Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 23 01 2017 by Guyana Chronicle

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TIP victims rescued No. 104802

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

â€Ś Spanish nationals among eight freed in West Dem, EBD operations

Three held in city raid â€ŚAK-47, ammo, cars seized

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Man killed in ice plant explosion

Dead: Carlton Meghan

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Delays in paid parking -Min. Bulkan yet to approve by-laws

Police escorting the three men who were arrested during a raid in Campbellville, Georgetown, Sunday evening (Gordon Moseley photo)

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30 bands for Mash 9 Day Page

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 23, 2017

Delays in paid parking –– Min. Bulkan yet to approve by-laws By Ravin Singh

PENDING the approval of parking meter by-laws by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, no individual should be required to pay for parking until such is granted. The minister told the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday that he only received the by-laws on Friday from the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC). Minister Bulkan explained that the document, which is a lengthy one, was received in the midst of an all-day conference, and could not have been examined since the ministry’s legal officer was also at the conference. “We were in the midst of an all-day conference on Friday and the legal officer was there so she couldn’t devote her undivided attention to it” he said, noting that it will be reviewed today (Monday). However, the company responsible for the implementation of the parking me-

ter system - Smart City Solutions (SCS) – has already announced that payment for parking at marked spots, will commence from today (Monday.) When asked definitively though, if payment for parking can commence, despite no approval of the bylaws, the Minister said: “no,” reasoning that this is due to the fact that the documents need to be examined by the Ministry. “We’re hoping to complete it by tomorrow (Monday). So given that, I don’t think the council will want to go ahead [with payment] without central government’s endorsement or approval” Minister Bulkan said. The minister said too, that he has been in touch with the Mayor and Town Clerk, and has advised them both that the Ministry will have to go through those by-laws to satisfy itself before his approval or endorsement is given. And until such time, no fee shall be charged. Additionally, he pointed

out that these are two issues which have been identified so far by his ministry, one of which was highlighted by the Traffic Chief on Saturday. Traffic Chief, Dion Moore, in a Kaieteur News report on Sunday said that no parking should be allowed within 30 feet of a corner, as is stipulated by the law. However, numerous parking spots less than 30 feet from a corner have been demarcated by SCS and the city council. The second issue, Minister Bulkan said, is clarification about whether any areas have been identified for busses to load and offload where there are no bus stops. “The other clarification is that I will need to establish from the council is that if there are spaces reserved for busses to deposit passengers. Because if not, that would add chaos to the streets instead of bringing back order” the Minister said. SCS and the city council have faced criticisms since the announcement

Paid parking has been delayed of the introduction of the parking meters last year. In addition to the belief that there is lack of transparency, the cost of $50 for 15 minutes has also been a hard pill to swallow, particularly for

teachers. With an estimated cost of $25,000 per month for teachers the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) has called for these meters to be removed from the vicinity of schools. However, SCS

has offered a counter-proposal of issuing permits for guaranteed parking, while teachers will still be required to pay. The two bodies were scheduled to meet last week but did not.

Third term appeal

Forde says Chang’s ruling erroneous ATTORNEY for the second-named appellant, Raphael Trotman, in the presidential term-limits case, Roysdale Forde, on Friday submitted that the ruling made by Chief Justice Ian Chang was erroneous and did not reflect the true meaning of the Constitution of Guyana. Earlier this month, Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh, began hearing the appeal against the decision by Chang that scrapped presidential term-limits here. Justice Singh also granted leave to the appellants, Attorney General Basil Williams, the first-named appellant and Trotman, who at the time of filing the appeal was Speaker of the National Assembly, seven days to lay over and serve on the respondents submissions in writing. The case will be heard again on February 15. Prior to the 2015 General and Regional Elections, Georgetown citizen Cedric Richardson, had challenged the Amendments to Article 90 of the Constitution that were enacted in 2001 after the bipartisan Constitution reform process. The amendment placed term limits on presidents. Chang later ruled that the

presidential term limit was unconstitutional without the approval of the people through a referendum. He also ruled that persons who have become Guyanese citizens by virtue of registration can run for president. Article 90 of the Constitution states: “A person elected as President after the year 2000 is eligible for re-election only once,” and clause (3), which states, “A person who acceded to the presidency after the year 2000 and served therein on a single occasion for not less than such period as may be determined by the National Assembly, is eligible for election as President only once.” Richardson is being represented by Shaun Allicock, who has been joined by Senior Counsel, Douglas Mendes. Meanwhile, Forde argued that an appeal should be allowed with costs as the amendment to Article 90 of the Constitution does not expressly, or by implication alter the provisions of Articles 1 and 9 of the Constitution respectively. Article 90, he submitted, does not affect Guyana’s indivisible, secular nature or its function as a democratic sovereign state as stated in the Article. Similarly, the attorney pos-

ited that the amendment to Article 90 does not affect Article 9 as it relates to the sovereignty belonging to the people, the exercise of sovereignty of the people through their representatives and democratic organs established under the Constitution, nor does it restrict or limit in any way the freedom of expressing a choice and the casting of a vote at the ballot box in favour of any particular presidential candidate. “It is submitted that the conclusion of the Chief Justice that Parliament by the enactment of the amendment to Article 90 of the Constitution fell foul of Article 1, is most misconceived,” said Forde in his submission. Article 1 of the Constitution states that “Guyana is an indivisible, secular, democratic sovereign state in the course of transition from capitalism to socialism and shall be known as the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.” While Article 9 of the Constitution states that “Sovereignty belongs to the people who exercise it through their representatives and the democratic organs established by or under this Constitution.” The lawyer said the appeal

raised several issues on the construction of the Constitution and pointed to whether in substance and effect the amendment to Article 90 of the Constitution by Act No.17 of 2001 altered whether expressly or by implication the provisions of Articles 1 and 9 other than in accordance with Article 164 (2) (a) of the Constitution. “The secondary issues are therefore: What is the meaning to be given to the words “Democratic Sovereign State” in Article 1 of the Constitution of Guyana? What is the meaning to be given to the words “Sovereignty belongs to the people” in Article 9 of the Constitution of Guyana?” Forde said the High Court did not find any breach of fundamental rights and noted that the National Assembly could have amended any fundamental right in accordance with Article 164 (2) (b) of the Constitution without a referendum. “The cases relied upon by the Chief Justice are inapplicable, as in each of the cases cited by the Court there would have in fact been alterations to the basic structure of the Constitution, contravention of the doctrines of separation of powers, Rule

of Law and breaches of fundamental rights.” He said that the adding of the term limit in Article 90 of the Constitution did not result in “the creation of a new thing or destroyed the identity of the thing affected, that is, another type of state, now was it a change in or modification, or variation in the State of Guyana or of the sovereignty of the people.” “It is submitted that the amendment to Article 90 is not of such a nature that the Court can find that it had abrogated or destroyed the Constitution or as put by the Respondent and adopted by the Court “diluted”, “restricted and curtailed” or “diminished” or “reduced the levels of democracy enjoyed by the electorate.” The attorney argued that nothing in the amendment removed democratic sovereignty from the people, or can be said to have resulted in the establishment of an autocratic or theocratic state or a state with a lower level of democracy. “It is submitted that the Chief Justice’s conclusion that there was a “dilution and diminution of democratic sovereignty” as a result of the amendment of the Constitution was arrived at

without any examination or exposition as to the content of the concept of “democratic sovereignty.” Additionally, Forde said it is important to note that the absence of an examination of the content of the term “democratic sovereignty” was a “quantum leap” to conclude that the amendment resulted in dilution and diminution of democratic sovereignty. “It is also submitted that the learned Chief Justice misconstrued the words “sovereignty belongs to the people; It is submitted that the right to choose a Presidential Candidate for President of the Respondent’s or a citizen’s own choosing is a specie of the right of expression; It is also submitted that the exercise of a choice of a Presidential Candidate by the Respondent or a citizen occurs or culminates at the Ballot Box; It is therefore submitted that the right to choose a Presidential Candidate does not extend to the eligibility of or the disqualification of possible candidates for President,” said Forde. He noted that the right of the respondent and any See page 4

Man killed in ice plant explosion A 48- YEAR-OLD refrigeration technician died on Sunday following an explosion at the B.M Enterprise Inc ice plant at the Guyana Fisheries Wharf at Houston on the East Bank of Demerara. Dead is Carlton Meghan,a father of three of 21st Street, Diamond Housing Scheme, EBD. Reports are that shortly after 1100hrs on Sunday, the heavy-set man was working along with another man at the time when an electrical problem resulted in an explosion. Persons at the scene told the Guyana Chronicle that Meghan was standing in front of a compressor and as he operated on the heavy-duty apparatus, it exploded in his face. He was flung from the top of the twoflat, zinc –covered, steel structure where the machines are housed. The man landed on the wharf below. He died on the spot while the other man sustained minor injuries.

Investigators at the scene noted that the man sustained cuts to his face as well as a deep wound to his neck. At the scene on Sunday, workers in the area flocked the wharf as police gathered information from persons there. The man’s body was covered under a tarpaulin and arrangements were being made to have it removed by a funeral

parlour. The man’s relatives expressed shock at his sudden demise. A step-son told this publication that he was working at another industrial plant in the area when he heard a loud explosion; he immediately ran to the scene. “ I work right over there and around eleven something I hear this loud explosion and I run over to see and I see he lay down there “, the teary-

eyed man recounted. One of the man’s nephews told this newspaper that Meghan operates on heavy-duty ice plants. He said that the man was friendly and kind and was always prepared to assist others whenever he could. BM Enterprise officials could not be reached for a comment. Police are investigating the incident.

Meghan’s body was covered with a tarpaulin as investigators gathered information at the scene. (Cullen-Bess Nelson photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 23, 2017

Forde says Chang’s ruling ... From page 3 citizen of Guyana to choose or elect a presidential candidate of his choice in every election prior to Act No. 17 of 2001 remains the same right which existed after the enactment of the very Act. Act No. 17 of 2001 by its amendment of Article 90 of the Constitution does not create a different right, he argued, while noting that the legislation is not in derogation of the right to choose or elect a person of the Respondent’s or citizen’s own choice as President. “It is submitted that Act No. 17 of 2001 merely added disqualifications in respect of an individual citizen’s competence to be elected as President. The constitutional and statutory context in which the citizen and or the Respondent exercises his right to elect a person of his own choosing as President was not considered by the Chief Justice at all in his judgment,” he opined. Justice Chang in his ruling found that as a matter of law, Act No. 17 of 2001 offended Articles 1 and 9 of the Constitution in that it curtailed the electoral democratic choices of citizens and that curtailment could only be given effect to by Referendum, pursuant to Article 164 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Guyana. “The Appeal before this Court raises issues of construction of the Constitution of Guyana for the Court’s determination. That is, whether in substance and effect the amendment to Article 90 of the Constitution of Guyana by Act No. 17 of 2001 altered whether expressly or by implication the provisions of Articles 1 and 9 of the Constitution of Guyana other than in accordance with Article 164 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Guyana.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 23, 2017

Some exporters withholding sale of foreign currency

–Jordan

FINANCE Minister Winston Jordan, on Friday chided the media’s reportage of the perceived shortage of foreign currency here and he said some exporters are withholding sales of foreign currency to the system, possibly with the hope of provoking a depreciation of the domestic currency so as to maximise their Guyana-dollar profits. Speaking at the opening of Citizens Bank’s $2.5B corporate headquarters and main office located at lot 231-233 Camp Street and South Road, the Finance Minister said the country’s foreign exchange market functions in a liberalised environment with free trading or intermediation of foreign currency in the market. “Unfortunately, however, recent reporting of a contrived shortage of foreign currency -- largely fuelled by a small section of the print media -- has created a climate of speculation and hysteria that has been cultivated by some market participants, and led to some unwelcomed developments,” said Jordan. Over the past few weeks, it has been reported that there is a shortage of foreign currency, specifically United States dollars, here, but Governor of the Bank of Guyana (BOG), Dr Gobind Ganga, said the central bank was not aware of such a situation. Last Monday, senior representatives of the Bank of Guyana met with the Executive Management Committee of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the bank gave the assurance that there is no

shortage of foreign currency. Evidence of the non-shortage of foreign currency was produced to the representatives of the GCCI, a statement from the GCCI said on Thursday. Minister Jordan said there are six banks, 13 nonbank cambios and the BOG and noted that there are exporters, importers and other participants in the foreign exchange market, who conduct business with commercial banks or cambios of their choice.” The structure, conduct and performance of the foreign exchange market have provided for a relatively stable rate of the Guyana dollar. As an example, some major companies have been seeking to pay for imports and repatriate profits earlier than required in the usual business cycle. This has created a surge in demand for foreign currency, thereby clogging the market.” He said on the supply side, some exporters are withholding sales of foreign currency to the system, possibly with the hope of provoking a depreciation of the domestic currency, so as to maximise their Guyana-dollar profits. “Aggravating this untenable situation, is the action of some net foreign exchange earners, who are demanding foreign currency from the market, while hoarding their foreign currency holdings. Some companies are even purchasing foreign exchange to facilitate trade for their counterparts outside of Guyana, while a few exporters and importers are conducting foreign exchange transactions bilaterally, outside of the foreign exchange market,” the Finance Minister

stated. Minister Jordan noted that large spreads between the buying and selling rates for foreign currency, especially in bigger banks, have led to some level of disintermediation. “These banks act as the pacesetters in the pricing of foreign currency and interest rates. They have great influence in creating uneven competition for smaller banks. These developments have artificially stressed the foreign exchange market,” he said, noting their potential to destabilise Guyana’s fragile economy. The Finance Minister made it clear that the level of foreign exchange in the system indicates that the current demand can be adequately met without speculation. He said in spite of the falloff in export earnings for rice, sugar and timber, the foreign exchange reserves of the Bank of Guyana have increased to US$616M at the end of December 2016 from US$598M, at the end of 2015. The foreign reserves of commercial banks totalled US$315M, at the end of 2016, roughly the same level as in 2015 he said, while noting that in 2016 the Bank of Guyana had sold approximately US$30M to commercial banks to smooth out spikes during seasonal demand. “Indeed, for the period November - December 2016, the Central Bank sold some US$12M to the bank cambios to ensure adequate flows of foreign exchange to the market. The Bank of Guyana will continue its interventions in the market as warranted.” Jordan said due to the

increased speculation in foreign exchange market activities, commercial bank cambios have been charged with undertaking the necessary due diligence to ensure orderly market behaviour. “While this is positively impacting the market, other main stakeholders such as non-bank cambios, exporters and importers also have a responsibility to ensure their conduct does not have a negative impact on the foreign exchange market and the macro economy.” He believes that in a market with limited players, in which one or two are dominant, it is incumbent on all to act responsibly, to play by the rules, so as to avoid disintermediation and interruption of orderly flows of foreign exchange. “We will continue to use moral suasion to return the market to stability. But the Government stands ready to act decisively, if our current entreaties fail. In leaving this issue behind, the public is assured that there is an adequate level of foreign currency in the market to meet demand.” The Finance Minister said a consensus has emerged that countries perform better under a system of financial liberation, rather than a system of financial repression. As such, the domestic financial market was liberalised in 1989 and the system of exchange control was disbanded, while bank and nonbank cambios were established. “To support the new regime, the Bank of Guyana established a system of market surveillance that guides its decision to take appropriate actions, when necessary, to correct illiquidity or other

forms of disequilibrium in the foreign exchange market. These were among the many measures which were introduced to boost confidence in the new system,” said Jordan, who noted that financial stability is the bedrock of a sound and healthy economy. Efficient financial intermediation by the main market players is the cornerstone of such stability, he said, while stating that the smooth functioning of the foreign exchange market in floating exchange rate regimes is integral to the stability of the financial system. This is especially so in small, open economies such as Guyana’s, where certainty and confidence in the market to equilibrate supply and demand cannot be underscored. Meanwhile, in congratulating the Board of Directors of Citizens Bank for achieving such an important milestone, given the bank’s relatively young history, the Finance Minister said new edifices add to the beauty of Georgetown. With just over two decades of service to the people of Guyana, the Finance Minister said the bank has expanded immeasurably, offering an array of banking products and services, while competing effectively with older and more established banks. “The bank has quickly become a household name in the country. This is not only testimony of your commitment to becoming an important player in the development of the local financial system, but it is also evidence of your confidence in the macro economy. In the course of your journey, you have emerged as an efficient and profitable institution.

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan These reasons provide adequate justification for you to move to a more spacious building, in addition to better servicing the growing needs and demands of your customers. “Mr Chairman, the structure of Guyana’s banking sector has evolved over the years to accommodate changes in the economy. One of the most visible changes has been the expansion of local and foreign banks and their branches, lending credence to the view that strong institutions in a politically stable and thriving business environment can be instrumental in driving growth and facilitating economic diversification and development.” The Finance Minister said too that the bank’s drive to expand is in pursuit of enhanced efficiency and noted that with the country being on the threshold of “massive transformation,” it is expected that the expansion will continue apace.

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

Editorial: 227-5216; 227-5204 guyanachronicle.com wnigel10@hotmail.com gnnleditorial@gmail.com

Editorial

President Trump and U.S.-Caribbean Relations

IT’S official—Donald Trump is now officially the American president. As the president of the most politically, economically and militarily powerful country in the world, he is the most influential leader on the planet. It is for that reason that all countries should be concerned about who holds that office, for the policies that emanate from America have consequences beyond its borders. For us in the Caribbean, this truth is especially significant. We sit in the proverbial backyard of this great power and have for more than two centuries lived that reality. The new American President is by American standards an unknown quantity—he has never served in any elected position at any level of government , nor has he been a political activist. As a celebrity businessman, he is quintessentially American, but he is the first of his type to assume the presidency. That’s why his rise to power has surprised most Americans and, perhaps, the rest of the world. Many explanations have been advanced for this break with tradition, but at the end of the day, America and the world must come to grips with the fact that Donald Trump is the president. He defeated Hillary Clinton, one of the best-known establishment politicians in America. Although she garnered more popular votes, thanks to the unique Electoral College, Trump emerged the victor. While many pundits and politicians have called for the abolishment of that system, the truth is that it would take a lot of courage on the part of the political establishment to make that change. So, what does Mr Trump’s elevation to the presidency hold for the Caribbean? At first glance, one may be tempted to say that not much will change for the Region. Except for a few comments about Cuba, the very vocal president has not tweeted or said much about the Caribbean. Understandably, much of his attention has been on Europe, the Middle East, China and Russia. But given our geographical location, it would be a mistake to believe that our Region would be off America’s radar. The truth of the matter is that despite the obvious power of the presidency in shaping U.S. foreign policy, the general contours of that policy outlive presidents. The U.S. embargo on Cuba is a perfect example of that thesis. Donald Trump is the 11th president since its enactment. President Obama’s historic changes aside, the general policy has remained intact. The incoming president has threatened to roll back those changes and he may well do so. The Republican control of Congress provides the perfect context for such a move. Should he decide to go that route, it would be a serious blow to Cuba, which has in recent decades felt the burden of the embargo.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 23, 2017

PNCR says Guyana Times report malicious

Dear Editor,

THE People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) finds it malicious and mendacious, a report on Page five (5) of the Guyana Times dated January 22, 2017, under the caption – “PNC General Council Meeting Granger assures commitment to Coalition Gov’t… as Senior Public Servants express displeasure at being requested to attend.” No amount of misinformation, political mischief

or creative writing by the Publisher and Editor of the Guyana Times can change the fact that the General Council of the PNCR is an institution of the Party that comprises only members of the PNCR. No Senior Public Servants were or are ‘requested’ to attend. Article 16 (1) of the PNCR Constitution states; The General Council shall comprise (a) All members of the Central Executive Committee

(b) The Representatives of the Regional and SubDivisional Committees (c) All PNCR Regional Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen (d) All eligible persons who were candidates on the party’s list at the last General Election. (e) Three (3) representatives of the Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM) (f) Three (3) Representatives of the National Congress of Women (NCW)

(g) All Chairmen, Vice Chairmen of Local Democratic Organs, Mayors and Deputy Mayors who were elected to office on the Party’s list of candidates. The PNCR calls on the Publisher and Editor of the Guyana Times to immediately correct the mischievous and mendacious article that bears no resemblance to truth. Regards People’s National Congress Reform Congress Place, Sophia

Jagdeo should submit a fresh list for consideration Dear Editor,

THIS letter is prompted by the following newspaper reports: “PPP willing to approach CCJ to interpret constitutional provision” (KN January 13, 2017); “Jagdeo wants CCJ to interpret law on GECOM Chair” (GC Friday January 13, 2017); and “AG queries haste to complete Presidential third term appeal” – KN Saturday, January 14, 2017; and “February is set for ruling on third-term appeals” SN, Sunday January 15, 2017. Since article 161(2) provides relevantly that the chairman (not being a person who is an alien) “…. Shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a judge… or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation…” a question about the interpretation of this article firstly involves the jurisdiction of the High Court for its ruling (see article 133(1) (a)). Whatever the outcome, I would anticipate that the unsuccessful party would then appeal to the Court of Appeal and then invoke the appellate jurisdiction of the CCJ. This is no summarily expeditious process. Only God knows how long from High Court to Court of Appeal to ruling

by CCJ would take. And I do not think -- although I express no conclusive opinion -- that a mechanical facility or process of what is called “leap-frogging” to the CCJ is available in a matter of this sort (this not being a matter of its original jurisdiction in interpretation of the Treaty of Chaguramas). Be that as it may, I submit that an action for a declaration that the President has acted unconstitutionally, involving as it would, an interpretation of article 161(2) has no real prospect of success. First, the President is the only constitutional functionary who is peculiarly entitled to “act in his own deliberate judgment” (article 111 (1), 161(3)(a)). When the President acting pursuant to article 111(1) invokes this unfettered discretionary power in deciding whether the list of nominees are “not unacceptable” to him, no Court can declare that he has improperly, arbitrarily, unreasonably, or otherwise exercised that discretionary power or function. Both on principle, and authority alike (Adegbenro V, Akintola And Another (1963), 3All ER, 544 PC that issue of non-acceptability, because of the plentitude of such discretionary power, is what in jurisprudence, is known as a non-justiciable issue (i.e., no court ought to, or will take cognizance or try it and give a decision/ruling on it, save to say that it is not

For us in Guyana, our oil-find brings us squarely into focus. The USA has historically shown keen interest in any country that has that economic resource. The company that has been exploring for our oil is American-owned and the incoming U.S. Secretary of State is a former executive of that company—the connection is obvious. As a small country, eager to grasp the opportunity for development that oil promises,

a justiciable power, the exercise of which it can review). Second, the ejusdem generis principle –- general words take their genu or character or nuance from the character of the Specific words used, applies; and by it, the President is entitled to demand that nominees be persons of judge-like attributes of impartiality, etc. (see generally on this ejusdem generis approach the leading local case – law authority of Badri Prasad V. Demerara Mutual Life Assurance (1981) 31 WIR 196 CA). This second proposition merits further elaboration, as it has been a source of considerable dispute and criticism of what the President has intimated is his benchmark for appointment. Given such plentitude of discretionary power (as I would articulate below), the President by his intimation of a preference for a judge, or judge-like person (whichever he is understood to have meant) was within the boundaries of his constitutional power; and that is all that matters. Since neither President Granger nor Mr Jagdeo are endowed with psychic powers to go into the state of mind of any nominee as to his/her capacity for impartiality, both can only, sensibly, in their respective functions of nomination and appointment, act on the empirical or demonstrated evidence of impartiality, or alternatively,

take the approach of a preconception that a judge (sitting or former) by reason of such profession, would bring impartiality to the office of GECOM, Chairman, as he/ she does, or did, in the court. What I understand the constitution-makers and draftsman to have said in article 161(2) is, inter alia, that a judge is a classic, or per force, a “fit and proper person” and any other person not being a judge/ magistrate/lawyer must be a person with the signal hallmark or attribute of a judge – a disposition of impartiality and neutrality. It must be a matter of sheer commonsense and constitutional logic, that if the draftsman of article 161(2) did not intend the preceding special or specific wording as to “judge” to have any limitative or restrictive effect or impact on the generality of the words “any other”, nothing would have been easier or simpler than for them to have drafted article 161(2) without those special reference – words viz “judge or person qualified to be a judge.” They simply could have drafted – “shall be a person to be appointed by the President …”. But they did not. So, there must have been some significant constitutional purpose in such specificity of wording. What,then,is that purpose? I submit the President rightly comprehended and appreTurn to page 7

we cannot escape the web of American hemispheric interests. In the final analysis, as our largest trading partner and our powerful neighbour, America matters to us. President Obama visited our Region and showed an interest in improving relations and increasing much- needed developmental aid. We hope that the incoming president maintains that policy and even improves it.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 23, 2017

Jagdeo should submit a...

hended that purpose, when he intimated his preference for a Judge or Judge-like person. Besides, the Constitution-makers having created their Frankenstein (i.e., a monster) by the words “not unacceptable to the President….”, one cannot expect the court (not even the CCJ) to prevent that presidential right of non-acceptability, from devouring article 161(2) and effectively (perhaps efficiently) reducing and relegating it to a status of non-justiciability on the issue of the President’s judgment that nominees are unacceptable, if they do not satisfy his benchmark of being a Judge or demonstrated Judge-like qualities. This matter I submit is of Adegbenro, supra elucidated with clarity in the analogous constitutional case, where the crucial and operative words were “… it appears to him” – words of subjectivity (not objectivity). The court there said,“By these words therefore the power of removal is at once recognised and conditioned: and since the condition of constitutional action has been reduced to the formula of these words for the purpose of the written constitution, it is their construction and nothing else that must determine this issue” (the issue there being the removal of the Premier by the Governor-General). Substitute the word “removal” by, appointment, and juxtapose that formula in the Adegbenro case with the article 161(2) formula which contains the express words “not unacceptable to the President”, and the implied words: “in his own deliberate judgment”, and the analogous case of Adegbenro is a high persuasive authority supporting the constitutionality of the President’s rejection. The point cannot be stressed enough that a demonstrated judgelike attribute of impartiality is one of (if not, perhaps the dominant) consideration that could, by constitutional permission, influence and inform President Granger’s judgment (within the words “his own deliberate judgment”). And if this was the thinking of the President at the State House media event (however periphrastically expressed), that view is constitutionally sound, and attracts no constitutional opprobrium. I argue that the words “not unacceptable to the President,” monstrous in their affect, are clearly intended to ensure with laser–like, pointed efficiency (without any reliance on the generality of “his own deliberate judgement” subjective power in article 111(1)), that the Leader of

the Opposition does not opportunistically foist any unfit Tom, Dick, Harry or Mary on the President, and make him/her the President’s constitutional duty to appoint, as GECOM Chairman. The view, misconceived and constitutionally inadmissible as it is, that the President was/ is obligated to appoint one of the six nominees originally submitted by Mr Jagdeo, is roundly disapproved of and repelled by the reasoning in Adegbenro, which went like this: “The difficulty of limiting the statutory power of the Governor-General” (President) “in this way” (limiting him to appoint one from the original list submitted by Mr Jagdeo) “is that the limitation is not to be found in the words in which the makers of the Constitution have decided to record the description of his powers. By the words they have employed in their formula ‘it appears to him’” (not unacceptable to the President) “the judgment as to the support enjoyed by the Premier” (judgment as to fit and proper person) “is left to the Governor-General’s” (President’s) “own assessment and there is no limitation as to the materials on which he is to base his judgment or the contacts to which he may resort for the purpose.” (emphasis mine) Such, I submit, is also the over-riding and over-arching nature of President Granger’s power of rejection, and appointment; and this is so, even without factoring in the coexisting and co-extensive power to act “in his own deliberate judgment” in relation to those nominees. No court can impugn, or, usurp his assessment and judgment. Nor, is it as if such a benchmark or starting point imposes some legal impossibility; or practical improbability bordering on what lawyers know as frustration. Far from it. There is a reservoir or bank of judges. Besides, it is fashionable these days to demand as a worldwide standard, “best-practices”; “most favoured treatment”, and even Equity (that court of good conscience) has a most-favoured person (the bona fide purchaser of a

legal estate for value). So, I contend that constitutionally, it is not impermissible for the President, importing such “materials” (Adegbenro) into his appointment thought process. I caution Mr Jagdeo from my position of that of an officious bystander and so, Devil’s advocate in this matter, he would engender a constitutional show-down, if he omits to submit a fresh list for consideration. That is a show-down that he cannot win – both law, and political good sense would be against him. His legal advisers can (like the Emperor’s adviser in Hans C. Andersen’s “The Emperor’s new clothes”) fool him and misguide him all they want about the prospect of success in the court. The CCJ judges would, predictably, not hesitate to (as the child did not in “The Emperor’s New clothes”) say that “he isn’t wearing anything at all”; his case would be as unmaintainable and devoid of merit if he seeks and expects some declaration that the President has no power to reject his list, as the Emperor, was truly naked. I note with both commendation and condemnation a letter by learned Counsel Mohabir A Nandlall (“The Power of the President under Article 161” K.N Saturday, January 14, 2017) I commend Counsel for his industry of research as to the words “fit and proper”; but I condemn him for misutilizing and misapplying those case laws to our article 161(2) powers of the President, in arriving at his conclusion in criticism of the learned AG, that under article 161(2) the President has no power to make a unilateral appointment in the event as has happened, that Mr Jagdeo did submit a list; and that it is not the President’s function to decide who is a “fit and proper person.” I entertain not the slightest doubt that the learned Attorney General (Basil Williams) is right that the President has a constitutional power to unilaterally appoint if Mr Jagdeo omits or refuses to submit a fresh list as requested; and also the shared but ultimate function

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to decide who is a fit and proper person is conferred on the President. Briefly, this power and function respectively exist not expressly, but ex necessitate legis (ie by necessary implication of law, or by legal necessity). They both derive from the crucial words, “not unacceptable to the President” the purport and impact of which I have endeavoured to articulate above. The lifeblood of the law is commonsense. The commonsense of the matter is this: someone not acceptable, is rejectable; any one entitled to reject someone if that someone is not acceptable to him, is expected by law and politics alike, to do just that – reject him/her. So the constitution -makers could never have intended to contemporaneously confer an enabling power to refuse to accept, and a disability to reject – asinine as that may seem. Moreover, whatever the Carter Formula might have engendered as regards a politician’s expectation, the question is not what the Carter Formula envisaged, but what the existing law, sensibly interpreted, means. I argue that the right, and power of the President to reject the nominees in the list submitted, necessarily implies a correlative duty to submit a new list; inevitably a constitutional hiatus, or, an interregnum would result, as no Chairman (in the event of an existing vacancy) was appointable if such correlative duty does not exist, or, a unilateral power to appoint, in the event of refusal to submit a fresh list. And, yet that would be the result, if Mr Nandlall’s argument be right. So, it cannot be. An argument which embraces a constitutional interregnum cannot be right. This is constitutional reality; not abstract theory. Article 161 (1) must be interpreted with commonsense and logic to promote, not impede or frustrate its workability. Regards Maxwell Edwards Attorney-at-Law

The constant blackouts in Region Five Dear Editor

IT is now 3:23 am in the morning, Saturday, January 21st, and I cannot sleep. I arrived home in Cotton Tree, Berbice, from a trip to Georgetown at 9.00 pm Friday night to a house in total darkness. Blackout again! Thankfully, I have enough battery life on my macBook Pro for me to start this letter. I have no idea how long ago it started, but I do know that the areas affected are extensive. Soon after crossing the Abary River, we drove many miles in the blackout before reaching home, and I know it extended all the way to Rosignol. Trying to sleep is a nightmare. I have an almost brand new air-conditioning unit sitting in storage, as the house is usually breezy. But with electricity now attracting a whopping 14% VAT increase, I’m trying to conserve on my use of electricity to keep my GPL bills below the $10,000 limit. My dilemma is choosing between the breeze and the mosquitoes that relentlessly invade homes in this community at nights. So to avoid the risk of getting Chikungunya, Zika or Malaria, I kept the doors and windows closed to keep out the mosquitoes. But without electricity, the fans I bought to replace the AC are completely useless now. The place is so hot, I just took a second shower since returning home, thinking of how rapidly the quality of life is deteriorating under this APNU government. And although Kaieteur News columnist, Freddie Kissoon, has repeatedly written about the adverse effects these

constant blackouts are having on the population, it appears that the government is not listening. Many now believe we’re heading back to the days when “load shedding” became a household name under the PNC. What bothers me is GPL’s lack of respect for consumers. Why can’t the Guyana Power & Light (GPL) send out text messages warning consumers of scheduled power outages a day or two before? And even if an emergency occurs to cause an unscheduled blackout, GPL should still send a text message to consumers in the affected area to give them the assurance that they are aware of the problem and working to restore electricity ASAP. But this is not being done, consumers are taken for granted, and we get no apology from this monopoly. Does GPL understand the importance of customer service? Do they even have a PR department? For if so, it doesn’t seem to be functioning. All day Saturday, January 21st, I waited for the power to return. My entire day has been wasted and yet not even a courtesy text message from GPL to explain the reason for the blackout. Electricity was finally restored to large sections of Region Five at about 7.00pm, more than 20 hours later. This is unbearable, unacceptable, and we, the people of Region Five, demand better service from GPL. This is not the “good life” we were promised. Regards HARRY GILL, MP (PPP/C)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 23, 2017

TIP victims rescued … Spanish nationals among eight freed in West Dem, EBD operations

By Ariana Gordon EIGHT alleged victims of Trafficking in Persons were on Friday night rescued during two operations on the East Bank and West Demerara by the Counter- Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP) Unit of the Ministry of Social Protection. Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally confirmed on Sunday that the raids were carried out on Friday but she did not have all of the information at hand. Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that seven persons several of them Spanish speaking were rescued from a popular Providence, East Bank Demerara night spot while the eighth person was rescued from a night spot on the West Coast Demerara. It is unclear the nationality of the women rescued as there has been a history of victims of TIP coming from Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Columbia, all of which are Spanish speaking

countries. On Sunday night, those involved in the raid were providing statements to law enforcement officials and according to reports the women who were rescued are afraid. “Yes, a raid was done in Region Three,” said the Minister of Social Protection who committed to providing additional information today. The raid follows a stern warning issued to human traffickers by President Granger last week. The President at the launch of National Plan of Action for the prevention and response to Trafficking In Persons (TIP) for 2017 and 2018 was launched. The Head-of-State assured that all victims would be protected and all perpetrators punished while noting that “The Government of Guyana today is committed to reversing this indifference towards the crime of trafficking in persons. We will do so by enhancing education and strengthening enforcement in order to eliminate the scourge

entirely.” The President said his administration will tackle the issue frontally and not brush it aside as was done in the past. He noted that psycho-social services will be provided to victims as well as safe havens. Additionally, several wardens will be positioned in hinterland locations where TIP is deemed prevalent. “Traffickers must be identified and prosecuted with the full force of the law… The fear of prosecution must serve as a deterrent against human-trafficking. Guyana seeks to provide [the] ‘good life’ for all of its citizens. The ‘good life’ includes protecting vulnerable citizens from the threats of servitude, sexual exploitation and forced labour. Victims of trafficking in persons need protection. They are often helpless. They are often afraid to speak out. They generally lack resources to seek assistance. Many of the victims being held against their will may be illegal immigrants and, therefore, afraid

to go to the authorities for fear of being deported or prosecuted. Victims of trafficking in persons must be protected and provided with assistance for their recovery and reintegration into society,” President Granger said, noting that it is necessary to “lift the veil of TIP.” In May 2013, the President while serving as leader of the opposition had brought a motion calling for a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to investigate Trafficking in Persons here. Like President Granger, Minister of Social Protection Ally said the time is ripe to put an end to the scourge. “We must say enough! No more to these acts!” the minister declared, as she reminded those gathered that human-trafficking is a callous industry that denies victims their basic rights and dignity, “so that heartless perpetrators can benefit financially from exploiting vulnerable victims.” The Minister of Social Protection emphasised the

need for protection of the human rights and dignity of all persons and stated that it is an essential component of good governance. “I can assure you that our government will — by all means necessary– do what it can to curb this illicit trade,” she said, while noting that human- trafficking crosses cultures and has no boundaries. The minister noted that TIP is everybody’s business, while informing the audience that involuntary servitude is not to be ignored. “We all have the responsibility to bring this practice to an end,” she said, adding that it is important to note that while law enforcement, cooperation and information-sharing can all be effective, ending human-trafficking also means tackling the root causes. Meanwhile, Coordinator (ag) of the C-TIP Unit in the Ministry of Social Protection, Tanisha Williams-Corbin, said there has been an increase in the number of sus-

Three held in city raid -AK-47, 9mm, ammo seized

By Ravin Singh THREE men are now in police custody after they were found in a two-storey house in John Street, Campbellville,Georgetown, with an AK-47 assault rifle, a 9mm pistol and almost 80 live rounds of ammunition on Sunday evening. The apprehension of the three men was confirmed by ‘A’ Division Commander, Clifton Hicken, who said that the sweep was made

at the Lot 81 John Street house, after intelligence-led information was received at ‘A’Division Headquarters, Brickdam. The police operation, which was launched just around 6:00pm, lasted for more than two hours in the relatively quiet street. It was led by Deputy Commander of ‘A’ Division, Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus. Commander Hicken revealed that when officers swept down at the location with sniffer

dogs, the three men were in the house. He said that after searching both flats of the building, the garage and the yard, police found an AK-47 assault rifle with two magazines and 60 live rounds; a 9mm pistol with one magazine and 18 live rounds; a quantity of cellphones; and two heavily-tinted Toyota vehicles, all of which were taken into the custody of the police. The men were handcuffed and escorted out of the house

The Lot 81 John Street Campbellville house where the three men were found to have had in their possession, two firearms and matching ammunition (Ravin Singh photo) into a waiting police van, which delivered them to the Kitty Police Station. They are believed to be in their 20s

and 30s, and were confirmed by Brutus to have had brushes with the law for serious offences, including possession

pected TIP cases from 2014 to 2016. In a presentation at the launch of the national plan of action, Williams-Corbin said in 2014 there were 40 cases, five males and 35 females, while in 2015, there were 59 cases with three males and 56 females. Last year there was an increase of 98 cases, 13 males and 85 females. The acting coordinator of the C-TIP Unit noted that of the 197 identified victims from 2014-2016 the majority were females. She also reported that 89.3 per cent of the victims were 32 years and below while most of the victims were Guyanese nationals. Non-nationals represented 41 per cent of the total number of suspected cases. Additionally, C-TIP Unit Coordinator said 44.2 per cent of the suspected cases occurred in Region 4 while 22.3 per cent occurred in Region 7. The National Action Plan intends to tackle TIP through prevention, protection, prosecution and partnership. of illegal firearms. Unconfirmed reports suggest that two of the three men might be ex-cops, while the other is a former “phantom” squad member. Meanwhile, a source who spoke under the condition of anonymity, told this newspaper that the owner of the house is a UK-based resident and the house was rented through a local real estate firm to what was believed to have been a couple for $150,000 a month. Another report suggests that the movements of the men, who were the only ones frequenting the building, became suspicious and may have led to the police raid.

Mabaruma residents in self-help initiative to repair roads

RESIDENTS of Mabaruma and nearby communities banded themselves together on Sunday and carried out “self-help” maintenance works to the roadway there. The action was taken as motorists cited substandard works which were undertaken to several parts of the roadways in the sub-region late last year by the authorities. According to businesswoman Susan Boyer, recently several persons including herself and another businesswoman, Lolita Wong, decided to organise a “self-help” activity to fix pot-holed sections of the roadway along the public road passing through the town of Mabaruma. The initiative was taken, since traditionally residents in the past had decided not to wait on the regional authorities to fix the roadways in the region. She said that contact was made with the town clerk and assistance was provided in

the form of earth to be used in capping the roadway. On Sunday, several residents, including men and women, turned out in their numbers and with several tools including wheel-barrows, shovels and spades, began patching the roadway. The group undertook works between the Mabaruma township area and the administrative section of the town, filling potholes and rolling earth over loose sections of the road. Residents told this publication that works which were undertaken by the authorities late last year were not timed properly, since the rainy weather in December had washed away most of the bitumen which was used to cap the surface along the roadway. Plans are afoot to continue works on other sections of the road in the weeks ahead.

Residents as they worked on the roadway on Sunday

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 23, 2017

MPI commits to effecting emergency infrastructural repairs at Rockstone

MINISTER within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Ms Annette Ferguson has committed to commencing emergency repairs to the road and two bridges in the mining community of Rockstone in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

Indigenous People’s Affairs, Mr Sydney Allicock and a team of technical advisors, as well as Region 10 Councillors, paid Rockstone a visit after receiving reports of the deplorable state of the road there, a secton of which has been rendered virtually impassable.

One of the breakages that has almost divided the road into two will see repairs commencing shortly, as it was deemed a case of emergency. Residents say that every time it rains and vehicles, especially heavy-duty trucks and lumber trucks pass, the breakage becomes wider.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, Ms Annette Ferguson, and Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Mr Sydney Allicock discussing with Region 10 Chairman, Mr Renis Morian ways in which the two ministries and the RDC can collaborate on fixing the road She plans doing so shortly with the help of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA). Minister Ferguson, accompanied by Minister of

Given the magnitude of the work to be done, the RDC had solicited support in having the work commence earliest, and this was promised by Minister Ferguson and Minister Allicock during the visit.

Some residents had taken it upon themselves to construct a make-shift bridge across the breakage, but this can only be used by cars. Councillors of the RDC Works Committee who visited the community last Satur-

day, have conceded that the breakage has indeed widened drastically within a matter of five days. The ministerial team was able to see first-hand other breakages on the road that were caused by water running from the Paramakushi Creek as a result of the culverts being blocked. Besides the breakages, the team also saw first-hand the need to commence as a matter of urgency, the repairs to the main access bridge that has almost lost its support base. As one resident told the Guyana Chronicle, the support base for the bridge is the sand, and that has been separated from the foundation of the bridge. “Something is moving the foundation from the sand, so you find that about three feet of the bridge is exposed. This means that this bridge can break and collapse any time,” the resident said. A similar situation is occurring at the Paramakushi Bridge that is located over the Paramakushi Creek that runs through the community. Residents claim that the large volume of water running under the bridge, coupled with the impact of the lumber trucks, may be the cause of its dilapidated state. Given that the nearest hospital is in Linden, some 18 miles away, Rockstone res-

30 bands for Mash Day A P P R O X I M AT E LY 3 0 bands are expected to be part of this year’s Mashramani float and costume parade, which will put the spotlight on government’s agenda of promoting a “green” economy. “We’re expecting 30 – 32 bands to be on the road, that is what the average has been,” said Mash Event Coordinator, Lennox Canterbury, at a news conference last week. The news conference was held by the Organising Committee at the Ministry of Education’s Department of Culture, Youth and Sport head office on Main Street. The notion of incorporating Guyana’s green economy concept was well received by many of the designers, he said. “What we’re trying to do is as much as stay within the national concept of a green economy. We’ve been meeting with the Mash Camps and

Mash Event Coordinator, Lennox Canterbury discussing with them, use, and recycling of the costumes at the end of the day. We spoke to them with respect to activities like avoiding the footprint; and the use of local indigenous materials,” Canterbury explained.

Canterbury said too that there will be a shift from how some organisations will be displaying their bands. “A number of organisations have somewhat adjusted the way in which they want to do it, not necessarily government

organisations. They are not focusing so much on having big costume bands but looking at the individual pieces, what we call the king the queen, they’re looking to focus on that because they feel they can get more mileage,” Canterbury said. Canterbury, also touched on the change of route to the Brickdam course from the lengthier Church Street journey, noting that the pros and cons were considered and at the end of the day “some want it to go longer, some want it to go shorter, everyone has their liking”. Nonetheless, Canterbury assured that revelers who will be out for the celebrations can expect the usual hype, and fanfare on Mash day, as well as in the activities leading up to Mash Day. Last week’s conference had followed the committee’s release of the “Mashramani 2017 Calen-

NDIA’s CEO, Mr Frederick Flatts inspecting an eroded hole at Rockstone idents fear that if the public infrastructures are not fixed earliest, there may be loss of life and limb. CEO of the NDIA, Mr Fredrick Flatts told the Guyana Chronicle that the entity is willing to lend any needed support to bring relief to the

residents of Rockstone. He also revealed that three mini excavators are, for the first time, being permanently deployed to Region 10 in an effort to bring relief to the many areas therein, especially the Wismar shore, which has been affected by erosion.

dar of Activities” earlier this month. The activities included the continuation of the usual cultural festivities including the Calypso competition, chutney competition, steel band concerts, children’s aspects, masquerade competition, national exhibition, and the new addition of the Indian dance competition. However, many will notice the calendar does not include a Soca competition. The committee explained that this is due to the fact that the competition’s chief sponsor, Ansa McAl could not come on board for the event this year as they were already sponsoring three other private Mashramani related events. However the year will not go without a soca competition, as one will be slated for later in the year. As it relates to the other events, observed under this year’s Mashramani theme of ““Celebration with dignity, liberty and greater unity”, the activities will be done at two levels: the regional and national levels. But even a lot of the national activities is

expected to be held all across the country. “ We t r y a s m u c h t o let people understand that Georgetown is not Guyana. So what we are doing is we’re taking activities at the National level into the regions, even as much as the regions would have their own activities.” Canterbury said. With this aim there are steel band competitions in New Amsterdam, Bartica, Region 10, and Parika; the Junior Calypso competition is set for Bartica; and there’s chutney finals at the Canje Ground in Berbice. Canterbury, was joined at the head table yesterday by the Children’s Mash Coordinator, Desiree Wyles-Ogle and the Steel band Coordinator, Andrew Tyndall. Wyles Ogle, shared that the children’s aspects of the Mash celebrations will also reflect the regional and national aspects, with the grand Children’s Costume and Float Parade set for February 11. This year’s Mashramani activities are set to incur an overall cost of approximately $40 million.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 23, 2017

A safe and suitable environment

TO BUILD a safe and suitable environment for our children to strive and grow, we as parents must first get our priorities straight: and our chil-

dren are our first priority. Children are entitled to a loving caring family, a clean and safe living environment and a childhood. Childhood is the most im-

portant part of our existence. A major part of who we are today as adults, was shaped through our childhood experiences: the challenges we faced

during our childhood and the valuable nurturing we received from people who cared. The people who are meant to provide this ‘childhood’ are the parents. They are responsible for bringing their children into the World and should do their very best to provide for them in an adequate way. But some parents fail miserably at parenting and refuse to seek help or accept it when it is offered; subsequently their children may end up in state care. But where does this leave the child? The child who needs to strive and grow within the security of a family? The child who needs love, care and attention? The child who needs positive childhood experiences? How does being in care affect his/her development? It is stated that ‘For every 3 months that a young child stays in care, their de-

velopment is delayed by one month’. Presently there are hundreds of children living in care who are being denied a proper childhood. Institutional care can be a life saver for children in need or those from difficult circumstances: indeed some children strive better in state care away from uncaring, dysfunctional or abusive parents. Nevertheless it is always a sad state of affairs when children are left to grow up in institutional care. For them the normality of family life or the consistency of having one-to-one love and attention from parents or carers is non-existent. Children need to be supported at every stage of their development by adults who understand and care for them. This is particularly important during their adolescent years. But so many children in care have no link with their families

and no support from family members. They are left totally at the discretion of the state who are responsible for formulating a ‘permanency plan’ in the best interest of every child (or adolescent) in care. For children who have no family connections or the possibility of being reunited with parents or family, there are only two main beneficial options: long-term foster care or adoption. So if YOU are thinking about Adoption or Fostering a child or even just volunteering to help with children in care, call the Childcare and Protection Agency on 227 4082 and talk to a CPA Officer. If you are concerned about the welfare of a child you can ring the CPA hotline 227 0979 or email chilcaregy@gmail.com A Message from the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ministry of Social Protection

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 23, 2017

President still studying CoI findings into drug procurement

PRESIDENT David Granger is currently studying the findings and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report into the unauthorised disclosure of information on the procurement of pharmaceuticals at the Ministry of Public Health. The report, which was compiled by Commissioner Winston Cosbert, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Ret’d) and dated December 12, 2016, has recommended that Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Public Health, Trevor Thomas, be fired and that there be a major shake-up of the Materials and Management Unit (MMU), including the dismissal of an office assistant. Last Thursday, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, when questioned about what action would be taken in

light of the findings and recommendations, told reporters at a post-cabinet press briefing that “His Excellency the President is studying the recommendations and findings of that report and I am certain will act accordingly in due course, in his own deliberate time and judgment.” It was recommended that Thomas be removed due to “his inability to effectively carry out the mandate of the ministry.” The report said Thomas was “willingly evasive and deceptive in his testimony” when questioned by the Board of Inquiry. It was reported that the Permanent Secretary had made inconsistent and deceptive statements during his testimony before the board. Thomas, a career public servant, had been employed at the Ministry of Public Health between 2012 to August 2015 as

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health, Trevor Thomas the ministry’s Deputy Permanent Secretary, but was on September 1, 2015, appointed Permanent Secretary to the said ministry. He had served as PS at several other ministries, as well as the Teaching Service Commission. Meanwhile, the commission has recommended that the Deputy Permanent

Secretary, Colette Adams, be “censured for authorising advance payment on a contract without first perusing the contract.” The explanations provided by Adams were deemed unsatisfactory by the Board and “the Board recommends disciplinary actions that are commensurate to the level of breach or neglect in the performance of her duties.” Additionally, the commission has recommended that Chetwin Felix, Principal Personnel Officer within the Ministry of Public Health, be trained in personnel and office procedures, noting that his demeanour was “adversarial” and he was “very evasive in providing answers to questions put to him.”

It was also recommended that the contract of Finance Manager, Sandra Singh, should not be considered for renewal. “She paid a supplier without seeing the contract for the transaction. Being an experienced person in that particular department, it was prudent for her to have first advised the Deputy Permanent Secretary Adams, or object to such irregular practice, given the fact that Singh is acquainted with the Government Financial Regulation.” Singh is responsible for the Audit Report, signing off payment vouchers and donor funds. She told the commission that part of the system relates to payment of suppliers and is based on

the contractual agreement and noted that if the contract stipulates 30 per cent advance payment, then the Ministry of Public Health is required to pay 30 per cent. She said too that if there is an addendum, then it must be included before payment can be made. It was discovered that the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) was in the practice of awarding contracts to suppliers of pharmaceuticals, services and products, though they were not authorised to distribute same. The procurement and management processes by which the Health Ministry awards contracts for pharmaceuticals, services and supplies to bidders, were not adhered to in many cases.

Bright prospects for Guyana’s economy … new UN report projects rebound for Caribbean economy

AFTER contracting for two consecutive years, the economy of Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to return to positive growth in 2017, but significant external and internal headwinds will persist, according to the United Nations World Economic Situation and

Prospects (WESP) 2017 Report released last week said. According to the report in the Caribbean, the economic situation and prospects vary widely across countries. The Dominican Republic and Guyana are expected to remain the strongest performers in the

sub-region. The outlook is less favourable in the Bahamas, Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago – countries with deep-rooted structural impediments and high vulnerability to external developments. The report shows that world gross product grew by just 2.2 per cent in 2016,

marking the slowest pace of expansion since the Great Recession of 2009. Global growth is projected to improve moderately to 2.7 per cent in 2017 and 2.9 per cent in 2018, but this is more an indication of economic stabilization than a signal of a robust revival of global demand.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 23, 2017 Against this backdrop, GDP in Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to grow by 1.3 per cent in 2017 and 2.1 per cent in 2018, following an estimated contraction of 1 per cent in 2016. The modest recovery is expected to be supported by a pickup in external demand, an increase in commodity prices, and some monetary easing in South America amid lower inflation. Economic prospects vary significantly by sub-region South America’s GDP contracted by an estimated 2.3 per cent in 2016 as the economies of Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, experienced deep recessions. Growth in Chile and Colombia also slowed notably from 2015. Among the few bright spots in the sub-region were the Plurinational State of Bolivia and Peru, which have largely defied the regional downturn due to robust private and government consumption. South America is expected to see a mild economic recovery over the next two years. Growth is forecast at 0.9 per cent in 2017 and 2 per cent in 2018, with Argentina and Brazil, the sub-region’s largest economies, expected to emerge from recession. The recovery is, however, projected to be relatively shallow, especially in Brazil, as rising unemployment, continuing fiscal consolidation and growing indebtedness continue to weigh on domestic demand. Average growth in Mexico and Central America, is expected to remain modest, with GDP forecast to expand by 2.3 per cent in 2017 and 2.2 per cent in 2018 amid significant uncertainty. In the face of low oil prices, sluggish industrial production in the United States and tight monetary and fiscal policy, Mexico’s economy has grown by only about 2 per cent in 2016. The outcome of the elections in the United States, has further complicated Mexico’s short- to medium-term outlook; with investment projected to decline further, annual GDP growth is forecast to remain close to 2 per cent in 2017 and 2018. The relatively weak performance of the Mexican economy contrasts with ro-

bust growth in parts of Central America. Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama, are forecast to see GDP growth of more than 4 per cent in 2017/18 amid buoyant public investment, strong private consumption and dynamic tourism industries. There are significant risks to the outlook The report cautions that there are significant risks to the global and the regional outlook. Among other issues, the report highlights the high degree of uncertainty in the international policy environment and elevated foreign currency-denominated debt levels as key downside risks that may derail global growth. For Latin America and the Caribbean, major risk factors are a sharper-than-expected slowdown in China, the potential adoption of protectionist measures by the new Administration in the United States and renewed financial market turbulences. The latter could, for example, be triggered by a faster-than-expected pace of interest rate hikes in the United States. The report notes that the medium-term growth outlook for many Latin American and Caribbean economies is clouded by persistent structural weaknesses, including a high dependence on commodities and low productivity growth. A prolonged period of weak growth could pose a threat to the social achievements of the past decade and complicate the region’s path towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The report calls for a reorientation of macroeconomic and other policies to more effectively promote investment in physical and human capital and strengthen innovative capacities across the region. The World Economic Situation and Prospects report is the UN’s flagship publication on expected trends in the global economy. The WESP is produced annually by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/ DESA), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the five UN regional commissions and the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). The report is available from http://bit. ly/WESP

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 23, 2017

Bethanians turning more to farming there are not many issues affecting the settlement, since most young people are disciplined and do not waste away their lives.

Toshao Harold Manslow

WITH a slowdown in logging activities, some Bethany residents are beginning to shift their attention more to farming as a means to secure their livelihoods. This is according to toshao of the settlement, Harold Manslow, who said that the decline in logging is due to more villagers nowadays opting to go into the mining industry, where employment opportunities are more lucrative. He pointed out that with time, certain traditions change and young people today who remain in the village seem more interested in farming than logging. The village has an area of about 200 acres of land open for cultivation, but only about 30 per cent of it is cultivated. Toshao Manslow wants to widen the acreage of lands cultivated, but said a proper drainage and irrigation system will have to be

put in place. The Guyana Chronicle was told that in order to open up the land east of the settlement to more cultivation, a canal about a mile long will have to be dug. Some years ago, a canal of about a mile in length was excavated to open up the land to farming, but phase two of the project was never completed. Toshao Manslow told this publication that he would be grateful if the Government steps in and completes phase two of the project, which was abandoned for reasons unknown to him. He said the Village Council wants to extend plantain cultivation, since there is a ready market for the produce in some areas on the Essequibo Coast, Parika and Georgetown. And by virtue of the expansion, some young villagers will gain employment. According to Manslow,

WOMEN’S GROUP Next to him was a young single mother named Petra Brock-Richard, a member of the Bethany Women’s Group. Brock-Richard said the group, founded in the 1990s, currently has 20 members who engage mainly in sewing. They sew pillow cases and towels and when they have a certain quantity, they would organise a village sale. The young mother said the response has always been overwhelming. Unlike most of the other women, Brock-Richard also does

tailoring and sees it as a means of financial empowerment. Recently, villagers through self-help built a centre from money given through Government’s Presidential Grant to accommodate more women interested in sewing, but the centre is yet to open its doors. When it becomes operational, it will become a training ground for women of the village interested in learning the art of sewing. Brock-Richard said the goal is to get the centre up to capacity, so that it will be able to produce uniforms for every schoolchild in Bethany, bringing an end to their annual trip on the Essequibo Coast to get same. With a building at their

Farmlands are located east of Bethany and they are accessible by boat

Petra Brock-Richard

disposal, the Bethany Women’s Group is hoping to attract more young members into its fold, but needs more sewing machines. Currently, the group is managing with only two

and needs about five more to sew and are training others in sewing. The group made up of mainly housewives and farmers are appealing to Government to help their worthy cause.

Scenic Bethany

A modern community centre at Bethany, Essequibo Coast, Region Two

An area in the forest was cleared to create the Bethany Recreational Park

BETHANY is an Indigenous settlement, about 17 square kilometres in size and located approximately five miles up the Supenaam Creek from the Supenaam Stelling, Essequibo Coast, Region Two. A peaceful forested community, Bethany is home to some 462 residents, some 30 per cent of whom are below age 18. Residents depend on logging and farming to earn a living, and because of limited employment opportunities, many young people over the years have migrated from the village in search of greener pastures on the coastland. The date of establishment of the village is not clear, but it is believed that the village was born sometime in the 1880s,

when bands of nomadic Indigenous peoples from Mashabo, Tapacuma, and the Pomeroon began to settle there. The early villagers, village elders told the Guyana Chronicle, were looking for an area to carry on their forestry activities, hunt and plant when they stumbled upon Bethany. The settlement provided all that they were looking for: it was in the forest, part of it had fertile land, it was near the creek and as such provided them with an abundant supply of fish, and not too far in the creek was a Dutch sawmill. The early villagers played a part in providing the hydro-operated mill with logs and were rewarded through a system of barter. Today, the sawmill is

no longer in operation, but remnants of its existence in the form of dykes remain. From the inception, the sparsely populated settlement was a logging community, and it remains so even to this day. Elderly residents told the Guyana Chronicle that they are fond of the peaceful, scenic and simple life of the village as they invite others to visit the settlement. Bethany can be accessed from the speedboat stelling, located at the mouth of the Essequibo River. The journey to the settlement is about 15 minutes by speedboat, and is one that includes traversing through narrow, meandering areas of the vast black fresh-water creek. At several points in the

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 23, 2017

The Bethany Primary and Nursery schools are housed in one building

The area in the creek where residents bathe

creek, there are springs gushing out cool water. There are also other areas that are so clear, that one can see at the bottom of the creek at a depth of six feet. This publication was taken to an area where residents bathe. The sandy area was surrounded by huge hardwood trees and the water from the creek was fresh as water right out of an artesian well. The bathing area of the creek looked like an ideal place for relaxation, and according to residents, it is a really nice place to â€œthrowback,â€? never mind the anacondas that pass through, some of which are about 20 feet in length. For the elderly residents, the sight of big snakes seem to be a normal sight, but the story

was enough to cause this publication to hurry out of the area. Out of the creek, the vast area of land is dotted with beautiful small houses and trees ranging from coconut, to awara, to plantain. Bethany has a primary and nursery school, a modern community centre, a recreational park, a health centre, an airstrip, a medical missionary college and a Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Bethanians are friendly people and the majority appear to be staunch Seventh- day Adventists. They all live in peace and harmony among themselves. Those who are not into logging, cultivate bora, pak choi, eddo, yam, plantain and pumpkin, among other greens and vegetables. A portion of the pro-

duce is sold in the settlement, while the remainder is sold at markets at Suddie, Anna Regina and Charity. The settlement seems to have no major problem with the exception of a few cases of suicide, teenage pregnancy and drug and alcohol abuse. These aside, Bethanians are a happy people and have a very good sense of humour. When the Guyana Chronicle completed the tour of the settlement and interviews with residents, it was time for a group photograph and a group shot was requested. Within seconds, bottles of Banko wine, El Dorado rum and Ivanov Vodka with glasses and ice appeared. Residents there are a people of very cheerful spirit.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 23, 2017

A remote college of healing SITTING on an area of about 60 acres, the Bethany Medical Missionary College is a regional evangelical school unknown to many. The school was established in 2015 and it teaches ways on how to use natural medicine and therapy to heal ailments, be it stroke, diabetes, hypertension or heart diseases. According to the school’s principal, Calvin Bollers, the institution founded less

than two years ago, provides healing through the use of natural medicine while propagating the gospel. Since the college began operations, it has opened its doors to students throughout Guyana, the Caribbean and South America, and according to Bollers, in the near future it will be seeking out students from the U.S., Europe, Asia and Africa. The campus, located in a hilly garden setting has dormitories for male and female

students, living quarters for visitors and tutors, a home for the principal, a cafeteria, a machine shop and a wellness centre. The wellness centre is not yet open, but is expected to be operational before year-end, Bollers told the Guyana Chronicle. The school is part of the Guyana Adventists Missionary and Services, Guyana Chapter, which is under the supervision of the Gospel

A dormitory on campus at the Bethany Medical Missionary College

Ministries International, Tennessee, USA. Currently, it has seven students, five of whom are from Guyana with the other two being from Trinidad and Tobago and St Vincent and the Grenadines. The students are instructed in a six-month programme which includes Bible studies and Bible doctrines; and First Aid, hydro-therapy, basic nursing, anatomy and physiology. Tuition at the college is provided free of cost, but students are required to fund their boarding and lodging. The Guyana Chronicle attempted to speak with students on the remote campus, but was unable to do so as they were in the classroom,in the middle of a lesson. Bollers said infrastructural work on the college is almost complete and it will be moving to become more self-sufficient in the coming years. The campus is using water harnessed from the springs in the creek, and has to use a pump to get water into the dormitories and oth-

Bethany Medical Missionary College Principal, Calvin Bollers

er buildings. The principal is looking to build a well and windmill to adequately serve the water and electricity needs of the campus and would be extending the auditorium of the instructional centre to cater for large functions. This aside, it will also be paying keener attention

to agricultural expansion to better serve the needs of residents on campus. The school, according to Bollers, is supported by the community and through gifts and donations from generous individuals and organisations. Just behind the campus is a small airstrip.

A masjid built by an African tribe By Mohamed Khan

THE Queenstown masjid was built in 1780 by several Fulani tribes of African descent who came from Senegambia. The Fulani families on arrival on a slave ship at Queenstown built a small masjid with thatched roof and walls made of wattle and mud. The floor was the earth. In those days, the Muslims and Christian slaves were prevented from practising their religions. Quite a few slaves were Muslims, while many others had their own tribal beliefs. Later, the Imaams were permitted in the masjid and were allowed to preach to the slaves on Fridays (Jummah naamaz). The Muslim slaves were brought by the British and Dutch to labour on the coffee, cotton and sugar plantations. Among them were the Fulani-Hausa tribe, traditionally the pastoral and nomadic cattle herders from West Africa, many of whom had settled on the three cotton and coffee plantations at Dageraad, West Tuid and Mocha. They were called “fullah man” because of their religion and their common language which they brought from West Africa

The Queenstown masjid, Essequibo Coast

and particularly those who came from the fula-speaking areas of Senegambia. By the time slavery was abolished in 1834, any presence of Islam among the slaves had long diminished. Nonetheless, up until the 21st century, a number of Africans from Queenstown Village still bore their Islamic names and have reverted to their original religion, Islam.

No doubt, they would have developed Islam as their religion, much coming to terms with the fate from West Africa and from their forefathers and overcome by a sense of frustration and futility from continuously testing the chains of slavery. They would have known of the life of responsibility for wife and children; knowing when it

was time to pray five times a day, time to sow and time to reap and when and how to hunt and fish and needing no master to so direct them. This masjid, which was built by the Fulani tribe is the oldest among four others which is Lima, Aurora, Maria’s Delight and Jacklow. Today, there are 17 mosques across the Esse-

quibo Coast and Pomeroon and each has its own Imam, Muezzin and reciters of the Koran. The Imaam of the Queenstown Masjid is brother Semple and he has a congregation of 50 brothers and sisters, who worship five times a day and every Friday at Jummah. The mosque is located next to the first African Christian slave tem-

ple on the last street of Queenstown near the burial ground. The name Queenstown is derived from Queen Elizabeth of England. This very masjid was rebuilt three times and the brothers and sisters of the Muslim community as well as other Imaams have kept the spirit of Islam alive.

Personality Profile

RONALD Ragoobeer, called “Sir Danny”, 42, is headmaster of Bethany Primary School, a post he has

been holding for the past two years. Ragoobeer, whose strength is teaching method-

ology, said on taking over the leadership of the school, two things became noticeable to him very early.

One, was that pupils there had great potential and two, the method used by teachers to deliver content was weak. The latter he quickly set about to change and was able achieve noteworthy success, as students’ pass rates in almost every class improved by at least 50 per cent. “Key in learning is the teacher’s method of delivery. The teacher must be engaging and must be able to stimulate students to think and guide them in problem-solving problems. Only then learning will be an enriching exercise,” he told the Guyana Chronicle. Ragoobeer, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Guyana and has been a teacher for some 26 years, said Bethany Primary School is moving forward, and he has urged teachers there to keep up the trend. A father of five children, the headmaster said he loves children and loves teaching, pointing out that while money is important, the profession is about molding minds.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 23, 2017 Ragoobeer has taught ing, Headmaster Ragoobeer at many primary schools, spends time with his family including Mashabo and Ca- and writes drama, poetry and poey on the Essequibo Coast short stories. He is working on a novand St John’s and Marlborough in the Pomeroon River. el called “The Good Old When he is not teach- Days” and a Math book for Grade Five pupils.

Headmaster Ronald Ragoobeer

Always thinking ahead

-- Bethany Health Centre a model worthy of emulation

THE Bethany Health Centre is a model worthy of emulation by all health centres throughout Guyana, but especially in the hinterland regions, when it comes to ordering and storage of medicine. Even though the deep riverine centre is about 20 miles from the Suddie Hospital, it is perhaps the only health centre which is never out of drugs. Romona Thomas, a midwife who mans the centre, told the Guyana Chronicle that she has been a health worker in the settlement for the past 14 years and is familiar with the health symptoms of the village. “At certain times of the year, the place is very hot and at other times it is rainy. These conditions bring with them health issues, whether it may be a cold or fever. During these times, I order medicine to treat these illnesses and the excess amount, I store them, and I make sure they are never out of stock.

Only emergency cases I refer to the Suddie Hospital, which is the main hospital on the Essequibo Coast,” she told the Guyana Chronicle, pointing out that the simple remedy to deal with a shortage is to “think ahead.” This simple strategy has kept the villagers of Bethany in good health, and they have come to know Midwife Thomas as someone they can count on. Some of the common illnesses of the settlement include respiratory infections and diarrhoea, with very few cases of typhoid, hypertension and diabetes. “On occasion, I also treat injuries due to accidents, where someone falls off a tractor or was hit by a tractor or persons suffer injuries in a fight,” she said. This publication understands that fights among villagers seldom occur and when they do, the majority of the times they are fist fights fuelled by alcohol

abuse. The residents sang high praises for Thomas whom, they contend, work above and beyond the call of duty and can be reached at any time, in any day of the week. But all is not well for Midwife Thomas. She related to this newspaper that the health centre does not have a cleaner and in an effort to ensure its , so that she can dedicate more of her time to practise and to her family. The absence of a cleaner apart, the centre does not have lights and this makes work at nights a challenge, said Thomas, who noted that on many occasions she had to use a torchlight to work. The Guyana Chronicle was told that regional officials have promised to fix this situation sooner rather later and to also give the settlement a boat, especially for cases of medical emergencies.

The Bethany Health Centre, Essequibo Coast, Region Two

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 23, 2017

Steering committee to oversee IDB-funded justice system project

CABINET has granted its approval for the establishment of a steering committee for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded support for the criminal justice system project. Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman,

said that the project will focus on the high concentration of prison populations in Guyana with the aim of reducing the proportion of inmates who are pre-trial detainees and increasing the use of alternative sentencing in the country. Trotman, at a post Cabi-

net press briefing on Thursday, told reporters that the committee will â€œprovide oversight and strategic directions and recommendations and ensure the coordination of programme activities with those of the various government offices that will be affected by its

implementation.â€? The steering committee will comprise representatives from the Min-

istries of Legal Affairs, Public Security, Social Protection and Finance, along with the Supreme

Court of Judicature and Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (GINA)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 23, 2017

$58M upgrade for the Palms

MUCH-needed renovations are well underway at The Palms on Brickdam, home to some 240 elderly folks, and the oldest and largest such facility in the country. In addition to infrastructural improvements, the institution will also see an improvement in the services it offers, one of which is the stationing of a medical doctor on site during the day, and having one on call during the night. In serious cases, however, residents will be referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

A section of the Palms where construction is being carried out

According to Ms Mavis Wiggins, who has been residing at the facility for some six years now, there has been some improvement in the meals they’re being served. Ms Wiggins, who’s a diabetic, said she welcomes the renovations, as the walkways are so low, that during the rainy seasons, they become flooded, making it hard to move around. An estimated $58M has been allocated to the renovations of the Home, and according to the Administrator, Ms Samantha Douglas, she too

welcomes the changes. “This year, we are doing a number of repairs. Ward Three, the ground floor, is under construction... which would boost the ward for the residents that would re-locate back there,” she said, adding: “We are also going to do some interior painting, and install some lifts, where it would make access to the ward much easier.” Also on the cards, she said, are training programmes for staff, as well as the improvement of the driveways within

the compound. According to the Director of Social Services in the Ministry of Social Protection, Mr Wentworth Tanner, a total of three lifts will be installed at the institution so as to help wheelchair-bound residents get around easily, as well as with the provision of meals and laundry among other services. Plans are currently being discussed to collaborate with the Night Shelter to have their residents treated at the Palms’ infirmary when it is completed. (GINA)

Laptop thief jailed for 24 months CITY Magistrate Faith McGusty on Friday sentenced a man to 24 months’ imprisonment after he admitted stealing a laptop. Julian McRae admitted the allegation which stated that on January 4, 2017 at Lamaha Springs, Georgetown, he stole one ASUS laptop worth $80,000, property of Tenesha Bristol. In his explanation to the court, McRae said he saw the laptop in the house in which he resides, picked it up and took it to someone at Demico House, to whom he pawned it for $10,000. When the magistrate asked what he did with the money, he replied: “I just came out of a surgery, and my two children call and asked for money; and I pawn it for $10,000 and give them $5,000.”

Albouystown man remanded for gun, ‘ammo’ possession AN unemployed Albouystown man was on Thursday remanded to prison by City Magistrate Faith McGusty after he was detained and subsequently charged for the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. Odell Hicks, 27, of Independence Boulevard, denied the allegation, which stated that on January 17, at Mandela Avenue, he had in his possession one .38 pistol and three live matching rounds. According to prosecutor Sean Blackman, on Tuesday night, police ranks were on mobile patrol on Mandela Avenue, when they observed Hicks, who was riding a bicycle in the vicinity of ‘The Well’, drop a metal-looking object upon seeing them and attempted to escape. When a search was made of the area, Blackman said, the police found the firearm and ammunition. The matter has been adjourned until February 9.

Bailed for unlawful wounding A WEST Ruimveldt man was on Friday placed on $40,000 bail by City Magistrate Faith McGusty after he was charged for unlawful wounding. It was alleged that on April 9, 2016, Deon Turnhill, wounded Wendell Padro, causing him actual bodily harm. The facts of the matter were not stated. However, Police Prosecutor, Seon Blackman, asked that the defendant be placed on reasonable bail. The matter has been adjourned until February 14, 2017.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 23, 2017

Rivers View residents fear ancestral lands will be taken away

RESIDENTS of Rivers View in Region 10, (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), continue to seek answers as to why their community’s map has been redrawn to include a demarcation line and not the inhabited section. Their anxiety has increased ten-fold, after learning that the map may have been redrawn to sell the land to a private investor who has plans to build a hotel there. In 2015, the residents were provided with a new map by former Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Ms Pauline Sukhai. According to former Toshao, Mr Elvis Williams, it was the said minister who, without merit and logical explanation, approved the drawing of the demarcation line on the community’s map. The line at reference has somehow managed to exclude the 15-mile, 7000-foot span of land at the front of the Essequibo River that occupies all of the homes, farms, government offices and other important buildings. The original map of Rivers View, residents say, spanned from the Makouria Creek to the Badawarin Creek; they further claim that they have leases for the lands they occupy, which permits them to farm as well. Now the approximately 1500 residents say they not only feel like a flock of sheep without a shepherd, but are also afraid that at any minute their lands may be taken away from them. They are also worried that their homes and farms that they took years to build and develop may be demolished. Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton also owns a homestead in the excluded zone. ANCESTRAL AND CULTURAL Deputy Toshao of Rivers View, Ms Trisha Williams, told the Guyana Chronicle that the residents view the lands as ancestral and cultural, and had many years ago applied for their leases, which they were granted. However, because many residents failed to renew their leases and to pay the fees, she believes that the former administration used this negligence to redraw the map and to sell the land to a private developer. “Apparently, some developer was supposed to buy the land; and that is why they excluded the entire front part, because they would have realised that although the residents hold leases for the lands, they were not making payments up to date,” Williams said. She said that currently, the occupied section of Rivers View is now designated an unnamed Amerindian Titled Community, or a reservation. The uninhabited segment, on the other hand, which is now deemed Rivers View, is basically forest where the residents do logging. Williams said that by the time the revised map was shown to the residents, it was too late for them to do anything. “What we would have been made aware of,” she said, “was that the legal part had already been finalised; and we would have had to send back a request saying that we are asking for an extension on the present title that they handed over, to claim back the part that was excluded.” Since then, Williams said, Rivers View residents have been engaging the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on the matter, so that the Regional Chairman can make representation to the government on their behalf. BROUGHT TO THE FORE During a visit to the community last Thursday by a team of regional officials, including Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira and Regional Chairman Renis Morian, the issue was brought to the fore. After hearing them out, Morian promised the residents that he will continue to fight the case until the line is removed from the map. He also promised to engage Minister of State, Mr Joseph Harmon and Chief Executive Officer of Lands and Survey, Mr. Trevor Benn, on the issue earliest. Morian stressed that the lands are ancestral and cultural, and as such should have never been taken away from the people. The residents expressed fear that one day, their entire lives can be upturned, and are hoping that the situation is clarified earliest.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 23, 2017

Bravo future remains in doubt THE immediate future of West Indies batsman Darren Bravo remains under a cloud of doubt as recent meetings with Cricket West Indies (CWI) have failed to bear fruit. The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) had been hopeful that it would have been possible for the player to take part in the upcoming CWI Regional Super50 tournament, but those hopes are quickly fad-

ing as the player remains suspended. Bravo was axed from the West Indies squad in November of last year after referring to Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Dave Cameron as an ‘idiot’ on social media website Twitter. The cricketer had taken exception to the official’s comments, which suggested he had been given the lowest retainer contract from CWI because of consistently poor performances. The CWI had demanded an apology and that the player remove the offending statement. Bravo was left out of the Red Force’s team when it was selected last week and is expected to continue meeting with the CWI this week. The Super50 tournament gets under way on Tuesday in Antigua and Barbados.(Sportsmax.com)

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Flamingo Park 08:00 hrs Hatton Garden 08:25 hrs Stone Pine 08:50 hrs Caribbean Bay 09:20 hrs Trade Emblem 09:50 hrs Amanga 10:20 hrs Lady Duchess ENGLISH RACING TIPS Newcastle 09:40 HRS Nafaath 10:10 hrs Maxed Out King 10:40 hrs Quietly 11:10 hrs No Planning 11:40 hrs Perseid 12:10 hrs Halycon Days BANGOR 09:50 hrs The Bay Oak 10:20 hrs Dinsdale 10:50 hrs Whiskey Chaser 11:20 hrs Rolling Thunder 12:20 hrs Only A Tipple Wolverhampton 10:00 hrs American Patrol 10:30 hrs Poppy May 11:00 hrs The Last Debuntante 12:00 hrs Eurato 12:30 hrs Tangramm 13:00 hrs Gossiping 13:30 hrs Humn mFor The Dudes AMERICAN RACING TIPS Philadelphia Park Race 1 Shipthegrip Race 2 Little Sister Race 3 Kandi With a K Race 4 Pura Vida Zen Race 5 Stormy Princes Race 6 Full of Mine Race 7 Pomeroy’s Package Race 8 Hide a Rose Race 9 Hearty Jones Race10 Honor Commitment

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 23, 2017

Debutant Sandakan helps Sri Lanka level T20 series REUTERS)-Sri Lanka leftarm spinner Lakshan Sandakan took four wickets on his debut in a three-wicket (victory over new-look South Africa that levelled the three-match Twenty20 series yesterday. Hosts South Africa won the toss and elected to bat but were bowled out for 113 by the tourists three balls before the end of their innings at The Wanderers. Sri Lanka were rocked by an early burst from exciting 20-year-old fast bowler Lungisani Ngidi (4-19) but chipped away at the target and completed the win with two balls left as captain Angelo Mathews led the way with an unbeaten 54 from 50 balls. The deciding match in the three-game series will be played in Cape Town on Wednesday. South Africa’s batsmen struggled from the start with only opener Heino Kuhn (29) and captain Farhaan Behardien (27) offering anything of substance as the home side managed just nine fours and two sixes in their innings. Sri Lanka’s bowling attack produced an excel-

Hutson returned as AAG president for another four years By Tamica Garnett

Lakshan Sandakan had an afternoon to remember with four wickets on his debut

lent line that made scoring difficult, with Sandakan (4-23) and seamer Isuru Udana (3-13) doing most of the damage. Sandakan became the first Sri Lankan to take a wicket off his first ball in Twenty20 internationals when he had Mangaliso Mosehle caught by wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal for 11.

Fast bowler Ngidi, who made his debut in South Africa’s 19-run win in the first match of the series in Pretoria on Friday, was again impressive as he accounted for the top-four batsmen. But Mathews provided the glue to keep Sri Lanka’s chase together with an excellently paced innings and delivered the killer blow.

He was hobbling with cramp when the tourists needed seven off the last over bowled by spinner JonJon Smuts and, after being dropped off the first ball, launched the second delivery into the stands for a six to level the scores. Another blow over the boundary rope two balls later handed Sri Lanka victory.

Day three of second Test washed out

DAY three of the second Test between New Zealand and Bangladesh was washed out due to heavy rain yesterday. Umpires officially abandoned play at the start of the final session without a ball being bowled at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Play will resume today at 10:30 (local time) to make up for lost time. T h e s e c o n d Te s t r e mains evenly poised, with New Zealand 260-7 in response to Bangladesh’s first innings total of 289. Tim Southee and Henry Nicholls are unbeaten at the crease as the Black Caps still trail by 29 runs with three wickets remaining. Shakib Al Hasan (332) and Kamrul Islam Rabbi (2-48) have starred for the tourists. The Kiwis lead the two-Test series 1-0 following their remarkable seven-wicket victory in Wellington.

BUSINESSMAN,Aubrey Hutson,yesterday defeated Army Major, Shen Fung, six votes to three to return as president of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) for a second term, when the body held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and election of office bearers at the National Resource Centre on Woolford Avenue. Hutson will continue to head the AAG for another four years, and stated that he was honoured to be re-elected to the post. Hutson said that in going forward, the association will be looking to work with a plan that allows room for more personalisation. “Our plan will have to constantly be tweaked based on the personnel that we are having.(We) understand athletics is very dynamic,so we would have to constantly work. It has to do with development, development, development, it has to do with sitting with the coaches, so we can work with their athletes for them to run the kind of times and jump the distances that will get us Olympic medals. It’s a constant process, it’s not a one brush paint all.There’s not one way to raise an athlete or coach an athlete so we have to constantly work with them. Our plan is,yes,we want to get medals at the Olympics, but it’s based on what we have;we have to work with it to move our sport forward,” Hutson told the media corps following his re-election yesterday. He will be supported by a team of executives that will include vice- presidents,Amanda Hermanstine,Assistant Superintendent of police,and Colin Ming, who respectively received six and five votes to take their positions. Hermanstine and businessman Mr Ming received more votes than Godfrey Washington and Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Secretary General, Hector Edwards,who each had three votes. Also in the pool, but not making it through was former AAG president, Colin Boyce. Hermanstine ascended from her previous position as assistant treasurer. Niall Stanton was also returned to his position as the Association’s treasurer. Taking over from Hermanstine, as assistant treasurer, will be former athlete Elton Bollers. Other members elected were the five committee members:Keith Campbell, who topped the pool with seven votes, Lyndon Wilson (6), Yvonne October (6), Silus Brummell (5) and Buster Wright (4).

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 23, 2017

Stokes stars as England earn thrilling five-run win (REUTERS)-Ben Stokes hit a brisk half-century and then picked up three crucial wickets to help England to a tense five-run win against India in the third and final one-day international at the Eden Gardens yesterday. It was a consolation victory for England and their first on their tour of India after they lost the five-test series 4-0 and both previous ODIs. Opener Jason Roy hit 65, his third consecutive fifty, before half-centuries from Jonny Bairstow (56) and Stokes took England to 321-8 after India won the toss and chose to field. England seemed set for a comprehensive win despite an injury to seamer David Willey as India lost their top five batsmen for 173 but Kedar Jadhav (90) and Hardik Pandya brought the hosts back in the match with a sixth-wicket stand of 104. With India needing 16 off Chris Woakes’ final over, Jadhav, who scored a century in the first ODI at Pune, smashed the paceman for a six and a four but was

an opening partnership of 98. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja sent both the openers back in quick succession but Bairstow, brought into the side for the injured Joe Root, and captain Eoin Morgan kept England flowing with an 84-run stand

for the third wicket. Stokes provided the late flourish with four boundaries and two sixes in his 39-ball 57. India and England will now play three Twenty20 internationals, starting with the first match on Thursday.

SCOREBOARD

India’s ODI squad and support staff celebrate a 2-1 series win over after the 3rd ODI in Kolkata.

then caught by Sam Billings at deep cover after two dot balls. The hosts finished on 316-9. Stokes’s last visit to Eden Gardens last April ended in a personal nightmare as Carlos Brathwaite smashed him for four consecutive sixes in the final over to win the World Twenty20 title for West In-

dies. On Sunday, the seamer first dismissed India’s best batsman Virat Kohli for 55 before returning to remove Pandya for 56 and break his dangerous partnership with Jadhav. India had just taken 16 runs off Woakes in the 47th over and needed 27 in 18

balls when England captain Eoin Morgan called on Stokes to bowl his final over. Stokes gave away just four runs, added the wicket of Ravichandran Ashwin to his tally and finish with 3-63. Earlier, Roy and Billings (35), who replaced the injured Alex Hales, gave England a strong start with

ENGLAND INNINGS J. Roy b Jadeja 65 S. Billings c Bumrah b Jadeja 35 J. Bairstow c Jadeja b H. Pandya 56 E. Morgan c Bumrah b H. Pandya 43 J. Buttler c Rahul b H. Pandya 11 B. Stokes not out 57 M. Ali c Jadeja b Bumrah 2 C. Woakes run out (Dhoni, B. Kumar) 34 L. Plunkett run out (Dhoni) 1 Extras: (b-1 lb-8 nb-1 w-7) 17 Total: (for 8 wickets, 50 overs) 321 Fall of wickets: 1-98 S. Billings, 2-110 J. Roy, 3-194 E. Morgan, 4-212 J. Buttler, 5-237 J. Bairstow, 6-246 M. Ali, 7-319 C. Woakes, 8-321 L. Plunkett Did not bat: D. Willey, J. Ball Bowling: B. Kumar 8-0-56-0 (w2), H. Pandya 10-1-49-3 (w-1), J. Bumrah 10-1-68-1 (nb-1 w-3), Y. Singh 3-0-17-0, R. Jadeja 10-0-62-2, R. Ashwin 9-0-60- 0 (w-1)

INDIA INNINGS A. Rahane b Willey 1 L. Rahul c Buttler b Ball 11 V. Kohli c Buttler b Stokes 55 Y. Singh c Billings b Plunkett 45 M. Dhoni c Buttler b Ball 25 K. Jadhav c Billings b Woakes 90 H. Pandya b Stokes 56 R. Jadeja c Bairstow b Woakes 10 R. Ashwin c Woakes b Stokes 1 B. Kumar not out 0 J. Bumrah not out 0 Extras: (lb-8 nb-1 w-13) 22 Total: (for 9 wickets, 50 overs) 316 Fall of wickets: 1-13 A. Rahane, 2-37 L. Rahul, 3-102 V. Kohli, 4-133 Y. Singh, 5-173 M. Dhoni, 6-277 H. Pandya, 7-291 R. Jadeja, 8-297 R. Ashwin, 9-316 K. Jadhav Bowling: C. Woakes 10-0-75-2 (nb-1), D. Willey 2-0-8-1 (w-5), J. Ball 10-0-56-2 (w-1), L. Plunkett 10-0-65-1 (w-2), B. Stokes 10-0-63-3 (w-5), M. Al 8-0-41–0.

Aussies seal ODI series after Warner’s fiery 130 (REUTERS)-David Warner’s 12th one-day international hundred and brisk fifties from Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head set up Australia for an 86-run win over Pakistan in the fourth match yesterday as the hosts secured an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series. The diminutive opening batsman smashed 130 for his sixth ton in his last 11 innings at the Sydney Cricket Ground, including his century before lunch in the third Test against the same opponents in January. Maxwell then pulverised the Pakistan attack with his 78 off 44 balls and added a quick-fire 100 for the fourth wicket with Head, who hit 51 off 36 balls, as the hosts piled up 353-6 in their 50 overs after winning the toss and opting to bat. Pakistan needed to pull

off the highest successful ODI chase on Australian soil to keep the series alive but lacked the required firepower in their batting and were bundled out for 267 with six overs remaining in their innings. Left-handed opener Sharjeel Khan top-scored for the touring side with his 74 off 47 balls keeping Pakistan in the hunt for the early part of their chase. Australia’s paceman Josh Hazlewood and leg-spinner Adam Zampa, playing in his first match of the series, picked up three wickets each. DROPPED CATCHES It was a forgettable day for Pakistan in the field as they dropped at least five catches and gave away extra runs through misfields and overthrows. Warner put together a breezy 92-run opening

stand with Usman Khawaja, who was caught behind for 30 and became the first of seamer Hasan Ali’s five wickets. Warner, who hit 11 fours and two sixes in his 119-ball knock, added 120 for the second wicket with captain Steve Smith which gave Australia an ideal

platform for a huge total. “It’s the home crowd, absolutely love playing here,” Warner said after being presented with the man of the match award. “I was quite slow tonight, but it’s always special to put the boys in a great position.” Hasan dismissed Warner

David Warner is delighted after bringing up his first ODI hundred against Pakistan in Sydney,yesterday.

and Smith, who made 49 after being dropped on 10, in the space of three deliveries but it did not hamper Australia’s quest for quick runs. Maxwell was dropped on eight and made Pakistan pay for their profligacy by hitting 10 fours

and a six in his innings as Australia accumulated 118 runs in their last 10 overs. Head smashed four sixes and two fours in his 36ball knock.The fifth and final match of the series will be played in Adelaide on Thursday.

AUSTRALIA INNINGS U. Khawaja c Rizwan b H. Ali 30 D. Warner c Rizwan b H. Ali 130 S. Smith lbw b H. Ali 49 T. Head c Malik b Amir 51 G. Maxwell c Sh. Khan b H. Ali 78 M. Wade c Wasim b H. Ali 5 M. Starc not out 0 Extras: (lb-8 nb-2) 10 Total: (for 6 wickets, 50 overs) 353 Fall of wickets: 1-92 U. Khawaja, 2-212 D. Warner, 3-213 S. Smith, 4-313 T. Head, 5-339 M. Wade, 6-353 G. Maxwell Did not bat: P. Handscomb, P. Cummins, A. Zampa, J. Hazlewood Bowling: M. Hafeez 9-0-54-0, M. Amir 10-0-75-1, J. Khan 100-82-0 (nb-1), H. Ali 10-1-52-5 (nb-1), I. Wasim 9-0-69-0, S. Malik 2- 0-13-0

PAKISTAN INNINGS Az. Ali c Smith b Hazlewood 7 Sh. Khan c Warner b Zampa 74 B. Azam c Hazlewood b Head 31 M. Hafeez c sub b Zampa 40 S. Malik c Warner b Head 47 U. Akmal c Cummins b Starc 11 M. Rizwan lbw b Zampa 10 I. Wasim c Wade b Hazlewood 25 M. Amir c Wade b Cummins 5 H. Ali not out 8 J. Khan b Hazlewood 0 Extras: (lb-5 w-4) 9 Total: (all out, 43.5 overs) 267 Fall of wickets: 1-15 Az. Ali, 2-88

SCOREBOARD

B. Azam, 3-119 Sh. Khan, 4-183 M. Hafeez, 5-215 S. Malik, 6-218 U. Akmal, 7-245 M. Rizwan, 8-252 M. Amir, 9-267 I. Wasim, 10-267 J. Khan

Bowling: M. Starc 7-0-42-1 (w-3), J. Hazlewood 8.5-0-54-3, P. Cummins 8-0-45-1, T. Head 100-66-2, A. Zampa 10-0-55-3 (w-1)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 23, 2017

Costa back to fire Chelsea, Wenger sent off as Arsenal chase …ailing champions Leicester City beaten 3-0

(REUTERS)-Diego Costa returned for Chelsea with deadly effect yesterday, scoring in the 2-0 win over Hull City which increased their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points after Arsenal had earlier taken up the mantle as their nearest pursuers. The Gunners beat Burnley 2-1 at the Emirates where the real drama came in injury time when each side scored a penalty and Arsene Wenger clashed with the fourth official after being sent off for disputing the first spot-kick. By contrast, the day’s other game seemed routine, with Southampton beating the ailing champions Leicester City 3-0. Chelsea are odds-on to succeed Claudio Ranieri’s side as victors in May after posting their eighth successive home league win against a Hull side which had Ryan Mason taken to hospital after a sickening clash of heads with Gary Cahill. The stage was set perfect-

Chelsea’s Diego Costa as he is substituted Reuters / Eddie Keogh Livepic ly for the returning Costa to make more headlines after being said by the club to be missing with injury against Leicester last week while British media reported he was unsettled by the prospect of a big-money move to China. Manager Antonio Conte said before the game that he had been happy with Costa’s mentality and he will have been even more pleased with the goal that put the Blues ahead in first-half injury time

after good work on the right by Victor Moses. The strike sparked a bizarre celebration in which the Spanish international made gestures with both hands that suggested he had just silenced the chatter about his future in the best way possible. Indeed he had. Costa’s goals -- this was his 52nd on his 100th appearance for the club -- remain the main reason why Chelsea are such hot favourites for the title as they now stand on 55 points with

Hosts Gabon out of Afcon as Cameroon progress GABON became only the top of the table above Cam- drained. third hosts to exit the Afri- eroon by goal difference. They lacked the guile ca Cup of Nations(Afcon) Borussia Dortmund star and creativity to break Camat the group stage after a Aubameyang, one of the eroon down and they created 0-0 draw yesterday with most prolific strikers in world virtually nothing until that Cameroon, who reach the football, will now have an- late drama. quarter-finals. other painful memory from The Indomitable Lions P i e r r e - E m e r i c k A u - the Nations Cup to add to his were little better in what bameyang missed a great crucial penalty miss in 2012 was a poor match and chance for Gabon early on that cost his side a place in were unable to put Gabon when he bundled the ball the semi-finals. out of their misery earlier, wide from two yards. He will replay over and coming closest through His team-mate Denis over the moment in this an Ambroise Oyongo shot Bouanga brought saves from match when he somehow that clipped the post and Fabrice Ondoa as Gabon got his feet tangled and put a first-half header from poured forward in the early the ball wide of a gaping Adolphe Teikeu that went stages. goal when trying to con- narrowly wide. Bouanga was denied vert Bouanga’s low cross But Cameroon have a a last-gasp winner, that to the back post. chance to improve, while would have put Gabon After their fast start Gabon must face up to through, when his shot did not bring a goal, Ga- their poor performances. crashed back off the post. bon’s belief and confidence (BBC Sport) The rebound sat up perfectly for Didier N’Dong but his shot was pushed over the bar brilliantly by Cameroon goalkeeper Ondoa as he was picking himself up the floor. Gabon went into the game knowing they had to win to guarantee their qualification from Group A but they go out of the competition after three draws. Burkina Faso are the other quarter-finalists from the group after they beat debutants Guinea-Bissau Adolphe Teikeu (left) and Benjamin Moukandjo 2-0, a result which put them celebrate after Cameroon reach the last eight.

Arsenal on 47, Tottenham Hotspur on 46 and Liverpool on 45. Costa eventually left to a rousing reception late after Cahill settled matters by rising above the visiting defence to head home the second on 81 minutes. “Now we have (a lead of) eight points and there are 16 games to play. I think me and my players have good experience to understand that in this league it will be very tough until the end,” Conte told reporters. Across London, the goals came even later at the Emirates where the final minutes left the crowd -- and managers -- breathless. After the game’s astonishing finale, which saw Alexis Sanchez net the winner in the 98th minute, a relieved Wenger apologised for his earlier clash with the fourth official. However, Arsenal’s manager may face an FA charge for appearing to push Anthony Taylor near the tunnel following his dismissal by referee Jon Moss after Burnley’s 93rd-minute penalty had been converted by Andre Gray. “I didn’t see any penalty from outside but I should have shut up and I apologise, even if I was frustrated,” said Wenger. Gray’s goal proved just the start of the action as referee Moss, who had already sent off Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka for a wild 65th minute tackle, awarded the Gunners a penalty of their own when Ben Mee raised a leg to the advancing Laurent Koscielny. Penalty-taker Sanchez possessed the only cool head in the ground, dinking the ball over the Burnley keeper to secure an astonishing win for Arsenal, who had taken the lead through Shkodran Mustafi’s 59th-minute header. At Southampton, Ranieri had no complaints with Leicester’s defeat, even offering an apology for confusing his players with some of his recent tactical variations. “I think (in) the last matches I changed (the team’s) shape to try to help my players play better but maybe I made mistakes,” he said. Poor defending allowed first-half goals for James Ward-Prowse and Jay Rodriguez while Dusan Tadic’s late penalty only confirmed that Leicester, in 15th place just five points above the drop zone, are in free fall and in serious trouble.

Start times, fixtures for Matches in Regional Super50 tournament.

(Eastern Caribbean Times)

ZONE A in Antigua: Leeward Islands Hurricanes, West Indies Under-19, Kent Spitfires, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, Windward Islands Hurricanes. ZONE B in Barbados: Barbados Pride, Jamaica Scorpions, Guyana Jaguars, Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners, International Cricket Council Americas. TUESDAY, January 24 Scorpions vs Marooners – 3Ws Oval, Barbados (09:00hrs) Pride vs Jaguars – Kensington Oval, Barbados (13:30hrs) WEDNESDAY, January 25 Volcanoes vs West Indies Under-19s – Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua (09:00hrs) Hurricanes vs Spitfire – Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua (13:30hrs) THURSDAY, January 26 Marooners vs ICC Americas – Windward, Barbados (09:00hrs) Jaguars vs Scorpions – Kensington Oval (13:30hrs) FRIDAY, January 27 Hurricanes vs West Indies Under-19s – SVRCG (09:00hrs) Red Force vs Volcanoes – CCG (13:30hrs) SATURDAY, January 28 Pride vs ICC Americas – 3Ws Oval (09:00hrs) Marooners vs Jaguars – Kensington Oval (13:30hrs) SUNDAY, January 29 Red Force vs Spitfire – SVRCG (09:00hrs) Hurricanes vs Volcanoes – CCG (13:30hrs) MONDAY, January 30 Jaguars vs ICC Americas – Windward (09:00hrs) Pride vs Scorpions – Kensington Oval (13:30hrs) TUESDAY, January 31 Red Force vs West Indies Under-19 – SVRCG (09:00hrs) Volcanoes vs Spitfire – CCG (13:30hrs) WEDNESDAY, February 1 ICC Americas vs Scorpions – 3Ws Oval (09:00hrs) Pride vs Marooners – Kensington Oval (13:30hrs) THURSDAY, February 2 West Indies Under-19s vs Spitfire – SVRCG (09:00hrs) Hurricanes vs Red Force – CCG (13:30hrs) FRIDAY, February 3 Pride vs ICC Americas – Windward (09:00hrs) Marooners vs Jaguars – Kensington Oval (13:30hrs) SATURDAY, February 4 Volcanoes vs West Indies Under-19s – SVRCG (09:00hrs) Hurricanes vs Spitfire – CCG (13:30hrs) SUNDAY, February 5 Pride vs Jaguars – 3Ws Oval (09:00hrs) Marooners vs Scorpions – Kensington Oval (13:30hrs) MONDAY, February 6 Hurricanes vs West Indies Under-19s – SVRCG (09:00hrs) Red Force vs Volcanoes – CCG (13:30hrs) TUESDAY, February 7 Marooners vs ICC Americas – Windward (09:00hrs) Jaguars vs Scorpions – Kensington Oval (13:30hrs) WEDNESDAY, February 8 Red Force vs Spitfire – SVRCG (09:00hrs) Hurricane vs Volcanoes – CCG (13:30hrs) THURSDAY, February 9 Jaguars vs ICC Americas – 3Ws Oval (09:00hrs) Pride vs Scorpions – Kensington Oval (13:30hrs) FRIDAY, February 10 Red Force vs West Indies Under-19s – SVRCG (09:00hrs) Volcanoes vs Spitfire – CCG (13:30hrs) SATURDAY, February 11 Scorpions vs ICC Americas – Windward (09:00hrs) Pride vs Marooners – Kensington Oval (13:30hrs) SUNDAY, February 12 Spitfire vs West Indies Under-19s – SVRCG (09:00hrs) Hurricanes vs Red Force – CCG (13:30hrs) FINAL FOUR Semi-finals WEDNESDAY, February 15 Zone A winners vs Zone B runners-up – CCG (13:30hrs) THURSDAY, February 16 Zone B winners vs Zone A runners-up – CCG (13:30hrs) GRAND FINAL SATURDAY, February 18 Semi-final 1 winners vs Semi-final 2 winners – CCG (13:30hrs)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday January 23, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Sachin Tendulkar-15,921 runs (200 Tests) (2) Sachin Tendulkar-18,426 runs (463 ODI matches) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who has taken most Test wickets to date? (2) Who has taken most ODI wickets to date? ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 23, 2017

Flashback: Captain of the 2015 winners Milerock FC Joel McKinnon (centre) receiving the championship trophy from GTT PRO Allison Parker during the official Limacol/ GTT Football Championship presentation ceremony while other members of his team, respective prize winners, sponsors and Petra Organization staff look on.

Limacol knock-out football kicks off tonight at GFC ground

Action in the 2017 Limacol round- robin knock-out football competition starts this evening at the Georgetown Football Club Ground (GFC), with a double-header card from 18:00.hrs The tournament,which is being organised by the Petra organisation in partnership

with GT beer, Starr Party Rentals and Trophy Stall,will see sixteen teams in four groups vying for top honours. In this evening’s matches, group D gets going with the Guyana Police Force battling Mahaica Determinators in the first match from 18:30hrs and then Riddim Squad will tack-

le Camptown in the feature game from 20.00hrs. Following these matches, action will continue on Friday, with Western Tigers going toe-to-toe with New Amsterdam United in a group B clash, while Santos will play Ann’s Grove in group-C action. Both games

are set for the GFC ground. The following day the competition will move to the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground in Linden with Milerock battling Northern Rangers and Winners Connection facing off with Grove Hi-Tech in group-A. The final matches in round

one slated for January 29th will pit Uitvlugt against Eagles United in group-B and Pouderoyen against Den Amstel in group-C at a venue to be announced. The winner of the tournament will take home $500,000 and a trophy while the sec-

ond, third and fourth placed teams will receive $250,000, $125,000 and $ 7 5 , 0 0 0 r e s p e c t i v e l y. Additionally, the winner of each group will receive $100,000 while the respective finishers will pocket $50,000, $30,000 and $20,000 apiece.

Gayle wants 400-run score Paul, Yadram mentally strong to execute, says Nedd before leaving Test cricket - Paul: A future star in the making – Mentore

West Indies star batsman Chris Gayle still has hope of returning to Test cricket and has targeted making 400 runs as one of the objectives to be met before retiring from the sport. Gayle has not featured in the longest format of the game for the regional team since 2014 against Bangladesh. The absence is in part due to a dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the player has instead, opted for the shorter formats of the game. The 37-year-old, however, insists he is not quite finished with Test cricket. “I will play again,” Gayle said. “I want to score 400 runs in a Test match. I’ve done two triples, I think I can push it to four [hundred]. “A lot of people want to see me back in test cricket, a lot of people. That’s one of the reasons why I haven’t announced I’ve retired because wherever I go, people want to see me

play Test cricket, to give it one more shout, that’s why I’m holding out.” Over the last few years the big left hander has become far more recognizable for his heroics in Twenty20 cricket, but remains one of the world’s most accomplished in all white gear. In 103 Tests matches Gayle has scored an impressive 7214 runs at an average of 42.18, having blasted 15 hundreds, including the pair of triple centuries.

N AT I O N A L y o u t h coach, Garvin Nedd,believes West Indies under-19 selectees, Guyanese Keemo Paul and Bhaskar Yadram are mentally strong enough to execute during the 2017 NAGICO Regional Super50 tournament.

Keemo Paul

Chris Gayle

Burkina Faso beat Guinea Bissau 2-0 to win Afcon group BURKINA Faso progressed to the Africa Cup of Nations(Afcon) quarter-finals as group winners after seeing off Guinea-Bissau 2-0. A defensive mix up gifted Burkina Faso the lead, as defender Rudinilson Silva headed past onrushing goal-

By Rajiv Bisnauth

keeper Jonas Mendes and into his own net. On-loan Ajax forward Bertrand Traore doubled the advantage with a composed left-footed finish after the break. Cameroon also went through as group runners-up

The duo are part of a 14man squad to participate in the upcoming tournament, which runs from January 24 to February 18 in Antigua and Barbados. “I expect great things from both players,” Nedd said in an exclusive interview on Friday. “Both are exceptional and talented players. They are mentally strong, so I expect them to execute well.” Nedd,who coached both after a goalless draw with Gabon that saw the hosts eliminated. Guinea-Bissau, making their Africa Cup of Nations debut in this tournament, looked the more likely to open the scoring, before handing Burkina Faso the lead.

players at different youth levels, also believes that the game‘s situation will play an important role for both players, in terms of their performances. “Paul is a brilliant all-rounder, and once he plays to his strength, he will come out successful. Yadram, on the other hand, is doing well for the past months. He is a free-scoring batsman and he needs to continue in that attitude, but the games situation will be key (to) how they perform,” the current national under-17 coach pointed out. Meanwhile, president of the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), Alfred Mentore,believes Paul is a star in the making. According to Mentore, Paul, who is one of the three over-aged players selected in the squad, has a bright and good future ahead of him. “Paul (Keemo) is an exceptionally talented player, and the opportunity given to him will definitely give him a chance to express himself going forward,” Mentore said. He added, “With the likes of the Bravos and the Pollards coming to the tail-end of their international careers, players like Paul need to advertise Rudinilson's header looked to have crossed the line, but Prejuce Nakoulma thumped in to make sure after Guinea-Bissau attempted to scramble it away. The dangerous Piqueti went closest to levelling, but Burkina Faso keeper Koffi

their true potential. This is an opportunity which he needs to grab with both hands”. Mentore strongly feels that Paul is definitely a future for Guyana and West Indies cricket. The 14-member squad includes five players who were part of the team which won the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh last year.They are all-rounders Shamar Springer and Paul; middle-order batsman Kirstan Kallicharan; wicket-keeper/batsman Emmanuel Stewart; and left-arm fast bowler Obed McCoy. The West Indies Under-19s are participating in this tournament as part of their preparation for the ICC Under-19 World Cup, to be played in New Zealand next year. Springer, Paul and McCoy will not be eligible for that tournament, but have been selected as part of their future development and monitoring. The West Indies Under-19s will play in Zone A, which is based in Antigua. They will play alongside defending champions Trinidad & Tobago Red Force,along with Windward Islands Volcanoes, Kent Spitfire and host team Leeward Islands Kouakou was able to push the winger's low strike wide of the far post. Juary Soares could have equalised in the second half when a corner found the Guinea-Bissau defender unmarked at in the six-yard box, but Abdou Traore threw himself in

Bhaskar Yadram

Hurricanes. Full squad: Te-Shawn Alleyne, Alick Athanaze, Joshua Bishop, Shian Brathwaite, Kirstan Kallicharan, Mikyle Louis, Obed McCoy, Matthew Patrick, Keemo Paul, Jeavor Royal, Javier Spencer, Shamar Springer, Emmanuel Stewart and Bhaskar Yadram. Team management: Graeme West (Head Coach); To n y G r a y ( A s s i s t a n t Coach); Dwain Gill (Team Manager); Khevyn Williams (Physiotherapist); Dinesh Mahabir (Analyst); Zephyrinus Nicholas (Trainer).

Garvin Nedd

front of the goalbound shot. Burkina Faso immediately went down to the other end to increase their lead, with Nakoulma setting up Traore, on loan at Ajax from Chelsea, to slide a finish beyond Mendes. (BBC Sport)

Bravo future remains in doubt

See story on page 23

DARREN BRAVO

Hutson returned as AAG president for another four years See story on page 24

The new AAG executive.In front row, second from left is president Aubrey Hutson

Top seeds go down at Melbourne Park By Nick Mulvenney MELBOURNE,(Reuters)-The whiff of sporting upset hung around Melbourne Park yesterday after top seeds Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber were handed stunning defeats in the Australian Open tennis fourth round. B r i t a i n ’s M u r r a y was bamboozled by the serve-volley game of Mischa Zverev to exit after 3-1/2 hours on Rod Laver Arena, while fellow world number one Kerber’s title defence was ended in little more than an hour by Coco Vandeweghe. Murray was the first top seed to depart before the quarter-finals since Lleyton Hewitt in 2003, while Germany’s reigning women’s champion was last sent packing before the second week a decade ago when Amelie Mauresmo went out in the fourth round. Murray and Kerber were playing their first grand slams as top seeds and both looked all but powerless to

deal with the style of game they were confronted with from across the net. Zverev, the world number 50, rushed the net 118 times to keep one of the best defensive players in the game on the backfoot for much of the contest before holding his nerve to close out the contest 7-5 5-7 6-2 6-4. “Credit to him,” said Murray. “He came up with great, great shots and played a really, really good match. You know, you always finish matches you lose with things you maybe could have done a bit better, but he played some really good stuff.” The German, ranked outside the top 1,000 in the world after wrist surgery two years ago, will face Roger Federer in his maiden grand slam quarter-final after the Swiss master outlasted Kei Nishikori 6-7(4) 6-4 6-1 4-6 6-3. New Yorker Vandeweghe later hammered down 30 winners to Kerber’s seven, overpowering the U.S. Open champion 6-2 6-3 to

set up a meeting with Spanish seventh seed Garbine Muguruza in her first trip to the last eight in Melbourne. Kerber made 15 unforced errors in a contest

playing good from the first point. “I was trying tonight but, yeah I missed a lot. So this was not my game like I play normally.”

lier exit in the second round. With Murray and the Serbian reigning champion having already departed, Melbourne Park will next week witness the first

This was the first time that both the men’s and women’s world No. 1s lost at a major on the same day since 2003 (Andre Agassi and Kim Clijsters). Getty Images. lasting little more than an hour and admitted it was simply not her day. “It was a tough match and, of course, I’m disappointed,” she said. “But I was not feeling the ball at all tonight. I was not

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TOP RANKING While Kerber could yet lose the number one ranking to Serena Williams after the year’s first grand slam, Murray’s main rival Novak Djokovic made an even ear-

grand slam since the 2004 French Open without its top two men’s seeds. Federer will hope to profit as he bids for his 18th grand slam title, as will his compatriot and 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka, who is

in the same half of the draw and fended off Andreas Seppi 7-6(2) 7-6(4) 7-6(4). Wawrinka next faces France’s 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who ended the fairytale run of Britain’s Dan Evans by coming from a set down to win 6-7(4) 6-2 6-4 6-4 on Hisense Arena. Murray and Evans had hoped to become the first British pair to reach the men’s quarter-finals at Melbourne Park in 40 years and the first at a grand slam since Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski at Wimbledon in 1997. Venus Williams, at 36 the oldest woman in the singles draw, also progressed to the last eight with a 6-3 7-5 victory over Mona Barthel, moving closer to a potential blockbuster final against sister Serena. The younger Williams sister continues her quest for a 23rd grand slam title against Barbora Strycova today when men’s 2009 champion Rafa Nadal is also in fourth round action. MONDAY JANUARY 23, 2017