Guyana Chronicle Epaper 18 07 2017

GWI warns miners about polluting the waterways Page 14

TUESDAY JULY 18, 2017

Price: $80

Improved conditions No. 104977

(VAT Inclusive)

…200 inmates move in to new holding area at Lusignan

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Guyana leads at Robotics contest Page 2

Give it up, Uree!

– relatives say

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Arjoon to be compensated for wrongful dismissal Page 17

Guyana ended day one of the Global Robot Championship as the number one team after three rounds of competition in which 165 teams representing 157 countries are participating. In photo are jubilant members of Team Guyana after the first day activities

GECOM chairmanship

AG: CJ ruling vindicates President’s decision

■ Page 3

‘Trini’ escapee recaptured Page 8

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Guyana leads at Robotics contest

By Vishani Ragobeer THE Robotics team of young people, STEM Guyana, emerged on top of 165 countries at the end of the first day of the first Global Robotics Competition held on Monday, in Washington D.C. The Guyanese team which comprised of teenagers aged 15-19, participated in three rounds of the robotics competition, each time in an alliance with two other teams from other countries.

During each of the three rounds, STEM Guyana and its alliance members emerged victorious, thus allowing Guyana to cop the first position overall at the end of the first day.

At the end of the first round, Guyana had ranked eighth out of 165 countries after scoring 106 points, alongside teams from Cambodia and Europe, but this position dwindled to ninth after a setback in the second round. At the end of their third and final round for the first day of the competition, Guyana managed to climb to

the top position.

The Team Captain, Ryan Benschop related that during the second round the team was unable to execute its original strategy, since they were faced with a late start due to a connection problem. Nevertheless, the team trooped through and then with a few seconds left for this round, the team managed to hold onto its winning streak.

For the First Global robotics competition, an alliance is created between three teams as they team up to battle in ‘H2O Flow’ against another alliance. The layout of the game is based on the model of two villages which exist on either side of a contaminated river. The villagers compete to create and store the purified water in their respective reserves.

In a laboratory,the villagers try to purify clean water before it reaches the village and finally, each village prepares for the coming flood by searching for higher ground.

The ‘contaminated river’ is replicated by orange and blue balls; securing one blue

The STEM Guyana team making some final checks to their robot before proceeding into the next round of the competition held

ball earns one point while four points are allocated for securing the orange ball. The ‘villagers’ are the robots and three robots of three teams combine to form an ‘alliance’. In the end, the robots

A model of the playing field where the teams have to battle. The Blue arrow indicates the ‘reserve’ where the balls have to be deposited while the red arrows indicate where the robots have to be elevated at the end to escape the oncoming ‘flood’

must try to elevate itself onto a bar which will earn 20 points for the team for each robot elevated to escape the oncoming flood.

The game was designed to devise solutions to the issue of depleting clean water reserves. Additionally, the competition seeks to build relationships among young leaders globally.

During the live stream of the competition, the commentators remarked on the distinctive design of the robot. While building the robot

before their departure, Team Guyana visited kokers and other places to design the robot distinctively but effectively. The robot, named ‘Megathurium’, integrated the design of the koker doors, combine machines used in the rice fields and other indigenous systems.

The current emphasis being placed on Robotics in Guyana originated only about one year ago when the STEM/ Robotics camps were launched due to the interest shown by the First

Lady, Sandra Granger and overseas-based Guyanese, Karen Abram.

While the Team has only been together for a few months, they have worked together diligently to ensure and perfect their robot and their skills. Today, the competition concludes and STEM Guyana will have to compete in another three rounds. The team representing Guyana will be seeking to secure the win and keep the Golden Arrowhead flying high.

Man charged for allegedly stealing from AGMC A 32-year-old man was on Monday placed on $150,000 bail after he allegedly stole from Aurora Gold Mining Company Inc. It is alleged that between June 27, 2017 and June 29, 2017 at Buckhall Trail, Essequibo, Vibert Wishart of Thomas Street, Kitty, Georgetown, stole an exca-

vator computer box valued $632,000, property of Aurora Gold Mining Company Inc. Wishart was represented

by Attorney-at-law Hewley Griffith, who stated that his client has no pending matters, no prior offences and is not at flight risk.

Police Prosecutor, Arvin Moore, requested that sub-

stantial bail be given to the father of three. He also stated that the police intercepted the man while he was about to sell the item.

Wishart was placed on $150,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and is expected to make his next court appearance in the Bartica Magistrates Court on August 10, 2017.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

GECOM chairmanship

AG: CJ ruling vindicates President’s decision ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams SC said the Chief Justice ruling on the Guyana Elections Commission chairmanship issue has upheld government’s conviction that it is the President who determines whether the list of nominees submitted by the Opposition Leader for the position of GECOM Chair is acceptable.

In a statement Monday night issued by the Ministry of the Presidency, Williams noted that Chief Justice, Roxanne George-Wiltshire confirmed that the President acting on his own deliberate judgement must determine whether a person is ‘fit and proper’.

He pointed out that Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana states that “Subject to the provisions of paragraph (4), the Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person….”

Justice George-Wiltshire, in her ruling, advised that there is no legal requirement for the President to state reasons for rejecting a list, though it is her belief that in the furtherance of democracy and good governance, he should since Article 161 (2) speaks to the need for dialogue and compromise.

“The President has made consultation and dialogue a priority, meeting with the Op-

position Leader, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo and other members of the Opposition as recent as June 12, 2017. They had previously met on March 08, 2017,” the statement added.

Moreover, the government said after the first list had been rejected on Constitutional grounds, the Head of State and Mr. Jagdeo engaged in a period of consultations, with legal representatives from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) meeting with the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Basil Williams to ensure that there was a clear understanding of the requirements as stated in the Constitution.

The Chief Justice further advised that it is the Head-ofState who has sole discretion on the determination of what is ‘fit and proper’ and as such, the President is not obligated to select a person from the six names on a list of which he has determined positively that the persons thereon are unacceptable as fit and proper persons for appointment.

Further, the Chief Justice stated in her ruling that the President must consider each person unless the President provided the Leader of the Opposition with guidelines of who is unacceptable. President Granger did provide the Leader of the Opposition with a list of criteria based on his interpretation of the Constitution, for a person to be qualified for the position of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission in a letter sent on March 16, 2017. The Leader of the Opposition did not object to those criteria and submitted a second list.

Attorney General, Basil Williams, SC

“The Chief Justice concluded that the President did not have to wait for the submission of a new list. He, according to the Constitution, could have gone ahead and appointed a Chairman, having rejected the first list,” the statement added while stressing that the Constitution explicitly vests responsibility in the Head-of-State to ensure a properly qualified person fills the post. President Granger has always made it clear that his only interest in the matter is that a name emerges out of the consultative process that matches the requirements of the Constitution and is acceptable to both the Government and the Opposition and, moreso, the people of Guyana, the statement issued by the government said “I am going to choose somebody who is fit to be a judge and who can discharge the functions of Office of Chairman of the Elections Commission with impartiality, with integrity and with intelligence. Fit and proper means

you have to possess those three qualities,” President Granger said, adding that “the Constitution is clear that once the Leader of the Opposition fails to submit a list of persons who are not unacceptable, I will have to make a choice but I will choose someone who is acceptable to both sides and who the general public is satisfied with,” President Granger had stated.

The Head-of-State said that the Constitution is worded the way it is to ensure that all the nominees meet a standard of criteria that would allow them to function impartially in the role and this is why so much emphasis was placed on either a judge or someone who is qualified to be a judge.

APPEAL Meanwhile, Marcel Gaskin, the Businessman who had approached the High Court to interpret Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana, also on Monday indicated that he will appeal the ruling of the Chief Justice. In a statement to the media, Gaskin said, “in my view, the Honourable Chief Justice went beyond what was asked by me of the court in addressing the proviso to Article 161 (2) which only applies if the Leader of the Opposition fails to submit a list. This was never an issue for us since the Leader of the Opposition submitted not only one but two lists of persons for nomination as Chairman of GECOM.”

He argued that Justice George-Wiltshire by “extending beyond the requirement of my case,” made a “gross error” in ruling that the President is not obliged to select a person from the six names on the list unless he has determined positively that the persons thereon are unacceptable as fit and proper person for appointment.

“This is a non sequitur and creates unnecessary misunderstanding and confusion,” said Gaskin who noted that “in the circumstances, and despite the Honourable Chief Justice’s otherwise helpful ruling, I have instructed my attorneys to immediately lodge a Notice of Appeal.”

Remanded for gun, ‘ammo’ posession A LAING Avenue man was remanded to prison after he was allegedly found with a Glock pistol and 17 live matching rounds when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Jermaine Phillips, 24, was slapped with three charges after it was alleged that on June 14, 2017, at Norton Street, Georgetown, he discharged a loaded firearm at Troy Grant with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or to cause grievous bodily harm.

It is also alleged that on July 11, 2017, at Laing Avenue, Georgetown, he had in his possession one .4 0 Glock pistol and 17 live matching rounds when he was not the holder of a

firearm licence. He pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Phillips was remanded to prison until August 7 for having in his possession live rounds and a firearm,

by City Magistrate Leron Daly.

Meanwhile, his attorney Adrian Thomson stated that his client has no pending matter nor does he have any prior conviction. The attorney also stated that his client was arrested on July 11, 2017, and was held for more than 72 hours.

He added that the police had visited the defendant’s home and took away items including a tablet and his passport. The defendant was not aware of the charge until June 14, 2017, when the charge was indicated to

him, the lawyer stated. The attorney also mentioned that his client does not know Grant, and that three other persons were arrested at the same time for firearm possession.

The lawyer requested that his client receive a reasonable amount of bail.

Prosecutor Sanj Singh objected to bail, based on the gravity of the matter. He then stated that Grant knows Phillips. In addition, 40 shells were recovered along with the firearm.

However, Magistrate Daly granted a substantial bail of $400,000, on condition that Phillips reports to the CID headquarters every Friday.

He is expected to return to court on August 7, 2017.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Moscow demands US returns seized mansions RUSSIA is pressing demands that the US give it access to two diplomatic compounds seized in the US last year.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was unacceptable to set preconditions for returning the properties. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the move as “daylight robbery”.

In December, the US expelled 35 Russian diplomats and shut the compounds over suspicions of meddling in US elections.

Russian and US officials were due to discuss the issue late on Monday.

US Undersecretary of State Thomas Shannon is hosting Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov in Washington.

The meeting was meant to have been held in June in St Petersburg, but was cancelled after the US government added 38 individuals and organisations to its list of sanctions over Russian activity in Ukraine.

Mr Peskov suggested that there was nothing to discuss.

“We consider it absolutely

unacceptable to place conditions on the return of diplomatic property; we consider that it must be returned without any conditions and talking,” he said.

Mr Lavrov said that this was not the way decent and wellbrought-up people behaved.

“How can you seize property which is protected by a bilateral, inter-governmental, ratified document, and, to return it, act according to the principle ‘what is mine is mine, and what is yours we’ll share’?” he said during a visit to Belarus.

Last week Russia said it was considering “specific measures” in retaliation, including the expulsion of 30 US diplomats and seizure of US state property.

Ex-President Barack Obama acted against Russia after US intelligence sources accused Russian state agents of hacking into Democratic Party computers to undermine Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.

President Donald Trump’s team is under investigation over alleged Russian collusion during

last year’s presidential campaign.

The Kremlin has denied interfering in the election.

The Obama sanctions came on top of existing Western sanctions imposed because of Russia’s role in the Ukraine conflict.

At the time, Mr Putin refrained from tit-for-tat retaliation, unlike in previous diplomatic spats. Mr Trump had been elected to succeed President Obama just weeks before.

Russia says President Trump presented “no plan to resolve the crisis” when the issue was raised at the G20 meeting in Hamburg on July 7.

Russia would retaliate if no compromise was reached at the meeting between Mr Ryabkov and Mr Shannon, the Russian newspaper, Izvestia reported.

The BBC’s Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says Mr Trump is in a Catch-22 situation, cementing his image as a Russian stooge if he returns the properties and further complicating difficult relations with Russia if he does not. (BBC)

Russia enforces ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses RUSSIA’S Supreme Court has ordered the disbanding of the Jehovah’s Witnesses on Russian territory.

The ban came into effect after the court rejected an appeal by the religious group against a ruling in April which declared it to be extremist.

The justice ministry had argued that the group distributed pamphlets which incited hatred against other groups.

The group described the ruling as the end of religious freedom in Russia.

The denomination says it has 175,000 members in Russia, a country where it was persecuted during the Stalin era.

An estimated eight million people worldwide are part of the Christian-based movement, best known for going door-to-door looking for new converts.

The ruling means that the group’s headquarters near St Petersburg and 395 local chapters will close.

It will be required to

hand over all its properties, known as Kingdom Halls, to the Russian government.

The group’s Russia spokesman, Yaroslav Sivulsky, said that “Religious freedom in Russia is over.”

“There were no real facts of any extremism on the part of Jehovah’s Witnesses; it’s all about bad literature and intolerance. Now anyone who studies the Bible can be jailed,” Sivulsky was quoted

by Newsweek as saying.

One pamphlet distributed by the group quoted the novelist, Leo Tolstoy as describing the doctrine of the Russian Orthodox Church as superstition and sorcery.

Officials have accused the religion of destroying families, propagating hatred, and endangering lives. The Church had also joined calls for a ban.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses group was founded in the United States in the 19th Century.

They take most of the Bible literally, and refuse blood transfusions. They

are not seen by traditional Christian Churches as a mainstream denomination.

During Joseph Stalin’s reign of terror in the Soviet Union, it was outlawed and thousands of members were deported to Siberia. Other Christian groups were also persecuted.

As the Soviet Union collapsed, there was a revival of Christianity in Russia, and the ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses was lifted in 1991. But attitudes hardened again, and in 2004 it was accused of recruiting children and preventing believers from accepting medical assistance.

Human rights group, Sova has argued that an “official repressive campaign” has been conducted against the movement for years, and many of their members have been physically attacked.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses are expected to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, but Russia may well ignore any verdict in their favour.

(BBC)

Worshippers swept away in river baptism

Tuesday, July 18th, 2017 - 12:30 hrs Wednesday, June 19th, 2017 -14:00hrs Thursday, June 20th, 2017 - 14:30hrs

TANZANIAN police have detained a pastor after two worshippers drowned while being baptised in a river near Rombo in the north of the country.

The two victims were overwhelmed by the current of the River Ungwasi, a police spokesman has told the BBC. It is not clear how the pastor and the other worshippers involved man-

aged to survive, the BBC’s Odeo Sirari says.

They are members of a local church, Shalom, which is part of the charismatic Christian movement.

Baptism in a river rather than in church is seen as a way of re-enacting the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan.

The ceremony is a symbol of washing away sin and the start of a new life. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18 2017

CAL dedicates jet to honour Calypso Rose PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Calypsonian Dr McCartha Linda Sandy Lewis, better known as Calypso Rose, was hailed for her contribution to Caribbean culture when Caribbean Airlines (CAL) dedicated one of its 737 jets in her honour.

The formal commissioning of the aircraft took place last Friday when the signage on the nose of the aircraft was unveiled by three ministers: Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly; Minister of Tourism Shamfa Cudjoe; and Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon.

Present also at the function were CAL Chairman, Sameer Ronnie Mohammed and Rose’s international manager, Jean Michel Gilbert.

While Rose was not

physically there, she watched it live from Lyon, France, where she was scheduled to perform.

The decision to name the aircraft in her honour was made by Cabinet for her becoming the first Soca artiste to win the World Music Album of the Year for her latest album, “Far From Home” at the French Victories de la Musique award ceremony in Paris on February 10.

Gadsby-Dolly said another of Rose’s many groundbreaking achievements was when she won the title, Calypso King in 1978 with her renditions, “I Thank Thee” and “Her Majesty”, forcing organisers of the competition to change the name of the show to Calypso Monarch, the name it still carries today.

She said her list of achievements testifies to her unwavering spirit as an exemplar for all Trinidadians

to follow.

She said Rose was not a case of overnight success but one of perseverance, as she began writing songs when she was 15, and has so far penned more than 800 tunes.

The music video to the song, “Far From Home”, which was shown on board the aircraft, features Rose at the controls of a vintage aircraft, and many scenes of her native Tobago.

Gadsby-Dolly said the video showed that the sky is the limit for Rose, and that her ministry is one hundred per cent focused on building, protecting, supporting, celebrating T&T’s resilient culture. “We are a honeycomb of culturally rich communities, and we have a ‘Queen B’ of Calypso,” Gadsby-Dolly said, while Mohamed, who praised Rose as a source of great pride and inspiration, said:

New UWI Chancellor takes office KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago national, Robert Bermudez has assumed duties as the sixth Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI).

On Monday, the regional institution welcomed Bermudez as the new Chancellor, the highest office holder in the UWI system.

Bermudez was appointed at the University Council’s annual business meeting on April 27 to succeed Sir George Alleyne.

According to the University’s Statutes and Ordinances, “The Chancellor shall preside at meetings of the Council [the highest governing body of the regional university] and any Convocation, and shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be conferred upon the holder of the office of Chancellor by The UWI Charter or any Statute, Ordinance or Regulation.”

Bermudez, has been an entrepreneur for over 40 years.

“He led the growth of his family-owned firm to a regional business throughout the Carib-

bean and Latin America, and has enjoyed a distinguished career in business, serving as either Chairman or Board Director for several corporate bodies in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean.”

The UWI says “his vision for the University outlines a keen sense of the mission, effectiveness, relevance and interdependence of academia and the economy. His professional experience as a Caribbean-wide entrepreneur with business acumen garnered from across the region suggests that he will continue the outstanding tradition of Chancellorship at the University.”

His predecessors include Her Royal Highness Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone (1948-1971); Sir Hugh Wooding (1971-1974); Sir Allen Montgomery Lewis (19751989); Sir Shridath Ramphal (1989-2003); and Sir George Alleyne (2003-2017).

The institution also thanked Sir George Alleyne for his tenure of 23 years working at the University, including 14 years of service as Chancellor.

The official installation ceremony for Bermudez will be held in September 2017 at the university’s St Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago.

“Our new Chancellor has demonstrated through his many roles as a man conscious of his Caribbean identity and responsibility, and willingness to provide leadership to our people at home and beyond, in the entrepreneurial arena and elsewhere, that he is amply energized for the role of Chancellor of our beloved UWI. “He comes to office on the eve of our 70th Anniversary, during which the university community will be reflecting upon 70 years of service and leadership. It will be an honour for us to have him presiding over these activities,” said Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles.

“We must protect what she has and continues to give to us as a nation, and celebrate her talent, beauty and enormous star power on the world stage.”

Noting also that Rose continues to champion the Caribbean brand at the age of 77, Mohamed said the airline is discussing with her management team some other honours, including travel benefits such as complimentary Caribbean Miles for three years and complimentary Caribbean Club membership.

That is in addition to putting the celebrated album, “Far From Home”, and the documentary, “The Lioness of the Jungle”, which is based on Rose’s life, on its in-flight playlist.

He said that in too many cases, this country delays the celebration of its icons until they have passed on but he was pleased that Caribbean Airlines and the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts had chosen to honour Rose during her lifetime.

“As the region’s premier

air carrier,” he said, “Caribbean Airlines takes its role as an ambassador of the ‘Caribbean Brand’, which includes showcasing our cultural icons very seriously. Like Calypso Rose, who has contributed greatly to bringing Caribbean music, especially Calypso, to the world stage, Caribbean Airlines continues to do our part in connecting the Caribbean to the world.”

Some of her greatest hit songs were, Calypso Queen, DO Dem Back, Constable Rose, Far from Home and Gimme More Tempo.

Environmental and tourism levy for BVI from Sept. 1 TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, CMC – Visitors to the British Virgin Islands will, as of September 1, start paying an environmental and tourism levy of US$10 at ports of entry.

The government in an announcement says the levy is being implemented after the House of As sembly passed the Environmental Protection and Tourism Improvement Fund Act 2017.

The Act was gazetted on June 12, thereby paving the way for visitors arriving in the territory via air or sea to be charged the levy.

However, the legislation makes provision for some persons to be exempted, including residents and belongers, non-residents two years old or under, and guests of the government.

“Other exemptions include visitors arriving in the (British) Virgin Islands on a second or subsequent occasion in the course of the same visit, persons in transit who, on arrival,

do not leave the airport or dock, and crew of vessels,” said a media release from the Government Information Service.

“All visitors must have the necessary documents available to help determine their status.”

The government says the funds collected will be used to facilitate environmental protection and improvement, climate change,

as well as the maintenance and development of tourist sites and other tourism-related activities.

This follows an announcement from the government that, effective August 1, cruising permit fees for home and foreign- based charter boats will increase respectively to US$6 and US$16 per person per day.

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Editorial

Opposition non-cooperation

PRESIDENT David Granger in an interview with this newspaper last Thursday expressed concern about what he described as the Opposition’s “uncooperative[ness] to the level of being dysfunctional.” The President was making reference to his government’s efforts to govern with the support and input of the Opposition, citing instances to support the view.

In our society non-engagement may not be unexpected given that politics can be seen as a zero sum game and if not in the proverbial driving seat, disinclined to cooperate.

Though not unique to Guyana, it ought to bring into question the political wisdom of any party that does not see the value of working across the aisle. Particularly in our society where the ordinary man and woman, irrespective of race, politics or other diversity, go about their daily business in relative peace and harmony and always desire the politicians working together, doing otherwise is a departure from this desire.

If political parties could only see governing as a privilege, not an entitlement and whether in the Executive, Legislative or out, after elections are over it is time to govern in the interest of all the people, this would be helpful to the nation’s body politic. And it should be said notwithstanding the Opposition non-cooperation such should not hinder the government from continuing to reach out and seek avenues to forge cooperation.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the difference between the APNU+AFC and the PPP/C is that the former campaigned on the promise to practice inclusionary democracy and working with groups, inclusive of business, trade union, political parties, and the society will look forward to all efforts being made in that regard. At the political level grassroots engagements, i.e. interaction in the communities, including the ones won by the PPP/C, could be a step towards inclusion. Talking with residents and listening to their ideas for theirs and the nation’s development will provide a reservoir of knowledge and insight.

In making this direct connection, given that governance has to be in the interest of all, may well cause the Opposition to recognise the determination to honour a campaign commitment that has its basis in constitutional obligation.

In the other areas, such as in civil society and business, within those same groups are persons who are supporters of the Opposition. Engagement with them on matters of interest to their constituents is also another way of seeking alliances and forging relations on inclusionary democracy. The flip side of non-engagement would not only be used as non-fulfillment of campaign commitment to argue that the government cannot be trusted but also justifying positions to govern at the exclusion of others. Though not a comforting reality, such is the nature of politics and ignoring it would not wish it away.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

In the 21st century, approaches to politics and governance are premised on consensus and respecting involvement of citizens. As President Granger noted, the Opposition last October boycotted the National Assembly for his address that laid out the Government‘s Legislative Agenda. Ideally it would have been helpful had the Opposition not chosen that route, but this does not prevent them from analysing and making recommendations on the President’s Agenda.

Where on one hand it does the nation no good when the Opposition opposes for opposing sake, on the other hand it also creates perception of uneven development when government governs at the exclusion of others.

How the political leadership will be able to sort this out, though it may be anyone’s guess, it is not unfair to say the society would rather benefit from an inclusionary approach sooner rather than later. Non-cooperation could carry dire consequences for the nation’s development where the country can benefit from the Opposition’s support in the Legislature and a National Development Strategy. There are issues such as addressing constitutional reform, the oil and gas industry, sugar, employment and labour policies, business climate, law and order and threats to our territorial integrity where the country stands to benefit more when its political leadership operates in unison.

Making a mountain out of a molehill Dear Editor I SEE Mr. Maxwell Edwards continuing his ramblings in the letter columns as he persists in magnifying a clerical error and transforming it into a major legal issue.

This supposedly learned gentleman continues to use the letter columns of the newspapers to egotistically showcase what he obviously considers to be his legal erudition to the lay public whom he insults with an expectation that they will unsuspectingly swallow his deeply flawed and lack of understanding of the law.

Even as he continues

to flog this dead horse of a major “legal significance” between Commonwealth Law Reports and Reports of the Commonwealth in the factual context of the controversy involving Anil Nandlall, I read in the newspapers that the Special Prosecutor applied to amend the charge filed against Nandlall as the charge itself contained a clerical misdescription of the books, describing them as CLR and not LRC; the identical error contained in Nandlall’s High Court Conservatory Order. And guess what? The magistrate granted the amendment, obviously on the ground that the error does not affect

the substance of the charge and it is of little or no legal consequence.

So, Mr. Edwards again has been proven wrong. If the difference was so legally fundamental as he claims, then the charge would have had to be dismissed immediately. Thankfully, we don’t have too many Edwards in the legal profession or on the bench.

I took Mr Edwards’ letter to two of his erstwhile and close colleagues while he was on the Bench, who are still practicing at the Bar and I pointed them to his contention that a judge has no jurisdiction to grant a Conservatory Order which has the impact

of an injunction against the State which is prohibited by the State Liabilities and Proceeding Act. They first advised me to ignore Edwards, pointing to his medical problems. They said he is obviously not thinking straight. Conservatory Orders are granted under Article 153 of the Constitution, the supreme law, which no ordinary legislation can limit. They pointed me to dozens of death penalty cases, including the famous Pratt and Morgan from Jamaica and Yassin and Thomas from Guyana, where Conservatory Orders were granted over 30 years ago.

They informed me that

since then, Conservatory Orders are regularly granted to protect other fundamental rights and freedoms of the citizen. So Edwards is wrong again.

Mr. Edwards acknowledges his regular nocturnal outings at the Chinese restaurant I referred to on Sheriff Street. However, where he(allegedly) claims that he use to “recreate and womanize” almost nightly while he was a magistrate!

Well well, that speaks volumes for the type and quality of judicial officer you were! But I was not even referring to those activities. I was referring to the meetings which(allegedly) took place between you and

relatives of persons who had cases pending before you. It is those meetings which made your admitted “recreating” and “womanizing” possible as they could clearly not be sustained on a magistrate’s remuneration.

Finally, Mr. Edwards disputes my existence. Let me assure you,Mr. Edwards,that I do exist. My full name is Nandkumar Puran. And contrary to your arrogant insinuation that only lawyers know the law, I am not a lawyer but I am satisfied that I do know the law more than you.

Regards Nandkumar Puran

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18 2017

Letter from Anu Bihari Dear Editor,

IF ANY citizen of Georgetown was under any delusion that the mouthing by the ‘Big Wigs’ at City Hall about ‘greening’ our city was anything more than just them being full of hot air, then all they have to do is take a walk along High Street in the vicinity of Leopold Street.

There they will see from Sunday to Sunday a string of roadside mechanical workshops illegally operating in this location that specialize in oil changes, fixing of brakes, air conditioning repairs etc Waste Crankcase Oil (WCO), the oil that they remove from motor engines right there on the street

during an oil change, is almost always discarded right there into the gutters resulting in pollution of both our aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The roads are blackened, the drains are filled with thick sludge and the pavements are slippery due to the oil deposits. Oil spilling onto the road makes for hazardous driving and walking conditions.

The irony is that these roadside workshops are a mere stone’s throw from the City Hall and City Constables who are well known to harass vendors and business persons for the smallest of transgressions, and sometimes for no good reason, pass along each day in the execution of their duties, but never stop to reprimand these

rogue mechanics.

Worse the Mayor, Town Clerk, City Engineer, Chief Constable etc all motor along this roadway frequently but could be least bothered by the harmful actions of these mechanics.

This road like all others in Georgetown was built with our money, the tax payers’ money. By allowing auto repair works to be carried out continually on them, the Council is depriving tax payers the right to enjoy what they have paid for.

Come on Pat and Roy, stop just talking the talk, it is time to walk the walk and let Georgetown play its part in saving the planet.

Sincerely Anu Bihari

Letter from B.Darnley Dear Editor, PLEASE permit me to extend my sympathy to the family of the late Prison officer, Odinga Wickham, who lost his life during the prison catastrophe at Camp Street Prison and

wish those officers that got injured, including Officer Trim, who is critical at the Georgetown Hospital, a speedy recovery.

I salute all prison officers that were on duty at all five prison locations during that catastrophe at

the Camp Street prison. I will close by recommending that the Guyana government seek professional counselling for those officers that were on duty.

Sincerely, B. Darnley

14% VAT on Private Education has not gone away

Dear Editor,

I HAD very much hoped to be able to move on and not have to write anything more about the imposition of the 14% VAT on Private Education. But two recent events prompted this letter.

A few days ago, I met, very briefly, with a member of the Cabinet. That person assured me, in front of three other persons, that “we are going to remove the 14% VAT.” Then I read in the newspaper over the weekend that the President also alluded to a similar position on the

part of his government.

I asked the Minister when the tax would be removed, as already more than 100 students have left Nations because they are unable to bear this added financial burden.

The response was “soon, but not just now as we need so much money to rebuild the prison.”

If the decision exists to make the change then surely that acknowledges that it was a mistake in the first place. I suggested to the Minister that the change should be made very soon, in time for the new school

year as students will simply miss their cut off dates for enrolments on the various international programmes that we offer.

In normal life when we make a mistake we are obliged to surely acknowledge the fact, correct the wrong as soon as possible and move on. A change in the next budget in no way meets these requirements of honest self-reflection and effective leadership.

Dr Brian O’Toole Director School of Nations

Letter from Amber Valentine Dear Editor,

OVER the last two years, I have observed the open duplicitous and double dealing practices being employed by a contractor whose services are engaged by the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown.

This contractor, a known friend to a senior officer of the Georgetown Municipality, and who has been awarded countless contracts all in violation of proper procurement processes and tender board procedures, swindles the Council in a very blatant and barefaced way.

The individual who is awarded contracts for over extravagant and profligate sums to weed and remove grass from

parapets, to clear and remove debris from drains etc., rather than removing the grass, debris etc. after weeding and desilting, instead uses the scarce resources of the Georgetown Municipality such as their tractors and trucks.

The trick in this is that he charges City Hall for removal but does not remove the stuff himself and does not pay the Council for the use of their facilities. The end result of this is that the citizens pay twice. They pay the contractor to remove the cut grass and slurry from the drains which he does not take away.

Then they pay again for the Council’s trucks, tractors and trailers and staff many times on Saturdays and Sundays which incurs overtime, for

which the contractor does not reimburse.

This is highway robbery, or I should say in our circumstances pot- holed roadway robbery in our capital. It should be noted that this contractor does not have to strike to be paid his fees as obtains with the two garbage collection contractors, but instead gets his emolument paid in a timely manner.

The Georgetown Municipality is so out of control.

It is so bloated and infested with fraud and deceit and corruption and abuse of power. One wonders if sanity and rectitude will ever return to this institution.

Sincerely, Amber Valentine

Improved conditions 8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

…200 inmates move in to new holding area at Lusignan

By Navendra Seoraj AFTER spending just over a week in a swamped pasture within the perimeter of the Lusignan prison, inmates have been shifted to a better facility.

Approximately 200 prisoners were sanitised and shifted to a newly fenced and asphalted area next to their previous place of confinement on Monday.

Since the Camp Street Prison was destroyed by a fire on July 2, 2017, the over 1000 prisoners who were housed there had to share a space with the inmates at the Lusignan prison. The congestion and living conditions in the pasture led to a few confrontations among inmates. On one occasion prisoners attempted to set alight the facilities within the compound of the Lusignan prison but the situation was quickly handled by ranks of the joint services.

In an attempt to rectify this situation, government took a decision to transfer them to other holding facil-

ities and construct a tarmac and sheds at another walled area obliquely opposite the current abode. Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan confirmed that construction of the facility was completed on Monday and the prisoners were transferred. Over 100 more are expected to be shifted today.

“By midday today all the prisoners should be sanitised and transferred so that the prison can be in a settled state,” said the Minister who pointed out that the new facility is equipped with toilet and bathroom facilities as well as sheds.

Many of the prisoners cooperated during the transfer but there were a few who were reluctant to move. This he said was however dealt with by ranks of the joint services. Although there were a number of hiccups, the minister said that they received the cooperation of most of the prisoners and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure during the construction phase to ensure that the facility was ready

A bird’s eye view of the pasture and the newly-constructed concreted facility where the prisoners are being shifted to (Photo by Blackfield Aerial Surveying Inc.)

within a week.

Director of Prisons, Gladwyn Samuels said that aside from the facility being physically ready, they have ramped up security around the area to ensure that order is maintained. The sanitisation process was the first step in ensuring safety and security, Samuels said, adding that during that process, the prisoners were relieved of all illegal weapons.

“We are warning per-

sons who bring illegal stuff in to desist from it because if you are caught, we will work according to the Prison Act and ensure that a harsh punishment is given,” said the Director of Prisons.

Divisional Superintendent of the Guyana Fire Service, Compton Sparman also gave the assurance that the fire service will be on standby at the prison.

He however pointed out that because it is an open

facility, the instance of a fire is highly unlikely, but they will nonetheless be ready to extinguish it.

NEXT BIG PROJECT Meanwhile, Minister Ramjattan outlined that the “next big project” will be the rehabilitation of the concrete facility at the Camp Street Prison.

When this is completed, he said it will be able to house 250 prisoners. An-

other facility is also being developed and when it is completed it will be able to house another 100-odd prisoners. In the meantime, prisoners who are remanded will be sent to the fenced area at the Lusignan Prison. A number of prisoners who had almost reached the time for their release had been sent home or granted bail so as to reduce the congestion at the prisons.

‘Trini’ escapee recaptured …others urged to surrender POLICE on Monday afternoon nabbed Cornelius Thomas, one of six prisoners who had escaped from the Georgetown Prison two Sundays ago.

Thomas, a Trinidadian national, was reportedly caught at a house in ‘C’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

According to a police release, an intelligence-led operation by ranks of the Joint Services has resulted in Thomas being recaptured at 15:20 hrs yesterday afternoon. His capture follows that of Desmond James who was picked up last Friday in Canal #1 Polder.

Four other escapees remain at large. They are Cobena Stephens aka “OJ”, Mark Royden Williams aka “Smallie”, Stafrei Alexander

and Uree Varswyk.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the wanted men are asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 225-6411, 225-8196, 225-2227, 2271149, 226-7065, 911 or the nearest police station. All information will be treated with the strictest confidence.

During an interview with the Department of Public Information on Monday, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan called on relatives and friends of escapees who might have information on their whereabouts to come forward and share it with the authorities. “It’s going to be rough out there.

Get out and give yourself up. You’re not going to win

against the state, absolutely not,” Ramjattan said.

Minister Ramjattan also urged that the families of the escapees do their civic duty, “If you’ve got any information, please come forward and help the police.

It is to ensure the stability and security of our country that we capture them as early as possible. These pieces of information that you have will be held in the highest of confidentiality. Please don’t be afraid to come forward and help.”

He also thanked the members of the Joint Services for their efforts since the July 9, Georgetown Prison fire, and the workers of the Public Infrastructure Ministry and contractors describing it as “a massive effort” to get the new holding facility at Lusignan Prison, ready. The Minister

Captured, Cornelius Thomas

visited the East Coast Demerara Prison, this afternoon, to see the new facilities and spoke to DPI. Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels issued a stern warning to potentially errant ranks, noting that strict measures are in place to check

all of those persons entering prohibited areas. He said, “This is a moment for you to reconsider because if you’re caught, my recommendation will be guided by the Prison Act. More than likely, it will see the most harsh punishment being recommended.”

Supporting the efforts is the Guyana Police Force which is helping to sanitize the prison and ensuring that all prisoners are safe. Assistant Commissioner Clifton Hicken said, “We will continue to work with the Joint Services to ensure that normalcy prevails.”

The Guyana Defence Force is also supporting the Civil Authority. Ranks on the ground are being commanded

by Lt Colonel Ramkarran Doodnauth. He explained that the GDF is also in support of the efforts being made

to recapture those on the run from custody. The Guyana Fire Service also has a unit here on standby.

Efforts are continuing to have the Brick Prison at Camp Street, prepared to accommodate 250 prisoners and 100 more in another section. Prisoners who are within one month of their sentences’ completion and those remanded for bailable offences are being released as recommended by prison authorities. Approximately 300 prisoners, at the Lusignan facility were moved to the recently constructed tarmacked area of the compound, by 18:00hrs today.

The remainder held in the walled, open area, are expected to be sanitized and moved to the same holding facility by today according to Samuels.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

PAC hears about missing $14M in vouchers

By Svetlana Marshall APPROXIMATELY $14M in vouchers are still to be accounted for by the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs while millions of dollars in equipment were procured without any evidence that contractual agreements had been reached.

These issues were among a plethora of systemic and accountability problems raised when the ministry’s officials led by the Permanent Secretary, Alfred King appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday for the third time in one month.

Though many of the issues stemmed from the purchase of machinery and equipment dating back to 2015, King and his team, which included the former Permanent Secretary, Vibert Welch and Deputy Permanent Secretary Samantha Fedeé, seemed ill-prepared to answer some of the questions.

Referencing to a report compiled by the Office of

the Auditor General for the period 2015, the PAC noted that a sum of $287.4M was budgeted for Amerindian Development in the areas of agriculture, education, culture and community development.However, as at December 31, 2015, amounts totalling $270.818M were expended. Payment vouchers totalling $204.244M were presented leaving expenditure totalling $66.574M at the time still to be verified.

However, King told the PAC on Monday that to date 48 of the vouchers totalling $52.8M were located, and efforts are still being made to find the additional 15 vouchers valued at $14M. The vouchers were located with assistance from the Finance Ministry. King, who was recently appointed to the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry as Permanent Secretary, told the Committee that “progressively” more vouchers are being located.

Ali, however, bemoaned the fact that it took the Ministry more than a year to locate all the vouchers. The Permanent Secretary, in re-

sponse, admitted that no serious effort was taken to track the vouchers in the past. At the time, Welch was the accounting officer with the support of Fedeé.

Cognizant of the systemic problem, King told the PAC that systems are now being put in place to ensure that all vouchers are registered. “The presentation of vouchers at the end of clearing should be properly registered by our Ministry, the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, and with a schedule, handed over and signed for at the Ministry of Finance. There was a delay when we checked, up to when the auditors were verifying, most of these, $66M worth of vouchers were not readily prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Finance, so you had that delay in transition from the Ministry to the Ministry of Finance,” he explained. He emphasised that systems are being put in place to ensure that all vouchers are correctly registered and handed over to the Finance Ministry in a timely manner.

Some of the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs Officials that were present. In Centre is the Permanent Secretary, Alfred King, and on his left is the former PS, Vibert Welch and another official is at right

Turning the Committee’s attention to another section of the auditor’s report, Ali questioned whether the tractors and trailers and the six disc ploughs and harrows were delivered to the identified Amerindian villages. The equipment and machineries were valued at $52.080M. Although the Ministry had obtained approval from the National Procurement and Tender Administration for the purchase of the machineries, King admitted that it took the ministry approximately two years to deliver the tractors to the villages of Yarakita, Sebai and Karrau.

They were delivered on June 2, 2017.

When pressed for additional information, the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Fedeé, who was responsible for the purchase and delivery of the tractors, initially told the PAC that the tractors were purchased and left in the care of the supplier. According to her, the villages were notified that the tractors were available for pick up.

However, she subsequently told the Committee that the tractors were paid for in the latter part of 2015, delivered in 2016 and handed over to the villages in 2017.

Fedeé further told the Committee that the tractors were stored in a compound housing the region’s dorm, but this was refuted by the Dorm Manager Rosamund Daly. Daly said as of December, 2016, the tractors were not in the vicinity. She further added that the tractors were placed in the compound

in 2017. Being faced with this information, the Deputy Permanent Secretary said she will now have to return to her documents, and as such, declined from giving further responses on the matter.

But the situation was further compounded when Fedeé told the Committee that no contract was signed during the procurement of the tractors.

Finance Secretary, Dr. Hector Butts had questioned Fedeé about the contracted delivery date and warranty period. He had attempted to verify whether the warranty period had been expired at the time of the delivery, but was met with a ‘brick wall.’

“I have to go back to my document and check the warranty period and see the delivery date too,” Fedeé repeatedly told the Committee.

In the end it was discovered that no contract was signed, and no warranty period clearly stated. Welch, who was at the helm of the Ministry at the time, said that he was of the opinion that there was no need for a contract given that the Tender Board had granted its approval. The tractors purchased from GenEquip were procured using a quotation method.

It was pointed out that similar purchases were made without any written contract in place, and projects executed without the requisite approval and little or no verification done. Additionally, several breaches of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act were noted.

Chairman of the PAC,

Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Samantha Fedeé

Irfaan Ali, remarked that the attitude of the ministry’s officials had become habitual.

“This ministry came once before us, they were sent back because of the same type of responses…they presented information that was not factually correct. They came a second time to the PAC, we had a similar situation where information was not here, now this is the third time,” the PAC Chairman lamented.

According to Ali, the ministry is faced with a number of systemic issues which ought to be corrected. PAC Member, Minister Volda Lawrence told King that although he is new to the ministry, he is responsible and should have been thoroughly briefed before appearing before the PAC. The Ministry Officials were asked to leave the Parliament Chamber, and consult with one another based on the issues raised.

They reappeared hours after, and under King’s leadership was able to provide some information.

Relatives urge full probe into Moruca boat accident AS THE search continues for the body of 41-year-old Pomeroon River farmer, George Piper, relatives of the missing man are calling on the authorities to fully investigate Friday night’s boat accident.

George and his son Ravin Piper, 18, along with another man known only as ‘Wood’ were tossed out of a vessel in which they were travelling late Friday night at the mouth of the Moruca River near the Atlantic Coast. While the other man survived the accident, George and his son were discovered missing and a search

party located the body of the man’s son on Sunday morning.

George remains missing and the man’s sister told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday that no one in authority has reached out to the family.

“I’m the eldest and to me something wrong. Two persons died and no one seem responsible,” she said noting that the family has been spending thousands of dollars in fuel as they search for her brother’s remains.

She said that based on information provided by the man known only as ‘Wood’, the men were returning to the

Farm Beach area where they reside when the two boats collided. She said the survivor noted that he was operating the vessel’s light while Ravin Piper was operating the engine; her brother George was asleep at the time of the collision. She said that the survivor told the family that he looked up and saw the larger vessel, which is operated by the Kumaka District Hospital at Moruca, in their path. ‘Wood’ jumped in the water but my brother was sleeping so he couldn’t react and Ravin get hit in he face,” the woman said.

She said that the family

Ravin Piper (Deceased)

George Piper (Missing)

was upset that the police placed the survivor in custody all weekend. ”He didn’t do anything, “she noted.

Reports from Moruca are that the captain of the hospital’s vessel has been known for operating the vessel in an errant manner along the waterway. Several years ago, the man crashed another boat in the Moruca River while transporting a patient and killed the occupant of another boat. Relatives of the Pipers are calling on the police and the maritime authorities to investigate the incident.

10

Region 9 authorities assessing flood losses AS farms within sections of Region Nine remain under water, the regional authorities are tallying damages, which farmers within the Rupununi have incurred as a result of the floods.

Regional Chairman, Bryan Allicock told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday that several areas within the Rupununi are still under water.

He said that several farms in the South Pakaraima have been hard hit by the flood waters, and that several village leaders have requested assistance from

the region.

Allicock and several regional officials, as well as medical personnel, are expected to visit several affected areas this week to assess the situation.

He said that based on the assessments, as well as information gathered, requests may be made of the government for assistance to the affected villages.

Reports are that as much as 64 villages at Aishalton have been flattened by the flood waters. Former Toshao of Aishalton, Toney James, told the Guyana Chronicle

on Monday that the rains have been pouring in the area. He said that several farms, as well as most of the landscape at a small satellite village to Aishalton, named Churikidnao, is completely destroyed.

Residents of the Rupununi have experienced severe flooding mainly in low-lying areas over the past several weeks. The floods have been attributed to rising water levels at main rivers within the region, as well as Takutu and Ireng Rivers on the border with Guyana and Brazil.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Three held after robbery at Mabaruma POLICE at Mabaruma have detained a taxi driver after three men attacked and robbed a family in the North West District sub-region on Monday afternoon.

Reports are that around 14:00hrs on Monday afternoon, three men were dropped off by the taxi-driver

at Wanaina Hill at the home of popular North West gold dealer, Geoffrey Hercules aka “Nan-chick”.

Wanaina Hill is located some six miles from Mabaruma.

The men were seen entering the yard of the businessman and later, res-

idents were alerted that the family was robbed. Reports are that the men brutally attacked the businessman’s son, who was gun-butted during the melee. He was later taken to the hospital for treatment. A report was made to the Mabaruma Police Station and ranks took the taxi driver into custody as they investigated the incident.

Guyana, Spain sign pact to scrap visa requirement for diplomatic passport holders THE Governments of Guyana and the Kingdom Of Spain on Friday, July 14 signed an agreement for the elimination of visa requirement for holders of diplo-

matic passports.

According to a release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here, the agreement was signed by Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl

Greenidge and Secretary of State For International Cooperation and for Ibero-America of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain, Mr. Fernando García Casas.

Min Hughes attending regional telecommunications conference MINISTER of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes is participating in the CANTO 33rd Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition in the Dominican Republic.

According to a release, for ICT stakeholders, the exhibition is the Caribbean’s premier telecommunications event for industry professionals, academics and regional governments. The exhibition, which is ongoing at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana, is being held under the theme, “Re-imagining ICT as a Tool for National Growth and Development”.

The event opened on Sunday July 16, and the caucuses are expected to “produce a superior standard of industry pioneering and policy guiding conversations”

over the next three days, according to CANTO. The organisers are confident that the high profile delegations would produce new perspectives and plans for action that will galvanise the growth of ICT within the region.

The conference will feature a number of roundtable discussions on promoting the Caribbean as a choice business location for new ICT industries; protecting data privacy; stabilising employment rates in the sector in the face of unlicensed services competing with licensed ICT service providers, who are the largest employers in the sector, and related topics.

The delegates include Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda, Hon. Gaston Browne; Minister Hughes, Antigua & Barbuda’s Minister of State Information,

Broadcasting & Telecommunications, Science & Technology, Melford Nicholas; Barbados’ Minister of State responsible for Telecommunications Immigration, Energy and Investments, Darcy Boyce; and Belize’s Minister of the Public Service, Energy and Public Utilities, Frank Mena.

Also present are senior representatives from Huawei Technologies, Cable and Wireless, Digicel and the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT), in addition to representatives from regulatory agencies in the Caribbean.

CANTO is the leading authority in the Caribbean and the Americas responsible for shaping the trajectory of Information Communication Technologies.

Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes and her Caribbean and Latin American counterparts, who are currently attending the CANTO Annual Conference and Exhibition in the Dominican Republic

On Friday July 14th, 2017 the Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs , Carl Greenidge, Secretary Of State For International Cooperation and for Ibero-America of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Of Spain , Fernando García Casas, signed an agreement between the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Kingdom of Spain for The Reciprocal Elimination of Visas for Holders of Diplomatic Passports

Miller to pay off Wakenaam farmers by Friday WAKENAAM rice farmers are expected to be paid all outstanding monies owed them by an Essequibo Coast rice-miller by Friday.

This was revealed by the General Manager Acting of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Ms Allison Peters.

She further told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the Board will continue to monitor the situation until the matter is resolved.

According to the DPI, rice farmers on the Essequibo

Island were having difficulty receiving payments from millers for their paddy, produced for the crop that ended in April.

The matter came to light some two weeks ago in an article carried by one of the local dailies under the headline, ‘Wakenaam rice farmers’ woes’.

Peters told the DPI that after conducting an investigation into the matter, the GRDB contacted Mr Wazim Hoosein of Jaichand, Essequibo, one of the defaulting rice millers, about fulfilling his obligations.

She said that it was as a result of this intervention that the miller began processing and making payments last Friday.

She said that Hoosein gave the GRDB every assurance that all outstanding monies will be paid over by Friday, July 21.

According to the DPI, the GRBD launched a preliminary investigation into the farmers claims last Thursday, and followed up by sending in a team to investigate the matter at length.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Lindeners form ‘farmers co-op’ – to help push agriculture in Region 10

Member of Parliament Mr Jermaine Figueira (right) handing over a certificate of participation to Group Treasurer, Mr Kevin De Jonge. With them are, from left, Mr William Issacs, Mr Zeonard Skeete, Ms Anna Bridglall, and Ms Sheena Bristol

By Naomi Marshall LINDENERS are poised to benefit tremendously from a newly-formed co-op society, the primary objective of which is to promote the economic interests of its members in the field of agriculture.

The organisation, the full name of which is ‘A Sustainable Livelihood Vegetable Production and Marketing Cooperative Society Limited’, was launched last Sat-

urday in Region 10, and among its other objectives is to arrange for the sale of members’ crops and produce, once they are organically or hydroponically grown, using, in the latter’s case, approved hydroponic fertilizers.

The society was installed by one of Guyana’s longest serving Cooperative Officers, Mr Aubrey Crawford, in accordance with the Cooperative Societies Act, Chapter 88:01, in the presence of Member of Parliament, Mr

Jermaine Figueira.

At the launch, Mr Crawford, who’s also a veteran photographer, wished the group every success in their future endeavours. “Expand yourself; don’t limit yourself!” he urged.

The society in Linden presently has approximately 29 members, all of whom are bonafide farmers.

Mr William Isaacs was elected Chairman; Mr Orin Gordon, Vice-Chairman; Ms Sheena Bristol, Secretary;

Berbician granted bail for ‘possession’ A BERBICE man was on Monday placed on $200,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after being charged with possession of narcotic for the purpose of trafficking.

The allegation stated that Seon Mickle, 25, on May 31 this year had in his possession 1261 grams of cannabis at First Avenue, Bartica.

Police prosecutor Alvin Moore strongly opposed bail, on the grounds that the defendant, who was not represented, did not men-

tion any special reason to the court for bail to be granted.

The prosecutor said that Mickle was given a caution statement, after which he admitted that the haversack in which the drugs were found was his.

In spite of the prosecutor’s objection, however, and more likely in light of recent developments at the Georgetown Prison, Magistrate McLennan granted the defendant bail.

The matter has been adjourned until July 21.

and Mr Kevin De Jonge, Treasurer.

According to the Chairman, the idea of banding themselves into an organisation came about after a meeting with the Linden Chambers of Commerce (LCC) and Partners of America during 2015.

The LCC had reportedly invited some farmers to participate in the meeting so they could benefit from what Partners of America had to offer. They were also privy to training in Management, as such training lends itself to the formation of a cluster.

In 2015, the group es-

tablished the cluster, while in 2016, they held their first major meeting. During the period in question and beyond, they did extensive training in such areas as soil preparation and pest control, and are presently in the final stages of the cluster.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Education CoI recommends licensing of teachers THE recently concluded Commission of Inquiry into the local education system has recommended a license system for teachers to improve the level of service they are rendering to the system.

This was a recommendation of the five-member commission, chaired by former Chief Education Officer, Ed Caesar. The report said that, consideration should be given to the implementation of a license system for teachers, since this will ensure greater

discipline and management of those educators.

“This will require a complete rethink on how teachers are trained, certified, appraised, managed and disciplined. Every teacher should have an incentive to maintain his or her license to teach.” The report stated that consideration should also be given for the renewal of such license on a five-year basis once, “certain criteria for professional development, mental and physical assessment are fulfilled.”

Outside of licensing teachers to foster professionalism, the report also pointed to the adequate use of educators in the area most needed.

Placement of teachers should be carefully addressed, the report noted, since the COI found that schools allocated the most academically inclined students usually benefit from more qualified teachers. This was noted as an unfair distribution of educators. It was suggested that, “an incentive scheme could be considered to attract

teachers to low-performing schools and those in the Hinterland,” for instance.

The COI went on to state that consideration should be given to an improved system, where teachers receive their pay soonest after their recruitment. “Evidence was provided to show that some teachers have had to wait more than six months after they had assumed duty before they were paid,” the report said. Where teachers are expected to perform in far flung and more secluded locations, mostly within the hinterland, the COI recommended, “A full-fledged investigation” into the cost of living in those areas so that teachers’ allowances can be reviewed and adjusted based on evidential data.

It is accepted that teachers in hinterland communities are functioning in a vastly different environment from the coastland and the city; in that case, an investigation was also recommended

into their living conditions.

“Consideration should be given for a full investigation into teachers’ quarters.” It was reported further that, several such quarters are poorly maintained and lack basic furnishings. “In one hinterland community there were several non-teachers occupying the best rooms in the building, while a few teachers were in need of accommodation and two teachers were occupying a room that was poorly ventilated.

Such was considered a huge disincentive for teachers in the hinterland.”

Also, the COI said to encourage teachers into the hinterland, consideration should be given to temporary holding and close-ended appointments or contracts for at least two years rather than one year. “Such would allow them to be available for training, which should be mandatory, during the long vacation. Also, it has been reported that renewal

of appointments or contracts for such teachers takes a long time and subsequent payment much longer.” Teachers could also be promoted for remuneration purposes, with the option of remaining in the classroom. This, the report said was the desire of many of the educators before promoting the operationalisation of a proposed “Master’s Teacher Scheme”.

COI chairman Caesar, during the handing over of the report, had told the media that the COI team was seeking government’s serious consideration to adjusting the compulsory retirement age from 55 to 60, with a possibility for extension to the age of 65, depending on the annual submission of good health certificate. While provision is made for teachers’ voluntary retirement, the chairman had said that the system could continue to use willing able-body retired teachers for support.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

CJ rules President can reject list …but GECOM nominees do not have to be a judge ACTING Chief Justice, Roxanne George-Wiltshire on Monday ruled that while President David Granger has the right to reject nominees to be selected for Chairmanship of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), those nominees need not be of a judicial background.

The Chief Justice ruled also that nominees must fit the constitutional description of “fit and proper”, or must be like-minded as a judge or one eligible to be a judge of a court of unlimited jurisdiction.

Justice George-Wiltshire, who handed down her decision just after 13:00hrs at the High Court, noted that the Constitution does not stipulate expressly the need for the Chairman of GECOM to be a judge, former judge, or eligible to be a judge or any person who is deemed fit and proper.

In fact, the Chief Justice said that persons for either category can be appointed Chairman of the Elections

Commission.

Businessman, Mr Marcel Gaskin had moved to the Court for the interpretation of the Constitution, under Article 161(2), after the first list of nominees, consisting of six persons, was rejected by President Granger.

Article 161 (2) clearly states: “Subject to the provisions of Paragraph (4), the Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds, or who has held, office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation with the non-governmental political parties represented in the

National Assembly.”

The aforementioned article also states that if the Opposition Leader fails to submit a list as provided for, the President shall appoint a person who holds, or has held, office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as such judge.

SIMILAR QUALITIES But the Chief Justice ruled that while a nominee for GECOM Chairman does not have to be of a judicial background, the identified person ought to have similar qualities, namely: Impartiality, integrity and honesty.

She explained that while the language of the Constitution was not strict, it provided for exceptions to the initial criteria, and that none of the two categories

identified is superior. Moreover, the Chief Justice, in answering the questions posed by Gaskin, pointed to extensive case law to elaborate her findings.

Gaskin also asked the court to determine whether the President is required, under the Constitution, to state reasons for deeming each of the six names on the list submitted by the Opposition Leader as un-

acceptable. To which the Chief Justice replied in the affirmative, saying that it was necessary for reasons to be given as to why each name on the list has been deemed unacceptable.

Justice George-Wiltshire noted, too, that in the interest of democracy and progression on the subject, it is necessary for there to be extensive dialogue and consultation. She said, too,

that once reasons are provided by the head-of-state for his rejection of the persons on the list submitted by the Opposition Leader, it would provide him with a clear understanding, or guideline, of the persons required for the post.

She made it clear that Article 161 (2) of the Constitution does not require the President to give reaTurn to page 18 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

GWI warns miners about polluting the waterways REGION ONE (Barima-Waini) miners have been urged to ensure that their mining techniques do not affect the region’s waterways.

According to a release from the Department of Public Information (DPI), Managing Director of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Dr. Richard VanWest Charles, took the opportunity to underscore the importance of protecting the country’s waterways from the risk of pollution from

mining.

He was at the time addressing residents at Mabaruma, the region’s administrative capital, saying that protecting the waterways is critical to securing the future of the younger generation.

“You don’t want to have a situation whereby people are using all sorts of chemicals and methods to extract the gold, and at the end of the day, your young people are going to be left with a number of issues which are costly to remedy,” Dr Van

West-Charles said, adding:“So, the protection of the environment and the waterways in relation to your lands is very, very critical.”

Having explained the situation, he encouraged the miners to seek advice for best practices for working near water, and that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) is one of the agencies that can lend assistance in that regard.

“There are a plethora of examples globally how many people have left land

barren and impacted negatively on the environment, on their own water ways, on their own fish life, the flora, the fauna,” Dr Van WestCharles said, “so you got to begin to think ahead about sustainable development and the generations of your own that are going to come and what is the legacy you leave for them.”

He said that the GWI has also been playing its role by conducting its outreaches, and educating persons on safe mining practices.

Mining, though a lucrative industry, has several negative impacts on the environment and can be devastating if not conducted in a safe manner. When mining is done near water sources the risk of metal contamination and increased sedimentation levels are very high.

To mitigate the effects of the mining on the waterways, GWI has also been distributing jerrycans to hinterland communities that are most affected by this phenomenon.

The jerrycans are designed to instantly sterilise untreated water, for consumption, without the use of chlorine.

Jerrycans were distributed in Mabaruma and in Kamarang, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). The community of Kamarang recently suffered from a diarrhoeal outbreak. It was suspected that the river water which is used by the residents for drinking and domestic purposes was contaminated.

Bagotstown man to stand trial

--for minibus driver’s murder

REMANDED: Orwyn Peters

A BAGOTSTOWN resident, who was committed to stand trial for attempted murder, was on Monday charged with the murder of 38-year-old minibus driver, Tedroy Neil James of Suddie, Essequibo.

Twenty–four-year-old Orwyn Peters of Norton Street, Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara, was not represented, and was not required to plea to the indictable charge, which stated that on July 11, 2017, while in the company of others, he murdered James.

Peters, who appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, was remanded until August 11.

According to reports, the deceased was driving minibus BTT 976, north along the East Bank Demerara Public Road heading to Georgetown, when a male passenger asked him to stop at Middle Street, McDoom where another male was waiting.

The court heard that as the one male passenger was

about to disembark the vehicle, two other males, one of whom was armed with a handgun, pounced on the unsuspecting passengers and began robbing them.

James, upon seeing what was happening, attempted to drive off and, according to the police, was shot in the back by one of the men, who thereafter made good their escape.

James was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Peters and his accomplice, who has been identified as Curtis Vasconcellos and is still at large, were in 2016 committed to stand trial at the High Court for the attempted murder of a Grove businessman.

The two were charged with discharging a loaded firearm at Imran Khan with intent to kill, while robbing him of a $200,000 gold chain and a $500,000 gold ring.

Following their committal, they were both remanded on $400,000 bail.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18 2017

‘Give it up, Uree!’

THE distraught relatives of Uree Varswyck, also known as Malcolm Gordon, are pleading with him to surrender to the police, as living a life of crime is not worth it.

“We aren’t saying he didn’t do these things. We were not there, but all we want him to do is turn himself in; we don’t want him to die…

“If he doesn’t come in,

manadatory one-year training, was yet too young to graduate and be enlisted as a rank, and had to wait until he was 18 to do so.

PASSION FOR POLICING But his passion for policing did not last, and he resigned, allegedly because of pressure from senior police

A uniformed Uree Varswyck (Taken from his Facebook account)

they may kill him,” said a relative who described the excop as his best-friend.

Varswyck, who recently turned 28, is wanted by the police for murder, and escaping from lawful custody. He was initially incarcerated for the December 2015 murder of Wilfred Steward, a security guard attached to Sterling Products Limited, and was also fingered in the execution-style killing, in 2015 too, of a Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) engineer, Trevor Abrams.

It is alleged that he and several other inmates -- including Mark ‘Royden’ Durant aka Royden Williams, who was sentenced to death for the 2008 Bartica Massacre -- were the masterminds behind the July 9 fire at the Georgetown Prison which left a prison warder dead and the facility gutted.

The clearly perturbed relative told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday that it is unclear what could have caused the dramatic change in the life of a youngster as gifted as he, who, besides being a dedicated and disciplined policeman, was also committed family man.

“I can’t say what caused these things, but he was always a promising youth before all these things, you know,” the relative said, adding that since a child, the former Mahaicony Secondary student had always wanted to become a policeman.

After completing his Caribbean Examination Council (CXC)s, as the exams were called back then, Varswyck enrolled for training with the Guyana Police Force. He was just 16 at the time. And, even though he completed the

officers. According to the relative, the former cop was assigned to work at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) and was not pleased.

“He told me a senior police didn’t like him and transferred him to TSU. He said he was too intelligent to ‘pull gate’ and be a guard; he said he didn’t deserve that,” the relative said.

Apparently, he wasn’t pleased with his name either, as when he became of age, he did a deed poll and had it changed to Malcolm Gordon.

He’d also dabble a while with interior decoration after leaving the Police Force, and at one point even rented a spot in the City Mall, and operated a shop in the hinterland.

He would later travel to neighbouring Suriname, where his maternal grandfather is from, but spent just under a year. It was there, our informant said, that he was nabbed for his alleged role in the December 2015 murder of Wilfred Steward.

“He had come back to Guyana, and then he went back to Suriname, where they nabbed him and said he was wanted for the Sterling Products guard murder. And then they put a next murder on him while in prison,” he said.

The relative said that Varswyck has always maintained his innocence in the matter, and claimed that he was being set up.

“He is very intelligent; was a good police; very disciplined… I can’t say what would make him do this sort of thing… And again, he hasn’t been found guilty,” the clearly exasperated youngster said.

The Guyana Chronicle also learnt that the former

policeman owns one of the latest mobile devices, which he’d use from time to time to communicate with relatives and friends, and according to another relative, he would use both his cell-phone as well as the prison’s land line.

“Yes! He used to communicate with me with the prison phone, and likewise his personal cell-phone,” the relative disclosed, while noting that during periodic visits to the Georgetown Prison, there was never any indication from

the murder accused that he was planning to escape.

WE TALKED THE FRIDAY “Me and he had a good conversation the Friday, two days before the prison burn down. I had a face-to-face with he; he was three feet away from me, and there was a warden about three feet away from both of us. It was an open conversation, and we talked and laughed… I didn’t know this at all,” the worried relative

--‘It’s not worth it,’ relatives say declared, adding: “If he had told me something like that, I would have tried to dissuade him; told him it makes no sense to escape and become the most wanted man.

He, however, made an interesting observation, in that Varswyck had always said that anytime he made it out of jail, there’s no way he was going back.

“He said when he gets out, nobody can’t mek he go back in jail; that he will do whatever

it takes necessary to stay out of jail.”

The 28-year-old father of five is said to often ask after the welfare of his children, all of whom he loves dearly. “He loved children, and always wanted a big family,” another relative declared, noting that the entire episode is “unbelievable”.

“When this thing happened, I was surprised,” she said, adding: “When I heard the jail was

Turn to Page 17

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Bartica to benefit significantly – from Japan-Caribbean climate change partnership THE Ministry of the Presidency, through the Office of Climate Change, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), last Thursday launched the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership (J-CCCP) in Bartica.

According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, the partnership will see the Three-Mile Secondary School benefitting from the installation of a 20Kwp grid connected Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system, energy-efficient lighting, as well as light-emitting diode (LED) street lighting.Funded by the Government of Japan to the tune of US$15M, the partnership supports countries in advancing the process of improving energy security planning for

adaptation to climate change.

Speaking at the launch of the project at the office of the Mayor and Town Council, Head of the Office of Climate Change within the Ministry of the Presidency, Ms Janelle Christian said that the partnership comes at an opportune time, as it helps to advance the vision of President David Granger for Bartica to be developed as a model ‘green’ town.

“The J-CCCP project and the support that Guyana has been benefitting from, and continues to benefit from, is set within the framework of the ‘Green’ State Development Strategy (GSDS),” Christian said, adding: “The pilot initiative that will be implemented in Bartica is a direct response to the President’s pronouncement

UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Mikiko Tanaka delivering remarks

on Bartica becoming the first model ‘green’ town.”

She noted, too, that the GSDS provides a framework for national development plans and policies for climate action, and that the implementation of the J-CCCP supports

Head of the Office of Climate Change within the Ministry of the Presidency, Ms. Janelle Christian explaining the implementation of the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership

the government’s commitment to transitioning to the use of 100 per cent renewable energy in public institutions by 2025.

“These initiatives have to

date, through budgetary support and also resources that we have been able to leverage through our development partners,already started taking effect. The Project here in Bartica is not unique to Bartica but it is part of that national programe where we would’ve already seen through the leadership of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) some schools being installed with photovoltaic system (PVs).

“Further, under the Ministry of Communities, I believe as part of the initiative for all of the townships, there is and has been budgeted resources for installation of LED street lighting and we felt that those projects must align with those national plans with respect to our achievement and implementation of those commitments that we have made,” Christian said.

United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Mikiko Tanaka said that the launching of the partnership is in

pilot projects that seek to address significant climate related ramifications,” she said.

Meanwhile, Programme Specialist at the UNDP, Dr. Patrick Chesney said that the Partnership is an important response that emphasise partnership between a developed country and developing countries. “This is an ambitious response, and we must match that ambition with our energy,with our passion and with knowledge. Guyana is the second greenest country on this earth, so the move towards establishing a green state is simply putting in place the architecture, the mechanisms and ensuring that all we do is contribute to making and keeping Guyana green,” Mr. Chesney said.

Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall praised the organisations for implementing the Partnership in Bartica, which he said demonstrates the Government’s interest in developing the township of Bartica.

UNDP Programme Specialist, Dr. Patrick Chesney; Ms. Astrid Foo-Lynch of the Office of Climate Change; United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Mikiko Tanaka; Mayor of Bartica, Mr. Gifford Marshall; Head of the Office of Climate Change within the Ministry of the Presidency, Ms. Janelle Christian; Deputy Mayor of Bartica, Ms. Nageshwari Kamal Persaud and Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership Project Manager Ms. Yoko Ebisawa at the launch in Bartica

line with Guyana’s ‘green’ development trajectory. “The resources will undoubtedly contribute to enhancing Guyana’s and the other seven beneficiary countries’ ability to respond to climate risk and opportunities,” she said.

Tanaka pointed out that the Partnership is part of the global effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as it relates to the climate action. “The achievements from this project would ultimately support Guyana’s pursuit of evolving into a ‘green’ state, as it fosters a platform for collaborative efforts… the project allows for the adaptation and implementation of mitigation and adaptation technologies, which gives Guyana the flexibility to identify, develop and implement demonstrations

“It is most importantly a visionary council that was elected by the people for the development of Bartica, we are committed to serve, we were elected to serve and that’s what we will do, and these projects of course will bring about major transformation to the township of Bartica,” Marshall said.

The event was also attended by J-CCCP Project Manager, Yoko Ebisawa several representatives of the UNDP, Office of the Climate Change and regional officials.

The Partnership is part of a regional initiative that was officially launched in January 2016 and has been implemented in Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and now Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Arjoon to be compensated for wrongful dismissal

By Ravin Singh AFTER more than six years of legal battle, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of New Building Society (NBS), Maurice Arjoon will be compensated by the state-owned agency for wrongful dismissal by the then Bharrat Jagdeo-led government.

The former CEO had sued the financial institution back in 2011 for wrongful dismissal in 2007. He was fired after being accused of conspiring with two others to defraud NBS of $69M – a case which went to trial and was subsequently dismissed.

The money reportedly belonged to Bibi Khan.

The other two accused were the then Assistant Mortgage manager, Kissoon Baldeo, and Operations manager, Kent Vincent. Initially, a decision was expected to be handed down by High Court Judge, Justice Brassington Reynolds on November 29, 2016. After that time had elapsed, July 10, 2017 was announced to be the new date for a ruling. That deadline

was also missed.

However, on Monday, the court ruled that the former NBS boss had been wrongfully dismissed by the then government and is entitled to his pension and other benefits which were snatched from him. The amount to which he is entitled to is expected to be decided upon by Justice Reynolds, after assessment today.

In 2007, Arjoon of La Fleur Road, Eccles; Baldeo of Zeeburg, West Coast Demeraram and Vincent of Canje Pheasant Lane, South Ruimveldt were charged for conspiring to defraud NBS of $69M. At that time, Arjoon was on the verge of retirement and would have been paid a pension and other benefits.

After the trio was charged, they faced trial in the Magistrates court but the matter was later thrown out after the main witnesses stopped attending court. The CEO had claimed that he was framed after refusing to illegally endorse the lending of $2B in 2006. His decision to only lend $350M in keep-

Give it up... on fire, I study he right away; I wondered if he get burn up, because he was kept in a strong cell that is underground.

“I had a doubt, because me and he talk Friday, and I ain’t had no indication he intend to escape. He wasn’t sad; we talked about the case… I can’t believe this.”

She also said that attempts were made to contact the ex-policeman since Sunday, but his mobile device has been turned off.

“The number we normally talk on, it is off… I tried to contact him; I just want to know if he alive,” she said.

Asked what advice they would give to Varswyck, given that he is wanted by the police, family members in unison said, “Surrender yourself; turn yourself in. It ain’t make sense you living like that.”

One even asked, “How long are you going to live running from the police?” while noting that it is highly likely that he would be killed.

“I think if they catch him, they will kill him. He feels they want to kill him; I don’t know for what reason,” said

ing with the laws of Guyana, reportedly angered then President Bharrat Jagdeo, who allegedly threatened to deal with him.

After being vindicated, the former CEO and the other two managers filed a complaint to the office of the Ombudsman. He subsequently moved to file a $2M lawsuit against the then Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP) government for malicious prosecution in 2011. A report by the Ombudsman in 2014 had stated that the police at that time had wrongfully charged Arjoon and the two others, and that the men be compensated for losing seven years of their lives.

In an interview with Kaieteur News earlier this year, Arjoon shared that: “My family and I have endured so much suffering during the past decade hoping for justice. I recently lost my son who was also very traumatized by this matter.”

“I hope I receive justice during my lifetime and not posthumously” a hopeful Arjoon said. The matter was also taken to the Na-

From page 15

another relative, who noted that Varswyck received specialised training while in the Police Force and was performing well.

PAY FOR THE CRIME Though it is difficult for Varswyck’s relatives to believe he committed heinous crimes, they believe that he should face the full brunt of the law if he did.

“It was like a shock to me, but if he admits he did the murder, I’d tell him to face the music,” the relative said unapologetically.

“Me ain’t ‘fraid; I ain’t lying… I got nothing to ‘fraid for,” the relative added. When asked if contacted by the wanted man, and a request is made to reach him somewhere whether same would be done, the relative bluntly said, “I would not meet him! I would tell him to turn himself in! I would meet him with a lawyer, maybe, but not alone for the police to think I am involved, or kill me,” the family member stated.

ART DIRECTOR Family members recount-

ed that at the time of the 2011 filming of ‘The Bottle’, a film written and directed by one of Varswyck’s aunts, the entire cast spent some time at the Zeskendren, Mahaicony home where he grew up as a child. The former cop was even the Art Director on the set.

A colleague described him as “very willing and involved” during the filming of the movie. “He wanted to be involved in everything, and he went out of his way to get everything done,” they said.

But relatives said Varswyck’s visit to the Mahaicony home in 2011 was the last time they saw him, and noted that after he left, he was seldom in contact with them, and more particularly with his grandmother who raised him.

“We haven’t seen him in years… Friday gone was mommy’s four-year death anniversary, and she didn’t see him before she died… All in her sickness, he didn’t come. He called once-and-far, and when he was in the Force, he would run up and so, but he didn’t stay.”

tional Assembly to be debated, but that was stalled pending an outcome of the court matter. Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo also weighed in on the matter last month, offering that: “This is a man who sought

relief through the court on [allegations] that an injustice was done to him in the executive sector. The matter has been ongoing for so long. What makes the situation worse is the fact that he [Arjoon] is sick.”

Former CEO of NBS, Maurice Arjoon

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

CJ rules President can...

From page 13

sons for his decision, but noted that he should do so, given the importance of the post.

Additionally, the Chief Justice made it clear that while it is the President who has to make the ultimate decision on who is selected as Chairman of GECOM, that decision must be reasonable and objective.

The Court was also asked to determine whether the President is obliged to select a person from the six names on the list, unless he has determined positively that the persons thereon are unacceptable as fit and proper for appointment.

Justice George responded in the negative.

The Chief Justice was also asked to determine whether, by a finding of fact by the President, one or more persons is not fit and proper,that renders the entire list unacceptable. That question, too, was answered in the negative, in that Justice George-Wiltshire made it clear that there is no need for everyone on the list to be acceptable, while quickly pointing out that the head-of-state has the right to reject the entire list.

CASE CLOSED Meanwhile, Mr Sanjeev Datadin, one of the attorneys who represented the Guyana Bar Association, said the ruling by the Chief Justice has clarified and “settled” several issues.

Speaking to reporters immediately after the Chief Justice’s ruling, Datadin said: “The position appears to be (I would have to see the wording) but from what I understand it to be is that there could be one list and there could be amendments.”

He explained that if persons are deemed unsuitable, reasons should be provided, or those nominees identified and an amendment done to replace those deemed unsuitable for the post.

He contended that there should be only one list submitted by the Opposition Leader and not several lists as has been the case.

The Attorney argues that the Constitution is clear on the matter, and noted that by virtue of the ruling, the President is required to

state why the names submitted on the first list were rejected.

Thus far, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has submitted two lists, comprising the names of 12 nominees. Both lists have been rejected by the President, and the Opposition Leader is in the process of submitting his third list which he hopes will find favour with the president.

“Once it is six that remains, then I think a selection should follow,” he remarked.

Datadin accepted, too, that the President is entitled to reject persons on the list submitted by Jagdeo, but must provide reasons for his rejection.

“In the current circumstances, I would think that if he has rejected everyone, then he’d have to give reasons for everyone. But if there are persons on the list who are eligible to be appointed, then he can exercise his discretion to appoint,” said the Attorney.

President David Granger had said that Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, must submit a list that matches the criteria set out in keeping with Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana for the selection of a ‘fit and proper’ person to fill the post of GECOM Chairman. The list, he said, must include six persons who are all qualified so that his choice is not limited.

“Every member of the list suggested must conform to the criteria and you cannot put on the list a person who does not conform… I must be given a choice. I don’t believe that the second list gave me the range of choice that the people of Guyana deserve,” he said.

“Nothing is ever settled until it is settled right and he has to get it right,” the President continued.

Jagdeo had expressed “deep concern” over the president’s rejection of the two lists but had committed to submitting a third list.

The second list included Justice of Appeal B.S. Roy (ret’d); Justice William Ramlal (ret’d); Oneidge Walrond-Allicock, attorney-at-law and a former magistrate; Kashir Khan, attorney-at-law; Nadia Sagar, attorney-at-law and businessman, Gerald Gouveia.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18 2017

Cricket West Indies confirms player amnesty From Back Page “We recognise that it is highly unlikely that we will now automatically qualify for the 2019 World Cup, so whilst the qualifying tournament has yet to be confirmed by ICC, we may only have eight (8) ODIs against England and New Zealand in the next six months to prepare,” the Englishman explained.

“It is crucial that we

can have our best performing Windies players available for selection in these important games.”

Without their marquee players, West Indies have struggled in the shorter format, winning just four of their last 21 matches – including an embarrassing loss to then-ICC associate side Afghanistan in St Lucia last month.

Superstar opener Chris Gayle has not played since the 2015 World Cup while all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has not suited up since the controversial abandoned tour of India three years ago.

Former Test, one-day and Twenty20 captain Darren Sammy and energetic all-rounder Andre Russell

have also sat on the sidelines for the last two years – even though the latter has been serving a one-year suspension for an anti-doping “whereabouts” violation since last January.

Batsman Marlon Samuels was also barred from selection this year because he did not play the full Regional Super50.

The eligibility rule stipulates that players must make themselves available for the domestic tournament in which they wish to represent West Indies.

However, those domestic tournaments usually clash with lucrative global T20 leagues.

Recently, incoming director of cricket, Jimmy

Adams, described the rule as unsustainable and said it “might not be helping our cricket in the short and long term.”

Also yesterday, CWI said it would soon launch a registration process for all players – men’s and women’s in all age groups – in an effort to “identify the full slate and categories of players we have in the West Indies.”

“This will show commitment on the part of the players to be available for the format/s of the game they wish to play; a commitment to participate in the regional set-up and to honour the system to be in place by then,” president Dave Cameron said.

GRFU hopes for ‘good weather’ ahead of ‘Green Machine’ clash with USA

By Rawle Toney THE Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) is hoping that good weather prevails, as Guyana prepare to host USA (South) on July 29, in the finals of the Rugby Americas North (RAN) 15s Championship.

According to information reaching Chronicle Sport, while the Rugby field at the National Park is the preferred venue and the one that’s currently being prepared for the historic match, should the country continue to see sporadic heavy rainfall, the GRFU could be forced to find an alternative venue.

It was noted that the St Stanislaus College ground on Carifesta Avenue is that alternative venue the same one used for Guyana’s 24-17 win over Trinidad and Tobago last month in the RAN South Zone final.

The USA side will be

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making their maiden voyage to Guyana for the second meeting between the two countries and are scheduled to arrive on July 27.

Two years ago, Guyana’s National Rugby team, popularly known as the ‘Green Machine’, etched their names in the history books after edging the mighty USA South to claim their maiden Rugby Americas North (RAN) (formerly North American and Caribbean Rugby Association) 15s title with a come-from-behind 3027 win.

Guyana will have a chance to not only reclaim the title that was won by Mexico last year, but also do something that several teams in RAN have never done; that is to beat the USA twice.

The visit by the USA will be their second in the Caribbean after travelling

to Trinidad and Tobago in 2013 where they left with the RAN 15s title, winning 26-18.

The Americans will want to exact revenge for their 2014 defeat to Guyana in Atlanta Georgia in rather dramatic fashion.

The good thing for Guyana is that their squad of players who had beaten the USA are still playing together and had improved in the 15s format.

Guyana’s players are known for their dominance in the game’s shortest format (Sevens), but since their win against the USA in 2014, the GRFU had made a commitment to have their National side pay more emphasis on 15s Rugby.

Since then, the Green Machine have won backto-back South Zone titles, and missed out on winning a second overall RAN 15s title when they went down 32-3 against Mexico last year.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

South Africa crush England to level series NOTTINGHAM, England (Reuters) - South Africa took full advantage of an abject England batting display yesterday to complete a crushing 340-run win in the second Test at Trent Bridge which levelled the series 1-1 with two games remaining.

Defeat was Joe Root’s first as captain in his second game in charge, and England’s eighth loss in 13 matches. But it was the manner of their capitulation inside 45 overs and with a day and a half to spare that will trouble Root most.

Instead of mounting the required rearguard action, England collapsed to 133 all out, with the last three wickets falling without the addition of a run.

The wickets were shared among four bowlers with manof-the-match Vernon Philander (3-24), Keshav Maharj (3-42) and Chris Morris (2-7) taking the honours.

South Africa outplayed England in every aspect of the game, with the tourists’ first innings lasting one ball longer, at 96.2 overs, than England’s two combined.

Hopes that England might chase down a world-record 474 runs for victory were dispelled by the second over when Philander removed Keaton

removed the dangerous Ben Stokes with the sharpest of return catches.

The final indignity came when Stuart Broad, Mark Wood and Jimmy Anderson all fell on 133, leaving former England captain Michael Vaughan to post on Twitter, “This is absolutely terrible .......

Far too much talent in this team to play like this.”

Root offered a more diplomatic assessment, saying: “It has been a tough week. We weren’t good enough with the bat for the whole game. We prepared very well and had two good practice days.”

England have delayed selection ahead of the third Test, which starts at the Oval on July 27, and could make changes.

By contrast, South Africa’s captain Faf du Plessis was delighted, dedicating the win to absent coach Russell Domingo, who missed the game following a family bereavement. “It was for Russell,” he said. du Plessis added he admired the way his side refused to relinquish their stranglehold once they got on top.

“It was important to get into a position of strength and not lose our momentum,” he said.

SCOREBOARD Gary Ballance was lbw to eventual man-of-the-match Vernon Philander.

Jennings’ off-stump, following up soon afterwards by having Gary Ballance for lbw.

Both Jennings (3) and Ballance (4) will find their positions under pressure after contributing just 44 and 85 runs respec-

tively in four innings this series.

With their departure, England looked to Root and former captain Alastair Cook for resistance but the excellent Morris claimed both batsmen before lunch, bowling Root (8)

and bouncing out Cook (42) with a vicious lifter.

The hosts fell away alarmingly after the interval when Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali surrendered their wickets to poor shots while Philander

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 335 (H. Amla 78, Q. de Kock 68, V. Philander 54; J. Anderson 5-72) ENGLAND 1st innings 205 (J. Root 78) SOUTH AFRICA 2nd innings 343 for 9 (H. Amla 87, D. Elgar 80, F. du Plessis 63; M. Ali 4-78) ENGLAND 2nd innings (Target: 474 runs) A. Cook c de Kock b Morris 42 K. Jennings b Philander 3 G. Ballance lbw b Philander 4 J. Root b Morris 8 J. Bairstow c Morris b Maharaj 16

B. Stokes c & b Philander 18 M. Ali c Kuhn b Maharaj 27 L. Dawson not out 5 S. Broad c M. Morkel b Maharaj 5 M. Wood c Morris b Olivier 0 J. Anderson c de Kock b Olivier 0 Extras: (lb-5) 5 Total: (all out, 44.2 overs) 133 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-28, 3-55, 4-72, 5-84, 6-122, 7-126, 8-133, 9-133.

Bowling: M. Morkel 13-4-300, V. Philander 10-3-24-3, D. Olivier 3.2-0-25-2, C. Morris 6-3-7-2, K. Maharaj 12-2-42-3.

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18 2017

Henrietta maul Good Hope 19-0 in Windwards edge TT in GFF/NAMILCO Under-17 football Regional Under-17

HENRIETTA FC completely dominated their counterparts Good Hope FC with a convincing 19-0 defeat during the 6th round of the GFF/NAMILCO Under-17 football tournament played on Sunday at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground.

Watched by a fair-sized crowd, Henrietta FC opened their account in the 7th minute when Jemain Bowen netted one of his two goals. The consistent Christian Bacchus then followed in the 15th to register his first of four goals.

The onslaught continued when Denzel Haynes scored in the 16th while top scorer Ariel Chester registered his first of six goals in the 19th minute.

Bowen was again on the score sheet in the 21st minute while Ezekiel Scott found the net in the 23rd.

Chester was unstoppable and scored again in the 26th and 37th minutes while Bacchus enjoyed further success in the 41st and 43rd minutes to give Henrietta FC an unassailable lead of 10-0 at halftime.

... Guyana, Barbados also win

Top scorers: Ariel Chester (at right) with six goals and Ezekiel Scott with four.

When play resumed, Scott pierced the net in the 47th minute and Chester in the 49th. Bacchus then had his 4th in the 58th minute before an injury caused him to leave the field for medical attention.

However, the goal spree continued with Leonard Smith striking in the 60th while Scott had another 7 minutes later. Chester capped an outstanding day with his

fifth in the 72nd and another in the 75th to be the leading scorer with six goals.

Scott fired in another in the 76th to end with four goals while Clifton Boston registered the final goal in the 80th minute to completely humiliate Good Hope FC, 19-0.

The next round will be played this Saturday at various venues across the Essequibo Coast.

Zimbabwe seven wickets away from maiden Sri Lanka Test win COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - Zimbabwe were seven wickets away from their maiden Test win over Sri Lanka yesterday after setting the hosts a target of 388 in their one-off match at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Sri Lanka were 170-3 in their second innings at stumps on the fourth day, still needing another 218 to beat Zimbabwe, who also recently won their maiden one-day international series against the hosts.

Sikandar Raza is thrilled to reach his maiden Test hundred on the 4th day in Colombo.

Kusal Mendis was unbeaten on 60 with Angelo Mathews, who stepped down as captain after the ODI series defeat, on 17 not out.

Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer picked up 2-67 in Sri Lanka’s second innings to add to his five-wicket haul in the first innings.

Earlier, Sikandar Raza’s first Test century helped Zimbabwe to 377 in their second innings after the touring side had resumed the fourth day on 252-6.

Raza scored 127 and added 144 for the seventh wicket with Malcolm Waller, who made 68, to ensure his side set Sri Lanka a steep target to chase.

Sri Lanka spin spearhead Rangana Herath picked up 6-116 - his 31st five-wicket haul in Tests - to total 11 wickets in the match.

WINDWARD ISLANDS ended Trinidad and Tobago’s unbeaten run at the Cricket West Indies Regional Under-17 tournament on Sunday with a narrow two-wicket win in their fourth and penultimate round match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba.

Sent in to bat, the hosts, winners of the 2016 competition, were dismissed for 148 runs in 36.4 overs with Avinash Mahabirsingh topscoring with 63, off 61 balls, with 10 fours and a six.

S. Gerson was the chief destroyer for the Windwards with 4-17 while G Serieux chipped in with 2-29.

Set a revised target of 147, under the Duckworth-Lewis system, the Windwards reached 149-8 in 47.2 overs, with Serieux leading the way with 54 while J. Alexander was

unbeaten on 22. D. Auguste also struck 22 for the victors.

Mahabirsingh returned with the ball to take 3-22 and Jayden Seales 3-23.

Entering today’s final round of matches, TT have a record of three wins and one loss, while the Windwards have two wins, a loss and a no-result - similar to Barbados.

The Leeward Islands and Guyana each have two wins and two losses, while Jamaica were beaten in all four of their matches to date.

At the National Cricket Centre, Couva, Barbados took care of the Leewards by 19 runs.

Rashawn Worrell hit the first century of the tournament - 101 (114 deliveries, 12 boundaries and one six), while N. Reifer, M. Forde and T. Gibson each made 31,

as the Bajans tallied 258-9 in their allotted 50 overs.

Z, White got 2-38 for the Leewards.

Despite P. Miller’s 42, T. Francis’ 38 and D. Benta’s 32, the Leewards were only able to muster 239-9 in their 50 overs in response.

R. Headley did the damage with the ball with 4.44 while Forde took 2/.7.

And, at the Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair, Guyana trounced Jamaica by 81 runs.

The Guyanese posted 182-4 in 50 overs and then dismissed Jamaica for 101.

Final Round Fixtures for today: - Trinidad and Tobago vs Leeward Islands, National Cricket Centre, Couva; Guyana vs Barbados, Gilbert Park, Couva; Jamaica vs Windward Islands, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba. (Extracted from Trinidad and Tobago Newsday)

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Attitudinal Reform

By Dr Rudi Webster

WE all live under the same sky but we don’t see the same horizon. If reality were objective we would all have a uniform view, but because it is subjective we see different things and think and behave differently.

Some people cannot see beyond a certain view or distance and their myopic view causes major problems in their perception, thinking, and decision-making. This is most dangerous during periods of conflict.

A person with a limited view might look at a triangle and describe it as a line.

Another person with a wider view might describe it as an angle. And a third person with a full view might describe it as a triangle.

When these people compare observations they often cannot believe that they are talking about the same thing.

Many conflicts arise and persist because opponents can only see the line or the angle, not the triangle.

In the 2011 Cricket World Cup, the West Indies team played poorly and the disappointed head coach publicly and repeatedly castigated the senior players for the team’s failure.

The senior players then responded publicly with their own criticism of the coach and the conflict intensified.

The head coach demanded an apology from Chris Gayle for his caustic comments and when Gayle, the most feared batsman in the world, refused to do so, he was dropped from the team. The effect on team members was demoralising and was reflected in the way the players performed.

A year later, Caribbean prime ministers intervened and persuaded the warring parties to bury their differences and come together for the good of West Indies cricket. However, the hostile and non-learning environment persisted.

Destructive criticism is cruel and personal and usually results in resentment and poor

teamwork. Psychologist R.A. Barron claims that the best way to prevent or repair this damage is with an apology especially when the apology contains a credible explanation and an assurance that the accuser did not mean to be cruel, personal or insulting. If he fails to do this, the accused might retaliate by venting his feelings to a third party – the press or teammates – thereby intensifying anger and hostility.

What can sporting bodies, administrators and coaches learn from Barron’s research?

If a coach or administrator uses destructive criticism, he should try to repair the damage by apologising to the player as soon as possible, telling him he did not intend to demean, humiliate or insult him, even if it looked that way. The longer the apology is delayed the worse things become and the player might then use that time to launch his own destructive criticism of the coach or administrator. Hostility usually persists until both parties apologise to each other.

M.S. Dhoni a former cricket captain of Team India once told me that the main difference between great players and the others, or great sporting bodies and the others is the interval between mistakes. He claims that great players/sporting bodies make mistakes, learn from them and hardly ever repeat them. The lesser players/sporting bodies make mistakes, learn little from them, and keep repeating them at regular intervals.

The West Indies Cricket Board belonged to the latter category because it kept repeating the same mistakes with its key players; the latest being the bitter conflict between the board and Darren Bravo, its best batsman, during the last nine months.

I am pleased to see that some attitudinal reform is taking place. I am also happy to see that Cricket West Indies is beginning to take a broader and less myopic view of West Indies cricket, and that it is hopefully becoming more aware of the importance of cricket to the people of the

National U-19 squad intensify preparation with practice game today

By Rajiv Bisnauth THE National Under-19 squad will intensify their preparation, with the first of two 50-over practice games today at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

According to the Guyana Cricket Board’s Territorial Development Officer, Colin Stuart, the other game is set for tomorrow at the same venue.

The squad will oppose a team composed mainly of players from the Cricket Guy Inc. (CGI) Academy.

The matches will definitely enhance their preparation, as they prepare to seek their fourth consecutive Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional One Day title.

The CWI Under-19 Re-

Julian Moore gional Tournament is scheduled to be played in St Kitts in July-August.

Guyana will depart for St

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

COMPLIMENTS OF: THE TROPHY STALL Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE 176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)West Indies (2)Australia Today’s Quiz: (1)When the knockout stage of the current Wom-

en’s World cup is scheduled to start?

(2) Where and when is the final of the current

Women’s World Cup scheduled to be played?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Akshaya Persaud

Kitts on July 21.

Meanwhile, coach Julian Moore pointed out that Guyana stand a good chance of winning the tournament, adding that the squad is a good all-round one, with a few experienced players.

“I feel we have a good chance this year. We have a well-balanced squad, one with a few experienced guys from last year, guys like Joshua Persaud and Bhaskar Yadram who are obviously in the West Indies Youth Team, so I think our chances are good,” Moore said.

The National Under-19 Squad: Ronaldo Ali Mohamed (captain), Raymond Perez, Kevin Sinclair, Javed Karim, Kevlon Anderson, Ramnarine Chatura, Adrian Sukhwa, Alex Algoo, Richie Looknauth, Kheshram

Ronaldo Ali Mohamed

Seyhodan, Ashmead Nedd, Karan Arjpaul, Sylus Tyndall, Joshua Jones, Gavin Boodwa, Mark Jeffers, Joel Fortune, Stephon Campbell, Julian Moore (coach), Andy Ramnarine (manager/assistant coach).

CGI Academy Squad: Akshaya Persaud (captain), Keemo Paul (vice-captain), Robin Bacchus, Kevon Boodie, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Sherfane Rutherford, Dexter Solomon, Kemol Savory, Clinton Pestano, Anthony Adams , Steven Sankar, Raun Johnson, Clive Grimmond (coach), Michael Franco (manager/coach).

Meanwhile, Bhaskar Yadram and Joshua Persaud will be joining the team upon their return from the West Indies Under-19 tour to South Africa.

Darren Bravo

Caribbean.

I commend president Cameron for following the suggestions of psychologist Barron. This is part of his apology to Darren Bravo: “… In the course of the interview I stated that Darren Bravo had previously been on an ‘A’ contract, which I have since been advised is not correct. I apologise for the misstatement, and wish to assure Mr Bravo that there was no insult or offence intended towards him. I would hope to see his game continue to

progress and mature at both regional and international levels.”

I also commend Darren Bravo for his apology to the president of Cricket West Indies: “… As I have always tried to uphold the best traditions of West Indies cricket and its players, I now therefore wish to withdraw the comment made on my twitter account and apologise to the president of CWI and to all WINDIES fans” Let’s pray that attitudinal reform will continue and that it will be a first step in reversing the fortunes of the senior West Indies team. And let’s hope that Cricket West Indies will build a harmonious, enabling and learning environment in which players can learn, grow and perform to the best of their ability.

Let’s also hope that spite no longer shows its ugly head. A Buddhist priest in Sri Lanka once told me, “Anger and spite are most dangerous. They destroy you, the person next to you, and the place where you live. When dislike or hatred arises in our minds, we must mindfully drop it or start communicating.”

TT Women’s programme in chaos after coaching staff quits PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Head coach of the women’s football programme here, Carolina Morace and her entire staff have quit their posts over the non-payment of salaries, media reports here have said.

The 53-year-old Italian, who featured over 100 times as a player for her country, has apparently walked away along with countrywomen Manuela Tessa and Elisabetta Bavagnoli, and Englishwoman Nicola Williams, after not being paid for the last three-and-a-half months.

While the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association has refused to comment, Williams who served as Morace’s senior team assistant and the Under-20 head coach, said they had all run of patience with the FA. “It was not something that we wanted to do, but rather something that we had to do,” the Guardian newspaper here quoted the official as saying.

“We kept on giving them notice of the non-payment of salaries until we decided to give the TTFA a period of 15 days to pay, but

Italian coach Carolina Morace

they still did not respond, so we did what we had to do.

It is sad.”

Morace and her staff advised the FA of their actions last week before informing the national side in an emotional meeting last Friday.

A former Italy and Canada women’s coach, Morace was appointed last December to the position and she subsequently handpicked her assistants who commenced contracts in February.

The controversy comes just weeks before the national Under-17s are due to campaign in the Caribbean Football Union qualifiers starting in August.

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 18 2017

UDFA/GT BEER Super Sunday Night Cup football

Georgetown blast Bartica 6-0; West Demerara beat Berbice 3-1

By Joe Chapman GEORGETOWN and West Demerara Football Association teams marked their entry into the inaugural Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA)-promoted GT Beer Super Sunday Night Cup Inter-Association eight team championship with emphatic performances Sunday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

In the Group B matches played, West Demerara dismissed the challenge of Berbice, 3-1, while Georgetown demolished Bartica 6-0, as they placed themselves in a position to be among the two qualifiers who will emerge from Group B’s round-robin preliminary play involving the four association teams.

Morgan Denny began the scoring for the West Demerara side netting in the 29th minute of play and before halftime came Jamaal

Scorers for West Demerara, from left, Morgan Denny and Jamaal Harvey.

Harvey who got a brace. He gained his first in the 40th minute before the first session ended with the West Side ahead 2-0.

As they looked like cruising towards an easy win, Akeem Bollers reduced the advantage by scoring in the 76th minute

for the Berbicians; but five minutes later Harvey sealed the win with another goal for an eventual 3-1 victory.

The second game saw a double from Darren Benjamin, who set the pace for a 6-0 humbling of Bartica by one of the tournament

AAG says should not have to pay US$300 because of George’s negligence…

THE partcipation of Guyana’s Winston George’s attendance at next month’s IAAF World Championships in London, has been plunged further into uncertainty, as according to sources within the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), the body is saying that it should not have to pay a US$300 fee for a UK Visa, which is due to George not submitting visa information on time.

According to reports, the AAG indicated to George that they will not be paying the US$300, but the Olympian maintained that neither would he. George, who regularly trains in the US, has made qualifying times in the men’s 400m and 200m.

George is one of four athletes that have qualified for the Championships the others being Kadecia Baird (women’s 200m), Brenessa Thompson (women’s 100m, 200m) and Troy Doris (men’s triple jump).

Thompson, and Baird, have all already had their

Winston George

Visas done and the US$300 was not required, Doris, who was born in the US, did not require a United Kingdom (UK) Visa.

It was during an interview at the AP Invitational that George hinted that his attendance was in limbo, however the 30-year-old remained right lipped when further pressed about the reason.

“I’m just looking to go into Worlds [Championships] giving it my best, if I go,

cause I’m still not sure as yet... Because I am not sure, let’s just leave it at that,” George said as he abruptly ended an interview with a number of media operatives just after he set the new national record at 45.16 seconds.

When approached, at the same meet, President of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson, confirm that the body had been having difficulties reaching George.

“We’ve been calling him over and over to come in to sit down with us to get the application forms completed and if he’s too late on it, it will be no fault of us, but Winston George himself in not getting those application forms filled to get his UK visa.

Every single Guyanese athlete requires a visa once you don’t have a US passport and the only person not requiring a Visa right now is Troy Doris... we would have completed applications for Brenessa and Kadecia Baird,” Hutson explained.

favourites Georgetown, after the Bartica side looked promising in the opening minutes of feisty play.

Bartica, looking good with some nice buildups against their City rivals, were unable to finish and soon after Georgetown took the lead through a crisp shot by Hubert Pedro in the 28th minute. It was taken from outside the 18-yard box on the right side going past the Bartica goalkeeper Cleon Doris who was guarding his near post.

That shot was followed by another that rushed past a dazed Doris in the 43rd minute from outside - this time by Phillip Rowley.

Taking the game to a next level, Georgetown continued to dictate the pace of the game and seemed to set for shots from outside. It came in the 70th minute when Dwayne McCalman hammered in goal number three and soon after in the 79th minute Darren Benjamin lashed home another for a

4-0 lead.

Before long it was 5-0 when Ryan Dowden sent Georgetown further into the

goal slotting home in the 86th minute to end the game 6-0.

The tournament continues on Sunday with two more

Georgetown scorers: from left Hubert Pedro, Phillip Rowley. Dwayne McCalman, Darren Benjamin and Ryan Dowden

lead in the 81st minute. Benjamin returned for his second

matches at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

Digicel Schools Football Tournament 2017

Hosororo crowned Region One champions HOSORORO are the champions of Region one after beating Matthew’s Ridge 2-1 in a closely-contested final yesterday afternoon at the Mabaruma Settlement ground, North West District.

Hosororo’s scorer on both occasions was Romascindo ‘The Destroyer’; scoring in the 21st

before doubling his money in the 25th to ensure that his side rushed to an early lead.

However, Matthew’s Ridge were prepared to fight back as Kenau Williams goal (41st min) began to spark what looked like a comeback. This comeback however ran out of gas, as the final

The winning Hosororo team

whistle ended with nothing but close chances and empty nets.

Earlier in the day, Matthew’s ridge secured their place in the finals by beating Santa Rosa 1-0 in the semi-final with Williams again the ‘go to’ man in the 48th. (Stephan Sookram)

Georgetown blast Bartica 6-0; P.27 West Demerara beat Berbice 3-1

Cricket West Indies confirms player amnesty

… prepares for World Cup qualifiers

Superstar opener Chris Gayle … has not played ODI cricket for West Indies since the 2015 World Cup.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – The region’s stars are now likely to return to international cricket after Cricket West Indies (CWI) yesterday announced a temporary player amnesty, the first step towards scrapping the contentious eligibility rule.

CWI’s chief executive, Johnny Grave, said that a working group of the Cricket Committee was expected to present recommendations on the rule to the Board of Directors shortly, which would be discussed at a meeting in September.

In the interim, Grave said, all “registered players” would be eligible for selection.

“The agreement forms part of a wider strategy to be more inclusive and to improve player relations aimed at re-engaging all players within our system so that they can perform at their best for the Windies Team,” Grave said.

The move by CWI comes with West Indies almost certainly set to miss out on automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup in England.

They are currently ninth in the ICC one-day rankings with only hosts England and the remaining top seven nations in the world by September 30, assured of automatic qualification. Ten teams will then contest a qualifying tournament next year for the two remaining spots at the World Cup. West Indies have one more chance to achieve direct qualification when they face England in a five-match series in September but Graves said CWI were already preparing for the prospect of playing in next year’s qualification tournament in order to reach the World Cup. Turn to Page 23

GRFU hopes for ‘good weather’ ahead NSC fine-tuning of ‘Green Machine’ clash with USA preparations for IGG first … Guyana looking to reclaim RAN 15s title on July 29

See page 23 FLASHBACK! Guyana’s Claudius Butts in action against Trinidad and Tobago at St Stanislaus ground last month in the RAN 15s South Zone final. (Delano Williams 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

leg in Suriname – Jones

DIRECTOR of Sport Christopher Jones says that the National Sports Commission (NSC) is fine-tuning preparations for next month’s Inter-Guiana Games in Suriname.

The 2017 Inter-Guiana Games (IGG), will be hosted in Paramaribo from August 24 to 28 between studentathletesfromGuyanaandSuriname in the disciplines of track and field, football, volleyball, basketball, swimming and cycling.

Withtheexceptionofbasketball, which will have only female participation, the other events will feature both male and female athletes, born 1999.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport yesterday, Jones stated that the NSC recently met with the association responsible for the aforementioned disciplines, ensuring that they have theirlistsenttotheCommissionearly.

Jones said that the associations were also tasked with ensuring that the athletes selected to represent Guyana have their required travel documents and also have the age for participation.

According to Jones, the recent meeting also ironed out per diem, travel and other areas of importance and what it will take for the associations to properly prepare the teams.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones

The IGG is a brainchild of former President Forbes Burnham to help foster closer relations with Suriname through sports among student athletes.

The aim of the Games, according to the protocol, is to create an opportunity for students to compete in different sport disciplines, focusing on betterresultsandfosteringbetter understanding of each other’s culture..(Rawle Toney TUESDAY, JULY, 18 , 2017