Guyana Chronicle Epaper 22 06 2017

SEE INSIDE

No. 104951

THURSDAY JUNE 22, 2017

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

No sidelining of WPA – President Granger

Page 3

Rice production grows

A student enthusiastically shows one of his drawings to Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence and Director of Disability and Rehabilitation Services, Ariane Mangar during a visit at the Ptolemy Reid’s Rehabilitation centre on Wednesday [Samuel Maughn photo]

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…89,290 hectares harvested in first crop Page 2

Mother of 5 chopped to death GPHC pain medicine goes missing Page 17

Support for Ptolemy Reid Rehab Centre

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Prison brawl turns deadly – murder accused stabbed to death, brother critical

Page 9

PUC must be retooled – new Chairman Page 9

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

Mother of 5 chopped to death – deportee husband on the run A MOTHER of five, who rejected sexual advances from her recently-deported reputed husband, met a gruesome death at their Lot 19 Sheet Anchor Village, East Canje, Berbice home on Wednesday.

Mintie Karamchand, 40, a waitress, was chopped and beaten repeatedly about her body, even as she attempted to escape through a wooden window on the lower flat of the house. The suspect, Goldburn December, is being vigorously pursued by a team comprising of police and civilians in the Canje River area. Police said that an argument erupted between the couple over the victim being unfaithful.

As a result, the suspect became annoyed, picked up a small wooden stool and dealt the victim several lashes on her head, causing her to flee the house by jumping through a window.

Not satisfied, the suspect armed himself with a chopper, went after the victim and inflicted several chops to her

hands, feet and head, causing her to collapse, after which he allegedly collected a piece of rope and fled across the nearby Canje River.

The victim was rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where she succumbed at about 10:30hrs while receiving treatment.

This newspaper understands that the couple’s eldest daughter, Drucilla December, was on the upper flat with her 18-day-old baby, when she an to her mother’s assistance.

At this time, her father was chopping the woman; she got between them, but her father warned her to move.

“I became afraid. I had the baby in my hand. I recently delivered via caesarian section. I looked at my father.

He looked strange. I decided to go. I hugged my daughter and ran, alerting neighbours of the tragedy as I fled. But no one went to her rescue as they were all afraid,” the distraught daughter said.

A neighbour, identified as “Miss Barbara,” said it was just before 09:00hrs when she

scene, attempts were made to arrest the suspect, but he fled towards the Canje river where he was seen plunging overboard.

Dead: Mintie Karamchand

her loud screams emanating from the couple’s yard.

“I looked through my door and I saw Drucilla running off with the baby, screaming loudly. I rushed to the house and I saw Goldburn chopping at his wife. I shouted at him to stop, and he told me to mind my own business.

He later left the yard as the woman left bleeding ; but seconds afterwards he returned to the yard, picked up a bench and dealt her several lashes to her head before walking off with a rope,” Miss Barbara said.

The witness said after neighbours converged at the

ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP Meanwhile, Drucilla related that when she returned to the scene, she saw her mother’s bloodied body, and it was her step-grandfather who assisted in taking her to the New Amsterdam hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Further, this newspaper was told that the suspect, Goldburn December, was in the habit of abusing his wife, and it was because of acts of cruelty that he had left Guyana eight years ago. It was also revealed that eight years

On the run: Goldburn December

ago, Karamchand was in a relationship with someone else, who was also beaten by the suspect, resulting in criminal prosecution. However, the status of the matter is unknown.

DEPORTED Guyana Chronicle under-

stands that in December 2016, the suspect had threatened to kill his wife, but the threats were not taken seriously.

However, later that month, he was returning to Guyana from Suriname via overland, when he was intercepted by Surinamese police. A search was carried out on his personal belongings and it was discovered that he had a pistol concealed in a radio. The suspect was arrested, charged and was sentenced to six months imprisonment in Suriname. At the conclusion of his sentence, he was deported to Guyana in May 2017.

Upon his return home, the now unemployed man would allegedly attempt to make sexual advances to his wife, but an argument would usually erupt.

Police probe mysterious death of Sophia boy – relatives believe he was ‘sacrificed’

By Michel Outridge POLICE are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of eight-year-old, Isaiah David Smartt, whose body was found by a relative in a shallow trench in Sophia, Greater Georgetown late on Tuesday afternoon.

Relatives believe that the F. E. Pollard Primary School student of Lot 148 Block ‘E’ Plum Park, Sophia, died as a result of a ‘sacrifice’ perpetrated by a female villager, whom they suspect performs ‘spiritual works’ for material gains. As such, they are asking the police to look deeper into the boy’s death.

The lad was discovered missing from home since Monday when he left to go visit his sister, who lives a short distance away; he

would take the same route (short cut) on a regular basis to go to his father’s residence.

Smartt’s eldest sister, Anisha Williams, told the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday that her sibling visited another sister and then left for his father’s residence on Monday afternoon. She explained that another sister was supposed to accompany him but she fell asleep, thus he went alone.

Williams said her brother’s body was found in a shallow trench in a villager’s yard; she does not believe that he drowned as she noted he was an excellent swimmer. According to Williams, the family does not have issues with anyone in the village; she is baffled as to how he met his death.

Williams related that

Dead: Isaiah David Smartt

when Smartt’s body was found, family members broke down in tears at the scene but the suspect they have in mind in his death, told them that they [the family] “should not make noise” because they “did not have time for him.”

The suspect then reportedly Turn to page 8 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

No sidelining of WPA – President Granger

By Ariana Gordon THE sidelining of political parties forming part of the APNU+AFC coalition government has not occurred, President David Granger told reporters on Wednesday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the swearing in of the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the President made it clear that despite allegations made by executive members of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), he has not sidelined any party or group. He noted too that he is not in the business of attacking his partners.

“We have not sidelined any party,” the President said reminding that the APNU

was established on July 15, 2011 and comprise of the Guyana Action Party, Justice for All Party, National Front Alliance, Working People’s Alliance and People’s National Congress.

On Monday, WPA executive member, Tacuma Ogunseye, accused the President of sidelining his party since the coalition government took office in May 2015.

“The WPA believes that when it looks at the way the relationship unfolded, the WPA was more or less sidelined. There is no question about that…we feel that the end result, any objective examination will force you to come to that conclusion,” said Ogunseye.

However, the Head-ofState made it clear that he was careful in selecting persons to represent the APNU in the National Assembly.

He noted that persons from the APNU, representing each party, holds a parliamentary post while pointing to Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott representing the National Front Alliance; Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma representing the Justice for All Party; Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, a member of the Guyana Action Party and Minister of Public Service, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, of the WPA. “…so every party in the APNU has been represented.

There has been no sidelining of any one of the parties and I had the option to make a selection after the 16th May, 2015. I made a selection based on my commitment to inclusionary democracy and to ensure all members of the parties…”

“I run a coalition and I do not attack my partners, I have not expressed any concern, I have not reacted but I know where we are going and I know the importance of the coalition to social cohesion and to inclusionary democracy and to the future of this country” – President Granger

President David Granger

Asked if he is concerned by the allegations made by some executive members of the WPA, the President said he is the leader of the coalition and it is not his business to attack his partners.

“I run a coalition and I do

not attack my partners, I have not expressed any concern, I have not reacted but I know where we are going and I know the importance of the coalition to social cohesion and to inclusionary democracy and to the future of this country. I don’t believe the business of the coalition could be efficient and effectively transacted in the media and I don’t do business like that,” said President Granger.

The WPA has raised concerns over the manner in which Dr Roopnaraine was reassigned from the post of

Minister of Education to that of Minister of Public Service by the President. The party contended that they were not consulted by the President on the matter and were only told of the reassignment after it took place, however this was denied by the government.

The WPA Executive Members met with President Granger last Saturday and has maintained that the party wants to play a meaningful role in the shaping of policies and vision of the two-year-old administration.

Nominees for ERC being scrutinised THE Parliamentary Standing Committee on Appointments is making headway in the selection of persons nominated to sit on the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC).

Committee Member and Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, told reporters on Wednesday that, “I think we are making headway,” while noting that, “We are actually at the stage where we are getting the nominations from the various NGOs and civil organisations and that is a very long process.”

She explained that the task is an onerous one as some of

the agencies the Committee is required to meet with, only meets on a monthly basis. The Committee Member said as a result, the process involves the Parliamentary Standing Committee writing the agencies that then have to do their nomination process and submit a name to the Committee.

“We are meeting every other week; so we are moving as fast as possible to ensure we get the list of nominations for the other committees and commissions that are outstanding,” Hughes disclosed.

Under Article 212 of the Constitution, the ERC advocates equality of opportunity

among persons of different ethnic groups; promotes the elimination of all forms of ethnic-based discrimination; and discourages persons, institutions, political parties and associations from indulging in discriminatory practices.

According to Article 212A, the ERC shall comprise of no less than five nor more than 15 members nominated by entities, by a consensual mechanism determined by the National Assembly, including entities, representatives of religious bodies, the labour movement, the private business sector, youth and women, and after, the entities are deter-

mined by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all elected members of the National Assembly.

Additionally, the Constitution mandates that the ERC promotes educational and training programmes and research projects which provide for and encourage ethnic peace and harmony; encourage and create respect for religious, cultural and other forms of diversity in a plural society, promote arbitration, conciliation, mediation and like forms of dispute resolution in order to secure ethnic harmony and peace.

The ERC is also required

to recommend to the National Assembly, criteria to be considered for the purposes of deciding whether any person has committed acts of discrimination on the ground of ethnicity; investigate complaints of racial discrimination and make recommendations on the measure to be taken if such complaints are valid, and where there is justification, refer matters to the Human Rights Commission, or other relevant authorities. The Commission also has to monitor and review all legislation and administrative acts or omissions relating to, or having implications for ethnic relations and equal opportuni-

ties among others.

The ERC is derived from recommendations of the Herdmanston Accord, signed on January 17, 1998, between then President Janet Jagan and Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte.

Brokered by a CARICOM mission, the Accord sought to provide a peaceful solution to the political impasse that had gripped the country after the contentious December 1997 Regional and General Elections. The first members of the ERC were appointed in 2003 in compliance with the new constitutional provisions.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

High accumulation of water $13M disbursed to bolster science, in sections of the Rupununi technology in schools THE Government of Guyana, in a tangible demonstration of its commitment to strengthen STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education delivery, presented $1M cheques to 13 secondary schools under the National Endowment for Science and Technology (NEST) programme on Wednesday.

The schools are: Queen’s College, Bishops High, St. Roses High, St. Joseph High and the St. Stanislaus College;all from Georgetown; Anna Regina Multilateral from the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region; Zeeburg Secondary and the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) Hindu School on the West Coast of Demerara; President’s College on the East Coast of Demerara, Rosignol Secondary ,West Coast, Berbice; Berbice High in East Berbice-Corentyne, Three-Miles Secondary in Bartica and the Mackenzie High School in Linden.

Addressing headteachers and students of the beneficiary schools, who attended the ceremony at State House, President David Granger said that this first official

disbursement of funds is an expression of the confidence that the Government of Guyana vests in them.

“This is not a side show.

This is essential to the development of our country…

I do believe that apart from having a stable home, having food, clothing and shelter, the most important thing that adults can give to their children is a sound education.

There’s nothing that you can achieve that is worthwhile in life without a good education,” he said.

Over the past several months, the Head-of-State has been actively promoting STEM education and encouraging students and teachers to pay more attention to the four STEM subjects, which will help young people to become innovative and equip them with the necessary skills to contribute to the development of the country.

“We need arts and humanity, but we also need science and technology and what I ask is that we give a special encouragement to children who are gifted in science and technology; we give special facilities to schools and provide the resources for children to

enter the field of science and technology,” he said.

The President explained that once those facilities and opportunities are made available, more children will be drawn to these areas of study.

“This is an important aspect of Government policy.

It is the future of Guyana and we are putting money to encourage more children to go into science and technology so that they will see that they can get a rewarding life,” he said.

The NEST programme has its genesis in the presentation of $1M cheques to several schools last year, including SVN, Berbice High School, Queen’s College and President’s College to improve computer and science laboratories, as part of the Head-of-State’s push to promote innovation through investment in the subject area.

Headteacher of Queen’s College, Ms. Jackie Ralph, said that her school pays particular emphasis on science and technology because they are intrinsically linked to the country’s development.

“As the leading secondary institution, we believe that we must set the trends,

so we have been creating an environment where our students are exposed to the highest level of science and technology education.”

She added that the school has also established a ‘SciTech’ club, which will benefit from the NEST programme so that students can start building their own computers. “I think that this is a very good initiative. It will work exceedingly well in the schools that were selected,” Ms. Ralph said.

Headteacher of the Anna Regina Multilateral School, Mr. Laljeet Rooplall, expressed his gratitude to the Government of Guyana for the donation, which he said will go a far way in boosting the school’s laboratories.

“We have the chemistry, physics, biology and two IT [Information Technology] labs. This will strengthen these labs and that will enhance performance significantly, which we are hoping for,” he said.

This year, the education sector received a budgetary allocation of $43.1B, which translates to 17.2 percent of the overall national budget.

(Ministry of the Presidency)

The level of the Rupununi River has risen in recent days as illustrated in this picture taken on Tuesday. (Norbert Williams photo)

AN ACCUMULATION of water following persistent rainfall has resulted in a main bridge linking the North with South Rupununi being inaccessible.

Reports are that the approach to the Rupununi Bridge, which is located some 60 miles outside of Lethem, was flooded on Wednesday. Former Aishalton Toshao, Tony James told the Guyana Chronicle that one of his relatives reported that vehicles, including pick-up trucks, could not cross the bridge as a result of the flooded roadway.

“So all vehicles from Lethem heading to the South cannot proceed until maybe tomorrow…only possible crossing is with a small boat and motorcycle,” James reported from Aishalton.

He said there was heavy rainfall in the area on Monday and this led to the water being drained into the low-lying areas, thereby flooding the landscape.

The levels of main waterways in parts of the Rupununi have risen in recent days. On Monday, the village of Kabanawau located close to the entrance to Aishalton was flooded, and this resulted in the roadway being inaccessible. The water levels have since receded.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

Govt’s housing unit

$6.8 for duplexes, $7M for single unit ALL the government duplexes, be it single or flat, concrete or wooden, will cost $6.8M. This was disclosed by Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Adams- Patterson, during an interview with the Department of Public Information/ Government Information Agency (DPI/GINA) on Wednesday.

The CH&PA constructed six duplexes at the Perseverance Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD,) which were on display and for sale at the recently concluded Housing Solution 2017 and Beyond Exposition. Minister Adams-Patterson explained that CH&PA only decided on the cost of the units on Tuesday.

“We decided that the duplexes, all the options, will be given the same price.” She noted that the price settled on of $6.8M ($6.5M for the house and $300,000 for the land) is “way below what CH&PA spent to build the houses. But we recognise that they are model houses and the persons who will be given those houses really should consider themselves special because I have given it the lowest possible price,” Minister Patterson explained.

The Minister explained that the CH&PA chose to price both the concrete and wooden duplexes at the same

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valarie Patterson

value, for the reason that just about $500,000 would have separated the cost of building the two units. She noted that the lumber used to construct the wooden duplex was just $500,000 less than the cost of building the concrete units.

She explained that initially, the land on which the duplexes were constructed was priced at $500,000.

“If you look across to the Turn Key houses, those occupants had to pay $500,000, so I broke it down to $300,000,” the minister explained.

CH&PA had also constructed two single elevated units at the Perseverance location for the exposition.

Minister Adams-Patterson explained that the price for these will be $7M; $6.5M for the house and $500,000 for the land.

She said that the CH&PA chose not to reduce the cost for the land that the single elevated units were built on, “because it’s an entire house and persons have the option of enclosing the downstairs if they so desire.”

In determining the prices for the unit, the government has subsidised the cost for the land and taken onboard the cost for infrastructure for duplexes. Each unit will cost government over $2M, Adams-Patterson explained.

In an earlier interview with the DPI/GINA, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CH&PA, Lelon Saul had indicated that the actual cost of the units is twice the cost for what they are being sold.

“Because we would have used the best of the local woods, it influenced the ac-

tual cost for the buildings, so what we intend to do in the future, maybe the internal works in the building, in the

floor perhaps, we might use some other form of hardwood instead of greenheart and for the external work, the cladding, we would use greenheart and perhaps we could reduce some of the size of the lumber to bring down the cost a little without compromising the integrity of the buildings,” the CEO had explained.

On the issue of financing, Minister Adams-Patterson said that the CH&PA is engaging the banks to get them onboard. “I can say Republic Bank is already onboard.

Now that we have settled on the price, we are now going to do a pre-qualification for those who have registered and we are going to issue let-

ters to them, which they will take to the bank and whoever the bank qualifies, will get the houses,” she said.

Minister Adams-Patterson reiterated that the government does have the ability to meet all the people’s expectations and demand.

Therefore, the CH&PA will be engaging the private sector to build some of the models.

As for the single houses which were constructed by the private developers at Perseverance and which were on display and for sale during the exposition, Minister Adams-Patterson reiterated that “the exhibitors are responsible for their own pricing.”

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

The CSEC cap debate THE PROPOSED move by the Ministry of Education to cap the number of subjects students sit at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations has sparked a lively debate, drawing mixed reactions from parents, teachers and students.

The proposed move by the ministry, which was silently discussed since the time of the previous administration but never gained traction, sought to limit the number of subjects candidates here are permitted to write to not more than 10.

Perhaps, the last two education ministers of the previous administration were mindful of the public criticism that such a policy would attract and decided not to give serious heed to the idea proposed by their technical officers.

Since then, some of the most senior education officers felt that the school system was too academic-driven and there was little time for students, especially at senior secondary schools to have recreation. Others felt that there was no need for a student to write 20 subjects when just about six, inclusive of mathematics and English, are required to gain employment and to matriculate at institutions of higher learning.

These discussions never gained a consensus position because there were others who felt otherwise, and regardless of what decision was taken, it would have had to obtain the blessings of the minister. Some have contended that aside

from candidates needing just six subjects to matriculate or gain employment, sitting more than 10 at CSEC puts tremendous and undue strain on them. Undoubtedly, these assertions hold some bit of truth but require careful examination.

Based on conventions in the school system, it is the class teacher who after accessing the abilities of a student, recommends if the student should sit 10 or more subjects at CSEC. At no time a student decides willy-nilly to write 10 subjects or more.

It is also the student who indicates to the teacher that he intends to write 10 or more subjects and in the vast majority of cases, these are the outstanding students from the top schools, who write to make their families and school proud and to set and celebrate standards of excellence.

Moreover, many of them are involved in sports, culture and the arts. The claim therefore that these students are pressured to sit 10 or more subjects at the regional examinations is somewhat ill-informed. Maybe, in this delicate mix a public consultation might be useful in arriving at a position that will satisfy both the ministry and students and their parents, who may have a different view from what is being proposed.

The education sector is still grappling with many challenges despite billions of dollars being pumped into it every year. Students’ performance in mathematics and English

remain poor, the state of technical and vocational education geared at stemming school drop outs is unknown and there needs to be greater attention paid to science and technologysomething which President David Granger has promised to fix and has been taking steps to do so.

Then there are issues of teachers’ absenteeism, teachers not delivering duly in the classroom, ghost teachers in the school system, coupled with an absence of a wellthought out strategy to reform or better direct students who are academically-challenged, among other challenges. Given these myriad problems, it is understandable why President Granger, who has spoken passionately about education, has indicated he will create a department within the Ministry of the Presidency chaired by him to oversee education innovation and reform.

Twists and turns of coalition politics-- in whose interest?

Dear Editor FREDDIE KISSOON is not read by professional politicians in Guyana -from all political shades -- since they don’t like his personal criticisms or don’t agree with his basic analysis of the Guyanese society. I must confess also that I cannot deal with his arrogance and his method of analysis.

But the caption of his article did catch my attention. I prefer to deal more with his assertion on the position of the Alliance for Change - a junior partner in the coalition. As a commentator and community activist, I want to feel free to express my views and opinion - contrary to some people in our society, who thinks that one should hold a party line.

I am not a “party man” ! I want to feel that I am part

of a Movement living in a modern world. I will not be hamstrung by any kind of archaic methods, but I do believe in self-discipline-law and order which we did not have under the JAGDEO-PPP. I resent the Stalinist approach to politics and I have long left that behind me, when I decided to leave the PPP in 1979.

That type of dominant politics and control –freakery is not my cup of tea!

Mr. Kissoon is correct in stating that coalition concepts and partnerships,like marriages, are very complex arrangements and is designed, from my standpoint, to meet the wider good of society and not for convenience as we are experiencing today with the AFC, who have more than 6 members in the coalition cabinet.

The AFC gives the pub-

lic the impression that they are bound by secrecy and that they cannot disclose what goes on in Cabinet as if to say that those RULES that dictate how a Cabinet works descended from Heaven. The electorate understands the need for national security and expects some level of confidentiality. But beyond that, there must be accountability and transparency. Too much secrecy creates an elite ruling class, which leads to dictatorship and not the empowering of the majority of people, who happen to be ordinary working people. I must add that this was Walter Rodney’s trump card: “People’s power no dictator” !

An editorial in this week’s State-run Chronicle newspaper made the point that people get into politics for the general good of society or for their personal

ends. That is a universal truth.

The AFC has used the Cummingsburg Accord agreement to fleece as much concessions as possible, but they do not feel that they have a DUTY and RESPONSIBILITY to the people who had voted them into office. After two years, they cannot put in place PROMISES in APNU-AFC MANIFESTO. Two glaring examples: Constitutional reform and issues to do with the rice industry and agriculture in general. Would they blame the President? The AFC chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, said that he was not aware that the Ombudsman, after 7 months, was not installed.

The AFC has been given very important ministerial positions, but in most

of the ministries they hold gross incompetence and inefficiencies exist - but they are yet to come to terms with a high quality of service to all the people of this country.

The President, David Granger, has made a public call for the citizens to “hold their elected representatives’ feet to the fire”, and this includes ministers in the coalition government. No one should be sacrosanct. In my book, if you cannot do the job - you must resign or be fired.

The taxpayers must not pay for laziness and disorganisation.

The blame game must stop since the ordinary man and woman on the street expects things to be done to get a “Better life” ! But if people who are in authority do not manage human material resources effectively and efficiently,

then they must be relieved of their positions. There is a determined and dedicated set of people in government -- led by the President--who are working in the best interest of the country and they must be commended and publicly awarded.

There has to be a complete review of governance and in this regard, the President has taken practical steps to set up a civil service college to train and educate young people and retrain others who have been accustomed to this lacklustre approach to work. The changes in government are slow, but will speed up as incompetence is replaced in every sector of society and every sector of the economy.

Regards Jinnah Rahaman

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

Establishing an enabling environment for Children should be allowed public service and justice administration to focus on subjects for Dear Editor THE challenge of establishing and maintaining a professional and politically neutral Public Service, and constitutional positions with persons of high integrity for effective management and administration has eluded every government administration from the 1960’s and continuing today in 2017.

In spite of principled statements on public administrations from heads of successive governments, no serious attempts have been made to transform and professionalize the public service, and liberate it from the stranglehold and continuing control of the political directorate of the day. This ongoing unsatisfactory situation is related to the reality of ethnic and race politics for over 6 decades by the two major political parties -- the PPP and the PNC. Their conduct is often characterized by intense adversarial political contests with no national consensus on major issues.

More recently their conduct has impacted negatively on the independence of the Judiciary and other Constitutional Bodies. The Judiciary, judges, magistrates and the chairpersons and members of constitutional and statutory bodies must demonstrate to the public their resistance to political interference in the independent discharge of their constitutional and statutory duties, and expose to the public such interference in conflict with the law. Their integrity must go before them to rebuild public confidence, and high trust in these institutions.

Judicial Officers and holders of Constitutional and Statutory bodies must be able and courageous enough to let the politicians and political directorate know, in no uncertain or quiet way, that

they would reject any political intimidation and not yield to their unwholesome political dictates and wishes outside the law.

They must be exposed through various means. The high or low incumbent political figures must be told that: “not because we are appointed by your administration, we will have to rule in your favour. We will rule and act in accordance with the Constitution and all other laws with fairness, equity and justice based on the law and the substantial merits of any case before us.” They must maintain the constitutional and legal separation of powers and zealously guard their independence.

In the national interest and the common good for all the citizens of this country, the political parties must work for the required changes in our politics to create more inclusive and broad-based governing structures through constitutional and other legislative changes, if we are in our lifetime, to achieve national unity and social cohesion. The governing authorities of the Executive and the National Assembly must create and foster an enabling environment for public officials in public institutions to function without fear or favour.

The CoI Report in the Public Service 2016, under the Chairmanship of Professor Harold Lutchman, draws attention to this continuing situation in the public service in particular, and made several recommendations to address the issues. The CoI directs attention to approaches in Commonwealth Caribbean and other states where alternative arrangements are relevant to Guyana in the attempt to restore public confidence in the public bureaucracies

and the political directorate.

Some of these measures were recommended by two predecessor Commissions of Inquiry but were not implemented; no doubt to suit the advantage of the political administration of the day.

The CoI notes that the Burgess-Hunn Commission had, as early as 1966, recommended that the constitutionally established Public Service Commission and a Public Service Ministry should function under, “…a Public Service law in which the governing principles are laid down.

The basic tenets would be embodied in a Public Service Act.” More pointedly, that Commission had recommended a strong, well-structured and capable Public Service Ministry, buttressed by a Public Service Act which clearly defined the functions of a Public Service Ministry as the premier Ministry responsible for public management and administration. The Act was to define the status and duties of the Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry with powers, duties and responsibilities for the effective organization of the departmental and ministerial machinery of Government and human resource management, outside the constitutional remit of the Public Service Commission. In addition, the Commission specifically recommended, “That the Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, as primus inter pares, be the convener of the Permanent Secretaries’ Committee to discuss and implement ways and means of improving efficiency and economy.” The Collins Commission of 1969 also supported and recommended the enactment of a Public Service Act. Such a Law, together with the National Constitution, is designed to address actual or potential problems

Rohee postulations unfounded Dear Editor, I WRITE to dismiss Rohee’s proposition in his letter of June 20 that ‘Vincent Alexander was parachuted into the Ministry of Education, unbeknownst to the WPA, to understudy Minister Roopnarine’.

Having been relieved of the position of General Secretary of the PPP and consequentially of the press coverage now enjoyed by Jagdeo, Rohee has taken to

letter writing and pontificating on the inner workings of political parties, other than his own. It is however quite apparent that his postulations are sometimes unfounded, presumptuous and even mischievous, as will be made obvious from what I have to say. Alexander’s sojourn at the Ministry of Education was at the direct and personal request of Dr. Roopnaraine. Hence, I was appointed as Technical Facilitator, a pre-existing

position, to the Minister.

As a consequence of his removal and as a matter of ethics, protocol and best practices, his removal, in my judgement, automatically brings my sojourn to an end, and so shall it be. I was not parachuted into the Ministry by some other force nor was I understudying Dr. Roopnaraine. This, however, has no bearing on unrelated appointments that I hold in the education or other sectors, e.g Chairman of the National

between the political directorate and public servants.

The Lutchman CoI of 2016 pointed out that a Public Service Act is a common instrument in the search for effective public management and public administration in CARICOM countries. Such enactments exist in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Belize and the Cayman Islands, and further afield, in Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. The 2016 CoI recommended the enactment and promulgation of a Public Service Law along the lines of the other countries cited. Such a Public Service Law and related Regulations could promote the effective management and administration of the Public Service and insulate and protect it from irregular and undesirable influences, thereby enhancing its status and productive capacity. The Commission also recommended that the Public Service Ministry/ Department and the Public Service Commission should be constituted with professional personnel with high integrity to rebuild trust and confidence in the public administration services.

These same requirements are applicable to the Judiciary, Constitutional Service Commissions and Statutory Bodies. The CoI further recommended that urgent action be taken to enact a Code of conduct for all public servants. Similarly, a legally enforceable code of conduct must be enacted for the executive members, ministers, and members of the National Assembly, who must be obedient, on pain of penalty, to the requirements of the Integrity law.

Regards Joshua Singh Accreditation Council.

May I take this opportunity to remind Rohee and the public that as of 2007, I have not been a member of any political party nor an aspirant to office in any political party. May I take this opportunity to renew my invitation to Rohee, now that he is no longer General Secretary of the PPP, to have non-partisan discourse on matters of national interest.

Regards Vincent Alexander

which their developed abilities make them capable Dear Editor I WOULD be happy if you published this letter in your newspaper for me. Children should be allowed to focus on subjects for which their developed abilities are capable. Children are generally smart, but in Guyana this brilliance is influenced by the attention placed by parents on their children’s academic performance, in addition to being undermined by disparities in the quality of education across schools. For example, senior secondary schools generally have better teachers, so that children of equally capable mental capacities in junior secondary schools may turn out ‘not as brilliant’. This rationale also applies to primary schools.

This said, every child should be allowed to focus on those subjects likely to provide the best outcome for their careers.

Naturally, there are core subjects. However, if a child is brilliant but still

wants to pursue a vocational career, the child’s creativity will very probably result in him/her becoming an entrepreneur, versus a doctor, lawyer, etc. If the child is brilliant but is not interested in vocational subjects, then the child should not be forced to write these additional subjects, as they become a source of unnecessary stress. Further, it is probably widely noted in the Caribbean education system the fatigue and distress presented by the SBA component of CXC exams for children writing large numbers of subjects. The Ministry of Education could consider lobbying CXC to offer a single subject focused on research, versus the current arrangement where students engage in research in almost all CXC subjects. Alternatively, they could explore testing at GCE. Guyana needs to put itself first and stop being trapped by someone else’s ideas.

Regards Craig Sylvester

8

Cocaine swallower gets 3 years

– fined $1.5M

A CONSTRUCTION worker who ingested 72 cocaine pellets to smuggle to Barbados, was sentenced to three years in prison and fined $1.5M for the offence of trafficking in narcotics.

Randolph Muir, 32, known as ‘Roach’ of Enterprise, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, on Wednesday admitted before City Magistrate, Fabayo Azore, that between June 8, and June 19, 2017 at the Woodlands Hospital, Georgetown, he had 592 grams of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford told the court that on June 8, 2017, the defendant was an outgoing passenger on a LIAT flight destined to Barbados.

Randolph Muir known as ‘Roach’

However, while checking in at the Eugene F Correia International Airport at Ogle, ECD, a CANU rank observed him acting in a suspicious manner at the scanning area.

As a result, Muir was

taken off the plane and taken to the Woodlands Hospital, where he underwent an X-ray scan which showed he had ingested strange objects. Muir was given a laxative to assist in him excreting the objects; he passed a total of 72 cocaine- filled pellets between June 8 and the wee-hours of June 9.

The prosecutor disclosed that Muir had assisted CANU with its investigation and told ranks that he was promised US$1,700 to traffic the drugs. The court was told by his attorney, Davina Persaud, that Muir is the sole breadwinner for his three minor kids.

After reviewing the charge, Magistrate Azore sentenced him to three years imprisonment and imposed a fine of $1.5M. (Clestine Juan)

The cocaine pellets which the suspect excreted

Police probe mysterious... instructed the family to leave the scene.

Guyana Chronicle understands that Smartt’s body was found by his cousin, who decided to walk the same path the lad would take to visit his father.

Williams reported that the person they suspect in the death lives next door to their sister and they would like the police to talk to that woman because she is involved in “nasty wuk”, such as human sacrifices.

Meanwhile, Commander of ‘A’ Division, Marlon Chapman told the Guyana Chronicle that Smartt’s body

bore no visible marks of violence and was found at about 19:45hrs in approximately two feet of water in the trench.

He related that after the child left his sister’s house alone and did not show up, a search was initiated by relatives, who discovered his body and summoned the police. Chapman added that detectives, who visited the scene, spoke to several persons including, the relatives of the victim and they are awaiting a post mortem report to determine the path of the investigation.

At the F. E. Pollard Pri-

From page 2

mary School, David Street, Kitty where Smartt was a student, a pall of gloom permeated the atmosphere as teachers and students received the sad news of his death on Wednesday. Grade Two teacher, Rhonda Estwick told the Guyana Chronicle that Smartt was a disciplined child but at times very chatty and was an average student, academically.

Smartt is survived by nine siblings and scores of relatives, including his parents. A post mortem examination is expected to be performed on the body on Friday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

Miner accused of stealing excavator parts A MINER was on Wednesday remanded to prison

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, for allegedly stealing parts from an excavator and damaging wires from the equipment.

Navindra Ramsammy, 19, of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), denied the charge of breakand-enter with larceny, along with malicious damage to property when it was read to him.

Particulars of the first charge alleged that on June 12, 2017 at Mousy Backdam, Potaro River, Ramsammy stole a 225 Doosan excavator box valued $2.8M and a Doosan alternator valued $40,000, property of Lynden Fordyce.

It is further alleged that on the same day and location, Ramsammy unlawfully and maliciously damaged a quantity of wires valued $200,000 from a 225 Doo-

san excavator, property of Fordyce.

Police Prosecutor, Arwin Moore, informed the court that all the articles were recovered after Ramsammy took police to the area where he allegedly hid the items.

Moore objected to the accused being released on bail on the grounds that he was charged before with similar offences.

He was remanded until June 29, 2017.

Stakeholders push regional coordination effort to improve education results EDUCATION stakeholders from across the Caribbean are recommending the establishment of a dedicated coordination platform, which will implement and monitor the Region’s progress on achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 Education Goals and Targets.

SDG 4, one of the global goals adopted by world leaders in 2015, urges countries to “ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.”

Stakeholders made the call for the platform during a Caribbean Development Bank/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (CDB)/UNESCO) Regional Technical Workshop on the implications of SDG 4 for education planning, monitoring and evaluation. In a release CDB said the stakeholders included approximately 100 representatives from Ministries of Education, as well as CDB, UNESCO, UNICEF and the Caribbean Centre for Education Planning (CCEP) at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. Speaking at the launch of the workshop, CDB Acting Vice-President (Operations), Monica La Bennett, noted that countries in the Region are committed to developing their education systems.

“Even in these economically challenging times, many countries invest up to six percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and between 15% and 20% of annual recurrent expenditure in education. Over the past three decades, CDB has provided financing of approximately USD715 million for education throughout the region. This level of significant investment demonstrates the shared conviction that maximising the full human potential of the Caribbean is essential to its develop-

CDB Acting Vice-President (Operations), Monica La Bennett, speaking during the launch of the workshop

ment. However, we must interrogate whether we are achieving optimal benefits and results from such investment,” she said.

The regional platform will aim to improve the coordination of activities by development partners and Member States to support SDG4 and increase efficiency and effectiveness in planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

Caribbean Centre for Educational Planning launched In addition, during the workshop, the Caribbean Centre for Educational Planning (CCEP) was officially launched. Hosted by UWI, the CCEP is designed to provide support to educational institutions and countries across the Caribbean in designing, implementing and monitoring their education plans. It is supported by CDB, the UNESCO Cluster Office in Kingston, Jamaica, and the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning.

Deidre Clarendon, Division Chief, Social Sector Division, CDB, noted that

assisting with the development of the CCEP is an extension of CDB’s role in strengthening the regional education planning process and systems.

“Our commitment is to continue supporting the planning process so that the education systems in countries are developed on evidenced-based, strategic decision-making, effective implementation and sustained monitoring and evaluation…

As the de facto regional centre, our encouragement is that the CCEP will function as its name suggests – a truly regional mechanism that is responsive to the needs of education planning practitioners throughout the region,” she said.

Although based at the School of Education, UWI, Mona, the CCEP will utilise expertise from across the University’s three campuses, as well as from among educational planning experts in the Caribbean. The workshop was held from June 6 to 9, at the Accra Hotel and the Courtyard by Marriot in Barbados.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

Prison brawl turns deadly – murder accused stabbed to death, brother critical

By Nafeeza Yahya A BRAWL at the New Amsterdam Prison has left one brother dead and another in a critical condition following a fight at the facility, located at Penitentiary walk, New Amsterdam.

Dead is 27-year-old Neshan Jagmohan known as “Bully”, while his 23-yearold brother, Ramnarine Jagmohan is currently battling for his life at the New Amsterdam Hospital; they both previously lived at Hamphshire Squatting Area.

They have been on remand since 2013 for the murder of a businessman. Neshan is a father of five while Ramnarine is a father of one.

This newspaper understands that Ramnarine received several stab wounds to his neck and chest, while his younger brother also received injuries in the region of the chest. Director of Prison, Gladwin Samuels told Guyana Chronicle that an improvised weapon was used to carry out the attack on the brothers. He noted that the police are continuing

Parents of the two brothers, Pamilla Jagmohan and Jagdat Jagmohan

their investigations.

The incident occurred at approximately 14:30 hrs on Wednesday, when three murder accused pounced on the two inmates as they returned from court. The suspects have been identified as 25-year-old Dillon Boucher of Haslington, East Coast Demerara, 23-year-old Ramchand Latchman of Number 65 Village, Corentyne and Rooplall Abrahim of Lot 4, Bath Settlement,W.C.B. According to reports, as the brothers were heading into their cells, the trio

cornered them and inflicted several stab wounds with an improvised weapon. Up to press time, it was still unclear as to what prompted the incident.

The mother of the two inmates, Pamilla Jagmohan, told the Guyana Chronicle that she saw her sons earlier at the Albion Magistrate’s Court but they returned to the prison after the Magistrate failed to show up.

“Me cook duck curry and take fuh them and they seem ok. Meh seh like dem people go kill out ayo in here. Every

time them ah give ayo date fuh come and ah magistrate ah just postpone am or he nah ah come …and he meh left and come way,” the grieving mother said.

She related that at around 17:00hrs, several relatives came by her home and asked if she knew what occurred at the prison with her sons.

“Them come tell me them see pon the internet, them boy get stab up , suh me just get up and rush to go down at the hospital …until now me ah wait fuh hear what happen,” the distraught woman told this newspaper.

Jagmohan said she wants justice for her sons and for

Dead: Neshan Jagmohan known as ‘Bully’

the authorities to get to the bottom of the story. When this newspaper caught up with the mother, she and her husband were sitting at the entrance to the New Amsterdam Prison awaiting

information from officials; they were subsequently given permission to visit the other injured son at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The brothers were charged with the murder of businessman, Devendra Deodat called “Dave”, of Lot 72 Hampshire Village.The businessman was shot and chopped during an armed robbery at his home on October 13, 2013 .His father-inlaw, Rafeel Abdul was also shot twice during the attack when he came to the rescue of the family.

The businessman’s wife, Shaneza Deodat was not spared the attack as she too was also injured.

The improvised weapons which were seized

PUC must be retooled – new chairperson

By Ariana Gordon NEWLY-appointed chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Dela Britton, said that the agency is being retooled to have all the necessary directives in place on the verge of the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector.

“The Commission, as I said, has to be retooled and being retooled means that we have to have the necessary personnel to assist in that regard,” said the PUC chairperson. July month end has been announced as the target for the full liberalization of the telecommunications sector. Britton was sworn in on Wednesday by President David Granger at State House, in the presence of subject Minister, Catherine Hughes; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Telecommunications, Derrick Cummings; and Jennifer Britton, her sister.

“Plans are afoot right now to have all the things in place before liberalisation would come to force,” said Britton who is an Attorney-at-law.

She assured that with its

new responsibilities, Commissioners of the PUC are capable of fulfilling their mandate as all have years of experience and are professionals.

“We do have a dynamic group of professionals and the Commissioners have been there for some years, so we are all schooled in how to operate and deliberate on certain issues. Our duties are strict under the legislation, and because they are strict we have mandatory obligations to the consumer, the telecoms utility, to the minister. At present, we advise the minister but we would have to have greater collaboration with the ministry,” Britton added.

Meanwhile, President Granger in his brief remarks, noted that the PUC has enforced a regime of regulation which safeguards the public interest without jeopardising the economic sustainability of utilities.

“The Public Utilities Commission… regulates utilities, which provide economic and societal services to businesses, private individuals and the Government. The availability of water, electricity and communication

Attorney-at Law, Ms. Dela Britton takes the Oath of Office before President David Granger, at State House

services are associated with a higher quality of life and a high standard of human and societal well-being, throughout the country and the reduction of inequality. These services also contribute to the creation of wealth, the generation of employment and the sustaining of livelihoods and the provision of a good life,” he said.

The Commission, established by the Public Utilities Commission Act No. 26 of 1990, serves to regulate,

investigate and enforce the provisions of the PUC Act. It also makes rules for the quality and standards of service to be maintained by a public utility and, in this regard, is empowered to initiate and conduct investigations into the operations and standards of service provided by any utility; ensures that public utilities provide adequate, efficient, non-discriminatory and safe services to the public [and] ensures that just rates are proposed, demanded and

received by any public utility.

The Head-of-State congratulated Britton on her appointment and thanked outgoing Chairman, retired Justice Prem Persaud, who proceeded on retirement in March, for serving the PUC for nearly two decades.

FULL LIBERALISATION Meanwhile, Hughes told reporters that if government fails to meet the deadline for the full liberalisation

of the telecommunications sector, there should be no alarm as much needs to be accomplished before. The legislation was passed in August of last year and President Granger assented to it shortly after.

“We had to have a consultant look at spectrum management pricing because the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) now comes under new agency,” Hughes stated.

She noted that the legislation has several new requirements and work is being done to ensure that all aspects of the legislation are covered. Negotiations between the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), its parent company - Atlantic Tele Network (ATN) and the government continue, and according to Minister Hughes, that process is going well.

She said that the pricing for spectrum and the process by which applications for new licences would be received are some of the concerns raised by GTT. The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is also involved in the process.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

Gov’t commits to ensuring sustainable debt level EVEN as the country has made progress in the management of its debt, Guyana will continue to work hard to ensure that debt levels remain sustainable.

This is according to Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, when he addressed participants at the opening session of the National Workshop on Sustainable Funding Strategy which was held at the Pegasus Hotel recently. The event, which was hosted from June 12 June 16, 2017 was jointly organised by the Finance Ministry in collaboration with the Centre for Latin American Monetary Studies (CEMLA).

While addressing the gathering, Jordan noted that under the Public Debt Management Capacity Building Programme (PDP) Strategic Country Plan for Guyana, the country has made notable progress in the area of debt management. He said the programme concludes this year.

The Finance Minister singled out several areas which have progressed here and these include the formulation of a National Sustainable Funding Strategy in 2015, inclusive of a Debt Sustainability Analysis and Public Debt Strategy, a comprehensive Public Debt Management Procedures Manual which has improved and ensured consistent debt management operations whilst reducing operational risk; and the first National Workshop on Debt Management Self-Evaluation and Improvement (DMSAI) in 2016, using the World Bank Debt Management Performance Assessment (DeMPA) methodology to assess Guyana’s debt management operations, and chart a course for improvement and

achievement of international best practices.

“These achievements are tangible indications of our Government’s redoubled efforts to ‘raise the bar’ in the management of public finances,” he said, adding that such efforts include the management of the public debt. He said such efforts ensure heighten transparency and accountability, value for money and efficient and effective allocation of the country’s resources.

Minister Jordan said that Guyana is well acquainted with the harsh consequences of an onerous debt burden as well as the painful process of structural adjustment; and the harsh outcomes of weak and impudent management of the public purse by previous administrations.

He noted the government remains firm in its stance to do all that is required to prevent the recurrence of such situations.

“Some of our policy measures may be bold in their intent, leading to unpopular reactions,” he noted.

However, Minister Jordan said that while governments are often swept into power on a wave of popularity, they are similarly swept out “ignominiously” when they succumb to demands to implement policy measures that have short-term gain for interest groups, but long-term pain for the mass of the population. “History is a great teacher, for which we should learn its copious lessons”, he said.

The Finance Minister said that hard work must continue to ensure that debt levels remain sustainable and within prescribed parameters. He said that even with past fiscal consolidation and oil revenues on the horizon, “We must be cognisant

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, as he addressed the workshop.

Seated from left are : Donna Yearwood, Head, Debt Management Unit, Ministry of Finance; Jaime Coronado Quintanilla, Coordinator of CEMLA’S Public Debt Management Capacity Building Programme; and Dr Terrence Smith, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Guyana.

of the new challenges that confront us, such as dwindling sources of concessional financing and vulnerability to external shocks.”

Minister Jordan said that the government has managed to reduce the debt further to 46 percent of GDP at the end of 2016 relative to the previous year.

“But we cannot become complacent,” he said, noting that the government does not “have the luxury of sitting on our laurels, for the lower debt ratio was achieved at the expense of the unsatisfactory implementation of the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP).”

As regards the latter, he said the country failed to achieve an exemplary disbursement rate of foreign-funded projects and according to him this led to “the unacceptable situation of negative net inflows by our major donor”. He said it occurred when foreign exchange supply was challenged because of under-performance in critical sectors and areas of the economy.

Minister Jordan noted that the country must be cognisant of the impact on the public debt, of the many loans contracted by the previous administration, several of which remained largely undisbursed at the time the APNU+AFC government assumed office. He listed the CJIA Modernisation Loan of US$135 million and East Coast Road Widening, US$50 million from China Exim Bank, as examples.

He also noted several “ill-advised and/or poorly conceived projects” including the Skeldon Sugar Factory, Marriott Hotel, the widening of Sheriff Street and other investments embarked upon by the previous administration, which he noted do not contribute to the Treasury. Nevertheless, he said the repayment of such debts, are being met by the government and by extension tax paying citizens.

Meanwhile, Minister Jordan noted that over the last two years, the government has sought to widen the range of multilateral

partners, from which it can access concessional or near concessional resources, given Guyana’s new status of upper middle income country.

He listed partnerships with the Islamic Development Bank and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) in that regard. The Finance Minister is expected to sign an Investment Protection Treaty with the latter next month.

He said the government will also undertake preliminary discussions with the New Development Bank, also known as BRICS Bank, with a view of accession, whenever that Bank makes the decision to expand membership.

He said too that Guyana is on record as being “uneasy about borrowing” against future oil revenues noting that while the move is tempting, as it would provide important resources to finance many critical pipeline projects, the government is wary of the volatility of the oil market and the country’s

capacity to utilise such resources in a transparent and accountable manner.

Minister Jordan described the workshop as opportune, even as the government assess Guyana’s economy in the context of its debt sustainability and craft strategies that strike a careful balance of cost and risk. In addition, he said it even provided an opportunity to reinforce the technical capacity of government officials in areas related to sustainable funding strategy. He said following the event, he plans to install a permanent team in government which will be able to revise the national strategy, periodically.

“It is my steadfast belief that we should have the capacity to conduct these assessments, annually, so as to maximise ownership of the strategies, track progress made, monitor macroeconomic stability, and foster sustainable growth,” Minister Jordan noted. He said it bodes well in achieving and sustaining a ‘good life’ for all.

Prime Minister applauds Carter Center JASON CALDER, Country Representative of the Carter Center, is wrapping up his stint in promoting transparency and multi- stakeholder cooperation in Guyana.

During a meeting with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Wednesday, Calder recalled his

Center’s role in establishing the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (G-EITI), as this country heads towards being an oil and gas economy. Prime Minister Nagamootoo expressed gratitude for the critical work of the Carter Center in bringing good governance

to Guyana, and conveyed his personal appreciation to former President, Jimmy Carter, for his outstanding role in the political life of Guyana.

The Prime Minister also applauded the initiative by Calder in promoting understanding of the constitutional re-

form process, and indicated willingness to work with the Carter Center in the future, to realise the goals of the process which includes government–opposition cooperation. Mr Calder leaves Guyana next month after his one-year stint. (DPI/ GINA)

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Jason Calder, Country Representative of the Carter Center

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

Draft legislation for Sovereign Wealth Fund being fine-tuned THE Ministry of Finance is currently finalising the draft legislation to govern the establishment and operation of a sovereign wealth fund (SWF).

This is according to Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, who told participants at an oil and gas seminar that it has shared the draft document with key partners including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank (WB), among other parties.

The seminar, which was held under the theme “Managing Resources Post Discovery,” was held at ‘De Impeccable’ Banquet Hall on Brickdam, Georgetown, and participants included Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, representatives of Chatham House, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Natural Resources Governance Institute as well as officials from Trinidad & Tobago, Ghana and Chile.

Minister Jordan stated that the Finance Ministry has received extensive feedback and comments on the draft document, and an in-house team is examining the feedback with a view of revising the draft SWF provided by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

He said that the main purpose of the sovereign wealth fund is to safeguard against the resource curse, to improve future generational wealth, to achieve fiscal sustainability and increase the country’s national savings. “We will ensure that the elements of this fund are compatible with the developmental objectives of the government”, Minister Jordan said.

During his address, the Finance Minister stressed that transparency and accountability in the management of Guyana’s oil and

gas sector are priorities for the government, adding that government will seek to utilise as many of the available tools as possible.

He noted too that the efficient management of the oil and gas sector and the careful utilisation of the revenues in Guyana, must involve multiple stakeholders. He said this would require close cooperation with, and collaboration from all of the entities, as he pointed to the attendees’ presence as an indication of their willingness to understand their respective roles in future.

“Let me emphasise that the management of oil resources starts with the management of domestic expectations”, the Finance Minister said. He said it is “critical in view of situations” where persons are already asking when ‘the money will be shared out.’

He noted that early expectation management is necessary to avoid pressure on the government to undertake excessive public spending when oil extraction commences in 2020. However, he noted that the government’s plan is to ensure that the citizens receive maximum benefit from the oil revenues as it pursues fiscal discipline.

As Minister of Finance, Jordan said that he is cognisant of the fact that oil resources are exhaustible and prices are volatile, hence the need for efficient planning to ensure that the revenues are spent wisely and that the economy is insulated from shocks stemming from volatility in commodity prices.

Against this backdrop, he said that the Ministry of Finance is in the process of designing a dedicated fiscal framework with clear objectives and priorities. He said too, that the agency will also adopt a coherent mac-

roeconomic management strategy that fosters inclusive growth and sustainable development outcomes.

Minister Jordan reminded the audience that many oil producing countries,

including Guyana’s immediate neighbours, have been experiencing “severe” macroeconomic instability.

He said it has been illustrated that countries can mitigate such pitfalls

through efficient economic diversification. “And, that is why our plan is to invest heavily in core traditional sectors while oil revenues are available,” he noted.

In that regard, he said

the government is currently conceptualising a medium- term development plan with assistance from the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).

12

Rice production grows …89,290 hectares harvested in first crop AGAINST the backdrop of a healthy first crop, authorities are upbeat that rice production will improve despite some challenges within the sector.

According to a release from the Ministry of Agriculture, harvesting of the first crop of 2017 has been completed and the figures provided by the Guyana Rice

Development Board (GRDB) indicate that farmers harvested a total of 89,290 hectares, 23% over the first crop in 2016.

The figures translate to paddy production recorded at 518,667 metric tonnes ;an indication that the industry is resilient. It also indicates a rice farming community that continues to produce in ever

increasing quantities despite hardships relative to cost of production and price paid to them per bag of paddy, the Ministry noted. GRDB General Manager (ag), Allison Peters was upbeat about the performance of the local rice industry.

“So you see the first crop figures have been better despite all that have occurred

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

in the industry. Farmers are resilient, additionally, from paddy supplied to millers across the rice-growing regions, a total of 337, 133 metric tonnes of rice was produced. This is a 26 percent increase over last year’s first crop figures,” Peters said.

Despite the increase, the GRDB has been grappling with a decrease in exports of rice and paddy for the

first four months of the year.

This is as a result of exports to the Panama market for the first crop not being realised, the ministry said. For the first crop of 2017, exports amounted to 239,442 metric tonnes, some 60,000 tonnes less than that for the same period last year. From the exports, foreign exchange earnings from rice and paddy amounted to US$92,026.

Peters noted that while the exports were significantly less than for the corresponding period last year, the comparative value of the exports were not much different. “We did notice that the prices in 2017 first quarter were higher than those we got in 2016; specifically for the packaged rice; a lot of packaged rice were exported for the first quarter, a large portion of this was exported to Venezuela”, Peters said.

“Only last month we had over 4000 tonnes of white rice exported to Venezuela by private exporters”, she added. She praised the efforts of rice farmers as regards improvements reported in terms yield and the quality of paddy supplied to millers.

As a result of improved farming practices, some farmers have been reporting yields of up to 60 bags per acre, she said. She said that overall, Guyana’s national yield per acre has moved from 35 bags to 37.5 this last crop. Peters said the upward trend is likely to continue

as more farmers adopt a six point plan and monitor their crops closely from start to finish.

Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder noted that success of the sector depends on higher yields. “The survival of our rice farmers and the industry as a whole hinges on farmers realizing higher yields per acre, as only in this way will they be able to cushion the increasing cost of production and remain viable” Holder said.

Holder cautioned that while there have been reports of farmers suffering as a result of paddy bug infestation, farmers and millers have indicated a significant reduction when compared to other crops.

As he called for a cohesive effort by stakeholders, he lauded the efforts of rice farmers across Guyana for their hard work during the first crop, urging them to put their shoulders to the wheel in making the second crop this year, one that is record breaking.

According to the ministry, the GRDB now focuses on preparations for the second crop of 2017. The board has projected a second crop target of 85,021 hectares. The board is also assisting farmers and has commenced issuing fertilizer to farmers on credit – the provision of quality seed paddy is also being assured.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

Local Gov’t Commission

PPP now consulting parties for nominees …had breached requirements in submitting initial list

THE David Granger-led administration on Wednesday blamed the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), for the delay in the establishment of the Local Government Commission (LGC), one year after the Local Government Elections (LGE) were held.

President David Granger disclosed that his administration is working on the early establishment of the Local Government Commission.

Asked why the Commission has not been constituted, President Granger was adamant that there was no failure on the part of his government. “We have not failed…we are working on that,” he told reporters at State House.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon, further explained that Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, was required to submit a list of nominees to Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, a task he fulfilled.

Bulkan in response to the Opposition Leader, indicated that he needed to be apprised of the basis upon which the names he (Jagdeo) submitted were chosen.

“The requirement is that the leader of the opposition consults with the political parties in the National Assembly before a list is created and submitted to the Minister. I believe now that the Leader of the Opposition has actually written to the

political parties in the National Assembly requesting a meeting at the last sitting of the National Assembly.

At that meeting, representatives from the political parties met with him and they are working as to how that list is to be constructed.

The ball is in his court right now,” explained Harmon.

Meanwhile, in January, Minister Bulkan told reporters at a press conference that the process of establishing the Local Government Commission has been stymied by the non-adherence of Jagdeo to the requirements stated in the Local Government Legislation.

“Under the legislation, the (names of) persons submitted need (to) be (done) following consultations by the Leader of the Opposition with the other parties in the National Assembly. Not being aware of the fulfillment of that requirement, I sought clarification from the opposition’s Chief Whip who had written to me with the names supplied by the Leader of the Opposition,” said Bulkan.

As a result, the process cannot move forward. The Constitution provides for the establishment of a Local Government Commission to deal with all matters relating to local government organs, and dispute resolution. Earlier this month, Stabroek News reported that Chairman of the Alliance

for Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, had reportedly informed Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, that he would be unavailable to meet on the nominees for the Commission.

The PPP has since said it wrote General Secretary of the APNU, Joseph Harmon, and Ramjattan, asking that they be present for a meeting to be held during the first break of the June 15, sitting of the National Assembly. It was reported in July 2016 that Jagdeo had chosen former Town Clerk of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, Carol Sooba, and former Ministers of Local Government, Norman Whittaker, and Clinton Collymore, as his three nominees for the Commission.

In 2013, the Bill to create the Commission was passed in the National Assembly and gives it the power to monitor and review the performance and implementation of policies of all local government organs, including policies of taxation and protection of the environment.

The Commission is also empowered to monitor, evaluate and make recommendations on policies, procedures and practices of all local government organs in order to promote effective local governance; investigate any matter under its purview and propose remedial action to

the Minister, whenever or wherever necessary; monitor and review all existing and proposed legislation, and or policies and measures relating to local government organs and to make recommen-

dations for any legislation or any amendments to any legislation and or policy to the Minister; and examine and propose ways of enhancing the capacity of local government organs.

Local Government Elec-

tions were held in Guyana on March 18, 2016 after a two-decade hiatus. As a result, three new towns were also named, Mabaruma, Bartica and Lethem; bringing the total towns to nine.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

GRDB working with Region 2 farmers to improve paddy, seed production EXTENSION Officers of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) in Region Two have been working with rice farmers to have better yields in the planting of paddy.

The GRDB has shared with the Department of Public Information/Government Information Agency (DPI/ GINA) an outline of activities carried out by extension officers within the region.

Activities were conducted in the Bush Lot to Windsor Castle area, and the Hampshire Court to Liza dis-

tricts which were affected by floods due to heavy rainfall.

Activities in these areas are still ongoing where all farmers are invited to attend and/ or be a part of these exercises. There were six outreach meetings within these areas with an attendance of 55 farmers. At these meetings farmers raised matters pertaining to the Industry along with problems encountered during the paddy-planting and harvesting process. For the last autumn crop and the recently concluded spring crop, a total of 690 field vis-

its were conducted.

The exercises undertaken during these field visits included seed paddy sales and distribution, data collection, Farmer Field Schools, Schoonard grass demonstration, Red Rice demonstrations, paddy bug demonstrations and paddy bug awareness meetings, flood assessments, daily paddy bug monitoring, seed treatment demonstrations and fertiliser use and sensitisation and sales. The Paddy bug demonstrations were facilitated in an effort to eliminate the

Extension Officers in Region Two, meeting with some rice farmers

plant pest. During the spring crop, extension officers carried out daily paddy bug monitoring exercises, focusing on areas where a more accurate representation of the paddy bug level could be obtained. Flood assessments were also facilitated with farmers who were severely affected and suffered losses due to flooding.

Extension officers designated two weeks to correcting the losses as a result of flooding while aiding farmers to make better decisions to increase paddy production

in the future. During this year’s spring crop which ran from March to June, extension officers carried out at least five demonstrations in these two districts on managing and/or eliminating the Schoonard grass. The population of this particular weed has decreased significantly over the years. The role of extension officers in this region has contributed to the decrease of this weed prevalence.

Schoonard Grass (Echinochloa glaberescens), also called ‘monkey tail’ by

farmers on the Essequibo Coast ,was first reported as a weed problem in a farmer’s field at Schoonard on the West Bank of Demerara during the second crop of 1997. Since then, reports have come in from other rice-growing regions of its presence as a noxious weed, forcing many farmers on the Essequibo Coast to abandon some heavily infested fields. It resembles the rice plant and is only distinguishable after the flower (inflorescence) has emerged. (DPI/GINA)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

15

Support for Ptolemy Reid Rehab Centre

Staff of the Prosthetic Appliance Workshop explain the process of creating the pseudo body parts to Minister Lawrence during her visit [Samuel Maughn photos]

By Vishani Ragobeer IN observance of National Rehabilitation Week 2017, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, on Wednesday pledged government’s support to the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre in helping to improve efficiency at the institution.

During the brief visit, the minister said she was delighted at the programmes being offered at the centre.

“The institution is providing a service that is not catered for in the education system to our children with special needs,” she remarked while highlighting that many of the children who come for care in the institution, gain employment with the centre after.

Minister Lawrence was informed however by the Administrator, Cynthia Massay that the facility was not without its difficulties.

While speaking to members of the media, the minister said, “I have advised management [of the centre] to write me on those issues so that I can address them.”

In the meantime, she affirmed that she will be providing support. She highlighted “smoothening” the process of receiving donations via the Health Ministry and the Finance Ministry.

Another form of support will be to foster collaboration between the Ministries of Public Health and Social Protection, so that better services can be provided to the rehabilitation centre.

Functioning previously as the Minister of Social Protection, she asserted that the Ministry has many available services but according to her, “there seems to be

some clog in the process.”

Minister Lawrence stressed that those services are not being provided in a timely manner.

During the visit, she recognised that the National Orthotic and Prosthetic Appliance Workshop at the centre caters for Guyanese in all regions but acknowledged that she will be seeking to modernise the facility and improve the value of the products, while lowering the cost of the services offered.

While the organisation receives an annual subvention from the government, the Minister still implored all entities to show support to the non-governmental organisation.

In observance of National Rehab Week also, a pilot project has been launched at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) which seeks to test the hearing of each newborn baby.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed by the Director of Disability and Rehabilitation Services of the Ministry of Public Health, Ariane Mangar, of this initiative.

“What we plan to do, is to have every newborn screened before they are discharged,” Mangar said. The director related that screening from an early age allows for the alleviation of hearing problems later in life. “If we can detect it [hearing disabilities] early, then we can treat them with the necessary things,” she noted.

Early detection would enable professionals to engage in speech therapy or begin using hearing aids on the children, rehabilitate them as soon as possible, and thus not hinder their access to education.

Administrator of the Ptolemy Reid’s Rehabilitation Center, Cynthia Massay (standing left in white) shows Minister Lawrence around the classrooms of the school

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

Caribbean looks to creative arts to transform regional economy

By Ravin Singh

THE ECONOMIC potential of the creative arts industry in the Caribbean remains one which can transform regional economies which have been stagnant, Culture Minister of Barbados, Stephen Lashley, has said.

Lashley expressed this view on Wednesday at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat in Georgetown, just prior to the start of the twenty-fifth meeting of the Regional Cultural Committee (RCC).

The Committee is meeting in Guyana until Friday to, among other things,

finalise preparations for the hosting of the thirteenth edition of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) which will be held in Barbados from August 17-27. Economic growth in the region has not been as strong over the last few years due to global economic contrac-

tion which was influenced by several major political developments including Brexit. The Caribbean has traditionally relied heavily on agricultural exports and tourism to support economic growth. However, given recent developments in the global economy, the Barbadian Minister recommend-

Barbados Minister of Culture, Stephen Lashley

ed that the region begin examining the economic potential of the creative arts industry.

He said that the realities of the economic situation in the region is that it is challenging, and so leaders must decide how they are going to reposition the cultural sector to become a leader in transforming economic realities in the region.

“A lot of money go to traditional sectors that do not necessarily give the returns we expect. Governments must… put some money behind the creative sector” he charged. The Culture Minister posited too that if the region is serious about its creative sector and achieving economic growth, then it must “re-divert scare resources into this potential champion of true regional economic expansion.”

Aside from its tropical climate and white sandy beaches, culture and arts have been the selling points for the Caribbean with world-renowned musicians like Bob Marley and Rihanna emerging from the region. Optimistic in tone, Lashley said that he has examined the statistics on the economic impact of the creative industries in the region, and realized that much could be achieved if it is tapped into.

He suggested that: “Fiscal deficit will be brought under control and our young people will become more creative and innovative and they will begin to lead the world in terms of

cultural integration and innovation.” Acknowledging that one of the challenges in the region is the growing level of unemployment, Lashley opined that young people are energized by creativity and technology.

As such, he noted that financial support is needed to drive the development of the business models in the creative sector. “It is time we put our money where our mouths are” Minister Lashley said.

Building on his deliberations about the creative industry, the Barbadian Culture Minister was keen to note too, that strengthening the creative economy is high on the development agenda of his country.

He specifically referenced the fact that in 2015, Barbados passed the Culture Industries Development Act, which enshrines in law a robust system of incentives for the sector and established a Culture Development Authority as a dedicated institution to support the industry.

Minister Lashley shared too that it is time legislation such as these be looked at for wider application in the region. He noted that Barbados stands ready to support countries to adopt best practices and designing legislation to suit their social and cultural landscape. Touching briefly on CARIFESTA XIII which will be held in Barbados in August, the country’s Culture Minister said that the main focus this year is about strengthening the creative industries.

He added too that Barbados remains committed to realising the ideal for which the festival was created: To showcase the excellence of the Caribbean arts and culture; to foster a vision for Caribbean integration and unity; and to provide opportunities for real artistic and cultural development in the region.

CARIFESTA is being held from August 17-27 under the theme: “Asserting Our Culture, Celebrating Ourselves”.

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

60 cervical cancer tests conducted during U.S. Embassy outreach in Linden

SIXTY cervical cancer tests were among a range of tests conducted by a United States Embassy outreach in the mining town of Linden recently.

According to the embassy , the Humanitarian Assistance Programme Outreach, with medical professionals from the Davis Memorial Hospital in Georgetown, nine dental students from Sacramento, California, and three Guyana-based dental missionaries undertook the medical outreach program in Linden last week.

Other partners involved in making the successful outreach possible included the Linden Mayor’s Office, the Linden Hospital, the Ministry of Public Health, Guyana Medical Relief,

Guyana Cancer Foundation, Toucan Medical Institute, the Cheddi Jagan Dental School, and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.

The embassy said that doctors and dentists provided medical and dental services at the Bayroc Community Centre and the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre in Linden.

It was noted that more than 100 dental patients received cleanings, fillings, extractions, and other dental services, while 60 cervical cancer tests were completed.

According to the embassy, the Humanitarian Assistance Programme represents the embassy in providing assistance to Guyanese communities

A Patient being attended to by medical personnel

in the areas of social, economic and medical development, thereby working to bring together multiple

local and international civic and governmental organisations in a quest to reach common goals.

GPHC pain medicine goes missing

-male nurse suspected

By Alva Solomon DURING the course of last week, staff of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) discovered ten vials of the pain medicine, pethidine missing from a cabinet.

Reports are that the hospital security is investigating the theft of the medicine, which was stored in the Male Medical Ward of the hospital and staff nurses discovered the drug was being removed from the unit as the week progressed. The syrup was stored in an area which is only accessible to the nurses.

According to a hospital source, the drug provides relief to pain quickly and the staff suspected the drug was being removed by one of their colleagues and sold outside the hospital since it is in demand. All nurses who work at the ward, including those who were off-duty, provided statements to the hospital investigators this week and according to the source, a male nurse is being treated as a prime suspect.

The individual was accused of being involved in a previous incident in which a quantity of EPO injection went missing. The drug is used to treat anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. In recent months, reports have surfaced in which persons have been accused of illegally removing drugs from public medical institutions and storage facilities across the country.

In March, police launched an investigation into missing drugs and medical supplies at the Suddie Public Hospital and several medical officers attached to the hospital were questioned.

Three persons, including an ambulance driver and an assistant pharmacist, were taken into custody and placed on $20,000 bail each.

The police was called in to investigate a case of fraud at the Suddie Public Hospital after drugs and medical supplies went missing one week after arriving there. Last month, a Ministry of Public Health employee was charged with

President promises press conference in July

Pethidine Vial

stealing drugs from the Materials Management Unit (MMU) Bond at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

Daquan Griffith was granted bail in the sum of $50,000 after appearing before City Magistrate,

Leron Daly and pleaded not guilty to the offence of simple larceny. Griffith allegedly stole four boxes of On Call Plus Blood Glucose test strips, valued $20,000, property of the Ministry of Public Health.

President David Granger speaks with members of the media earlier this year

PRESIDENT David Granger has committed to holding a press conference upon his return from the 38th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM to be held from July 4 to 6 in Grenada.

On Wednesday, after queries from the media, the President said, “Yes, tomorrow [Thursday] I am having my regular Public Interest [programme] and when I return from the CARICOM summit I will have a full press conference.”

The President has been recording a weekly televised programme, ‘The Public Interest’ which allows two reporters each week to speak with him on matters of national im portance. However, there was a hiatus in the programme which the President said will resume Thursday.

Back in January,

President Granger during the recording of ‘The Public Interest’ said he has been meeting with the press on a weekly basis and noted that “I have been doing that very faithfully.”

He said too then, that he is unaware of any other President, locally or further afield which engages the press as regularly as he does.

Despite the number of persons present on the programme, the President said it ought not to be classed as “inferior.”

“I don’t have an objection to having a large press conference. I have a very busy schedule and it is difficult to spend a lot of time in the media, but I try to make it possible every week. But if that is the desire of the Guyana Press Association (GPA), then that could be arranged with my press team,” President Granger said in January.

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

Blown away!

Visiting British beauty bowled over by Linden’s hospitality, ambience

IT’S her first visit to Guyana, and she couldn’t help being blown away by the beauty of Linden and the hospitality of its people.

And the food, of course!

Lauren Hosannah, who, because of her father’s roots last year represented Guyana in a beauty pageant in her native United Kingdom and won, was taken on a tour of Linden on Tuesday.

The tour was organised by Linden Mayor, Mr Carwyn Holland, who untook to take her around to such places of interest as the Mackenzie High School, where Lauren, who’s here on holiday, met with students preparing to write their end-of-term examinations and gave them a little talk on how

to be successful.

They, in turn, seized the opportunity to ask her help with acquiring some much-needed computers and books for the school, to which request she readily and graciously agreed, and promised to address as soon as she returned to the United Kingdom.

She was also taken to see the Linden School for the Differently Abled, where she not only interacted with the students, but made a generous monetary donation towards the upkeep of the facility.

She was later introduced to the delegate who will be representing Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) this weekend at the Miss World Guyana Pageant at the Marriott

Miss Guyana United Kingdom, Lauren Hosannah with Linden Mayor, Carwyn Holland

Lauren Hosannah interacting with students at the Linden School for the Differently Abled. With her but partly hidden is Miss Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice, Nitifah Thompson

Hotel, who was no doubt delighted to glean a few tips about pageantry from her.

Lauren, whose sojourn here is part of the perks of taking the coveted Miss Guyana UK 2016 title, said: “I really want to make a difference in Guyana; I’ve made quite a bit in London, but now it is nice to actually come back to my hometown to do some charity as well.” Hosannah said, adding that she also made donations in the village of Victoria, where her father comes from.

She explained that while she was not born here, she somehow feels a real affinity with Guyana, since her was born and raised in the village of Victoria, on the East Coast Demerara.

“Growing up,” she said, “I only knew what my father had told me, so it’s nice to be here first time and experience Guyana for myself and the rich culture.”

And now that she has the UK title under her belt, Lauren, who aspires to become a psychiatrist, has plans of competing in the Miss Guyana World Pageant in the near future.

Mayor Holland said he was delighted at having her as his guest, even if it was only for a day, and was particularly pleased that she was able to experience the wonders of Linden, such as the beauty of Richmond Hill.

“I think she was great encouragement for the youths and children of Linden; it was great having her,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

Linden River-Front Festival...

Promoting the township’s tourism potential

ORGANISERS of the Linden River-Front Festival, slated for June 30 to July 3, say this year’s event will meet everyone’s expectations, given the plethora of exciting, entertaining, informal, upbeat and family-oriented activities they have planned for the various venues along the river-front.

Those activities range from cycle races and parades, fishing competitions, market day and plant sale, regatta, breakfast for the elderly, swimming competitions, cricket competitions, a film festival, church services, a river-front development discussion, and a ‘Main Big River Lime’.

Founder of the Festival, Mr Samuel Wright explained that the aim of the event, now in its third year, is to promote the Linden river front, particularly Burnham Drive, as one of the main tourist attractions in Linden.

It is also intended to highlight, particularly to Lindeners, the beauty and

diversity of the ‘river-front’ area, which has over the years been overlooked and taken for granted by both residents and regional officials.

“We want to promote the Linden River Front as a place for tourism, conservation and sports,” Wright said, adding: “There is the issue with

the garbage in the water, waste disposal and no development... It is not seen as a place to develop; people not seeing its potential; it is being taken for granted.”

While the primary objective of the Festival has not yet been achieved, Mr Wright is confident that with the input, planning and execution of this year’s activ-

ities, persons can expect to see some progress at last, as much more consultation and promotion was done, and there was also much more support this time around from the Linden Mayor and Town Council.

The ‘River Front’, if developed, he said, can create tremendous revenue, through tourism, for Linden,

and while the hosting of the festival is not necessarily a profit-making venture, it’s a means of promoting what Lindeners are capable of in terms of talent, service and produce.

At the Market Day, for instance, which is being held in collaboration with the LMTC, the local farmers and vendors will have an opportunity to showcase their produce and goods so as to gain more patronage from the Linden community.

And while the Film Festival will highlight local talent in the arts, it will also include films produced in Georgetown and the Diaspora.

The sporting activities will see competitors representing various villages along the river, as far as Malali, while the ‘Main Big River Lime’ will showcase the beauty of the river bank at night.

The River Front Development Forum will see representatives for other towns and communities with interactive river banks share

ideas on how these areas can be developed to help boost the entire country’s tourism industry.

Wright said that should the goal be achieved, the next step in the plan is to construct a boardwalk across the river, a wharf, restaurants and parks, rebrand the old waterwheel, and organise boat tours and fishing excursions along the way.

He said that in spite of the limited sponsorship and support they’ve received this year from the Guyana Tourism Authority as opposed to last year, the committee members were able to pool their own resources so as to make the venture a success.

Wright is hoping that in the longrun, the festival will impact on the mindset of Lindeners to change their culture where waste management is concerned so as to preserve the natural beauty of the town for the economic benefit of everyone.

“People should come out and see, and they will be pleasantly surprised,” he urged in closing.

New nursery, primary school for Bamia --construction to begin before yearend THE small community of Bamia, on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, some half-a-mile from Amelia’s Ward, will soon boast a spanking new primary and nursery school.

With construction slated to commence in the latter part of the year, this development will bring an end to the decades of inconveniences suffered by both teachers and pupils of the Bamia Primary and Nursery Schools which are currently housed in a small multi-complex community centre.

When completed, the two schools will be situated in the same compound at Phase 3 Amelia’s Ward, which will allow for the enrollment of children residing in Phases 2 and 3.

According to Regional Executive Officer, Ms Marcia Paddy, the new facilities will alleviate the overcrowding that obtains at Amelia’s Ward Primary School.

The decision to build to facilitate children from both Bamia and Amelia’s Ward, she said, was taken after it was learnt that the communities will shortly boast 300odd new households.

“It is because of the extension that is expected through the housing development project,” she said. “ We were told that about 300 households will be added in that area, so in anticipating the amount of children coming from the area, rather than to build at Bamia just to facilitate Bamia’s population, we decided to merge the two.”

There will be a short access road from the school to the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. Both schools, the Guyana Chronicle understands, will cost approximately $90M. But while the nursery school, which will facilitate 149 children, will be constructed in 2017, the primary one, which will facilitate

maximum 750 children, will be completed in 2018.

Currently, there are about 60 children attached to both the nursery and primary schools, with about eight teachers.

“Where they are right now, in terms of physical activities and classroom delivery,” Paddy said, “it is very crowded, because in that lower flat, they have the nursery as well as the primary programme; and we know that the nursery programme is separate from the primary.

“So, even though they have one teacher per class, they are very cramped.”

Noting that the new facility will be of tremendous benefit to the performance of the children as well as their teachers, Paddy said: “Once the students are in their own classroom, the teacher will be able to develop their own reading corners... In terms of

Some Bamia Primary School pupils paying rapt attention to a demonstration on eye care early last month

the IRI (Interactive Radio Instruction) mathematics programme, they normally would use a CD player, and so the noise would not disturb the other classes; they can work independently.

“The nursery programme is something that needs a lot of space to set up all the play areas, and so it will allow the nursery also to have a full programme, according to the timetable.”

The school will also boast a library, computer lab, and playground which will allow the children to have full exposure. Bamia Primary is deemed one of the low- performing schools as a result of the current situation, so it is anticipated that performances will be improved with the availability of the new school.

The Community Development Council will also be approaching the Ministry of the Presidency for a schoolbus, which will assist with the transporting of students living on the farther side of Bamia.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

New businesses making Personality of the week positive impact

--helping stabilise the township’s economy THE mining town of Linden has seen the establishment of several new businesses over the past months, and while the economy has not skyrocketed, it is safe to say that there is some kind of stability.

The new businesses, which include two new supermarkets, a motorcycle and auto spares shop as well as a number of grocery stores and small shopping plazas, have created avenues for a greater cash-flow in Linden.

This is because residents can now access goods and services right at their handreach, rather than having to travel to Georgetown to access them.

In addition, the new businesses have created employment of sorts for those out-of-work youths, thereby boosting spending power in the township, and contributing significantly to the chain of spending.

Mr Zu, the owner of the newly opened Convenience Supermarket, located on River Side Drive, Mackenzie, told the Guyana Chronicle that he was encouraged by a friend to set up shop in Linden and finally did so two months ago.

He said it’s a decision he hasn’t regretted even though another supermarket was established there mere months before. “Business reasonable; I have no regrets, people come and buy,” Zu said.

The Supermarket has in its employ four persons, and the owners plan to hire a few more, once business improves.

Recently opened on Mora Street is Linden’s first motorcycle store, which has been favourably received by the Linden community since residents no longer have to journey to Georgetown to

An aspiring marine biologist

--with a yen for pageantry

purchase motorcycles.

Ms Sue Ann Lyle, proprietress of Foreign Links Auto Spares and Motorcycle Shop said that the motivation to establish the business came from the very customers who frequent the store.

“Journeying to Georgetown cost them a lot, like in passage and so on. You might also have to eat something, but don’t have the time... And there is no other store like this is Linden, so we decided to meet the customers’ needs,” Lyle said.

NOT BAD AT ALL Since the store’s opening in January, she said the support has been favourable, as the bikes are sold at an affordable cost. “The customers are not complaining; they are getting services done,” she said, adding: “As you’ll notice, we have the mechanics right across there... You come, you purchase and you get to service right there.”

‘Foreign Links’ has employed three young persons since its establishment, and

Lyle is encouraging other entrepreneurs to set up shop in Linden.

“Linden is a place where people spend,” she said.

“Once there is commodity, they spend. And once you are an entrepreneur and you want to come up with something, come up with something that is new and would be in demand.

“In that way, you would not falter; you would find success.”

Foreign Links is currently constructing a 24-hour restaurant at Five Corner, where truck drivers and pork-knockers normally stop for a break on their way to the various hinterland locations.

The restaurant will offer hot and cold meals and a restroom service where persons can have a bath and even a rest before commencing another stretch of their journey.

MORE IN STORE With the establishment of the new businesses and with the Linden Enterprise Network offering many potential and existing entrepreneurs small business loans, the town

of Linden that was once seen as ailing economically is beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Regional Chairman, Mr Renis Morian is encouraging residents to take advantage of the lending institutions available in Linden and commence at the ‘micro’ scale.

“I am happy to see people going back to their chicken pens; and there is also an increase in interest for agriculture,” Morian said.

And wtith the imminent construction of the Linden to Lethem Road and hundreds of housing units, Linden’s economy is also expected to benefit tremendously.

According to President of the Linden Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Kevin De Young, many Lindeners will be the first to gain employment from the projects.

The road will see Linden being dubbed not only the gateway to the interior, but to Brazil as well, and will therefore attract scores of foreign investors.

This will boost Linden’s tourism, agricultural, business, manufacturing and construction sector.

One of the two newly-opened supermarkets, and the auto spares and motorcycle store

Nitifah Wendy Thompson

A CONFIDENT Nitifah Wendy Thompson will be representing Region Ten at the Miss World Guyana pageant for this Sunday at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown.

The 21-year-old is not just good-looking but smart as well, and is currently proving her mettle at the University of Guyana where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in biology.

The former New Silver City Secondary School student achieved eight subjects at CSEC, and aspires to become a marine biologist.

Her hobbies include having clean fun with friends, listening to music, working out, and practicing yoga.

Thompson’s platform is child sexual abuse, which was chosen after witnessing her own cousin being abused. She will be using this opportunity to start a campaign, ‘A Voice for Hope’.

“As you all may know,” she said, “sexual abuse is common, with as many as one in six girls and one in 12 boys who are currently experiencing sexual abuse.

“This type of violation of their innocence leaves them to face psychological trauma, and we must not, as a society, continue to be silent about this epidemic.”

Her goal, she said, is to put together an army of professionals in the field, who can provide counselling for all victims.

She is also on a mission to have parents involved in combatting this social ill.

“Let your child or children know they can talk to someone they feel comfortable talking to about being touched in the wrong places,” she says. “Teach them what right touch is, and what wrong touch looks and feels like.”

Thompson is hoping to create change in the Upper Demerara- Upper Berbice Region by bringing awareness to one and all, and it is for this very reason that she is soliciting all the support she can get, whether financial or moral, as she battles for this crown which will enable her to continue along the path of advocacy she has chosen.

Still going strong

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

--Creating opportunities for young women for over two decades FOR over two decades now, the Denise Institute of Catering had the distinction of being the only private institution in Linden to provide a well-rounded academic education to both young girls and mature women.

Looking back, founder and lecturer, Ms Denise Gordon said she opened the school after becoming pregnant with her eldest daughter and had to quit her job at Mackenzie High for health reasons.

After a year, she decided that she will work at home; and having the skills as a Home Economics teacher and caterer, she decided to commence some night classes to facilitate crash courses for older persons.

“A lot of persons kept calling in and so on, so I decided to do both the day school and the evening classes,” Ms Gordon revealed. The day school ran as a one year programme, after which a graduation would be held and the graduates would either be assisted with recruitment or establishing their own businesses.

The students also had the opportunity of sitting a maximum of four subjects at the CSEC level, namely English Language, Home Economics, Home Management and Social Studies.

“We would also do a basic Maths, because you

know, as a caterer, you have to know to calculate,” she said.

Her first intake in 1995 was 20 students, and while she targeted school dropouts and those who were not academically inclined, as time went by, other students, after successfully finishing secondary school, would also attend classes.

Over the years, the Denise Institute of Catering has certified close to 2000 students. The night classes, however, facilitated working persons who would only focus on the recipes and short courses such as cake decorating.

Describing the journey over the years, Ms Gordon said she has garnered much successes despite holding the school up with little financial support.

“It was good, but the only problem was the payments; and because of that, I have not had day school for two years.

“I have a lot of money outstanding, but I want to start back in September.”

In the absence of the day school, she kept the night classes going, and also used the opportunity to commence production of her own jams and jellies. Those products are manufactured and packaged right at the school, located in Niotgedacht, Mackenzie, and are distributed not only in Linden but also in Georgetown.

“I do a variety of fla-

vours, and I use local fruits; I try not to put anything artificial in it,” she said, adding that the Guyana Marketing Corporation would assist with packaging and distribution.

Denise’s dream is to reopen the day school in September, given the many successes she’s had over the years. “I had children who got Grade Twos and Threes and I feel really good about these students, because some of them really went down low.

“I have a student right now who is at the Cyril Potter College of Education; I have a student working at the Carnegie School of Home Economics; I have students who went to the Caribbean as well, and even opened up their own businesses,” she said.

After graduation, the students would be placed at different institutions for work study, such as the Pegasus and Ocean View hotels.

The Denise Institute of Catering has also won scores of trophies at various science fairs and competitions for innovative dishes with fruits and vegetables such as breadfruit, fat pork, jack fruit, ite etc.

The night classes offer courses in meat, fish and rice preparation, cake decoration, pastry making, fabric designing, floral arrangement and hospitality management.

Students showcasing products made at the institution at a recent fair at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre

Ms Denise Gordon (seated centre) with some of her students who graduated from the institution

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

Jacobs optimistic of Warriors getting over the ‘hump’

By Rawle Toney AS the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) prepares to bowl off its fifth edition on August 4 in St Lucia, the Guyana Amazon Warriors, one of the tournament’s most storied teams, will be hoping not only to reach the final for a fourth time, but also to hoist the coveted title.

According to Steven Jacobs, the side is wary of making it to the ‘promised land’ and coming up short, despite having one of the most balanced sides.

“Coming into this year, it’s a fresh start and we

just want to go out this year and bring home the bacon,” Jacobs told Chronicle Sport in an exclusive interview following the announcement of GTT as his team’s Signature Sponsor.

“I mean, it’s been eluding us from the inception. Reaching the final and losing is very heartbreaking, so we want to do it for the fans this year,” said Jacobs.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors had featured in every final of the CPL, with the exception of the 2015 edition where they finished third behind winners Trinbago Knight Riders and Barbados

Trident in the seven-team tournament.

However, they’ve never lifted 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).

Looking ahead at the team’s composition, Jacobs, who bowls right-arm offbreaks, believes the side this year is “very similar in comparison to last year’s. We basically have the same set of guys and the new kid on the block Rashid Khan, so I think we have a good team and once we play to the best

India police arrest cricket fans for celebrating Pakistan’s win POLICE have arrested cricket fans in different regions of India for cheering during the Champions Trophy final - for the wrong team.

In Madhya Pradesh, a state in central India, police reportedly arrested 15 men between the ages of 19 and 35 for shouting pro-Pakistan slogans and charged them with sedition and criminal conspiracy.

Sanjay Pathak,a local police inspector said the men from Mohad village “were celebrating Pakistan’s victory

by bursting firecrackers and shouting anti-India slogans,” CNN reported.

“We received a complaint from a local Hindu man who accused them of celebrating after India lost the match,” Burhanpur police chief Raja Ram Parihar told the AFP news agency.

As the celebrations went on into the night, the men were arrested for ‘criminal activity’.

Fourteen men appeared before court on Tuesday and another yesterday. If convicted, the 15 Pakistan cricket fans may have to surrender

their passports and even face life imprisonment, reported Al Jazeera.

Police in the southern state of Kerala also arrested 23 cricket fans for supporting Pakistan, and were booked for various criminal activities, including rioting and unlawful assembly, the New Indian Express newspaper reported.

The Keralans reportedly lit firecrackers and chanted slogans in support of the Pakistan cricket team, who won by 180 runs in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday at The Oval in London.

FIFA referees Moore and Porter to officiate in Caribbean Cup Finals GUYANESE FIFA referee Sherwin Moore and FIFA assistant referee Trevor Porter will officiate at the finals of the Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup, scheduled for June 22-25 in Martinique.

Stanley Lancaster, head of the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Refereeing Department said this is a positive step for Guyana, since “it shows that we have the quality referees to officiate at the highest level. We’ve seen Kevin Stephens do his part at the CONCACAF U-17 finals in Panama and now we’re seeing Trevor Porter and Sherwin Moore participate in the Scotiabank finals in Martinique.”

According to Lancaster, “With the developmental programmes that we now have in place we should see more of our officials move from the national programme to compete among the best in our region. Congratulations to the two match officials. We offer our complete support and wish them well throughout the tournament.”

Moore, along with Porter, Venton Mars and Sherwin Johnson, formed a Guyanese quartet that officiated in several rounds from the commencement of the Caribbean Cup tournament in 2017 leading up to the final.

Moore’s appointment also follows his participation in

the final round of the Caribbean Club football championship in May as a fourth official.

The four teams vying for the top spot are Jamaica, French Guiana, Curacao and hosts Martinique.

Today, French Guiana will play Jamaica at 18:00hrs, while Curacao will tackle Martinique at 20:30hrs.

The final and third-place game will take place on Sunday when the opening day’s losers will come up against each other and the winners will contest the final.

The four Caribbean Cup final-round teams have already qualified for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup to be played in July.

of our ability, we should come out on top.”

Khan, the 18-year-old Afghanistan leg-spin sensation, was the eye-candy in this year’s Indian Premier League where he played for the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

New Zealand’s Martin Guptill, a usual opener for the Warriors, will be back in the lineup this year, as well as Australia’s Chris Lynn.

No Christopher Barnwell this year for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, with the 30-year-old all-rounder being bought by the Barbados Trident.

S t e v e n Ta y l o r, t h e

23-year-old left-handed middle-order batsman from the USA, will be donning the colours of the Warriors this year, after debuting in the CPL with the Barbados Trident in 2015 and featuring in last year’s tournament with the Jamaica Tallawahs.

Trinidadian Roshon Primus is another newcomer to the Warriors, along with Jamaican hard-hitting opener Chadwick Walton and Guyanese rightarm fast-medium bowler Keon Joseph.

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 fourgame home stand against the St Lucia Zouks.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors 2017 team; Martin Guptill, Rayad Emrit, Sohail Tanvir, 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.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

Kumble exit seen as triumph for player power - former captains (REUTERS) - Anil Kumble’s departure as head coach despite a successful year at the helm will be regarded as a triumph for player power in Indian cricket, according to several former captains.

The country’s board took a gamble last June when they put their trust in former captain Kumble, who had no real coaching experience and was not even on the original list of candidates.

The former spinner, however, forged a productive partnership with skipper Virat Kohli as India recorded 12 victories in 17 Test matches and reached the final of the Champions Trophy.

But the cracks that were forming beneath the surface of their seemingly harmonious association were becoming more visible as his tenure progressed.

Kumble, whose original contract expired at the end of the Champions Trophy on Sunday but was extended to oversee the team’s tour of West Indies this month, stepped down on Tuesday,

citing a breakdown in relations with his skipper.

“It was apparent that the partnership was untenable, and I therefore believe it is best for me to move on,” the 46-yearold Kumble wrote in a Twitter message posted on Tuesday.

as expressive as Kohli but is perceived as equally assertive.

Former captain Sunil Gavaskar was critical of the circumstances that led to Kumble’s demise.

“So you want softies.

India’s Virat Kohli and coach Anil Kumble (L) during nets at the Champions Trophy. (Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra Livepic)

Kumble, who is India’s highest Test wicket-taker, added that he was surprised by Kohli’s reservations over his style of coaching.

“I see the coach’s role akin to ‘holding a mirror’ to drive self-improvement in the team’s interest,” wrote Kumble, who may not be

You want somebody to just tell you, ‘ok boys, don’t practise today because you guys are not feeling well, ok take a holiday, go shopping’.

You want that kind of a person,” Gavaskar told NDTV channel.

“If any of the players are complaining, I feel those play-

ers are the ones who should be left out of the team,” he added.

Since Greg Chappell’s tumultuous two-year tenure ended in 2007, successors such as John Wright, Gary Kirsten and Duncan Fletcher registered varied degrees of success with the team, confining themselves largely to the background.

Former skipper Bishan Singh Bedi said he was not surprised by Kumble’s decision as no self-respecting person could have carried on in such an environment.

“Gratitude has obviously been thrown out of window by whoever raising ‘revolt’...”, tweeted the spin great, calling it a loss for Indian cricket.

Gavaskar said the episode would send out the wrong message as the Indian board set about finding Kumble’s successor.

“This is sending a signal for the next coach -- either bow down to what the players want you to do, otherwise you, like one of India’s cricket legends Anil Kumble, will have to step down.”

Ronaldo header gives Portugal 1-0 win over hosts Russia

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo heads at goal. (REUTERS/Darren Staples)

(REUTERS) - Cristiano Ronaldo headed an early winner as Portugal beat hosts Russia 1-0 in the Confederations Cup yesterday to go top of Group A and spoil Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev’s 100th cap.

European champions Portugal took the lead when captain Ronaldo headed a precise cross by Raphael Guerreiro past Akinfeev in the eighth minute then held on as a re-energised Russia created chances in the second half.

Akinfeev had kept his team in the match early in the second half when he tipped a powerful header

by Andre Silva round the

post.

Russia squandered two scoring chances in stoppage time, with Georgy Dzhikya’s header sailing over the bar while a Fedor Smolov drive floated wide.

The win moved Portugal top of the table with four points after they conceded an equaliser in stoppage time to draw their opening match 2-2 against with Mexico.

Russia stay on three points while, Mexico (1) took on New Zealand (0) later yesterday.

Russia face Mexico on Saturday in their last group game, when Portugal play New Zealand.

Digicel Schools Football

Canje Secondary trounce NA Multilateral 5-1, BEI squeeze past BHS 1-0

Kelly Amsterdam’s goal whistles past BHS goalkeeper in the 63rd minute.

FOR the second time in the month of June New Amsterdam Multilateral School (NAMS) found themselves on the receiving end of a destructive Canje Secondary unit.

On this occasion, they suffered a 5-1 drubbing in the first game of an exciting double-header last Sunday at the Burnham Park watched by a sprinkling of enthusiastic fans.

While it was not the most technically sound game for both sides, clearly Canje Secondary were the stronger team. Tyrese Williams opened the gates for Canje in the 29th minute and at

halftime maintained their (1-0) lead.

After halftime, it went all downhill for NAMS as #10 Alode Grant penetrated in the 48th minute of the game. NAMS benefited from a goal-scoring error (own goal) from Canje’s Irie Profitt much to the dismay of his teammates.

Profitt’s error did not inspire, as NAMS failed to add.

Tyrese Williams was in a goal-scoring mood when he pierced the net for his second goal of the match in the 63rd minute. Meanwhile, to add insult to injury, two other goals came

in the space of 3 minutes in the 66th and 69th minutes.

The second encounter between Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) and Berbice High School (BHS) was highly contested, with both teams battling their way after having multiple goal-scoring opportunities. Both BHS and BEI goalies were outstanding, leaping and effortlessly saving goals.

But, on this given day the better team won. A scintillating late-minute goal from #10 Kelly Amsterdam sealed the deal for BEI with a 1-0 win to propel them to the next phase of the competition. (Colin Bynoe)

Canje goalscorers from left: Tyrese Williams, Alode Grant, Elond White and Akeem Bovell.

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

Both sides in Australia Region 2 to host day of sports pay dispute hail on Saturday Aussie Rules deal (REUTERS) - Cricket Australia and the players’ union have both hailed a new deal signed by the country’s professional Australian Rules footballers as backing their cases in a bitter pay dispute.

Australia’s top cricketers face being locked out unless a new memorandum of understanding is struck between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) before the end of the month.

On Tuesday, the Australian Rules players agreed a A$1.84 billion (1.1 billion pounds) six-year deal with the Australian Football League (AFL) that tied their wages to competition revenue for the first time.

At the heart of the cricket dispute is a long-standing agreement that gives the players a fixed percentage of the revenue of the game, a deal which Cricket Australia says prevents them from sufficiently investing in the grassroots.

The ACA were first to weigh in on the AFL agreement, with chief executive Alistair Nicholson congratulating the indigenous football code for “embracing the virtues of partnership” in the deal.

“What these two parties are trying to achieve is what cricket has enjoyed

for 20 years,” he said in a statement.

“The AFL is at a different stage of evolving the partnership than cricket.

But what’s clear is that this sense of co-operation is the way to go.”

Cricket Australia hit back yesterday by also welcoming the AFL deal

the guaranteed payments, players share in additional revenue after expenses are taken into account. This is more akin to a profit share.”

There is no sign of an immediate resolution to the dispute.

Australia vice-captain David Warner told Channel Nine at the weekend that the

domestic players are in this revenue-sharing model,” he said.

“In the decades that have gone past, the past players that have been in our situation have stood up for us.

I was a domestic player, I was a young kid coming through; we’re doing the same as what they did as

Australia’s David Warner (L) and Steve Smith before a Champions Trophy match.

(Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers Livepic)

which, it said, was “more closely aligned with the proposal that Cricket Australia has offered our elite players”.

“Both the AFL deal and the proposal that CA has put to the nation’s cricketers feature guaranteed payments,” said a spokesman. “Above

players might compromise on the percentage of revenue they received but would not agree a deal that did not include it at all. “ We ’ v e b e e n o f fered contracts and we’ve knocked them back. That’s because we want to make sure the female players and

well.”

The upcoming Australia A tour of South Africa, a two-Test series in Bangladesh and a limited-overs tour of India are under threat from the dispute, with the Ashes also looming at the end of the year.

Three Russian runners handed four-year bans after Beijing retests (REUTERS) - Three Russian runners whose samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympics tested positive for a banned steroid have been handed four-year suspensions after retests, Russia’s athletics federation said yesterday.

Long-distance runner Inga Abitova and 400-metre specialists Anastasia Kapachinskaya and Denis Alekseyev had already been disqualified by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last year after their samples from Beijing were found to contain banned substances, including the steroid turinabol.

Alekseyev won bronze in Beijing as part of the Russian men’s 4x400-metre relay team, but the IOC ordered that he and his teammates be stripped of their medals.

His results between Au-

gust 2008 and June 2013 are annulled, the Russian athletics federation said in a statement.

Kapachinskaya and her 4x400-metre relay teammates were also stripped of their silver medals from Beijing. Her results starting from August 2008 are annulled, the feder-

ation said.

The suspensions handed to Abitova and Alekseyev will end next year because they include two-year bans they had previously served for doping offences, the federation said.

The International Associ-

Inga Abitova of Russia celebrates after winning the silver medal in the women’s 10 000 metres final at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona July 28, 2010. (REUTERS/Sergio Perez/File Photo)

ation of Athletics Federations (IAAF) provisionally suspended Russian track and field athletes from international competition in 2015 over a report by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) alleging rampant state-sponsored doping in the sport.

Russia’s track and field team, with the exception of one athlete based in the United States, was banned from the Rio Olympics last summer.

The majority of Russian athletes are also set to miss the world championships in London in August.

In recent months the IAAF has cleared a total of 15 Russian athletes, including 2015 world champion hurdler Sergey Shubenkov, for having demonstrated that they are training in an environment that meets its anti-doping requirements.

THE Region 2 Administration will host its annual Day of Sports at the Mainstay Resort in Essequibo on Saturday, from 10:00hrs.

The activities will include cricket, football, dominoes and circle-tennis. According to a senior Regional official, the occasion will seek to foster greater unity among staff members, to build partnerships with communities and to encourage the workforce to remain physically and mentally active.

The source also disclosed that Regions 3 and 4 will participate in the day of activities which will further strengthen the ties of friendship while building a stronger working relationship among the Regions.

It is the first time that the Region will be engaged in hosting such an event comprising sister regions and it is expected to be a grand and competitive day of sporting disciplines.

Meanwhile among the participating players will be former national T20 all-rounder Ramesh Narine, former Essequibo senior inter-county batsmen Elroy Stephney and Basil Persaud.

Among the special invitees are the Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt and RDC Councillors, Regional Executive Officer (ag) Derrick Persaud, newly appointed DREO Roopkumar Persaud, Principal Personnel Officer Bibi Rameeza Mullah, Commander ‘G’ Division Stephen Mansell and officers of the GDF and Fire Service.

Trophies will be given to the various winners, compliments of the Regional Administration, Region 2. Over 120 participants are expected to grace the occasion.

GBA’s National Novices Championships set for June 27-29

THE Guyana Boxing Association’s (GBA) National Novices Championships will be staged at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue from June 27 to 29.

The three-day affair is expected to see over 75 pugilists’ battle for honours in the 11-weight divisions.

Defending champion gym Guyana Defence Force can expect keen competition from the Republican Boxing Gym as well as the up-and-coming Wakenaam and Vergenoegen boxing gyms.

Other gyms expected to be represented are: Young Achievers, Police, Harpy Eagles, Rose Hall Town Jammers, and Carryl Boxing Gym of Linden.

Meanwhile, after the National Novices championships, the GBA will turn their attention to the Lennox Blackmoore National Intermediate championships as well as the Terrence Ali National Open Championships.

After staging two international amateur events this year, the GBA will be concentrating on staging another during the month of October.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

Williams says win against SA Women vital for team confidence

LEICESTER, England (CMC) – Without a win in four outings in their buildup to next weekend’s start of the ICC Women’s World Cup, assistant coach Stuart Williams has underscored the importance of West Indies winning their final official warm-up game today, in order to enter the tournament with momentum.

The Windies take on South Africa Women in Oakham, 45 minutes outside Leicester, in a contest that takes on special significance with the Caribbean side searching for that elusive win after three weeks in England preparing for the June 24 to July 23 showpiece.

Williams pointed out that winning breeds confidence and this was needed ahead of the Windies opening match of the tournament next Monday against Australia Women.

“In terms of batting, runs give you confidence so win-

ning gives you confidence,” said the former West Indies opener.

some confidence going into the first game.”

He added: “It’s just about

week comes, we’ll be alright.”

Their most recent outing on Tuesday against Pakistan

Assistant coach Stuart Williams (centre) chats with head coach Vasbert Drakes (left) and assistant coach Ezra Moseley during training. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)

“So it’s very important that we put in a good performance tomorrow and hopefully we come out with a win and that would give the girls

Annual Olympic Day 10K Team Run and Fun Walk-Jog-Run set for Sunday

THE Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), in collaboration with the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) will host the annual 10K Team Run and Fun Walk-Jog-Run on Sunday, starting at 06:00hrs outside the YMCA on Thomas Lands.

Organisations and individual members of the public are all invited to participate. Prizes will be awarded for participants in the team event.

Teams must comprise four male and two female runners.

The first four hundred persons to arrive on Sunday morning will receive an Olympic Day 2017 T-shirt.

Registration forms can be obtained at Olympic House on High Street, Kingston. However, persons can also register right at the event on Sunday, by simply turning up with their walking or running shoes, ready to participate.

Moving off from in front of the YMCA building, the route proceeds north on Camp Street to Carifesta Avenue, east on Carifesta Avenue and the Rupert Craig Highway to Liliendaal (where marshals will indicate the turning point). On the way back the procession turns off south into Vlissengen Road and then east into Thomas Lands and back to the YMCA. The event is held in commemoration of the annual World Olympic Day, which is held every year on June 23 since 1948.

In 1978 the celebration of Olympic Day was included in the Olympic Charter - encouraging all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to organise activities which promote the Olympic Movement. In 1987 forty-five NOCs participated in the first Olympic Day 10K runs.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday June 22, 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) 224 (Shakib-ul-Hassan & Mahmudullah-BANG) (2) 10 Today’s Quiz: (1) Who scored most runs without a century in ICC Champions

Trophy 2017?

(2) Who scored most runs without hitting a six?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

getting that combination right and we haven’t played our best team yet so there’s no cause for panic or anything like that. By the time next

Women saw West Indies go down by five wickets at Grace Road, despite posting a respectable 246 for seven from their 50 overs.

They managed to reduce their opponents 63 for three before half-centuries from Nain Abidi and Bismah Maroof snatched the game away from them.

Williams said while they were disappointed to lose, there was cause for encouragement with several of the performances.

“The pleasing thing (about Tuesday’s game) is we made (nearly) 250 without the skipper’s (Stafanie Taylor) contribution and Hayley (Matthews) and (Deandra) Dottin got run-out in the 30s so the basic fundamentals are there; so we’re looking solid as a batting group,” Williams reasoned.

“But cricket is just not about batting alone, we still have to get our other skills up to level in terms of the bowling and the fielding.”

One of the stand-outs was the uncapped opener Felicia

Walters who top-scored with 59 to gather her first half-century in West Indies colours.

Williams said the 25-yearold had progressed well on tour so far and had taken on board the advice to increase her tempo at the crease.

“One of the things she has improved on is her intent,” Williams explained.

“She always has this longevity (about her batting) and sticking around, but what we’ve got her to do is to have more intent – rotating the strike and hitting the bad balls when they come. It was pleasing to see her get a half-century.”

He continued: “Merissa (Aguilleira) again she continued her good form by getting 40-odd, Hayley getting 30-odd without any problems at all and Dottin being her usual self. Our batting group is getting there.”

Windies still not guaranteed of a World Cup spot against ICC lightweights - Sammy LONDON, England (CMC) – Former Test and one-day captain Darren Sammy believes West Indies are still not guaranteed of a World Cup spot, even if they are forced to tackle ICC lightweight sides in a 10-team qualifier scheduled for next year.

The Caribbean side currently look likely to miss out on automatic qualification for the 2019 tournament in England, with only the hosts and the remaining top seven nations in the ICC rankings by September 30 earning direct berths.

West Indies are ranked ninth on 77 points, 16 ratings points behind eighthplaced Sri Lanka.

But Sammy pointed out that many of the non-Testplaying sides had improved drastically over the last year and West Indies would have to play well to earn one of the last two World

Cup spots on offer in the qualifier.

“Qualifying for the last two spots that’s not even guaranteed,” he said here this week.

“It is difficult to beat Ireland in their condition; we just saw Scotland beat Zimbabwe so all kind of countries are improving.

“Just like Bangladesh have improved and gone past us and we saw in the

last World Cup where Ireland defeated us as well, so it’s a long way to go. I think with the way we structure our cricket we are not going anywhere.”

The Windies shock loss to Ireland came in Nelson, New Zealand in 2015 when the minnows chased down 305 to pull off a sensational World Cup win.

And last November,

Former Test and one-day captain Darren Sammy

West Indies twice failed to beat current World number 11, Zimbabwe, in a Tri-Nations Series in the African nation, to miss out on the final.

Their devastating defeat to Afghanistan in the opening game of a threematch series earlier this month in St Lucia saw them lose more points in the ICC rankings.

The Windies will take on the likes of Zimbabwe, Scotland, Ireland and Afghanistan, along with sides like Kenya and Namibia, if they are forced to go through the World Cup qualifying tournament.

West Indies face India in an all-important five-match one-day series starting in Trinidad and Tobago tomorrow and then take on England in another five-match rubber in September, in a quest to better their rankings.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 22, 2017

Guyanese cyclists continue to Sixteen teams to battle create waves on the U.S. circuit

Guinness Greatest of the Streets football

for top honours in Bartica this weekend

After a gruelling ride, Guyanese cyclists (from left) Hamza Eastman, Geron Williams, Shaquel Agard (partly hidden) and former Guyanese Olympian Victor Rutherford await the presentation ceremony in New York.

GUYANESE cyclists continued their sterling performances on the United States circuit placing among the top finishers in recent criterium races.

Only two Sundays ago, Guyana’s Geron Williams placed second to Austraila’s track champion in a 35-mile

criterium and one week later (last Sunday), he placed fourth in the Harlem Skyscraper Classic which was won by USA’s Thomas Gibbons.

Williams’ Guyanese counterpart Hamza Eastman placed second, while the other Guyanese to place

among the top 30 finishers were Stephano Husbands (20th), Shaquel Agard (24th), Horace Burrowes (29th) and Jermaine Burrowes (30th).

The abovementioned local cyclists are all expected back in Guyana during this week to contest the Guyana Cycling

FIRST TWENTY20

Federation’s National Senior Road Race scheduled for Sunday. The race will commence on Homestretch Avenue, proceed to Camp Soweyo on the Linden Highway before turning back to finish at the place of origin.

Williams is the defending champion.

Bairstow, Hales guide England to crushing win (REUTERS) - Jonny Bairstow struck a sublime unbeaten 60 to lead England to a dominant nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the first Twenty20 international in Southampton yesterday.

South Africa chose to bat and laboured to 142 for three before Bairstow and Alex Hales shared a superb unbroken second-wicket partnership of 98 to guide the hosts to their target with 5.3 overs to spare.

“I’m trying to progress all the time and I played a

few shots I didn’t have a few months ago,” said manof-the-match Bairstow.

“I’m feeling good, I was really pleased. The lads bowled outstandingly well; to take wickets up front is what we wanted and then our spinners tied them down.”

David Willey bowled JJ Smuts with the first ball of the match and South Africa quickly subsided to 32 for three.

Captain AB de Villiers (65 not out) and Farhaan Behardien (64 not out) shared an unbroken stand

Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales put on an unbroken stand of 98.

of 110 but they never broke free from the shackles imposed by a disciplined England attack and the total always looked below-par.

England openers Jason Roy and Hales plundered 45 off the first four overs before Roy, playing a risky reverse sweep, was trapped lbw by Andile Phehlukwayo for 28.

But Hales (47 not out) and Bairstow looked completely untroubled by a toothless South Africa attack, hitting four sixes and nine fours between them to cruise to their target.

Both teams were playing their first matches since the Champions Trophy in which hosts England lost to Pakistan in the semi-finals and topranked South Africa failed to advance from the group stage.

“It is difficult to sum up the performance. The result doesn’t look good for us. We lost our way at the start, had to rebuild and we were 20-30 runs short in the end, which probably cost us,” de Villiers said.

The second game of the three-match series is in Taunton tomorrow.

THE final Zone competition in the 2017 Guinness Greatest of the Streets football will be played off in Bartica this weekend, with 16 teams battling for top honours and a chance to compete in the grand finals.

The tournament will kick off tomorrow with six matches at the Bartica Community Centre tarmac starting at 19:00hrs.

The opening fixture will bring together Almanac Kings against Time Square, to be followed by Campbellville versus Street Kings at 19:30hrs.

River View will square off against Lotto Arcade at 20:00hrs, followed by Plantain Slice opposing Young Guns.

Police will face Beacon One Love at 21:00hrs while the final game of the evening will feature All Stars against Beacon Die Hard at 21:30hrs.

Two more preliminary matches will be played on Saturday, featuring Potaro Strikers against Lazio at 19:00hrs then Impact versus Ballers before the quarter-final matches.

The semi-finals and final will be played on Sunday along with the third-place playoff and several exhibition matches.

The winners will advance to represent the mining community in the grand finals billed for next month featuring the top zone teams from Georgetown, East Coast Demerara, Linden, Berbice West Demerara/East Bank Demerara.

Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste said that fans in Bartica can expect an exciting weekend of football.

“We expect an exciting tournament and the residents of the community will prove that they are “Made of More” as they support the teams in their quest for glory,” he added.

Guyanese cyclists continue See to create waves on page 31 the U.S. circuit

Jacobs optimistic of Warriors getting over the ‘hump’ See page 27

Some members of the Guyana Amazon Warriors (L-R) Steven Jacobs, Shimron Hetmeyer, Veerasammy Permaul, Assad Fudadin and Keon Joseph (Delano Williams photo).

Pakistan players celebrate their victory over India on the pitch after the ICC Champions Trophy final cricket match between them at The Oval in London on Sunday.

See page 27

India police arrest cricket fans for celebrating Pakistan’s win

FIFA referees Moore and Porter to officiate in Caribbean Cup Finals See page 27

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Sherwin Moore (L) and Trevor Porter THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017