AG distances self from fake email Page 3
WEDNESDAY JUNE 21, 2017
No. 104950
60 years for Albouystown murder Page 18
GRDB accountant nabbed in Canada Former GRDB accountant, Peter Ramcharran was on Tuesday arrested in Toronto
Page 3
Price: $80
(VAT Inclusive)
FATCA goes into operation Page 16
…Guyana signs commencement order
Order signed to reopen wildlife trade Page 15
Four arrested in ganja sting operation Page 8
Beware of ‘blood suckers’ Page 8
…Lewis tells sugar workers not be fooled by PPP
Sexual abuse prevalent in Annai Page 13
2
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
PPP set up irregular account at …AG orders its Ministry of Culture closure at PAC hearing By Ariana Gordon
A SPECIAL Project Bank Account being operated by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport came under scrutiny on Monday during a hearing of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) resulting in acting Accountant General, Jennifer Chapman, calling for its immediate closure. The Audit Report of 2015 has observed that the Account, which funds from various sources, including the Guyana Lotteries Commission and the National Stadium, have been deposited and was inappropriately managed by the Ministry. Chapman recommended that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (Department of Culture) “close the Special Account Fund and transfer all money to the Consolidated Fund immediately.” She advised that in
Former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture, Alfred King
the case of funding received from international donors; she must be written to requesting approval for the establishment of a Deposit Fund Account, where those transactions will be deposited to the Consolidated Fund, “where we will have full accountability and transparency on these transactions.” The Audit office said that the Ministry continued to “inappropriately meet
Accountant General (ag), Jennifer Chapman
unrelated expenditure from this account.” In 2015, the Ministry deposited revenues totalling $367.192M into the Bank Account, instead of the Consolidated Fund of which $22.052M, $176.530M, $164.610M and $4M were from the rental of the Guyana National Stadium, refund to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Guyana Lottery Commission and Digicel respectively.
In 2013 and 2014, the sum of $106.096M representing unexpended balances was withdrawn and deposited into a special account. Amounts totalling $99.734M were expended at December 31, 2015 and the unspent balance of $6.362M was refunded on September, 2016 to the Consolidated Fund. Though as of July 29, 2016 revenues collected from the rental of the National Stadium were being paid to the Consolidated Fund, the Audit Office recommended that immediate steps be taken to ensure that all revenues are deposited into the Consolidated Fund. Permanent Secretary, Melissa Tucker, appeared before the Committee accompanied by former Permanent Secretary of that Ministry, Alfred King. PAC member Nigel Dharamlall questioned why deposits
were still being done to the account as opposed to the Consolidated Fund. “I am advised that the officers are in the process of reconciling the accounts. Since assumption, I brought the matter to the Finance Secretary. I am in the process of having the account closed and funds transferred to the Consolidated Fund,” she replied. She was then asked by PAC member Juan Edghill whether any withdrawals occurred from the Account during the period of review to which King answered in the negative. “I am told no Mr Chair,” said King but his answer was quickly shut down by PAC Chairman, Irfaan Ali. “That cannot be correct. Review that answer,” Ali requested. By this time Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, made it clear that at the time of the exit conference payments began for the Nation-
al Stadium and the Guyana Classic. “But in 2015 they were not doing so… from June 29, 2016 they started to do so,” Sharma added. “Are you still saying no?” asked Ali who provided Tucker with time to provide clarity on the matter. During this time, advisors to the Permanent Secretary were cautioned to pay full attention to their roles. Ali told them that their role at the PAC is very important and should not have large advisory teams appearing before the PAC unprepared. “Take your roles seriously,” he stressed as Dharamlall chimed in to note that the Auditor General had indicated that the Special Account was never reconciled at the time of the audit. He asked Tucker to tell the Committee the extent of reconciliation that has been accomplished. The Permanent Secretary noted that reconciliation
Turn to page 3 ►
GRDB accountant nabbed in Canada
3
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
…to be extradited to face fraud charges FORMER accountant of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Peter Ramcharran, was on Tuesday arrested by the Toronto Fugitive Squad, authorities here have confirmed. Ramcharran, who has been charged jointly with several other former top officials of the GRDB, had fled the jurisdiction prior to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) instituting criminal charges. His arrest in Canada followed an extradition request which was made by the Guyana Government to their Canadian counterparts. The Guyana Chronicle was told that Ramcharran will be subjected to a court hearing to determine the extradition request before he is sent back to Guyana. He is
currently in police custody. Just recently, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan issued an arrest warrant for Ramcharran, even as SOCU had made formal representation for him to be extradited to face the charges. Head of SOCU, Assistant Commissioner Sydney James, had told the Guyana Chronicle that the arrest warrant was issued for Ramcharran on five counts of falsification of accounts. James had appeared before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to explain why an arrest warrant should be issued for the former accountant. Ramcharran was responsible for ‘signing off’ on a number of questionable transactions that were traced to the six officials who were recently charged and others caught
up in the GRDB probe. Last week, five charges of falsification of accounts were filed and sworn to in court by an investigating rank; however Ramcharran was not present in court, since he reportedly fled the jurisdiction to Canada during SOCU’s investigation. But SOCU’s Special Prosecutor Patrice Henry had explained to Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan that the accused was informed about the court proceedings and was ordered to be present in court. The magistrate had adjourned the matter until June 5, 2017 at 13:15hrs and ordered that the Head of SOCU be present at the next hearing to satisfy the court why an arrest warrant should be issued for Ramcharran. The allegation was made against Ramcharran during
AG distances self from fake email ATTORNEY General Basil Williams, S.C., on Tuesday rejected outright the circulation of emails purportedly sent by him to several senior members of the coalition government which among other things discusses plans for the re-election of the APNU+AFC to office. The email was sent out by the unknown Andron Pires to several media houses containing two screen shots of emails. However, Williams made it clear that the email which was circulated while he was in Cabinet is “fake.” “Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, S.C., M.P, has rejected out of hand the fake email being circulated whilst he was in Cabinet, purporting to have been authored by him,” a statement
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, S.C.
from Williams’s office said on Tuesday. Williams has described the email as “another wicked and desperate attempt by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic to deflect from the recent exposure of its failure in the National Assembly,” the statement added, while
SOCU’s investigation in which six former GRDB officials were charged and released on $500,000 bail for failing to make a proper entry into a register of a company two week ago. The six officials charged are former GRDB head, Madulall Ricky Ramraj; former General Manager Jagnarine Singh; former GRDB board members Dharamkumar Seeraj, Badrie Persaud, PPP Parliamentarian Nigel Dharamlall and former Deputy Permanent Secretary (Finance) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Prema Roopnarine. During SOCU’s investigation, Ramcharran was found to have falsified accounts at the GRBD of over $400M between the years 2011 to 2015, while being the accountant at the company.
quoting the attorney general as saying, “The email in circulation is not mine that is, Non est factum. Don’t use me to change conversations; I can make my own news.” He said too that based on his own investigation, the email address purporting to be his was recently created. “There is an uppercase B in the fake email, however, his email was created with a lowercase b for basil. Furthermore, the fake email’s inbox revealed four (4), while the AG’s email inbox has around one thousand (1000). Efforts are being made to verify in whose name it is registered.” The attorney general made it clear that Minister Trotman is not a member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) as was suggested by Pires.
PPP set up irregular account at... From page 2 is being done for the 2014 account. This prompted Edghill to ask why the process of reconciliation would have taken so long. It was then that Tucker corrected her initial statement and noted that the reconciliation for 2014 is completed and 2015 is on-going currently. She anticipates that the process would be completed by August. Meanwhile, King stated that the resources from the Guyana Lottery Commission’s Fund are paid into the Special Projects Account. As such, PAC member Volda Lawrence questioned the purpose for opening the Special Project Bank Account. The former Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Culture was unable to tell the Committee when the account was opened but noted that it was established to consider the flow of Special projects
funded by UNICEF, UNDP and other organisations. He explained that he was associated with the fund for nine years. King said during those nine days he could not recall a transfer being done to the Consolidated Fund. At that point the PAC chairman indicated that while the money is placed into the Account for a special purpose, if it is unused it must be transferred to the Consolidated Fund. “These balances cannot be kept in this account,” said Ali. Lawrence posited that there is need for the Ministry to plan its affairs better, while Ali stressed that the Financial Management and Accountability Act of 1997 speaks clearly to how the transfer of money to the Consolidated Fund should be done. “We have to ensure we follow the guidelines.” Meanwhile, when asked, King was unable to state the number of projects birthed
and or materialised through the Account but committed to having the Ministry’s accountant provide a print out of the information. Member Jermaine Figueira asked, “Which was the most expensive project and how much would it have cost?” King replied: “I can’t single out any single project.” However, Ali made it clear that there is nothing inherently wrong with the setting up of the Special Projects Fund. Additionally, King told the PAC that activities such as Emancipation, Carifesta, Mashramani, along with the UNICEF projects, would have been funded through the Account. The Permanent Secretary was asked to provide the PAC with the number of activities conducted under the period of review, along with the balance of the account at the end of the financial period.
4
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Attorney Dela Britton to be sworn in as PUC chairperson Man gets 11 years for killing step-father
PRESIDENT David Granger will today swear in attorney-at-law Dela Britton to serve as Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). She replaces Justice Prem Persaud, who proceeded into retirement in March 2017 after serving the PUC for nearly two decades, the Ministry of Public Telecommunications said in a release. Britton had herself been serving as a PUC commissioner, and she brings to this public utilities regulatory body a wealth of legal experience in Guyana and the USA. She was admitted to the
Guyana Bar in November 1995, after completing her Legal Education Certificate (LEC) at the Hugh Wooding Law School. A few years later, she enrolled in the Fordham University School of Law to pursue a Masters of Law (LLM) degree in International Trade Policy, Intellectual Property, Corporate Governance, International Law and more. Over the past two decades, Ms. Britton authored and co-authored a number of Selected Papers and Publications while serving as a Managing Partner at the local law firm Britton, Hamilton and Adams. She has been the Legal Counsel/Expert for
Dela Britton is to be sworn in today as Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
an array of large and medium-sized industrial business concerns, commercial banks
and international organisations such as CARICOM and the UNDP. In addition, as a Consultant/Trainer with UNICEF she was integrally involved in several interventions concerning rights and conditions, health, education and general welfare for Guyana’s women and children. Ms. Britton intends to apply her broad repertoire of skills to the government’s bid to strengthen the effectiveness of the Public Utilities Commission, which was established to regulate and monitor every public and private sector utility, ensuring that they operate at industry standards. The PUC was established in October 1990 under the Public Utilities Commission Act No. 26. This piece of legislation was subsequently amended four times -- in 1991, 1994, 1999 and 2016. The commission consists of a chairman, who serves on a full-time basis and three commissioners appointed to serve part-time.
HERMAN George, 21, who pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter for the March 29, 2012 murder of his step-father, was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment by Justice Navindra Singh in the Georgetown High Court on Tuesday. The judge told the court that his sentence is 11 years and time served must be deducted and wished George ‘good luck’ before he was escorted out of the courtroom. In his plea of mitigation, defence attorney Mark Conway said that his client was only 16 years old at the time of the incident and resided with his parents and sister in the hinterland. He related that his client’s had an unfortunate upbringing and as such had to drop-out of school and went into mining. Conway added that George is very remorseful and asked the court for mercy. In response, State Prosecutor, Tameika Clarke told the court that George killed the husband of his mother when he asked him “why he was working so young.” Williams’ was fatally chopped to the back of the head once with a cutlass, which almost severed his head. She asked that the maximum sentence be handed down. When asked by the judge if he had anything to say, George said he did not. He killed his step-father, Michael Williams, 50, at the Kariabo Backdam in the North West District, on March 29, 2012. According to reports, Williams was heading to his home at the Kariabo Mission when he stopped to take a rest. Reports stated that the man was seen sitting on a log while his friend continued walking. The accused was reportedly seen walking on the trail with a cutlass over his shoulder on the day in question.
Turn to Page 5
DATE: DATE: 26/11/2016 17/06/2017 26/11/2016 20/06/2017
06 14 16 19 26 02 1 03 12 08 18 17 24 N H 11
06 02 13 03
14 17
21 23
24 26
26/11/2016 20/06/2017
04 06
07 09
03 05
26/11/2016 20/06/2017
05 07
04 05
01 08
26/11/2016 20/06/2017 02 04
09 05
10 06
11 09 13 11 14 18
18 19
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
New medical doctors charged to uphold standards of profession
THE overarching message conveyed to a proud lot of medical doctors graduating from the Greenheart Medical University at the Marriott Hotel Monday evening was that they must remain humble and honourable in their profession and most of all committed to their development and growth as practitioners. Before a gathering of heads of medical institutions, practitioners, PAHO officials, graduates and their parents, guest speaker, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings urged the new doctors to maintain the Hippocratic Oath, which speaks to the obligations and proper conduct of those in the profession. She said that as doctors, that title comes with great responsibility and power. “Be humble,” Minister Cummings advised, urging that the graduates give their best at all times. She said, “A very important activity that you must do as you practice in the field of medicine is continuous professional development.” The minister pointed out that change is inevitable. She charged that it is imperative therefore that the practitioners stay in line with what is taking place in the profession. “In other words remain on the cutting edge,” Cummings insisted. The minister told the graduates that they are leaving the
Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings and Opposition MP, Dr. Frank Anthony, stand with Greenheart’s executive director Dr. Tom Yesudas and the graduating class of 2017 (Adrian Narine photo)
university at a time of great transformation in the local public health care sector, since government continues to embark on programmes and measures to strengthen the healthcare system. One such great transformation is the ministry’s intention “… to make universal primary healthcare a reality in Guyana by 2020,” the minister noted. She emphasised that the students become medical doctors that are honest with themselves and patients. She reiterated the need for reading and keeping abreast with the advancements of medical science. Dr. Frank Anthony, Member of Parliament, also thought it was a “fascinat-
ing” time to be entering the medical profession. He said all around the world great developments are being made in this field, including the development of precision medicine, designed to find and specifically attack an aliment and the decoding of genes to improve
the development of genetic medicines. “We will see the evolution of that coming out in the next couple of years, perhaps some of you would want to go in that direction,” Anthony suggested. He went on to say that Guyana needs to start incorporating the
more advanced delivery of medical service in their practice, and that there is a lot of scope for research to be done. He said there are so many opportunities for young doctors when they can do research and even publish their work to the world. Greenheart Medical
5
University’s Executive Director, Dr. Tom Yesudas said that the offshore institution was developed in 2005 with the intention of providing nursing, pharmacy and doctor of medicine courses. To date the school has some 200 students with as much as 90 percent being Guyanese and others hailing from countries such as India, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Unites States, Yesudas said. He said special scholarship offers as much as 50 percent off tuition fee is available to local students since the need to provide assistance to local students, 90 percent of whom graduate and move on to become employed in various areas across the country. Greenheart graduated 15 students; 10 females, 15 males. Hatim Ejaz Siddique Wakar was the valedictorian for the 2017 graduating class. He gave his address after the Hippocratic Oath was taken and prizes and honours bestowed.
6
Editorial
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Trump shifts Obama’s Cuba policy POLITICAL watchers/analysts would find it hard ignoring what seems to be a policy by United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump to reverse predecessor Barack Obama’s legacy. Whereas some had forewarned Trump’s nature is to target and destroy those he considers enemy, and others see as necessary given ideological differences, those who aren’t apathetic about these occurrences are concerned. Our Government, irrespective of the group or party in office, has communicated Guyana’s unwavering commitment to the U.S. lifting its trade embargo on Cuba. Last October, Guyana once again voted with 190 other member-states in the United Nations for this. The two countries that abstained were the U.S. and Israel. The embargo was imposed in 1960 by an act of Congress (Legislature) and requires the said body to approve its lifting, but it was heartening news when Obama, during his presidency (2009-2017), joined the removal call. In 2014 Obama began a series of actions to normalise U.S./Cuba relations after more than half-a-century of frosted relations. Some of these include restoring diplomatic relations and lifting travel and goods restrictions. The current polarising relations between Republicans and Democrats, where the former control the House of Representatives and Senate, and take a hardline positon on Cuba, may not result in reversal any time soon. Some Cuban-Americans also favour the hardline position, which they think is aiming at the politicians, though it deprives their fellow men, makes good sense. Last Friday, Republican President Trump signed an Executive Order which he said would “completely” cancel Obama’s policy. In fact, it will see a partial shift through
the tightening of restrictions which will require months of regulatory work to make effective. Shortly after the signing, Cuba’s Raúl Castro’s Government condemned the act calling it “ill-advised.” As an instructive aside, the embargo was signed into law by Democratic President John Kennedy, extended by Democratic President Bill Clinton (1999) and the call to lift it by Democratic President Barack Obama, which is supported by Democratic legislators. Though President Trump holds the view that Cuban politicians -- not the people -- stand to benefit from Obama’s policy, critical analyses do not bear out that view. If 57 years of isolation has not broken the Cuban government, and deprivations are felt more by the masses not the politicians, it brings no empowerment to those it is said the harsh policy is designed to benefit. Such thinking ignores crucial points of global referencing. Communist Russia, for instance, was a major player in the Cold War era; setting aside current soured relations around the U.S. 2016 Presidential Elections, the two continue to forge relations of mutual interests, making mute or frivolous the desire to treat Cuba as enemy/persona non grata. Further, with the Raúl Castro presidency (2006), Cuba began relaxing restrictions and opening up to Foreign Direct Investment. Guyana and sister Caribbean Community (CARICOM) economies continue to be beneficiaries with the steady traffic of Cuban traders. With increasing global trade, travel and competitive opportunities, how much longer does the U.S. think its policy will last before it self-implodes and emasculates its ability to directly influence global relations, is anyone’s guess.
Obama’s foresight in recognising and sourcing advantages to national interest by reversing a useless policy in furtherance of the country’s agenda, rather than suffer reversed isolation or having to play catch-up, was shrewd positioning in international relations. If communist Cuba was not brought to its knees or has not disintegrated in the last 57 years under several U.S. presidents, when the modern world was at its most polarised, the chance of this ever being achieved becomes slimmer. Global trade in the presence of determined international efforts to eradicate money-laundering and countering the financing of terrorism which pose clear and present dangers to governments and societies, necessitate the value of having Cuba as an ally, not a foe. It brings three immediate benefits-- expansion of trade/economic opportunities, cross-fertilisation of ideas and values, and partnership in the fight against the new war, i.e. terrorism. The U.S.’ policy which was shaped by bruised egos and ideological war is no longer of much significant value. At the economic and political levels, where communist China and others continue to expand and by extension increasing international influence threatening to rival the US’, Congress and President Trump may be forced to wake up one morning and recognize that the world, time and events have overtaken them.
Senator Marco Rubio to address Caribbean-American legislative forum Dear Editor U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) will meet with Caribbean-American diaspora leaders at the 19th Annual Caribbean-American Legislative Forum taking place from June 21st-22nd on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The roundtable is scheduled to take place in the Senate Dirksen Building at 1:30 pm on June 21st. Senator Marco Rubio will address concerns regarding the implementation of security-related issues of the U.S./Caribbean Strategic Engagement
Act (HR 4939), which was signed into law by President Obama in December 2016. Senator Rubio is chairman of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This sub-committee deals with matters concerning U.S. relations with countries in the Western Hemisphere, including Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, Cuba, countries in the Caribbean, and the Organization of American States. This
sub-committee’s regional responsibilities include issues within the geographic region, including: (1) terrorism and non-proliferation; (2) crime and illicit narcotics; (3) U.S. foreign assistance programmes; and (4) the promotion of U.S. trade and exports. This sub-committee also has a global responsibility for transnational crime, trafficking in persons (also known as modern slavery or human trafficking), global narcotics flows, civilian security, democracy, human rights, and global women’s issues. Public Law 114-291 (HR
4939) prioritises the U.S.-Caribbean relationship and requires the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to submit to Congress a multiyear strategy which among other things, outlines an approach to: 1) broaden engagement with the Caribbean diaspora community in the United States; 2) partner with governments of the Caribbean region to improve citizen-security and reduce drug-trafficking; 3) to improve diplomatic engagement with governments of the Caribbean region; and
4) assist Caribbean countries in the diversification of their economies. “As a former legislator in the state of Florida, I find it imperative that the Caribbean Diaspora be engaged with both Houses of Government, and am pleased to be part of the vanguard ushering in this relationship with Senator Rubio,” stated Former Lt. Governor of the state of Florida, Hon. Jennifer Carroll, who will Chair the Roundtable Dialogue at the Senate Forum. Campaign Chair for National Carib-
bean-American Heritage Month, Dr. Claire Nelson, who is Founder and President of ICS notes, “We are thrilled to have Senator Rubio address us as we seek to advance the implementation of Public Law 114-291. Florida shares the border of the Caribbean Sea with the 36 Caribbean nations of territories, as such, being in dialogue with one of the leading policy-makers representing the state of Florida is critical to our interests.” Regards Wesley Kirton
7
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Sugar workers being invited to meeting with GuySuCo management
Dear Editor,
THE Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuSuCo) has taken note that one of the unions that represent a large section of our workforce, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), has taken the lead in organising protest action to advocate on matters purported to be associated with the corporation. However, while to some extent the corporation understands the unions’ positions, it holds a strong view that GAWU is entangling the sugar industry and its workers into matters that have less to do with the business of sugar and more bearing on other matters. The union has over the past month organised and led protests in Rose Hall, Enmore and Skeldon and is currently mobilising residents, according to a flyer that is being circulated, to march and rally to defend the sell-out and closure of Albion Estate. Now, it was made abundantly clear in the State Paper on the Future of GuySuCo, that the sugar component
will include an amalgamation of estates -- Albion-Rose Hall, Blairmont and Uitvlugt-Wales estates. The targeted annual production is projected at 147,000 tonnes of sugar to satisfy demand in the local market (25,000 tonnes), CARICOM and regional (50,000 - 60,000 tonnes), United States of America (12,500 tonnes) and the world market (50,000) tonnes. Focus would also be on producing for direct consumption, value-added sugars and providing electricity to the national grid (co-generation). A diversification component is also proposed. Currently, studies are being conducted to determine the viability of integrating co-generation components at Albion and Uitvlugt Estates. Recently, a report on the Feasibility Study for Aquaculture as one aspect of the diversification programme, was submitted to GuySuCo and the government by AquaSol Corporation Inc., the company that conducted the study, and from all indications, this will be a viable business venture. GuySuCo has also indicated that other
areas being considered for diversification ventures are: dairy farming, livestock farming and the cultivation of fruit crops and seed paddy. It is proposed that employees will be leased lands for engaging in agricultural areas which will be a part of GuySuCo’s diversification programme. None of the above supports GAWU’s claims of the SUGAR INDUSTRY TO BE SOLD OUT OR CLOSED DOWN. In the specific instance of Albion Estate, the State Paper is clear that Albion Estate is one of the three estates that will remain in sugar; however, the union is organising a march and rally on 20 June, 2017, to oppose the closure and sell-out of Albion Estate. GuySuCo’s dilemma with GAWU is that as the largest workers’ representative union in the industry, it is becoming clearer that its motives and motivations do not support GuySuCo’s efforts to increase production and productivity in sugar and to design and implement a diversification programme to build more resilience and sustainability into
GRA warns against fake facebook account Dear Editor IT has been brought to the attention of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), that a fake Facebook page has been created, purporting to act officially as the GRA’s Facebook page. The said perpetrator(s) has/have so far made comments on the Facebook page of the Department of Public Information. The general public is
therefore urged to take caution and disregard any posts, comments or other forms of communication which are linked to this Facebook page. Persons who have experienced any form of communication from accounts purporting to be that of the GRA, are kindly asked to make contact via grapublicrelations@gmail.com. The general public is once again reminded that the
following links represent the official social media outlets of the Guyana Revenue Authority: Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/guyanarevenue/ YouTube: https:// www.youtube.com/c/GuyanaRevenueAuthority Twitter: https://twitter.com/GRAupdates Regards Guyana Revenue Authority
the corporation, and more specifically the business of sugar. GuySuCo provides daily transportation and free medical for employees and their families, once the workers achieve targets on their estates, they earn Weekly Production Incentives (WPI) and a range of other benefits are available. The corporation has an acute labour problem at all estates; this is further compounded by low attendance at all estates, however, instead of GAWU encouraging our employees who are members of the union to improve their attendance and contribute to the growth of their corporation, they are encouraged to take strike action and protest. In 2016 alone, there were almost 150 strikes. Strikes average between150 to 250 annually. Strikes, protests, sabotage, customs and practices are to a large extent, unnecessary impediments and grave hindrances to the productivity of the business and also nurture an unstable environment. At some
point, very soon, the management of GuySuCo will demand a higher level and more analytical and less adversarial service from GAWU for our workers. GuySuCo is inviting workers who feel that they are being misled for reasons not related to sugar, to meet with management at head office or on estates for further discussions. More specifically, workers who are members of GAWU and are of the view that they are being misled on the future of the corporation, are encouraged to meet with management on estates or at the head office. Further, the management would like to inform members of the public, that it will continue to manage the corporation as a business; 150 to 250 strikes per year, 40,000 to 130,000 man-days being lost per year, the wanton loss of sugar due to workers being called out to strike or protest while sugar is being processed in the factory and which could result in the loss of over G$17M a day, will not continue! GAWU’s
engagement with the corporation has to be elevated to provide more mentorship and at an advisory level in keeping with the aims and objectives of making GuySuCo sustainable. Management is aware that the corporation cannot be successful without order and discipline. Finally, GuySuCo is appealing to members of the public who are participating in protest action relative to the sugar industry, to assist the corporation by engaging in efforts to encourage our employees in their communities, mainly our workers in the Agriculture Departments on estates, to improve their attendance for the Second Crop 2017, which starts mid-July, so that estates can achieve their targets. Regards Audreyanna Thomas Senior Communications Officer Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc
Conflict of interest at GGMC Mr. Editor
WITH reference to a letter in the Guyana Times of June 19,2017, we the women in mining find it very discriminatory and wicked by some people who will find it hard to indulge the acting land manager of GGMC in corruption and skullduggery. These people seem to be very cockeyed in respect of conflict of interest. Order is now being brought to the GGMC LAND MANAGEMENT DEPT under this woman.
Professionalism is now present, but the problem with these people who are crying foul is because a woman is the head. Didn’t these same people know of all the conflicts of interest and corruption by senior people at GGMC? Yes, they all know. Don’t these people know that a member of the Board of Directors is renting a building to GGMC for two million dollars? Don’t they know that President of the GGDMA who is a member of the Board of directors, applied
for lands and got it? Isn’t this too conflict of interest? We are saying today it is time to give this woman a chance to get her work done. We are already seeing changes and changes that certain people cannot accept. We continue to call for the complete removal of Donald Singh from the GGMC and the stepping down of Newell Dennison. Regards Carol Elliot Fredericks Ava Abrams Dana Jones Judith David Blair
8
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Beware of ‘blood suckers’ …Lewis tells sugar workers to not be fooled by PPP VETERAN trade unionist, Lincoln Lewis delivered a stinging rebuke to the leadership of the People’s Progressive Party in their heartland on Tuesday when he addressed an anti-sugar reform rally and march at Albion/ Port Mourant, Berbice. Addressing the large gathering, Lewis told the workers: “Sugar has been in crisis for decades. What has happened is that sugar did not have the benefit of a good plan of action to revitalise the corporation and further the diversification programme implemented in the 1970s, which rather than be built on was torpedoed.” He added: “Today I speak without fear or favour…I continue to do what I have been doing all the years…today we come full circle that those who were in opposition are in opposition again. You would think that this will be a lesson to do right by the people, who they rely on to put them in government. If they were correctly reading the tea leaves, they would have a plan in the making years now. They tell you sugar can be saved and at the same time refuse to make public the plan to save it.” The PPP while it attended the consultations on the sugar industry, had refused to put forward a proposal for the restructuring. Lewis continued: “While the Jagdeo Government al-
lowed bauxite to go, ignoring the entreaties for rights to be respected in the decision-making processes, they kept on to sugar to use as a political football, paid management super salaries with the sweat of your labour,” Lewis, who is general-secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, declared. “Those who are blood suckers on sugar workers let us not be fooled, for the only reason they are now standing with you is to deepen their political ambition. When they had the power to give, they gave support to the fat cats at the top. Jagdeo said the industry can be saved and while he failed to put measures in place to do so when the levers of power were in his hands, demand of him that he now make public his plan to save GuySuCo…,” Lewis told the crowd. Bauxite wokers were ignored He reminded the gathering that when bauxite workers called for consultation, involvement and participation on the future of the industry, “we were ignored and shut out. Many families were placed on the breadline, went hungry, and endured serious jeopardy. What was different about those workers? But these rights of which I speak do not change under a working-class government, under a caring government, under a government
Lincoln Lewis
of the people by the people for the people. These rights do not change. If anything they become more entrenched, more preserved, more protected,” Lewis asserted. “And we the workers must ensure that such protection is not taken for granted, for then we stand the risk of losing grounds: of losing all that our ancestors struggled for and bequeathed to us through norms and laws. The colour of our skin, our ethnicity and political persuasion must not matter or determine whether we are treated with respect and dignity. We fought that battle and settled that score long ago…what we must fight for now is the preservation, strengthening and deepening of the gains achieved.” Lewis reminded the gathering that the Skeldon factory,
which has cost the taxpayers more than 200 million U.S. dollars, on completion was found to be no good. “This was the single largest investment in taxpayers’ money, and [the] Jagdeo Government as quick as it was to spend yours and mine tax dollars did not see the need to ensure during the construction process we, the taxpayers, would have been getting our money’s worth. The fixing of this factory requires tens of millions more, which we too will have to shoulder and we must demand of the David Granger/Moses Nagamootoo Government that in the repair works they ensure proper oversight,” Lewis thundered. He added that when the Jagdeo Government moved to close Diamond and re-organise the East Bank Demerara Estates, he did not engage in consultation, involvement and participation with “you and your representatives. For those sugar workers to get their redundancy benefits they had to take GuySuCo to court. Do not be fooled by any in their own political self-serving agenda tell you today that they care about you…for when they had the opportunity to care they trampled you. Beware of the wolves in sheep’s clothing,” Lewis admonished the workers. Turning to President David Granger, Lewis said in running for office the head of state had talked about the Good Life…
the sugar workers, bauxite workers, public servants, teachers, and all workers want the Good Life…”it is not only for him, Moses, his ministers, friends and families. It is time this social parasite-ism ends… regardless of which government is in power or party has our support. Let us not waver in our responsibility to protect and defend universally acceptable principles.”
WE TRADE UNIONISTS The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) has been organising a series of marches and rallies in the sugar belt and Lewis in speaking directly to the leadership of the union, cautioned: “We trade unionists -- rank and file and leaders -- must be cognisant of politicians who will seek to use us in their political agenda and not necessarily ours. As a young trade unionist, the things I believed in that are at the core at the trade union movement, that I was led to believe they believed in too, when they got into office they turned around and became our worst nightmare.” He said today he is cognisant of the tight rope he had to walk: “As I speak before you and I want you to be also because we are all on this journey together. If we stand for workers in the sugar industry and around the world, we must stand for good governance, irrespective of which party [is] in power, has your support, or received your vote. While
politicians vacillate, we in the trade unions must remain constant.” Lewis stressed that workers are still entitled to human rights, the right to a living wage, equality, equal pay for equal work, the right to organise and freedom to associate, the right to education and health care, decent retirement benefits for those who served this country and are entitled, the right to work and earn, and a social welfare programme that helps to alleviate economic deprivation for those who are indigent and less fortunate, police protection, justice and fair play. And these values we stand up and continue to fight [for], and it must matter not which government is in office or which party is out. “Let us today pledge and commit ourselves to these basic principles of trade unionism, for they were relevant in the days of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, they were relevant at the time of the Enmore Martyrs, they were in 1999 when public servants were shot at John Fernandes Wharf, relevant for bauxite workers who since 2009 have been engaged in a bitter struggle for the protection of their fundamental rights and freedoms, they were relevant under colonial rule, relevant under successive PNC governments, under successive PPP/C governments, and remain relevant under the APNU+AFC government,” the trade union leader stated.
Four arrested in ganja sting operation TWO intelligence-led operations on the East Bank of Essequibo and New Amsterdam, Berbice between Monday and Tuesday morning resulted in the arrest of four males and the seizure of four and a half kilograms of compressed cannabis and thirty-one point three grams of cocaine.
The seized compressed cannabis
Police in a press statement noted that about 17:00hrs Monday during a sting operation, ranks went to a house at Tucber Park, New Amsterdam, Berbice, where three men were arrested and taken into custody with nine taped parcels of cannabis weighing 4.5kg. Meanwhile, over at Parika Sead-
am, East Bank Essequibo police conducted a search at a shop about 03:30hrs Tuesday morning and in the presence of the 47 year old owner, the ranks found a quantity of cocaine pellets inside a hammock, in which he was seen resting. The suspects are being processed for court.
The cocaine pellets found inside the hammock
9
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Nandlall to pay $18,000 cost to state …for late submission in Red House lease case THE High Court has ordered attorney-at-law Anil Nandlall to pay the Attorney General’s Chambers $18,000 for filing an affidavit in reply to an earlier submission by the state out-of-time and on Monday the judge reminded him of his indebtedness when the matter in the Red House case was heard. Attorney General Basil Williams said Nandlall’s protracted delay in filing his responses have unduly dragged out the court proceedings in the matter. The $18,000 cost was ordered against Nandlall on May 15, 2017, but he has not settled it as yet. It was on Monday when he again made a late filing that Solicitor-General Kim Kyte reminded the judge of the former attorney general’s indebtedness. Nandlall undertook to make the payment soonest. Meanwhile, on Monday, Nandlall responded to an earlier submission by the attorney general showing that there was no documented
evidence that Former President Donald Ramotar had authorised and sanctioned the issuance of a lease of thye Red House to the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Inc (CJRCI) as President. President Granger late last year had ordered that the controversial lease be revoked and that the occupants vacate the property. The decision had come one day after Attorney General Basil Williams had issued a statement detailing the history of the CJRCI’s occupancy of the building and outlining that there was no valid lease agreement, as former President Bharrat Jagdeo had refused to approve at least two applications for the lease. Chairman of the Management Committee of the Centre, Hydar Ally, subsequently moved to the High Court requesting Conservatory Orders to restrain or prevent the government from taking possession of the building declaring that the lease was valid and that President Granger’s revoca-
tion order was illegal. Attorney General Basil Williams had later contended that the learned chief justice had no jurisdiction to proceed with the matter, citing that an applicant, who goes ex parte to the court has a duty to be candid with the court and make full and frank disclosures of material facts within his knowledge. He said failure to do so gives the court the right to discharge any order made and refuse to deal with the merits of the matter. According to the Attorney General, CJRCI failed to make full and frank disclosures of material facts in its application by way of Affidavit for Conservatory Orders, when it concealed from the court that President Donald Ramotar had approved the lease in 2012; that the lease being 99 years was not executed in the manner of a transport before the court, e.g, was not published in the official Gazette; that the lease was not filed as record in the Registry and an-
DHB hails successful completion of maintenance work THE management of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) on Monday announced the successful completion of maintenance works to replace a pontoon supporting the critical western section of the retractor span. The announcement was made after a final systems check at 13:00hrs, a release from the bridge company said. The works, jointly carried out by engineers and staff of the DHBC and Industrial Fabrication Inc. (InFab), were completed within the projected timeframe. During the exercise, there were no disruptions to either marine or road traffic outside of the planned six-hour period on Saturday June 17. Speaking after the systems check, DHBC General Manager Rawlston Adams said that “…the successful execution of the project was a result of careful planning over several months and good coordination among the various departments and contractor InFab.”
The replaced pontoon, in addition to supporting the western section of the retractor span of the bridge, also houses the electrical and hydraulic systems that control retraction of the bridge. These systems had to be removed from the decommissioned pontoon and reinstalled on the new pontoon in order for the scheduled retractions to resume on schedule. Adams added that, “It was important that the project be completed over the weekend so that normal operations could resume today without affecting commercial, educational and other activities that are served by this bridge linking Regions Three and Four. In the end, we achieved that with time to spare. And because of our diligence, we also achieved it without accident or incident.” The last time that this pontoon was replaced was 18 years ago. The corresponding pontoon on the eastern side of the retractor span will be replaced in the near future.
City Hall says all pumps, sluices working THE Mayor and City Council says that all of its hydro pumps and sluices are working as heavy rainfall continues to beat down on Guyana. In a statement City Hall said that in addition, teams from the Engineer’s Department are working around the city to clear chokes and ensure that storm water is not restricted in any of our water ways. “However, the council calls on all residents to ensure that their surface drains are clean and clear and the drains at the front of their yards are kept free from garbage and other things that would facilitate restriction of storm water.” According to City Hall for 2017, council
budgeted $231M for maintenance of 644.5 miles of drains and canals and to enhance the general environment of the city but with the coincidence of high tide and heavy rains there will always be overtopping in certain areas in the capital. Notwithstanding, the council is appealing to store owners and, in fact, all residents to allow their down pipes to flow into surface drains and not directly into street drains. “The Mayor and City Council calls on all citizens to do everything practicable to support the effect of the council to make Georgetown clean, green and safe, for all.”
Attorney-at-law, Anil Nandlall
notated and that Red House is a National Monument under the National Trust Act Chapter 20:03. On March 24, the then Chief Justice (ag), Justice Yvonne Cummings-Edwards, ruled that the court has jurisdiction to proceed with the Red House court challenge, brought on by the CJRCI. Back in April, Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GL&SC), Trevor Benn, had Benn noted in an affidavit as a respondent in the matter that once a file has been opened following an application in accordance with the Land Department Act, all relevant matters must be recorded on the note sheets
in the file and the relevant documents must be lodged. However, he said that upon proper perusal of the commission’s files, there is “no formal evidence of any sanction of approval by the President of the day, President Ramotar.” In addition, Benn noted that no approval has been granted by any Head of State for the building to be leased by the CJRI within the past 17 years. He said that advice from Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, is that no approval was “ever given by any Minister of Education or himself “to lease the area for the past 17 years. Benn contended that on March 30, 2012, the said lease was purportedly entered into by Doerga Persaud, former Commissioner of GL&SC on behalf of the Government of Guyana and Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran, and another on behalf of the CJRCI under Section 10 (1) of the Lands Department Act, Chapter 59:01. He said the purported lease was stated to be for educational and research purposes
and for a term of 99 years commencing from January 1, 2012, at an annual rate of $12,000 for the first three years. According to Benn, there was no formal agreement assigning control of Red House, although staff, utilities, repairs and renovation and restoration of the CJRCI were paid by the former government without approval. He said that acting on the advice of his attorney, Red House could not have been rented by the GL&SC, since it was under the umbrella of the National Trust. He said that the “purported lease” is null and that the CJRCI was “at all material times a trespasser.” Benn said that in mid-December 2016, he had informed President David Granger of the “purported lease” being null and according to him, the Head of State informed him that the document cannot be kept as part of the records of the commission as a valid lease. He said the President subsequently ordered the lease to be cancelled.
Nandlall goes on trial for alleged theft of law books THE trial against former Attorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall in relation to the larceny of over $2 million worth of law books from the Ministry of Legal Affairs on Tuesday (June 20, 2017),has commenced. Prosecutor for the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Patrice Henry, called two witnesses to the stand to testify before city magistrate Fabayo Azore. Nandlall is represented by Attorney-at-Law Neil Boston, S.C, Glen Hanoman and Devindra Kissoon. The two witnesses are: Janise Joe, former Stores Clerk at the Ministry of Legal Affairs (1999-2014) and Daniel Persaud, an accounts clerk at the said ministry. Persaud, during cross-examination by attorney Hanoman, explained that during December 2014-- January 2015, he also performed duties as stores clerk. The witness further explained that during his tenure as a stores clerk, the only law reports he is aware of are those he received after Nandlall demitted office as Attorney General in 2015. He further recalled that on June 2, 2015, he was summoned with the Immediate User Book to the office of
Flashback: Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, leaves the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court
the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Legal Affairs. Persaud recalled that the permanent secretary had the Commonwealth Law Reports in her possession and he made entries of them in the Immediate User Book with the description of the items, amount and the serial numbers. According to the witness after taking the entries, he took the Law Reports to the library at the Ministry of Legal Affairs and handed them over to the librarian, Lana Bess. The other witness, Janise Joe, explained that she resigned as stores clerk at the
Ministry of Legal Affairs in 2014. She told the court that she never handled the law reports and that they never passed through the ministry’s stores. The matter is adjourned until July 14. On April 27, Nandlall was charged with Larceny by Bailee in connection with a number of law books he took from the Ministry of Legal Affairs, which he said was given to him by former President, Donald Ramotar, during his tenure in office. The former AG is alleged to have fraudulently converted 14 Commonwealth Law Reports valued at GY$2.3 million to his own use, as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs. He was released on self-bail by Magistrate Azore. Over the last two years, Nandlall has repeatedly confirmed that while he was AG, the law books were purchased for him by the state with approval by former president Ramotar. Nandlall had explained that the law books are in his possession and he has no intention of returning them to the State. He subsequently secured an order in the High Court which bars the police from seizing the books.
Against The Grain
10
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 21, 2017
Purity politics and the teaching sector By Akola Thompson A FORMER part-time, Physical Education (PE) teacher of the Bishop’s High School, Tyson English, is planning on taking legal action against the school board following its failure to pay money owed him for a six-month period. Last Friday, in what appeared to be a oneman protest, English called out the school on its failure to pay him. His placard read, “Dear Bishop’s High, six months, no salary. Please stop the buggery.
High-class eye pass.” According to English, he was the only PE teacher at the school, so that meant he had to teach all the levels from forms one to five. Ti r e d o f t h e s l o w process of his payment, he decided to do what persons fed up with the failing status quo often do, he decided to protest. Shortly after the protest, as reported by English, the principal of the school informed him that he would now be denied access to the compound and as a result, he should gather
his belongings. If this account is true, it paints a vivid picture of how dissent is stifled within the Bishop’s High school. What it does too is serve as a microcosm of the larger social and political atmosphere of Guyana as it relates to protesting and activism. Often those who choose to protest are branded as troublemakers or people who have too much time on their hands. Not so long ago, protesters and activists would lose respect, their jobs and sources of incomes and in many cases, even their lives as was seen
in the case of Courtney Crum-Ewing for whom justice still has not been served. What this also serves to display is the blatant disregard Guyanese institutions, businesses and government have when it comes to the area of sports. It is no secret how badly athletes and their trainers are treated in Guyana. While there have been some commendable efforts made by Director of Sports, Christopher Jones, there is still a lot more work to be done. The teaching sector in
Guyana is not known for its high salaries. Teachers are notoriously underpaid, given the amount of work and time they devote to teaching. I was told that often there is a period of waiting that public servants are expected to go through. However, this period is usually three months. Why was he still not paid three months after that initial period? Instead of finding issue with him not being paid however, many chose the opportunity to castigate the man on his use of language. Many were of the opinion that as a teacher, English should have set a better example and not use the word ‘buggery.’ Because the connotation of buggery has over the years taken on a negative context, many expressed dissatisfaction that he would express himself so crudely in the public domain. To quote Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in her book, Half of a Yellow Sun, “The truth has become an insult.” We would be wise to not get too carried away with our pearl-clutching at the mere mention of a word that is plastered across our law and educational books. The hypocrisy of Guyanese is so blatant that it is almost laughable. They oppose a teacher using a word as a metaphor for the way he is treated by the sys-
tem, yet they do not raise their voices when they sit in buses among schoolchildren as they listen to raunchy lyrics describing sexual acts. To be clear, I am not for the restriction of music, but this example does provide us with a glimpse of how our priorities tend to do more with silencing victims of the system rather than changing anything in it. Whenever I think of purity politics and political correctness, my mind inadvertently jumps to George Orwell’s depiction of the “Thought police” and his language “Newspeak” in his book 1984, which describes a fascist regime intent on limiting opposing views and even words that were deemed inappropriate in the society. Respectability politics should never come in the way of standing on the side of those being treated unfairly. History will prove that any movement worth getting behind did not get off of the ground because it was politely asked for. Things were demanded and it often became violent, but that is often how change occurs. The idea of being politically correct has become something more concerned with imposing the idea of auditory and visual purity on everyone and everything, which may trigger someone, because no one should be exposed to a bit of discomfort in their lives.
11
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
38 women in early child development workshop THIRTY-EIGHT women are now participating in an Early Childhood Development Workshop (ECDW) facilitated by the Office of the First Lady, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection, which prepares them to become more nurturing mothers and caregivers for young children. According to a press statement from the Ministry of the Presidency the workshop was launched Monday at the Guyana Nurses Association (GNA), in Georgetown and will be held in three parts, including First Aid. “The workshop, which is the first of its kind aims to equip women with the basic information and skills in early childhood development and nurturing care practices for the healthy growth and development of the young child,” the press statement said. Speaking at the launching ceremony First Lady Sandra Granger commended the participating women and encouraged them to make the best of what they will learn. “I applaud your courage in coming [for the training] and in recognising that even though you might have been in the profession, that there’s always something new to
learn. I would hope that on completion of the workshop that you will go back to your respective communities better equipped, more confident and ready to care for our children,” the First Lady said. Mrs. Granger pointed out that she made a decision to host the workshop after recognising that women often times, are the parent tasked with most of the childcare responsibilities for young children. The statement said the Early Childhood Development Workshop is one of several projects spearheaded by Mrs. Granger and is aimed at enhancing the lives of children, youth and women by providing opportunities for empowerment through education. Facilitator of the workshop, Ms. Paulette Bollers was pleased with the high number of participants with early childhood being most important period of development in a human life. “It is also the most ideal period to stimulate children so that they can reach their fullest potentials. Young children are in their most important developmental stage of life. Therefore what they learn during those crucial years will influence them for the rest of their lives,” Bollers said. Participants drawn from
First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, (seated third from left) is flanked by from left to right, Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) Yvonne Smith, Facilitator of the workshop, Paulette Bollers and Co-Facilitator, Ninian Blair. The participants are pictured standing
Buxton Day Care Centre, Women Across Differences (WAD), Luisgnan/Good Hope Learning Centre, John’s Bosco Orphanage, Sophia and the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana’s Georgetown district, expressed gratitude and confidence that the workshop will augment their parenting and childcare skills, the statement said. Sandra Khan, a teacher, said, “I decided to participate in this workshop to do better parenting and to go back into my community and share whatever information I have learnt in the workshop because we deal with a lot of students at the Lusignan-Good Hope Learning Centre … sometimes they are kind of difficult to handle, but with this workshop, I think, I will have more
confidence and courage to do it.” Another participant, Adriana Chappelle from Women Across Differences (WAD),
said she believes the skills acquired will help her become a better parent. “The organisation I represent is for teenage mothers and as
a teenage mother I think it is very important for you to understand the development of your child,” Chappelle said. A freshman Biology student at the University of Guyana, Quemella Dodson stated, “I just wanted to acquire knowledge of childcare so I decided to come on board because I’ve always loved children and I really want this certificate because … one day I will open my own daycare and I can care for kids”. The Ministry of the Presidency said participants who fulfilled the requirements of all three components of the workshop will be certified in the end.
12
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
STEM Guyana perfecting their robot for World Championships THE nine-member team representing Guyana at the inaugural Robot Olympics next month in Washington D.C. is currently perfecting the robot they have to build for the event and building the overall team capacity. The team consists of: 15-19 year old participants: Ryan Benschop, Anthony Frank, Arianna Mahase, Christopher Nelson, Sahief Poese and Vevekeanand Ramnarace; Team Manager Farnaz Baksh; Coach Ricky Chan and Public Relations Officer Horace Mosley. The team will be competing in the United States of America (USA) in July, 2017
at the inaugural Robot Olympics against 150 different countries. According to the Team Manager, “We’re at the stage of perfecting every part of the robot for each aspect of the challenge.” This challenge requires that the team, just like every other team, build a robot solution which will address the problem of access to people all around the world. Currently, Guyana’s team is in the process “We’re working overtime to calibrate and perfect our current robot design,” said Captain of the Robotics team, Ryan Benschop. Both Benschop and Baksh related
that the preparations have not been without challenges, but all team members are working assiduously at getting the job done. The team was drawn from persons who showed great interest in robotics last year at the Robotics Camps fostered by U.S-based Guyanese, Karen Abrams and First Lady, Sandra Granger. Come this weekend, June 24, there will be a Robot and Technology exhibition at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The display at the Sports Hall will include more than 16 robot exhibits created under the themes of Education, Healthcare, Oil and Gas, Agriculture and Games. These will be presented by the STEM clubs that were gifted robot
Members of STEMGuyana engaging with Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes recently
kits after STEMGuyana’s inaugural robot building
and programming summer camp in 2016. Teams from
high schools across Guyana are expected to participate.
13
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Sexual abuse prevalent in Annai RESIDENTS of Annai said the village is faced with a high incidence of sexual and child abuse as the Childcare and Protection Agency (CCPA) of the Ministry of Social Protection, along with the Ministry of Education, and the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) take steps to address the situation. The residents broke their silence on the issue on Monday during a village meeting with the CCPA and the GRPA. Annai is among villages already visited by the CCPA and GRPA during an ongoing joint regional outreach in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo District. The outreach seeks to raise awareness on issues surrounding children and their safety. Head of the awareness team, Sophia Bess of CCPA, commenced the session at Annai by giving an overview of who is a child and
the rights associated with children. It was during her presentation that residents complained about the high number of cases of sexual child abuse in the village. One resident in the community, Suresh Andries, indicated that the situations faced in the region can be tackled through parental training. Andries and the other residents present were subsequently informed of the parental training programmes which are currently being conducted in the administrative regions of the country aimed at helping parents acquire skills to better train their children. Another issue raised was the negative effects of technology on today’s youth. These negative effects, according to the residents, influence their behaviours. Monique Meusa, a probation officer attached to CCPA, in response to this issue encouraged parents to monitor
their children’s activities and keep up-to-date with technology. The awareness session also involved talks on Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs), cancers related to sexual activities and the importance of not being involved to early sexual activities. This awareness campaign is also being conducted in order to develop community watch groups within region Nine. It is believed that persons in different communities can act as “frontline officers” on behalf of the CCPA to have sexual child abuse cases reported. The awareness campaign continues until June 22 in various communities in Region Nine. Other persons in the awareness team include Dr. Ignatious Wrong, Salena Clohisy – a Volunteer at GRPA, Glenis Canterbury – CCPA, and Kevin Reddy – Ministry of Education.
One of the CCPA/GRPA awareness team-members interacting with residents of Annai, beneath the village benab on Monday
14
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
WPA opposes VAT on private tuition fees By Ravin Singh
THE Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has called for a repeal of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on private tuition, which was introduced this year. The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) -- one of the parties in the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) which together with the Alliance For Change (AFC) forms the government – said
on Monday that it opposes VAT on private school fees. The party’s view was articulated by executive member, Dr David Hinds, during a press conference held at its Queenstown location. According to Dr Hinds, the party is “opposed to taxation on education,” due to the fact that private education in the country has evolved. He reasoned that: “In the old days, it was the elite who sent their children to private
schools. Now, ordinary poor people are sending their children to private schools, because there is the perception that public education is not delivering to our children.” The WPA member said that as a result of this, poor people have been making tremendous sacrifices to send their children to private schools. And with the party having a traditional role of representing the rights of the working-class, Dr Hinds said
that they do not feel adding taxes on education, even if it is private, is the way to go. “Our interest in this matter is the defence of the poor. That insofar as poor people are accessing private education, we feel that a tax on them is an added burden,” he told reporters on Monday. However, he was keen to note that the position of the party is not in defence of the rich and powerful. “We want to make it clear that there are operators of private schools in this country who are making a lot of money and they need to pay their taxes. We’re not defending the rich and powerful. We
feel that it is their failure to pay their fair share that is causing a burden to be put on poor people,” Dr Hinds offered. Government has held several consultations and discussions on the way forward since the tax was introduced this year. Public outcry sparked immediate action, and a commitment by Cabinet that they would examine the issue. However, it was later announced that due to the early passage of the 2017 budget which facilitated introduction of this tax, it was unlikely that it could be reversed this year. As such, a commitment was made for it to be re-examined
during consideration of the 2018 budget. In April of this year, the AFC – the second largest party in the APNU+AFC coalition – had said that it will make strident representation within the government to ensure a repeal of the tax in 2018. The party also said that it is of the view that the status of private educational institutions requires review and updating where appropriate. As such, it called on the government to set up a task force to engage this matter in advance of the presentation of Budget 2018.
15
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Order signed to reopen wildlife trade THE wildlife trade is expected to resume soon, following the operationalisation of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2016. The Act, which enables the establishment of the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission, was signed into order on June 1 recently by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon. The operations of the wildlife division fall under the Department of Environment (DoE) which rests under the ambit of the Ministry of the Presidency. The division previously had operated under the Ministry of Natural Resources. An official of the DoE told the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday that the commission members are expected to be named soon. The signing by Minister Harmon this month would see the commission being able to undertake its mandate, which ensures the body take responsibility for managing the country’s compliance with the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), a pact which has been ratified by Guyana. Minister of Natural Re-
sources, Raphael Trotman, piloted the legislation relevant to the sector through the National Assembly last year and on August 9, 2016, the bill was passed by lawmakers. The explanatory memorandum of the Bill explains that the commission, which has the power to enforce the provisions of the Act, is to be funded by a Wildlife General Fund. The functions of the commission include the granting, amending and cancelling of licences, permits and certificates in respect of activities related to species of wildlife; monitoring and enforcing licences, permits and certificate compliance; determining the annual ‘closed season’ timeframe for the hunting, trapping and trade in species of wild fauna. The commission will also facilitate, promote and support mechanisms in which local Indigenous villages may participate in the effective protection, conservation, management and sustainable use of wildlife on their titled lands. The body will be tasked with ensuring the establishment of policies and procedures for the protection, conservation, management and sustainable use of wild-
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon
life by and for the benefit of all citizens of Guyana and in particular the communities and villages living in proximity to wildlife. It will also ensure the establishment of facilities for the quarantining of imported species of fauna and flora, including those species imported for the purpose of re-exportation. Under the provisions of the Act, a Wildlife Scientific Committee will be established. The functions of the body include providing advice to the commission on matters relating to the importation, exportation, re-expor-
tation and introduction from the sea of species specified in the act and advising the commission of the measures, including the establishment of quotas, to limit the grant of export permits when the population status of a species so requires. In the 2017 National Budget, a sum of $20M was set aside for the operations of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission. Over the years, there have been concerns by animal rights activists over the state of the wildlife trade, including the protection of animals and the trapping of certain species. As such, the authorities have been making moves to further strengthen the operations of the sector. In September 2014, a woman was caught by the authorities along the Lethem/ Georgetown trail transporting a young puma in her pickup. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), at the time, the dehydrated
animal, which is also an endangered species, was
found with others in the tray of the pickup.
16
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Art exhibition showcases creative talents of Guyanese
UNDER the theme: “Aspects of Perception: The Renaissance”, the Faculty of Education and Humanities of the University of Guyana (UG), launched an art exhibition seeking to highlight the creative talents of Guyanese youth. On display at the Umana Yana, from June 19 to 24, are numerous masterpieces using a variety of mediums. The works being featured are from 10 artists who all
have a passion for the field. The artists are: Michael Griffith, Leevon Brumell, Aelisha Garnett- Wiliiams, Elodie Cage- Smith, Sandra LaRocque, Chelsea Ramotar, Violet Holder, Tonya Williams, Alvina Naughton and Keisha Beharry. Some of the artists explained that their pieces had a deeper meaning than just what meets the eye. The pieces depicted Mother Nature and destruction done to
her, while others expressed abstract feelings like love or oppression. The artists created sculptures too. According to Technical Advisor of the Ministry of Education and UG Council Member, Vincent Alexander, “Art is also a science.” He made this statement while relating that there is a tremendous amount of emphasis and attention being placed on “STEM”Science, Technology, En-
Aelisha Garnett-Williams and her pieces entitled “Behind the Mask” (right) and Mother of the Universe
Michael Griffith and three of his pieces on display
gineering and Mathematics. However, he posited that the adoption of “STEAM” should be used instead since it allows for the inclusion of art and the arts. Alexander expressed too that the artists need to be more “explicit” with their work, especially when relating the experimentation and technologies involved in creating the pieces to those of the sciences. “It’s great what you’ve done, no one can question
that,” he underscored while marvelling at the pieces. One artist, Aelisha Garnett-Williams said that she had over 20 pieces at the exhibition. She expressed that art, for her, was a means of expressing herself and helping her through trying times. Michael Griffith, another artist, related that he seeks to speak about certain topics such as gender issues and abuse through his art. “From aa personal perspective, art is an escape,”
he said while noting that he had about 26 pieces on display. A second year student at the University of Guyana, Chelsea Ramotar highlighted that she wanted to make art more popular in Guyana. She related that the number of people who pursue the subject area are few, but she envisages herself displaying her art at many more exhibitions. The opening held last night, June 19, was well-attended. US Ambassador Perry Holloway, Chilean Ambassador Claudio Rojas and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General Irwin LaRocque and his wife Sandra, who had her own art on display were among those in attendance All of the pieces can be viewed and in some cases, brought, at the Umana Yana from 10:00hours to 17:00hours everyday and on Saturday, June 24, from 14:30 hours to 19:00hours.
Mora Camp children going FATCA goes into operation …Guyana gov’t issues commencement order to school with ease
--Council puts transportation arrangement in place amid heavy showers THE more than 50 children of Mora Camp, who months ago had to resort to drastic measures in order to attend school, are now doing so with ease, even though the community continues to be affected by heavy showers and extremely high tides. In an effort to attend school, the children were forced to remove their shoes and socks to tread murky waters and swamps in order to access the main public road, before travelling miles to arrive at their public schools. Their parents had complained bitterly about the situation to the Bartica Mayor and Town Council concerning the situation, and though it was cashstrapped at the time, a transportation system was put in place during the first week in May. From Monday to Friday, a bus transports the children to their respective nursery, primary and sec-
ondary schools, making more than three trips per day. Bartica’s Mayor, Gifford Marshall said though the route being used is longer, it is also safer. Given the council’s financial limitation, Marshall said he approached the owner of BK International Brian Tiwari for sponsorship, and without hesitation, he agreed. “BK Quarries has since chipped in to cover the full cost for the first month,” Marshall noted. The cost to transport the children for the first month was just under $200,000. The Mayor noted that though the bus continues to transport the children to and from school, the Council has not finalised sponsorship for June. However, he is confident that a member of the business community will step up to the challenge. “We wanted to ensure that they have equal opportunities; that they reach
to school safe, so we put the bus in place. It was a necessary measure, and we are thankful to Mr. Tiwari for his continuous support,” thye mayor said. Marshall said though there will be challenges at times, the council will continue to fulfill its mandate. “We are an extension of the arm of the Ministry of Communities, and communities are about building people and giving them a better life,” the Mayor posited. A resident of Mora Camp, Leona Gonzales said the children are now happy to attend school. “We are very much glad for the bus. The children are glad, because going through that swamp wasn’t easy. Some children even stayed home because of that. So I am glad they are eager to get to school,” Gonzales said. The temporary system will come to an end on July 17, 2017 when school closes.
By Ravin Singh
TAXPAYERS of the United States (U.S.) who conduct business in Guyana will now be forced to ensure that they are fully tax-compliant, as this country has operationlised the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). The Act, which aims to strengthen international financial regulations, was operationlised after it was published in the Official Gazette on May 31, 2017. Recognition of the need to tighten regulations to reduce tax evasion lead to the U.S. introducing FATCA in 2010. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, this Act requires foreign financial institutions (FFIs) to report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), information about financial accounts held by U.S. taxpayers, or by foreign entities in which U.S. taxpayers hold a substantial ownership interest. Guyana has several U.S. companies operating here, with the latest and perhaps the largest, being ExxonMobil which is currently drilling for oil offshore. In an interview with
Kaieteur News last year, Chartered Accountant Shawn Naughton, had explained that simply put, FATCA is the U.S. requiring information on foreign assets held by its taxpayers. He explained that the U.S. will also be able to better locate its taxpayers as a result of information received under FATCA. “From this information, the USA will be able to determine which taxpayers have not been reporting all of their incomes and assets. This knowledge could then lead to the relevant persons being assessed for additional taxes and associated penalties by the IRS,” the accountant said. A FFI that does not enter into an agreement with the IRS will be subject to a 30 per cent withholding tax on certain payments, including U.S. source interest and dividends, and gross proceeds from sales of U.S. securities. Congress enacted FATCA to target non-compliance by U.S. taxpayers using foreign accounts, and the provision has since become the global standard for promoting tax transparency. It requires U.S. financial insti-
tutions to withhold a portion of certain payments made to FFIs that do not agree to identify and report information on US account holders. Governments have two options for complying with FATCA: they can either permit their FFIs to enter into agreement with the IRS, or they can themselves enter into IGAs with the U.S. In Guyana’s case, the latter was chosen, and an intergovernmental agreement was entered into with the U.S. in 2016. At a post-Cabinet press briefing last year, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had said that the agreement will allow financial institutions in Guyana to identify and disclose details regarding the holders of dollar accounts. He added too that: “The signing of this IGA will also allow the conclusion of the service agreement with the software provider for the installation of reporting software relating to the Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), thus bolstering Guyana’s anti- money laundering and countering financing of terrorism thrust.”
17
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Reflections on recent political blows
IT has been a busy two weeks of political machinations, salvoes and flurries across the divide. Visa cancellations, parliamentary beatdowns, controversial selfie videos, ministerial adjustments, inflammatory parliamentary conduct leading to the Speaker vacating his seat, revelations about ‘short time’ land titles given to Amerindian communities and taken back within hours by the last administration, lame belated retorts and much more. A dull moment there has not been. The Guyanese political landscape is hardly ever devoid of action and intrigue. These past weeks have been high-energy and full of lustre. Minister Raphael Trotman’s frontal take down of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on his record as President captivated the country and went viral on social media. There have been varied reactions, but mostly that it was about time the coalition Government shed its nice guy persona and call out Mr. Jagdeo on much of his rhetoric and bluster. Minister Trotman, a former Speaker of the National Assembly and always measured, reasoned and even keeled had had enough after the Opposition Leader had made an unscheduled intervention in the parliamentary debate and sought to inject extraneous issues and ‘lecture the house.’ It was this self-righteous pontification and indignation which soured the evening and stirred Minister Trotman into unleashing and raining verbal body
blows on the beleaguered Mr. Jagdeo. It was one of the most gripping performances in the National Assembly in recent history. It transported one back to the days of legendary interaction in the National Assembly between the political giants of the past. Minister Trotman questioned how Mr. Jagdeo could have the temerity to lecture the coalition Government on good governance, when his own record on this score was far less than stellar, to state the case as mildly as one can manage. Several examples of executive ineptitude were placed on record, including the failed Skeldon Sugar Factory, a US$200,000,000 white elephant which has been presenting unending troubles to the administration. What was revealing is that the usually boisterous Opposition MPs were stunned into silence. From the facial expressions, particularly of frontbenchers, deposed PPP General-Secretary Clement Rohee and Dr. Frank Anthony, it appeared as though they both had to restrain themselves from erupting into applause as Minister Trotman unfurled knockout punch after knockout punch against Mr. Jagdeo. One wonders if the implications of this are with regard to the internal issues with the opposition PPP. Other opposition frontbenchers who are known for their abrasive antics, petulance and incessant heckling, hardly uttered a word throughout Minister Trotman’s delivery and were left looking to their bruised and battered leader for guidance. None was forthcoming and Minister Trotman pre-
vailed triumphantly on the evening as he wrapped up the debate on the Petroleum Commission Bill. The usually hyper-active PPP remained in silence for several days, then belatedly the Opposition Leader emerged licking his wounds and attempted a few jabs to exact a measure of revenge. By this time the public had long concretised the view that Minister Trotman had, though belatedly, put Mr. Jagdeo to his place for his two-year-long misinformation and disinformation campaign. Comments flooded social media which hailed and heralded Minister Trotman for putting a stop to the opposition tirade and fact-free onslaught, while calling for this approach to be more enthusiastically embraced in the future. It is advice worth considering.
Youth Innovation Project Ramsaroop withdraws lawsuit against Parliament …refuses to return over $1.5M in rent, security deposit calls for more entries
-26 entries already in
THE Government-sponsored $50M Youth Innovation Project of Guyana (YIPoG) is issuing a clarion call for proposals from youth across Guyana. The YIPoG is the flagship project of the Ministry of Education’s Department of Youth, funded by the Government. It is a collaborative multi-ministry, multi-stakeholder project that includes governmental, regional, international, and corporate agencies. The project is being held under the theme: Aspire, Inspire, to Reach (AIR). Guyanese youth aware of issues, challenges or difficulties in their communities and who wish to propose a solution in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, Anthropology, Archaeology, Architecture, the Arts, Mathematics and Spirituality (STEAMS), while fostering a green economy, are encouraged to apply. The project calls for youths to propose a solution to societal issues or overcome the challenges through the application of STEAMS by any of the following approaches: working with friends; sharing proposed solutions; accessing expert advice; or proposing a budget/ making an estimate. The project aims to: decrease unemployment amongst young Guyanese; engage youth in the development of a Green State through the application of STEAMS; foster the development of creative think-
ing through STEAMS; and develop a network between partners that work in the field of creative thinking and youth development. According to manager of the project, Grace Roberts-Simon, the department has already received 26 entries. She said that based on initial perusing, Guyanese youth have a lot of commendable, innovative ideas about themselves and development of their communities, while creating employment opportunities for their peers. With the closing date set for June 30, Roberts-Simon said that the ministry believes that there are others who need to take advantage of the opportunity to bring to life their creativity and innovative ideas with support and guidance from our team. According to the ministry, participants may be individuals or teams of no more than 10 persons with a named team leader and an identified expert in the project. In addition, participants should be between 1635 years of age and members of a club or organisation that is registered with the Ministry of Education. Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, has expressed excitement about the project, especially in light of the fact that it targets youths. She shared her vision too, of a Guyana where the youth were accessed for innovative solutions to the many problems. “Not so long ago, I stood
where you now stand and looked out at a world full of possibilities. Fortunately, I was encouraged to follow my dreams, to create for myself a path to success. Today, you stand on the cusp of your fullest potential and teeter on the brink of decision-making,” Minister Henry had told youths at the launch of the project in May. Referencing the challenge, Minister Henry encouraged youths to “Look around you and identify the issues, problems, and frustrations within your community and propose solutions. We suggest STEAMS as a framework for such solutions.” She noted too that Guyana is forging a green economy, in which government provides enabling policies, structures, and systems, in which its peoples are free to suggest policy, enact structures, and access systems. As such, Minister Henry related that YIPoG is but one way through which “we can celebrate an environment whose benefits redound to all.” “I look forward to receiving your suggestions, financing your ideas from design to prototype, and matching your prototype-to-production sponsors. Imagine, what our dear land of Guyana could be because of your innovative ideas and pioneering spirit. We are listening, waiting with bated breath to aspire, to inspire, and together to reach our fullest potential as Guyanese,” the minister had said.
A COURT matter filed by businessman Peter Ramsaroop against the Parliament of Guyana for money allegedly owed him by Parliament was weeks ago withdrawn by Ramsaroop. Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, told the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday that he was advised by Deputy Speaker Hermina Gilheous, who represented him in the matter, that the case was withdrawn by the businessman. “I am told by the Deputy Clerk this afternoon that the case was withdrawn,” said Isaacs, who noted that Ramsaroop had filed proceedings against Parliament after refusing to return just over $1.5M representing two months’ rent and one month security deposit lodged for his property located at 27 Jacaranda Avenue, Bel Air Park. The property was rented by Parliament for Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, from February 2016 for a period of one year due to the unavailability of government flats. However, it was due to several maintenance issues that the tenancy was terminated by Parliament. The Guyana Chronicle understands that there were several defects in the property which Ramsaroop had initially committed to remedying, but then back-pedalled. Approximately eight
Businessman Peter Ramsaroop
months after moving in, Broomes had indicated to the Clerk of the National Assembly that the situation was unbearable. “It was the lack of maintenance that caused her to move…Parliament did not owe Mr Ramsaroop anything. We paid him three months’ rent (US$2500 monthly), but he doesn’t want to return the money,” Isaacs told the Guyana Chronicle. Isaacs dispelled statements published in the Guyana Times newspaper on Tuesday June 20, 2017, under the heading, “Former landlord takes Minister Broomes to court for rent…Gov’t owes $1, 560,000” which suggest that the government owes Ramsaroop. According to the Guyana Times article, Ramsaroop claimed that he had entered into an Agreement of Tenancy with Parliament for his Bel Air Park property to be rented to Minister
Broomes from February 1, 2016 to February 1, 2017 at a cost of US$2,500 monthly. Ramsaroop contended that a deposit of US$7500 representing two months’ rent and one month’s security deposit were made, but noted that, “several months were left outstanding,” noting that Parliament failed to pay rent for the months of November and December 2016 and January 2017 totalling US$7500. However,the Guyana Chronicle understands that in September 2016, Parliament gave Ramsaroop one month’s notice of intention to vacate. Additionally, in October, by virtue of notice to Ramsaroop, Minister Broomes vacated Ramsaroop’s property, which was reportedly checked and the keys were handed over to the businessman. Ramsaroop had also contended that Parliament is in breach of the tenancy agreement and failed, refused and or neglected to pay him the US$7500 for the three months. He also alleged that Broomes had damaged his property and as such, he was not required to return the deposit to Parliament but instead will use that money to fix all damage to his property. It remains unclear whether Ramsaroop will return the two months’ rent and one month security deposit to Parliament.
18
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Man gets 60 years for 2009 Old Year’s Day murder
STEVE Allicock was on Tuesday sentenced to 60
years imprisonment for the 2009 Old Year’s Day
murder of Wendell Tappin in Albouystown after a
12-member jury found him guilty in the Georgetown High Court. In handing down the sentence, Justice Navindra Singh told the court that Allicock has been sentenced to 60 years and ordered that the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) deduct time served and then asked that the prisoner be removed from the courtroom. After a few hours of deliberation, the 12-member jury returned to the courtroom and the forewoman announced a guilty verdict, which was unanimous. When the judge asked Allicock if he had anything to say he told the court that he feels the testimony of the father of the deceased, Dan Tappin, was inconsistent since he gave different versions. As such, he added that his father and uncle were both freed for the same murder and the sister of the deceased, Natasha Tappin, testified that she did not see him at the scene on the day
Accused: Steve Allicock
in question. Allicock noted that he was nowhere near there (scene) at that time. Meanwhile, in his plea of mitigation, defence attorney Maxwell McKay told the court that his client is 35 years old and has seven children and had no prior incident. He related that his client is a model prisoner during his incarceration. In response, State Prosecutor, Tuanna Hardy said that Wendell Tappin lost his life
at age 23 years old. She stated that the accused took a knife and pierced the heart of the deceased and asked for the maximum sentence to be handed down since a life was lost. After the sentence was handed down the relatives of Allicock began crying, after which they exited the courtroom and was loud outside the High Court while, they register their disappointment. Allicock had murdered Tappin, 23, called “Wendell Keyco” of 88 James Street, Albouystown at about 16:00hrs on December 31, 2009 (Old Year’s Day). Tappin was involved in an argument with Allicock, who inflicted stab wounds to his chest and escaped. Tappin, the father of two was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. He was stabbed to death during a row over a cell phone/battery.
ICAC for two-day confab at Marriott THE 35th Annual Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC) to be held on June 22-24, 2017 at the Marriott Hotel here will feature an impressive line-up of regional and international speakers. The 2017 conference will be hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana (ICAG) under the theme, “New Horizons - Charting the Course Together,” and will focus on empowering business, finance and accounting professionals with the knowledge and strategies to advance development of the region, a release by the organisation said.
Presentations and discussions on topical business issues such as the regional impact of significant international developments, the opportunities presented by emerging sectors and markets, and the challenges being faced by established industries are planned. Developments in financial reporting, public sector financial management and information technology are also on the agenda. Headlining the list of speakers are Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, and Rachel Grimes, President, International Federation of Accountants
(IFAC), who will deliver a main address during the opening session of the conference on Friday, June 23. Sir Ronald Sanders will address the topic, “Caribbean Perspective of World Economic Developments.” Rachel Grimes in her address on, “A Future-Ready Profession,” will speak on key issues and opportunities ahead for the profession in the global economy, including the importance of ethics, technology and attracting next- generation talent. Ian Ball, Chairman of CIPFA International and Chair of the Audit Committee for the financial statements of the New Zealand Govern-
Turn to page 19 ►
19
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Gov’t ramps up counselling at several city schools THE increased rate of psycho-social issues among students has seen the Ministry of Education moving to hire counsellors and establish counselling rooms at schools to address these issues. There are currently, ten (10) counselling rooms in schools around Georgetown, where counsellors work on a daily basis. The students, based on behaviour patterns, are referred for counselling to address the issues and to effect behavioural change. Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson, explained that these are some of the immediate measures that were taken in terms of dealing with behavioral patterns among students, centred in the city. “You know that when we talk about city life it is associated with all kind of issues, it is not to say that we don’t have those issues in the hinterland, but we are moving out. We have started with the problematic areas so it’s more of a scientific approach and we roll it out as we move ahead,” he said. During an exclusive interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI)/ Government Information Agency (GINA), Hutson noted that there are children with many issues, issues that
will ultimately affect their education, hence the initiative is timely. “Sometimes children just need someone to talk to, someone to give them the kind of guidance that they need in terms of how they deal with life issues,” the chief education officer noted. Teachers alone cannot suffice in terms of guiding the students, Hutson said, noting that the teacher has his/her job to do, which is to facilitate learning and ensure the curriculum is covered at the end of the academic term. “Teachers can’t be spending the entire day dealing with children and their issues, because teachers have their job to do, it is not to say that the teachers do not participate and help. So we need to expand the counselling programme. We are not where we want to be as yet, but I think we are in a good place by establishing these rooms in schools,” Hutson reiterated. Hutson emphasised that there are not enough counsellors in the schools, therefore the ministry is working on recruiting adequate counsellors to man the counselling rooms, towards ensuring that every school has at least one counsellor. The ministry also has
ICAC for two-day confab... From page 18
ment, who has served as an advisor on government accounting matters, will speak on the topic, “Public Financial Accountability -- Getting It Right” and Brian McEnery, President, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), will speak on the topic, “Future-Proofing the Talent Pipeline – Accounting for Generation Next.” “We are confident that the diverse range of topics and the high quality of regional and international speakers will contribute significantly towards an empowered regional business community and accounting profession. As with past conferences, the 35th Annual Conference is expected to attract in excess of 400 accounting and finance professionals from the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, United States and Canada,” states the ICAC President, Jasmine
Davis. According to the release, the wide range of topics to be addressed over the two days of technical presentations and panel discussions on June 23 and June 24, include: A Caribbean Perspective of World Economic Developments; A Future-Ready Profession; Promoting a Caribbean Brand to the World; Future-Proofing the Talent Pipeline – Accounting for Generation Next; IFRS 2020; The Future of Finance – The Impact of Disruptive Technologies; Addressing New and Emerging Cyber Security Risks; Public Financial Accountability – Getting it Right; The Future of Gold; Oil and Gas Prospects for the Region; Expected Credit Loss Models – Are Our Banks Ready? and Tourism in the Caribbean – What the Future Holds.
a Schools Welfare Unit, which is responsible for monitoring children with
social issues and truancy. The welfare department is involved in home visits,
networking with other social service agencies, parent sensitisation, talks with
children, visits to schools, and community outreach programmes. (DPI/GINA)
20
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Wednesday, June 21, 2017 - 02:00 hrs | 14:30 hrs Thursday, June 22, 2017 - 03:00 hrs | 14:30 hrs Friday, June 23, 2017 - 04:00 hrs | 14:30 hrs
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 21, 2017
21
22
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 21, 2017
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 21, 2017
23
24
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 21, 2017
25
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 21, 2017
SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Scottsville 08:40 hrs Captain At Sea 09:20 hrs Premier Dance 09:55 hrs Northern Chorus 10:30 hrs Lil Red Rooster ENGLISH RACING TIPS Uttoxeter 09:20 hrs Bomber Command 09:55 hrs Willyegolassiego 10:30 hrs Sand Blast 11:05 hrs Petrou 11:45 hrs Terry The Fish 12:20 hrs Lost Legend 12:55 hrs Lime Street ASCOT 09:30 hrs Dream Castle 10:05 hrs Happy Like A Fool 10:40 hrs Laugh Aloud 11:20 hrs Highland Reel 12:00 hrs Hors De Combat 12:35 hrs Tisbutadream HAMILTON 09:10 hrs Verhoyen 09:45 hrs Poet’s Prince 10:20 hrs Love Oasis 10:55 hrs Breanski 11:35 hrs Titi Makfi 12:10 hrs Clenymistra 12:45 hrs Tonto’s Spirit IRISH RACING TIPS Wexford 13:00 HRS Special Diamond 13:30 hrs Play The Part 14:00 hrs Camlann 14:30 hrs Prosperity Square 15:00 hrs Peregrine Run 15:30 hrs Marchese Marconi 16:00 hrs Namean Lion AMERICAN RACING TIPS Belmont Race 1 H Man Race 2 Love Your Buttons Race 3 Adulator Race 4 Selenite Race 5 Jeanne’s Speight Race 6 Snag Race 7 Union Riches RACE 8 DEFIANT HONOR
26
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 21, 2017
Sarfraz receives hero’s welcome … Hundreds jam streets for glimpse of hero, silverware PAKISTAN’S victorious Champions Trophy cricketers have been welcomed home as heroes, with huge crowds gathering as the celebrations continue unabated. Pakistan completed a stunning form reversal to thrash arch-rivals India by a whopping 180 runs in the Champions Trophy final at The Oval on Sunday, led by century-maker Fakhar
Zaman and devastating bowling spells from Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali. Fakhar – who had only earned his one-day cap earlier in the tournament – later revealed he had battled a stomach bug to take his place in the playing XI for the final. Hasan was named Player-of-the-Tournament and awarded the Golden Ball for his 13 wickets in five matches at less than 14,
including the final scalp of Jasprit Bumrah that sparked worldwide celebrations for their supporters. At The Oval, Pakistan fans were delirious with joy, dancing and chanting outside the ground and in the streets of the south London suburb of Kennington while in Birmingham supporters invaded the streets and let off firecrackers. However, it was home
in Pakistan where the adulation reached fever-pitch proportions. Armed guards were required to make a path through the throngs as hundreds of fans gathered at the Karachi International Airport when the players returned home from London with the silverware. Men, women and children packed the airport, and captain Sarfraz Ahmed held up the trophy to loud cheers and chants of “Long live Sarfraz!” as a police band played patriotic songs nearby and players’ vehicles were showered with petals
(We won) thanks to Allah and the prayers of the whole nation,” Ahmed said in brief comments as he jostled his way through the crowd of well-wishers. Sarfraz was showered with bouquets and given a traditional skull cap and an ‘ajrak’ shawl, which is usually presented as a mark of honour. Supporters packed the street outside Sarfraz’s Karachi residence, as well-wishers adorned the neighbourhood with colourful lights and Pakistan flags and climbed on rooftops and balconies for a glimpse of their hero. And the inspirational leader did not disappoint, appearing on his balcony –
with the trophy still firmly clutched – to lead the masses in a chant of “Pakistan Zindabad”. The huge support underlines Sarfraz’s plea in the immediate aftermath of the final, when he called for international teams to return to Pakistan for top-flight cricket. With the exception of Zimbabwe’s tour two years ago, Pakistan have had to play all of their ‘home’ matches outside their own country since a 2009 terror attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore. “I hope this win will boost Pakistan cricket and hopefully all the (major) playing nations will come to Pakistan,” said Sarfraz
GTT pushes Amazon Warriors ... From back page says: ‘DO MORE’ for not only the cricket-loving people of Guyana but for the entire population of Guyana. “Together with GTT we plan to unveil a number of promotions and competitions where the people of Guyana will have a chance to participate and get the opportunity to win free tickets to the games or even win a GTT Special Prize. In the coming weeks leading up to the games you will be provided with all the details of these initiatives,” Ramsingh said. Meanwhile, Director of Sport Christopher Jones, in congratulating GTT for its partnership with the CPL through the sponsorship of the Amazon Warriors, was more enthused that the
company chose cricket as its reintroduction into the arena of local sponsorship, and wished the team well ahead of the tournament. The Guyana Amazon Warriors had featured in every final of the CPL, with the exception of the 2015 edition where they finished third in the seven-team tournament. However, despite the team’s success, they’ve never hoisted the trophy which was won twice by the Jamaica Tallawahs (2013 and 2016) and once by the Trinbago Knight Riders (2015) and Barbados Tridents (2014). “Champion Teams are made of Champions and with the likes of Martin Guptill, Chris Lynn, Sohail Tanvir and the Man-of-the-Series in the recently concluded West Indies/Afghanistan ODI Series - Rashid Khan, togeth-
er with all our local home grown players who are here today, we of the Guyana Amazon Warriors know that once we instil the passion, determination, will-power and self-belief in all our team members throughout the tournament, especially in the Final, we are confident that we will emerge as Champions,” Ramsingh said with enthusiasm. The Guyana Amazon Warriors 2017 team; Martin Guptill, Rayad Emrit, Sohail Tanveer, Chadwick Walton, Christopher Lynn, Rashid Khan, Jason Mohammed, Steven Taylor, Veerasammy Permaul, Roshon Primus, Gajanand Singh, Assad Fudadin, Steven Jacobs, Keon Joseph, Steven Katwaroo, Shimron Hetmyer and Muhammad Ali Khan.
Deokie ready ...
From back page
the championship so guys are going to be coming for me hard. It’s not hard to see why, but come raceway, I’m not expecting an easy time,” he continued. “I never rule out and overlook any of the fellow drivers in my GP. It’s motor racing and anything could happen on that particular day,” he added. Deokie, who holds the lead at the sport tuner class with 75 points after round one, noted that there are not many alterations that need to made to his car, adding, “the car is working fine. We will be making a few fine changes to the suspension”. “What I can say is that I predict a
good, quality day of racing and I’m also looking forward to it. He further thanked his sponsors Toucan Industries, Payless Variety Store, Scott’s Jewellery, D&G Foreign Auto, Robbie’s Jewellery, Emran and Raymond General Auto and Super 95 Gas for their continued support. The event is sponsored by Ansa McAl, Prem’s Electrical, B.M. Soat, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Ready Mix, Special Auto, Japarts, Ticket Master, Palm Court, KGM, MAC Batteries, S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction, L Mahabir and Sons Cambio and Choke Gas Station.
27
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Kumble steps down as coach after fallout with captain Kohli By Sudipto Ganguly MUMBAI, India (Reuters) - Anil Kumble has stepped down as India coach after falling out with skipper Virat Kohli, a top source in the country’s cricket board told Reuters yesterday. Kumble’s original contract expired with the team’s Champions Trophy campaign, but the former captain was tipped to get an extension after enjoying a successful run during his year in charge. “While the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) had endorsed an extension to his tenure as head coach, Anil Kumble has decided not to continue as the coach,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a
statement. Last year the BCCI formed the CAC, comprising former players Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, who chose Kumble for the job. The source confirmed the 46-year-old Kumble, who was put in charge last June, decided to step down after the breakdown of his relationship with Kohli. Local media has reported that Kohli found Kumble’s brand of coaching a bit too assertive and their relationship was beyond repair. The BCCI invited applications for the role last month and Kumble had re-applied for the same. “We wish to place on record our sincere appreciation for the immense contribution
Anil Kumble
by Anil Kumble to the team which enabled India to attain the No.1 Test position,” acting BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary said in a statement. “Indian cricket needs
FIFA warns Mexico over ‘insulting’ chants (REUTERS) - World soccer governing body FIFA said yesterday it had warned Mexico over what it said were “insulting and discriminatory” chants during their first Confederations Cup match in Russia. The incident occurred on Sunday at Mexico’s 2-2 draw against Portugal in Kazan, FIFA said in a statement, just days after it announced stricter measures to crack down on fans’ behaviour at the tour-
nament including allowing referees to stop matches. FIFA said its disciplinary committee chairman Anin Yeboah had warned “the Mexican Football Federation for the misconduct of a small group of Mexican fans in relation to insulting and discriminatory chants” and said it could take further action in the event of another similar incident. It gave no details on what
action could be taken. FIFA has already fined Mexico for fans’ homophobic chants during their qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup. Mexican players last year launched their own campaign against homophobic slurs during matches. Mexico face New Zealand today in Sochi in their second Confederations Cup match.
his continued contribution in various capacities and wishes him all the best in his future endeavour.” In the last one year, the
former leg-spinner, also India’s most successful bowler, led the country to 12 victories in 17 Tests with just one loss. He also guided India to one-day international series wins over New Zealand and England with losses coming only in a Twenty20 series against the West Indies and in last week’s Champions Trophy final, where they lost to Pakistan. Kumble is also the chairman of the International Cricket Council’s cricket committee and has stayed back in London for the world governing body’s meeting this week. He decided not to travel with the Indian side for a
limited-overs tour to the West Indies, where they will play a five-match ODI series and a T20 game in the Caribbean starting on June 23. “The BCCI will continue to seek the assistance of the Cricket Advisory Committee in its search for a new head coach for the senior India men’s cricket team,” the board added. “In the interim, the BCCI has dep+uted MV Sridhar, General Manager Cricket Operations to supervise the team management for the West Indies tour.” Batting coach Sanjay Bangar and fielding coach R. Sridhar will continue in their role, the BCCI informed.
28
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 21, 2017
FIH coach Shiv Jagday conducts hockey clinic in Guyana FIH hockey coach Shiv Jagday visited Guyana from June 7 to 20 to conduct two weeks of hockey training for coaches, nationals and junior players. While Jagday hails from India originally, which is a powerhouse in the sport from inception of international competition, he has plied his trade mostly in Canada for the past 40 years. According to a Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) release, after a successful stint in the 1980s as the Canadian men’s national team coach where he led Canada to their most successful international period of two Olympic appearances, two World Cups and two Pan American gold medals, Jagday branched out into developmental coaching worldwide. His first such assignment was to Guyana in 1988 at the invitation of Chris Fernandes, the-then president of the GHBl.
Coach Shiv, as he is called by everyone, has since visited Guyana five times to conduct Olympic solidarity courses which have impacted on many of the country’s national players of the recent past. Jagday undertook the responsibility of the USA junior national programme from 1998 to 2005 before developing two training academies for hockey in California and Vancouver. He also spends his time in Melbourne, Australia and Punjab India where he has helped to establish a regional training institute that has seen nine players from Punjab selected for the current Indian national team. With Jagday now being semi-retired, he made contact with the GHB to offer his services for free in his effort to give back to the sport. This was an offer that the GHB could not refuse as it is difficult to secure
Windies Women lose to Pakistan in World Cup warm-up NIAN Abidi scored an unbeaten 81 to guide Pakistan Women to a five-wicket win over the West Indies Women in a warm-up match at Grace Road in Leicester yesterday. Set 247 to win, Abidi and Bismah Maroof (75) mounted a 141-run fourth-wicket partnership that rescued Pakistan from 68 for 3. Abidi struck eight fours in her 86-ball match-winning innings as Pakistan eased to 249 for 5 with two overs and two balls to spare. Maroof hit nine fours in her knock that lasted 80 balls as she and Abidi repaired the early damage caused by Shamilia Connell and captain Stafanie Taylor, who each took a wicket as Pakistan stumbled to 63 for 3 after 16.5 overs. Connell returned figures of 2 for 39 and Taylor 1 for 29. They were the only wicket-takers for the West Indies who struggled to make further inroads after their early success. Earlier, a half-century from opener Felicia Walters and solid knocks from Merissa Aguilleira and Deandra Dottin helped the West Indies women to 246 for 7. Walters scored a 93-ball 59 that included nine fours as she and Hayley Matthews, who scored 32, put on an opening stand of 49 before Matthews was run-out. The West In-
dies middle order struggled with captain Taylor (14) and Chadean Nation (7) failing to build on the solid start.
Felicia Walters However, Dottin smashed five fours in a 26-ball 32 to prop up the Caribbean side. Aguilleira scored a patient 43 off 50 balls to help propel the West Indies to a strong finish. The veteran Trinidadian in partnership with Afy Fletcher (18) and Shanel Daley 24 not out from just 12 balls carried the West Indies from 170 for 5 to 247 for 7. Bowling for Pakistan, Sana Mir picked up 2 for 46 while there was a wicket each for Asmavia Iqbal, Kaniat Imtiaz and Sadia Yousuf. The West Indies are yet to win a match as they continue preparations for their World Cup campaign.
Young hockey players paying attention to FIH coach Shiv Jagday (centre) during a training session at the GCC ground, Bourda on Monday. the expertise of a top qual- ball, Triangle play, Team con- in praise of the training proity coach in this part of the cepts and using Mini Hockey gramme run by Shiv and world without a substantial as a tool to develop the game considers it of great value cost. in segments. to Guyana’s hockey. When Among the topics covFifty boys and girls be- Jagday first came to Guyana, ered during his two-week tween the ages of 13 and 19 Fernandes was the junior stay here in Guyana were years attended the junior ses- national hockey captain and core basic skills like Stance, sions while thirty-five coaches considered Jagday’s teachFootwork and First Touch attended the coaching sessions. ings to be invaluable. in addition to Passing and President of the GHB, Fernandes indicated that Receiving, Running with the Philip Fernandes, was high the GHB is in discussions
with Jagday about making his visits an annual feature on the hockey calendar with a long-term plan for developing even stronger junior and senior teams in four years’ time. Upon completion of his two-week training clinic, Jagday commented, “There is so much natural talent waiting to be groomed in the correct way. “As I said since my first visit, there is great athleticism, intelligence and adaptability among the Guyanese athletes. They just need more discipline, structure in sport and in life and to develop a routine where training is concerned. The attitude cannot just be to train whenever the mood suits.” Jagday indicated that he enjoys Guyana every time he visits and mentioned the beautiful climate and hospitable people as being two of the main reasons he has chosen to return to Guyana.
Spanish prosecutors accuse Mourinho of 3.3 million euro tax fraud (REUTERS) - Spanish prosecutors said yesterday they had filed a claim against Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on two counts of tax fraud dating back to when he coached Real Madrid. The Portuguese manager owes Spanish tax authorities 3.3 million euros (£2.91 million), a Madrid prosecutor said in a statement, adding it had presented a claim to a local court. Mourinho left Real Madrid in 2013 to manage English club Chelsea for a second spell before signing with United in 2016. Prosecutors said he had failed to declare revenues from his image rights in his Spanish income tax declarations from 2011 and 2012, “with the aim
of obtaining illicit profits”. They said Mourinho had already settled a previous claim relating to his Spanish taxes, which resulted in a penalty of 1.15 million euros in 2014. But tax authorities later found that some of the information presented in that settlement was incorrect, the prosecutors said. Known as “the Special One”, Mourinho, 54, is one of the most prominent and successful coaches in soccer today. In the season just ended, he won three trophies in his debut campaign at Manchester United, although he drew criticism after a poor league performance in which United finished sixth in the Premier League. In European competition, he has led Porto to UEFA Cup
Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho victory in 2003 and a Champions League triumph in 2004, and also won the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010. He has claimed a haul of
domestic trophies with Chelsea and other clubs. The claims against Mourinho come amid a lengthening list of tax fraud cases involving soccer stars in Spain. Real Madrid player Cristiano Ronaldo has been called to testify on July 31 in Madrid on allegations that he hid income from tax authorities between 2011 and 2014, the court said yesterday. Real Madrid was not immediately available for comment on the allegations against Mourihno or Ronaldo’s hearing. Gestifute, a Portuguese-based soccer agency which represents Mourinho and Ronaldo, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Villani’s 137 helps Australia cruise past South Africa AUSTRALIA ramped up its preparations for the ICC Women’s World Cup with a comfortable 103-run victory over South Africa yesterday. Elyse Villani stole the headlines at Oakham School as she plundered 137 runs from 112 balls – finding the boundary rope no fewer than 20 times in a scintillating innings, with the reigning World Cup champions post-
ing a score of 324 for five. (Scores: Australia 324-5 in 50 overs (Elyse Villani 137, Ellyse Perry 67, Alex Blackwell 32 not out; Ayabonga Khaka 2-47, Marizanne Kapp 1-20, Masabata Klaas 1-50) South Africa 221 all out in 49.3 overs (Trisha Chetty 62, Dane van Niekerk 54, Nadine de Klerk 32; Jess Jonassen 3-29, Belinda Vakarewa 2-34, Ashleigh Gardner 1-15)
She was ably supported by Ellyse Perry, who made 67 before being run-out by Nadine de Klerk, before veteran Alex Blackwell and Alyssa Healy also chipped in with quick-fire knocks of 32 and 25 respectively. The Proteas’ run chase got off to the worst possible start when Lizelle Lee was run-out by Beth Mooney without even facing a ball. Her opening partner Andrie
Steyn (12) followed shortly after as she was caught trapped in front by Jess Jonassen. Trisha Chetty did offer some resistance with a measured 62, as did skipper Dane van Niekerk, who also notched up a half-century, but Australia turned the screws and bowled tightly for all 50 overs – with Jonassen the pick of the attack, taking three wickets.
29
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 21, 2017
Quest for Test status fuelled Leacock, Lowden win Over-35, by successful Windies series Over-45 titles at GBTI tennis championships
By Staff Writer
LONDON, England CMC – Afghanistan believe their impressive recent outing against West Indies has further emboldened their chances of achieving Test status. The ICC Associate side were brilliant in the threematch One-Day International series in the Caribbean earlier this month, stunning the hosts by 63 runs in the opening match at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia. West Indies were then forced to labour before overhauling a modest 136 to clinch a four-wicket win in the second match while the third game was rained out. “West Indies is one of the best teams in the shorter format of the game, and it’s a Test-playing nation,” Afghanistan coach Lalchand Rajput said.
Geron Williams expected home to defend road racing title
DEFENDING champion of the Guyana Cycling Federation’s senior road race title, Geron `Lone Soldier’ Williams is expected back tomorrow to defend his title at this year’s championship which will be staged on Sunday. Williams, who is based in the United States riding for Team Foundation and is currently the only cyclist wearing the local (Guyana) Continental Cycling Club’s uniform, is, according to reports, performing creditably on the U.S. circuit and will be bringing with him that form and experience. Only two Sundays ago, Williams placed second to Australia’s track champion in a 35-mile criterium and was expected to participate in two more such races over
the past weekend. However, no word has been received by Chronicle Sport as to his performances in those two events. According to reports, Williams has some fine-tuning to do to his contract with Team Foundation before he can be released to defend his title in Guyana. With a mere five days before the national road race is staged, Williams might have a problem accliamatising to the current weather conditions in Guyana, but, being the `Solider’ he is, with grit and determination, he will surely `throw out his belly’ to give his many supporters lots to talk about. Williams, unlike the other cyclists to face the starter, will not have domestic rid-
Geron Williams ers to help him during the 103-mile event which gets underway from Homestretch Avenue and proceeds to
Camp Soweyo on the Linden Highway before turning back to finish at the place of origin. Williams could very well be coming up against the likes of his fellow U.S.based Guyanese riders like Raynauth Jeffrey and Paul DeNobrega, who are already home for the event as well as Andrew Hicks, Hamza Eastman and Christopher Holder who have all stated their intention to be home for the championships. The above-mentioned athletes will join Jamal John, Walter Grant-Stuart, Alonzo Ambrose, Enzo Matthews, Mario King, and Romello Crawford, who are all locally based. With such a formidable lineup, Sunday’s event promises much excitement.
WADA partially suspends UCLA lab in Los Angeles (REUTERS)-The World Anti-Doping Agency said on Tuesday it has issued a three-month partial accreditation suspension to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Olympic Analytical Laboratory for analysing certain banned substances. The three-month suspension began last Wednesday and, according to a WADA statement, is a result of “WADA’s quality assessment procedures that identified non-conformities with
best practice.” Los Angeles is competing against Paris to host the 2024 Olympics and the local bid committee has selected UCLA as the site for the Olympic Village, which would house all competing athletes. During the suspension, the UCLA laboratory can carry out all its regular anti-doping activities, but it must obtain a second opinion from another WADA-accredited lab prior to reporting any adverse
analytical finding for the glucocorticoids “prednisolone” and “prednisone”; and, the anabolic steroids “boldenone” and “boldione”. WADA said suspensions limited to certain substances have been issued in the past and allow for appropriate monitoring of the lab to ensure full implementation of necessary improvements with the objective of a return to full compliance. An independent WADA
Disciplinary Committee advised by WADA’s Laboratory Expert Group delivered its recommendation for a limited suspension on June 14. The UCLA lab was notified of the decision two days later and has 21 days to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. As part of the process, WADA will conduct a site visit within a timeframe that reasonably allows the UCLA Laboratory to finalise implementation of all remedial actions.
LEYLAND Leacock and Godfrey Lowden fashioned similar victories as they took the titles in the Men’s Over-35 and Over-45 categories respectively in straight sets when the tournament continued over the weekend at the GBTI courts in Bel Air, Georgetown. Leacock’s win over his older opponent Andre Lopes was, however, a much closer affair as both players displayed grit in trying to outlast each other in lengthy rallies, instead of pushing for outright winners. The first set went to a tiebreak where Lopes committed several costly forehand errors which allowed Leacock to win 7-3..Leacock served consistently and though surprised by the occasional winner from Lopes was able to win the title in straight sets 7-6(7/3), 6-4. Both players are in line to capture two medals as they are competing in Doubles final as well. In the Men’s 45 final, Alexley Almeida’s streak of coming back from a set down was halted by Berbician Godfrey Lowden who completed a straight-sets win, but not without some drama at the end. In the first set Lowden, who likes a fast-paced game, steamrolled Almeida 6-1, as the latter tried unsuccessfully to match his opponent. In the second set, Almeida threatened to make it a 3-set affair yet again as he slowed the pace and took the set to a tie-break. Leading 8-7 with set point, he suffered a dubious call, lost his composure and the set eventually at 11-9. It was a deserving win for Lowden who has been a stalwart over the years and still has the game and fitness to take on all players. In the Boys’ 18 category, the expected showdown between top players Heimraj Resaul and Jordan Beaton did not materialise after Resaul had to forfeit due to an injury. Jordan who benefited from the walkover took full advantage of the opportunity of being in the final and completed a 6-2, 6-1 win to take home the title over Joshua Kalekyezi who was also debuting in the 18’s final. Kalekyezi, who is only 14 years old and stands over 6 feet, originally lived in Uganda and he is expected to be a top player in the junior ranks for years to come. His tennis has come on significantly over the last year as he is already challenging his older counterparts with his attractive and solid game. In the Girls’ 18, top seed Kalyca Fraser proved to be too good for Sarah Klautky whom she crushed in straight sets 6-1, 6-1. Fraser is one of several promising junior players namely Klautky, Alana Chung, Nathalie Ramdyhan, Ciara Pooran and Afruica Gentle, who have all held their own in the tournament over the past two weeks. Fraser had wins over Sekai Jones and Alana Chung in the earlier rounds whilst Klautky took care of Margaret Subryan in the first round and edged Nathalie Ramdyhan in the semi-finals. In Men’s 35 Doubles action Andre Lopes/Sandeep Chand all but clinched the title with their third victory in the round-robin format, when they overcame the first-time pairing of veterans Godfrey Lowden/Ronald Murray 6-1, 6-3. Lopes/Chand played their best match of the tournament with consistent serving and strong net play and never allowed Lowden/Murray to gain any momentum. In other matches played Afruica Gentle/Christy Campbell booked a place in the Ladies’ Doubles final with a comfortable 6-1, 6-0 victory over Kalyca Fraser/Sarah Klautky and will face Shelly Ramdyhan/ Fiona Bushell.
30
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 21, 2017
CWI continues to support the PCL
C R I C K E T We s t I n dies (CWI) continues to streamline and improve the Professional Cricket League (PCL) in the region for the sake of development of the sport. The board’s initial arrangement was to fund the league for a couple years and then let the territories take over but according to CWI director and president of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB), Azim Bassarath, “CWI has and will continue to take care of the PCL financially, in order to keep the players employed and to offer them the comfort of knowing that there is a salary there for them and they can concentrate on their cricket. “We have seen so much positives come out of this arrangement that it has been one of the better programmes put in place in West Indies cricket for a very long time now. The idea which was initially touted by the president of CWI, Dave Cameron, has really taken off and with stiff economic times being experienced all over the Caribbean, the territories found it difficult to find investors. “This by no means in-
dicated that the PCL was not good. In fact, having discussions with investors in my capacity as president of the TTCB, many of them have indicated that the PCL is what would take West
are looking towards another good season in the PCL and what is great to see is that the selectors are paying attention to the players who go out there week after week and represent their
They are also automatically included in the Regional Super50 Competition, which takes place during the first quarter of each year. These competitions are
2017 Champions Guyana Jaguars Indies cricket right back up the ladder. They have been warning though that we must continue to work the model all the time to make sure we have the right equation in place and we have been doing that at the CWI.” This year, the PCL will enter its fourth season, having bowled off in 2014. “We
franchise. The path is clear for our players. All they need to do is put down the hard work, go out there and perform well and they will be playing for the West Indies.” The six franchises, hailing from each of the West Indies territories, compete in the Regional Four-Day Competition yearly.
to not only prepare the regional players, but also give the selectors an opportunity to efficiently select the Test and One-Day International squads respectively. The franchises are: Guyana Jaguars, Barbados Pride, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, T&T Red Force, Windward Islands Volcanoes, Jamaica Scorpions.
Sammy says top Windies players will continue international snub
(REUTERS) - Leading West Indian cricketers will prefer to play in lucrative Twenty20 tournaments around the world instead of representing the Caribbean side under the current administration, former captain Darren Sammy has said. Players such as Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo have long been embroiled in contractual disputes with the board and the team even abandoned a tour of India midway the 2014 series over a payment structure row. Cricket West Indies (CWI) only select players for its international sides if they feature in domestic competitions, leading to many high-profile absentees who ply their trade in overseas Twenty20 leagues. “I can’t tell a player not to play in a league when it could
Former West Indies captain Darren Sammy make them financially stable to look after their family,” Sammy, who led West Indies to two World Twenty20 titles, told BBC Radio Five Live. West Indies have had little success outside the shortest format and missed
out on qualification for the recent Champions Trophy, played among the top eight 50-over sides of the world. They are ranked ninth in one-day internationals and one place higher in the Test format. Sammy tore into his home governing body immediately after guiding the side to their second World T20 title in India last year, saying the players “felt disrespected by the board coming into the tournament”. The 33-year-old has since missed out on selection for the West Indies. “The way we structure our cricket, we’re not going anywhere,” said Sammy, who has played 38 Tests and 126 ODIs. “I’m very scared we will be relegated to be playing against Ireland and Scotland. It’s very sad for us
If you really have West Indies cricket at heart you will have the right players for all the formats playing and helping you get to tournaments.” CWI said it was working with stakeholders to resolve the issue and was focused on direct qualification for the 2019 50-over World Cup in England and Wales. “Regarding player eligibility, since the July 2016 meeting in Fort Lauderdale, there has been ongoing meetings with the players in large and small groups, and we feel we are closer to a resolution,” the BBC quoted a CWI statement as saying. “Cricket West Indies remains focused on its role to facilitate player development through its competitions and other support services.”
GTT promises to ‘DO MORE’ for sports By Rawle Toney CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GTT) Justin Nedd explained that while his entity had taken a ‘step back’ from its usual corporate support to sports and its development locally for the past three years, after some evaluation, GTT is ready to ‘Do More’. Speaking exclu sively with Chronicle Sport yesterday following the announcement as Signature Sponsor of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team for this year’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Nedd explained, “it’s not that we’ve not been doing sports sponsorship; but there are times when you need to take a step back and evaluate what you’re trying to do GTT’s CEO Justin Nedd and why you’re trying to do it.” “We’ve taken some time to really understand what we’re trying to achieve and the partnership with the Amazon Warriors presented an opportunity for us to really come back; not just come back, but come back in a big way, because whatever we do, it’s really about making lives better, and making everything ten times better than we think it could be,” said Nedd. The 10/10 Softball cricket and their ‘Fastball’ football tournaments were the two major events that were synonymous with GTT’s approach to grassroots sports in Guyana. But when the company pulled their sponsorships of the aforementioned events, as well as for other disciplines, it left a ‘crater’ in the country’s sports landscape. However, Nedd is encouraging persons to reach out to the company, and he also spoke of GTT’s proactive approach to sponsorship. Nedd told Chronicle Sport, “We want to go big; we’re playing to win, so it’s not about just giving sponsorship. We want to ensure that it’s done in a way where we’re reaching people.” GTT’s CEO insisted that they’re looking for avenues “where we can make the lives of the Guyanese better, so as we evaluate each opportunity on its own merit we’ll make decisions. Grassroots plays a pivotal role in building and development for the future.”
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday June 21, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)
Answers to yesterday’s quiz:
(1) Shikhar Dhawan (2) Hasan Ali
Today’s Quiz:
(1) What was the highest partnership for any wicket in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017? (2) How many centuries were scored in the tournament?
Answers in tomorrow’s issue
31
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 21, 2017
George, Adonis and McCammon named for SA Seniors
… AAG still cash-strapped after hosting Junior edition By Tamica Garnett
SPRINTERS Winston George, Owen Adonis, and hurdler Jenea McCammon will be Guyana’s representatives at this year’s South American Senior Championships, after they volunteered to pay their own way to the June 23-25 event which will be held in Paraguay. Though the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), in an earlier interview with Chronicle Sport, had said that the body hoped to select and send a team of around six persons; AAG president Aubrey Hutson yesterday made an outright disclosure that at this point the body could not even afford to send a single athlete. “We don’t have money!” Hutson declared. “We don’t even have money to clear our bills for the last (South American
Winston George
Jenea McCammon
Owen Adonis
Junior) Championships, so I wasn’t going to incur an additional debt and financial burden on the future of athletics in Guyana. Those athletes would have expressed an interest in going, and they were willing to supplement their passage. We got to deal with the reality of the situation.” Guyana had only
just earlier this month wrapped up hosting the South American Junior Championships after agreeing to put on the event just a few months prior when Bolivia, the original hosts, said they could no longer do it. The event had received some amount of sponsorship, but it left much to be
desired. Hence, Hutson said, when the selection committee met on Monday night to make a final say on the team, it boiled down to simply allowing those athletes who could pay for their tickets to go. “We explained clearly that we could not afford to send a team. Those are
the people who would have submitted and bought their tickets, so they’re off,” he said. The average price for the ticket from Guyana to Paraguay was approximately US$1000. The athletes were only required to pay for the airfare while everything else is taken care of by the host nation. Adonis departed Guyana yesterday, while George and McCammon would both be travelling from the USA, in high spirits despite the situation. George will be in the men’s 200m and 400m, Adonis will also be in the 200m, as well as the 100m. McCammon will be in the women’s 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles. “I’m honoured to be able to represent Guyana at such a high level, and plan to give it my all,” said Adonis, who has a season’s best of 10.84 seconds and 21.38 seconds, respectively, in the 100m and 200m.
The 21.38 seconds is also Adonis’ personal best in that event; his PB in the 100m is 10.73 seconds which he attained in 2015. The national men’s 400m record holder, George, earlier this month ran an IAAF World Championships qualifying time in the event when he clocked 45.49 seconds earlier this month. His 20.57 seconds in 200m is just inside the 20.44 seconds qualifying time to compete in the event at the World Championships. McCammon is coming into the competition after recording a 13.43 seconds personal best in the 100m hurdles, which she clocked just a week ago, which was also a new national record for Guyana. In the 400m hurdles she has a season’s best of 59.1 seconds. She’s exactly three seconds off the World Championships qualifying time.
Windies head coach says batsmen hold the key against Indians
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Head coach Stuart Law says West Indies’ batting in the upcoming five-match one-day series against India will be critical to the series outcome and has urged his batsmen to show more enterprise and play to their potential. The Windies batting struggled badly in the recent series against minnows Afghanistan and now faces a huge Test against the powerful Indians, who are already heavily favourites to win the June 23 to July 6 series. “We’ve spoken long and hard. The batsmen know they have to start producing, there’s no secret to that,” Law told reporters here yesterday. “Our bowlers have been doing a great job consistently so now it’s time for the bats-
men to stick their hands up and want to be out there, want to score runs against a pretty formidable opponent in India – one of the best teams in the world if not the best.“It’s a great challenge for our boys and I’m sure they are all looking forward to it.” West Indies are coming off a disappointing 1-1 draw in the three-match series against Afghanistan where they lost the first match by 63 runs, won the second by four wickets before the decisive third game was rained off without a ball bowled. The hosts struggled in both games, failing to chase down 213 in the opener and then labouring to overhaul a modest 136 in the second, only reaching their target in the 40th over. Not a single batsman managed a half-century in the two
matches but Law said the issue was not one of skill but the mental approach. “To be honest, I just think it’s a matter of believing in their own ability a little bit more – have that self-belief, go out and remain positive,” he pointed out. “Sometimes it looks like we are caught in two minds. Once you’re in two minds, it becomes clouded in there and then you can’t execute your skills so I’m just talking to them all the time, (saying) back yourself, be yourself, be positive and the runs will come.” West Indies’ one-day form has been ordinary over the last eight months, with just three wins in 16 outings – including whitewashes at the hands of Pakistan and England. They lost 2-1 to Pakistan
West Indies head coach Stuart Law says batsmen have to produce against India.
in a three-match series in April but showed some signs of improvement when they chased down a record 309 to win the opener. Law said judging from that series, there was no massive gulf between West Indies
and the other world teams. “When you look back at the Pakistan series, Pakistan are now Champions Trophy winners,” he explained. “We pushed them in a number of games and beat them in a game so, to compare apples with apples we’re not that far away from competing with those guys. It’s just consistently (performing) on a day-in day-out basis. “India provide a great challenge, not only for the West Indies but any other team playing against them in this day and age. They’ve got some great players but I just want our boys to go out and not worry about the man but the ball coming down and hopefully things will be alright.” India will arrive in the Caribbean this week still
smarting from their defeat to Pakistan in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy last Sunday in London and Law said the Windies needed to be prepared for the backlash. “They will be hurting. They went through that tournament over there, were playing great cricket and got done by Pakistan on the day,” he noted. “I’m sure the guy that leads them Virat Kohli is a very passionate Indian, he loves seeing his team have success so he’ll be driving them a lot harder during this series which we’ve got to be ready for.” West Indies face India in the first ODI on Friday at Queen’s Park Oval here with the second game of the doubleheader scheduled for Sunday.
GTT pushes Amazon Warriors to ‘do more’ with Signature Sponsorship Director of Sport Christopher Jones (first from left) and GTT’s CEO Justin Nedd are joined by some members of the Guyana Amazon Warriors and revellers at the signing event yesterday. By Rawle Toney
GTT’s CEO Justin Nedd (left) and Guyana Amazon Warriors representative Ashminie Jailall, after their symbolic signing yesterday. (Delano Williams photos)
THE Guyana Amazon Warriors, one of the most consistent teams of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), were yesterday given a boost in their bid to ‘do more’, with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) Company Limited being announced as the team’s Signature Sponsor. The announcement came with much fanfare and also the unveiling of the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ theme song, which was produced by Drew Thoven and performed by local sensation Calvin Burnett. Set to bowl off on August 4 in St Lucia the Zouks will take on the Trinbago Knight Riders. The Guyana National Stadium will host the Guyana Amazon Warriors versus Jamaica Tallawahs game on August 17, Trinbago Knight Riders two days later, followed by a clash against Barbados Tridents on August 22, and would wrap up their four-game home stand against the St Lucia Zouks. The Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago, will host the final this year from September 5-9. “GTT will be bringing the heat, the passion and positive vibes to cricket and the Guyana Amazon Warriors. We promise nothing short of excitement for
Sarfraz receives hero’s welcome
CPL in Guyana 2017. GTT and the Guyana Amazon Warriors will blaze these stands and grass mound on match day in full party mode,” GTT’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Nedd explained. At the VIP area at the national stadium, where media, representatives from GTT, Amazon Warriors players and the National Sports Commission gathered, Nedd Nedd asked Guyanese to “embrace what it means to be an Amazon Warrior. We want you to be strong, courageous and powerful. We want you to stand up for what you believe in and we want you to make a positive impact to your families and the community.” Nedd explained that indeed, his company had taken an hiatus from major sponsorships, more so from sports events, but pointed out that the sponsorship of the Guyana Amazon Warriors presents a perfect opportunity for them to re-enter the ‘sponsorship arena’. Assistant Operations Manager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, John Ramsingh, said the Franchise is “really very appreciative and pleased to be partnering with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company in doing more, as GTT Slogan See page 26
Deokie ready for Sports tuner battle
See story on page 26
Daniel Deokie holds the chequered flag during last November’s race meet. (Mikey Spice photo) By Stephan Sookram
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed’s car inches through a sea of people in Karachi yesterday.
IN racing, the newly introduced Sport Tuner division is regarded as one of the more closely contested classes and Daniel Deokie is gearing himself for just that, when the second National Race of Champions gets going on July 2. Deokie, who will also be competing in the group two class, feels as though he is ready
Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208
and raring to take on the challenge of competing in two classes. He told Chronicle Sport, “I am mentally and physically fit as we speak. I’m heading into the second leg of the Race of Champions. I am ready to take on the charging force from the competition.” “Right now, after the first round, I lead See page 26 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017