Guyana Chronicle E-paper 2-2-2020

2nd February, 2020

' No.105898

President hailed for leadership on border controversy SEE STORY ON PAGE 03

…Harmon also cites reduction in crime, dedicated focus on education as reasons for re-election

West Field Prep girls last Friday thrilled the audience with their Physical Display at the National Cultural Centre during the Ministry of Education Annual Regional Children’s Mashramani Competition (See story on page 2)

‘Education on the Guyanese avionics engineer upswing in Region 3’ builds world ‘smartest’ “Black Streaming box” PAGE

11

…Mahipaul tells Leonora rally …cites Irfaan for abusing power as minister

PAGE

05

GRA revenue collection increased by 13.8% last year PAGE

22

2

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

‘Mash 2020’ off to a colourful start

--with annual children’s regional competitions

By Naomi Parris AS Guyanese everywhere prepare for the celebration of the country’s 50th Anniversary as a Republic, the Ministry of Education kicked-started the party with its annual Regional Children’s Mashramani Competition, which saw

schools in the Georgetown district vying for a spot at the upcoming national competitions.

Sporting a kaleidoscope of colours, the children commanded the stage of the National Cultural Centre (NCC) during the past week in their various costumes, taking the audience on an exciting ride as they portrayed their varying characters. Many of the costumes featured the country's national flag, ‘The Golden Arrowhead’.

On Monday, reigning National ‘Dance’ (5-7)

Champions, West Field Prep, along with Sophia and St. Pius Primary Schools were the first to take wins.

Performing a piece called “Supplication of a Child”, West Field Prep won the “Religious Belief” segment of the competition, while Sophia won the “Ring Games” section with a piece called “Small Days”, and St. Pius won in “Fantasy” with a Barbie doll-themed piece called “Reflection”.

On Tuesday, North Georgetown, Graham’s Hall, and Green Acres Primary Schools were among the first to secure trophies as the Georgetown District leg of the Competition entered Day Two. Graham’s Hall secured first place in the Calypso (5-7) Category, while North Georgetown placed second. In the Dramatic Poetry segment, also in the (57) age group, Green Acres Primary copped the top spot, followed by North TURN TO PAGE

West Field Prep girls dancing their little hearts out to place first in the “Religious Belief” Category

03

St. Pius Primary doing their Barbie-themed piece, which saw them take the lead in the “Fantasy” Category that day

Kevis Booker, 16, of the Sophia Special School, was the first winner of the newly-introduced Jingle Competition

Children preforming their Calypso and Dramatic pieces during the competition, which was held at the National Cultural Centre

Danagelo Cort of Graham’s Hall Primary collecting his First Prize trophy for the Individual Custome Segment of the competition. Cort and a few of his classmates also copped the First Prize in the Group Costume Category

3

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

Harmon hails Pres. Granger leadership on border controversy …cites reduction in crime, dedicated focus on education as reasons for re-election

By Tamica Marshall PRESENTING President David Granger as the best leader to transform Guyana, Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, has said that under the leadership of President Granger, the country experienced a reduction in crime and the age-old Guyana-Venezuela border controversy was referred to the International Court of Justice.

Harmon pointed to the increase in investments made to the Joint Services that has brought about a reduction in serious crimes across the country.

“You have made Guyana safe for all of our people, investing heavily in Guyana Police Force and Guyana Defence Force by equipping them and reorganising them to make our people feel safe.

You have made Guyana safe again,” Harmon noted.

Harmon, who was at the time delivering remarks at the APNU+AFC rally at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, Region Three, on Friday, spoke of how the President directed Guyana’s handling of the border controversy and improved relations within the Caribbean, returning respect for Guyanese citizens abroad.

“When everyone was saying Venezuela this and that, you went to the UN and stood there next to Nicholas Maduro. That arbitration award

was final and we are prepared to test the matter, shows you are Guyanese to the bone and I salute you again,” Harmon said.

He added: “From the first day in office, our foreign policy was based on recognition that CARICOM is central to us. Because of that energy to CARICOM, no longer is there a Guyanese bench in Trinidad, no longer a Guyanese bench in Barbados. No more Guyanese benches. In fact people are coming to our shores to be part of what is taking place here.”

SACRIFICE Harmon, who is also the APNU+AFC campaign manager, commended the President for his sacrifice and labour to the country, naming some of the many initiatives that the President has put in place in the past four years that have benefitted all Guyanese across the country.

“We are at the top of our game because of the leadership of David Arthur Granger.

I salute you sir, because you have made our country proud, make every Guyanese proud.

No matter where in the world Guyanese are, they are proud because of what has happened in our country over past four and a half years,” Harmon said.

Preceding Harmon’s speech were two students from the Patentia and Lenora secondary schools, who took to the stage to thank the President for the David Granger

5Bs Initiative, which provides transportation, free of cost, to take children to school.

The initiative, which started in 2016, provides busses, bicycles and boats and has proven to increase attendance of school children in schools all across the country. Another component of the programme also provides breakfast and books to the students.

“The David ‘G’ bus helped us to get to school on time, every day. On behalf of the children of Region Three, we would like to say thank you Mr. President,” the students expressed, to wild cheers from the vibrant crowd.

Starting at around 17:00hrs, the event opened with inter-religious prayers by representatives of the Christian, Hindu and Muslim communities. The event also included a mini-cultural show, with speeches being interjected with performances by the Berbice Delight Dancers, Chutney singers, Bunty Singh and Steven Ramphal, and reigning Soca Monarch, Brandon Harding, all of whom have become staples at the party’s campaign rallies, much to the delight to the party’s supporters.

LOVE AND UNITY As usual, the performers delivered messages of love and unity through their pieces.

Harmon reminded that love and unity are two principles upon which the coalition government has been built.

Ministry of the Presidency, Director-General, Joseph Harmon

The formulation of the party through the coming together of a number of political parties, he noted, is indicative of this.

“Mr. President I salute you for taking six political parties and make it work as a coalition. You defied conventional logic which says coalition doesn’t work and proven to the world that coalition can work. When distant voices were saying that coalition can’t last, we should separate, you said we are better together,” Harmon said.

He added, “Mr. President, you have changed the political landscape of Guyana.

Elections must never be about

‘Mash 2020’ off to a colourful ...

Georgetown Primary in second place, and St. Margaret’s Primary in third. Later in the day, North Georgetown would go on to cop the first prize in both the Calypso and Dramatic Poetry (8-10) Category, while Grahams Hall, doing a piece called “Mr. CEO”, would place first in the Calypso (5-7) Category, and Green Acres Primary would do likewise in the (5-7) Dramatic Poetry Segment with a piece called, “On Behalf of All Children”. The pieces that saw North Georgetown Primary take both the Calypso and Dramatic Poetry titles in the (8-10) Category were “Stay in School” and “Guyanese Barrel”.

All three schools were top performers in the Dance (5-7) Category that day.

West Field Prep girls delivering a captivating performance during their Physical Display at the National Cultural Centre

WEDNESDAY HAPPENINGS On Wednesday, Kevis Booker, a 16-year-old student

FROM PAGE

02

of the Sophia Special School was the first person to win a trophy in the newly-introduced Jingle Competition, promoting non-violence in schools.

The day also saw Morgan's Learning Academy placing second, and St John's College and East Ruimveldt Secondary coming in third in the Secondary Choir presentation.

Meanwhile, in the Hip Hop Dance Competition on Thursday, The Bishops' High School won the contest hands down, leaving the Government Technical Institute to trail at second.

On Friday, the competition saw a varying number of entries in the Primary and Secondary Schools Costume Category, with Graham’s Hall Primary copping first place with its ‘Celebration of Music Education in the Primary Sector’ theme, and Winfer Gardens Primary placing second with their STEM-themed costumes, and St. Margret’s

all to the winner and nothing to the loser. You recognise that unity is the strength to Guyana. Making an entire department of social cohesion within the Ministry of the Presidency, because you recognise what unity is to the people of this country.”

The first speaker of the night, Harmon also extended gratitude to First Lady, Sandra Granger, for being there for and supporting the President in his mission to make Guyana a more-developed country.

“I want to send this message to our First Lady, Sandra Granger, on behalf of all of the people of Region Three Primary and F.E Pollard Primary sharing third place.

In the Secondary (1418) Category, St. Barnabas Secondary won the top positon, leaving West Ruimveldt Secondary to come in second, and Tucville Secondary third. Tucville Secondary also placed first in the Physical Display Category, trumping Queen’s College, which placed second, and St. Johns College, which placed third.

WEEK AHEAD Events featuring Dance,

and the rest of the world.

Thank you to her for standing by you through thick and thin, through sickness and health.

We who serve with you as ministers, we know what time you wake up because by 03:00hrs you have a telephone call, a cell phone message, cell phone pin and all of that. While some people are asleep, you are awake. Those who know what time he goes to bed find out what time he wakes up,” Harmon said.

For those reasons and more, Harmon noted that the choice for citizens at the March 2 Regional and General Elections is clear.

“An ancient writer said the height of great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden fight, but they, while their companions slept, toiled through the night. I salute you for toiling for the people of Guyana. For all of the above and more, on March 2 when you go to polling booth, remember what you are voting for, for APNU and our Commander-in-Chief and we salute you sir. So again, I say we are moving forward together,” he said.

Poetry and other Cultural aspects will continue throughout the coming week, with the top performing schools in the varying categories moving on to represent their respective Districts at the National leg of the Competition, where they will compete against teams from all across the Country.

Each of the country’s ten administrative regions will be hosting their regional competitions to select the entries that will represent them in the national competition.

4

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

Coronavirus: US and Australia close borders to Chinese arrivals (BBC) Countries around the world have closed their borders to arrivals from China, as officials work to control the rapid spread of the coronavirus. ..The US and Australia said they would deny entry to all foreign visitors who had recently been in China, where the virus first emerged in December.

Earlier, countries including Russia, Japan, Pakistan and Italy announced similar travel restrictions.

But global health officials

have advised against such measures.

“Travel restrictions can cause more harm than good by hindering info-sharing, medical supply chains and harming economies,” the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

The WHO recommends introducing screening at official border crossings. It has warned that closing borders could accelerate the spread of the virus, with travellers entering countries unofficially.

China has criticised the wave of travel restrictions, accusing foreign governments of ignoring official advice.

“Just as the WHO recommended against travel restrictions, the US rushed in the opposite direction,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. “[It is] certainly not a gesture of goodwill.”

What is the latest?

The death toll from the new virus, which is officially called 2019-nCov, now stands at 259.

All the deaths occurred within China and the majority were in Hubei province, where the virus originated.

Almost 12,000 cases have been confirmed and a small

proportion of those - around 100 - have been identified outside China. The UK, US, Russia and Germany have all confirmed cases in recent days.

Meanwhile authorities in Hubei extended the Lunar New Year holiday until 13 February and announced marriage registrations would be suspended to discourage public gatherings.

China started celebrating the holiday on 24 January, and Chinese officials had already extended the break in an attempt to postpone travel by large numbers of people as they return to work.

Hospital workers in Hong Kong have voted to go on strike from Monday unless the territory’s border with

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 02, 2020 - 10:30hrs

mainland China is completely closed. The Hong Kong government has refused to do so citing WHO recommendations.

The number of coronavirus cases worldwide has overtaken that of the similar Sars epidemic, which spread to more than two dozen countries in 2003.

But the mortality rate of the new virus is much lower than that of Sars, which has led officials to believe it is not as deadly.

Estimates by the University of Hong Kong suggest the total number of cases could be far higher than official figures suggest. More than 75,000 people may have been infected in the city of Wuhan, which is at the epicentre of the outbreak, experts say.

How are countries outside China responding?

A string of travel restrictions have been announced in recent days.

The US, which declared a rare public health emergency, banned entry from all foreign nationals who had visited China in the past two weeks.

US citizens and residents returning from Hubei province, where the outbreak started, will be quarantined for 14 days. Those returning from other parts of China will be allowed to monitor their own condition for a similar period.

Another confirmed case in the US on Friday - in California - brought the number there to seven. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said 191 people were under observation.

Australia, which announced a similar ban, said any of its own citizens arriving from China would be quarantined for two weeks.

There have also been a number of evacuations from China as foreign governments work to bring their citizens back.

More than 300 Indians arrived in Delhi on Saturday after they were evacuated from Wuhan, while about 100 Germans arrived in Frankfurt later the same day.

Thailand is also set to evacuate its nationals from the city in the coming days.

Russia will evacuate several hundred of its citizens from Hubei province on Monday and Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Countries evacuating citizens are expected to quarantine them for two weeks to monitor them for symptoms and avoid contagion.

Saturday February 1, 2020

01 04 06 20 21 22 16

February 1, 2020

D

1

06, 07, 08, 18, 23

0, 4, 7

5, 3, 1

05, 08, 09, 11, 12

6

7

20 21

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

Guyanese avionics engineer builds world ‘smartest’ “Black Streaming box”

By Alva Solomon He said the journey to where he is today was a long one, one which started when he decided to teach himself about electronics at the age of 12 during his days in Kitty and Campbellville.

But this former Christ Church Secondary student, who holds the position of Production Supervisor at the world’s most advanced flight-data avionics company, is among an elite group of engineers who created an avionics service which may ultimately replace the famous “black box” flight data recorder.

Geoff Warren with a flight data streaming device.

The name Geoff Warren rings a bell in the local aviation circles but many may not know that this former Government Technical Institute (GTI) student oversees the production operations of FLYHT Aerospace Solutions, a Canadian company based in Calgary which has a growing reputation in international aviation.

The company provides flight data satellite communication services, referred to as Automated Flight Information Reporting System or AFIRS, in real time, to several of the world’s top airlines and Canada’s WestJet recently signed a contract for the in-demand service. Given the nature of recent major aircraft crashes globally, Warren’s expertise may be in demand.

The avionics system developed by FLHT, according to reviews posted online, acts as an alternate to the famous ‘black box” flight data recorder which is usually installed on aircraft for the purpose of investigating aircraft incidents.

The information, which includes aircraft operations, weather and communication data, according to FLYHT Aerospace, is captured, processed, and transmitted to the ground operations of the airline. Here engineers on the ground are able to monitor, in real time, alerts relative to the aircraft operation including engine trouble among others.

Presently, Warren is in charge of the Production Lab at FLYHT Aerospace in Calgary.

The lab is both a manufacturing facility and an AMO— Approved Maintenance Organization.

BUT WHO IS GEOFF WARREN? “I started my career when I was still a teenager,” Warren, who is also a recreational pilot, said in laughing tones.

Nicknamed ‘the Professor” by his peers, Warren told the Guyana Chronicle from Canada recently, that “I self- taught myself electronics at age 12, graduated Christ Church Secondary and went to GTI for 2 years to do Radio Television servicing.”

He excelled at ‘TI’ having graduated with the best electrical student award, attaining the City & Guilds certificate.

Many who worked at the defunct Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC) would remember Warren. Still in his teens, he was employed at by GAC in 1976 as the youngest Avionics techni-

cian at the time.

He said that he was hired and trained in a class room by his mentor, the late Everad Burnham, the Avionics and Communication Superintendent at GAC’s Avionics /Engineering Department.

Warren said GAC Avionics Department was charged with the maintenance of all government aircraft at the time and the fleet included those which belonged to the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Sugar Corporation and the Bermine bauxite firm. Importantly, the Presidential Beechcraft and Bell 412 helicopter were among those which the GAC maintained.

“That’s how I got my practical experience in avionics both in the avionics workshop and line maintenance,” Warren said.

In 1984, he parted ways with GAC and ventured in to the green pastures at Ogle airstrip, now the Eugene F Correia International Airport, where he freelanced, providing avionics services to the private operators such as Air Services Limited, George Gransault’s aircraft company, Corriea Holdings (now Trans Guyana Airways) and aircraft of the late pilot Derek Leung.

In 1988, Warren was employed permanently

by Trans Guyana. He recalled those teething days of aviation at Ogle.

“We had no hanger and worked out in the elements on floor boards over the swamp,” he recalled. He said the company built a hanger in the early 1990’s and he began setting up its avionics shop and he was able to have it approved as part of an Approved Maintenance Organization.

The determined Warren said that as a result of his years of experience in the sector, he challenged himself to write the prestigious Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Aircraft Maintenance Examinations (AME) and after successfully overcoming that hurdle, he obtained an Avionics Licence in 1990.

Warren said Trans Guyana decided to build an avionics shop and was approved in 1995 as a first in the Caribbean to confirm to the new JAR145 Standards.

MOVING TO CANADA After exhausting his abilities here, Warren decided to venture further into the sector and as such he migrated to Canada ,”to start the next chapter in my career.”

Now in his 60s and still hungry for aviation, Warren said it was a long journey to where he is at the moment.

Canada is the great equalizer, he said. ”Your life gets reset to zero when you arrive. You can’t get a job without Canadian experience and you can’t get experience without a job,” he explained.

He said he spent a year in Toronto without finding an aviation job, and his AME licence was useless,” but I still had my skill. So I jumped in my car and drove 3500kms in 3 days North West to Calgary Alberta, where I got a job as an Avionics’s technician.”

He said that in the year 2000, he wrote the Transport Canada AME licence exam and was awarded his engineer licence.

This would be the vehicle to his success on Canadian soil. He said he worked with the largest independent avionics shop in western Canada for 13 years before he was approached by FLYHT to build their AFIRS black box.

FLYHT’S GLOBAL REPUTATION According to online posts, FLYHT is 20 years into the avionics industry with experience in streaming technology.

Warren said in a post online that the once the black-recorder box system is installed in a commercial aircraft, if there is an accident, FLYHT doesn’t have to find its black boxes to know what happened to the aircraft since all the data from cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) would have been already streamed in real time and available on the ground servers.

He said the invention is also a satellite phone, since it can send and receive text messages and

5

Geoff Warren (centre) with other staff of FLYHT Aerospace Solutions

email alerts and iPad connectivity for electronic flight bag.

PROUD GUYANESE Warren described himself as a big-bike enthusiast. He collects and restores Japanese sport bikes and turbo charged cars.

He is also a trained flight test engineer, involved in flight testing light aircraft to certify them after auto pilot repairs.

Warren is proud of his Guyanese heritage and he regularly posts photographs on his social media pages which features the Golden Arrowhead.

6

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

The role of policy in the current election campaign BECAUSE of our general ethnic voting patterns, most analysts tend to downplay the importance of policies in influencing electoral choice. In other words, the assumption is that ethnic voting patterns and adherence to policies are not interrelated. Yet, as we observe the current electoral campaign, one senses that the contestants are being forced to address policies more than they have previously done. Perhaps this has to do with the development of a critical mass of citizens who now ask more questions of politicians than before and are prepared to withhold their votes if they are not satisfied that the parties pay enough attention to policies. It may also have to do with the fact that the coming of the oil and gas economy dictates that politicians address the central questions which accompany that development.

We believe that it is a combination of the two factors. A democratic society presupposes an informed citizenry and an informed citizenry assumes the free flow of information in the public domain. Certainly, the current government can take credit for ensuring the conditions for freedom of speech and a free exchange of information were restored and protected during its first term. So, it is not surprising that citizens are in a place where they are much more informed about the workings of government and feel freer to critique governance. This we believe has been critical to the evolution of a more questioning electorate, even if ethnicity continues to play some role in voting preferences.

This, in conjunction with the movement to an oil and gas economy or what President Granger calls the Petroleum State forces the

politicians to contend with the overriding question: what is to be done? To our credit there has been quite a robust public discussion surrounding this question. From the often shrill discussion of the oil contracts in some quarters to the more sober debates over what to do with the expected income, there has been no shortage of opinions on the subject. This has no doubt helped to raise questions in the minds of voters and the population at large.

While some politicians have continued to stress negative themes on the campaign trail, others have read the mood of the people and have generally used the campaign to put policy ideas before the electorate. Here, one cannot fault President Granger and his coalition. Very early they introduced the Decade of Development which rests on four critical areas of the country’s political economy: the engagement of technology,

the environment, education and the imperatives of an oil and gas economy represents a holistic vision for a changing Guyana. Unfortunately, the other political contestants have not matched the coalition in this regard. We, however, remain optimistic that sooner rather than later they would follow suit. Until then, the coalition has the advantage that foresight brings with it.

As if to demonstrate that it is very much in step with the mood of the electorate, this past week Mr. Granger announced that his coalition has embraced the much-debated Cash Transfer proposal that was first introduced in August 2018 by coalition partner, the WPA. After much discussion and some hesitancy in some quarters, the coalition has come out in support of what appears to be a very popular policy among the voting masses. As the WPA has argued, the policy

is aimed at empowering the poor in the society with the guarantee of a direct infusion of added income aimed at poverty alleviation.

While the PPP has also promised some form of Cash Transfer, the coalition’s proposal is more direct and detailed and goes beyond political gimmickry. President Granger announced at Anna Regina that the cash grants will be given to households with schoolchildren. On the face of it, the president merges the Cash Transfer policy with his broader policy for an Education Nation. As the President explained: “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.”

Amidst loud cheers, the president vowed not to use the oil money to empower millionaires. This is the clearest statement yet from a ma-

jor leader on the ideological underpinnings of economic and social policy in the new dispensation. The embrace of the Cash Transfer policy also represents the value of coalition politics as policy initiatives from two partners have been merged into a single policy proposal. This no doubt is a clear rejection of the notion that the coalition is being dominated by one party.

As the parties prepare to roll out their manifestos, the coalition has set a standard, as far as policy proposals are concerned, that would be hard to surpass, In the end, we think this is a very positive development; the country’s political culture would surely be enhanced. Perhaps we are slowly but surely finding a way to creatively contain the impact of ethnic voting.

We shall see.

Cheddi Jagan in the 70s called on his supporters to guard ballot boxes and polling stations Dear Editor,

THE PPPC’s hysterical reaction to comrade Volda Lawrence’s call at the Kitty rally that was sponsored by the APNU+AFC, for supporters to work the “night shift” outside of the polling stations to protect their votes, is not new, since both major parties have made this call at previous elections. However, the PPP/C’s contrived hysteria is understandable; it has to be seen in the context of Jagdeo and the party leaders present posture of crying “wolf” when none exists, with the specific intention of mobilising the international community to help them unseat the very popular incumbent APNU+AFC coalition government as it moves inexorably towards victory on March 2, 2020.

When a close examination of the PPP/C’s behaviour in government during previous

election seasons is undertaken, a certain posture will be noticeable. For as long as that party had control of the powers of the state, the leaders of the party with no exception used their exalted positions to engage in election rigging, intimidation, entering polling stations, and giving instructions to election officials across the country.

When Jagdeo emerged as the leader of the party and as president of Guyana, he helped to refine the methods they applied.

It was in response to these illegal actions that the opposition APNU in 2011 and later the APNU+AFC in 2015, resorted to the tactics which were first developed by the PPP when it was in the opposition in the 70s.

I use this opportunity to remind the PPP/C and the nation that in developing these tactics that, that party paid a high price for the line of action on which they had embarked. In giving recognition to the impact and

“legitimacy” of the activity that party’s founding leader and former president of Guyana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, was instrumental in commemorating in the PPP the memory of what they referred to as the “Ballot Box Martyrs,” who he claimed died in an effort at protecting what he referred to as the seizure of the ballot boxes by security forces in the 1973 elections.

Jagdeo and his cohorts have now either forgotten or, have deliberately set out to deny the legitimacy of the PPP supporters’ actions by their attempts at criminalising Lawrence’s call to the supporters of the incumbents to protect their votes. These tactics, which were fashioned in the blood of their supporters, are now being unceremoniously cast aside and portrayed as illegal and criminal by the very PPP/C, which designed it in the first place. This abandonment of an electoral tactic that they have used with

some degree of success for ages is mind-boggling, but is consistent with Jagdeo’s opportunistic political positions. In their haste to make cheap propaganda – much ado about nothing -- they have created a hue and cry to attract the attention of an unsuspecting populace at home and abroad who prove to be very gullible to Jagdeo’s political sensationalism.

In this election period, statements by politicians have to be deciphered in the context of our political culture. The PPP/C invokes the issue of rigging as an effective means to mobilise its supporters. Similarly, the APNU+AFC is doing the same, by calling on supporters to defend their votes, invoking memories of post-1992 rigging by the PPP/C. Comrade Volda Lawrence’s call has nothing to do with obstructing the work of GECOM officials at polling stations, neither is it about promoting violence. The PPP/C

is not that “mad” to attempt what they used to do when they were in power: the reality is that without state power they are unlikely to go in the strongholds of the APNU+AFC to interfere with the electoral process. But the APNU+AFC has learned its lesson. It is very unlikely that the APNU+AFC supporters will do “Night Shift” in areas where they don’t have a large following. Therefore, I repeat, this PPP/C crusade is about nothing -- so to speak.

As expected, the PPP/C’s support groups such as the Private Sector Commission has echoed that party’s condemnation of Lawrence’s statement.

Stabroek News also joined the crusade by dedicating its Jan 27-2020 editorial to the subject, with its caption “Security of the Polling Stations.” I am not questioning the right of SN to decide what is or is not newsworthy and deserving of an editorial, since that is within

the remit of the newspaper.

However, it is the right of readers to form their own judgement on a given editorial. Stabroek News cannot deny it is unaware of the information mentioned in my letter. The paper clearly in its editorial, took a partisan PPP/C position when it stated that Ms. Lawrence‘s statement was “irresponsible.”

I expect SN to disagree with my criticism of its editorial. Hopefully, I may not be victimised as is the case with Kaieteur News, which has banned me from their letter column, and more recently has taken the unprecedented measure to spam/block my email address, resulting in every letter I send to that media house being returned as failed delivery. So much for that newspaper’s democratic credentials.

Regards Tacuma Ogunseye

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

7

20 additional reasons for the APNU+AFC government to be proud of its record Dear editor, THERE is a new political movement which has taken about 19 Guyanese by storm. The new movement is made up of all minor political parties that come under the umbrella,The Critic Initiative(TCI). Most, if not all must be aware of the mother of all elections reproducing like it’s nobody’s business. The inevitable result was eight premature prenatal deaths and now nine struggling premature infants. Counted among the prenatal deaths was the Christian Party which apparently had planned to eradicate homosexuality and set Guyana on a new spiritual path. Unfortunately, the leader was caught lying to the Guyana’s ’God’ aka GECOM and was kicked out like Mr. Granger has been kicking out corruption. While this saga was unfolding, the world renowned kleptomaniac, The Perennial Propaganda Party(PPP), was busy fathering the struggling premature infants. When presented with the fruits of his labour, he flatly refused to sign the birth certificates, stating that he is not prepared to take bastard kids to his holy Pradoville mansion.

So now the fatherless TCI, living in abject poverty, are without a policy shirt or a manifesto trousers. Apparently, young kids don’t need clothes to be running around like Adam and Eve. While they ran around with apparently no trouble in the world, their deadbeat father figured out that they may be useful in creating mischief by calling around government ministries and hospitals begging for photos.

The PPP-Children (PPP-C) under instructions from their ruthless and heartless father would unashamedly state that, they would rather the photos not be recent and preferably taken when the PPP was in power and the entire country was in a state of disrepair. If on any given day they encounter difficulties in acquiring photos, then Google Images is there to rescue them. Once a photo is acquired, they set off with pho-

to in hand, rushing to social media, head over heels where they upload said image and in their premature cretinous state will argue, worse than a high-wine-drinking drunkard, that the government is a failure. Yes, one propaganda still image defines the success and failure of a government.

Clearly, this must be cases of severe mercury toxicity.

Before you rush to the conclusion that I’m confabulating, I should make it pellucid that I don’t do stories, I leave that for Enid Blyton. To allay your fears I will provide two examples: last week, quite a few of the impolitic TCI uploaded an image of a severely leaking roof at the West Demerara Hospital. They were going on and on about this leak, as if they were afflicted by a severe Jagdeo-type diarrhoeal disease. One good doctor, clearly exasperated by their regular miasmic utterances, suggested that they cut down on their daily laxative use since the entire world is infuriated with the daily feculent and odious matter emanating from their claret-red lips. Anyway, word got to the West Demerara Hospital hierarchy about this inexplicable oral proliferation. As a result, the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Erica Kirton had to interrupt her Sunday prayers to inform us that the PPP/C was lying.

She went on to state, with elegance, confidence and poise, that the image that is being circulated was taken in 2007 when the PPP government was in power and completed another of its poor quality projects. The reasons why the quality was substandard is multifactorial: firstly, one of their cronies who has no experience in construction, was awarded the multimillion dollar contract. Frankly, I wouldn’t trust those clowns to build a fowl pen, much less a hospital. Secondly, the selected crony had an obligation to pay a massive bribe to the government. It is called greasing the government official’s hand. Finally, with a significantly reduced budget they can purchase only poor quality materials, hence the poor quality job.

Now the second example or rather second source of

belly-bursting laughter. The vacuous TCI are irritatingly persistent, worse than that of an annoying fly. Having being caught lying the first time, they unashamedly ran out with another of their acquired image. This time the propaganda is of shortage of gloves at Linden Hospital. One of the dim-witted PPP/C was hilariously begging on social media for donations to source gloves for the hospital. But there was just one problem: even if millions of dollars of donations were received, these type of gloves are not available at general stores or pharmacies. Anyway, the very day the image was uploaded to facebook, the CEO Mrs. Michelle Bollers received an emergency bleep with the message, “dullards at it again.” A single phone call confirmed Mrs. Bollers’ worst fear. The anencephalic cretins were metastasising propaganda faster than that of the WHO worrying coronavirus. The goodly CEO had only one choice: interrupt her Sunday sermon; retrieve her megaphone from the mountain top and shout, TCI you lie. TCI you lie. TCI you lie, lie, lie. The fact is that there was absolutely no shortage of gloves. The only shortage that should be concerning to most Guyanese is a severe shortage of commonsense in these political nincompoops.

From the Madam CEO’s explanation, it is obvious that there was absolutely no need for the TCI simpleton to beg for money on social media. Frankly, she could have saved the little dignity she had, if she had simply sat down at some random corner on Regent Street with begging bowl in hand and a note stapled to her chest, which would have read, “Desperately need your help. I have legal bills to pay.”

Mr. Editor and there are many more of this foolish propaganda. You see the main role of the PPP-Children (PPP-C) aka TCI is to show the government in a bad light by spreading blatant lies and propaganda.

The infantile plan is for the PPP to make inroads into the government’s countryside strongholds as a result of this uncertainty, while the

government is focused on addressing the propaganda.

Kind of a toddler-level quid pro quo. TCI gets revenge against the government, since that is what drives the clownish party, while the PPP forms the next government.

That fact is that problems, like the poor, will forever be with us. If I am to leave my home and walk for 10 minutes, I will find many problems. I may see a few potholes which are common during the winter, as a result of the freezing temperatures, damaging the roads. I may see random empty wrappings on the roadside, compliments of kids dropping them on their way from school. I may also see a flickering road light which is close to the end of its natural life. The electorate is aware of these random problems and will never use them to judge a government’s success or failure. A good opposition leader will never be caught up with those random issues. A good opposition leader would want to establish if these issues are systemic. If these issues are reflected in most communities in Guyana. A good opposition leader would then highlight these issues to the electorate with a view to reinforce his theory that the government is failing the electorate. A good opposition leader will then proceed to articulate his plans on how he will address them if elected. Simply highlighting a problem does not suffice.

The electorate wants to know what you will do differently.

What the PPP-Children are doing is bound to fail.

Just like their daddy who shared one random picture of one Afro-Guyanese acquiring a two-inch piece of land and used that to fallaciously argue that this government is working only for Afro-Guyanese. His clueless, mercury toxic children are producing random images, which so far are all false, to argue that the government is a failure. Clearly neither daddy nor picknies are reading the newspapers, following social media, listening to the radio or looking at TV. If they had they would have seen all the hundreds of projects this government completed in 2019 alone. The government

is providing evidence from all regions of Guyana of what they have done and is desperately crying out to have an election based on issues and not propaganda, lies or race.

The PPP would rather not speak of their sordid 23-year record, hence the desperate attempt to have their children do their dirty work. That’s speaks of poor leadership that no amount of mercury can correct.

Now please have a look at what your government did in 2019 Regions 7&8.

61. Bartica -Potaro road upgrade($132M) 62. Building of hinterland highway($303 Billion) 63. Rehabilitative road work from White Hill to Issano($126M) 64. 3.3MW power plant at Bartica ($800M) 65. The Bartica Magistrate’s Court($174M) 66. Water ambulance for Region Seven($11M) 67. Paruima Primary School($31M) 68. Kamarang Primary School($30M) 69. Bartica mining lottery for 136 blocks 70. First warden station 71. Kato hydropower($450M) 72. Kato Secondary school

73. Monkey Mountain lapidary($16M) 74. New Mahdia Magistrate court($140M) 75. Outreach medical service at Monkey Mountain 76. Tractor for Kato Secondary school 77. Cryotherapy machine for Mahdia hospital.

78. Resource centre for Mahdia Secondary School($1M) 79. Electronic tablets for Kato Secondary School 80. Water system for Paramakatoi I will repeat and will continue to repeat ad nauseam: the PPP is ashamed of its record, hence the reason they do not speak about it or put it up to the electorate’s scrutiny. APNU+AFC are proud of their record, but recognise that you are their employers.

You are their employers to determine if you are happy to give them a next five years. With the PPP’s continued reluctance to discuss their record, the choice is obvious-- Forward ever, backward never with APNU+AFC. Regards Regards Dr. Mark Devonish MBBS MSc Med. Ed

8

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

CROPS AND CASH NOTHING could be more soothing to the ears than the announcement by President David Granger that state lands would be given to former sugar workers for crops and housing, and that cash transfers from oil revenues would be made to help in the education of the nation’s schoolchildren.

The President made those disclosures last week when he addressed huge APNU+AFC Coalition elections rallies at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, and at Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast.

Recently I had penned a Letter to newspaper editors in which I said that when the coalition returns to office after the March 2 elections, it would continue to support the sugar industry and to ensure diversification that would enlist the involvement of sugar workers.

“Sugar workers will be given plots of land on the estates to pursue farming, aquaculture and rearing of livestock, and will receive assistance to make them productive partners in Guyana’s development,” I wrote in affirmation of a policy by government.

The President elaborated that he would set up a State Land Resettlement Commission to allocate lands to former sugar workers. These workers were displaced from their jobs when operations at the seven estates were merged to have three grinding estates, although 10,000

jobs were saved.

While some of the laidoff workers found alternative jobs, others turned to agriculture on lands where they once cultivated sugar canes. At Wales, since 2017 several former workers cultivated cash-crops and rice and reared cattle.

The opening up of lands to former sugar workers augurs well for our country. At a time when we have started to produce oil, we should also boost agriculture, fishing and livestock ,so that Guyana will have balanced development based on fuel and food.

CASH TRANSFER The APNU+AFC Government has also agreed to diverse representation for cash transfers from oil proceeds to our people. Though the amount and the criteria for transfers have not been placed in the public domain, President Granger has identified one group of persons who would benefit from cash transfers – our schoolchildren.

Under the APNU+AFC Government, parents benefitted tangibly from the President’s Five Bs Project under which schoolchildren have been provided with boats, buses, bicycles, books and book-bags. A significant number of children get at least one hot meal daily.

A new impetus would be given to the quest of the Guyanese people for the good life with assurances of more crops from former sug-

ar fields and meaningful cash transfers for our children’s education.

DISPOSABLE INCOMES These would boost disposable incomes and would complement the 77 per cent rise in salaries to public servants, increases in old age pensions and social assistance, reduction of corporate taxes from 40 to 25 per cent, lowering of VAT by 2 per cent and exemption from VAT of small businesses.

Since the coalition took office, thousands of workers who earn less than $780,000 have been removed from the income tax net, and this taxfree threshold could be raised to a flush one million dollars in the near future.

The coalition government has been cautious in making promises that could not be delivered in the face of rising expectations. In Essequibo last week, I reminded farmers that we had promised to find markets for their rice and paddy, and we did. Guyana today sells to some 35 countries, and though it produced in excess of one million metric tonnes of paddy last year, unless new lands are brought into rice production it is likely that we would be unable to supply these markets. It is in this context that the announcement by the President would result in rice production being given a further boost on lands in the sugar belt that would be given to former sugar workers.

ANTI-NAGA MANIACS While I would like to stay on the subject I like best – oil and soil – I was distracted by the frenzied response by the anti-naga maniacs to my remarks that there should be no more one-party rule in Guyana. (Guyana Times, 20/01/01).

That was the consistent position of PPP’s founder-leader, Dr. Cheddi Jagan.

In 1964 he had proposed a coalition between the PPP and the PNC, with joint premiership. Ten years later, he proposed the formation of a National Front, and a Front Government. He then entered into talks with the PNC for a national unity government which might have happened, had it not been for the sudden (and in this context, untimely and tragic) death of Forbes Burnham.

Cheddi Jagan always wanted an end to winner-takes-all-politics. But the image painted of him as an avowed communist stood in his way to promote a truly nationalist government.

But the wind started to blow in his direction towards the end of the Cold War when the celebrated West Indian author, V.S. Naipaul, described him as an “ethical Marxist,” a reformed communist.

MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY Cheddi and I worked jointly on articles in which he asserted that “multi-party democracy is the wave of the future.” That was meant to be a commentary against one-party rule in Cuba. I repackaged his reformed ideas in a publication titled “Retracing our footsteps in a changing world.”

In 1989 I projected this new liberal democratic image of Cheddi Jagan when I was invited to the U.S. State Department. I was warmly received by then Secretary of State, Sally Cowal. She told me then, “tell Mr. Jagan that the United States will support free and fair elections in Guyana.”

At home, Cheddi Jagan initiated talks with opposition parties which had formed what I named as the Patriotic Coalition for Democracy (PCD). We were working to put up a consensus presidential candidate and a joint slate for the planned 1990 elections, but those talks broke down.

ONE-PARTY RULE For 50 years in post-independent Guyana, we were saddled with one-party rule by both the PNC and the PPP. When the six-party, APNU+AFC coalition con-

tested the 2015 elections and emerged victorious to form the government, Guyana finally broke the back of one-party rule.

I am convinced that Guyana should not return to one-party government. It is a recipe for dictatorship, authoritarianism and, in the case of the post-Jagan PPP, to arbitrary, Stalinist rule.

I repeat: the excesses under the post-Jagan PPP government were due mainly to one-man, one-party, corrupt and dictatorial rule.

Between 2000 and 2011, the Stalinists brazenly subverted internal party processes and resorted to selection rigging. Though ranking amongst the party’s top five leaders, I was repeatedly purged from the leadership.

Again, the spectre of PPP’s one-party, puppet rule hovers darkly over Guyana.

Throughout my political life I have promoted alliance politics, so I cannot in good conscience allow this to pass. So I urge all Guyanese not to be swayed by emotionalism or ethnic appeals. They should vote against the return of oneman, one-party rule.

Understanding Energy

IMF cautions against national oil company THE prominent role of national or stateowned oil companies in other countries has driven a rising tide of interest in the possibility of establishing one in Guyana.

But a new report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cautioned that there isn’t necessarily a strong case for Guyana to establish its own.

National oil and gas companies (NOCs), like Brazil’s Petrobras or Nigeria’s National Petroleum Corporation, are owned by governments themselves. They function with different degrees of autonomy in different nations, with some acting as a quasi-official arm of the government and others acting essentially as an independent company with a single shareholder.

NOCs are uncommon in developed, industrialized nations like Canada, Australia,

the United States and the UK, but are still common throughout much of the globe.

While private, multinational companies like Exxon, Chevron and BP are well known, NOCs are responsible for more than three quarters of global oil production and control most of the world’s reserves. Many countries see NOCs as a way to hold a more direct stake in their resources by investing in the exploration and production process alongside or instead of private companies. NOCs can also give countries an important seat at the table during the decision-making process for industry activities.

But those benefits do come with risks.

As the IMF report noted, if Guyana’s government held a financial stake in the development through a NOC, it would also have to pay a substantial part of the development

costs. As Guyana does not have the capital to do so at this time, it would need to borrow funds. If the government held a 20 per cent stake in Liza Phase 1, for instance, it would have had to put up around $1 billion US to cover its share of costs and then potentially wait years to recover those costs through production.

Instead, Exxon and the other oil companies took on 100 per cent of the risk as they explored and drilled for oil off the coast. If they had come up empty, they would not have had a chance to recoup their investment.

A Guyanese NOC would require the government to share in exploration costs without knowing if a well would pay off and risk billions in borrowed money to do so.

The IMF and other international groups

also tend to be wary of NOCs because of their long association with corruption and politicization. Examples like Petrobras, Russia’s Gazprom and Nigeria’s National Petroleum Corporation show how easy it is for these companies to get tangled in nepotism, corruption and political interference. Many Guyanese commentators have emphasized this, drawing on the examples of Equatorial Guinea and Angola, where NOCs helped channel oil revenues directly to politicians.

While NOCs might gain countries a seat at the table, the IMF report explained that Guyana’s government already has this power due to the substantial regulatory authority of agencies like the Department of Energy.

TURN TO PAGE

09

9

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

THE POWER OF A GUYANESE PRESIDENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE I do not subscribe to the argument which says Guyanese should not be too concerned about who heads a list of candidates for regional and national elections and they should focus, instead, on the political brand and the team. Those who seek succor in this line of reasoning have tacitly accepted that their presidential candidate is not worthy to be a key focal point of serious campaigning. Once you take this reality to its logical conclusion, it teems with dangerous implications for the Republic. The quiet concession of your candidate not worthy of being the electoral centre of attention is suspect. It is a strange departure from the normal course of Guyanese and Caribbean politics, from Manley to Williams to Burnham and Jagan, the leadership name has always been key. Guyana has a unitary system that arrogates

OP-ED

By James McAllister

many constitutional powers to a president and, by virtue of that fact, it is folly to suggest that voters are only electing a team, a group or a brand. Guyanese will be voting for a presidential candidate who, if successful, will possess the power of the constitutional pen with its unlimited potency given by the 1980 constitution. We should never lose sight of this.

THE PRESIDENCY AND THE 1980 CONSTITUTION The 1980 Guyana Constitution, which is in current operation with its 1996 reforms, identifies the President as the Head-of-State and the Supreme Executive Authority. This plenipotentiary language does not mention a team or a brand. By virtue of this reason, there must be much scrutiny of the person who heads this team. Further, it is the President who appoints a Cabinet which acts

in an advisory role and serves at his pleasure; under the State Land Act 3(1), the Presidential pen can decide on State lands, the President has the power to pardon those convicted of criminal activities. Most relevant and equally important, it is the president who performs the function of the Minister of Petroleum and has vast powers over Guyana’s embryonic oil and gas production. Article 182 of the Constitution grants immunity to the President while executing his presidential duties. It is dangerous to advocate that we pay little attention to who heads the political team during elections in Guyana; the powers ascribed in the constitution are too vast and potent to do so.

THE CHARACTER OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE I have documented the extraordinary powers of the Presidency under the Guyana Constitution. On that ba-

sis, a case can be easily made out for why there needs to be a microscope on the person who heads a team or a party at elections in this country.

This argumentation is strengthened when one examines the issue of character and the Presidency. If a shady character becomes president, the nation cannot expect that he will preside over a society that will be upright and transparent. By virtue of his powers, he will invariably bring that negativity to every nook and cranny of the Republic. This renders all campaign promises and plans to fight corruption completely null and void. We must demand serious attention on that one individual and not just the team. Both are equally important. In Guyana's current electoral context, the APNU+AFC campaign places much pre-eminence on the quality of its leader. In addition, the main mantra is ‘Honesty and Decency’. In the case of the PPP/C,

this is completely absent. There is no bold claim of the exemplary character of the presidential candidate. It is evident, this is directly tied to the fact that numerous question marks hang over the character of Mr. Ali. Besides the various branches of government and arms of the state, and despite the very complex local, regional and national governance system, the institution of the Presidency stands the tallest. It is the president’s name that proceeds from the lips of the smallest child and it is the president who the populace consistently looks towards to solve their most insignificant life challenges. This is the seemingly unalterable culture of Guyana.

The president sets the mood of the nation. How important is a presidential candidate? Extremely important.

What if Irfaan Ali were to become president? How would the fact that a President who is facing 19 credible fraud charges affect the integrity of our institutions? What reputational damage would be done to our institutions by having a president who is alleged to have committed academic fraud.

The Guyana National Accreditation Board has never accredited a university at Uitvlugt. Further, there is no physical entity with the name, University of Uitvlugt. If Irfaan Ali presented a degree from the University of Uitvlugt as a basis for admission into a post-graduate programme, he committed academic fraud.

According to WES, “Fraud and corruption in education exist in various forms beyond contract-cheating.

Its global manifestations include diploma mills and the counterfeiting of academic documents, as well as bribery to ensure the licensing of academic institutions, the hiring of academic staff, the passing of examinations, admission into education programmes and the award of degrees.” Irfaan Ali is guilty on many fronts. In addition to obtain-

ing his degree from a paper mill, he is alleged to have been involved in contract-cheating. This is when the student contracts someone to do his/her course work, or contracts someone to impersonate him/her to take an exam.

Preventing Irfaan Ali from becoming president will be protecting our institutions from reputational damage. It will be preventing a man with a reputation for breaking the law from being placed in charge of overseeing the application of the rule of law. A law-breaker and academic fraudster as president could do irreparable harm to our institutions.

The International Center for Academic Integrity is presently combating what appears to be an upsurge in academic fraud across the world. Accreditation was withdrawn from a number of universities. Several hundred students were ejected from universities. Several countries were flagged, because they failed to adequately address academic fraud.

A number of politicians were exposed. In 2011, German Defence Minister, Karl-Theodor zu

Guttenburg, then widely seen as the successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, was forced to resign after being exposed as an academic fraudster. In 2015, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta was forced to resign after being accused of academic fraud and other corrupt activities. In Guttenburg's case, he confessed and resigned. Ponta, on the other hand, had to be forced out.

The International Center for Academic Integrity, and other institutions, are monitoring how countries address academic fraud by politicians and business leaders.

The world is watching to see how the Guyanese people deal with the alleged academic fraud by Irfaan Ali. It could very well determine if our students could present degrees obtained in Guyana as a basis of admission to international universities.

All students and young professionals should band together to reject Irfaan Ali. He is a clear and present danger to their future. A vote against Irfaan Ali would be a vote to protect the future of our young people.

Clear and present danger

IT is a fact, Irfaan Ali is a clear and present danger to the young people of Guyana. It is a fact, Irfaan Ali could create a barrier for young professionals, and current and future students of the University of Guyana. It is a fact, if Irfaan Ali becomes President, instantly and automatically the future of our young people will be in peril.

Irfaan Ali is currently embroiled in a controversy about his degrees.

Irfaan Ali claims to have a PhD. He claims to have a Master's Degree.

He alleges that he has a bachelor's degree, but these are all mysteries.

I met Irfaan Ali when he was serving as clerk to the Depressed Communities Committee that was appointed by PNCR Leader Desmond Hoyte, and then President Janet Jagan. The committee functioned out of the Ministry of Finance, and the ministry assigned Irfaan Ali as a liaison to the committee. At that time Irfaan Ali presented himself as the holder of a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the University of Guyana.

According to him, he was not just holding a degree, he graduated at the top of his class with a 4.0 GPA. He could not stop talking about his academic achievements.

It now appears 20 years later, Irfaan Ali has forgotten his perfect degree. He now has a perfect degree from the University of Uitvlugt. The only difference is, the University of Uitvlugt does not exist. It is fraud to claim to have a degree from a non-existent university, and this is what imperils the future of young Guyanese.

At the moment, graduates from academic institutions in Guyana who wish to pursue studies at a university in the United States, must submit their degrees to the World Education Services (WES), or a similar evaluation agency.

WES then sends to the institution in Guyana for verification in the form of a detailed transcript. WES relies on the integrity of the institutions in Guyana to confirm the validity of the degrees presented by Guyanese students. But what if something happens that causes WES to question the integrity of Guyanese institutions?

IMF cautions against national ...

In addition, NOCs must strike a careful balance when it comes to expertise. Similar to local content rules, countries have to consider whether they have the local knowledge and experience necessary to run the company.

Oil companies rely on enormous teams of

highly sophisticated and experienced international staff. Without access to those experts, it can be hard for small NOCs to make smart investment decisions, and many struggle to get enough capital together to properly explore and develop difficult areas like the

deep ocean.

If Guyana does decide that a NOC is the right move, the IMF recommended that it add an option to future production sharing agreements, allowing the government to take an investment stake up to a certain

FROM PAGE

08

level—the IMF recommended 10 per cent to minimize risks. That way, the government could choose on a case-by-case basis whether or not to buy in with each future contract.

10

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

GECOM cannot remove Shuman’s name from list of candidates …party leader’s attorney WHILE not providing evidence that Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Lenox Shuman, has renounced his Canadian citizenship, the party leader’s attorney has noted that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) cannot remove his client’s name from the party’s list of candidates.

Attorney Kalam Juman-Yassin has argued that only the High Court can determine whether Shuman can qualify as a candidate to contest next month’s regional and general elections.

On Wednesday, January 22, 2020, Chair of GECOM, Justice Claudette Singh, wrote the LJP and requested confirmation of Shuman’s citizenship status in order to determine whether to remove his name as a candidate from his party.

On Friday, in a lengthy letter addressed to Justice Singh, Juman-Yassin noted that Shuman has done all within his power to renounce his Canadian citizenship.

He called on the GECOM chair to, “indicate any laws and or regulations that the Guyana Elections Commission has implemented with respect to the issue that you have requested Mr. Shuman to clarify.”

Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party, Lenox Shuman

The lawyer noted that the move by GECOM to request evidence from Shuman regards his name remaining on the list of candidate for the LJP is in contravention of the Article 163(1) a of the Constitution of Guyana.

That article states that, “Subject to the provisions of this article, the High Court shall

have exclusive jurisdiction to determine any question – (A) regarding the qualification of any person to be elected as a member of the National Assembly.”

He said that the question of Shuman’s qualification to take part in the elections can only be determined by the High Court of Guyana on an application by GECOM and/or any person who may have an interest.

Leader of the People’s Republic Party, Valerie Leung, has also accused GECOM of acting illegally in removing her name from her party’s list. “GECOM has acted illegally.

GECOM has no authority to remove any … candidates from the list,” she declared in a video posted on Facebook on Friday. She also has not provided evidence regarding renunciation of her US citizenship status by Nomination Day. Last week, while claiming that “political operatives” on the commission are working to disqualify him from contesting in the upcoming elections and, should they follow through, Shuman said that he will take the commission to court.

However, while he maintained his defence, the party leader has refused to give proof to the media that he was not a dual citi-

New Region 10 to be marketed as a brand

By Vanessa Braithwaite

IN its effort to push tourism in every region, the Ministry of Business, Department of Tourism, on Friday, oversaw the election of a new executive body of the Region 10 Tourism Association. The election was part of a General Stake Holders Meeting, hosted by Director-General of the Department of Tourism, Donald Sinclair, at the Watooka Guest House.

It is an initiative being executed in all 10 regions, to push the agenda of regional tourism.

Being elected as chairman is Devin Sears, Co-Founder of the Kara Kayaking Tour Company, while Rawle Dundas, manager of the Watooka Guest House was elected as the vice-chairman.

Other executives include Adrian Boston, secretary and Jeffery Yearwood, treasurer. Members were elected to represent sub-committees such as River Front Development, diaspora, sports and culture and marketing and media.

Newly-elected chairman, Devin Sears, said the main aim of the executive is to see Region 10 as a brand and to exert all energies to selling that brand.

“We have to look at Linden and Region 10 as a brand, what is it known for and how we are going to market it,” he said, while alluding to the region’s various tourism gems such as the sandy and clayey hills, the black water creeks, the three main rivers that straddle through, the blue lakes, the valleys and streams etc.

A plan will be created on how each gem will be marketed, not only for seasonal tourism activities such as the annual Rock Stone Fish Festival, but something that will be ongoing. This will create employment in the sector for youths, which is also a main aim of

New executive members of the Region 10 Tourism Association

the association.

“We should not look at tourism as a one-month thing, it has to be a continuous effort; how we are going to promote it and to collaborate with organisations such as the Tourism Development Council. There is a wide variety when it comes to tourism in Region 10 but it is generally finding what each community has to offer and packaging and selling it,” Sears reasoned.

The first task for the association will be to establish a constitution and by-laws, as well as to complete a projected plan for

2020 and 2021. A database will be also be created to ascertain what is available in the entertainment industry, such as how many hotels and restaurants are available throughout the region.

These businesses will also be rated to determine the quality of services that will be offered to clients. In this way, Sears said it will be setting the stage for outside markets. The association will also place emphasis on sports, edutainment and entertainment tourism.

zen while signatory to a Statutory Declaration Form which bars against dual citizenship.

While not providing even written evidence to attest to his client’s claims, Shuman’s attorney stated, on Friday, that the party leader renounced his citizenship on December 11, 2019 and he noted that the onus to provide proof does not lie with Shuman, but rather with GECOM, noting that there is no law which suggests that Shuman should do more than what he has, to provide proof.

The attorney also noted that Shuman met with Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee, on January 30, 2020 and according to the attorney, she assured that the renunciation process of Shuman’s Canadian Citizenship was completed.

While Shuman has bluntly refused to show proof of renunciation of his Canadian citizenship, leader of the United Republican Party (URP), Dr. Vishnu Bandhu, provided same, however, this was done after Nomination Day on January 10 last.

As such, GECOM moved to strike his name from his party’s list of candidates, as well as Shuman’s and Leung’s for making false declarations. GECOM said the police would be written on the matter.

Suspect in rice farmer murder denies involvement AS the police continue their investigation into the murder of rice farmer Parmanand Lakeram called “Bachan,” a suspect remains in custody but continues to deny any involvement in the crime.

The man identified as “Chunik,” turned himself over to the police on Friday afternoon, hours after the bullet-riddled body of Lakeram was found in a sitting position by the side of his vehicle in the Number 68 Village backlands. The police have since recovered a motorcycle which belonged to the deceased and which was reportedly stolen; it was found farther into the backlands. The motorcycle was believed to have been the same one used in the commission of the crime and sleuths are dusting for fingerprints and other evidence to confirm this.

The Guyana Chronicle has been reliably informed that the deceased was accused of being involved in cattle-rustling. Sources revealed that at the time of his demise he was in the process of loading two stolen cows into his bus when he heard the motor bike approaching.

As he went to investigate he directed his two workers to hide in the bushes, but he was greeted by gunshots, which caused him to retreat. While running away he reportedly shouted out to his workers to “run! Run boy run! Chunik just shot me!” the source revealed.

After a few moments, the assailant left and Lakeram’s workers went to check on him. They found him sitting motionless against the wheel of his bus GGG 9281 with several gunshot wounds about his body, including two in the head. The men reportedly walked the one-mile distance to the public road and apprised Lakeram’s brother of what had occurred. The police arrived shortly after and the body was removed and taken to the Skeldon Hospital where a doctor pronounced him dead; the workers were taken into custody and are assisting with the investigation. Chunick reportedly turned himself in at the Springlands Police Station after he learnt that he was wanted by the police. He, along with the two workers, remain in custody as the investigation continues.

11

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

Education on the upswing in Reg. 3 …Mahipaul tells Leonora rally …cites Irfaan for abusing power as minister

UNDER the David Granger-led government, residents of Essequibo Islands West Demerara have benefitted from remarkable transformation of the education sector, and a security sector that is free from political interference.

Far removed from a period when the region produced dismal education results under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC), and witnessed political interference by that party’s presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali, who allegedly once used his political position to have a pandit arrested.

Regional Information Officer, Ganesh Mahipaul, noted this during his remarks at the APNU+AFC Regional Rally last Friday at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora.

Mahipaul related that the major developments in the region’s education sector have been tangibly reflected both at the primary and secondary school levels, with remarkably improved results at national examinations, such as the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and

Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

“The David Granger-led admin transformed education across this country, more specifically in Region Three. We have transformed the primary sector. And in the last NGSA result we were number two, something that never happened [before] and we have to be grateful for that. We are the beneficiary of an early childhood development centre, where working parents can take their children and it is free of cost,” Mahipaul said.

He backed his statements with facts, comparing the performances in the Region at last year’s national examinations to what obtained when the PPP/C spent their last year in office in 2014.

“We are boasting in this region of results that we have never seen before in the education sector. In mathematics, when the PPP left in 2014 the pass rate in this region was below 30 per cent, today the pass rate in Region three is 51.7 per cent; when the PPP left, the English Language pass rate

Regional Information Officer, Ganesh Mahipaul

at NGSA was below 30 per cent and today we have it, after four and a half years, at 65.7 per cent; in science it was below 30 per cent, today we have it at 52.2 per cent; in social studies they had it below 30 per cent, today we have it at 48 [per cent] and going. It was only four and a half years, they had 23 [years] and look at the transformation we did in the education sector,” Mahipaul informed.

The improvement was not only at the primary school level, since several secondary schools in the Region also exhibited evidence of their improvement.

“In 2012 West Dem

(Secondary) had matriculation rate of 76 per cent, after four and a half years, in 2019, David Granger and his team they have it at 92 per cent. Zeeburg Secondary school, in 2012, the PPP had it at 25 per cent; in 2019, we have it at 93 per cent. All of the secondary schools in this region are enjoying a better matriculation rate, better pass rate and we are following the guidance of President David,” Mahipaul noted.

Mahipaul emphasised that the improvements are the results of deliberate investments and programmes put in place by the APNU+AFC administration

to ensure the results are obtained. And more of the same will be delivered when the ANU+AFC returns to government following the March 2 elections, he noted.

“Children are going to school because we understand from the leadership of his Excellency’ that if we are to lift this nation out of poverty, we have to do it with education. We are all going to enjoy the good life, all we have to do is give David some time and when we give him some time Guyana will shine,” he said.

Touching on the area of security and reduced corruption in the region, Mahipaul noted that the “region recorded a 15 per cent decline in serious crime,” even as he pointed out that gone are the days when Ali, who is from the region, would interfere and direct police.

Mahipaul shared an example of the case whereby Ali allegedly had a pandit arrested, after the pandit had one of Ali’s family members removed from his function.

“We have to appreciate that under the Granger-led administration there was no political interference in the operation of the security sector and we are reaping the benefits today. I cannot leave here without reminding you of what Irfaan Ali did in 2012 with political

power. A famous pandit in Region Three, he was a staunch supporter of PPP. Pandit called me and told me to tell you, in 2012 when his father passed away he had a religious ceremony and Irfaan Ali’s drunk uncle went to Uitvlugt and invade the people ceremony. The pandit asked him to leave, he refused, and the pandit put him out. The next day there was a Diwali motorcade at Uitvlugt but instead of the pandit going to motorcade, Ali sent a truck of police to arrest the pandit. That is what he did with political power. Do we want to give him presidency?” Mahipaul said.

For that reason, he noted that persons in the Region do not want to see the PPP/C return to power, and Mahipaul encouraged all in attendance to make the right choice on March 2.

“Go to neighbours, family, talk let them know that Guyana is no longer with the red light, we are on green and yellow and moving forward together. Region Three bring them home. It is love unity and togetherness. We are a family under this big benab, and come March 2, 2020 we are voting APNU+AFC,” he said.

Jagdeo goes back to re-opening of sugar estates THE indecisiveness of the opposition PPP on whether they will re-open the sugar estates continues as the General Secretary and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday again promised residents at a rally in Rose Hall that they will re-open the estates.

At a rally in Albion last month, Jagdeo himself had said if the party wins the upcoming elections he would try and find jobs for the laid-off workers and provide them with assistance. On Friday evening the reason given for re-opening the estates is not job-creation, but the generation of energy to help in the reduction of the cost of living. At the time of making the declaration Jagdeo was listing some other services they will seek to improve, including returning the school grant and upping the figure to $50,000 per child, as well as increase the old age pension to $40,000 per month over the next five years.

He stated that should the PPP get elected the first thing they are going to do is to put 50MW of new power to help reduce the cost of

specialty hospitals, while ensuring that there are modern facilities in every region and free text books for schoolchildren as part of spending proceeds

General-Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Bharrat Jagdeo

living. They will then figure out where to run the pipelines for natural gas to generate another 200MW from gas that is being flared right now by ExxonMobil. He noted that they will remove the VAT immediately from electricity and water to help reduce the cost of living. “We have decided in spite of all that they are saying , we will re-open the sugar estates to ensure all of this, the sugar estates have to be re-opened to give energy back to this region, that is what we want to do.”

He continued that they will immediately remove taxes on private healthcare and commence building of

from the oil wealth. Earlier on, he spent time knocking the coalition’s plan of opening a deep-water harbor, but admitted that the deep-water harbour

project alone can create some 10,000 jobs and will try to reclaim the lands in their (PPP) proposed plan from those that he accused the government of giving

out to their cronies in the Palmyra/Bohemia area.

Other speakers at the rally included Regional Chairman David Armogan and Zulficar Mustapha.

12

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

Children encouraged to read aloud, be confident

SCORES of children, between the ages of 4 to 14, were, on Saturday, encouraged to read aloud and have confidence in themselves at Voice Read Aloud Fest hosted at the Imam Bacchus Library, Affiance, Essequibo Coast, in Region Two. During the opening of the fest, president and co-founder of Voice, Deanna Walcott, said that the non-governmental organisation (NGO), Voice, is happy to partner with Imam Bacchus and Sons Company to make the Fest a success. Voice group was formed in 2018, with a mission to effectively hone and develop communication skills among youths whilst inspiring and empowering them to become better-engaged citizens and influential leaders in the Guyanese society.

She said children can only be influenced by equipping them with tools to enhance their communication skills. The fest, therefore, will allow children to read aloud and to have fun at the

same time.

Director of Imam Bacchus and Sons Company, Mr. Samad Baksh, said his company is happy to be

associated with Voice in promoting literacy amongst children. Baksh said that persons should use their voice without fear and ensure that

Children involved in a group session.

whatever sounds come out of their mouths should be pleasing and satisfying. He said when the sounds are not desirable, then it is called noise.

A child reading.

Director of Imam Bacchus, Mr. Samad Baksh, speaking at the opening of the Fest.

Children who were part of the Read Aloud fest held at Affiance in Region Two.

Another member of Voice, Rei-Launya Amsterdam, said that every year LitWorld.com celebrates "Read

Aloud Day" across the world and, as such, Voice group has adopted the same. This year, two physical activities will he held--one in Essequibo and one in Georgetown-- in observance of the day. She said the fest encouraged children to read stories and to promote literacy, hence build their public-speaking abilities.

The group, in observance of the day last year, held an Elsie Marks Debating and Storytelling competition at Queenstown. Voice members are also encouraging persons to like their Facebook and Twitter pages and help promote literacy by tagging them in videos that have persons reading. The activity was also supported by a Peace Corps volunteer assigned to Region Two. Every Saturday the Peace Corps usually conducts "Reading Hour" at the Imam Bacchus Library at Affiance.

The Voice group is promoting, "Stand, Speak and Debate".

13

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

Youth candidates share thoughts of leadership, …during UG Turkeyen and Tain Talks governance

YOUTH leaders of the various political parties contesting in the 2020 General and Regional Elections are eager to either continue on, or open new avenues of development in Guyana.

Seven of the parties, save for the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), participated in panel discussions on Thursday evening at the Pegasus Hotel through the University of Guyana (UG) Turkeyen and Tain Talks.

The panel members included: A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Carlos Gonsalves; A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), Dr. Quincy Jones; The Citizenship Initiative (TCI), Kobe Cort; Change Guyana (CG), Mahendra Pagwah; the Liberty and Justice (LJP), Davon Van Veen; The New Movement, (TNM) Dr. Andrew Hutson and the United Republican Party (URP), Avinash Singh.

The participants were first asked to share their thoughts on what makes a good leader to which Gonsalves responded: “A good leader must be ferocious in his determination and his commitment to the people.”

Meanwhile, Van Veen said that a good leader is transparent, takes responsibility, knows his limitations, has a futuristic vision and “walks the talk”.

When questioned about what kind of leadership Guyana needs presently, Singh said: “Guyana needs a leader who is honest, sincere, who will deliver, whose integrity is unquestionable and above reproach.”

Dr. Hutson stated that Guyana needs a visionary leader to create productive industries while Cort said the country needs a leader

who is democratic and wants to see Guyana progress.

Given the scenario in which they were to choose a ministerial portfolio for themselves and why, Pagwah said that he would be the Minister of Education to ensure that there are better education policies.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jones said that he would be the Minister

justice system and infrastructure; CG –job creation, lower cost of living and leadership; ANUG – energy, education reform and opportunities for youths; TNM – energy, agriculture and culture; URP – agriculture, marketing and oil and gas and TCI - youth empowerment, constitution reform and restructuring the education system.

“We have continually strengthened our social protection systems and all other systems to ensure that women can participate more. One of the major pushes under President David Arthur Granger is for the next government to have a 50-50 where 50 per cent of his parliamentarians will be women,” he said.

that we collaborate with certain organisation and stakeholders to address specific issues and to target a series of reforms.”

Cort stated that women help to shape the future while children are the future and therefore should be placed at the top. In this regard, he stated that TCI has already begun to lead by example by presenting a female presidential candidate while 59 per cent of its candidates are females.

Asked what motivated them in stepping forward at this time, Dr. Hutson said that Guyana has misplaced its humanity and needs to regain it, while Cort said that he wants to put an end to the ethnic political divide.

In his response, Pagwah stated that he choose to branch out now because he was “fedup” of the ethnic bickering and, based on his view, some

that his motivation is President David Granger who provided him with a sense of security he hadn’t while younger.

“As a youth in McDoom I used to walk with my ID card because I was afraid that the police might come and pick me up and I wanted to have something to be able to identify that ‘hey, I am Quincy Jones, I’m a decent law abiding citizen’ and not just because I’m walking through the streets of Agricola and McDoom, I am a criminal.

Through the David Granger-led Administration, that security was provided,” he said.

Following this, questions were allowed from the audience which the panelists sought to answer which related to marijuana, a national front, youth

Members of the panel at the Pegasus Hotel on Thursday. Seated from left are: United Republican Party (URP), Avinash Singh; The New Movement, (TNM) Dr. Andrew Hutson; The Citizenship Initiative (TCI), Kobe Cort; A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), Dr. Quincy Jones; the Liberty and Justice (LJP), Davon Van Veen; Change Guyana (CG), Mahendra Pagwah; the A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Carlos Gonsalves and two hosts. (Adrian Narine photo)

of Telecommunication as the world is entering the fourth industrial revolution which requires many more persons skilled in digital technology.

The panelists were also asked to choose three national priorities they believe should take centre stage over the next five years.

The responses by party representatives were: APNU - education, infrastructure and youths; LJP - education, the

Getting deeper into the discussions, the parties’ youth leaders spoke on the topic of women and children, and how they would ensure their representation in the future.

In response, Dr. Jones highlighted that under the current administration more females have taken up leadership roles and this will continue should the APNU+AFC win the coming elections.

Meanwhile, Gonsalves spoke against issues which affect women and children such as catcalling, sexual violence, child labour and more.

“This should not be.

These people are the future of our country; children are literally the future of our country,” he said. “We will address this; we will ensure

Members of the audience (Adrian Narine photo)

politicians are hypocrites. Singh said that he was impressed by the leadership of URP’s Dr. Vishnu Bandhu. Dr. Jones said

empowerment, the management of Guyana’s petroleum resources and the affairs of Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples.

Young politician urges support for David Granger Presidency URGING Guyanese to make the right choice come March 2, 2020, APNU+AFC Candidate, Thandi McAllister, said Guyana has experienced unprecedented development over the last four and a half years under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) government, when compared to the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) 23 years in office.

McAllister, at the time, was addressing thousands of APNU+AFC supporters at the coalition’s elections rally at the Leonora Athletics Stadium in Region Three.

On March 2, 2020 all eligible Guyanese must vote wisely, she told the supporters, while urging them to put their ‘X’ next to the palm tree and the key, which she views as a choice that will

benefit “this generation and generations to come.”

She added that if the said choice is made, Guyana will never go back to the state it was under the previous administration, instead, all Guyanese will enjoy the “good life.”

“We must say to PPP, never again. Never again will our friend in Tuschen Phase Two refer to their road as the seven ponds because we fixed their roads. Never again will our friends in Den Amstel experience drastic floods because we have currently allocated $327M to the construction of a sluice, and that is the good life. Never again will our friends in Free and Easy feel neglected,” McAllister said in an electrifying speech to the thousands of supporters.

Under the APNU+AFC

APNU+AFC Candidate, Thandi McAllister, addressing thousands of APNU+AFC supporters at the Leonora Athletics Stadium on Friday

Administration, Region Three, she said, experienced unprecedented infrastructural development.

“It is under this David Granger-led administration, for the first time, they are walking, riding, driving and playing on asphalted roads,

and that is progress. Across this region, we have seen development in the road network like never before and in Wakenaam, the residents there are undoubtedly happy, [they now have] asphalted roads…,” she pointed out.

Additional, she stated that

the APNU/AFC administration would have completed and commissioned the West Demerara Highway. Added to that, the main drainage canal was excavated after 20 years, creating easier access for farmers to enter the market. Communities in the region are now enjoying 24hour supply of electricity and potable water.

According to McAllister, the President’s vision for education is holistic and as such, the Bagotsville Primary School was built, the Leonora Primary School is expanding, Westminster Housing Scheme now has a primary school. The region, she further pointed out, has a special-needs school which caters for children of diverse needs.

“The good life belongs to all of us and this educated

nation that we are aiming for must benefit all of our children, that is the good life.

We are moving forward together, moving forward with my President and yours, David Arthur Granger; moving forward with a Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change, moving forward with Region Three.”

McAllister also indicated that His Excellency, Brigadier David Arthur Granger, is the best Presidential candidate when compared to Irfaan Ali, calling Guyana’s President a “decent, honest man, experienced and man of vision and integrity.”

McAllister was among four speakers including President Granger, who had addressed the supporters at the Leonora Athletics Stadium on Friday.

14

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

Min. Lawrence hails nurses, midwives as pillars of the health sector --promises gov’t will make more scholarships available to them

By Naomi Parris THE streets of Georgetown came alive on Thursday as nurses from all across Guyana, proudly clad in their uniforms, marched through the city’s streets to usher in International Year of the Nurse and Midwife.

Held this year under the theme, ‘Nurses and Midwives Nursing the World to Health’, the march was then followed by a formal launch of the yearlong observation at the Regen-

Noting that nurses and midwives are the pillars on which the system stands, Minister Lawrence reasoned that seeing that they make up more than 50% of the Ministry of Health’s human resources, they ought to be recognised and celebrated.

“My dear nurses and midwives,” she began, “it was Gerald C. Eakedale who posited that recognition is the greatest motivator. I endorse his statement, and am delighted that in recognition of

highlight and applaud you for your notable contributions to Guyana’s health sector.”

DUE RECOGNITION And, noting that nurses and midwives are the ones who have helped keep vaccine- preventable diseases like measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), polio, and tetanus in check here, thereby making Guyana one of the top countries in the hemisphere where vaccine-preventable diseases are concerned, Minister Law-

health-screening programmes and other interventions.

Hastening to reassure those in the audience that greater effort will be made by the government to ensure that nurses across Guyana are getting the attention and recognition that they rightly deserve,

in Guyana,” she said, adding: “Later this year, eight of our nurses are expected to graduate at the master’s level from the University of São Paulo in Brazil [in 2020].”

Speaking on behalf of the World Health Organisation (WHO) as well as the Pan

Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence addressing nurses and midwives at the launch on Thursday of ‘International Year of the Nurse and Midwife’

communities. Compassion and professionalism characterise the work of nursing and midwife professionals; their contribution is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

Noting that it is for the foregoing reasons that the

PAHO/WHO’s Dr. William Adu-Krow addressing participants at Thursday’s launch here of the landmark event in the lives of nurses and midwives

Nurses from across Guyana assembled at the Regency Suites Hotel for the launch of ‘International Year of the Nurse and Midwife’

cy Suites Hotel on downtown Hadfield Street, where Minster of Public Health Volda Lawrence in her feature address spoke glowingly about how invaluable nurses and midwives are to the country’s health system.

your sterling contributions, dedication and commitment, this entire year, 2020, has been designated in your honour to highlight what you have done and are doing for the national development… I therefore wish to take this opportunity to

rence said that it is also to nurses and midwives that we here in Guyana owe a debt of gratitude for the key role they play in the early detection and prevention of cervical and other types of cancer, through their involvement in the various

Nurses on the march here Thursday around the city in honour of the late Florence Nightingale, Mother of Modern-Day Nursing, who, had she still been alive, would have turned 200 that day (Photos by Delano Williams)

Minister Lawrence said, “I am happy to say that this government has significantly increased our allocation to health budgets from $28B in 2016 to $35.9B in 2019…

It is the government’s plan, through the ministry, to continue our investment in nursing and midwifery.”

MORE SCHOLARSHIPS She also announced that one of the government’s goals for 2020 is to share more scholarships with nurses and midwives to enhance their competencies to provide quality care and services.

“We are looking forward in the not-too-distant future to our University-direct entry nursing programme; a master’s degree in nursing right here

American Health Organisation (PAHO) as their resident representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow, one of whose forte is Public Health Management, made the point that nurses and midwives are usually the first and last person one sees when they either enter or leave this world, which is why PAHO is so dedicated to ensuring that this category of ‘first responders’ as such persons are sometimes called in the medical profession, get the recognition they deserve for their dedication and hard work in ensuring that every patient that crosses their path is well taken care of.

“In many countries,” Dr Adu-Krow said, “nurses and midwives are the first and often the only point of care in health facilities and their

72nd World Health Assembly has designated the year 2020 International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, Dr AduKrow said: “PAHO has committed to dedicate important efforts to highlight the enormous sacrifices of nurses and midwives in caring for people, and the vital contribution they provide in the quest to achieve universal health coverage in Guyana.”

In closing, he noted that Guyana’s doubling of the size of the workforce in its Health Sector since 2010 is not only remarkable, but also shows the strong commitment of the Government of Guyana to improving the health of its population.

15

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

Phase II of Electric Vehicles project in Bartica commences

By Gabriella Chapman THE township of Bartica will soon be receiving electric vehicles as part of the “Transitioning to National Energy Security: Bartica as a Model Green Town” project continues.

This project is in its second phase and is being carried out by the Office of Climate Change (OCC). The implementation of Phase II commenced on December 1, 2019, and it seeks to catalyse the uptake and diffusion of alternative energy solutions in Bartica.

Head of the OCC, Janelle Christian, told Guyana Chronicle said that this project commenced in 2017 following President David Granger’s declaration of Bartica being the model ‘Green’ town.

“He (Granger) would have articulated his ambition for Guyana to become a ‘Green State’, and as part of that process, he identified Bartica to be the model ‘green’ town; meaning that Bartica would serve as the incubator that all the new initiatives, in terms of the ‘green’ concepts, would be piloted, tested and then replicated across the country for that bigger goal of us achieving that status of a ‘Green State’,” Christian said.

She said the vision of the President triggered the involvement of the OCC. “Guyana would have also indicated the start of a global commitment or ambitions to transition to 100 per cent renewable energy. That is a climate change mitigation commitment, hence, we got involved mobilising support and financing from the Government

of Italy… Under that broader commitment that the Italian Government has with CARICOM, they provide support to CARICOM member countries to advance their climate change ambition,” she explained.

Expounding further that phase one of the project involved all the baseline work for Bartica, she said that they would have undertaken a number of studies in the township, which was made possible with a grant of US$650,000 from the Government of Italy. The first phase enabled the OCC to articulate this second phase, she noted.

All transportation in Bartica are either diesel or gasoline-driven. The energy audit conducted in phase one has provided useful information on the town's carbon footprint and the need to move towards either hybrid or electric vehicles. Critical for this transformation though, is the need for the building of the necessary human capacity to sustain the investments.

“We used information coming out particularly from the transport study, to extend and take advantage of the continuing support provided by the Government of Italy. So we would have articulated a second phase of the project, which we are now focused on the actual tangible investment.

We now want to roll out the actual piloting of E-mobility in Bartica. And that is a second grant of US$725, 000,” Christian disclosed.

She noted that this grant is not just for the vehicles but it includes a number of other complimentary activities.

“The complementary ac-

tivities under this grant will involve having the requisite skill, in terms of an expert; undertake a pre-feasibility study in terms of what is applicable

Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall

to our context, given what is happening regionally and further afield. And considering our own national priorities as articulated in our Green State Development Strategy.

Guyana would have included transitioning to electric vehicles as an important action that we need to take. We have to also find out what is the right type of vehicle, and with this new type of technology, you have to ensure that you have the requisite skillset. That will include us working with the Ministry of Education, GTI and CTVET to ensure we provide support to develop a curricula or adjustment of the existing module,” Christian explained.

Additionally, as part of the complimentary activities, the project is focused on four areas: Invest in human capacity building to sustain the investments made (technical vocational

Bees force closure of National Park

THE Protected Areas Commission was forced to close the National Park indefinitely on Saturday,citing an invasion of bees.

"We are working feverishly to investigate and have this matter sorted as soon as possible. The decision to close is to ensure that all patrons and citizens are safe and unharmed,"

the commission said on Saturday.

Later in the evening, the commission said that the park remained closed since the origin of the bees could not be determined.

It was noted that the bee experts have been contacted and will work to ensure the park is reopened soonest.

training); pre-feasibility study on waste to energy facility; collect data on the investments and share the lessons learnt with the municipality and residents of Bartica and other municipalities across the country; and Deployment of Electric Vehicles in Bartica.

A press release on the background of the project stated that one of the GSDS recommendations (D4.3) highlights the need for Guyana to begin to transition to Electric Vehicles (EVs} and the supporting infrastructure that will help to reduce the rising emissions generated from the use of diesel and gasoline-operated vehicles.

This recommendation also stressed the need for skilled mechanics and repair stations, attractive sources of new 'green' jobs over the period of transition that should be proactively developed with local partners and stakeholders.

Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall said the township is grateful for the efforts of the OCC under the leadership of Christian, to make the town greener, cleaner and healthier.

“Phase one of this project would have paved the way for sound decision-making going forward. Now Bartica is looking forward for Phase two which will bring tangible benefits to the township.

These tangible benefits will definitely be models for other towns in the country. Starting the process of hybrid vehicles is a step in the right direction and one in which we believe will definitely transform, the economic, social, and other sectors of this township,” Marshall said.

Rockstone Women’s Group receives timely boost for community initiatives

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, with residents and officials at Rockstone on Thursday

THE Rockstone Women’s Group has received a timely boost in the form of solar-powered refrigeration appliances to complement the community’s school-feeding programme and other initiatives.

On Thursday, through a donation facilitated through the gender integration component of the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) REDD+ project in keeping with the REDD+ readiness agenda, the women’s group received a 14.7 c.f. solar-powered freezer and one 8.1 c.f. solar-powered refrigerator valued at GYD$2,121,416, to support their daily activities.

According to the ministry, the donation will also empower and boost the capacity of the women’s group to spearhead alternative sources for sustainable livelihood, thereby helping to reduce dependency on logging and forest-related activities for their economic sustenance.

The items were presented

by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman.

In giving remarks, he noted that while the donation may seem small to some, as it is only two items, it is a transformational project that will have a significant impact

in sustaining livelihood and by providing opportunities for the community’s women, farmers and fishermen.

He applauded the partnership between the women, village council and the FCPF to spearhead the initiative. In this regard, he encouraged the women to make good use of the items provided towards the development of the community.

The women are now able to offer cold storage services at a fee to the village’s fishermen who previously did not have capacity to store their daily catch. They are further involved in making and selling ice, icicles and cold fruit juices in the community.

Additionally, the women are using the cold storage facilities to keep meats, vegetables and fruits that are used daily to prepare hot and healthy meals for children of the primary and nursery schools.

The Rockstone Women’s Group stands as one of the many partners that the FCPF-REDD+ project has been engaged with to ensure REDD+ readiness among indigenous and forest-dependent communities.

The partnership seeks to build REDD+ knowledge and readiness capacity particularly among women and youth.

16

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

Friends of Ronald Waddell remember activist 14 years after death

THE late political activist, journalist and talk-show host, Ronald Waddell, was murdered on January 30, 2006 during what has been described as “the troubled period”, when it is reported that about 458 fathers were killed.

During an evening of reflection hosted in honour of Waddell’s 14th death anniversary, by the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA), a `clarion call’ was made for a check to be conducted on the surviving children of the dead men. It was also suggested that the survivors should be encouraged to pen essays on their experiences and feelings regarding the extra-judicial killings that had affected their lives.

Heston Bostwick, one of several speakers who made the call, is himself a political activist and a resident of the community of Albouystown, where the May 22, 1996 murder of young Jermaine Wilkinson at La Penitence Street, in the same community, had sparked a massive protest that lasted some six months.

The venue for the event themed, “Lest we forget, we are likely to let the same things happen again”, was the tarmac of the 1763 Monument, D’Urban Park.

Among others who spoke were Waddell’s then live-in partner, Bonita Harris; Sis Penda, Clementine Marshall, Vincent Alexander , Oscar Clarke, Ryan Belgrave, Barrington Braithwaite, Royston Peters and Sherlock Sampson.

“He lived and died for what he believed”, “everything was important for him”, “he was larger than life”, “he was a good man, partner and human being”, were some of the distinguishing characteristics that the close associates and friends of Waddell recounted.

Waddell was gunned down execution style on the evening January 30, 2006 in the driveway of his seaside home on the Rupert Craig Highway. Reports are that he had just gotten out of his car to open his gate, when heavily armed gunmen bearing high-powered weapons drove up and shot him.

Harris, who spoke passionately of her then live-in partner, disclosed to the small but attentive gathering that Waddell was gunned down on her birth date, January 30. Also, that the date of his death coincides with the day Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, familiarly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was assassinated, and the death anniversary of Coretta Scott King.

Recalling that Waddell always spoke of every story as having eight sides, she publicly expressed her appreciation to Waddell’s close friends, who were part of the struggle with him to right the wrongs and have been continuing the struggle. Harris told the gathering that following Waddell’s death and as a fitting tribute to his legacy, she established a “reading room” at ACDA. The facility which she emphasised is “a reading room and not a library,” is outfitted with all of the reading material Waddell possessed and other miscellaneous literature. The intention is for it to be utilised by persons as a quiet space to freely meditate and read up on African history and culture, just as Waddell had loved to do

He encouraged the gathering to be inspired to continue the journey, be re-energised and take the country forward.

In reminding that Waddell placed much value on education and practiced it, he

Safiya Mawusi, proudly wears a tee-shirt in honour of Ronald Waddell on his 14th death anniversary

Bonita Harris, partner of the late political activist, journalist, talk-show host, Ronald Waddell, speaks to those who attended an `Evening of Reflection’ in his honour, on the tarmac of the 1763 Monument

during his lifetime.

But Harris said she was “extremely distressed” to find during a recent visit, books locked up in cupboards and chairs stacked one upon another. In reiterating her intention, Harris chided, “If you want to honour his work, go and fix up that room, as it is it will be uncomfortable on his mind.”

Harris said, Waddell, whose mother had conceived when she was about 15 or 16 years old, stood for what he believed and had a very human side. He was passionate about what he

GTT commits to improved Blaze service

WHILE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) has committed to a new and improved level of service delivery to its Blaze residential customers within a clearly-defined customer service promise, the company said that it if falls short in meeting its publicly-stated standards as of February 1, 2020, customers will receive a service rebate.

“We have listened to our customers and made some changes to deliver a vastly-improved service to our BLAZE customers in 2020 and beyond. We are determined to elevate our standard of service to hold ourselves accountable to our valued customers,” stated GTT’s Vice-President of Customer Experience and Quality, Orson Ferguson, in a release. Customers’ rebates can be as much as $2000 per incident, the company said.

As Guyana’s largest telecommunications

perceived to be the wrongs meted out to “his” [African] people; the youths and unemployed and had frankly expressed himself on a programme named “Taking Care of Business” on Television Channel 9.

She also told the audience that Waddell, who had spent some time living overseas before returning home, was the holder of a law degree which he obtained at the University of Guyana, passing with Credit.

Belgrave, a relatively young activist, likened the work of the late Waddell as a revelation and not a personal struggle, adding that the radio programme he hosted was aimed at encouraging people to contribute to their own upliftment and development.

provider, the company said it is poised to support the country’s growth. GTT is acutely aware that over 25,000 customers rely on its BLAZE service.

“In a direct response to our customers’ demand for excellence in 2019, our team has wholly embraced quality and efficient service delivery standards. These standards are detailed on our website, but in summary, we are taking responsibility for our performance at every level,” Ferguson explained.

For details of GTT’s new promise to its BLAZE customers, visit http://bit.ly/ Blaze_Promise.

BLAZE was launched in 2017, and is Guyana’s fastest Internet service, offering customers speed, improved streaming, easy connectivity and greater reliability.

Addressing the gathering, Clarke recounted, “He [Waddell] was larger than life, he lived and was killed for it because he was successful and they saw him as dangerous.

He spoke so that the youngsters could understand, they understood what he meant and moved to do something,” Clarke added.

Alexander, who noted in his discourse that Waddell was someone with his own way of leading a community, endorsed the sentiments

by Harris, and applauded ACDA for seeking to share and keep his legacy alive.

said, “There was synergy between what he preached and did … say what you mean and mean what you say.”

Braithwaite referred to Waddell as “Solo”, his nickname in the community of Laing Avenue where they both grew up.

In a pointed remark that Waddell was “assassinated”, Braithwaite said prior to his death, and through his daily talk shows, the late activist had been attempting to empower young people, many of whom were unemployed Afro-Guyanese.

In addition, Waddell had been chronicling the unanswered deaths, referred to as extra-judicial killings, of the men who were, if not found dead with gunshot wounds, disappeared mysteriously, and have not been accounted for to date.

He had also called for the Afro-Guyanese community to begin to spend their resources in support of businesses of their own kind and in their own community.

Prayers, a libation ritual and a brief period of drumming before the speeches, were also aspects of the evening’s formality.

No negotiations -- all citizens will be dealt with based on tax principles, says GRA Head

THERE will be consistent treatment of taxpayers and this will be based on tax principles, not negotiations, according to Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia The tax chief was, at the time, making reference to the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) which has outstanding taxes of $44M for the agency.

At a press conference held at the GRA headquarters on

Friday, Statia said GTT had requested to negotiate payments, but then, if such was done, then he would have to engage in such settlements with all taxpayers.

GTT, he said, has offered to pay a reduced sum but he is not accepting this.

“The taxes were objected to and subjected to appeals in court, and the court is yet to rule, they were trying to negotiate a settlement, and I told them no, it should be negotiated based on tax principles, because you are looking at consistent

treatment of all tax payers; so if you negotiate a settlement with one party, then you have to negotiate with all taxpayers,” he said.

He noted that all settlements will only be based on tax principles and no other formula.

Statia said the court has given both sides a chance to see if an agreement can be reached but the commissioner-general is adamant that he cannot agree to something that would see a large reduction in taxes for the nation.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

17

18

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

19

20

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

21

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

Dartmouth Health Centre treated 2,700 persons in 2019 DURING 2019, the Dartmouth Health Centre, located on the Essequibo Coast, underwent a budgeted $9M rehabilitation.

This upgrade facilitated the provision of new services, while expanding those already being offered.

The centre provides health services to approximately 2,700 persons within the Eliza to Better Hope Catchment Area.

The Doctor-in-Charge at the facility, since November 2018, Dr. Savena Lall, noted that persons accessing healthcare are now benefitting from improved services.

“When I first came here, we would not have had certain services that we now offer. We have had additional staff come on board and I can definitely say we are making progress… before I came here, there was not a permanent doctor at the Dartmouth Health Centre for a while so all of the clinics were packed into one day but those clinics are now separated.”

Detailing the various clinic days, Dr. Lall explained that Mondays are scheduled for the treatment of chronic diseases. This clinic usually reaches out to senior citizens since they most often suffer from Non-Communicable Disease-related illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension.

Tuesdays have been set aside to treat infants, and the health centre staff work to capture all children requiring vaccination, contributing to the vaccination programme being rolled out at the facility.

Wednesdays are antenatal clinics and high-risk pregnancies are referred to the Public Hospital at Suddie for closer observation. Thursdays are postnatal clinics for mothers and their babies especially for those whose infants are six weeks and younger.

Friday is set aside for home visits to those patients who might have been unable to make it to the clinic during the week or those restricted to their homes.

Worthy of note is the special clinic for Audiology which takes place ev-

ery Tuesday and Physiology once monthly. Family planning services are also available through condom

Doctor in Charge at the Dartmouth Health Centre, Dr. Savena Lall (DPI photo)

distribution, oral and injected contraception.

Dr. Lall indicated that the health centre will soon offer two additional methods of contraception. “We have a dressing room now and this is where we intend to have the implants and Intra-Uterine Deposits (IUDs) done once we get our sterilizer installed.

To conduct those services, we need sterile instruments to do that… so that’s another step forward that we are much closer to achieving.”

Concerning the supply of drugs, she explained that there had never been a severe shortage since most of the basic drugs needed for the weekly clinics were available.

Regional Executive Officer of the Pomeroon-Supenaam region, Denis Jaikarran, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that other health facilities along the coast also benefitted from similar upgrades.

“We have done several repairs and rehabilitated a number of our health outposts and we have upgraded others to health centres. Right now, we have upgraded this health centre (Dartmouth), in terms of adding new facilities, making more services available so likewise, we have done the same across the region.” (DPI)

The recently rehabilitated Dartmouth Health Centre (DPI photo)

22

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

Avoid unbecoming conduct, coercion – chief-of-staff tells ranks

CHIEF-of-Staff, Brigadier Patrick West is reminding ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to not use their rank and office for unbecoming conduct and for coercion.

He shared this remark on Friday as he declared open this year's Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Conference which got underway at the auditorium at Base Camp Ayanganna.

While the two-day conference is being attended by serving Warrant Officers (WOs) and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs), the opening ceremony was also attended by retired WOs and SNCOs. The conference con-

cludes today.

“The Force is looking to you to uphold and enforce discipline. You are the persons to whom we entrust the training and moulding of the minds of the youths as they come... you are expected to be the very embodiment of all that we stand for; your turn out, your bearing, your fitness, your precision and drills, your speech, your attitude to work, must all be reflective of a professional middle manager. Do not use your rank and offices for unbecoming conduct and for coercion," the chief-of-staff said.

Brigadier West reminded the gathering that they were entrusted with the responsibility for training and mould-

ing the minds of the young soldiers and emphasised that the GDF was looking to them to uphold and enforce discipline in every quarter.

“You and your subordinates are to uphold the values and standards of the Force.

By your conduct and your lifestyle, let all know that you are professionals in the GDF and that service is your motto! The Force and the nation will be better if you do!” he charged.

Issuing a directive for the WOs and SNCOs to ensure greater record-keeping and accountability for personnel, kit and equipment, the chiefof-staff urged the gathering to utilise the conference period to find meaningful solutions.

Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Patrick West addressing the gathering

“Utilise these two days to find meaningful solutions to the ills plaguing our ranks.

I want you to also use these two days to find ways to improve your ability to be better at what you do. I charge you to ensure that you are fair in all your dealings and

disciplinary procedures so that ranks are not dealt with unfairly," he commanded.

Participants at the conference will benefit from several presentations from the commanders of various units and will have the opportunity to seek clarification on matters

presented.

Additionally, some issues identified for discussion will be presented and discussed by the participants themselves, with the aim of identifying workable solutions.

GRA revenue collection increased by 13.8% last year

GUYANA Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner-General, Godfrey Statia has reported that revenue collections last year increased to just under $230 billion, some $27.4 billion more than the sum collected in 2018.

The commissioner-general was at the time speaking on Friday at a press conference at the GRA’s Camp Street, Georgetown headquarters.

“We have been in constant double figures growth since 2016, we have actually moved revenue collections from 2016 when it was $145 billion to now, 2019, at $230 billion, so you can see the efforts of the GRA where it was in the wide -ranging changes and the widening of the tax base would have led to these sort of increases,” he said.

Additionally, he said there have been significant increases in taxes from motor veGRA Commissioner-General, Godfrey Statia

hicles, gold production and declarations, along with a significant amount in withholding taxes.

Focusing on plans for 2020, Statia said there will be another CT scanner installed at the Ogle Airport and another permanent scan-

ner will be installed at the Lombard Street scanning facilities.

“Actually, we had hoped for it to be in the country by March, April, since they are coming from China. What we also plan to do before the end of this year, and before the Christmas season, is to get two barrel scanners; we are going to have one at the GNIC Wharf and another at the John Fernandes Wharf, that will facilitate non-intrusive scanning,” he explained.

Adding that those profiled will be separated, Statia said others will be cleared immediately.

He said, eventually, a system will be worked out to ensure all port have scanners.

TURN TO PAGE

23

23

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

GRA ‘ready’ for Guyana’s lift from Liza Destiny

THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will be in a full state of readiness as ExxonMobil extracts the second lift of Guyana’s light sweet Liza crude, expected on February 3 – 4, 2020.

This is according to Deputy Commissioner General, Customs, Excise and Trade Administration, Lancelot Wills, during a press conference at the GRA’s Camp Street, Georgetown headquarters on Friday.

ExxonMobil and its partners began oil production on December 20, 2019, on the Liza 1 project in the Stabroek Block, where the company has so far made 16 successful discoveries.

Wills said: “We have, additionally, declared the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) a sufferance wharf and warehouse… this is essential, essential in as far as a monitoring presence; we reserve the right to be fully embedded with the crew and staff of the FPSO so we can exercise the kind of surveillance that is required for which the Guyanese public has been clamoring.”

He said GRA will partner with oil companies in collecting revenues along with various components in which revenue computation is premised.

Further, he said the GRA will soon roll out various modules with regards to oil and gas production and lift processing while a petroleum revenue audit unit and a customs petroleum unit will be established.

Wills said the operations are governed by the Revenue Authority Act which confers upon the agency a fiduciary duty to exercise the care and diligence required to optimize revenue collection.

“So we operate within specific confines of the law, in this case the Revenue Authority Act instructs and advises that in accordance with section 10, we charge, assess and levy taxes based on orders specified by the minister, in laws. So we set out to do what the laws prescribe; we do not concern ourselves with what ratios accrue to whom,” he explained.

Underscoring that he heads the Customs Petroleum Unit, Wills said there is an interim petroleum unit which was approved and sanctioned by the IMF since it is new to Guyana and a sectorial approach is

for at least four persons to be offshore at all times.

“There are five agencies tasked with being there: the Department of Energy, the EPA, GNBS and the GGMC with GRA,” he noted.

Deputy Commissioner General, Customs, Excise and Trade Administration, Lancelot Wills

needed to scale and fit the unit for its necessary purpose.

He explained that by April, 1, 2020, it will officially be constituted a Customs Petroleum Unit, since it would have benefitted from the necessary experiences.

“We have a corps of customs boarding officers who attend to the procedures and processes on the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) facility, Liza Destiny.

We have had our first lift from January 17-19, 2020 and our pioneering staff is Ms. Fayon Johnson,” he said.

He explained that she is a member of a team of lifter boarding officers who are required to do the volumetric measurement corroboration aboard the FPSO to ensure accuracy in reading while it is ticketed on a custody transfer meter.

Wills said a report will also be done on all offshore activities and customs clearance, landing of goods, warehousing in tandem with onshore colleagues.

“There is a full gamut of activities that we are required to monitor and evaluate as time progresses,” he noted.

Underscoring that the GRA is looking to have a permanent presence on the vessel, Wills said, “what we intend to do is to have a CCTV feed as soon as it becomes practicable, so that we will be livestreaming video as to what transpires out there offshore.”

In the absence of the livestream, officers are transported offshore and as a result, GRA also relies heavily on self-declaration by filling various forms according to regulations.

Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia said the agency, in its initial stage, has asked FROM PAGE

22

GRA revenue collection ...

At the Ogle airport, scanners will be positioned in such a manner that baggages are scanned before it reaches the owner, he added.

“If it is profiled because we see things that need to be verified, then a person will need to see a customs officer. At Timehri, we will also have a nothing-to-declare line

with two scanners, so you can walk through straight.

We don’t have to check you unless it picks something up; so we are trying to go high-tech and non-intrusive as possible,” Statia said.

He explained that when the human element is removed, then there will be less collusion, bribery and corruption.

The company to whom the lift is entitled is responsible for transporting the personnel offshore.

According to the agreement, the operators ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC are

each entitled to a lift before Guyana receives its first million barrels. The Department of Energy has selected Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited of the Royal Dutch Shell group of companies to

buy its first three lifts.

Production from the Liza Phase 1 project, located in the Stabroek Block, is expected to reach full capacity of 120,000 barrels of oil per day in coming months.

24

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

25

26

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

27

28

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

29

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

Liverpool hurry on, Leicester and Chelsea draw

By Ian Chadband accelerates LONDON, England (Reuters) Liverpool quickened their march towards a first English title for 30 years as they stretched their lead at the Premier League summit to a staggering 22 points with a 4-0 win over Southampton at Anfield yesterday.

With nearest pursuers Manchester City playing at Tottenham Hotspur today, Liverpool increased the gap at the top with a Mohamed Salah

South Africa Racing Tips Greyville 08:20 HRS Makhet 08:55 hrs Mokoko 09:30 hrs Head Boy 10:00 hrs What A Blast 10:35 hrs Stormborne Thunder

Irish Racing Tips Leopardstown 08:55 hrs Jeremys Flame 09:25 hrs Aspire Topwer 09:55 hrs Mt Lrinster 10:30 hrs Treacysenniscorthy 11:00 hrs Faugheen 11:30 hrs Delta work 12:00 hrs Moonshine Bay 12:35 hrs Bigbadandbeautiful

English Racing Tips Musselburgh 09:15 hrs Im Too Generous 09:45 hrs Thyme White 10:15 hrs Fred 11:20 hrs Keeper Hill 11:50 hrs Nortonthorpelegend 12:20 hrs Mortlach

Taunton 09:35 hrs Brewers Project 10:05 hrs War Lord 10:40 hrs Oxwich Bay 11;10 hrs Vienna Court 11:40 hrs Darling Maltaix 12:10 hrs Tactical Manoeuvre 12:45 hrs Flash De Touzaine

By Rory Carroll

Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their fourth goal as Southampton’s Alex McCarthy looks dejected. (REUTERS/Phil Noble)

double leading a second-half blitz that secured a record-equalling 20th straight home league win.

In the Premier League era, only City between March 2011 and 2012 had previously enjoyed such a winning streak at home, with unbeaten Liverpool now the first English team ever to win 24 of their first 25 matches in a topflight league campaign.

With the European champions on an unprecedented 73 points for this stage of the season, their distant chasers could only drift further behind with third-placed Leicester City and Chelsea, who are fourth, drawing 2-2 in an entertaining contest.

At the other end of the table, stranded Norwich City drew 0-0 at Newcastle United while 19thplaced Watford were left crestfallen after Everton fought from two goals down at Vicarage Road to win 3-2 despite playing the last 20 minutes with 10 men.

West Ham United dropped into the bottom three after Brighton & Hove Albion recovered from 3-1 down to earn a 3-3 draw, while Aston Villa are teetering above the drop zone after a 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth, who played most of the second half a man down.

At Anfield, even the doubters surely do not doubt any longer as Liverpool’s unreal season continued apace with a 42nd game unbeaten in the league, which came only after Southampton had given the champions-elect real problems.

The visitors, impressive in the first half, only capitulated when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain put the hosts ahead following the break, moments after Saints felt they were denied a penalty.

Captain Jordan Henderson struck the second before Salah took his league tally for the season to 14 with two goals in the last 20 minutes.

Cana take 13th place with win over UAE; Nigeria win first match of the tournament UDAYBIR Walia’s Player-of-the-Match performance helped Canada take 13th place with a win over UAE in the play-off at Potchefstroom.

Walia came in at No. 8 and made an unbeaten 42 as he put together an unbroken 86-run stand with Harmanjeet Singh Bedi to rescue his team after they’d fallen to 93 for 6 in a chase of 175. Earlier in the day, Walia, bowling for the first time in the tournament, took 3 for 16 to close UAE’s innings after

LeBron celebrates his ‘brother’ Kobe in emotional speech

medium-pacer Akhil Kumar and off-spinner Gurjot Gosal shared five wickets to restrict UAE. Scores: Canada Under-19s 179 for 6 (Walia 42*, Bedi 40*; Mukherjee 4-62) beat UAE Under-19s 174 (Sharafu 65*, Walia 3-16; Kumar 3-37) by four wickets A. Aravind, Ansh Tandon and KP Meiyappan all got into the 20s for UAE around Alishan Sharafu, who came in at 70 for 4 and was unbeaten

OPPORTUNITY At the King Power Stadium, Leicester missed out on the chance to join Manchester City on 51 points as an unlikely headed double from defender Antonio Rudiger earned Chelsea a draw.

The vibrant second-half fare demonstrated again why neither team have been able to muster a sustained challenge to Liverpool, with poor defending enabling Germany international Rudiger to swoop twice.

A header from a corner soon after the break was overturned by goals from Harvey Barnes and Ben Chilwell before Rudiger’s 71st minute equaliser ensured that Chelsea remain eight points behind Leicester’s tally of 49.

The results meant Liverpool need 21 points from their remaining 13 fixtures to be mathematically sure of winning their first title since 1990.

“When we are rolling, it’s difficult to stop,” said manager Juergen Klopp.

Sheffield United provisionally moved into fifth spot on 36 points, at least until Manchester United’s late game at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, courtesy of a goalkeeping howler from Crystal Palace’s Vicente Guaita.

The Spaniard dropped the ball into his own net just before the hour mark when making a hash of collecting a corner to gift the Yorkshire side a 1-0 win.

The performance of the day was surely Everton’s comeback at Vicarage Road where two first-half stoppage time goals from defender Yerry Mina saw them claw back Watford’s advantage.

Even after Everton midfielder Fabian Delph was dismissed for a second yellow card foul after 70 minutes, Theo Walcott earned a 90th minute-winner on the counter-attack. The Toffees’ new manager Carlo Ancelotti, it seems, is already working wonders.

on 65 by the end of the innings after Canada had elected to field. In response, Canada lost wickets regularly, four of them to off-spinner Rishabh Mukherjee, who finished the tournament with eight wickets in his last two matches.

But little damage came from the other ends as Walia and Bedi saw Canada through.

Meanwhile, a five-wicket haul by Ifeanyichukwu Uboh helped Nigeria to their first win in the Under-19 World Cup, beating Japan by eight wickets.

Scores: Nigeria Under-19s 116 for 2 (Runsewe 56) beat Japan Under-19s 115 all out

LOS ANGELES, USA (Reuters) - Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James delivered an emotional speech honouring his ‘brother’ Kobe Bryant prior to the first Lakers game since the NBA great, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others died in a helicopter crash who last Sunday.

James began by reading the names of all nine victims of the tragedy and then throwing a piece of paper containing his prepared remarks on the court.

“Laker nation, man, I would be selling you all short if I read off this shit so I’m going to go straight from the heart,” James said to a raucous applause from the sold-out crowd at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

“I know that at some point we will have a memorial for Kobe, but I look at this as a celebration tonight,” he told the crowd, referring to them as “family”.

“This is a celebration of the 20 years of the blood, the sweat, the tears, the broken down body, the getting back up - the determination to be

as great as he could be,” he said of Bryant, who played 20 seasons with the Lakers, 18 as an all-star, and won five NBA championships.

“Tonight we celebrate the kid who came here at 18 years of age, retired at 38 and became probably the best dad we’ve seen over the last three years,” he said of Bryant, who has four daughters with wife Vanessa.

“Kobe is a brother to me ... and throughout my career, the one thing we shared was that determination to win and be great.

“Along with my teammates I want to continue his legacy not only for this year but as long as we can play the game of basketball that we love because that’s what Kobe Bryant would want.

“So in the words of Kobe Bryant, Mamba out,” he said, referring to Bryant’s famous sign off after his final game as a Laker in April 2016.

“But in the words of us, not forgotten,” he said.

“Live on, brother.”

Players, coaches and fans could be seen wiping tears from their eyes after James’s remarks.

The Lakers ran out the 24-second shot clock on

31

their first possession of the game and the visiting Portland Trail Blazers did the same when they got the ball, as teams around the NBA have done since Bryant’s passing.

Teammates of Gianna, whose basketball game the group was travelling to on Sunday when the helicopter went down in foggy weather on a hillside northwest of Los Angeles, sat courtside.

Kobe’s No. 24 and Gianna’s No. 2 jerseys were placed on the two courtside seats where the pair watched their last Lakers game and the crowd frequently broke out into chants of “Kobe” and Gianna’s nickname “Gigi.”

Vanessa Bryant, who did not attend the game, posted a photo of the jerseys on Instagram during the game.

“There is no #24 without #2,” she wrote in the caption.

The Lakers fell 127-119 but the outcome felt somewhat beside the point.

“LeBron being up there and speaking to Laker nation with such strength is what we’re all about,” Lakers head coach Frank Vogel told reporters after the game.

East Coast Jubilee Republic football tournament to kick off tonight THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has approved the ‘East Coast Jubilee Republic Football Tournament’, scheduled for February 2-28, at the Ann’s Grove, Buxton and Golden Grove grounds.

The tournament will feature 12 clubs from the East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) - Buxton Stars, Golden Stars, Ann’s Grove United, Plaisance, Paradise, Victoria Kings, Buxton United, BV Triumph United, Melanie, Mahaica Determinators, Dynamic and Victoria Scorpions.

At the launch of the tournament yesterday at Punter’s Place, Ann’s Grove, GFF president Wayne Forde congratulated the coordinators and indicated GFF’s availability for any support needed.

He also outlined some of GFF’s infrastructural projects, which are scheduled for implementation/expansion this year, including the GFF’s Training Centre, the D’Urban Park Facility and the land earmarked for the Berbice Football Association.

Forde also urged good conduct throughout the tournament: “I wish every participant success and also want to encourage each and every team participating in this tournament to give of your best to ensure that the standard and reputation of the sport is maintained both on and off the field.

“I wish the organisers do everything in their power to ensure the matches are organised at a particular level

and, if I may, at a very high standard.

“We must have, at all game days, medical personnel and adequate security personnel so that the fans, players and officials can be protected in the event that there is any undesirable behaviour or someone is injured or fall ill during the conduct of a game.”

According to a correspondence from the EDFA, the tourney is geared to foster the development of football on the East Coast Demerara.

Additionally, the GFF has also approved “Magnum MASH Cup Futsal Competition” in progress at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

(Uboh 5-23) by eight wickets.

His efforts brought the opposition down from 81 for 3 to 115 all out which then set up opener Sulaimon Runsewe to score a half-century and close

the game out with 164 balls to spare.

Japan have not won any of their games in this tournament and have not put up a total above 120. They looked

good for it with Shu Noguchi doing his best to stick to the crease, but his wicket for 31 off 77 balls caused a seven-wicket collapse for only 34 runs.(ESPN Cricinfo).

32

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

Comeback kid Kenin overpowers Muguruza to claim her maiden Grand Slam title

By Sudipto Ganguly

MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Sofia Kenin showed grit and combativeness on the way to her maiden Grand Slam title yesterday, as the 21-yearold American fought her way back from a set down to beat Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in the Australian Open final.

Kenin may not have the strength or build of her Spanish opponent, but what she lacked in power she made up for in willpower as she took down double Grand Slam winner Muguruza 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Born in Moscow to Russian immigrant parents, the 14th seed became the youngest American since Serena Williams in 2002 to win a major, with Muguruza double-faulting on Kenin’s second match point to end an engrossing contest of over two hours.

“I just want to say my dream has officially come true. If you have a dream, go for it, because it can come true,” Kenin said

after lifting the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. “I feel like mental toughness has been a huge part. I’ve worked on that over the course of the years.

It’s just paying off.”

On a wet and cold evening, Kenin and Muguruza produced a fitting and intense final under the closed roofs of a packed Rod Laver Arena.

Muguruza had arrived in Melbourne suffering from a virus that forced her to quit the Hobart International, but the Spaniard was soon back to playing to her strength which helped her reach the top of the women’s rankings in 2017.

Some of the inconsistency that led to her slipping to 36th in the rankings last year resurfaced against Kenin, however, as the Spaniard blew hot and cold with her serve, getting 57% of first serves in while mixing nine aces with eight double faults.

The 26-year-old former Wimbledon and French Open

Sofia Kenin fought back from a set down to beat Garbine Muguruza yesterday 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 for the American player’s first major title.

(Hennal McKay, Reuters) winner, who was playing her fourth Grand Slam final, hit four winners more than her opponent but that came at the price of almost double the number of unforced errors.

Kenin, who had never advanced

beyond the fourth round at a Grand Slam before this match, was definitely not short on confidence, however.

The American tied world number one Ash Barty for hard-court wins (38) in 2019 when she won three

singles titles to reach a career-high world ranking of 12th.

She defeated Muguruza in their only previous career meeting, in Beijing last year, and came to yesterday’s contest with a game plan, mixing deft drop shots with deep forehand groundstrokes to catch the Spaniard by surprise initially.

But Muguruza soon found her range and converted her third breakpoint in the third game to nose ahead in the opening set.

Kenin hung on and then gave herself a dose of confidence by saving four breakpoints to hold the seventh game.

She was rewarded for her tenacity in the next game and got the break back, but the Spaniard came out firing on all cylinders to break Kenin again and took the opening set when her opponent missed the sideline with a forehand.

Kenin took the court in the second set with renewed vigour, and the power behind her shots visibly went up a notch. She levelled

the match with two breaks of Muguruza’s serve.

The intensity rose considerably in the deciding set, with Muguruza slapping her thigh to egg herself on while Kenin was almost reduced to tears of frustration at some of her shots and threw her racquet away a few times.

Down 0-40 in the fifth game and with her back to the wall, Kenin produced arguably her best tennis of the match. She painted the sidelines with three scorching winners and fired in an ace to hold serve for 3-2. She saved 10 out of the 12 breakpoints she faced.

The Spaniard’s serving woes returned to haunt her as Kenin sealed the match with a second break, with the nervous Muguruza serving three double faults in the final game.

“I think I had to play better today because she came up with a great level,” Muguruza said. “I think at the important moments I didn’t find my shots.”

Miller hails `refreshing’ of South Africa squad for England ODI series

By Nick Said CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) Hard-hitting batsman David Miller has backed the new-look South Africa One-Day International squad to banish the memories of a disastrous World Cup campaign last year, ahead of a three-match home series with England starting at Newlands on Tuesday.

South Africa won only three of

Hard-hitting SA batsman David Miller

their nine matches at the global finals last year as England went on to be crowned world champions on home soil, and at the start of a new cycle ahead of the 2023 finals have refreshed their squad.

Batsmen Janneman Malan and JJ Smuts, wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, spinning all-rounder Bjorn Fortuin and seam bowler Lutho Sipamla are all fresh faces that will be led for the first time by captain Quinton de Kock.

“It’s exciting,” Miller told

reporters. “It is not the normal squad everyone is used to seeing.

From my side that is refreshing, it’s a new start.

“The guys that have come in must learn as quickly as possible. We are here to win, not to just see how things go.

“It’s an exciting time to be in South African cricket. The guys have got a lot of energy and are willing to learn.”

Miller has also welcomed the appointment of de Kock, who

takes over from Faf du Plessis, the latter having been rested for the series along with fast bowler Kagiso Rabada.

“Quinny and I have come a long way. He is an unbelievable performer and thinks about things very simply.

“But I genuinely believe as he has got older, he has got a great feel on the ground during the game, a great understanding of what is going on and what to do.”

Miller hopes the selectors will

back the squad that has been chosen beyond this series and give the players a fair run.

“It is about trying to find the best combination as early as possible and sticking with that.

It is about doing the business on the park. It is about putting scores together as a batting unit.

“We are playing the world champions, but everybody is beatable. If we come with the right mindset it will be a really good series.”

Nadir entrusted to lead Everest CC for another term ONE of the country’s leading cricket facilities, Everest Cricket Club (ECC) re-elected Manzoor Nadir as president for another term when the club held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday, January 31.

Nadir, who was at the helm for 2019, and his newly elected executive body will however be the first directors to serve for two years after the membership moved a motion to increase the time in office from one year to two years.

The AGM, which took place in the club’s banquet hall, saw most of the 2019 executives returned while there are three new faces.

Former club manager Rehana Ragobeer has been elected to serve as secretary, CEO of V-Net Communications, Safraz Sherifudeen, is the new assistant treasurer while second division player Joshua Kissoon comes in as an Internal Auditor.

For the highlight of the evening, Returning Officer Anand Sanasie had little difficulty going through

Newly-elected ECC executives for 2020 to 2021. Sitting second from right is president, Manzoor Nadir. the process of nomination and unopposed. remarks. “On behalf of the voting since majority of the club’s After Sanasie invited the newly entire executive, I thank you membership supported Nadir and elected executives to take up for your confidence placed in us his executives’ efforts in 2019; their positions at the head table, and I guarantee you that we will thus they were returned mostly president Nadir offered brief continue with the ongoing works

to keep Everest as the club of choice.”

The political stalwart also charged the members to play their part and to continue their support for the much loved club which continues to achieve its objectives as a cricket club that executes its role in Georgetown, Demerara, Guyana and the West Indies.

Earlier, the AGM began with reports from president, secretary and club captain while the presentation of the Audited Report and Treasurer’s Report for 2019 was deferred to an Ordinary General Meeting which will be held no earlier than April 2020.

At that point the motion for Constitution amendment with regard to life of the executive was proposed, deliberated and passed.

Before the voting process started, Returning Officer Sanasie weighed in on the motion noting that it is the direction in which cricket associations in and out of Guyana are heading.

The following persons were elected to serve in the respective posts for 2020 to 2021: President - Manzoor Nadir Senior vice-president - Saheed Mohamed Junior vice-president Rajesh Singh Secretary Rehana Ragobeer Treasurer Ramdeo Kumar Assistant Secretary Prakask Balgobin Assistant treasurer Safraz Sheriffudeen Club captain Dwayne Adams Committee members - Retired GDF Major Bhageshwar Murli, CEO of Comfort Sleep Dennis Charran, Media Personality John Ramsingh and CEO of General Marine Rahaman Khan.

The Internal Auditors are Javed Khan and Joshua Kissoon.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

33

Karim, Deopersaud lead Albion to Sarwan Under-17 triumph ALBION pulled off a 42-run win over arch-rivals Rose Hall Town as they were crowned the 2019/Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Ramnaresh Sarwan Under-17 Tournament champions.

Playing at the Area H Ground last Thursday, Albion, spearheaded by Reyad Karim’s even 50 and a fine spell of left-arm spin from the talented Kumar Deopersaud (4-16), wrapped up a much-needed win after they had lost both Busta Champions of Champions 40-Overs and Ivan Madray 20/20 finals to Rose Hall Town over the past few weeks.

Albion in the end made 198-8 off 50 overs with Sarwan Chaitnarine (33) sup-

porting the half-centurion Karim. Matthew Pottaya was the best of the Rose Hall Town bowlers with 2-31 with Johnathan Rampersaud chipping in with 2-149.

Needing to score 199 from 50 overs to retain their 2018 championship title, Rose Hall Town were bowled out for 156 in 46.5 overs.

It was 14-year-old Kumar Deopersaud who led the way with 4-16, while a few other bowlers grabbed two wickets each. Rampersaud (40), Jeremy Sandia (39) and Ricardo Ramdehol (29) were the main scorers in a losing effort.

After the match, Rose Hall Town/BCB president Hilbert Foster, who was accompanied to the presentation ceremony by several

The victorious Albion U-17 team

board members including Chairman of the Competitions Committee Leslie Solomon and his deputy Neil Rudder, hailed the tournament as a success.

Foster expressed gratitude to Ramnaresh Sarwan, former West Indies captain for his support of Berbice Cricket, and hailed him as a true friend of the Ancient County.

Albion received the winners’ Sarwan Trophy and $60 000 while the runners-up carried home $30 000 and a trophy. Karim was named Man-of-the-Final by selector Leslie Solomon and collected a cash prize and trophy.

Dindyal shines as Floodlight claim U-15 victory against DCC WEST Indies U-15 batsman Mavendra Dindyal spanked a huge half-century to lift the Floodlight U-15 team to a 22-run victory against home side, Demerara Cricket Club, in a special 30-over battle in honour of coach Huburn Evans on Friday night under lights.

The former senior national coach and national selector had travelled with the Floodlight junior team to Florida and had been instrumental in their admirable performance.

In their latest clash, the Floodlights side, made up of a number of top youth cricketers, including national U-15 captain Zachary Jodah,

Floodlight U-15 team defeated DCC in their 30-over battle.

national all-rounder Alvin

Mohabir (captain of the side)

and Dindyal, lost the toss and

were asked to bat.

Except for fellow opener Jodah, who worked the singles well (17) in a score of 24 and Mohabir (14 runs), none of the other batsmen threatened. Dindyal though, did not waver as he spanked seven fours and six sixes in a top score of 94.

Romeo Deonarain, who eventually had the GCC batsman stumped, was one of three home team bowlers to have picked up two wickets.

Young Jayden Dowlin and Mahiem Khan finished with 2-17 from four overs and 2-44 from six respectively, which helped to restrict the visitors for 173-9 in their allotted overs.

In reply, the home team did not get on top of the bowling, as leg-break bowler Nityanand Mathura delivered. Mathura, who got the top wicket of opener Jaden Campbell for 60, finished with 4-31 from six overs.

Campbell had the home team supporters on their feet as he spanked five fours and a six in his innings, but except for 19 (2x4) from Premkumar Permaul and 20 unbeaten runs from Wavell Allen, none of the other batsmen got into double digits, which limited DCC to 151-8 off their allotted overs.

India suffer first over-rate offence in over five years FOR the first time in nearly six years, India have been found guilty of slow over-rate. The players were docked 40% of their match fee for a violation in the fourth T20I against New Zealand in Wellington, bringing to an end a streak that had lasted 264 matches since the Oval Test in August 2014.

This was also the first such violation under Virat Kohli.

As per Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for

Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20 percent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the stipulated time. Notwithstanding time allowances, India were found to be two overs short of the requirement at Westpac stadium and thus the fine was doubled.

On-field umpires Chris Brown and Shaun Haig, and third umpire Ashley Mehrotra, reported the

matter to match referee Chris Broad, who imposed the sanction, which went uncontested as Kohli accepted the charge. There was no formal hearing needed.

India clinched that cliffhanger on Friday after it resulted in a second Super Over in as many matches to extend their series lead to 4-0. The final T20I will be played at Mount Maunganui today. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Virat Kohli is pumped after India forced the match to a Super Over. ( Getty Images)

34

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

Infantino wants Africa Cup of Nations every four years, plans pan-African club competition (REUTERS) - FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) be held every four years instead of every two and wants to create a pan-African Super League with 20 permanent member clubs.

The FIFA president, speaking at a seminar in Rabat on the development of African football, complained that football in the region had not progressed as expected and that he wanted to “project African football to the top of the world.”

Infantino’s remarks came less than one month after the Confederation of African Football decided to

FIFA president Gianni Infantino

move next year’s AFCON tournament in Cameroon from June-July back to its traditional January slot, prompting criticism from clubs who would have to release players at a key point in the season.

However, playing in

June-July would have meant following on from FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup in China.

“We have been talking about the development of African football for many years,” said Infantino.

“Pele once said that an African team would win the FIFA World Cup, but this hasn’t happened and it seems we are not making progress. Today must be the day we turn that page.

“The (AFCON) generates 20 times less than the Euros (European championship).

Having a CAN every two years, is that good at the commercial level? Has this developed the infrastructure?

Think about spending it ev-

ery four years.”

Infantino then gave details of his proposal for a pan-African league which he said had been developed in conjunction with CAF. “I want to create a real pan-African league that would feature 20-24 clubs with a maximum of maybe two clubs per country that would still play in their national leagues but that would play during the year so we can really crown the club champions of Africa,” he said.

FIFA said in a statement that the permanent member clubs would be urged to provide an investment of $20M annually over five years and would

also have to meet other participation criteria such as investment in youth and women’s football.

FIFA added the competition would have the potential to generate revenue of $3B over a five-year cycle – and would also create the conditions for African football to be able to retain some of the most talented players on the continent.

CAF currently organises two continental competitions for clubs – the CAF Champions League, for domestic champions plus runners-up from the bigger leagues, and the CAF Confederation Cup for lower-ranked teams.

Infantino also unveiled

a plan to invest $1B to build “at least one top stadium” in each of Africa’s 54 FIFA member associations. Where good stadiums already existed, the investment would be used on other infrastructure.

He also planned to set up a group of 20 referees who would be professionalised.

“Referees have to be above and beyond doubt and to do that we have to protect them,” he said.

“We will take 20 of the best African FIFA referees, professionalise them, and give them permanent, professional contracts.”

MYO crush Third Class in 40-over clash

… Wins for Everest and GNIC THE MUSLIM Youth Organisation (MYO) registered a crushing 10-wicket win over Third Class in their New Building Society (NBS) Second Division 40-over cricket competition yesterday at Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda.

In addition, Everest Cricket Club (ECC) and GNIC registered victories against Transport Sports Club (TSC) and Sophia Cricket Club (SCC) respectively.

At the world-famous Bourda ground, a short-handed Third Class side (eight batsmen) won the toss and opted to take first

strike, but they crumbled to the pace bowling of MYO. No batsman reached double digits.

Chien Saheed Gittens led the attack for the eventual winners. The all-rounder took 2-2 from 5.3 overs (four maidens).

Jamal Major, Bryion Bowen and Naveed Ali all supported with a wicket each.

MYO then cruised to victory in 4.2 overs. Richard Latiff finished with 18 and Rudolph Singh with 12.

At the Everest ground, the home team recorded a five-wicket victory against TSC. TSC won the toss and batted

Chien Saheed Gittens took 2-2 from 5.3 overs for MYO. first, but they were restricted to 132 just short of their allotted overs. Devaughn Nandan showed some resistance with 29 runs (4x4), while A. Azeez supported with 24.

Raylex Payne was the pick of the

Trevon Jones snared 6-21 from four overs for GNIC. ECC bowlers. He finished with 3-22, while Richie Looknauth and David Williams finished with two wickets each.

In reply, ECC used just 23 overs, but lost five wickets to

Dwain Dick had an all-round game for GNIC. reach the target.

Saheed Mohamed led the attack with 63, while Looknauth supported with an unbeaten 26. Joel Spooner and Otis Batson led TSC with two wickets apiece.

Meanwhile at QC ground, SCC won the toss and opted to take first strike, but they were bowled out for 106 in 16 overs.

V. Barrow (18) and Malcolm Morris (15) had starts, but the off-spin bowling of Trevon Jones undermined the batting side. Jones finished with 6-21 from four overs while Dwain Dick picked up 2-20 before he struck a half-century to lead his side to 112-2 in 11 overs.

The teenager hit five fours and a similar number of sixes in his 58. Support came from Premchand Sookdeo who scored 30 (five fours).

New champions to be crowned in Linden Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ FIRST-TIME winners will be crowned in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Linden Championship on February 8, as Swag Entertainment will oppose Quiet Storm following

respective semi-final wins on Friday at the Christianburg hard court.

Swag Entertainment dismissed former two-time champions Amelia’s Ward Russians 2-0.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday February 02, 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)

Dennis Amiss-137 (ENG vs IND, Lord’s, 1975)

(2)

Clive Lloyd-102 (WI vs AUST, Lord’s, 1975) Today’s Quiz:

(1) How many ODIs the WI & SL have contested against each other to date? How many the WI have won?

(2) How many T20 Internationals the WI & SL have played against each other to date? How many the WI have won?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Action at the Christianburg hard court in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Linden Championship between Swag Entertainment (yellow) and Amelia’s Ward Russians.

Kendolph Lewis recorded a side of the field after latching onto double in the lopsided contest. a pass from Deon Charter.

His first conversion came in the With the score unchanged second minute of the 30-minute heading into the halftime encounter, slotting from the right interval, Lewis recorded his

second of the night in the 17th minute, sealing the result with a powerful shot from the left side of the field.

The win sealed Swag Entertainment’s second appearance in the championship match. On the other hand, Quiet Storm earned their maiden appearance in the final, defeating Silver Bullets 2-1 on penalty kicks following a 0-0 score at the end of regulation time.Meanwhile, the losers will face off in the thirdplace playoff.

Tournament coordinator Rawle Gittens said, “This edition of the tournament has certainly featured unpredictable results.

“This is evident by the fact that a newcomer will be crowned champion and gives credence to the fact that the event is evolving and improving. It also highlights the emergence is smaller teams, who now have the ability

to challenge the traditional giants so I am pleased with the outcome.”

He further said, “Again I would like to thank the fans and players for their continued support in making the tournament a spectacle and creating that environment and atmosphere that has become synonymous with the event.”

In the Plate Championship, dethroned champions High Rollers crushed Capital Storm 2-0.

Jonah Simon recorded a double in the third and 11th minute.

Winners of the event will pocket $400 000 and the championship trophy, the second- placed side will pocket $150 000 and the respective accolade. Similarly, the third- and fourth-place teams will receive $100 000 and $75 000 respectively and trophy.

Meanwhile the winners of the Guinness Plate Championship will pocket $60 000.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

35

Pre-teen Billingy takes U-21 title at Senior National TT Championships

CRYSTAL Melville and Thuraia Thomas might have won the Junior U-18 and U-15 national competitions last weekend, but when it came to the senior event it was preteen racquet-wielder Jasmine Billingy, who excelled.

Playing in the U-21 women’s round-robin final at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall yesterday, the nine-year-old stormed to three victories for a top score of six points.

She defeated Thomas 3-1 (11-7, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8),

Elishaba Johnson reached the final of the U-21 male competition.

before she made light work of Melville 3-0 (13-11, 11-7, 11-5). Billingy also got past Samara Sukhai 3-1 (11-8, 7-11, 11-4, 11-7).

Thomas, who won against both Melville 3-2 (11-4, 11-8, 6-11, 5-11, 11-5) and Sukhai (11-3, 11-5, 11-4) finished second, while Melville placed third.

The male U-21 division went to the final and current U-15 and U-18 junior champion Jonathan Van Lange, who will look to make it three in a row when he meets Elihaba

Johnson today in the final.

In their semi-finals yesterday Van Lange defeated reigning Caribbean Mini and Pre-Cadet TT bronze medal winner Colin Wong 3-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-2), while Johnson had gotten past Isaiah Layne in a tense final four clash 3-2 (11-8, 9-11, 114, 11-13, 11-8).

In the quarter-final, Wong had ended the run of national Junior U-15 and U-18 silver medallist Kaysan Ninvalle 3-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-8).

Meanwhile, the C Class Open

has also gone to final. Troy McRae, who defeated Billingy in a tense and exciting clash 3-2 (11-7, 12-10, 3-11, 6-11, 13-11) and will meet Kyle Chung in the championship clash.

In the other semi-final, Chung had gotten the better of Narren Persaud 3-1 (13-11, 6-11, 11-8, 14-12).

Jasmine Billingy finished As happened with Layne and with the U-21 female title Wong in the U-21, Billingy and a bronze in the C Class and Persaud also claimed a on day two of the Senior TT National Championship. joint bronze medal.

Barnwell takes six-for before scoring a century as DCC dominate UG CHRISTOPHER Barnwell enjoys the University of Guyana’s (UG) bowling.

Yesterday he stormed to his third consecutive century against the side in two-day cricket, but he also proved his might with the ball, by registering a five-wicket haul. It is the second time in his career that he has scored a century and picked up a five-wicket haul – the first was also against UG. In the GISE/Star Party Rentals and Trophy Stall first-division two-day cricket clash, Barnwell delivered

Christopher Barnwell took 6-16 before blasting his way to 134 runs.

one of his best bowling figures at this level - 6-16 from eight overs - to lift the hometeam Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), to a first-innings lead.

When bails were lifted after day one, UG were on 0-0, two overs into their second innings, trailing by 207 runs.

Batting first the visitors were undone by the ferocity of Barnwell’s fast medium bowling. After K. Roberts had sent him for a six and a four in the opening over, Barnwell recomposed him-

self in his second over to get three quick wickets.

From 12 without loss, UG struggled to 8-36 before Pavindralall Persaud and Yekini Favourite put together 58 runs for the ninth wicket.

Persaud was particularly destructive after settling in.

The middle-order batsman struck four consecutive sixes and a four in a top score of 39, while Favourite finished with four fours in his 22, but those scores were plasters over the wound that the

national cricketer Barnwell delivered to the visitors as they succumbed for 94 in 30.1 overs.

Carlton Jacques supported Barnwell with 2-12 from 7.1 overs.

In the middle, DCC lost their openers early, but national cricketer Tevin Imlach blasted his way to 73 (8x4, 1x6). Although his innings was of a high quality, Barnwell’s took over the spotlight as he spanked 11 fours and 10 huge sixes in a top score of 134.

The middle-order batsman looked like he would have batted out the day, but he succumbed to Persaud. He had belted the off spinner for a six off his first ball over the deep mid-wicket region and was attempting a similar shot the very next, but was caught.

UG bounced back by picking up the last four wickets for 29 runs, but they were still trailing the home team by 207.

The match is set to continue this morning at the Queenstown venue.

Steady Patrick steers Windies to nervy win over South Africa POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa (CMC) – Matthew Patrick held his nerve to anchor a nervy West Indies run chase as they beat South Africa by four wickets in the playoff semi-final of the CC Under-19 World Cup here yesterday.

In pursuit of a modest 148 for victory at JB Marks Oval, West Indies found themselves tottering on 66 for four in the 18th over before Patrick struck a patient unbeaten 25 from 61 balls to see his side to victory in the 42nd over.

Importantly, he put on 47 for the fifth wicket with Antonio Morris who made 25, and another 20 for the sixth wicket with all-rounder Nyeem Young (10) to ensure there were no hiccups towards the end.

Patrick had earlier

IOC refutes Tokyo Olympic cancellation rumours THE International Olympic Committee (IOC) has strongly refuted rumours which suggest the Tokyo Games could be cancelled due to the threat of the coronavirus.

With approximately six months to go before the showpiece, World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the Coronavirus a global health emergency. The epicentre of the outbreak is the Chinese City of Wuhan where over 10 000 people have been infected.

The virus has also spread to 20 other countries, including Japan, where 17 people have been infected.

The Tokyo Olympic organisers have, however, insisted that having been in contact with the WHO, they were “not considering” cancelling the Olympics and Paralympics. The IOC has revealed that various countermeasures were already being examined.

“Countermeasures against infectious diseases constitute an important part of Tokyo 2020’s plans to host a safe and secure Games,” the IOC said in a statement.

“Tokyo 2020 will continue to collaborate with all relevant organisations which carefully

monitor any incidence of infectious diseases and will review any countermeasures.”

The outbreak has already affected other scheduled competitions, including the Olympic qualifying tournament in China.

Women’s football has been moved to Australia and basketball to Serbia. The AsianOceania boxing qualifiers have been moved to Jordan.

The World Indoor Championships were scheduled to be held in Nanjing in March.

However, the event has been postponed for a year.

Ashmead Nedd celebrates a wicket.

snatched two wickets for 12 runs with his off-spin to join left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd (2-18) and fast bowler Joshua James (2-25) as the hosts were dismissed for 143 in the 39th over after choosing to bat.

They were in good shape at 120 for four in the 29th over but suffered a sudden collapse to lose their last six wickets for just 23 runs in the space of 54 balls.

Opener Levert Manje topscored with a polished 43

from 63 deliveries, with three fours and two sixes, while Khanya Cotani chipped in with 27 from 40 balls but no other specialist batsman passed 13.

It was Manje who held the top order together after Jonathan Bird (13) and Bryce Parsons (7) fell cheaply to leave South Africa on 39 for two in the seventh over.

He put on 25 for the third wicket with Luke Beaufort (9) before adding a further 34 for the fourth

wicket with Cotani, who counted two fours.

However, once Manje was run-out in the 22nd over, the innings declined quickly.

West Indies had a shock start to their run chase when left-hander Leonardo Julien fell to the fourth ball of the innings without scoring and Kevlon Anderson (1) perished in the fourth over with 11 runs on the board.

Captain Kimani Melius struck a breezy 29 from 30 balls with five fours to repair the damage, adding 38 for the third wicket with Kirk McKenzie who scored 19.

South Africa hit back when both Melius and McKenzie perished in quick succession but Patrick stepped up to steady the innings and put the Caribbean side back on course for victory.

36

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 2, 2020

LeBron celebrates his ‘brother’ Kobe in emotional speech PAGE

31

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James speaks to the Staples Center crowd during a memorial tribute to longtime Laker guard before playing the Portland Trail Blazers. Bryant and eight others were killed in a helicopter crash January 26, 2020. (Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports)

Thousands turn out to mourn Kobe Bryant as Lakers return to the court in LA

By Rory Carroll LOS ANGELES, USA (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Kobe Bryant fans flooded the grounds around Staples Center on Friday ahead of his former

Lakers fan Karina Mendoza.

“I want to thank him for everything he has done for us here in L.A.” “It’s a sad and a beautiful day. You can see all the people here and all the Lakers fans. We’re like family.

experienced all that along with my kids.

“It’s almost like losing a child in a way.”

Los Angeles native Andres Valle said people gained inspiration from the famously driven Bryant,

taking to a girls’ basketball tournament crashed in foggy weather on a hillside northwest of Los Angeles, plunging fans into mourning and sending shockwaves through the sporting world.

Mourners gather outside Staples Center before a Los Angeles Lakers home game to pay respects to Kobe Bryant after a helicopter crash killed the retired basketball star and his daughter Gianna, in Los Angeles, California, U.S. (REUTERS/Patrick T. Fallon) team’s first game since his death in a helicopter crash earlier this week that stunned basketball fans in the city and worldwide.

Fans wearing Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers jerseys laid flowers, wrote messages on temporarily erected white walls and shared stories of the 41-yearold, who perished along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people on Sunday.

“Kobe Bryant meant a lot to me. I’ve been watching him for 20 years since he came into the league and I just love him,” said

Love you Kobe, love you Gigi and all the families.”

Inside the arena, where tributes were expected throughout the game, Kobe and Gianna jerseys were placed on the two courtside seats where the pair sat at their last Lakers game.

“I was surprised to see how much it affected me as soon as I got here and saw these makeshift memorials,” said 71-year-old Lakers fan Jim Bendat.

“My kids grew up with Kobe and Kobe meant so much to all three of my children. So I sort of

who played 20 seasons with the Lakers, 18 of them as an all-star, while winning five championships.

“He was an inspiration to millions of people, not just Lakers fans, but people worldwide,” Valle said.

“Kobe was a symbol of hard work, dedication, putting your all into your passions, your craft, and so I think a lot of us were able to connect with him in that sense.”

“It’s beautiful to see and I think that inspiration will live on forever.”

Bryant and the eight others died when the helicopter they were

Following Bryant’s death, the National Basketball Association (NBA) cancelled a game scheduled for Staples Center on Tuesday between Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, citing the need to give the team time to grieve.

Lakers coach Frank Vogel this week said the tragedy was bringing the Western Conferenceleading Lakers, an already tightknit group, even closer together and credited team leaders LeBron James and Anthony Davis with helping the players manage their

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limited, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208

emotions.

“I’m heartbroken and devastated my brother!!” James, who was seen in tears at Los Angeles International Airport on the day of Bryant’s death, wrote on Instagram on Monday. “I promise you I’ll continue your legacy man!”

Earlier on Friday James posted a photo of a new tattoo depicting a snake and the words “Mamba 4 Life,” a reference to Bryant’s Black Mamba nickname.

Davis posted a photo on Instagram of the two sitting side by side at the 2012 Olympics.

Practice on Thursday began with some flag football on an outside field near the Lakers’ practice facility in what Vogel called “therapeutic” Southern California sunshine.

“We are striking a balance of trying to make us feel good,” Vogel said. “Laughter is always a good remedy for something like this when it’s appropriate.”

It was not clear if surviving members of Bryant’s family would attend Friday’s game. His widow, Vanessa, posted a photo of herself with her late husband and four daughters on Instagram on Wednesday, her first public comment since his death.

Vanessa Bryant, 37, in the post described herself and surviving daughters as “completely devastated,” and thanked fans for their support.

Although Friday’s game against Portland Trail Blazers will mark the first for the Lakers since his death, Bryant was remembered at Staples Center on Sunday night by performers at the Grammy Awards as fans gathered outside the arena in a spontaneous vigil.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said the February 9 Oscars ceremony would include a salute to Bryant.

East Coast Jubilee Republic

football tournament to kick PAGE off tonight 31

Members of the head table at the launch of the East Coast Jubilee Republic Football Tournament held at Punter’s Place, Ann’s Grove

SUNDAY, FABRUARY 2, 2020