have as its end-game the revocation; we have, because we see that a lot of things were not done and therefore you

mission is extremely disappointed by Town Clerk, Royston King’s objection to Cabinet’s request for the suspension of paid parking.

“We are also very much alarmed over the level of confusion facing this project. It is a significant embarrassment to us as a country. We are getting confused signals from all parties. Our city is almost dead; and that death is being

announced by black flags being flown by businesses around the city that have actually indicated to us that their business is declining and is on the sick bed,” Persaud stated.

MAPM member, Komal Ramnauth said the movement will continue its protest until an end is brought to the parking meter contract.

Another MAPM member, Pauline Chase proffered that should the existing court actions prove unsuccessful when they come up again, there are still many other grounds on which different actions can be filed.

“There are so many illegalities and unconstitutionalities with regard to this system. Particularly the people who were clamped or booted or immobilised, they should seek legal counsel because they may have good claims as to damages.”

Chase is encouraging other members of society to challenge the system by bringing forward more actions.

Meanwhile, Ramesh Dookhoo said he was very concerned that SCS continues to clamp vehicles.

“The population is confused and we should encourage SCS to remove the clamping from the streets because it can end up in violent encounters as we’ve seen in the past,” said Dookhoo.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

21

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

23

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

25

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

27

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 18, 2017

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 18, 2017

Boxers ink contracts for GBBC’s ‘Locked and Loaded’ card set for April 9 LOCAL professional boxers yesterday inked their contracts to square off in a three-bout professional card, organised by the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) and scheduled for the Giftland Mall, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, on April 9, starting at 19:00hrs.

The card which is a ProAm one will also feature three amateur bouts on the programme.

The feature fight will bring together Dexter `The Cobra’ Marques and Venezuelan Luis Alberto Requena Zarraga in a 10-round flyweight contest. Meanwhile the main supporting bout, an all-Guyanese affair, is a sixround super middleweight one between local fighters Edmond Declou and Winston Pompey.

The opening professional contest is also an all-Guyanese affair and brings together Imran `The Magic’ Khan and Keeve Allicock in a six-round lightweight contest.

The amateur segment of

the card will see Rewinne David take on Akella Malazon over four rounds in a featherweight contest, Kelon Isaacs versus Euel Augustine in a light welterweight bout over three rounds and Stephan Gouveia against Jackford Joseph in a threeround welterweight bout.

Addressing members of the media at the contract-signing yesterday at the Abdool and Abdool Insurance firm, GBBC president Peter Abdool noted that the card is a small one, but the objective is to have more activities of such nature to give exposure to young professional fighters.

At the same time they will help the country’s amateur boxers to be more actively involved while building their capacity to move to the next level.

GBBC president Abdool said he has tremendous confidence in Marques and he (Abdool) and the GBBC want to give Marques every opportunity to move his career ahead as he is of the belief that Marques is

world championship material.

Abdool stated that persons look at the welterweight and heavier weight divisions but place little emphasis on the lighter weight divisions and he firmly believes that Marques can be Guyana’s next world champion.

To this end, Abdool said the GBBC would be pursuing a Commonwealth title for `The Cobra’ Marques and this fight will be staged right here in Guyana.

Abdool noted that the Giftland Mall is an ideal location for staging boxing cards as it attracts huge spectator support and once next month’s card attracts the kind of support anticipated, the GBBC will work on organising a monthly Sunday night card.

Abdool also informed that one month ago, the World Boxing Council (WBC) launched its world amateur programme in Trinidad and Tobago as it (WBC) has its misgivings how amateur boxing is going.

Front Road decimate Camp ... the 2nd, 8th and 29th minutes as well as single strikes from Desmond Cottam (30th) and Shem Porter (15th).

Alexander Village, on the other hand, had Kevin Gordon (5th) and Ryan October (13th) on target.

Colin Nelson’s brace (17th and 26th) along with Konata Manning (6th), Okeene Fraser (15th), Kelsey Benjamin (23rd) and Sheldon Profitt (24th) accounted for Bent Street’s 6-2 victory over Stevedore while Shane Mor-

ris and Dorwin Filter each pulled one back.

Back Circle also registered a 4-1 win over Showstoppers with Sylvester Richardson, Stephan McLean

From back page

Akeemo Anthony and Keron Joshua all on target with Dexroy Adams scoring the consolation goal.

Matches continue next Tuesday.

South Africa Racing Tips Turffontein 08:35 hrs Juxtapose 09:10 hrs Tilbury Fort 09:45 hrs Master Switch 10:20 hrs Flying Dream 10:55 hrs A P Chanel

10:25 hrs American 11:00 hrs Allee Bleue 11:35 hrs Cogry 12:10 hrs Rock My Style 12:45 hrs Ballycoe 13:20 hrs Timeforwest 13:50 hrs Portrush Ted

Kenilworth 08:45 hrs Substrip 09:20 hrs Captain Alfredo 09:55 hrs Reine Tonnerre 10:30 hrs Wedgewood 11:05 hrs Earth Hour 11:40 hrs Miss Carrera

Newcastle 10:00 hrs Reivers Lad 10:35 hrs Joseph Mercer 11:10 hrs Rhymers Stone 11:45 hrs Dubai Angel 12:20 hrs Titian Boy 12:55 hrs Lady Buttons 13:30 hrs Catchthemoon light

English Racing Tips Kempton 09:30 hrs Trevisani 10:05 hrs Clic Work 10:40 hrs Divine Spear 11:15 hrs Sir Note 11:50 hrs Mango Cap 12:25 hrs Cultivator 13:00 hrs Rebel Commander Uttoxeter 09:50 hrs Graasten

Irish racing Tips Limerick 09:35 hrs Ardean Lass 10:10 hrs Prince Charmin 10:45 hrs Chosen Hour 11:20 hrs Hareth 11:55 hrs For Carmel 12:30 hrs Remastered 13:05 hrs Hardline

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 18, 2017

India fight after Smith, Maxwell score tons in Ranchi

By Amlan Chakraborty

years ago.

RANCHI, India (Reuters) - India mounted a positive reply after Steve Smith’s unbeaten 178 and Glenn Maxwell’s maiden century powered Australia to a series-high 451 on day two of the third Test yesterday.

Lokesh Rahul made an elegant 67, his fourth half-century in five innings, before Pat Cummins dismissed him in the paceman’s first Test after more than five years in the wilderness.

India were 120 for one at close, still 331 behind, with Murali Vijay unbeaten on 42 and Cheteshwar Pujara on 10.

Home skipper Virat Kohli, who did not take the field since sustaining a shoulder injury in Thursday’s second session, is expected to bat.

Earlier, lion-hearted leftarm spinner Ravindra Jadeja bowled the bulk of the overs to claim 5-124 and he effected a spectacular run-out to wrap up Australia’s first innings.

After Australia had resumed on 299-4, paceman Umesh Yadav broke Maxwell’s bat in two with the very first delivery but could not really unsettle the batsman.

The normally swashbuckling Maxwell assiduously inched his way to become the second Australian cricketer after Shane Watson to score a century in all three formats.

EASY SINGLES Yadav admitted bowling to Smith was quite a challenge on a batting-friendly wicket.

“Singles are coming easily and the outfield is so fast that you just need to place it in the gap and it would race to the boundary,” he said.

The paceman also expected his team to benefit from the track.

“It’s a 100-run-a-session wicket. We also made 120 today. Plus minus 20-30 runs, but we’ll try to get there.”

Jadeja, who bowled more than a third of the overs in the Australia innings, kept India in the game, dismissing Matthew Wade for 37 and the scoreless Cummins in the same over.

Smith missed his double-century when he sprinted for a risky second run and bowler Jadeja, his back to the stumps, collected a throw and flicked the ball onto the wicket to run out Josh Hazlewood.

Maxwell predicted Cummins would trouble India when the third day’s play resumes.

“He’s a guy who can get that variable bounce with the way he digs the ball into the wicket,” he said of his team mate.

“Hopefully, he’s extremely effective for us tomorrow.

That extra pace is hard to adjust.”

The four-Test series is square at 1-1.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja takes three wickets in the first session to finish with five for 124.

After reaching his hundred ploits in the shorter formats, with a fierce cut that flew the 28-year-old grasped his through the slips for his ninth chance in his first Test outing boundary, Maxwell looked in more than two years to build quite overwhelmed by the a series-high 191-run partnerachievement as he embraced ship with his skipper.

Smith, who crossed 5 Smith with a huge bear hug, took off his helmet and kissed 000 Test runs in Australia’s 800th Test, the first-ever at the badge.

He added four more runs the Jharkhand State Cricket to his score before edging Association Stadium, was Jadeja to wicketkeeper Wrid- in complete control at the dhiman Saha for 104. Maxwell other end.

His 19th Test century, also hit two sixes and faced 185 balls in his four-hour vig- which contained 17 boundil, the longest he has spent at aries, is the highest score by the crease in an international an Australia captain in India, eclipsing predecessor Michael match.

Better known for his ex- Clarke’s 130 in Chennai four

Glenn Maxwell scores his maiden Test hundred on the second day in Ranchi.

SCOREBOARD

AUSTRALIA 1st innings (o/n 299-4) M. Renshaw c Kohli b U. Yadav 44 D. Warner c & b Jadeja 19 S. Smith not out 178 S. Marsh c Pujara b R. Ashwin 2 P. Handscomb lbw b U. Yadav 19 G. Maxwell c Saha b Jadeja 104 M. Wade c Saha b Jadeja 37 P. Cummins b Jadeja 0 S. O’Keefe c Vijay b U. Yadav 25 N. Lyon c Nair b Jadeja 1 J. Hazlewood run-out (Jadeja, Rahul) 0 Extras: (b-9, lb-11, nb-2) 22 Total: (all out, 137.3 overs) 451 Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-80, 3-89, 4-140, 5-331, 6-395, 7-395, 8-446,

9-449.

Bowling: I. Sharma 20-2-70-0 (nb-2), U. Yadav 31-3-106-3, R. Ashwin 34-2-114-1,R. Jadeja 49.3-8-124-5, M. Vijay 3-0-17-0.

INDIA 1st innings L. Rahul c Wade b Cummins 67 M. Vijay not out 42 C. Pujara not out 10 Extras: (lb-1) 1 Total: (for 1 wicket, 40 overs) 120 Fall of wickets: 1-91.

Bowling: J. Hazlewood 9-225-0, P. Cummins 10-1-22-1, S. O’Keefe 10-3-30-0, N. Lyon 11-0-42-0.

Shakib ton gives Bangladesh healthy lead against Sri Lanka (REUTERS) - Shakib Al Hasan struck his fifth hundred and combined in a seventh-wicket stand of 131 with debutant Mosaddek Hossain to give Bangladesh a handy first-innings lead on the third day of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka yesterday.

Playing their 100th Test, Bangladesh were bowled out for 467 in the final session, leading Sri Lanka by 129 runs, after the 21-year-old Mosaddek became the final wicket to fall for 75.

Sri Lanka reached 54 without loss in their second innings at stumps, reducing the deficit to 75, with openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Upul Tharanga both unbeaten on 25.

After resuming on 214-5,

Shakib Al Hasan guides the ball to the leg side during his innings of 116.

all-rounder Shakib, who made 116, and captain Mushfiqur Rahim steadied the innings for Bangladesh with a stand of 92 before the latter was bowled by paceman Suranga Lakmal with the new ball for 52.

That brought Shakib and Mosaddek together and the duo stubbed out Sri Lankan hopes of getting a lead with their resolute partnership.

After Shakib fell to Lakshan Sandakan, Mosaddek and Mehedi Hasan Miraz continued to frustrate the hosts, who lead the two-match series 1-0, with another stand of 33.

Sri Lanka captain and spinner Rangana Herath, 38, then restricted the lead with two wickets in as many balls to finish with 4-82,

which also saw the left-arm spinner bring up 1 000 first-class wickets.

Sandakan picked up four wickets for 140.

SCOREBOARD

SRI LANKA 1st innings 338 (D. Chandimal 138) BANGLADESH 1st innings (o/n 214-5) T. Iqbal lbw b Herath 49 S. Sarkar b Sandakan 61 I. Kayes lbw b Sandakan 34 Sa. Rahman c D. de Silva b Lakmal 42 T. Islam lbw b Sandakan 0 S.Al Hasan c Chandimal b Sandakan 116 M. Rahim b Lakmal 52 Mosa.Hossainstp.DickwellabHerath 75 M. Hasan lbw b Herath 24 M. Rahman lbw b Herath 0 S. Roy not out 0 Extras: (b-4, lb-8, w-2) 14 Total: (all out, 134.1 overs) 467 Fall of wickets: 1-95, 2-130, 3-192, 4-192, 5-198, 6-290, 7-421,

8-454, 9-454.

Bowling: S. Lakmal 25-3-90-2 (w-1), D. Perera 33-5-100-0, R. Herath 34.1-6-82-4, A. Gunaratne 7-0-38-0 (w-1), L. Sandakan 33-2-140-4, D. de Silva 2-0-5-0.

SRI Lanka 2nd innings D. Karunaratne not out 25 U. Tharanga not out 25 Extras: (b-4)

4 Total: (for no loss, 13 overs) 54 Fall of wickets: Nil Bowling: S. Roy 5-1-13-0, M. Hasan 4-0-20-0, M. Rahman 1-06-0, S. Al Hasan 2-0-6-0, Mosa.

Hossain 1-0-5-0.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 18, 2017

Bavuma, de Kock drive South Africa to 349 for nine

(REUTERS) - Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma fell short of the centuries they probably deserved, but drove South Africa to 349 for nine, a first-innings lead of 81, at the close of play on the second day of the second Test against New Zealand yesterday. de Kock was dismissed for 91 when he chased a wide Jimmy Neesham delivery and was caught behind to end the 160-run partnership with Bavuma that had rescued the Proteas following a rocky opening session.

Neesham then snapped up Bavuma for 89 in the deep off Neil Wagner after he and Vernon Philander, who ended the day on 36 not out, had taken the visitors past New Zealand’s 268.

The hosts were again frustrated when last-man Morne Morkel (31) dominated an unbroken 47-run partnership with Philander, and received a barrage of short deliveries for his troubles with one from Tim Southee striking him in the helmet.

After taking four wick-

ets in the first session and reducing the Proteas to 94 for six just before lunch, New Zealand had high hopes of taking a significant first-innings lead. de Kock and Bavuma thwarted them in the afternoon session, however, unleashing a delightful array of cuts, pulls and drives to rack up 114 runs at more than four an over.

The Proteas had resumed the day on 24 for two and were immediately under pressure with nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada bowled by Southee for nine in the second over of the day.

Henry Nicholls, who scored his maiden Test century on Thursday, then took catches at midwicket to dismiss JP Duminy for 16 and Hashim Amla for 21.

While Duminy

Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma share a 160run stand on the second day in Wellington.

African game faces uncertain future under new regime

By Mark Gleeson ADDIS ABABA, (Reuters) - African soccer faces an uncertain future after Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Issa Hayatou was swept from power and a raft of new officials were voted into powerful positions.

New president Ahmad promised widespread consultation as he seeks to make the game more inclusive after his shock presidential victory on Thursday at the CAF Congress.

“We need to be open to discussion again and open to advice on how to improve.

We want to talk to Africa’s top players to see how we can run the game better. We want anyone with a love for football and ideas on how to improve the game to feel they can come and discuss this with us,” Ahmad said yesterday.

On a day of seismic shock for the African game, Hayatou was deposed after 29 years and replaced by the unknown Malagasy, who has served as sports and fisheries minister in his native Madagascar but only as a CAF executive for the last four years.

The diminutive Ahmad, 57, initially looked as bewildered as his predecessor after the

Madagascar Football Association president Ahmad is carried by other delegates after winning the CAF elections. result of the vote handed him an upset 35-20 victory in a clear repudiation of Hayatou’s long-standing rule.

But Ahmad quickly flexed new-found muscle as he persuaded delegates at the CAF Congress to overrule Hayatou, who continued to chair the rest of the meeting despite his election defeat, and postpone important votes on the appointment of independent auditing and oversight structures.

Also left over were changes to the confederation’s statutes that had been requested

by FIFA, but did not receive a two-thirds majority from a rebellious Congress.

If the drastic changes at

FIFA where a raft of senior staff have been removed since Gianni Infantino was elected last February are any indication to go by, CAF’s administration in Cairo is also set for a shake-up.

Its new-look executive committee has little experience after Hayatou’s allies were summarily removed in elections that followed his own dramatic fall.

Infantino called for support for the new CAF president after witnessing Thursday’s coup.

“Now that the elections are over, everyone should be focusing on a bright future for African football,” he told reporters at the end of the Congress.

spooned the ball to Nicholls off left-arm quick Neil Wagner, the removal of Amla was much more difficult.

The right-hander flicked a Colin de Grandhomme delivery off his pads in the direction of the fielder, who parried the ball above his head then reached out to

grasp it with his left hand as he tumbled to the ground.

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis had flirted with disaster throughout his innings with several lofted shots before he gave seamer de Grandhomme his third wicket, caught behind for 22 about 10 minutes before lunch.

SCOREBOARD

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings 268 (H. Nicholls 118; J. Duminy 4-47) SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings (o/n 20-2) S. Cook c Neesham b Southee 3 D.ElgarcNeeshambdeGrandhomme 9 K. Rabada b Southee 9 H.Amla c Nicholls b de Grandhomme 21 J. Duminy c Nicholls b Wagner 16 F. du Plessis c Watling b de Grandhomme 22 T. Bavuma c Neesham b Wagner 89 Q. de Kock c Watling b Neesham 91

V. Philander not out 36 K. Maharaj c Williamson b Wagner 1 M. Morkel not out 31 Extras: (b-4, lb-5, w-12) 21 Total: (for 9 wickets, 95 overs) 349 Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-12, 3-26, 4-59, 5-79, 6-94, 7-254, 8-290, 9-302.

Bowling: T.Southee 27-7-98-2 (w-1), C. de Grandhomme 23-752-3, N. Wagner 21-1-96-3 (w-1), J. Patel 12-0-53-0, J. Neesham 12-2-41-1 (w-2).

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 18, 2017

Strategising to win – athlete Claudrice McKoy is fully focused on CARIFTA Games improvement

By Tamica Garnett EVERY failure is a stepping stone to success, and Chase Academy’s Claudrice McKoy is currently looking ahead as she prepares to perform at this year’s CARIFTA Games, returning after a not-sogood performance at the event last year.

Last year the National Schools Championships record-holder was among Guyana’s CARIFTA Games lineup, in the youth category, but like many on the 15-man team she was unable to medal. More so McKoy was not at all proud of the timings she produced in the events.

A distance runner, endurance and strategy play a big

part in how McKoy maps out her race tactics, and she believes it was her strategy that failed her last year when she competed in the Girls’ Under-18 1500m and open 3 000m, finishing sixth in both events.

“How I ran the 1500m race was that I started extremely hard, and I followed the person who had won the year before.

I thought this was the person I had to look out for, so I kept running down this person, but in the end when I realised it, the Jamaicans ended up picking up and because I started off hard I had nothing left at the end.” McKoy explained when we caught up with her training at the

National Park earlier this week under coach Julian Edmonds.

The Running Brave’s athletics club athlete added, “I’ve learnt a lot (since then). I learnt that never again to go out that hard, and that I have to learn to judge the race better.

Her timings came in at over five minutes in the 1500m and in the 3 000m it took her almost 11 minutes.

Though she had participated at other regional events, it was her first time being at the prominent CARIFTA Games, so although she was disappointed about the performance she’s already looking ahead at all the opportunities she will have to redeem herself in the coming

Coach Julian Edmonds takes Claudrice through a few routines at the National Park where the Running Brave Club athletes practise.

years.

“Even when I’m at home I would sit down in my bed draw the track, look at where I’m supposed to relax, where I’m supposed to accelerate and just visualise it, and get it in my head, so that when I go out there, I look at the track and know what I’m supposed to do where.” she expressed.

As it pertains to medalling prospects this year, she’s keeping her eyes on the prize.

“I just want to keep calm and when I go out there just think about winning,” she said.

Continuing past the struggles is nothing new to the Inter-Guiana Games multiple silver medallist.

Running is something she has been doing almost all her life, recalling her days of competing even during her nursery school days.

When she moved over to F. E. Pollard Primary School, McKoy had continued to run at school sports always hoping to make it, to compete at the esteemed

Nationals, but always ending just short.

It wasn’t until she was eleven years old, during her first year at Central High that she made it to Nationals.

That first year was everything that she had hoped it would be.

“I felt great because at primary school I had always wanted to make it to Nationals; I had always wanted that experience.” She said.

McKoy went on to eventually join a club, hone her skills, and last year she not only attended the meet, but left a mark by clinching a few records.

She’s now hoping to one day see similar improvements as she continues preparations for the CARIFTA Games.

Claudrice McKoy during practice at the National Park

33

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 18, 2017

‘Lady Jags’ move up four places in world rankings THE Guyana National Women’s football team, commonly referred to as the ‘Lady Jags’, have improved their standing in the FIFA/Coca Cola World Ranking, moving four places up to 79.

This is their best move yet and comes at a time when much emphasis is being placed on women’s football development in Guyana and in a month when the world observes International Women’s Day. President Wayne Forde expressed pleasure at the improvement and outlined the plans for women’s football development: “The recently-concluded first-ever Women’s Development

`Lady Jags’ move four places up to 79.

League is evidence of the renewed focus we are placing on women’s football.

The ‘Lady Jags’ have produced some of our proudest and most memorable moments as a football nation. I do believe that the time is upon us to match their efforts with a comprehensive domestic programme. The Executive Committee is fully committed to implementing such programmes in the coming years.”

The ‘Lady Jags’ had their most notable outing when they defeated Guatemala 2-1 in the Olympic qualifier in 2016.

The team is placed 14 spots away from Jamaica

(65) on the world rankings, the closest Caribbean team, preceded by Trinidad and Tobago at 46. The United States of America holds the number one spot.

The GFF wrapped up the National Women’s Development League last Sunday with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF FC) as winners, followed by Paiwomak Warriors FC in second and St Ignatius FC in third place.

Additionally, as part of International Women’s Day, the GFF will profile women in football during the course of the month on their social media portals and in the mass media.

Linden’s 400 metres synthetic track

MSC officials taken aback by MP Figueira’s announcement

By Joe Chapman

NOW that Member of Parliament for Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) Jermaine Figueira has announced Tuesday evening that the Bayroc Community Centre ground on the western side of Linden has been identified as the venue for the construction of the internationally recognised 400m synthetic track, to be funded

by Government at a cost of $210M, will be laid, there seems to be some uneasiness that due consideration was not given with regard to the history of the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) facility.

Looking at this, one wonders if there will be enough cash to fund other relevant basic additional features that are necessary when such an international track is put down on the west bank of Linden.

Officials of the MSC are somewhat shocked about this declaration by Mr Figueira since sources close to the MSC had said earlier this week that talks with Director of Sport Christopher Jones and Guyana Football Federation (GFF) president Wayne Forde seemed to point to the Bayroc Community Centre actually being given the goahead to have the FIFA GOAL Project placed there, and the MSC to accommodate the 400m rubberised track.

It may be recalled that after the first consultation on this project was held recently at the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) Macaw Boardroom in Mackenzie which was attended

by Director of Sport Christopher Jones and hosted by Mayor of Linden Carwyn Holland and MP Jermaine Figueira, there were discussions on which of the two venues will be selected.

This was generated after

Minister Responsible for Sport Ms Nicolette Henry announced that government was placing $210M for the construction of synthetic tracks in Regions 2, 4, 6, 7 and 10. Naturally, the MSC was the first option. But soon after, reports surfaced that the MSC ground could not adequately accommodate an internationally acceptable rubberised track.

After the Director of Sport cited some concerns relating to current space at the MSC ground seemingly not having the capacity to house this track, it was thought that another venue be sought in Linden; and the Bayroc Community Centre ground immediately came into the picture.

However, the MSC Committee of Management quickly addressed that anxiety and the Chinese bauxite firm operating in Linden, BOSAI Minerals Group (Guyana) Inc, had their surveyors and engineering team survey the entire MSC Complex and produce a drawing showing what needs to be done to have that 400m track laid at the traditional Mecca for sports at the MSC venue.

It must be noted that years ago the MSC ground did have a 400m track but later it was reduced to 352m and now 300m.

Then the existing northern fence was brought in to reduce the space thus the original track was reduced. But the history of sport in Linden would be better served should the MSC venue be allowed once again to have this international synthetic 400m track due to its historical significance, and not become another Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), once the envy of international cricket ground but now just another venue without international importance.

That is where the institution of the MSC comes into serious contention.

The fact is that this is where the bauxite industry started its donation for sport development to this community with the ground and attendant stands and fencing. Through the Linden bauxite operations, several international meets were held dating back to the early 1960s.

Countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, Barbados, Grenada and Suriname all sent athletes to compete.

The MSC was the venue for international coaches also and in the early 1970s, through the bauxite industry Mr John Martins, then Fisk University athletics coach out of the United States, did a coaching stint at the MSC ground.

After that visit, at least two Lindeners, middle-distance athlete and long-jumper Aubrey ‘Skinny’ Wilson and national sprint champion Roxanne Sills

gained scholarships to study in the United States of America.

Not forgetting it was at the MSC ground that cricket icons like the game’s greatest all-rounder Sir Garry Sobers, most successful captain Clive Lloyd, Lance Gibbs and Basil Butcher all came and had coaching stints.

Then came the bauxite games namely GUYBAU, GUYMINE, LINMINE Games which became the biggest sports attraction in Guyana with national prominence, when bauxite was ‘king’; and now succeeded by the annual Boyce and Jefford Classic which is stationed at this venue for the past seven years.

Simply put, the preservation of the MSC and its historical significance should be protected for posterity. It is this venue which has produced over the past six decades such male stars like the Mining Town’s first National male sprint champion in the mid-1960s, Leyland ‘Flash’

Blair, and after that came allround athlete Aubrey ‘Skinny’ Wilson, whose baton as undisputed sprint king was taken by the late Elton Jefford, National field athlete Noel Perry and long-jumper Mark Mason who also won a scholarship to study in the United States.

Desmond Hector also rose to stardom primarily from training there to becoming an Olympian.

Today there are national champions in youngsters like Compton Caesar and Daniel Williams who have continued to place Linden prominently in Guyana’s track and field history.

On the distaff side, there were the female stars, who emerged from the school system to national and international acclaim.

It all began with the likes of national sprinters Paula Haynes, Lorraine Jordan and Roxanne Sills through to Juliet ‘Pepper Fredericks then field athlete Nyota Peters and

middle-distance star Marian Burnette, who won an athletic scholarship and eventually went to Lousiana State in the USA. Of course we saw Cassie George of recent vintage and now the bright prospect in teenager Chantoba Bright. That really spells out the reason for Linden to have its first synthetic track, sooner, rather than later.

No need to mention the performances by the national cyclists who graced the MSC ground for international meets including two of Guyana’s greatest - Neville Hunte and Joelyn Joseph, along with Vibert Rose and Ignatius Titus.

It is hoped that whatever decision is taken will not be one that anyone would have to regret in the future, knowing that Government in the first instance made it clear that they are only ready to put funds to simply have an international 400m track in Linden.

T&T to face full-strength Panama in key World Cup qualifier clash PANAMA CITY, Panama (CMC) - Panama have included a number of key overseas-based players in a strong squad named to face Trinidad and Tobago in their 2018 World Cup qualifier next Friday in Port of Spain.

In the lineup are midfielders Anibal Godoy and Armando Cooper, who both play in the MLS for San Jose Earthquakes and Toronto FC respectively, along with Miguel Camargo who is currently on loan at New York City FC, also in the United

States top tier.

Defender Roman Torres, who campaigns for Seattle Sounders in the MLS and fellow members of the back line Adolfo Machado of Houston Dynamo and Harold Cummins of San Jose are also named in head coach Dario Gomez’s 24man squad.

Goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, who turns out for Dinamo Bucharest in the Romanian top flight, will also make the trip to Trinidad.

Panama lie third in the CONCACAF final round of

qualifiers on four points - the same as confederation giants Mexico who are second courtesy of a superior goal difference.

Costa Rica top the standings with six points.

Trinidad and Tobago, meanwhile, lie one from bottom of the six-team group without a point after losing their opening two matches and need to beat Panama in order to rescue their World Cup campaign.

The game is scheduled for the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Midfielder Armando Cooper … named in Panama’s squad to face Trinidad and Tobago.

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 18, 2017

Jaguars bowlers dismiss Red Force for 202 PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) - Guyana Jaguars seamer Raymon Reifer sustained his good form as he helped trigger a Trinidad and Tobago Red Force batting collapse on the opening day of their seventh round clash here yesterday.

Opting to bat first, Red Force were well positioned at 172 for four but slumped badly to lose their last six wickets for 30 runs to be bowled out for a disappointing 202 in their first innings at Queen’s Park Oval.

Left-hander Isaiah Rajah top-scored with 41 while Imran Khan got 36 and Yannic Cariah 33.

It was Reifer who helped to destroy the latter part of the innings, finishing with three for 38 with his

Raymon Reifer left-arm seam while pacer Shimron Hetmyer for 15, Romario Shepherd (2-36), four overs before the end.

Hoping to build on their Test leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (2-46) and left-arm massive win over Windward spinner Veerasammy Per- Islands Volcanoes in the last maul (2-59) picked up two round, Red Force started fairly strongly despite losing wickets each.

At the close, tourna- opener Evin Lewis cheaply ment leaders Jaguars were for 22 with 34 runs on the 38 for one, having lost board.

Captain and opener Kyle Hope and Rajah rebuilt the innings in a 47run, second-wicket stand to propel the hosts to 62 for one at lunch.

Rajah faced 96 deliveries in just over two hours and counted six fours while Hope hit four fours in 101 balls before falling to fellow Barbadian Reifer after lunch with the score on 81.

Bishoo struck twice in a productive period for Jaguars as Red Force lost three wickets for 30 runs to decline to 111 for four.

However, Imran Khan and Cariah then combined in the best stand of the innings, adding 61 for the fifth wicket to pull Red Force out of trouble.

Khan’s knock was a breezy one, coming from 58

deliveries and including seven fours while Cariah was more patient, facing 82 balls in two hours at the crease and striking just two fours.

They perished within

22 deliveries of each other with Shepherd accounting for both, and Reifer running through the lower order quickly to seize the initiative for Jaguars.

SCOREBOARD

RED FORCE 1st innings K. Hope c Hetmyer b Reifer 23 E. Lewis c Fudadin b Paul 22 I. Rajah c Vishaul Singh b Bishoo 41 J. Mohammed c wkp. Bramble b Bishoo 11 Y. Cariah c Permaul b Shepherd 33 I. Khan c Permaul b Shepherd 36 S. Katwaroo c Johnson b Reifer 20 K. Pierre c Hetmyer b Permaul 1 M. Richards b Reifer 7 B. Charles c Motie b Permaul 0 A. Phillip not out 0 Extras: (b-2, lb-4, nb-2) 8 Total: (all out, 76.1 overs) 202 Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-81, 3-94, 4-111, 5-172, 6-177, 7-192, 8-197,

9-202.

Bowling: Shepherd 16.2-8-36-2 (nb-1), Reifer 15-4-48-3 (nb-1), Permaul 23.1-5-59-2, Paul 5.4-37-1, Bishoo 16-4-46-2.

JAGUARS 1st innings S. Hetmyer c Pierre b Charles 15 R. Chandrika not out 12 D. Bishoo not out 6 Extras: (b-4, nb-1) 5 Total: (1 wkt, 10 overs) 38 Fall of wicket: 1-27.

Bowling: Richards 4-2-5-0, Philip 3-0-17-0, Charles 2-0-5-1, Imran Khan 1-0-7-0.

Position: Jaguars trail by 164 runs with nine wickets intact.

Roach four for 22 trumps Four more matches on Smith’s enterprising 103 today in Milo U-18 football BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) - Test pacer Kemar Roach sent a strong signal to selectors ahead of the Pakistan series as his four-wicket haul trumped Devon Smith’s 28th first class hundred on the opening day of their seventh round clash in the Regional fourday championship here yesterday.

Choosing to bat first at Kensington Oval, Volcanoes were lifted to 283 all out by Smith’s enterprising 103, with Keddy Lesporis getting 59 and Tyrone Theophile, 44.

The visitors had cruised to 116 without loss at lunch and then 200 for two in the second session but the innings fell away badly thereafter as they lost their last eight wickets for 93 runs.

Roach, who has not played for West Indies in 14 months, led the rout with a brilliant spell of four for 22 from 15 overs, a performance unlikely to go unnoticed with Pakistan arriving in the Caribbean shortly.

He was supported by Test left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican with four for 69 while off-spinner Ashley Nurse picked up two for 71.

At the close, Pride were 22 without loss, still 271 runs behind their target.

Volcanoes appeared in full control during the first session, thanks mainly to Smith who combined with Theophile to put on 121 for

Devon Smith records his 28th first-class century. the first wicket.

The left-handed Smith struck 16 fours in an innings spanning 196 balls and just under 4-1/2 hours while Theophile’s knock comprised eight fours off 108 deliveries in 2-1/2 hours.

Roach stuck a double

blow after lunch, trapping Theophile lbw in the fourth over before removing Taryck Gabriel for a first-ball ‘duck’ to a catch at the wicket off the very next delivery.

The 35-year-old Smith repaired the innings, however, in a solid 78-run third-wicket stand with Lesporis whose eighth firstclass half-century was an attacking one, including eight fours and two sixes from a mere 62 deliveries.

Lesporis was eventually stumped off Warrican about half-hour before tea, leaving Volcanoes on 219 for three at the break but Roach returned again to help undermine the innings in the final session.

He accounted for Smith, who was fifth out with the score on 238, superbly caught at second slip by Nurse.

SCOREBOARD

VOLCANOES 1st innings D. Smith c Nurse b Roach 103 T. Theophile lbw b Roach 44 T. Gabriel c wkp. Dowrich b Roach 0 K. Lesporis stp. Dowrich b Warrican 59 S. Ambris c Hope b Roach 15 R. Cato c wkp. Dowrich b Warrican 2 L. Sebastian lbw b Nurse 11 K. Mayers c (sub.) Carter b Nurse 1 S. Shillingford c Cummins b Warrican 20 K. Kenroy Peters not out 12 S. Lewis c wkp. Dowrich b Warrican 7 Extras: (b-6, lb-10, w-1, nb-2) 19

Total: (all out, 85 overs) 293 Fall of wickets: 1-121, 2-122, 3-200, 4-227, 5-238, 6-240, 7-243, 8-274, 9-282.

Bowling: Roach 15-6-22-4 (w-1), Cummins 8-2-40-0 (nb-2), Stoute 13-4-63-0, Nurse 17-5-71-2, Warrican 26-7-69-4, Chase 6-1-12-0.

PRIDE 1st innings A. Alleyne not out 13 K. Stoute not out 8 Extras: (w-1) 1 Total: (without loss, 4 overs) 22 Bowling: Lewis 2-0-10-0 (w-1), Shillingford 1-0-4-0, Sebastien 1-0-8-0.

Position: Pride trail by 271 runs with all 10 wickets intact.

BRICKDAM Secondary will take on Carmel Secondary in the first of four matches today in the Petra-organised Milo Schools Under-18 football tournament at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.

Game two will feature Christ Church Secondary against South Ruimveldt while Queenstown Secondary clash with Cummings Lodge in game three.

Sir Leon’s Lessons and Richard Ishmael Secondary will play the final game of the afternoon.

Meanwhile, in Sunday’s matches, Central High will confront School of the Nations in the first game.

St George’s face Tutorial High. Queen’s College are also set for action when they play Mae’s in the third game of the day while Dolphin and North Georgetown close off the day.

Part of the action in last week’s Milo schools football championships

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday March 18, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & the City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Jeff Stollmeyer-104 (vs AUST, Sydney, 1951-52) (2) Clive Lloyd-102 (vs AUST, Lord’s, 1975) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who is the first WI to hit a hundred in his first Test as captain?

(2) Who is the first WI to crack a century in his first ODI as captain?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 18, 2017

GMR&SC Reaction drag race meet

Surinamese competitors ready to rumble

By Stephan Sookram

THE Surinamese competitors are here and have sent an ominous message ahead of this weekend’s Reaction drag race meet, organised by the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC).

Chronicle Sport caught up with Raul Van Zichem, one of the members who promised dominance from the team, which includes eight cars and three motorcycles.

“We are very excited

The Surinamese competitors for this weekend’s Reaction drag race meet are ready and raring to go.

for the race on Sunday.

To the Guyanese fans, I’m saying, check us out on the 19th for the reaction drag.

We are going to give a great show and we are fully prepared.”

He continued, “We have brought eight cars and three bikes and they are going to be fast. There is our surprise Honda that’s always improving; it does 10 seconds in the quarter-mile but what’s under there (the hood) is a big secret and it gets faster and faster.”

Meanwhile, preparation

work at the track has been ongoing all day yesterday with reports indicating that all is set for free practice and test and tune tomorrow.

According to a source, the lights and sensors were tested earlier today and are ready for action this weekend.

Official free runs for the event start at 09:00hrs with Qualifying set for an hour after and Knockout set for 11:00hrs. Admission is $1 000 for adults and kids under 12 years of age will pay $500.

Thirty-eight referees to take part in first quarterly fitness test today THIRTY-EIGHT football referees from across Guyana will participate in the first quarterly fitness test of the year today at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora, beginning at 15:00hrs.

This will feature three categories of referees – Tier One (Elite referees), some from Tier Two and some from Tier Three.

Tier Three referees are those potential referees who are being exposed to the fitness test as part of the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) overall referee’s technical development programme.

Head of the GFF Refereeing Department, Stanley Lancaster, explains that the test comprises the Interval, CODA (Change Of Direction, Agility) and RSA (Re-

peated Sprint Ability) components.

“For the Assistant Referees (AR), the test is in three different parts. The AR test deals strictly with timings. Between each, there is a period of six to eight minutes’ compulsory rest. For the Interval, each AR must cover ten laps minimum for them to pass. For the CODA and RSA, they must reach within the zone by a specified time.”

The Referee test, on the other hand, will be conducted in two parts, the RSA and the Interval.

The first will consist of five (5) 40-metre sprints within a specified time with 1 ½ min rest between each sprint followed by a sixeight-minute rest period and the latter will consist of 10 laps of 40-metre sprint and 25-metres recovery period between each

Referees will undergo their fitness test today at the Leonora Track and Field facility.

GCB Inter-County U-15 tournament

Spinners bowl Berbice to 10-wicket Demerara in win over Essequibo … face Sunday’s final

By Rajiv Bisnauth L E F T- A R M s p i n n e r s Akash Heralall and Gourav Ramesh shared eight wickets between them, setting up Berbice for a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over Essequibo in the GCB Inter-County Under-15 third-round fixture yesterday at the Police Sports Club ground.

Essequibo were dismissed for 85 in 41.3 overs after a dismal batting performance. In the end, only Sheldon Charles (28) looked up for the challenge of batting on a pitch that played a few mind tricks on his teammates.

Akash Heralall (4-19) and Gourav Ramesh (421) were the main architects in the Berbice bowling attack. They received support from off-spinner

Abdul Ramsammy (2-14), who was the other successful bowler.

Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Essequibo openers Charles and Chaitram Seurattan frustrated the Berbice bowling attack and added 28 for the first wicket.

The pair succeeded for 13.1 overs, and built on their solid platform with relative ease - the right-handed Charles playing the attacking role.

However, Heralall provided the first breakthrough when he trapped Seurattan

Eddie Nicholls hands over the man-of-the-match trophy to left-arm spinner Akash Heralall.

Ricardo Ramdial (right) and Anthony Williams leave the field after their unbeaten opening stand. called for a calm head and leg-before-wicket for one.

Thereafter, Essequibo steady hands, but the reendured a rough time at maining batsmen could not the crease and squandered provide either of the two.

Ramesh began to extheir wickets to hand Berploit whatever bounce bice complete advantage.

The spinners broke the and turn on offer from backbone of the Essequ- the pitch, and in the proibo batting line-up, and cess looked in complete it was during that phase control of proceedings. where they played some He claimed the wickets of poor cricket that led to their Mark Mohabir (0), Oren Gibson (6), Shawn Monro downfall.

Wasim Mohamed (1) (0) and Inzamam Bacchus was also trapped plumb (5).

Sunil Persaud and in front to Ramsammy before Heralall removed Devindra Ramdahin didn’t Charles, Manoj Dasraat last long as Ramsammy (0) and Ronaldo Scouten wrapped things up quickly with the wicket of Ram(15).

At 57-5, the situation dahin.

interval.

The successful completion of the referees’ fitness test is a compulsory element as required

by FIFA for referees to effectively manage the game with their positioning and movement. This test will be complemented by in-class sessions consisting of Laws of the Game knowledge and video analysis.

As part of continuous capacity building, the Referees Department has a comprehensive national programme planned for the year including development of referees in the hinterland regions.

The first programme to be conducted will be held in Aishalton, Region Nine, and is being planned in partnership with the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs.

Berbice openers Ricardo Ramdial and Anthony Williams then made the most of ideal batting conditions.

The pair were cautions at the start of their innings, but eventually batted with assurance as the innings progressed.

Ramdial was unbeaten on 34, while Williams was not out on 35, when the victory target was achieved in 24.1 overs.

Berbice will face Demerara in Sunday’s final, scheduled for the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground.

Meanwhile, Demerara easily disposed of the GCB President’s X1 by eight wickets in the other game played yesterday at Everest.

Batting first, the GCB President’s X1 were bowled out for 84. Shamma Yearwood made a fighting 32.

Chanderpaul Ramraj (2-19) and Devanand Khemraj (217) were the most successful bowlers for Demerara.

In reply, the defending champions reached 85-2 in 20.2 overs, with Shoaib Shaw hitting an unbeaten 37.

Thirty-eight referees to take part in first quarterly fitness test today See Story on Page

35

Boxers ink contracts for GBBC’s ‘Locked and Loaded’ card set for April 9 See story on page 29

Boxers for the GBBC’s `locked and loaded’ card scheduled for the Giftland Mall on April 9 put their signatures to contracts yesterday in the presence of GBBC and Giftland Mall officials (Photo by Cullen Bess-Nelson).

Front Road decimate Camp Street 10-2 in Petra Futsal UTTER decimation is what resulted when West Front Road took on Camp Street All Stars in the Petra-organised Futsal tournament, in association with GT beer on Thursday evening.

The score line ended 10-2 in favour of the Front Road side, as both Carl Tudor and Roy Cossou slammed hattricks with goals in the 7th, 9th and 28th and 18th, 26th and 27th minutes respectively.

Randolph Wagner also found himself on the score cards in the 10th and 25th respectively while Andre Webber 20th and Jamal Pedro 29th each made single strikes Camp Street’s two goals came from Ron Lyken (13th) and an own goal (12th).

In the night’s opening game, Tiger Bay trounced

Hustlers 6-1 thanks to two own goals as well as a brace from Deon Alfred (8th and 19th), James Meredith (25th) and Keoma Gravesande (15th) while Hustlers had Anthony Sancho (9th) on target.

Game 3 was a tense affair between Albouystown and Campbellville with the former winning 3-2. The eventual winners had Melvorn Ross (6th), Jermin Daniels (15th) and Roy Samuels (20th) on target while Campbellville had Ozeal Small (7th) and Azuma Small (11th) finding the nets.

Alexander Village also made an early exit from the tournament as they lost to Sophia 5-2. For Sophia Akeem Jaikissoon was on target thrice with strikes in One of the six Tiger Bay goals scored on Thursday evening. (Adrian Narine photo)

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

Turn to page 29 SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2017