Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 2-16-2020

16th February, 2020

' No.105912

Min. Lawrence warns rumourmongers 05 PAGE

…over false claims of Coronavirus

More questions over Irfaan’s qualifications …Obtained diploma from Greece College eight years before institution was accredited

‘Rapid

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Two more branded hotels for Ogle PAGE

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SEE PAGE 02

development for Rupununi’

…President uncorks developmental package at coalition rally …promises state-of-the-art hospital, modern airport, A grade school, tertiary institution

Children transform GT into riot of colour, revelry SEE PAGE 11

Guyanese children on Saturday participated in the Children’s Mashramani Costume and Float Parade. The parade concluded at the National Park (Delano Williams photo)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 16, 2020

‘Rapid development for Rupununi’ …President uncorks developmental package at coalition rally

…promises state-of-the art hospital, modern airport, ‘A’ grade school, tertiary institution

By Vanessa Braithwaite ON October 20th, 2017, Lethem was declared a town and transformative changes were made to reflect this status upgrade. Among these were massive infrastructural developments which were headlined with the first-ever asphalted four-lane Barrack Retreat Corridor and development in the various sectors such as education and health.

On Saturday evening, thousands of residents who travelled from the four corners of the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region were told that this is just the tip of the iceberg, not only for the township, but for every village in the Rupununi, from the north to the deep south.

With the ambitious plans in store to strengthen the Rupununi, President Granger said that Lethem will never be a village again and the entire economy of the Rupununi will be strengthened if the APNU+AFC Coalition is given another chance in government. He was at the

time giving the keynote address to a mammoth crowd consisting of the elderly, youths, women and children who converged at the Tabatinga Sports Complex in support of the party's campaign.

Under his presidency, continuous development for Region Nine is guaranteed and this could only be possible with the efforts started in 2017, when Lethem was declared a town. "Lethem

is moving to become the brightest part in the south, the brightest town in the south of Guyana and we will see the progress that will take place after the 2nd March.

A booming town, phones, water, street lights...you have to recognise how this came about within the shortest possible time; it came about because of the APNU+AFC Administration," President Granger said. "Without us

being in office, this would not have happened, we care about you, we care about every region of this country, we care about Lethem, that is why we made you a town," he added.

Outlining some of the developmental projects in store for the township, the President promised a stateof-the-art public hospital so that residents do not have to cross the border to benefit

from high-class medical care, and an international aerodrome so that residents can access international flights right in the Rupununi, rather than travel to Georgetown.

"You will never be a village again, you will be a town, a booming town," the President said, to a reverberating roar of approval.

President David Granger addresses the gathering

A section of the large gathering

Dr Joey Jagan also addressed the rally

PROGRESS WILL NOT STOP AT LETHEM For the wider Rupununi, President Granger said that there is a plan for expansion of the economy of the region. There will be Grade ‘A’ secondary schools and tertiary institutions for students to attend; the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce will be developed; the tourism sector will be expanded; renewable energy generation will be revitalised through the provision of hydro power and the extractive industries will be restructured to ensure that the environment is protected.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 16, 2020

De Professor's triumphant return...

Takes record sixth calypso crown

LESTER ‘De Professor’ Charles was in the wee hours of Saturday morning crowned the 2020 Senior Calypso Monarch for the sixth time with an electrifying piece in which he lectured the crowd on why they should give the APNU+AFC government a second chance.

Titled “One more,” Charles’ calypso performed at the D’Urban Park where the competition was held, racked up an overall score of 251points. Copping the second position with his song, “We seeing progress in this country,” was Roger Hinds, also known as ‘Young Bill Rogers’ who had a total of 241 points. New comer and Junior Calypso Monarch 2020, Omiah Hall, sang her hit “How come?” and took the third position with a score of 238 points.

Hailing from Linden, Charles took the stage dressed in a neon green and yellow suit as he highlighted through his performance what the coalition government has been doing for Guyana over the last five years. After the show, Charles who had taken a two-year break from the competition due to the death of his father and cousin, told the Guyana Chronicle that he is excited about the victory since for him, the competition was challenging because of its strong competitors.

Nevertheless, he came out on top and is giving all praises to God. According to Charles, the lyrics and inspiration of his song, “One more,” came from his work- place, RUSAL. Charles said, “most of my lyrics and inspiration come from work which is in a bit of turmoil right now, which is the bauxite company, RUSAL. I have my manager and colleagues and when I’m around them we speak politics and

Jovinski Thorne as he performed his song, “Delete yuhself”

Winner of the Senior Calypso Monarch 2020 Lester Charles, also known as, ‘De Professor’

we talk everyday story.”

He noted that his song, “One more,” was dedicated to his late cousin and father whom he said were his mentors, motivators and biggest supporters. Charles said that he is a normal, humble father of six children, outside of the calypso competition.

Meanwhile, Omiah Hall noted that winning the Junior Calypso Monarch Competition and obtaining third position in the Senior Calypso Monarch competition is a big deal for her, since it makes her the second person to have been placed in

Omiah Hall

both competitions. “This was my first year in the junior competition and I came out on top and then went over to the semi-finals. I did not expect to be in the finals because the seniors had amazing songs, so I was worried but I came here, I was

Roger Hinds, also known as Young Bill Rogers

nervous, I was about to shed a bit of tears before I actually went up on stage,” the youngster shared.

Amongst those with performances that got the crowd’s support were Jovinski Thorne who opened

‘Rapid development for ...

"The Rupununi and the hinterland will be strengthened. I care about the development of the hinterland. We have a plan for the Rupununi and we will make sure that plan is implemented more fully than before.

We are going to convert promises that have been made into performance. We are going to convert the potential of this great region into production; we are going to convert the villages which are languishing in poverty into villages which are enjoying prosperity," President Granger affirmed.

We have to change the RDC. These regional developmental projects the President said, are part of the Plan of Action for Regional Development (PARD) which is being spearheaded by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC). It is pertinent that the APNU+AFC wins Region Nine at the regional level as well, since there has been a stymieing of progress at this second tier of government, the Guyanese leader said. While expressing confidence that his coalition will win the majority in the region, the President called on the residents, who journeyed from as far as Annai in the North, Gunn’s Strip in the South and Aishalton in the Deep South Rupununi, to vote out the anti-progressive PPP-controlled RDC on March 2nd. "I am telling you this, as

long as the RDC is elected by the PPP, they are going to fight down the central government; we must stop it from happening and we must stop electing the PPP RDC. We cannot progress in the region if we have an RDC that is defying the Minister of Communities, defying the central government. If you want Rupununi to move forward, you have to pay careful attention to the arithmetic," the Head of State reasoned.

Only a few months ago the PPP councillor who represented the village of Katuur, threw her support behind the coalition publicly at a community meeting hosted by Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Annette Ferguson. She said that as a councillor representing her community at the RDC, her complaints fell on deaf ears and the PPP-controlled council did nothing to address them to relieve the residents from some the problems with which they were faced. In was for that reason, she openly said at the meeting, that she will be supporting the APNU+AFC. The President said with a landslide victory at the regional level, projects in store for the further empowerment of youths will materialise and he boasted that the education sector is already on the upswing in the region.

Only last week the first hinterland technical

institute was commissioned in Region Nine at Bina Hall. The $130 Hinterland Green Enterprise Centre is located in the same compound as the Bina Hall Institute and boasts eight classrooms, a modern computer and science laboratory, a large auditorium and a lecture room. The facility can accommodate 120 students at any one time.

In addition, for the first time, a Rupununi student Amisha Ramdin from St Ignatius Secondary School copped the eighth position in the country at the 2019 CSEC examinations. She gained 15 Grade Ones and credited the coalition's provision of internet services at her school, as one reason she was able to succeed. Hundreds of students across the Rupununi also benefitted from the 5 Bs programme and are able to attend school regularly and punctually, as well as benefit from a hot meal while at school.

Hundreds of youths in the Rupununi also benefitted from the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS) as well as the Sustainable Livelihoods and Entrepreneurial Development Programmes (SLED), under the Government of Guyana. President Granger said it is only real leaders who provide opportunities for youths and that is what he has been doing and will continue to do when re-elected to

the show with his song, ‘Delete yuhself,” which brought light to the issue of pollution. Jovinski would have convinced some of his supporters with his lyrics, “if you are a store owner involved in the dumping, delete yuhself, and if you know you using the homeless to dump it, delete yuhself cause it sad, real sad how we treat lady Guyana…”

The third performer of the night was Young Bill Rogers who, like most of this year’s competitors, sang about Guyana’s politics via his song, “We seeing progress in this country.” In shedding light on the progress Guyana has experienced over the last five years, Hinds sang, “We seeing progress in this country, some Guyanese, they too blind to see, we seeing progress in this country in education we top the whole Caribbean, we recognise high with tourism, we seeing progress in this country… They raise salaries and old age pension, we seeing progress in this country.”

Bringing out the audience’s laughter was Karen Bennett, who goes by the stage name Queen Makeeba. Queen Makeeba was the eighth of the 10 competitors to perform. Singing her song, “A womn’s Almanac,” Queen Makeeba represented the elderly females who are often stereotyped by males. She reminded the males that although she is elderly, she can still move like an “acrobat.”

The competitors were judged

by Andrea Mentore, Compton Hodges, Winston Caesar, Carmen Cox, Tyron Arjoon and Lennox Canterbury. The performers were judged on song construction, melody, originality, musical form, compatibility of lyrics and melody, among others.

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office. "My brothers and sisters, from tonight on, let us organise, let us strategise, let us mobilise this great region to support our programme; let us continue development of this great region. Let us take control of this great region for the sake of our young people; let us take control of this region for generations, people who yearn for leadership.....let us mobilise with APNU+AFC and go out here and win this region for the sake of our children and the sake of Guyana," he said.

In addition to President Granger's keynote address, other speakers who expounded on the progress made in Lethem and Region Nine included Minister of Indigenous People's Affairs, Sidney Allicock and Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams. The thousands of supporters were also entertained by coalition-themed calypsos, poetry and dance. Present at the rally were other ministers of government such as Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman; Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton and Dr. Joey Jagan.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 16, 2020

Coronavirus: First death confirmed in Europe (BBC) A Chinese tourist has died in France after contracting the new coronavirus - the first fatality from the disease outside Asia.

The victim was an 80-yearFrance has had 11 confirmed cases of the disease

old man from China’s Hubei province, according to French Health Minister Agnès Buzyn.

He arrived in France on 16 January and was placed in quarantine in hospital in Paris on 25 January, she said.

Only three deaths had previously been reported outside mainland China - in Hong

Kong, the Philippines and Japan.

However, 1,523 people have died from the virus within China, mostly in Hubei where it first emerged. These include 143 deaths newly reported on Saturday by the country’s national health commission.

A further 2,641 people have been newly confirmed as infected, bringing China’s total cases to 66,492.

But China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday that the outbreak in Hubei was now being managed more effectively - “indicating that overall the epidemic is controllable”.

Speaking at a security conference in Germany, Mr Wang said the number of people who had recovered reached more than 8,000 on Friday.

At the same meeting, the head of the World Health Organization said all countries should be prepared for the arrival of the virus, What has happened in France?

In late January, France became the first European country to confirm cases of the virus.

It has had 11 confirmed cases of the disease, officially called

Covid-19. Six people remain in hospital.

The deceased man had been in a critical condition in the Bichat hospital in northern Paris, the health minister said. He died of a lung infection due to the coronavirus.

The man’s 50-year-old daughter is among the six in hospital with the virus, but she is recovering, Ms Buzyn said.

The other five are British nationals who caught the virus at a chalet in the ski resort of Contamines-Montjoie.

How are other countries affected?

Outside mainland China, there have been more than 500 cases in 26 countries.

Earlier, the US said it was sending a plane to Japan to evacuate Americans stuck on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which is being held in quarantine in a Japanese port.

Some 400 US citizens are reported to be on the vessel, according to Japan’s NHK broadcaster. Those with symptoms are expected to be treated in Japan.

Out of 3,700 people on board, 218 have tested positive for the virus. Australia also said it was considering removing its

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2020 - 11:00HRS

citizens from the ship.

In another development, an 83-year-old American woman on a cruise ship which docked in Cambodia, has tested positive for the virus after arriving by air in Malaysia.

The MS Westerdam had been turned away by five destinations, including the US island of Guam, before Cambodia agreed it could land.

The woman and her husband were among 145 passengers from the ship who flew to Malaysia after it docked.

Both showed symptoms, but he tested negative, the Malaysian health authorities say.

No cases were found on board the ship during regular health checks on the 1,455 passengers and 802 crew.

Egypt’s health ministry on Friday confirmed the first case of the coronavirus in Africa.

The ministry described the person as a foreigner, but did not disclose their nationality.

In the UK, all but one of nine people being treated have been discharged from hospital.

Five new cases have been confirmed in Singapore, bringing the total there to 72. Eighteen have fully recovered and have left hospital.

How is China coping?

Despite the spread of the virus, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday that the outbreak in China was now “generally under control”.

The foreign minister said outside Hubei province the number of new infections had fallen for 11 consecutive days.

He said there had also been a rapid increase in the number of people who had recovered.

However, new figures released on Friday revealed the toll on medical staff in the

country. Six health workers have died and 1,716 have been infected since the outbreak, officials said.

Local authorities have struggled to provide protective equipment such as respiratory masks, goggles and protective suits to hospitals in Hubei.

Meanwhile, Beijing has ordered everyone returning to the city to go into quarantine for 14 days or risk punishment.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is beginning an investigation in China this weekend into the outbreak.

What has the WHO chief been saying?

Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made a plea for international solidarity at a conference in Germany and warned that all countries should be prepared for the arrival of the virus.

“Relatively little” was spent on preparedness for a virus outbreak, he said, compared with preparations for a possible terrorist attack.

“This is frankly difficult to understand and dangerously short-sighted,” he told an audience at the Munich Security Conference.

Mr Gebreyesus said the outbreak was still an emergency for China and he was concerned about the continued rise in cases.

But he rejected criticism of China’s efforts to combat the outbreak, saying this was not the time for recriminations or politicisation.

And he called on governments and social media companies such as Facebook and Google to help counter fake news about the epidemic.

“We’re fighting an ‘infodemic’,” he said.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 16, 2020

More questions over Irfaan’s qualifications

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…Obtained diploma from Greece College eight years before institution was accredited AS questions continue to swirl regarding the academic qualifications of People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali, more doubt has been cast over his initial diploma which he obtained from a college in Athens, Greece in 2002, eight years before the institution was accredited by the authorities in that country.

Ali and the opposition PPP have been dodging questions pertaining to his qualifications and the General Secretary of the party, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, has placed a gag on Ali from discussing his qualifications with the media.

However, recent checks by this publication have placed more doubt over Ali’s initial qualification which propelled him through to the doctorate he obtained from the University of the West Indies recently.

Between October, 2000 and July of 2002, two years after the City Unity College in Athens, Greece was established, Ali graduated with

a Higher Diploma in Business Administration from that institution. The college, according to its website, was founded in 1999.

The institution states on its website that, “it has been operating officially recognised by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs of Greece under the Ministerial Decision of 27, July 2010”, eight years after Ali obtained his diploma from the institution.

Further, the institution stated that it was not until 2012 that it commenced running as a college as amended and gazetted by Greek law.

It remains unclear if between the years 2000 and 2002, the college operated online, distance learning diploma programmes, similar to what Ali said he obtained during that period.

Ali’s tertiary academic journey commenced at the University of Guyana, however, he dropped out of the programme.

Later he attended a mysterious school, identified as the Chamber Business School on

Teen in Bush Lot accident succumbs ALIYAH Mohabir, 16, who along with her sibling and a primary school child, was struck down by a speeding SUV on Friday, succumbed to her injuries at the Georgetown Public Hos-

visit a friend.

The younger sister remains a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital where she is nursing a fractured leg and pains about the body.

At around noon on Fri-

Dead: Aliyah Mohabir

Dr. Giresh Sadeo

Hospitilised: Aneela Mohabir

The distraught parents of the two sisters involved in the accident

pital Corporation early Saturday morning.

Mohabir and her sister, Aneela Mohabir, 14, were struck by the motor car on the Bush Lot Public Road, East Berbice, Corentyne, on Friday as they were walking on the parapet to

day, motor car bearing registration number, PXX 5165, was proceeding east along the northern side of the roadway when the driver, identified as Dr. Giresh Sadeo, TURN TO PAGE

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PPP Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali

the West Bank of Demerara, an institution which the National Accreditation Council has no knowledge of.

A transcript was provided for Ali from that institution by businessman, Joshua Safeek, who issued a statement in January 2019 stating that he was the first chairman of the Chamber Business College.

The transcript was issued on January 10, 2001 for entry into the Greek institution, although Ali was midway through his online studies

at the Greek college, having commenced studies there In October 2000.

Having completed his studies at the mysterious West Demerara college and the City Unity College in Athens, Ali went on to read for a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Planning and Development which, according to Ali, he obtained in January of 2003 from the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, India.

As such, between the years 2000 and 2003, Ali obtained a higher diploma from the college in Athens, Greece, as well as a Master’s degree from the institution in India.

However, nothing was mentioned by the former Housing Minister about a Bachelor’s degree during this period.

According to a Stabroek News article of April 2019, it was the diploma certificate which Ali obtained from the college in Athens which gained him admission to the Master’s programme in India and according to the article, this was facilitated through the Chamber Business School.

However, confusion surrounds how the former Minister of Housing and Water was able to undertake the rigors of tertiary studies in such a short space of time.

Ali obtained yet another certificate from a foreign university, this time from the University of Sunderland in the United Kingdom, which awarded him in September of 2006, a Bachelor of Arts Second Class Honours (Second Division) in Business Management.

On that certificate, the name “Mohammed” is spelt incorrectly, since Ali carries the name Mohamed Irfaan Ali. This suggests that Ali read for his Bachelor’s degree in 2006, three years after gaining the Master’s Degree from the university in India.

Recently, two citizens have moved to the High Court seeking clarification on Ali’s qualifications, which they alleged might be false.

According to court documents, Attorney-at-Law, Stephen Lewis, for the applicants Dianna Deravinne Rajcumar

Lawrence warns Coronavirus rumourmongers PUBLIC Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, has called for the arrest and charge of persons who are knowingly spreading rumours and misinformation about the deadly Coronavirus.

The minister made the comment on Saturday in a telephone interview, where she was asked to verify a report carried by an unfamiliar website that Guyana has confirmed seven cases of persons being infected by the virus.

“As public health minister, I want to go on record to deny that there are cases of the Coronavirus in Guyana.

We wish to ask the police to address persons who are seeking to incite and scare the population on such a very serious health issue,” Minister Lawrence stated.

Over the last few weeks, there have been several reports on social media where persons were insinuating that

the virus is in Guyana and that the Ministry of Public Health and other agencies are suppressing the information.

Recently, a social media post made by a female who claimed she received it from medial staff in Berbice, forced regional health authorities to host a press conference to set the record straight.

This publication has been informed that following the report by the unfamiliar website on Saturday, Guyana began receiving several calls from international and regional organisations regarding the validity of the report.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Paulette Adams, said checks were made at all the regional health offices and their heads say that the social media reports are not true.

The report in question which was titled “BREAKING NEWS: Guyana confirms seven Coronavirus cas-

es in Georgetown” was shared on social media and did get the attention of the ministry, the permanent secretary indicated.

The Public Health Ministry is calling on the citizenry to desist from spreading information on their social media platforms, which they cannot substantiate.

Guyana has been working with the Pan American Health Organisation, the World Health Organisation and other relevant international, regional and domestic organisations and agencies to ensure locals are protected from the outbreak.

and Phillip Marcus, wants the High Court to declare that they are “entitled to know the qualification antecedents” of Ali. Jagdeo and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) are named as the respondents in the case.

Rajcumar and Marcus say that in keeping with their constitutional right to freedom of expression, “in particular to receive ideas and information without interference” and their constitutional “right to vote”, they “have a right to information on the candidates for the election” including their educational backgrounds.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 16, 2020

The Election Manifesto is still relevant THE political parties appear to be putting less emphasis on manifestos this election cycle. The PPP released a “mini manifesto” some weeks ago that offered a synopsis of its plans should it get into office. On Friday last the APNU+AFC Coalition formally launched its manifesto, but it was quick to point out that it is not a traditional manifesto, replete with promises. But, at the end of the day, it is difficult to imagine an election campaign in which the manifesto is not central; like the open-air public meeting, the manifesto is integral to the electoral process True, some people have questioned the usefulness of manifestos and there are some valid reasons for wanting to de-emphasise it. Chief among these is the fact that it is not usually read by voters and that there is no causal relationship between the quality of a manifesto and a

party’s popularity. But it is in the manifesto that one finds a written record of the party’s plans and it is the manifesto that gives the public a sense of the party’s vision for the country. While it is not read by the vast majority of voters, in the end the pundits tend to judge a party’s tenure in office by its manifesto.

The manifesto is still important for parties that are seeking re-election and those in opposition with a possibility of winning. It is especially important at critical junctures in the country’s evolution; Guyana is at such a critical juncture. With the oil and gas economy upon us, it is important that citizens know of the parties’ plans for this new dispensation. Given the robust debate over the spending priorities in such an economy, it is imperative that the contestants be explicit about their plans beyond the rhetoric at the various public events.

While there are several parties in the race, the popu-

lace is particularly interested in the plans of the two major formations. It is for that reason that the APNU+AFC’s launch of its manifesto this past Friday should be of interest. After all, the Coalition has been in office for the last five years and if incumbency comes with built-in advantages, it is not out of place to envisage it as the frontrunner.

The Coalition has used its mega-rallies over the last month to drop hints about its policy agenda should it be returned to office, but the written manifesto allows for a comprehensive perusal of that agenda.

President Granger, the Coalition’s leader, stressed that the manifesto was less about campaign promises and more about realistic policies aimed at development rather than wooing votes. As he put it, “ There’s always a temptation for people to over promise because some of them know they can’t win anyway, so you might as well promise.

But we have been very realistic; we have been in government and we’ve brought our experience to bear on crafting this manifesto. We will do what we promise to do; we will perform and not merely promise.”

This is an interesting observation as it lifts the manifesto to a new level of importance; it is more than a document that enumerates or itemises promises.

Prime ministerial candidate Khemraj Ramjattan, drove home that point when he described it as a “contract” with the Guyanese people.

According to him, the manifesto is ““a contract with the people,” which will ensure that revenue streams go to infrastructure, security, health, education and more. “It’s our contract with the people. Put us back in government and these are the things that we’re going to do and, certainly with the revenue streams, we are going to get it done.”

A contract, of course,

suggests an agreement between two parties—in this case between a political party and citizens. The notion of a social contract has always been part of electoral politics, but to hear a group of parties explicitly articulate it is most refreshing. It is taking participatory democracy to another level. Surely, the political party seeking office holds the major responsibility here, but the people are tasked with the responsibility of oversight of the government.

Another observation that is noteworthy is the fact that the Coalition’s manifesto arose out of consultation among its constituent parties.

This is always a complex undertaking, given the ideological diversity among the parties. The president drew attention to this process as he sought to underscore the seriousness of the document.

According to him, the process took more time than is usually the case because of extensive consultations:

“That took a bit of time because we had to merge the views of the five parties in the APNU with those of the AFC…this paved the way for the Manifesto Committee to continue its work, but we had the foresight to embed in the core principles and the Cummingsburg Accord, the elements which would be contained in the manifesto…“It was a deliberate process and you’ll see today the culmination of that process.

It was not something hasty; not a flash in the pan, but something that we’ve worked on for over six years by six different parties.”

With two weeks to go before election day, many voters may have already made up their minds. But for those still on the hunt for a home, the manifesto may well be the document to help in that critical decision-making process.

Hinterland development requires holistic approach Dear Editor AFTER reading Earl Hamilton’s letter dated February 11, 2020 in the Chronicle regarding Shuman, two things stand out: firstly, the writer is obviously tendentious in his opinion; secondly –and more importantly-- he has obviously not read the Liberal and Justice Party’s (LJP) manifesto that spells out, in detail, the LJP’s National

Plans for Inclusive Development of Guyana, shortterm and long-term.

Though the APNU+AFC coalition has done some fragmented work in the hinterland since 2015, the measures have been nothing more than “Band-Aid Solutions” – and too little too late; hinterland development requires a holistic approach with a well thought out and integrated national plan for inclusive development based on the LJP’s proposed “The

Quad-Helix Model that breaks down the traditional silos between government, industry, academia, and civil society, bringing these multidisciplinary professionals’ viewpoints together in an environment that promotes team work, collaboration and the sharing of ideas.” The LJP manifesto contains shortterm and long-term goals to achieve prosperity for all Guyanese. The LJP manifesto (page 8) states: Urgent Tasks, initiatives impera-

tive to: IMPROVE SAFETY & SECURITY OF OUR NATION; BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE; PROVIDE POWER, WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES TO GUYANESE; EMPOWER YOUTH; and REFORM REGIONAL FISCAL CAPACITY – they are LONG OVERDUE.” How it would be accomplished follows in the manifesto in detail.

Hinterland and other regions cannot implement their development plans without

the “REGIONAL FISCAL CAPACITY REFORMS” (page-16) that would provide the required resources – don’t expect the regions to develop on HANDOUTS. Guyana extends beyond Georgetown.

With a track record of PPP/C and PNC-APNU-AFC of using racial rhetoric for vote garnering/manipulation spanning five decades, it is arduous to comprehend that Earl Hamilton is accusing Shuman of “garnering votes

with ethnic identification.”

Please don’t insult the intelligence of Guyanese. Racist rhetoric has been the hallmark of the two political leviathans for the last 53 years; it turns off voters and is not going to work this time -- grow up.

Regards Dr Nazim Baluch

SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 16, 2020

S T R AT E G I C d e c i sion-making is the process of charting a course based on long-term goals and a longer-term vision. By clarifying your country’s big picture aims, you’ll have the opportunity to align your shorter-term plans with this deeper, broader mission. When governments make complex decisions in the context of geopolitics, national and international goals, strategic decision-making is critical.

The 2016 contract has to be seen in this context. In June 2018, the 1999 Agreement and the 1999 Licence were due to expire and the Contractor Consortium-Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), HESS Guyana Exploration Limited (HESS), and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) had already renewed the 1999 Licence twice in 2012 and once in 2015, which is maximum number of times allowed under Guyana’s Petroleum Exploration and Production Act. These facts required measured and careful stately deliberations because the Venezuela threat loomed large. It is not the best deal, it is not a bad deal, it is a strategic deal.

THE OMNIPRESENT VENEZUELA THREAT TO GUYANA’S DEVELOPMENT It is such a sad reality that Venezuela’s baseless claim of three fifths or 50,000 Sq. miles of Guyana’s territory is being denigrated or de-emphasised for political reasons vis-à-vis the signing of the 2016 contract. As a national policy, our differences and political debates should end at the border. Some issues should not be exploited for narrow political enterprises, Venezuela’s false claim stands at the top of the pile for this consideration. Regrettably, some have crossed this Rubicon, caught up in the rashness of their anti-government scorched earth strategies. To deny Venezuela’s omnipresence over anything of economic consequence in the zone of unfounded claim is to completely ignore history, geopolitics and the competition of resources by nations. It is dangerously naïve to suggest the Venezuela threat was not an issue in the context of negotiating the 2016 contract. How can persons who profess love for this country and slight what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes as ‘Fifty Years of Venezuelan ‘filibusters’?

The early years included

STRATEGIC DECISION-MAKING AND THE SECURING OF OUR OIL WEALTH

the 1966 violation of Guyana’s territorial integrity on Ankoko Island, intervention in Guyana’s internal affairs through the ‘Rupununi Uprising’ and the government of Venezuela under the aegis of Raul Leoni Otero, President of Venezuela from 1964 to 1969, placed a full-page advertisement in the Times of London Newspaper on June 15, 1968, that warned that any economic investment granted by the Government of Guyana in the Essequibo will not be recognised by Venezuela. In the early tenure of Hugo Chavez, Guyana was about to close the deal on a major investment with the American company, Beal Aerospace Technology, the Chavez regime successfully stopped the investment, arguing that it was a Trojan Horse being set up by the United States to compromise the security of his country. In October 2013, the Venezuelan military boarded the Teknik Perdana owned by Anadarko Petroleum which was exploring for oil in the Essequibo River and arrested the crew.

The Government of Venezuela consistently sends letters of protest to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the Guyana Goldfields business operations in this country. In December 2018, Norway’s

Petroleum Geo-Services seismic survey vessel being run

by ExxonMobil Corp. was intercepted by the Venezuelan military while operating in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). After Exxon announced discoveries, the mother of all economic sabotage was being put in place with the issuance of a presidential decree No.1787 on May 27th, 2018 establishing the ‘Atlantic Coast of Venezuela’ by President Nicholas Maduro. This decree was directly aimed at claiming any oil discoveries in the EEZ. It is in this context, the Government of Guyana made a strategic decision to secure a partnership with ExxonMobil Corp., Hess and CNOC in 2016.

STRATEGIC DECISION-MAKING AND GEOPOLITICS CANNOT BE EXCLUDED Open Oil documents, ‘Instead of receiving US$168 billion, Guyana would receive US$223 billion’ (Global Witness, ‘Signed away’: Pg.6). This submission is made in the context of the company alleging that Guyana will lose US$55B if there is no financial consideration for strategic decision-making and geopolitics. This testimony begs the question:

how could any assessment that proceeds from a place of honorable intentions not include geopolitical considerations for a country that has a border controversy settled in 1899 under the Treaty of Washington and resurfaced in 1962? Imagine assessing the trade fortunes of a landlocked country without noting its lack of access to the sea.

There is absolutely no doubt, Guyana’s border controversy with Venezuela looms large in any investment discussions that lie within any proximity the disputed zone, whether on land or sea. It is for this reason, the Government of Guyana made a strategic decision on the 2016 oil contract and strategically secured our oil wealth.

WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL TRUTH ABOUT THE 2016 CONTRACT? Some anti-government forces have sought to engage in laser-focused strategic communication which suggests we will earn ‘pickings’ from the 2016 contract. This is far from the truth. The anti-government report, ‘Signed Away’ by Global Witness, concedes that Guyana will earn US$168B over 40 years from the 2016 contract which is only attributed to one block. Rystad Energy, a

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highly-respected independent oil and gas consulting firm submitted, ‘In the current fiscal regime, the government collects its share through a two per cent royalty and a 50 per cent profit oil levy. Rystad Energy estimates that this will give the government 60 per cent of the profit from the various projects (government take), while the remaining 40 per cent will go to international E&P companies.’ (Article: Favorable Fiscal Terms Have Helped Guyana Prove Its Oil Potential). Experts such as Dr. Valerie Marcel point to Guyana’s unusually positive position of having their barrels of oil per capita at a very high level. Put in simple language, we can’t receive ‘pickings’ from these discoveries. These financial projections are related to only one block and one contract, there is much more exploration being conducted.

Global economic competition is not a child’s play.

Now we have demonstrated that there can be uninterrupted economic activity in our exclusive economic zone, we can now negotiate from a position of strength with other contracts while seeking to quietly improve our present contract which is tied to just one block.

Our politicians need to start thinking differently Dear Editor DURING every election season the campaign platforms are filled with politicians and supporters who share their views and make big promises of development in every sector.

However, with Guyana’s new opportunity for total economic transformation, our politicians need to start thinking differently.

The game begins with

a large gathering of players and supporters to declare the readiness of each political party; this is called the official launch. It ends with the celebration of an even larger gathering claiming victory.

This is a finite game, a game that each party plays to win.

In this time when our country is on the verge of a potential economic boom, we need leaders who will play an infinite game. An infinite game is completely different – the goal is not to win, but to keep

playing to advance the cause.

Every leader who plays in the infinite game must have a clear sense of the cause. The cause should be to transform Guyana into its true potential and utilise its resources for the betterment of all citizens.

Our leaders need to stop thinking solely about winning the presidential seat and a majority in parliament and start focusing on continuous development for the country and its citizens. Promising to increase minimum wages

by 10%, repairing roads and cutting taxes in four years are not enough to advance a cause. Our country needs to have an infinite plan of development, such as ensuring that every citizen earns enough wages to feed his/her family and enjoy a good quality of life; a total revamping of our transportation sector; a strategic plan that ensures all citizen have access to the best health care services available for a healthy nation and implementing a system

to ensure that all citizens pay their taxes.

As a country with less than 1 million people and an opportunity for economic transformation, we need leaders with an infinite mindset; one that will advance a cause and ensure that everyone gets to play in the game. We citizens need to start challenging our leaders to push beyond vague promises and petty incentives for our votes.

These leaders should have

bigger and better visions for the country, one that includes all people; visions that are service oriented and strong enough to withstand challenges. Guyana’s leaders need to be transformed by the renewing of their minds.

Regards Jason Davis

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PROMISE AND PERFORMANCE ON Friday, February 14 (Valentine’s Day), the APNU+AFC Coalition launched “Manifesto 2020” for the March 2nd General and Regional elections.

Here are yesterday’s headlines of Guyana’s four daily newspapers – Guyana Chronicle: “This is a contract with you…provisions for cash transfers, natural gas terminal.”

Stabroek News: “APNU+AFC pledges cash transfers from Oil $$...promises to deliver with ‘ambitious but attainable’ Manifesto.”

Kaieteur News: “Free UG, Gas Plant, 20,000 house lots among promises in APNU+AFC’s 2020 Manifesto.”

Guyana Times: “APNU+AFC Manifesto launch – 2015’s broken promises regurgitated.”

With the exception of the Chronicle, the three privately owned dailies highlighted ‘promises’ as being at the core of the Coalition’s Manifesto.

At the launch President Granger affirmed: “We will do what we promised to do. We will perform…”

REALISTIC PROMISES It is par for the course for political parties to make promises at elections time. But, as President Granger observed, promises have to be realistic, and ought to be matched as against prospects for delivery. They should not be made in order to bamboozle the electorate, he added.

When the Coalition contested the 2015 elections, it did make promises, 21 of which were carded for the first 100 days. It was not until August of that year that the new National Assembly approved a state budget; and without money, it might be argued that it was over-ambitious on the part of the Coalition to fulfil any of those promises. But what could not be disputed was that the intention of the Coalition was honourable. It worked diligently and consistently to produce results.

FIRST 100 DAYS The records show that in the first 100 days the Coalition achieved the following:1. Reduction of tolls for Berbice River Bridge crossings. Tolls for passenger cars and buses were brought down by 13.6% from $2,200 to $1,900.

Tolls for other categories of vehicles were cut by 10%. (Later, and in more recent times, when the bridge company tried to impose a 300% hike in tolls, the Coalition immediately chopped it down!)

2. Increased salaries of government workers.

The basic monthly minimum wage was significantly increased from July 1, 2015 by 26.4%, from $39,450 to $50,000. (Cumulatively, public service salaries have since been increased by 77%, with the minimum wage at $70,000 – including the wages of sweepers and cleaners).

3. Hike in Old Age Pension. Pensions for our senior citizens were increased by 30%, from $13,125 to $17,000 monthly. (Old age pension has since been increased to $20,500 monthly).

4. Exemption from VAT of some $680 million worth in essential foods and basic consumer goods, as the first phase towards reduction of VAT by 2% (from 16% to 14%), and freeing up small businesses with below $15 million annual income from making declarations.

5. Waiver of duties and excise taxes. In its first budget (2015), the Coalition waived duty on fuels, tools and small-scale mining equipment such as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), jack hammer drills, matting, pumps, engines, etc. Tax exemptions were extended to fishing boats, fishing equipment, spare parts, and supplies for use in seafood processing. Certain ranks in the disciplined services could access tax-free motor vehicles and toshaos, ATVs. 6. Distribution of passports and birth certificates. Responding to an acute problem, the Coalition immediately started weekly distribution of passports in Corriverton, New Amsterdam, Parika, Anna Regina, Bartica and Lethem. (Offices have been built since then in all three counties, including GRA and NIS offices, to access passports, birth certificates, motor vehicle licences, etc. ).

7. Local government elections were announced. Not held since 1994, a date was set for new local government elections after legislative reforms were completed. (Since then, local government elections were held in 2016 and 2018, and four new towns were created).

8. Fight against corruption. Our government sent a powerful signal that we would fight corruption in public offices. While proposing names for the Procurement Commission, we pushed forward with passage in the National Assembly of an amended Anti-Money Laundering law. The opposition PPP boycotted the National Assembly, did not submit their nominees, and initially stalled the composition of the commission, approval of which required a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly.

9. Several forensic audits were commissioned.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 16, 2020

To unravel revenue leakages and corrupt practices, the Coalition set up several forensic audits, and established a State Asset Recovery Unit to retrieve vehicles, land and other state assets that were illegally transferred to officials and their friends. That was the precursor to the criminal prosecution of top PPP/state officials for land grabs at “Pradoville Two,” and misappropriation of funds at places such as the Guyana Rice Development Board.

10. Activated crime-fighting plan.

President Granger re-activated weekly sittings of the National Security Committee (NSC), which quickly drafted a plan on crime-fighting. Aviation and marine patrols were increased to combat piracy, and mobile patrols in interior and rural areas were beefed up to include use of horses. To combat the prevalence of illegal firearms, an amnesty was declared. (Later, firearms surrendered by certain other hinterland residents were replaced with new ones, many given to toshaos free of cost).

11. One Laptop Per Teacher Programme. In preparation for ICT innovations, our government announced distribution of some 9,609 laptops valued $1.7 billion to teachers, education and learning institutions nationwide. Steps were taken to pass in the National Assembly a reformed telecommunication law to end the monopoly that we had inherited. (Since then government has revolutionised ICT, opened a Centre of Excellence, and commissioned some 175 hubs for free internet services, plus distribution of thousands of tablets to schools).

12. Kick-started constitutional re-

form. Within our first 100 days I appointed a Steering Committee to advise on guidelines and the module for constitutional reform. From its work, a Constitutional Consultative and Reform Bill was tabled in Parliament, and it was sent to a parliamentary committee for consideration. The business of this bipartisan committee was stalled, with no government/opposition consensus on moving forward.

13. And, of course, as promised, we pruned the excessive benefits under the former presidents law by placing a cap on the number of vehicles, guards, guns, overseas trips, duty-free concessions and other benefits that Mr. Jagdeo had given to himself (monetised at some $3 million monthly), and to his two colleagues who had also served as president.

TRACK RECORD I have elaborated on the above to show that the Coalition has a track record of following up on its promises.

It has done so within its first 100 days in office, and has subsequently done so over the past four plus years.

The opposition PPP had promised much, but delivered little. It has a credibility problem. Old people have a creole saying, “seh suh, is na do suh” (say so is not do so).

President Granger is right. Promises must be matched by performance.

The Coalition’s performance in a single term is sufficient evidence that while the APNU+AFC manifesto plans are ambitious, with honest leadership they are attainable and achievable.

Understanding Energy

The challenges for Guyana’s natural gas future

SEVERAL wells drilled off the coast by the Exxon-led consortium in the Stabroek Block have found natural gas together with vast reserves of oil. Naturally, many Guyanese are very curious how we can get the most wealth for this new resource.

It is important to understand that natural gas is a starkly different commodity

than oil. Generally, the project economics for gas can be much more challenging l. This is due to a number of factors which impact production and export of gas. Gas prices are generally significantly lower per unit than oil; many countries supply their own gas needs locally, and transportation is much less efficient than for oil.

The global market for gas

is also volatile and risky. This is because gas, often used as a fuel source for electrical grids, has many competitors like coal, nuclear and renewables. Contrast that with oil, which has limited viable alternatives on a large scale when it comes to transportation fuel. While countries consistently import large volumes of oil for their domestic needs, the demand for

gas is more fickle. Also, new gas supplies from shale in the United States and in other huge reservoirs in Russia, Iran, Qatar and elsewhere are outpacing this demand.

The current status of the gas industry is a prime example of that instability. Gas prices around the world are near historic lows due to the glut of production. Gas prices fell by more than 27 per

cent in just the last quarter of 2019. Hess Corp., one of the members of the Stabroek consortium, recently reported US$180 million in losses in 2019 due to low prices.

Transporting gas is also costly and complex. It is most often moved via pipeline and reliance on pipelines, which take significant investment to develop, means that gas is often only afford-

able for domestic markets or nearby neighbours. This in turn means that gas export often depends on having neighbours that are eager to buy. This is not good news for Guyana, as all of our neighbours either have their own sources, like Brazil and Venezuela, or are very small markets, like Suriname and French Guiana.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 16, 2020

Two more branded hotels for Ogle CARIBBEAN Marketing Enterprise Inc (CMEI) will be building two branded hotels at Ogle, East Coast Demerara and a sod-turning ceremony for the projects will be held on Wednesday, government holding company- National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) announced on Saturday.

Only last week, NICIL and Trinuyana Investments Incorporated of Guyana turned the sod for a worldclass, select service, internationally branded hotel – AC Marriott Hotel-- on the Ogle Airstrip Road. NICIL signed the agreement with the firm headed by Trinidadian, John Aboud recently, a release

from NICIL said. The hotel is expected to provide an initial 400 plus jobs during construction and some 200 permanent jobs upon completion. NICIL has also announced the Hilton Hotel will also be setting up here.

Meanwhile, regarding the CMEI venture, NICIL said the company has secured 20 acres at Ogle. The project will include the construction of two branded hotels uniquely positioned in a complex driven by solar power, therein consistent with Guyana‘s “green economy” vision. CMEI will construct the hotels in the 120-130 room range with world class amenities inclusive of a miniature golf course, clubhouse, entertainment centre, swim-

ming pool, solar farm and green space allocation. The land use has been divided as follows: Solar Farm- 7.5 acres; Club House / Entertainment Centre / Mini Golf Course-5 acres Hotel #1 and supporting commercial-4 acres and Hotel #2 and supporting commercial, 3.5 acres.

One of the Directors of Caribbean Marketing Enterprises Inc and CEO of ERES, Mike Elliot, has built hotels for the world's leading hotel brands including Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Choice and Hyatt. They are currently concluding negotiations with hospitality partners for the two hotels at Plantation Ogle and other sites in Guyana.

Caribbean Marketing

Enterprise Inc. was incorporated 24th April, 2017, under the Companies Act of Guyana 1991, (Chapter 89:01), with registered office at 199 Thomas Street, Kitty, Georgetown. Guyana, South America. The company is owned by a group of businessmen / investors who possess vast experience and expertise in the fields of financial management, engineering and construction capabilities, NICIL said in the release.

Over the years, they have successfully led their own companies and served on numerous boards as consultants in varied fields internationally.

Clothes vendor shot by colleague

Police are investigating an alleged shooting committed on Ayesha George, a 38-year-old vendor of Lindy Avenue, Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara, allegedly by a boat captain of Victory Valley, Linden, who is presently being sought.

Police, in a release, said the incident occurred on 2020-02-15 about 13:30h at Purini Landing, Mazaruni River. Enquiries revealed that the victim and the suspect are known to each other as they both work on Puruni Landing, Mazaruni River. The victim stated that about the time mentioned, she left her clothes stand in care of a friend and was heading to a shop to make a purchase when she heard a loud explosion and immediately felt a burning sensation to her left side buttocks.

She was rushed to the Bartica Public Hospital where she was examined by a doctor on duty and later referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Her condition is listed as stable.

Small businesses awarded for excellence SEVERAL small businesses have been honoured at the first Awards Reception and Dinner hosted by the Small Business Committee and the Small Business Bureau.

They included Braf’s Manufacturing, Hero Carts, The Balance, Presidential Cuts Barber Shop and Sports Bar, and Deika’s Spices.

The awardees are all registered clients of the Small Business Bureau.

Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar, while delivering the feature address, said that “Small businesses are very important to our country, to our society, to our communities.”

Referring to the recently-commissioned business incubator in Belvedere and another soon to be launched in Lethem, the minister noted that small businesses create employment.

“We are offering services to startup businesses, young business entrepreneurs

to have them, trained, and mentored, providing a space where they can start up their business and learn as they go along, so our government is very serious in developing small businesses.”

In his report, CEO of the Bureau, Dr. Lowell Porter,

stated that 594 grants totalling $177M were given out from 2014 to 2018. Some 219 went to small businesses from 2018-2019.

Dr. Porter also disclosed that from June to December last year, more than 800 new persons attended the bureau’s

awareness sessions while approximately 38 came into the office daily for service and information.

He explained that a consultant’s review found that after visiting 926 small businesses, 78 per cent of the clients were still in business.

that is what we are trying to address at the Small Business Bureau with our training,” Dr

Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar

Porter said.

The bureau is a government-funded agency which aims to provide easy access to financing and address issues that small businesses face. (DPI)

The awardees at the reception and dinner hosted by the Small Business Committee and the Small Business Bureau (DPI photo)

The challenges for Guyana’s ...

For longer shipping distances, gas has to be shipped in special vessels as liquefied natural gas (LNG). Converting gas to LNG requires a natural gas liquefaction plant, one of the most complex and expensive industrial investments in the world. These plants generally require extensive and highly specialised port infrastructure, massive pipeline complexes and large, expensive systems to cool the gas down to -260 degrees C and pressurize it so that the gas can be packaged for transport on LNG tanker ships.

It’s a technologically complex endeavor that takes years to start offering financial returns and

“Most of these clients; they depend every day on that business because it takes care of their lives; it takes care of their families. They care about their businesses; they work hard. However, some are not equipped with sufficient information and

can only be done profitably at a massive scale.

Even with all of that infrastructure, margins are thin. Exxon and its partner, Oil Search, recently decided that the project economics for a planned expansion to a massive gas extraction project in Papua New Guinea (PNG) no longer made sense under new fiscal terms proposed by the government. Both parties walked away from talks last month after an agreement could not be reached, with companies pointing to the low-price environment and frontier character of PNG as reasons they could not find a financial path forward.

Even when the fiscal envi-

ronment for gas is right, there still needs to be huge reserves of natural gas. The world’s biggest natural gas plays possess trillions of cubic metres of offshore gas reserves. The project economics in these countries make sense only because gas is the primary resource and the volumes are huge.

As Energy Director, Mark Bynoe, recently revealed, the majority of what has been found here so far is high quality oil.

Around 75 per cent of the eight billion barrels of oil equivalent found so far has been oil, with another 25 per cent gas. Barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) is a common industry measure.

Two billion BOE translates to about 340 billion cubic metres of gas. Although Guyana’s oil finds have been impressive, its associated gas resources will likely be dispersed widely across multiple discovered fields and not the huge stand-alone natural gas fields with low development costs that dominate the LNG sector.

Guyana’s discovered gas will, however, generate very significant value for the people of Guyana almost immediately.

This associated gas is a critical tool for oil extraction. “Reinjecting” the gas into oil wells will maximize Guyana’s oil production and is in fact the basis for

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the oil revenue productions that are being discussed. Guyana is fortunate to have an oil-based future as it provides the highest revenue stream to the country and gas will be intrinsic to that oil future.

While Guyana may not have an immediate future as a largescale natural gas exporter, with the volumes of gas that have been discovered, it can have a near-term very positive impact onshore Guyana. The amount of gas offshore also appears to be more than enough to meet our domestic electricity needs for many years, assuming Guyana builds a pipeline and a new power plant. As discussed previously

in this column, gas is considered a much better power source than the heavy fuel oil Guyana uses right now since it is much cheaper, much cleaner and a reliable direct supply to the nation.

International organisations like the Inter-American Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund have identified a gas-fired power plant as potentially one of the most high-impact effects that Guyana’s new energy production could have on everyday life. While Guyana’s large-scale gas exporter story looks likely be well into the future, there is an exciting gas opportunity right now.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 16, 2020

APNU+AFC promises direct cash transfers if re-elected

GUYANESE are anticipating immense benefits from the new oil and gas industry and the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition has promised to deliver if re-elected at the upcoming general and regional elections.

Among some of the expected ‘direct’ benefits from the increased revenue flows are ‘conditional’ cash transfers. This promise was listed in the APNU+AFC’s manifesto which was launched at the coalition’s headquarters on Friday.

President of Guyana and Presidential Candidate of the APNU+AFC Coalition, David Granger, during his presentation at the manifesto launch, had said development will be fuelled by mostly oil revenues. According to the coalition’s manifesto, conditional cash transfers will be based on a feasibility or pilot study and will include, but not be limited to, nutritional support, housing support, public transport and a single-parent support programme.

It will also include vouchers for day-care and elder-care services, adult

remedial classes and training, and increased stipends for students attending technical institutes, nursing schools, school of home economics and the Guyana School of Agriculture.

The coalition’s manifesto also stated that there will be cash transfers through the Public Education Assistance Service (PEAS) and cash transfers for the purchase of essential items. “We will put oil money in your homes and households…we will ensure that every family with a child, in school, gets a cash grant…the money will come to you,” said President Granger at one of the coalition’s recent campaign rallies in Essequibo.

The President had reminded Guyanese that the oil revenue is theirs and the coalition will ensure it reaches every citizen. ExxonMobil and its partners have so far racked up 16 commercial oil discoveries in the Stabroek Block, with the most recent being at the Uaru well located northeast of the producing Liza field discovery.

The Liza Phase One project, which has started production, will produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day at peak rates utilising

(from left); Director General at the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon; Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams; President David Granger; Prime Ministerial Candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan, and AFC Leader, Raphael Trotman display the Coalition’s Manifesto

the Liza Destiny FPSO. It is expected to generate over $7B in royalty and profit oil revenues for Guyana over the life of the project.

“We are going to use that plan and the oil revenue to transform Guyana for the benefit of all Guyanese,” said the APNU+AFC Coalition in its manifesto. President Granger had said the manifesto is not an “election promise,” but a document birthed after careful thought

and consideration. In fact, the APNU+AFC manifesto builds on the coalition’s core principles, established in September 2019 and with the Cummingsburg Accord, recently reviewed and revised as the binding document of the APNU+AFC. “That took a bit of time because we had to merge the views of the five parties in the APNU with those of the AFC…this paved the way for the Manifesto Committee

to continue its work but we had the foresight to embed, in the core principles and the Cummingsburg Accord, the elements which would be contained in the manifesto.

“It was a deliberate process and you’ll see today the culmination of that process. It was not something hasty; not a flash in the pan, but something that we’ve worked on for over six years by six different parties,” said the president.

He noted that the document is not a “minority manifesto” but is agreeable to the coalition parties which represent the majority of citizens who voted the APNU+AFC into office in 2015. The Head of State thanked those within the six-member team who participated in the crafting of the multi-year plan.

Diversification at Wales Estate moving apace …proposals for coconut processing plant, industrial park among initiatives in pipeline

By Tamaica Garnett JUST OVER three years after the Wales Estate shuttered its doors, diversification plans are moving apace at the former sugar facility, where rice, cash crop, coconut, provision, citrus and animal farming are just a few of the industries that have already been established.

Though activities related to the diversification initiative were slow when the estate first closed in December 2016, it has since been seeing massive developments.

“It was a bit slow earlier but it is accelerating at this point in time, a lot of the people would’ve sent in their proposals to NICIL, they’ve been approved and they’re mobilizing,” noted Officer in Charge of the Wales Estate, Charles Browne.

The diversification is on course to see exponential growth over the next few years, with the plans on stream for the establishment of a fruit juice processing plant, a cold storage facility, a coconut processing plant and an oil and gas shore-

based fabrication facility.

These will be established at a 200 acre plot that the

cial Purpose Unit.

The Unit set about privatising the operations, leasing

NICIL Officer in Charge of the Wales Estate, Charles Browne

estate already earmarked for an industrial park. Browne explained that the estate has already been given prerequisite permissions from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the area’s Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to move ahead with the initiative.

Following the ceasing of sugar production at the estate, it was handed over to the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), under their Spe-

the estate’s 8,352 acres of land to small, medium and large scale investors, mainly farmers. Many of the farmers are former sugar workers of the estate.

Rajkumar Outar is one of the large scale investors, who has invested in coconut farming. An exporter of dehusked coconut, which he bought from other farmers, Outar jumped at the opportunity to open his own farm.

He leased almost 800 acres at the estate.

“With our plantation we will have better quality, and

better control. I have machines working there at present. I have some coconuts on the land for preparation of a nursery. I’m doing this in phases, and I’m expecting that within two years the entire area will be cultivated,” Outar explained.

Under his business Rayo Trades Incorporated, Outar says he has some six years in the coconut industry and considers his business one of the biggest exporters of de-husked coconuts from Guyana.

“I export between 150 – 200 containers per year, principally to Dominican Republic and a small amount to Trinidad,” he shared.

Though his immediate focus is to get the farm at full capacity, in the not too distant future, he will be looking towards value-added items with the production of coconut derivatives.

Outar is one of two largescale investors at the estate who will be involved in the coconut industry. Extra Virgin, a transnational company from the Caribbean region, has leased another 679 acres that they are developing into

water coconut farming.

Before leasing land businesses had to submit proposals on their intended investments in the lands. The lands are being leased at $8500 per acre, with large scale investors being those leasing 200 or more acres.

Small scale investors are those leasing between 10 – 50 acres, while medium scale investors can lease between 50 – 200 acres.

The businesses are allowed to develop their investments incrementally, with the obligation that they develop at least 20 percent of their lands per year, full capacity therefore being expected within 5 years.

Aside from NICIL, popular West Bank Demerara rice farmer Deo Rupee and TST Kai, a company, have also privately invested in rice cultivation, and recently reaped their first crops. TST Kai has approximately 800 acres, and harvested roughly 117 acres at their last crop averaging approximately 40 bags per acre.

Rupee has almost 500 acres, and harvested approximately 200 acres averaging

35 – 40 bags per acre.

“I commenced working on the lands in April of last year and was able to convert a couple acres of the cane fields into rice, the yield was good,” Rupee shared.

He further noted that getting market for the rice was no hassle, saying: “Market is never a problem in this country for rice farmers, you sell it yourself or sell it to the mills. I don’t have challenges, I challenge. The land is there and I work the lands and that is it. I just make sure I get it done. I make it happen I don’t allow it to happen to me.”

Rupee will not be dedicating his entire plot to rice farming.

“I’ll be expanding [the rice cultivation] a little more but I have diversified my efforts from rice, to livestock with well over 100 head of cattle, sheep and goats, and I’m looking forward to expand to accommodate another set of swine and ducks.

I also have plans to do aquaculture,” he related.

He is also farming citrus and ground provision.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 16, 2020

Guyana's children transform G’town into riot of colour, revelry

SWEET soca music was in the air, feet were tapping and excitement was spreading in the streets of Georgetown as over 2,500 children fused colours, flair and energy to “wow” spectators and judges during the 2020 Children’s Mashramani Costume and Float Parade on Saturday.

The excitement started from the usual assembly point at the Parade Ground, where about 50 bands assembled before moving along the streets of Georgetown on their way to the National Park.

There wasn’t a dull moment during the parade because children, with the help of their teachers, designers and parents, put on unique performances which caught the eyes of many persons, who lined the streets to get a glimpse of the extravagant

costumes.

This year the themes were diverse, but a number of schools went with the trending topic, oil. Those who used the oil and gas theme were decked out in their yellow and gold and used various props that showed the work in the industry and “most importantly,” the barrels of oil.

The “black gold,” as it is described by many, was, however, not the only attraction; some schools promoted education and others sought to remind Guyanese about the cohesive and diverse society in which they dwell, with costumes depicting the culture of the six peoples of Guyana.

Persons were evidently mesmerised by the unique designs of the costumes and some spectators even said this was one of the best chil-

dren’s ‘Mash’ ever.

The magnitude of the celebrations was particularly credited to the fact that Guyana is celebrating its 50th Republic Anniversary.

“It is pretty good, we are having a fun time and we are celebrating 50 years,” said Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry in an invited comment.

Minister Henry, who was being equally active and involved in the parade, said the theme for this year’s Children’s Mashramani Parade was, “transforming Guyana under education.”

Transformation was clear

Administrator of the Unit of Allied Arts and the Children’s Mash coordinator, Lorraine Barker-King echoed Minister Henry’s sentiments, noting that the activity has grown immensely over the years.

“This activity has grown beyond because we have more and more schools participating and this signals that the ministry of education has been exposing children to the arts,” said Barker-King; she added that the participation this year also signals creativity and shows that schools are actively engaged in the arts.

The coordinator said

The National Park came alive as students went all out to woo the judges with their costumes and dance moves (Delano Williams photo)

Strumming the music of soca! Creativity was overflowing at the National Park as students from various nursery, primary and secondary schools, paraded and showed off their costumes (Delano Williams photo)

even at the level of the parade, said the minister, noting that the event has grown and taken on a “life of its own” over the years. She said this is evident because for this year alone, most of the schools participated in the activity.

there were in excess of 2,500 children, who travelled from every administrative region just to be part of the activity.

This children’s parade was the grand conclusion to the string of children’s activities organised for Mashramani 2020. To commemorate

Teen in Bush Lot accident ... reportedly swerved to avoid hitting the primary school child who was crossing the road from south to north.

The nine-year-old Roshnie Mohan had just left her grandparents’ house at Kildonan and was making her way across the road to her home at Bush Lot when the incident occurred.

She was transferred from the Port Mourant Hospital, where she was initially taken, to the New Amsterdam Hospital late Friday evening. Her grandmother told the Guyana Chronicle that the injured

child is responsive but is in a lot of pain.

“We are praying and hoping for the best, someone has to be with her all the time, so we are taking turns in going.

All she saying is that her body hurting,” the grandmother said.

According to police information, the driver of the car was proceeding east along the northern carriage way when he noticed the child, who was standing on the southern side of the road, suddenly ran into the path of his vehicle.

In an effort to avoid the collision with the child, the driver swerved but struck her,

Some $219 million will be expended for the celebration, which will culminate with the grand annual Mashramani Costume and Float Parade on February 23.

The celebration comprises events pertaining to chutney, soca, calypso, mas-

Minister of Education Nicolette Henry leading the way during the Children’s Mashramani Costume and Float Parade (Delano Williams photo)

Students of the Winfer Gardens Primary School, decked out in green and gold, caught spectators’ eyes as they gyrated to the beat of soca (Delano Williams photo)

As evident here, energy radiated from the thousands of children who paraded down to the National Park during the Children’s Mashramani Costume and Float Parade, on Saturday (Delano Williams photo)

the children’s aspect of the 50th Republic Anniversary celebrations, there was an opening ceremony and exhibition on Wednesday, said Barker-King.

This was followed by the Calypso, Jingle and Dramatic Poetry competitions. The

Injured: Roshnie Mohan

and reportedly lost control of the vehicle and slammed into the two pedestrians who were walking on the parapet.

One of the girls who was struck hit a man who was rid-

FROM PAGE

results for some of the competitions, and the costume and float parade will be out

by Monday.

“Reflecting on all of this, I would say that I am extremely pleased because I am seeing creativity at its best,” said the coordinator.

The 50th Republic Anniversary is being celebrated under the theme, “Guyana Together; Reflect, Celebrate and Transform,” and a calendar of some 50 key events, cutting across all Guyana’s areas of culture, was planned by the Ministry of Social Cohesion.

queraders, arts, craft, sports, religion and so much more.

Several long-standing sponsors such as Banks DIH, Ansa McAl and Republic Bank have continued their support for the celebrations, while several new sponsors and collaborators, including a number of entertainment companies, are on board for the events.

The remaining events include a folk festival on February 16 at D’Urban Park; a rum and food festival on February 17 also at D’Urban Park; a jazz festival at the Theatre Guild on February

born child is no more.

“This is the hardest thing to deal with right now, Aliyah is no more…

I’m so shocked I still can’t believe she is gone,” her mother said.

The devastated parents, amid sobs, related that their daughter had just completed secondary school and had her entire life ahead of her.

The parents further related that the two sisters were inseparable.

They left during her lunch break from the Central Corentyne Secondary School, a short distance away from where the accident occurred.

Aneela is unaware that her older sibling died. Her parents are appealing to the authorities to not let their daughter’s death go in vain.

Guyana chronicle was reliably informed that the driver, Dr. Giresh Sadeo, who was in police custody, is now a patient at the Port Mourant Hospital after he complained of feeling unwell.

He was taken to the hospital sometime on Friday evening. Investigations into the accident are still ongoing.

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ing a bicycle while the other was flung into the air and fell onto the car and then onto the roadway.

The injured girls were picked up and taken to the Port Mourant Hospital.

Aliyah, who was unresponsive, was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where she succumbed at around 03:00 hrs on Saturday.

Meanwhile, speaking with Guyana Chronicle, the parents of the sisters-- Bahwattie Ramrich and Munil Mohabir-- were inconsolable as they tried to come to grip with the news that their first

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 16, 2020

Bitumen road for Supenaam The President Development Project on children ...

RESIDENTS as well as passengers utilising the speed boat services at Supenaam are loud in their praise of the government for competing for the final stage of the multimillion-dollar Supenaam Waterfront Development Project.

Currently, workmen are

on site making a bitumen pathway enhancing the surrounding of the project. This newspaper understands that it is the final phase of the project.

Prior to the commencement of the project, three consultations were conducted within the region where residents were given an op-

portunity to air their concerns.

At the various consultations, stakeholders were anxious about the project and indicated their support.

Vice-Chairman of the Good Hope-Supenaam Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Arnold Adams related that the residents

of Essequibo are excited about the project. He said when the construction is finished it will boost tourism in the region.

Adams said the project was welcome by everyone including the Regional Democratic Council (RDC)

See page 15

From page 12 he addressed the failure of youth policy up to that time.

He bemoaned the failure of the government of-theday to announce a plan to deal with the challenges facing young people in this country.

President Granger identifies youth development central to his current government’s social agenda. Those who find a thrill in propagating the view that the President’s government has neglected young people will be deflated by this publication. It presents the President’s vision of youth development and enumerates the numerous initiatives which his government has been undertaking over the past five years to promote youth development.

Education and skills-training are integral to his vision. The President makes it clear that young people will become the motors of change and progress. They will need to be provided with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to participate in a transformative economy and progressive society. He assures young people not only of a better future but also provides incontrovertible evidence of what he has achieved and continues to do to realize this objective.

President Granger’s social policies – on children, women and youth as outlined in this three-book collection – are all founded on international best practices. The President makes reference to international conventions, declarations and reports, as well as the Constitution of his country, to illustrate how his social policies on children, women and youth are consistent with these documents.

This latest collection, which can be appropriately titled, ‘The President and children, gender and youth,” constitutes his country’s clearest policy statement ever on three of the groups in society – children, women and youth – most vulnerable to alienation, discrimination and inattention. The President’s approach is enlightening; his vision inspiring and his writing crisp and intelligible.

The President on children, women and youth adds to the list of impressive social policies enunciated by the Guyanese Head of State and Government.

The implementation of these social policies will propel Guyana’s human development into a better place.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 16, 2020

Modern body armour, tazers, body radios, cameras for GPF

IN its 2020 campaign manifesto unveiled on Friday, the coalition government outlined a programme to ensure public security over not just the next five years, but the next decade.

Under the category of ensuring human safety, the manifesto underscored the con-

tinued upgrade of police stations with modern conveniences and technology.

The manifesto stated that the coalition government will provide modern vehicles and equipment to members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and ensure that all police vehicles will have on-board computers

Bitumen road for Supenaam Development From page 14

Workers busy at work on Supenaam Waterfront Development Project and residents.

Residents had made several recommendations for the project. These include land reclamation, toilets for disabled persons, structure to accommodate arrival and departure, promotion of tourism by highlighting local produce, parking for taxis and other vehicles, relocation of the Amerindian Hostel and Guyana Forestry Commission, relocation of vendors to allow construction, garbage disposal, solar panels on roofs and installation of solar panels along walkways.

According to civil engineer attached to the project, Collin Gittens, most of the recommendations made by residents have already been included in the project.

The contractor for the project was Doodnauth Samaroo.

The project cost the government in excess of $88 million. It currently boasts a new passenger waiting, paved parking areas, organised vending spaces with standardised shops, paved waterfront promenade with rails, shaded public seating and lighting. The project was considered by the ministry after they recognised the importance of the Supenaam Terminal to Guyana’s river transport link. The current infrastructure required spatial enhancements in an effort to foster business opportunities as a leading port of entry.

The enhancement project includes the rehabilitation/upgrade to the existing main road at Supenaam waterfront, construction of a new anchored steel sheet-pile revetment (75m) and rehabilitation to existing SSP resentment.

An upgraded road which is part of the Supenaam Development Project

and communications equipment linked to a command centre and that every police officer will be issued with modern body-armour, tazers, body radios and body cameras.

According to the 2020 campaign booklet, the coalition will upgrade the Emergency Response System with the aid of relevant technology along with expanding the current Safe City Project to capital towns.

Additionally, the coalition government manifesto stated that there will be “continued support and strengthening of Community Policing Groups to enhance trust within local communities; continued strengthening of intelligence and counter-intelligence forces in the Defence and Police Forces; continued professionalisation of the GPF and ensuring that complaints against officers are properly investigated and the necessary action taken; and completion of the modern prison at Mazaruni, Region Seven.”

The 2020 manifesto stated that a coalition government will develop a new Nation-

al Police Academy with regional branches to make policing more attractive to youth and to create a better educated Police Force.

The coalition manifesto further stated that government will “introduce affirmative action in the Police Force to include more Indigenous and Indo-Guyanese; provide modern hygienic detention centres for women and children; and expand the Guyana Peoples’ Militia to provide a ready national reserve and to provide job-training to youth.

[And} continue to protect citizens from threats of violence from the State, having ended state-sponsored violence during our first administration.”

In his manifesto message, President David Granger said the blueprint details the Coalition’s programme aimed at good governance, reducing inequality, maximising employment, attracting greater investment, diversifying the economy and reducing crime, disease, ignorance and poverty.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 16, 2020

‘Coalition gives hope to youths’ … promises employment data bank, national mentoring programme in manifesto

By Lisa Hamilton

THROUGH its manifesto, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change’s (APNU+AFC) is seeking to ensure that Guyanese youths are given the right tools to take up the country’s future leadership.

An array of original plans was put forward by the party, on Friday, and President David Granger has assured the public that the government has the resources and capability to provide the same for Guyanese.

One such is the creation of a dynamic and computerised National Employment Data Bank which will enable youths to see, in real time, all job opportunities available in the country and apply for them. “We have to hand this country over to you,” the President said to youths who attended the coalition’s rally earlier this month at the Diamond Market Tarmac. The Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) estimates that between 2015 to 2018 some 15,000 jobs were created by the government through its programmes.

Meanwhile, agencies such as the Small Business Bureau (SBB) helped support this effort through loans and grants to over 200 businesses thereby creating over 500 jobs. To ensure that youths are skilled for employment or even entrepreneurship, the manifesto has projected the development of innovative and entrepreneurship training programmes for youth to enhance their ability to develop and earn a good living.

The government has also promised to provide job-skills and life-skills training for all secondary school and technical institute students during their final year and will continue to provide scholarships for youths, with special focus on science, technology, engineering and the medical sciences.

AN EDUCATED NATION Just in October 2019, the President donated $1M to the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) school for the expansion of its science programmes and to help equip its science laboratories then under construction and over $2M to Queen’s

President David Granger greets children at the Bartica Community Centre Ground (DPI photo)

The Bishops’ High School’s Shania Madramuthu, interviewing President Granger College (QC) for the advancement of science education.

“We need you all if you’re going to transform this country…Guyana will need new skills to populate occupations in the green environment, petroleum-producing and digital emerging economic sectors in the evolving State. It will need an ‘A-to-Z’ corps of scientists – from agronomists, architects, biologists, botanists, chemists, doctors, engineers, environmentalists, geneticists, geologists, hydrologists, information systems specialists, and physicists to zoologists – for transformational national development,” the President stated while present at the latter institution.

To ensure that Guyana continues to perform outstandingly education-wise in the Region, the APNU+AFC’s manifesto has offered to engage the private sector in aims of increasing the number of internships granted annually to youths. Youths can use the opportunities to gain experience in the career fields they hope to pursue while the coalition has also promised to expand the National Work-Study Programme to increase the number of participating students.

This will be bolstered by the expansion of the Guyana Youth Corps, apprenticeship schemes, private sector partnerships and entrepreneurship schemes to reduce unemployment. “Education is top priority for me. It is essential if you are going to seek employment or be self-employed.

It is essential if you are going to be empowered.

It is essential if you are going to demand your place as equal citizens in this country,” the President said at the inaugural annual Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) in December 2019.

FOCUS ON SPORTS In the document presented, the six-member coalition made it clear that the government does not only care about the academic performance of youths but their mental wellbeing.

As such, the manifesto outlines plans for the provision of mandatory career counselling for all secondary school students; the establishment of a National Mentoring Programme to join youths with career mentors and to join youth-owned small businesses with larger companies and the development of additional community centres to provide safe spaces for young people to meet and socialise.

Within the last four years, 674 community grounds across the country have been rehabilitated under the Department of Sport’s ground enhancement project to the tune of $500M. “This is in keeping with the mandate of the National Sports Commission’s Act which speaks to creating an enabling environment for the advancement of sports and there are spin-off benefits to that,” the Sports Director, Christopher Jones had stated in late 2019.

Re-elected, the government promises to implement a national playfield programme to rehabilitate, maintain and secure community playfields for athletes and the general public to train, play sports and exercise during both daylight and evening hours. Also in the area of sport, the manifesto has highlighted that the government will provide stipends and sports gear to all national athletes and will ensure that every secondary school has designated coaches and physical education teachers.

The manifesto also promises to reintroduce musical arts, fine arts and theatrical arts in schools across Guyana. The President advised in 2019: “All around the world people are moving away from petroleum and you better learn that lesson that petroleum, whatever bonanza, whatever profits, whatever revenues we get, will not last forever. So, we have to put in place the type of development that would take us beyond petroleum.

That is why I deliberately chose a ‘Decade of Development’, not a year of development [but] a decade because by 2030 this country must be more developed than it is at present.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 16, 2020

Youth conference focuses on future development

PUBLIC Service Minister, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley challenged Afro-Guyanese youths to be supportive of each other and participate in networking to develop their communities in academic, business and skill endeavors of their choices.

The minister was at the time giving remarks at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Saturday when the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly held its youth conference under the theme, “African Youth in Guyana’s New Economy : Opportunities for success”.

She encouraged the youths to break away from negative stereotypes while determining the future based on the present action taken

by Afro-Guyanese youths.

“This conference looks at business, innovation, entrepreneurship, training for the future, which suggests that, as a people, why it is we have to take into consideration, it is because if we don’t know our history, we already know the rest of that phrase,” Minister Sarabo-Halley told the gathering.

The minister told the youths that they must focus on being meaningful members of society to ensure that many dreams are realised and not just sit back and hope things happen.

“It is important that participants utilise what they will learn and go back to their communities and empower others who were unable to attend the event,” the minister said.

The public service minister called on the gathering to set goals and visions for themselves and aim to attain the relevant education to pursue that vision.

She noted that the APNU/AFC government is committed to investing in education and necessary training for youths to reach their fullest potential.

“As minister of public service, I can say that training is available, resources for you to be trained in areas being presented is available, I would like for us not to take it for granted and look out for the advertisements in the newspapers and on the Public Service website,” the minister underscored.

The minister told the youths that every action they take will produce certain results in their future and it will decide their fate and success.

“We do not have to wait until we get into high office to make an impact, every decision that you make now, impacts somebody else’s lives, positively and negatively, and that affects the entire society in one way or the other,” the public service minister told the gathering.

ACTION She told the youths that their uniqueness should be seen as a gift and their purpose in life can only be achieved through action.

“As individuals we are important, but what we also need to learn is that only collectively we can make an impact, so you bring what you have to the table and as each one of us brings our best to the table, we make Guyana a better place for all of us and that is something we need to recognise,” she emphasised.

Public Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes told the gathering that history is a very important factor in understanding where individuals end up in their future.

Displaying the writings on her jersey stating “History has its eyes on you”, the minister told the youths that “we came here with our ancestor’s blood in the oceans and, today, look at us now, because of their sweat, because of their pain, because of their vision, because of their sacrifice, all of us can sit here comfortably in an air-conditioned room to talk about where we want to go.”

Minister Hughes said the current generation has a responsibility since “to whom much is given, much is expected,” and youths should participate in all aspects of development.

Organised by the Youth Committee, the aforementioned conference seeks to further empower Afro-Guyanese youths, not only with the knowledge of their powerful history, but also to inform them about the fast-changing Guyanese economy and the many opportunities being offered to them.

Organisers said the conference will allow participants to learn more about and explore education, career and business opportunities that will be available to them in the plan for the Decade of Development, crafted by the current administration. Participants are expected to meet with leaders in the new oil and gas sector and learn more about its wide-ranging ripple effects, this is said to foster encouragement for them to capitalise on opportunities given.

Youth entrepreneurs participating in this conference will also be allowed to display their merchandise or products during the event’s proceedings.

Public Relations Officer, Stephon Gabriel, noted that it is expected that after the conference, young Afro-Guyanese will further extend their knowledge about their roles in Guyana’s democracy.

A section of the gathering at the conference

Public Service Minister, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley addresses the gathering of youths at the conference centre

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 16, 2020

GPF receives mobile forgery detection testing kits

THE Ministry of Public Security, through the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons, recently donated two FD-02 mobile forgery detection testing kits to the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

The donation seeks to further enhance

the Force’s investigative and crime-fighting capacity.

Handing over the kits, on behalf of the Minister of Public Security and Chairman of the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons, Khemraj Ramjattan, was Daniel Griffith, Coordinator (ag),

Commissioner of Police, Leslie James receives the Kits from TIP Coordinator, Daniel Griffith. Extreme left and right are acting Deputy Commissioner ‘Law Enforcement’, Senior Superintendent, Michael Kingston and Head ‘Information Technology and Communication Department’, Superintendent, Jermaine Johnson.

Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons.

The donation was made possible through the Immigration Enforcement International, British High Commission, Kingston, Jamaica, which facilitated an Investigation and Intelligence Development training course.

The course for officers of the GPF and the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons was conducted from January 27 to 31, 2020, in Kingston, Jamaica.

Ideally, these kits are primarily de-

signed for the detection of fraudulent documents such as passports and identification cards at frontline areas such as at airports, borders and shipping ports, and will be utilised in the hinterland region.

Further, the FD-02 forgery detection kits are equipped with the requisite tools for the detection of forgeries, alterations, erasures and for the checking of security safeguards.

It is through donations like these, that the Force is now better equipped in its investigative capabilities.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 16, 2020

Gov’t providing transportation for students of fired bauxite workers

AS the government continues to show its support for workers laid off by the Russian-owned Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), the Ministry of Social Protection (MoSP) is putting measures in place to ensure that students in the affected communities receive transportation to get to school.

Speaking with the press after the launch of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) manifesto, Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally, noted that BCGI, a subsidiary of global aluminum giant RUSAL, has ceased transportation services in the communities.

“RUSAL withdrew transportation for the children who go to Mapletown School and I have made arrangements for a bus, unfortunately it will take 6 weeks to come. Meanwhile we will look for a gap arrangement for those children to get to school,” Ally explained on Friday.

As part of its operations, the company provided transportation in and around the remote communities in the vicinity of its Kurubuka operations, which included the Mapletown Aroaima community owned by the company.

This development comes after the Minister and her team met the laidoff workers at the Kwakwani Recreational Centre on Thursday, where she assured them that the government would not rest until the issue was resolved.

Minister Ally also distributed several food hampers during her engagement with the workers.

It was on February 2, that RUSAL had announced that it had laid off 326 workers, relocated expatriate employees and suspended its

operations in the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice Region.

The company subsequently began paying the workers severance and other benefits, which needed to include an extra one month’s pay given that the company did not give the workers notices prior to termination.

The Department of Labour has since written the company for a spreadsheet showing the breakdown of payments made to each worker, to verify that workers were paid amounts that they were entitled to.

“We are in the process of checking to see what money was lodged, whether it was accurate and so on. It is taking some time to get all the information [but] we want when we speak, to be able to speak authentically about the matter,” Minister Ally said.

Ally last met with representatives of the company on February 2, when the company announced the termination, while the company last met with DoL on February 7.

The DoL continued to lobby for the rehiring of the workers. However, the company did not commit, and would only say that they would consult their principals before coming to a decision.

“Let us hear what RUSAL has to say first… it’s a process and we need to hear what RUSAL has to say. Meanwhile we are not giving up on the workers and the workers understand that,” Ally said.

However, Ally said that no timeline has been set for when the company will get back to the Ministry.

The workers and their Union – the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GBGWU) – are convinced, however, that the company is closing down its operations.

Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) confirmed that last week BCGI, paid over taxes and shipped out a number of pieces of equipment from the country.

The company has not

responded to an email on the situation.

Nonetheless, the workers are firm that they do not want the company returning unless it is ready to respect workers’ rights and deal with their Union. The company and

the Union have a longstanding quandary over an increase in salary for the workers. The workers have blocked the Berbice River since the company laid off 142 workers on January 23.

They are refusing

to remove the blockage until the company agrees to let the salary negotiations move to arbitration, a system whereby an independent tribunal will decide a final resolution to the issue.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 16, 2020

New Casareep supplement can replace Molasses … Region Eight’s agriculture unit develops new substitute for cows

IT’S a new mineral block supplement and if Deputy Regional Executive Officer of Region Eight, Gavin Gounga and team have their way, cassava cultivation can be developed on a large scale to cater for the production of this innovative food supplement while

giving birth to a major economic activity.

Gounga, who worked in the Potaro-Siparuni region for 14 years as an agricultural officer, before holding his current managerial portfolio at the regional administration, told the Guyana Chronicle, recently, that the new

supplement has already been tried and tested.

He said based on the feedback received from cattle farmers at the village of Monkey Mountain where theory was put into practice at an agricultural exhibition back in 2017, the cassava mineral block supplement

has been a hit to the cattle farming community there and if pursued, can add a higher economic value to the staple.

He explained that in 2017, along with Henaku Addo, Senior Livestock Officer at the Guyana Livestock Development Author-

Deputy Regional Executive Officer of the Potaro-Siparuni region, Gavin Gounga and Senior Livestock Officer of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, Henaku Addo.(Alva Solomon photo) ity (GLDA) and another agricultural officer from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the trio conceptualized the idea of finding a supplement for molasses. ”The idea was birthed right here at the Regional Admin building,” he noted.

Addo is based primarily in hilly villages within sub-district two of the region.

Gounga said the idea evolved to the stage where they considered casareep, given its nutritional value as the ideal substitute for molasses.

REALITY OF CASAREEP Gounga explained that a bottle of casareep retails for $2500 but the food preservative only sells in large quantities around Christmas time since it is in demand for the famous Pepper Pot. He noted that while that is a seasonal market, with production of the new casareep mineral block, it could become more commercially viable all year. ”We want to make casraeep a commercial product,” he said.

He said that since the sugar industry was being streamlined to cater for the less demands the world has for Guyana’s sugar, then the molasses production will drop. ”Then we have to find something else as a substitute,” he said.

ECONOMIC VIABILITY Gounga said Region

Eight farmers can capitalize on the idea of cultivating cassava on a large scale but he also noted that in the Rupununi, where cattle is reared on a larger scale and where there is also cassava cultivation, there can be increased cultivation of the staple to cater primarily for the mineral block supplement.

He noted that cattle is reared primarily for beef production and to get the animals to market size of around 300 pounds, a supplement is used to add to their weight. Here is where molasses usually comes into the fray, he said, noting it is used to hasten the process in the growth of the animals.

He said that locally, there are mineral block supplements which are imported into Guyana from Brazil and sold to farmers on the local market. ”We are trying to produce a mineral block that is made here,” Gounga said.

He said there is a plan to develop the product for wider use in the Potaro-Siparuni region. However, he noted that the region works within the confines of budgetary allocations. He said the next step would require an awareness campaign for farmers to grow more cassava and make casareep the primary product.

He explained that once it heads in that commercial direction, then the plan can become a reality.

Gounga said too that the Potaro-Siparuni region See page 25

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 16, 2020

LPJ, ANUG, TNM consummate Valentine’s Day pact

THE Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), A New and United Guyana (ANUG) and The New Movement (TNM), on Valentine’s Day, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to merge their votes after the upcoming elections.

The parties have written to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), informing the body that the parties have agreed to a “joiner” of the lists pursuant to section 22 of the Representation of the People Act. However, the parties would be contesting the elections separately but the votes would be combined at the end of the counting process and seats allocated to the combination of the lists and not the individual parties.

The party with the largest number of left over votes will be entitled to nominate the first member of the National Assembly, who shall serve the length of time, while the parties with the second and third largest number of votes will nominate their respective representative.

The parties also agreed that the occupant of a seat as a result of left-over votes will vote in parliament “only if there is approval of all three parties”. In the absence of approval, they have agreed that they will refrain from

voting.

Presidential Candidate of TNM, Dr. Asha Kissoon, said every vote should count and the parties agreed to show unity in the upcoming elections.

Presidential Candidate of ANUG, Ralph Ramkarran, said the three parties agreed to join their lists together, and at the end of the election, the votes will be combined without any leftovers.

“The unity that we are seeking in the country is being expressed by this agreement with which we have arrived at, we are sending a modest message of unity to the Guyanese people, that while we are each competing at one level, we are cooperating at another level, we need cooperation in Guyana,” Ramkarran said.

Presidential Candidate of the LJP, Lenox Shuman, thanked the joining parties for their hard work in finalising the agreement.

“The larger political parties continue to preach national unity but are unwilling to accept the hard work that is required for national unity… we are demonstrating to the Guyanese people as to what it takes that to ensure that this country is united,” Shuman said.

Shuman said other small parties were invited to the

New Casareep supplement ...

From page 24 has the capacity to produce cassava in large quantities for the product to be made commercially viable.

MINERAL CONTENT According to research posted on the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) website, mineral blocks have been used mainly to supply nitrogen to improve rumen function, but have also been the means of delivering other nutrients, minerals or therapeutic substances to improve animal performance.

Research has shown that cassava tubers and hay are used globally as animal feed. Cassava hay is harvested three to four months when it reaches about 12 to 18 inches above ground.

It is sun dried until its final dry matter content approaches 85 percent. Cassava hay contains high protein and tannins and is an ideal source of roughage for cattle.

“It is not a probability anymore for me, it’s a possibility,”Gounga said of the new product, noting that a project has to be developed to grow the cassava in large quantities and a processing unit has to be constructed primarily for the mineral “We have the blueprint here for this product. It is only for it to go into production,” Gounga said of his team’s idea.

“We can have this casareep Eldorado,” he said of the value of the product.”

joiner.

“We believe that united parties are far superior, compared to divided, because we represent the people, we had reached out to Citizens Initiative and Change Guyana to participate and I think we would have been a stronger union with their presence because collectively we could have done a significant amount more.”

From left: Presidential Candidate of the LJP, Lenox Shuman; Presidential Candidate of TNM, Dr. Asha Kissoon; and Presidential Candidate of ANUG, Ralph Ramkarran, signed the MoU to contest the General and Regional Elections (Adrian Narine photo)

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SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Scottsville 08:20 hrs Drunken Sailor 08:55 hrs Happy Wanderer 09:30 hrs The Great Queen 10:05 hrs Seattle Force 10:40 hrs Excessive Grace IRISH RACING TIPS Navan 09:20 hrs Hollow Sound 09:50 hrs Magic Of Light 10:20 hrs Francin 10:55 hrs My Club Colours 11:30 hrs Difficult Decision 12:00 hrs First Approach 12:35 hrs Final List 13:05 hrs Ballyadam ENGLISH RACING TIPS Exeter 09:57 hrs Master Tommytucker 10:30 hrs Eritage 11:05 hrs Burrows Park 11:38 hrs Perfect Candiodate 12:10 hrs Kid Commando 12:43 hrs Atlanta Blaze 13:15 hrs Adrimel MARKET RASEN 10:05 hrs Mind The Crack 10:40 hrs Flow Away 11:15 hrs Kilconny Bridge 11:45 hrs Black Pirate 12:20 hrs Miss Amelia 12:52 hrs The Manuscript KEMPTON 10:15 hrs Clog Maker 10:50 hrs Double Legend 11:25 hrs Entangling 12:30 hrs Wiley Post 13:00 hrs Griggy

Liverpool continue winning streak

(BBC) - LIVERPOOL’S unstoppable charge towards their first top-flight title in 30 years is “outstanding”, says Jurgen Klopp after his side edged a narrow victory over bottom-of-thetable Norwich.

Sadio Mane came off the bench to score the winner with 12 minutes remaining, expertly taking down skipper Jordan Henderson’s raking pass and smashing in at the near post.

It means Klopp’s men need just five more wins from their remaining 12 games to guarantee their first Premier League title, having dropped just two points all campaign, and lie a mammoth 25 points clear of champions Manchester City.

“The gap is so insane, I don’t really understand it,” Klopp told Sky Sports.

“I am not smart enough. I have not had that before. It is outstanding, so difficult.

“I go back into the changing room and we chat about the things and then I am like ‘Oh, but congratulations. We won the game, another three points.’”

Chances were at a premium in a blustery first half, but Liverpool ramped up the pressure in the second period.

Having been pegged back for a long period, Norwich could have scored on the counter-attack as Alex Tettey’s strike from an angle caught Alisson by surprise at his near post but the effort rattled the foot of the upright.

But Senegal international Mane -

Mane scored his first Premier League goal as a substitute for Liverpool. who missed the last two games through a hamstring injury - proved to be the difference having entered the action on the hour mark.

It looked for a while that it may be a frustrating day for Liverpool at Carrow Road, misplacing a number of passes in the final third and being restricted to long-range efforts.

Keita’s drive was tipped over the crossbar by Krul, while efforts from Virgil van Dijk and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were comfortable for the Dutch goalkeeper to deal with.

When the marauding Trent Alexander-Arnold dragged a shot wide from the edge of the box after just 13 seconds, a routine win looked to be on the cards, but the Reds had to battle hard once more.

Klopp added: “I could tell in all the players’ faces that they weren’t nervous, they were enjoying it, and if one team was going to score it was going to be ours.

“We protected against the counter-attack well too. It’s really all about these wonderful football players.”

Klopp praises teams’ character for ‘incredible’ Liverpool form To say Liverpool have dominated the division is an understatement - they have annihilated all in front of them and the numbers make staggering reading: The result also means 76 points after 26 games is the best record at this juncture in the history of Europe’s top five leagues - something even the continent’s great sides including La Liga’s Barcelona, Juventus of Serie A, Bundesliga’s Bayern Munich and Ligue 1’s Paris St-Germain were unable to achieve.

The defending European champions go into Tuesday’s last-16 firstleg tie at Atletico Madrid in flawless form and Klopp’s side will take some stopping from reaching their third consecutive final, as they aim for a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble.

Duplantis breaks pole vault record (BBC) - Armand Duplantis broke his own pole vault world record by clearing 6.18m at the Indoor Grand Prix in Glasgow yesterday.

The USA-born Swede, 20, had only beaten the previous mark of 6.16m a week earlier when he cleared 6.17m in Poland.

“I’m excited for the outdoor season,” Duplantis told BBC Sport.

“The Olympics is the biggest thing an athlete can compete in and that is when I want to be at my best.”

Duplantis cleared 6.18m at the first attempt in Glasgow and received $30 000 (£23 000) for the achievement.

He was born in the United States but chose to represent his mother’s native country of Sweden.

Duplantis, who goes by the nickname Mondo, is coached

by American father Greg, who was also a pole vaulter, while mother Helena is a former heptathlete and volleyball player.

Great Britain’s Jemma Reekie won the 1500m.

The 21-year-old Scot, who recently broke three British indoor records in a week, won in a time of four minutes 4.07 seconds.

“A few points I had to get my elbows out,” she said.

“That’s middle-distance running for you. I am just learning so getting the confidence that I can do that was good.

“I was hoping I was going to beat my own British record but it’s OK, I will take the win.”

Fellow Scot Laura Muir won the 1 000m but missed out on a new world indoor record for the distance.

Muir was aiming to beat the mark of two minutes 30.94 seconds held by Maria Mutola but finished in 2:33.47.

“I would have liked to have got close to the world record but world records are not easy, you have got to work hard for them,” said Muir.

“I tried to push as best I could and I was a little bit off, but I gave it a good shot.”

Britain’s Jessie also won the women’s 400m with a time of 51.57 seconds, while Andy Pozzi ran 7.57secs to claim victory in the men’s 60m hurdles.

Armand Duplantis of Sweden celebrates winning gold in the men’s pole vault final during the Muller Indoor Grand Prix World Athletics Tour event at Emirates Arena on February 15, 2020 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday February 16, 2020) COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: (1) Australia (2) Australia & India (February 21) TODAY’S QUIZ: (1) How many teams are set to participate in the ICC Women’s World T20 2020?

(2) Name the teams that are in the group in which the WI women are a part?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 16, 2020

Professional Cricket League 4 Day Fifth round

Johnson century puts Guyana on path to victory (CMC) – CAPTAIN Leon Johnson ended a prolonged rut with his first domestic fourday hundred in nearly 2-½ years to pass 6 000 first-class runs while all-rounder Chris Barnwell smashed the second century of his career, to give Guyana Jaguars advantage on day three of their fifth-round match against Windward Islands Volcanoes.

Resuming the day at the National stadium here on 65

with his side well-placed on 145 for three in response to the hosts’ first innings of 318, the left-handed Johnson stroked a magnificent unbeaten 189 to fire Jaguars to 426 all out.

Not to be left out, Barnwell gathered a scintillating 107 after resuming from his overnight 28, posting his first century in five years.

Together, Johnson and Barnwell masterminded a 170-run fourthwicket stand which put Jaguars

in control of the contest and eventually handed them a firstinnings lead of 108 runs.

In their second turn at the crease, Volcanoes lost Roland Cato for two with the score on 10 in the sixth over, lbw to leftarm seamer Raymon Reifer, hitting across the line, to finish the day on 46 for one.

Veteran opener Devon Smith was unbeaten on 16 and partnered by captain Kavem Hodge on 17, the pair having

so far put on 36 for the second wicket.

Much will depend on the pair heading into today’s final day, especially with Volcanoes still trailing by 62 runs.

The day belonged to Johnson, however.

With a mere 77 runs in his last six innings and a single halfcentury this season, the 32-yearold relieved the pressure with a high quality innings to surpass his previous career-best 165.

He counted 20 fours in a knock requiring 357 deliveries and spanning just over 7-½ hours.

Barnwell, meanwhile, proved the ideal counter, lashing 11 fours and four sixes off 117 deliveries in just over 2-¼ hours.

Hodge eventually broke the stand with his left-arm spin, claiming Barnwell lbw, but Johnson combined in a damaging 82-run, sixth-wicket partnership with wicketkeeper

Anthony Bramble who lashed an up-tempo 47 off 62 balls with four fours and two sixes, as Jaguars raced towards the 400run mark.

Even after Bramble became one of left-arm pacer Preston McSween’s five wickets, Johnson continued to punish Volcanoes in a 40-run, ninthwicket stand with Niall Smith (11).

Red Force facing heavy defeat (CMC) - Trinidad and Tobago Red Force were left facing a heavy defeat on today’s final day, after opener Shayne Moseley struck a career-best hundred and new-ball pacers Kemar Roach and Chemar Holder tore through their top order to leave an improbable run chase in strife.

Needing a massive effort on the penultimate day here yesterday in order to remain in the contest at Kensington Oval, Red Force found themselves battered by left-hander Moseley who stroked an unbeaten 155 as Pride piled up 342 for five declared in their second innings.

All-rounder Kevin Stoute chipped in with an unbeaten 55

Fast bowler Kemar Roach grabs two wickets in one over. and Test wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, 26, before Pride put Red Force out of their misery with a declaration about 45 minutes after tea.

Set 377 for victory, Red Force

slumped to 48 for four at the close after Holder (2-13) and Roach (2-25) wiped out their top order in a lethal burst.

Left-handed opener Jeremy Solozano played back to one from Holder which kept low and was bowled in the second over for five with just nine runs on the board and captain Yannick Ottley (1) followed in the fifth over, caught at gully of the same bowler at 25 for two.

Roach then turned the game on its head in the next over when he knocked over the experienced duo of Jason Mohammed (5) and Denesh Ramdin (0) to leave the Red Force innings in disarray at 30 for four.

Mohammed, who never settled,

offered no shot to the third ball of the over and had his stumps shattered while Ramdin lasted three balls before clipping a full-length ball to mid-on where Holder pouched a simple catch above his head.

It was left to young opener Joshua DaSilva, who finished the day unbeaten on 23, to prop up the innings along with Yannic Cariah who was unbeaten on 12 at the close.

Pride had earlier taken a stranglehold on the encounter after resuming on 127 for two, as Moseley carved out his third first-class hundred and Stoute struck his second half-century of the game.

On 49 at the start, Moseley made

his way safely to 98 at lunch with Pride on 214 for three, before reaching his landmark in the second over after the interval, when he whipped leftarm seamer Daniel St Clair to the backward square boundary for his 10th four.

All told, the 25-year-old carved out 17 fours off 314 deliveries in just over 7-¾ hours at the crease.

He extended his overnight stand with Justin Greaves to 48 before losing the all-rounder, holing out to deep mid-off off left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein (2-66), after adding just seven to his overnight three.

Moseley then anchored two key partnerships to bat Red Force

out of the game. First, he posted 56 for the fourth wicket with Dowrich who struck two fours and a six off 47 balls, before falling lbw to off-spinner Bryan Charles.

And when Kyle Mayers perished cheaply for six, 19 balls later, Moseley and Stoute combined in an unbroken 114-run, sixthwicket stand to further increase Red Force’s misery.

Stoute faced 99 balls and counted six fours, reaching his half-century after tea as Moseley also passed 150 for the first time in his career.

Smith, Gordon put Scorpions ahead (CMC) – Denis Smith’s career-best half-century, coupled with Nicholson Gordon’s two strikes, put Jamaica Scorpions in pole position heading into today’s final day of their fifth-round encounter against Leeward Islands Hurricanes.

Grenadian Smith led a lower order rally with 84 as the hosts posted an impressive 385 in their first innings, to carve out a precious lead of 158 at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose

Stadium here yesterday.

Devon Thomas then top-scored with 54 as Hurricanes ended the day on 134 for four in their second innings, still behind by 24 runs.

The right-handed Thomas faced 125 balls in just over 2-½ hours and struck four fours. He put on 29 for the third wicket with Amir Jangoo (17) and 48 for the fourth wicket with captain Jahmar Hamilton (12 not out) to pull the innings around from 36 for two.

Denis Smith stroked an enterprising 84.

And he appeared to be taking his side safely towards the close when he became Gordon’s second wicket of the evening, gloving an aggressive short ball through to wicketkeeper Denis Smith.

Gordon had earlier taken the first wicket of the innings when he had Montcin Hodge caught at gully for four, slapping a wide long hop with the score on 17.

Terrance Warde, who scored an unbeaten half-century in the first innings, chose attack as the

best form of defence, crunching three fours and a six to end the day on 20 from 26 balls.

Earlier, Scorpions flourished after resuming from their overnight 260 for six, with Pete Salmon chipping in with 47 and Derval Green getting 33.

Unbeaten on 36 at the start, Denis Smith progressed to his third first-class half-century while putting on 83 for the seventh wicket with Green and a further 75 for the eighth with Salmon – two partnerships

which frustrated Hurricanes.

Smith counted 10 fours off 189 balls in just under four hours at the crease.

Green entertained with two fours and a six in a 67-ball knock while Salmon also impressed, belting four fours and a six in a 55-ball cameo to narrowly miss out on his maiden half-century.

Test off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall finished with four for 130.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 16, 2020

GCB/Dave’s West Indian Imports U-15 tournament Round 1

Hercules says U-15 tourney crucial for development of young cricketers

By Clifton Ross

PRESIDENT’S XI coach Ryan Hercules said today’s start to the 2020 Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Dave’s West Indian Imports U-15 tournament is a major stepping-stone for his players as they officially get their careers on the road.

Hercules, a former National youth pacer, told Chronicle Sport on the eve of the opening round, that apart from instilling winning principles in the youths he plans to teach them the intricacies of being an ambassador on and off the field.

“This is the transition stage where you have to be

Ryan Hercules a bit more technical with the players. I played U-15 for Guyana and this is where the learning process begins because it teaches them discipline, while it gets them on the right track of becoming good ambassadors for their

county and eventually country”, said the coach.

The Essequibian, who made his debut for the Guyana National U-15 team back in 2003, said he wants his players to learn the importance of gelling as a team, adding that over the next few rounds the players will be allowed to play and absorb in a pressure-free environment.

“When I played U-15, I wanted to enjoy my cricket with no pressure, meet teammates and do well and that’s what I plan to teach my team.

But in the process I still have to set goals to achieve and give them small goals as well. Overall it’s about helping them enjoy cricket because after U-15 it’s usually

the U-17, U-19 and possibly West Indies youth call-ups in-between; then you’re a senior.” Hercules pointed out.

Hercules, currently coaches the Guyana Police Force Sports Club team, the Essequibo senior team, title winners in the local Jaguars franchise league 50-Overs and 3-Day tournaments, and was one of the assistant coaches during the 2019 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) for the Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise.

The former pacer stated that his approach to the U-15 team will differ from that of his tactics used with the Essequibo franchise and other seasoned players he coaches.

He noted that while the se-

nior guys are used to hitting the ground running, he wants the President’s XI youths to go out and learn about the game by virtue of playing with a free mind.

“If it was the seniors then we would have gone out and worked hard from the start but I want my younger guys to enjoy the tournament because you could be talented and have no discipline and love for the game and not go anywhere in your career”.

President’s XI will be facing Berbice in their first game and the coach, switching to the on-field aspect of learning, said he wants to see competitive cricket being played by all teams over the course of the competition.

“I’m hoping for a good tourney from the youths.

Back when we played U-15 we were scoring 260 runs and so and guys like Richard Ramdeen, Steven Jacobs and others were already playing competitive cricket. So when you start being competitive at that age, eventually you go far in your cricket,” Hercules ended.

Round one bowls off today with its pair of matches from 09:30hrs, with President’s XI versus Berbice at Bourda while Demerara and Essequibo clash at the Lusignan ground.

Wins for President’s College, Marian Academy, East Ruimveldt THE Milo U-18 Football tournament opened with a bang today at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue.

The tournament, which is also sponsored by the Ministry of Education’s Stop Gender-based Violence campaign, saw a total of 17 goals scored during the three matches contested.

President’s College manhandled Queenstown 4-0 to kick things off.

A double from Shalom Chisholm (41st, 69th) and single strikes from Montel McAlmont (25th) and Jeremiah Johnson (28th) were the other two scores that accounted for the scoring.

In the second game, Marian Academy got the start they

needed when they whipped St Joseph’s 3-1.

Roland Hamilton’s 17th minute strike opened the scoring for Marian and it was followed up in the 46th by Chad Henry.

However, Khalil Gittens’ 48th minute strike brought the game back to life for St Joseph, after which Ricardo Percival (50th) added the

third in favour of the Carifesta Avenue side.

In the third game of the afternoon, St Stanislaus College went down 3-6 to East Ruimveldt Secondary.

East Ruimveldt opened the scoing with Cleon Wray in the 4th minute before Keion Marques doubled it up in the 17th.

Things would not get eas-

ier for the Brickdam side as four more goals were scored without a response; Donahvon Pyle (21st and 42nd), Jermaine Harris (24th) and Devonte Cummings (31th).

When St Stanislaus got going, they fired in three goals within nine minutes; Isaiah Jackson (43rd), Jodel Fernandes (49th) and Shawn Robertson (54th).

Matches continue today with three more games Bishops’ High will open the day with a battle against Cummings Lodge with Christianburg Secondary meeting Golden Grove at 13:45hrs.

Lodge Secondary and Ann’s Grove will play the last game of the afternoon.

DCC romp to 10-wicket victory in 40-over battle against Sophia … Watkins outstanding with bat, ball in Malteenoes’ win

DOMINANT bowling performances from Qumar Torrington and Daniel Mootoo spurred home team, Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), to a 10-wicket victory against Sophia when action in the NBS Second Division 40-over competition continued yesterday at the Queenstown ground.

Meanwhile Marcus Watkins did it at both ends to lead hometeam Malteenoes Sports Club to a convincing victory against the Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) Cricket Club.

At DCC, former West Indies Under-16 fast bowler Torrington made light of an undermanned Sophia team. Batting first, the visitors were overwhelmed by the home team’s bowlers.

Qumar Torrington (left) and Daniel Mootoo took three wickets each for DCC. Torrington, who did the damage early, captured 3-14 from four overs, while left-arm spinner Daniel Mootoo was able to undermine the middle and lower orders to finish with 3-8 from 3.2

overs.

In reply, the home team’s junior players Shamar Yearwood and Brandon Jaikaran were able to overhaul the target in quick-time.

Yearwood who scored his maiden

century last week in a two-day cricket match, finished with 25 (1x4 2x6) not out, while Jaikaran finished with 16 (2x4) unbeaten runs.

At the Malteenoes Sports Club ground, the home team romped to a 113-run victory after 32-yearold Marcus Watkins struck a half-century before picking up a five-wicket haul with his off-spin bowling.

GYO won the toss and opted to bowl, but Shemroy Barrington was in an ultra-aggressive mood.

The opener belted four sixes and three of his four boundaries early to send home team racing to 48 without loss at the end of over number two, but GYO were able to stem the runs flow.

When Barrington fell for 52 via

run-out, skipper Nichosie Barker 35 (3x4, 3x6), Jeremiah Scott 45 (5x4, 3x6) and Watkins 63 (5x4, 4x6) all batted with a high strike rate to set up a big finish. GYO again responded, this time by destroying the tail, which left the home side at 248 all out in 34.4 overs.

Skipper Divesh Ramjattan who did his damage late, finished with 3-24 from 2.4 overs, while left arm spinner Trevon France took 2-27.

In reply, France led the side with an entertaining 37 (5x4, 1x6).

Batting at number seven, he and Rohan Sukhnandan (two runs) were able to put on 40 runs for the last wicket before they were dismissed for 135 from 28.3 overs.

Michael Deonarine and Joshua Ramsammy supported with 20 each, but both succumbed to the spin of Watkins, who finished

Marcus Watkins took a five-wicket haul, after scoring a half-century for Malteenoes. with 5-32 from eight overs.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 16, 2020

President’s Rapid Open Chess tournament set for February 22 THE President’s 50th Anniversary Shield, an Open Rapid Chess tournament, is billed for February 22 as part of the country’s Golden Republic celebrations.

The eight-round tournament, being coordinated by the newly-formed Guyana Chess Academy, is held through the compliments of

President David Granger, a former head of the Guyana Chess Federation.

The one-day, FIDE-rated competition will have a time control of 15 minutes plus five seconds. Game-time is 13:30hrs and registration starts an hour earlier.

The tournament will be

contested in several categories and all the top performers will be rewarded with cash incentives.

The top five finishers in the Open, Female, Junior Open and Junior Female divisions will receive prizes, while the Best Under-12 player will be rewarded.

One of the coordinators, Irshad Mohamed, said already some of the country’s leading players have confirmed their participation and he is anticipating a keenly contested afternoon of Chess.

“We have some players from Suriname coming as well, so that will add a bit of

flair and excitement, and no doubt the local players will want to ensure they bring their A game,” Mohamed related.

The Guyana Chess Academy is grateful to His Excellency for including Chess as part of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

Persons who are interested in participating in the Rapid can contact James Bond on 600-0007, Anthony Drayton on 613-2083, John Lee ‭623 0986‬ or Irshad Mohamed on 664-1650.

The tournament is set for State House.

RHTYSC, Ansa McAl continue relationship in 2020 ANSA McAl and Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) strengthened their bond for 2020, as their timely sponsorship ties into the club’s ongoing missions for cricket development in 2020.

“All of us at the RHTYSC, MS are very grateful for your assistance over the years. For over 20 years of partnership between the clubs, Ansa McAl has touched and changed the lives of countless youths, said Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster.

Foster thanked Ansa McAl Managing Director Troy Cadogan as they renewed the long-lasting sponsorship relationship, citing the 20-plus years shared.

Under the 2020 sponsorship the company would co-sponsor

Human Resources Manager Mr Sheldon Hazelwood hands over sponsorship to RHTYSC Secretary Hilbert Foster.

the club’s 30th Anniversary magazine, 30th annual Award ceremony in April and the annual Ansa McAl Award of Excellence in July.

The company would also sponsor the annual Tribute to Teachers programme in October and support the RHTYSC’s massive Christmas Charity Programme. Last year, the company had sponsored the annual Christmas Children’s Village and the RHTYSC/BCB Youth Cricketer Booklet under its non-alcoholic brand.

Foster, who also serves as president of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), noted that Ansa McAl had also sponsored a 50 overs cricket tournament in Berbice.

The 30th Annual Award

Ceremony would be hosted in April, 2020 and a total of almost 40 awards would be shared out to outstanding members who excelled in cricket, education and community development.

Under the annual Ansa McAl Award of Excellence, five Berbicians would be honoured for their outstanding contribution to Guyana in the field of Sports, Culture, Community Development, Health and Security. On World Teachers Day in October, the club’s ten outstanding teachers will be acknowledged.

Asst Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu stated that 2020 would be a special year for the club, which is the only youth and sports club in Guyana’s history to have ever received a national award.

Its 30th anniversary would be observed in September with a target of 700 activities planned for 2020.

The club has already successfully completed over 100 in the year so far. The assissant secretary hailed the cooperation of Ansa McAl, with special mention made of Beverly Harper, Troy Cadogan, Nigel Worrell, Errol Nelson and Kris Appanah.

Managing Director Troy Cadogan, in brief remarks, expressed satisfaction with his company’s relationship with the RHTYSC. The club, he said, was doing a remarkable job of making a positive difference in Berbice.

Bounty Farm Ltd Handicap Squash Tournament

Top seeds upset as final looms THE 2020 Bounty Farm Ltd Handicap Squash Tournament continued last evening at the usual venue, the Georgetown Club, with quarter-final matches in the Open category, and plate matches in both categories.

It was a night full of upsets in the Open category as both of

the top seeded players were beaten.

Lucas Jonas (2) played excellent squash to thrash Peter Michael De Groot (-15) 15-4, 15-1 while Brian Edwards (9) had to come from one game down to miraculously oust Nicholas Narain (-15) 13-15, 15-9, 15-9.

Mohryan Baksh (0) beat Lloyd Fung-A-Fat in two close games 15-13, 15-13, while in the last of the quarter-final matches Louis da Silva (10) easily defeated Zachary Persaud (10) 15-8, 15-11.

Results of all the matches played were as follows.

OPEN category

Lucas Jonas (2) trounced Peter Michael De Groot (-15) 15-4, 15-1.

Brian Edwards (9) defeated Nicholas Narain (-15) 13-15, 15-9, 15-9.

Mohryan Baksh (0) overcame Lloyd Fung-A-Fat 15-13, 1513.

Louis da Silva (10) easily beat

Zachary Persaud (10) 15-8, 15-11.

OPEN Plate Kirsten Gomes (0) bettered Robin Lowe (9) 15-12, 15-11.

Lydia Fraser (7) got past Regan Rodrigues (8) 15-8, 15-14.

Steven Persaud (9) defeated Abosaide Cadogan (0) 15-4, 15-10.

Medhi Ramdhani (6) whipped Tian Edwards (12) 15-7, 15-9.

Category A Plate Nathan Rahaman (5) beat Joshua Verwey (-5) 15-12, 15-12.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 16, 2020

Georgetown emerge winners of DCB U-17 Inter-association

GEORGETOWN emerged winners of the DCB Under-17 Inter-Association 2020 when the final was played on Friday.

Alvin Mohabir was the star for Georgetown as he claimed 3 for 16 while he came back strong with the bat to top-score with an unbeaten 42.

At Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Georgetown won the toss and elected to field first, bowling out the West Demerara side for 92-7 from 50 overs.

Openers Avesh Persaud and Sachin Balgobin started off well before Avesh Persaud was caught for 26 and left Balgobin, who carried his bat through the innings .He ended on 28 not out. No other batsman reached

7 runs.

Alvin Mohabir was the most impressive bowler, grabbing 3 for 16 while Ezekiel Wilson took 2 for 16.

In reply, Georgetown raced to their target of 92 in 25.1 overs. They lost the two openers Jaden Campbell and Varun Mangal, who contributed 29 and 0 before Mohabir and Marlon Ramsarran took the crease and batted to the end scoring 42 and 6 not out respectively.

Deo Singh and Nityanand Mathura collected a wicket each.

Meanwhile at Lusignan Community Centre ground, East Bank won the toss and chose to field, putting East Coast in trouble as they fell for a meagre 77 all out in 26.4 overs from their reduced

30 overs.

Chandrapaul Ramraj, Mark Sukhai and Rudranauth Kisson were the only batsmen to score double digits of 17, 16 and 10 respectively.

Zachary Jodah was the most destructive bowler collecting 3 for 13 while Gustarus Hutson took 2 for 4.

In response, East Bank put up a competitive fight as they reached their target of 79 for 6 in 26.1 overs.

National Under-15 batsman Mavendra Dindyal hit an unbeaten 42 while support came from Gustava Hutson who scored 12.

Rudranuath Kisson claimed 2 for 7 while Ramraj, Omari Lallbachan and Jagdesh Tolaram took one wicket apiece. East Bank won by 4 wickets.

‘AK 47’ 100% confident of victory tonight in Guyana Mash Boxing Extravaganza

Jason ‘AK 47’ Barker (right) is looking to defeat Daren France in their heavyweight bout tonight.

The winning Georgetown team

First National Race of Champions

GMR&SC expects intense day of racing

AN intense day of racing is expected today when the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) runs off its first National Race of Champions.

According to president Rameez Mohamed, the event, which is scheduled for a 09:00hrs start is expected to feature some of the country’s best drivers in action.

According to Mohamed, the event is already heating up “We have been seeing a lot of impromptu challenges showing up on social media among the competitors in the group and we feel that we are in for

an intense day of racing.”

As it relates to the event, GMR&SC boss, who was re-elected this week said that the club is more than ready to host the event.

“Yes, we had a bit of a late start in the planning of the event, but we are more than ready to host the first circuit racing event. We held a successful tuning session yesterday where several competitors were seen going through the rounds.”

In a bid to bring more competitors in, the club has also devised a street-car class where persons could race their road-going machines for a five-lap shootout. Mohamed said

that this had encouraging signs yesterday.

“We saw that a lot of the street-car class competitors showed up today (yesterday) to get the seat time and that was very encouraging.

“We also had a few cars getting their scrutineering checks done and getting their errors pointed out, en route to being corrected for tomorrow (today). All in all, it seemed a good day.”

Today’s action is sponsored by Mohamed’s Enterprise, Tropical Shipping, KFC and Hand-In-Hand Insurance. (CC)

MORE than two years away from the ring has left former Caribbean heavyweight and superheavyweight champion Jason ‘AK 47’ Barker with a point to prove - and he intends to do that tonight when he tackles national heavyweight champion Daren France.

The main event of the much-anticipated ‘AK Fully Loaded’ Guyana Mash Boxing Extravaganza outdoor battle at the National Gymnasium is expected to be a scorcher.

Barker, who is out on parole after a period of incarceration will look to make his mark and display his talent.

“I’m confident of a victory - 100% confident,” the challenger told the Guyana Chronicle last evening.

The boxer who is ambidextrous in his delivery said that he is going to mix solid defence with well-placed shots. He aims to give the fans a show.

The 32-year-old noted that although anything can happen in the fight, tonight’s fight transcends the results. “This fight is for people to see who I am, to see my talent, my skills. It is also for me to show that I can take my game to the next level.”

Although he is not in the mix to travel to next month’s Olympic Qualifiers in Argentina, the heavyweight boxer is confident that he would make good on any opportunity given.

“Give me one chance for the Olympics.”

Barker, who had won the regional superheavyweight title in 2016, was initially sentenced to two decades in prison in 2008 at the age of 20 for robbery under arm, but he was introduced to boxing and it changed his outlook on life - he became a model inmate and a changed man.

“I don’t just like boxing, I love it - this is my life.”

Along with the main event, 10 other bouts are scheduled for the evening with boxers from several gyms across the country expected to compete.

Among them are several national pugilists and gold medallists from the December 2019 Caribbean Championships, the Jackman sisters Abiola and Alesha, who will face each other.

Wins for President’s College, Marian Academy, East Ruimveldt See story on page 37

Professional Cricket League 4 Day Fifth round

Johnson century puts Guyana on path to victory See story on page 36

Guyana Jaguars skipper Leon Johnson

Action in the 2020 Milo schools football tournament kicked off yesterday (Delano Williams Photo)

GCB/Dave’s West Indian Imports U-15 tournament Round 1

Hercules says U-15 tourney crucial for development of young cricketers

First National Race of Champions

GMR&SC expects intense day of racing See story on page 39

See story on page 37

Ryan Hercules

Stefan Jeffrey tests the unruly Honda Civic in chase of that elusive Group 3 title. (Stephan Sookram photo)

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020