Guyana chronicle e paper 28 01 2018

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No. 105168

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 2018

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Major overhaul for GuySuCo …gov’t mulls removing entity from under Agriculture Ministry

Page 3

New CJIA must boast efficiency President – President says during site visit

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hails ties with India Page 8

Contracts for ‘Shelter-belt’ expansion Page 19

…completion of Kitty roundabout approved

Jagdeo on ‘campaign’ for Chand’s removal …says ‘young minds’ Page 9

President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo being escorted during a tour by Cabinet members of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Saturday to inspect ongoing expansion works there. With them are Senior and Junior Ministers of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson and Annette Ferguson , first and second left respectively (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

could lead GAWU

Filaria MDA records whopping 86 per cent coverage – success attributed to multi-sectoral approach Page 2

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 28, 2018

Filaria MDA records whopping 86 percent coverage

– success attributed to multi-sectoral approach GUYANA has finally managed to ‘meet the mark’ for Filaria coverage through the first round of its Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign by recording a whopping 86 percent coverage in four regions.

National Coordinator for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis Campaign, Dr. Fabu Moses, revealed this information during her presentation of the 2017 MDA report on Friday at the Ramada Princess Hotel.

According to her, “This [2017] was a very significant year for the programme.” It was significant because, as she explained, the 86 percent coverage signals the first time that the country has managed to “meet the mark” for filaria prevention.

The MDA was conducted in Regions Three, Four, Five and 10, where approximately 509,165 persons -- ranging from preschool-aged children to adults -- have received their Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (DEC) and Albendazole (ALB) pills which are responsible for eradicating the bacteria.

Though the disease is not curable and its visible manifestations are irreversible, these pills can help with the prevention of Lym-

phatic Filariasis (LF) or as it is commonly called ‘Filaria’. LF affects the body’s lymphatic system, which functions to remove unwanted fluids from the body and transports ‘lymph’– a fluid which contains white blood cells that help to fight infections.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that this disease is caused by infection with parasitic worms called nematodes, classified as ‘filarial worms.’ In Guyana, the disease is caused by the wuchereria bancrofi worm and spread by the culex mosquito.= To eliminate the disease, the WHO states that the MDA must be run for at least five years (referred to as ‘rounds’) and must cover 65 percent of the population at minimum.

NEW STRATEGIES Achievement of this historical coverage was attributed to the employment of new strategies, whereby there were concerted efforts aligning with global efforts to eliminate the ailment.

In 1997, the World Health Assembly adopted a Resolution calling on member states to initiate steps to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis as a public health problem by 2020. In response, the WHO launched the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) in 2000.

“Strategies that we used last year were a bit new and fashioned off of the WHO’s GPELF,” Moses said and acknowledged that these were instrumental in the success of the programme.

The house-to-house strategy was employed as in older MDAs, but only served to reinforce the other strategies.

Health centre and regional micro-planning were newer strategies employed, which allowed for a grassroots-level connect though this demanded more resources. The doctor highlighted that micro-planning was, in fact, the first to be used in any MDA and that approximately 72 health centres were involved in this MDA. Also demanding a lot of human resources was the ‘fixed point’ strategy, where pill distributors were present at market squares or in front of nursery schools just to make administering the pills more accessible for citizens. “What we really wanted was to capture the people where they really were,” Dr. Moses said.

There were about 1,051 pill distributors across the four regions.

The most notable strategy, however, was perhaps collaboration with the Ministry of Education to disseminate pills within schools.

In the regions targeted, the campaign targeted about 523 public and private schools -- ably bridging the gap between schoolchildren and dissemination of the pills.

Reflecting on a previous MDA, Pan American Health Organisation and World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) Representative to Guyana, Dr. William Adu-Krow, related that it was pointed out to him that a major hindrance to the requisite 65 percent coverage was the younger age demographic.

He highlighted that he reached out to Minister of Education Nicolette Henry with this “emergency” and soon enough, the campaign was initiated in schools.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 28, 2018

Major overhaul for GuySuCo

…gov’t mulls removing entity from Agriculture Ministry

By Svetlana Marshall THE Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is expected to undergo massive restructuring as part of government’s programme of right-sizing the sugar industry and there is a possibility of the entity being delinked from the Agriculture Ministry, well placed sources have said.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that the administration is focused about the transition taking place within the sugar industry in particular, with authorities leaning towards having the corporation managed by technical persons.

On Friday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said the restructuring was already taking place, pointing to the fact that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Errol Hano-

man has resigned. But said further changes are expected once Cabinet receives some critical information. “At the level of Cabinet, we are waiting on some information that will allow for decisions to be made as to how the board will be restructured, how the management of GuySuCo will be structured,” Minister Harmon said. He assured that within a short period of time, a public statement on the “additional changes” will be made public.

The administrative changes will complement the operational changes that have already taken place with the scaling down of the industry in keeping with the State Paper presented to the National Assembly in May 2017 by Agriculture Minister Noel Holder.

The ‘new’ GuySuCo consists of only three estates – Blairmont on the West

Bank Berbice, Albion-Rose Hall in East Berbice and the Uitvlugt-Wales in West Demerara. They completed with factories and are being supplied with cane from five locations.

The State Minister at the time was addressing journalists during his post-Cabinet media briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency on Friday.

In his opening remarks, he noted that Cabinet was briefed about the meeting between the government and the two unions in the sugar industry – the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE).

Minister Harmon said, Cabinet was informed that during the meeting, the unions made several proposals that would contribute to

the industry’s return to viability from their perspective.

“These included the infusion of private capital through partnerships, the issuance of bonds and other investment devices and through funding under the Guyana Green State Development Strategy,” he explained.

He said too that the unions agreed that privatisation was an option to be pursued, but urged that maximum value be sought for assets through the sale of the estates. GAWU and NAACIE had also urged government to ensure that the rights of sugar workers are guaranteed under “any new arrangements” within the industry. Additionally, the unions requested that lands for agriculture be provided to the displaced workers.

Questioned as to how many ex-sugar workers have signalled their interest in

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

having lands for agricultural purposes, Minister Harmon said though he is unable to give “specific details,” during his interaction with workers at the now defunct Wales Estate, some had requested lands for the purpose of farming. However, he said a determination will be made following the completion of the evaluation of GuySuCo’s

GAWU and NAACIE representatives meeting with President Granger and his Ministers of Government during a recent meeting

assets currently being done

by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). “They have started the work of making a full survey of all the assets of GuySuCo, including the lands and once that is done, then we will be in a better position to determine who gets what and how much of it they will get. We have to have a clear valuation of these things as well, so we don’t just say, you take this and you take that. It has to be done in a structured way, and that is what we are doing,” the State Minister explained.

PwC has been ranked as the most prestigious accounting firm in the world for the last seven consecutive years.

It is presently conducting the valuation of all assets under the control of GuySuCo, in addition to providing other advisory and financial services.

After the valuation exercise, PWC will develop an investment prospectus and will, through the Special Purpose Unit (SPU), distribute to all interested investors.

PWC has been tasked with ensuring a level playing field for all interested parties and stakeholders.

Cabinet has agreed that government representatives will continue to engage the two unions so that the best possible decisions could be made with regard to the welfare of the sugar workers who are affected by the economic and structural adjustments of GuySuCo.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 28, 2018

New CJIA must boast efficiency -President says during site visit

PRESIDENT David Granger on Saturday charged the management and staff of the Cheddi Jagan International Air-

port (CJIA) to commit to ensuring that with a newly modernised airport comes efficiency, high standards and quality service.

He said the facility must be the place where an increasing number of investors, tourists and the travelling public can be in and out of the airport as quickly as possible. The airport, which is currently undergoing US$150M in expansion works, he said, must also be a showcase of Guyana’s ‘green’ agenda and operate as a first-class entry point into a modern state.

The President was at the time speaking during a site tour at the CJIA, where the Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and members of Cabinet, were invited by the Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr. David Patterson to have a first-hand look at the state of works. The head of state said that he expects that there will be an influx of tourists and investors, especially with the impending oil and gas sector and Guyana’s pursuit of the ‘Green’ State Development Strategy (GSDS) and it is important for there to be greater efficiency.

“This is the entry point for the modern state. It is very important to our development. Infrastructure would attract tourists and now that we are embarking on a new industry, people would want to come in their numbers and they should be coming to Guyana at a modern airport. In time to come, we should be able to put a time on visitors, meaning that no visitor should be able to spend more than 10 minutes in the airport. We need an efficient service so that as soon as someone lands, they can be on their way, of course after satisfying all security requirements. We need to plan for the future,” he said.

President Granger said that the project is not an ornamental one but is rather, a key element in the devel-

opment of the entire country.

“It will be very functional and it is very important to the future development of our country. It is the gateway to the ‘green’ state and I hope these can be reflected in the murals, so that it can showcase the character of the country. It is also a gateway not just to the Caribbean but South America as well, so it is an important cultural statement as well. From a functional point of view, a major problem in Guyana is the absence of adequate infrastructure and many people do not come to Guyana, because it is very bothersome because there are a few direct flights and so this is very functional,” the President said.

Noting that it is a historic moment as this is the first time in over 50 years that work on such a major scale has been undertaken at the facility, President Granger said that it is a day to be acknowledged and of which all Guyanese must be proud.

“This area was given by the United Kingdom to the United States 75 years ago for the establishment of a base and the aircraft coming from North Africa would land here. The aircraft would take off from here to protect the bauxite ships, which were taking bauxite from here to Chaguaramas to build aircraft for the Americans, so Guyana played an important role and this was called

President David Granger leads his cabinet on a site tour of the CheddiJagan Airport

Atkinson Field. When we gained independence, it was given back to Guyana as an independence gift. The main building [was] burnt in 1959 and when the government changed in 1964, we got a new terminal building; but this is now the first change to be made since then so we are standing on history,” he said.

Minister Patterson, in brief remarks, said that the site visit was arranged since the project is entering what he called the ‘third fix stage’, where he said that the first set of final touches will be applied. As such, he noted that it was best felt that the

members of Cabinet should have an input on things they may or may not want, so that those touches can be applied.

“We thought it would be good to bring all the members of the Cabinet here today, so that if there are any inputs, they can do so today.

We are at the third fix stage and this is where we are now going into finishes [sic] and for a project this big, we want persons to give their inputs now before we go ahead.

The Ministries of Business, Public Health and Public Telecommunications [are] Turn to page 10

Sunday, January 28, 2018 14:00 hrs - 02:30 hrs Monday, January 29, 2018 14:30 hrs - 03:30 hrs Tuesday, January 30, 2018 14:30 hrs - 04:00 hrs Wednesday, January 31, 2018 05:00 hrs

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 28, 2018

Filaria MDA records whopping...

Though the collaboration with schools was instrumental in achieving the campaign’s success, one demographic, the two to five-year-old group in Region Three failed to meet the 65 percent pass mark, according to Dr. Moses.

This was the only group from all four regions to fall below the mark.

During her remarks, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, lauded the collaboration with the education ministry and PAHO. She posited that a “multi-sectoral approach” yields more impact and fosters synergy.

Despite the many positives of the campaign, education and awareness remain fundamental tenets.

Though minute, sections of the target population did refuse to take the pills. An overall four percent of the population accounted for this refusal.

Furthermore, there was the incident last year where many were led to believe that a six-year-old child Princess Kissoon of ‘D’ Field Sophia, died after being administered the pill.

Dr. Moses noted that because of a “lack of education” there were a lot of “rumours” that pinpointed the MDA as the cause of death, but it was proven that there was no link between the death of the child and the pills.

This lack of education is something the Vector Control Unit and its partners (the government ministries

From page 2

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence (centre); Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry (fifth from left); PAHO/WHO Country Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow; Coordinator for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis Campaign, Dr. Fabu Moses (second from right) pose with persons who have contributed exceptionally to the 2017 round of the Filaria MDA

and PAHO/WHO) have been working assiduously to correct as it continues the campaign.

Since 2000, Guyana signed onto the WHO’s GPELF and had attempted to eliminate the disease through previous MDA campaigns.

In 2003, the ‘DEC Salt’ campaign was launched but proved tricky, since it was difficult to determine the number of persons using the DEC salt against their regular cooking salt, whether the quantity being consumed was enough, or even if persons consumed the salt in their diets. In 2008, the programme was altered to include the dissemination of pills and continued thereafter.

Mapping was a prerequisite to elimination attempts however and in 2001, it was done to determine to what extent the country was affected.

Alarmingly, Region One, Barima- Waini, was the only administrative region that was not endemic with the disease.

It is for this reason, Dr. Moses told the Guyana

Chronicle, that only nine of the 10 regions will be targeted. Additionally, she mentioned that another mapping exercise must be done, since the last one was done 17 years ago.

As aforementioned, the MDA must be successfully implemented for another four years, so that Guyana can declare that it has eliminated the disease.

PAHO/WHO Specialist for Malaria Prevention and Control, Dr. Jean Alexandre, noted that if five consecutive years of the MDA is completed successfully, the country must conduct a ‘Transmission Assessment Survey’ twice to verify whether the disease has in fact been eliminated.

If the MDA falls below 65 percent coverage, it has

to be restarted. In his remarks, Dr. Adu-Krow also revealed how much money has been expended to foster these attempts to eliminate the disease. He had highlighted at the launch of the MDA campaign in September 2017 that the estimated cost was US $1M. He said, “We have to do better and I’m glad in 2017, we did better.”

Editorial

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 28, 2018

The PPP-GAWU Rift

IT WAS, at some point, bound to happen. The apparent rift between the GAWU leader and his comrades over tactics and strategies regarding the restructuring of the sugar industry should not come as a surprise to those who have a keen understanding of Guyana’s contemporary politics.

That the opposition leader has all but thrown Mr. Komal Chand under the bus for adopting a conciliatory approach to the government’s initiative, should also not surprise those who have keenly followed the politics of the PPP under Mr. Jagdeo’s leadership.

Understandably, PPP detractors would be quick to gloat over this apparent crack in the seemingly impregnatable armour. Others would want to make dire predic-

tions about the PPP’s ability to remain a viable political force. Still, others would be moved to condemn Jagdeo and sympathise with Chand.

But in the final analysis, this development must alert Guyana to the extent to which our politics have degenerated. It must also impel us to draw lessons and in the process, come to grips with the fact that age-old political modes of operation may well be unsuited to the current environment.

It is no secret that from the 1950s to the present, GAWU and the PPP have been mere branches of the same three. GAWU is the PPP and the PPP is GAWU. Most of GAWU members are PPP members. While Dr. Jagan was alive, he was the leader of both organisations.

GAWU primary role was to use the trade union arena to

fight PPP’s political battles— hard core labour matters were secondary on that agenda.

This was also the case of the Guyana Labour Union and the PNC until the latter was outmanoeuvred of ownership of the union.

So, when Mr. Chand took an independent position after the meeting with the government last week, he was committing one of the biggest political sins. Some of our political parties in Guyana and the Caribbean do not nurture or tolerate independence.

This is indeed one of the sad realities of our political culture that has, in turn, contributed to the underdevelopment of our politics. Truth be told, GAWU is caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place.” Now that the government has moved on with restructuring the industry, does the union fight

for the workers compensation and other entitlements or does it privilege the PPP’s stated political agenda of non-cooperation with the government?

Whether Mr. Chand has deliberately thought through his stance and calculated the consequences, he has punctured the decades-old praxis of the GAWU-PPP pact. He has made the workers’ interest primary. This is not to say that he has abandoned the PPP’s agenda, but on this pivotal matter, he has rearranged the priorities. This is what is so galling to Mr. Jagdeo and his cohorts in the PPP and explains calls for Chand’s removal. Not unexpectedly, to date, none of the PPP stalwarts has come to Chand’s defence, except Indra Chandarpal.

Given the mysterious ways in which the party op-

Justice delayed is justice denied Dear Editor

PRESIDENT David Granger yesterday announced at the GDF Officer’s conference that extrajudicial killings, phantom death squad murders and other targeted killings as well as torture that occurred in Guyana from 2001 to 2009 under then President Bharrat Jagdeo, will be investigated and the perpetrators will be brought to justice. The President made this promise, to ensure that justice is done, a pillar of his 2015 election campaign. Today, two years later, we have another mere promise, with no action.

The Jagdeo government committed mass crimes against humanity. There were approximately 400 such killings under President Jagdeo.

I fought against these killings on the international stage; including at the Inter-American Human Rights Commission and the United Nations. As head of CGID, the overseas organization that waged the

relentless fight for justice for victims and their families in the international community, I wrote the President twice since 2015, petitioning him to commission such an inquiry.

On December 2, 2016, Kaieteur News published a letter from me captioned “Quoting Martin Luther King in the Call For Justice in Guyana,” in which I called on the President to appoint a Commission of Inquiry with subpoena powers, to investigate these murders and other international crimes, to no avail. It makes me wonder who is this government protecting?

My relentless advocacy for justice has been on behalf of the victims and their families, and the thousands of young people whose hunger for justice fueled their political support for President Granger and the coalition - which ultimately led to their election victory.

They marched, protested, were beaten, arrested and jailed by the then Jagdeo regime; now only to be given mere promises of justice by the

Head-of-State. The President’s announcement is a baby step in the right direction, but the betrayal and disappointment is palpable. All of us, particularly our youth, must hold the President and government’s feet to the fire and make them accountable for this betrayal of those whose votes placed them in office.

This fight is personal for me. I have endured death threats and multiple NYPD security assessments. Then President Jagdeo sent GDF Intelligence officers all the way to New York to attend CGID meetings and conduct surveillance on CGID officers. Our counterparts in Guyana were infiltrated and harassed. An adviser to Mr. Jagdeo sent me a letter which was turned over to the FBI threatening that he has his gun ready and waiting [for] me at the Cheddi Jagan Airport. Although no threat can weaken my resolve and determination to seek justice, we did not endure all of this for a mere promise,

and must continue this fight until the justice we seek is obtained. We have noted also that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights [IACHR] named former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, as a culpable party in the disappearance and presumed murder of Franz Britton, aka Collie Wills.

There has been a fundamental reluctance on the part of this government which professes to desire justice for the victims, to cooperate with IACHR to seek justice for Mr. Frantz Britton, one of the many [who]disappeared.

My question to President Granger, therefore, is “When will this proposed investigation commence? Is it going to commence when the architects, planners, financiers and executioners escape or exit the Country, as some have already done?

Rickford Burke PRESIDENT Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID)

erates, Chand most likely would either be removed or forced to retract his conciliatory stance towards the government. That would be an unfortunate outcome, but the dam has already been breached. Jagdeo is correct when he suggests that Chand has given the government a lifeline. That may be injurious to the PPP’s political health, but in the long run it benefits the sugar workers.

And that should be of paramount concern.

Sugar workers will no

doubt be encouraged to denounce Chand, but saner voices should point out to them that Chand is looking out for their material interests rather than pursuing narrow political interests.

We are not trying to bat for the GAWU leader nor are we proselytising for the government, but as we editorialised last Sunday, the sugar impasse would be sorted out amicably when all stakeholders sit down and act in the interest of the country.

GTT is taking advantage of its monopoly Dear Editor,

This letter serves to voice my disapproval of the poor service and customer relations GTT offers. Also to highlight the great inconvenience it is causing to my business needs.

We have applied for a transfer of a landline from one address to another within the same area, only a few lots away. It is important to note at this time, there is a business located at the new address and the intended transferred line is meant to be one of our business contact numbers and also the source of our internet needs. This application was made in late September of 2017. In October 2017 another application was made by a tenant residing at the new address to have a new landline installed.

After continuously and tiringly calling and visiting GTT for assistance with both landlines, a technician finally came about 3 months after both requests were made. To my dismay, the technician promptly stated when asked about both lines, he was only here to complete the new installation.

We have been hearing of GTT’s massive back log for the

entire four months of calling their customer care team. They promised us the service would be installed for sure by the end of 2017. It is now January 25, 2018! We have been extremely patient with this company in understanding that some things are uncontrollable. Even to the point of activating monthly GTT prepaid plans for a mobile device to use as a hotspot. However, I fail to comprehend what order they are working with. Do they place their hands in a bag and pull out customer’s names in deciding whose service to assist with first? Or is it such a great inconvenience for GTT to assist with a landline transfer?

I am pleading with the authorities at GTT to please install my service as soon as possible. Instead of parading around with new blaze internet and this and that, GTT should try and sort out problems like these which affect masses of Guyanese. I hope better comes when GTT’s monopoly is done and dusted. All Guyanese deserve better for the money we pay for GTT’s service.

Regards R. RAMKHELAWAN

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 28, 2018

OP-ED

Atonement

By Sherod Duncan

“Cry, the beloved country, these things are not yet at an end. The sun pours down on the earth, on the lovely land that man cannot enjoy.

He knows only the fear of his heart.” - Alan Paton THERE was general disappointment with comments attributed to the Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo, recently,

that the closure of sugar estates were among other things racially motivated.

Such comments are unfortunate, even if their trajectory is calculated for effect.

Mr Jagdeo occupies an important office in our nation, with the consent of a great number of citizens whose interests he cannot represent with such careless, and worst, reckless talk. As a constitutional office-holder, it is

worth reminding the leader of the opposition of the phrase made popular in the World War II era, “Loose lips sink ships”.

Though baseless rhetoric, such posturing has the potential of becoming incendiary; reversing the clock to periods in our 50 years of history, seared in a generation’s consciousness, of the blood and the tears. Has our history taught us nothing? Does the

holocaust offer no lessons we could learn? Surely, we could look to South Africa’s apartheid; to Rwanda’s genocide and be guided by their dark, tragic experiences.

We have in Guyana a nation in need of healing. We take account of the history of our wounds. But, is there no balm in Gilead? Far beyond the perennial spread of doom and gloom, a leader is a dealer in hope. The malady of the

sugar industry did not begin in 2015 when the new government took office, and if remedying its problems was easy, Mr. Jagdeo would have done so when he held the reins of power as President.

Now as Leader of the Opposition, Mr Jagdeo has a greater responsibility beyond appealing narrowly to his base: to rise above the rabble, knowing the issue acutely.

Just as the government knows after its 30-odd billion subsidy to the industry that throwing money at a problem does not always make it go away.

But as Celia Sandys and Johnathan Littman state in ‘We Shall Not Fail: The Inspiring Leadership of Winston Churchill’, “Wise leaders do not stick blindly to fixed positions when condi-

tions change.

“Always reserve for yourself the right to change your mind, to switch course in light of changing events and conditions.” Mr Jagdeo has the opportunity to elevate the national discussion far above the madding crowd, and provide real leadership as against reacting to the moment in fits and tantrums. We are either part of the problem or part of the solution.

Away from the notorieties of his presidency, the leader of the opposition has been gifted a second chance of leaving a legacy as lasting as the 45 miles of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized within the lifetime of the opportunity.

The innocence of our youths must be nurtured and protected Dear Editor,

THE Guyana Times edition of January 05, 2018, carried an article titled “Mashramani costume/ float parade to “edutain...” in which Director of Culture, Tamika Boatswain, stated that there was much Guyanese, especially the young generation, could learn from the costumes displayed on February 23. “...The hope is that we can get back to that place where we focus on issues that relate to us as a country and not get carried away with the image of a skimpy carnival swim piece” she explained.

The article went on to explain the Social Cohesion Ministry would be meeting with designers soon to inform them about what is expected come February 23.

Minister of Social Cohesion, with responsibility for culture, youth and sport, Dr

George Norton, has endorsed Ms Boatswain’s move, stating that “...Mashramani is Guyanese branded so to speak, and I think I like the idea of using the costume as a message medium for message sending. I remember the days when agriculture was emphasised a whole lot and we can do the same still.”

This is a laudable initiative, especially since it is aimed at educating our young people about various aspects of their culture and history. However, there is an everyday occurrence that I wish to bring to Minister Norton’s attention – that of the ‘minibus phenomenon.’

The lewd music and total disrespect displayed by many minibus operators towards our young people is an abomination as far as morals and ethics are concerned.

The loud music with lewd lyrics that are played in the mornings in these buses is

not exactly the kind of ‘educational’ motivation our young people need to start their school day. Students are also forced to ‘pile up’ in the buses in their desperate bid to get to school on time.

Some operators do not pick up school children, especially the little ones, since they say that they only pay ‘half fare.’

Teenagers, especially the females, are forced to ‘squeeze in’ with other passengers. No parent wants his/her girl child to endure having to sit on a stranger’s lap or ‘squeezed in’ next to such persons.

Some conductors, too, can be observed consuming alcohol at the bus parks, during the time school children use the buses to get home. And many of our naive girl children get carried away with the ‘sweet talk’ of the bus drivers and conductors. They think that it is quite ‘cool’ to be seen in the close company of such persons.

The morals we instill in our children and the values we teach them are the foundation blocks of their success into adulthood. And this starts from the home.

We must teach our daughters how a young lady should be treated and the manner in which she must carry herself (including her choice of clothing) so that she can respect herself and gain the respect of others. Young men must be taught how to treat ladies with due respect.

They must be taught that verbal communication rather than physical violence is the way to resolve problems.

Therefore, Minister Norton, maybe we can start by implementing certain guidelines for the minibus operators.

Impose and enforce fines and/or penalties for persons found guilty of endangering the lives and jeopardising the moral values of our young people. The police officers stationed at the car parks can assist with this by being

more vigilant of demoralising actions by conductors and minibus drivers.

The innocence of our youths must be nurtured and protected if we are to develop into a society with high morals and values.

Societal morals and values, indeed, are the building blocks of progressive nations. Minister Norton, the ball is in your court.

Regards VANITA MAHADEO

8

Return to Roots ON Friday, I accompanied a ministerial team to Skeldon and Rose Hall in Berbice to ground with retrenched sugar workers, who will receive their severance pay on Tuesday.

Some 1,600 at Skeldon and 778 workers at the Rose Hall estates will be paid, most in full.

My colleague Khemraj Ramjattan led another ministerial team to speak with sugar workers who were severed from the Enmore estate. At all three locations, there were the familiar PPP mobile pockets of permanent professional protesters. They had hoped to disrupt the meetings, but whilst some listened, others fizzled into a noisy rabble.

FREEDOM PROCESSION The journey to Berbice reminded me of my political roots which were first planted in 1961, when I joined what was touted then as the freedom procession from Crabwood Creek. In my book, “Fragments from Memory,” I recounted how, as we drove through an African village called Union, gunshots rang out. Several persons from my truck jumped off and headed towards a house from where the shots came. They quickly raced back, pursued by angry African villagers. I wrote: “It was the first time I encountered the danger of race-baiting and the passions that it could ignite. Some

Indians in the procession had tied coconut branches and brooms to their vehicles, and were dragging them on the road. On one car…an alligator was strapped to the windscreen.

“It was evident that some supporters of Dr. Jagan’s PPP saw the ‘victory’ as not against the British, but against African people, who supported Forbes Burnham’s party, the PNC. The palm tree was the symbol of Burnham’s party, hence the scorn for the broom and palm tree branches. Sadly, it occurred to me, early in my life, that my country was divided between two leaders and between two major races.”

That was 57 years ago.

The two leaders have since moved on, but the legacy of division remains. We have experienced over the years episodes of ethnic conflicts and race-based violence, which have been documented and about which we are reminded periodically.

POLITICAL SOLUTION In response, the massbased parties had shifted the debate, or at least tried to, from race and ethnicity to class and nationhood.

That ideological shift had resulted in transient political alignment under the doctrine of “critical support” and a proposed programme for a “government of national unity”. In other words, the search has been for a political solution to the racial problem, which Dr. Jagan saw in a return to the 1950s

“when there was racial and working class unity”.

While politicians and civil society had pulled, and continue to pull, strong punches over racial discrimination, the language was always measured, so as not to widen ethnic cleavages.

It now appears that that approach has been discarded.

It was replaced by crude race-baiting and race-hate, judging from the politics (or lack of it) of Bharrat Jagdeo, the new PPP leader.

In recent months, Jagdeo has been stoking the embers of racial insecurity. On the eve of the 2015 elections, and shortly after the coalition took office, he has been spreading false claims of “ethnic cleansing” in Guyana. Now, he has accused the six-party, multi-ethnic coalition with practising “economic genocide” against Guyanese of Indian descent.

He has been saying that:• closure of four sugar estates was racially motivated and targeted only Indians; • Indians were being forced to migrate; • Indians would consequent-

ly be struck off the voters list for the 2020 elections, and • The elections would be “rigged”.

RACE BAITING This is the crudest race-baiting in recent times when, coinciding with the tough situation facing the sugar industry, Indo-Guyanese are being fed a daily diet of despair and desperation, supposedly by someone claiming to be their leader.

They have been asked to be prepared to wage “all forms of struggle” against a hypothetical, inchoate or future “illegitimate” government -presumably African-led and dominated. This is fearful stuff, even if it exists only in Jagdeo’s confused mind.

The classical tenets of extra-parliamentary or “all forms of struggle” include strikes, sabotage, subversion; insurrection and armed struggles. Jagdeo could not be bothered about the social costs of waging “all forms of struggle” in Guyana. He is gleefully using the “African jumbie” not only to scare Indo-Guyanese, but to hud-

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 28, 2018

dle them to vote en bloc as an ethnic voting machine in 2020, should he be allowed to run for a third presidential term.

I have opted to engage this issue because someone must expose and counter this misguided but wicked politics to stir racial hatred.

In doing so, my mind raced back to 1961 and to that vignette of ethnic insensitivity that could have provoked a bloody backlash.

EMPTY RHETORIC If what he has been saying is not so dangerous, it could easily be put aside as empty rhetoric. What warped mind would claim that the coalition is “racially motivated” after allocating almost $40 billion (20152018) as bailout packages to Guysuco to help mostly Indo-Guyanese sugar workers?

In contrast, the previous regime could be accused of suppressing sugar workers by providing $16 billion over four years (2011-2015) as bailout support.

No one would believe that our coalition was “ethnically motivated” by per-

mitting retention by Guysuco of some 11,000 workers, mostly Indo-Guyanese, for the estates at Albion,Blairmont and Uitvlugt.

MESSAGE OF HOPE Already, over 900 workers (mostly Indo-Guyanese) who were retrenched, have been retained in certain positions to protect the assets of the industry, pending restructuring. Some 720 sugar workers have since been transferred from Rose Hall to the Albion and Blairmont estates. So, workers cannot succumb to despair or doom.

At the Berbice meetings I carried this message of hope, and workers listened. I also appealed for cooperation among government, opposition, unions and workers. We all know that the severance pay would keep families of the affected workers going for just a while, and unless they find alternative means to earn a living, the hurt will only be compounded.

In this charged situation, it would be reckless to turn an industrial fiasco into a racial cauldron.

President hails ‘unshakable’ bond between Guyana, India – says he looks forward to their forging even closer ties PRESIDENT David Granger on Friday spoke highly of the longstanding relationship between Guyana and India, a bond that was forged some 150 years ago with the coming of the first wave of indentured émigrés to these shores.

He said he’s particularly appreciative of the support we’ve been having over the years with restructuring the embattled sugar industry, and even more so in the advancement of its ‘green’ development agenda and the development of the country’s renewable energy resources in accord with the ‘Green State Development Strategy’ (GSDS).

“Guyana looks forward to

guests of the Indian High Commission gathered at the Marriott Hotel on Friday evening to mark India’s 69th Independence Anniversary.

President Granger said that Guyana stands firm in its friendship with India, and recommitted to renewing and reinforcing existing commitments to cooperation.

He sees the planned visit to India next week of a high-level Guyanese delegation led by Foreign Minister, Carl Greenidge as having the potential to advance those relations, and result in the signing of even more mutually beneficial agreements.

He said that relations such

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President Granger addressing the gathering as the Indian High Commissioner and his wife; First Lady Mrs Sandra Granger and Minister of State, Mr Joseph Harmon look on (Photos courtesy of the Ministry of the Presidency)

intensifying its cooperation with India in order to advance its ‘green’ development agenda,” President Granger said.

“We are heartened by India’s offer to develop Guy-

ana’s renewable energy resources in accord with our ‘Green State Development Strategy’.

“Guyana welcomes India’s offer to assist in reform-

ing the sugar industry and to enhance trade, investment and collaboration in the fields of agriculture, education, mining and renewable energy, among others,” he told

President David Granger being greeted by Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr Ventakachalam Mahalingam and his wife on his arrival at the Marriott event on Friday evening

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 28, 2018

Jagdeo on ‘campaign’ for Chand’s removal …says young minds could lead GAWU LEADER of the Opposition, Bharat Jagdeo, on Saturday said that the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), has a number of “young minds” who could lead the union, virtually confirming reports last week that some sections of the PPP were out to oust Komal Chand.

The Guyana Times, the newspaper owned by Jagdeo’s best friend, last week carried multiple stories attacking Chand and at a Saturday news conference, he himself confirmed that he had personal issues with statements such as the one issued by Chand after recently meeting with President David Granger on the way forward for the sugar industry.

Subsequent to a recent meeting with high-level officials of the government, including President Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Chand who headed the delegation of members from GAWU and the National Association of Agricultural Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), acknowledged that the meeting was fruitful. A statement by the government recorded Chand as saying: “We have listened and are satisfied that you are concerned with the issues. We are ready to work along with the government to explore the options. We will give our best to see this situation out…you are right, there are no winners in this and we are willing to work with the government.

“We are pleased with the meeting, since this was the first meeting we had with the

Leader of the Opposition, Bharat Jagdeo

government and we believe it took place in a positive atmosphere and we recognise that the government pays attention.

This is an important ground rule that we dialogue, talk and try to find an answer to the way forward… We are pleased, we are very pleased and it spells out the future engagement on the interest of the workers, industry and the country.”

Jagdeo signalled his displeasure with that part of the statement during his press conference. “I have personal issues with these sorts of statements…if that is the case it means that all that has been done before didn’t make sense… how many times we have tried to engage this government and have been trying to ask for studies to be done,” he said.

Although he was not pleased with what was said by the President of the union, the opposition leader said he does

not have anything against an individual of the union. “What I can say is, we support the union, but I will not defend individuals… the workers are the ones who pay the dues, so the workers determine their leadership… they are free to elect [a] leader, that is not the PPP’s business,” said Jagdeo.

The opposition leader went on to point out that the union and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) are allies, so they will continue to support GAWU; and he believes that there are “strong, young, bright” leaders within the union who will have a great future in building that union and keeping it well.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that the PPP was divided over GAWU on the handling of the sugar industry restructuring programme, with top executives both praising and criticising the union’s leadership on the issue.

Sources told the Guyana Chronicle that the attack on Chand would widen the inner-party divisions. Chand is seen as one of the few Jaganites remaining in the PPP. The source said these divisions were caused by Jagdeo, who unilaterally dumped the long-standing policies of both the party and the union against privatisation of the sugar industry. “Jagdeo discarded a policy held sacred since Dr. Jagan was at the helm. He did so without the consent of the Central Committee or party congress,” one stalwart said, asking not to be identified by name.

Jagdeo had declared: “Now that the termination has been done … we were opposed to it — closure of

these estates but we will push…we hope that we can get decent private investment into these estates. This is a position that we have changed, because we were saying ‘no closure,’ but now that there is closure, there is no job that we can… we can get decent investments into this,” Jagdeo was quoted as saying by Demerar-

awaves. He said the PPP would support any initiative with “decent investors” to get jobs for sugar workers, adequate land, more cash for small loans and immediate payment of accurately calculated severance. On Wednesday, another subtle attack on Chand continued with PPP, MP Anil Nandlall declaring that GAWU should

have taken a non-negotiable stance on the issue of payment of severance to sugar workers. “Quite frankly, I believe that GAWU should have ensured, demanded and taken a non-negotiable position when it comes to severance that all must be paid…” Nandlall was quoted in the Guyana Times as saying.

President deeply saddened at Councillor Garrett’s passing PRESIDENT David Granger said he is deeply saddened at the sudden passing of Councillor of the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown, Junior Garrett.

Garrett passed away on Friday. In his years, Mr. Garrett, who was born on June 17, 1953, served as a private accountant before joining the Georgetown Municipality on March 5, 2002. During his tenure there as the representative for the Campbellville Housing Scheme area, he served as Chairman and then member of the Finance Committee, the Investment and Development Committee, the International Relations Committee and the Environmental and Sustainability Committee. “His Excellency extends heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and friends, especially his children: Latoya, Thelisa, Liva, Gavin and Junior Paul Garrett; foster children, Cecile Moore Hinckson and Leon Lindore; and former wife, Ms. Camille Lindore,” a statement from the Ministry

of the Presidency read.

On Friday M&CC Public Relations Officer, Ms. Debra Lewis told the Guyana Chronicle that news of his passing came as a real shock to them at the M&CC, as it was only that morning Garrett attended a meeting of the Finance Committee and did not exhibit any signs of illness. Garrett, 65, reportedly said he had another appointment and left the meeting at around 11:30hrs and that was the last his colleagues saw of him. “The Council regrets his passing. He was very active, and was always ready to represent the rights of workers.

We’ve lost one of our valued councillors who made meaningful contributions to the Council.” “I knew him before he became a city councillor,” Lewis said.

Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen said that words cannot express how she feels about the passing of her friend.

“And as city councillors, we worked together to make a difference in local

Councillor Junior Garrett

communities. “As mayor, I benefitted from his knowledge, particularly in the area of financial management. We had numerous meetings where he shared openly with me about his vision for his community, and offered me invaluable support. He demonstrated that you can lead in a way that is bold and determined, but also with a sense of compassion for others,” Mayor Green said in a statement.

Commissioner-General hosts anniversary staff, taxpayers appreciation COMMISSIONER-GENERAL of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia, took time

off from his busy schedule to distribute tokens and light refreshments to staff and taxpayers at the au-

thority’s headquarters on Saturday.

This show of appreciation came on the eve of the eighteenth (18th) anniversary of the establishment of the GRA, which is mandated by law to administer the country’s tax, trade, border laws and regulations.

In a release, the GRA said staff and taxpayers appreciation is a regular feature of the anniversary activities intendCommissioner-General of the GRA ,Godfrey Statia, sharing snacks to ed to say thank taxpayers in the waiting area of GRA headquarters you to those

who have been dedicating their time and effort to service, responsible enforcement and compliance with the tax laws on a daily basis.

The January 26 press conference hosted by the commissioner-general and the visit to Mabaruma Region One for assessment of lo-

cations for a new tax office, was also in keeping with the anniversary activities.

The GRA was established on January 27 in the year 2000, following the merger of two departments, the Inland Revenue Department and Customs and Excise Department.

This change was a result of the passing of the Revenue Authority Act, No. 13 of 1996. Mr. Edgar Heyligar was the first to occupy the post of commissioner-general. He was succeeded by Khurshid Sattaur and the incumbent Godfrey Statia.

President hails ‘unshakable’... as those enjoyed by Guyana and India are “unshakably founded on mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, cooperation for mutual benefit, respect for treaties and international law and the maintenance of international peace and security,” which are all principles enshrined in the Sanskrit words, ‘panch sheel’, meaning ‘five vir-

tues.’

“India continues to contribute to Guyana’s economic development,” President Granger said, adding: “Our two Republics have signed agreements for development projects in the fields of education, drainage and irrigation, health-care, information communications technology and transportation, among others.

“The threat of climate change is real for low-lying

From page 8

coastal states. Guyana, although a negligible contributor to global carbon emissions, remains committed to working with countries such as India to find solutions to this global threat.

“The two states have been bound by ties of blood and history for nearly 150 years, since May 5, 1838, when Indian indentured immigrants first began to arrive in British Guiana.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 28, 2018

Campaign finance reform legislation OVER the next two years, Guyana is expected to hold two elections—the local government elections later this year and the general elections in 2020. Despite promises of campaign finance reform, the government is yet to tackle this troublesome area of our political process.

I am not sure whether the coalition government is going to push ahead with campaign finance reform legislation. There has been little if any sense of urgency in this direction. Even when the government indicates that it is willing to address its promise to beef up anti-corruption legislation, they don’t say much about campaign finance reform.

Perhaps the last time the president frontally addressed the issue was more than a

year ago, when he promised legislation before the next general election. Since then, we have not seen any movement. So, it’s fair to conclude that there is no urgency. This is worrying-- it makes the government look bad. These campaign promises which are in the manifesto represent the ingredients needed for an articulation of the hitherto elusive government’s vision.

I think the sloth partly has to do with the contraction of decision-making within the coalition. Everything is decided at Cabinet, but the cabinet is made up of ministers who are obviously primarily concerned with management of their individual ministries.

Hence, they are less interested and in many regards less schooled in overall government policy direction. So, something like campaign

finance, which does not fall under the purview of any subject ministry, except maybe the Legal Affairs Ministry, does not get the treatment it deserves.

The sloth also has to do with the absence of a cohesive and intentional legislative agenda. Governments tend to pay little attention to the legislative branch, except when they want to use their majority to hurry something through the legislature. And the parties in the coalition have not been doing their work as far as pressuring the coalition to advance an aggressive legislative agenda that speaks to the overall direction in which the coalition wants to take the country. You never hear from the PNC, AFC, the WPA and the others about their legislative priorities. These parties seem satisfied that they are

New CJIA must... commitment not only to the project, but improving the

country’s infrastructure and the lives of Guyanese and

“in government” and are not prepared to lift their voices beyond support for the government when it finds itself in trouble.

So, issues such as campaign finance reform for which they vigorously argued when in opposition gets pushed to the sidelines.

I therefore repeat my call for the coalition to set up a committee made up of representatives of member parties to do a “mid-term audit” of campaign promises. The objective is to determine what promises have been addressed and others that need to be urgently addressed. Such work cannot be left to the Cabinet.

A third reason for the sloth has to do with the inability of the government and opposition to agree on anything.

Certainly, something as central and crucial as campaign

finance reform should be done in a bi-partisan manner.

But the PPP has shown little interest in cooperating with the government, even when the latter has reached out to them.

Having said the above, I think campaign finance is urgent, especially since oil money is coming. Businesses are always prepared to buy political access and decision-makers are always vulnerable. Experience in Guyana and other countries has taught us that we cannot depend on the integrity of politicians and parties, so we should legislate checks on their potential for indiscretion.

So, if this government is serious about turning a new page as far as cleaning up the cancer of corruption is concerned, it should act

swiftly, even if it has to do so on its own and even if it has to disavow “bad eggs” in its own ranks. Failure to do so would hurt Guyana.

Campaign finance legislation should expressly regulate financing to parties for elections. Legislation should aim to make elections a relatively low-cost activity and to take dirty money and other suspect sources of financing out of the system.

Parties should be mandated to disclose the sources of campaign funds and there should be stiff penalties if this is not adhered to. There should be a cap on such contributions, especially from corporate and commercial sources and rich individuals.

We are a small country. Our election campaigns should not cost as much as parties want to make us believe.

From page 4

for this we want to thank you Mr. President,” he said.

One of the two boarding bridges at the airport

While the project was slated to be completed in December 2017, there were numerous challenges which affected this deadline. However, with the deadline now extended at no further cost to the government, Minister Patterson said that the new arrivals terminal building, generator building, pipe installation, pump station and water tank, boarding corridor and passenger boarding bridges will be completed by

the first quarter of the year.

Works on the check-in and departure lounges and the first phase of the departure terminal, Screening and VIP areas and the south-west runway will be completed by the end of June. All other works will be completed by December 2018.

The terminal building area will increase from 13,431 to 13,737 square metres; checking counters will be increased from

20 to 32, and the runway l e n g t h i n c re a s e d f ro m 10,066 metres to 10,090 metres. On completion, the US$150M expansion project is expected to yield two passenger boarding bridges for arrivals and departures, a 450-seating departure area, escalators and elevators in addition to its extended runway catering for larger categories of aircraft. (Ministry of the Presidency)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 28, 2018

Safe Motherhood MATERNAL and Child Health should always be at the top of the list of priorities of any health sector. In our public health system in Guyana, it is no different.

In an effort to improve the health of women and children of our nation, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) must ensure that motherhood is safe. Safe Motherhood basically means “safe pregnancy.”

This process of preparation starts from childhood.

It includes health care from preconception, following through to conception; then care throughout the pregnancy until the safe delivery of the baby.

To ensure that every woman gets this privilege, each health facility should provide adequate “safe motherhood” services.

Maximum results can be achieved if several key factors are considered. Firstly, patient-safety includes a safe living environment for the patient as well as confidential medical service. Secondly, cultural competency and community policies are also essential and facilitate the engagement of traditional medicine as well as modern evidence-based practices.

These factors would help patients feel more comfortable and cause them to be willing to participate, resulting in better women’s health care services.

The “Safe Motherhood” strategy includes five pillars.

1. Preconception Care 2. Access to quality Antenatal care 3. Identification and management of high-risk pregnancies 4. Clean and safe delivery 5. Access to Postnatal care PRECONCEPTION CARE

Under this banner, family-planning services and counselling for all patients – male, female, single or married – are provided. In this period, persons are prepared mentally for parenthood and are educated about what to expect when they become parents.

Sexually Transmitted Infections are discussed and tests for the same offered.

The importance of waiting for specific timing for child-bearing is explained, along with the value of appropriate spacing between pregnancies. Exclusive breast-feeding is also discussed with both males and females.

All the basic sexual and reproductive rights are explained to individuals during this time. It is important to have one-on-one sessions with patients to prevent unwanted pregnancies and promote responsible use of contraceptive methods.

During these visits, patients are screened for breast and cervical cancers.

Preparation means having a completed immunisation card for both parties.

It also means that regular exercise is pursued and balanced diets are consumed. If the correct food groups are not consumed in the right amounts, then a woman’s body would not be ready for pregnancy. Balanced diets are encouraged to prevent simple oversights such as Anaemia, which is a serious but correctable condition. If Anaemia is not treated in a timely manner, both the patient and the baby can experience complications during the pregnancy. During this period, in addition to balanced meals, pregnant mothers are encouraged to start using Iron and Folic Acid tablets, which incidentally

help to protect the baby against Neural Tube Defects (problems with the spinal cord).

Healthy lifestyles also mean no alcohol or illegal drugs during this time.

ACCESS TO QUALITY ANTENATAL CARE The Ministry of Public Health is currently working to ensure that every mother has access to a health facility during her pregnancy.

According to the recommendations made by the World Health Organisation (WHO), a pregnant mother must have at least four (4) antenatal visits. In addition, she must be able to join a clinic at least before the first 12 weeks.

During the patient’s assessment at the health facility, the medical personnel should be able to determine whether she should continue her antenatal visits right there at that facility. Depending on the results of the screening that is done, the patient could be referred further up the chain to regional or national hospitals.

While not every facility has access to all the necessary blood tests, measures are in place to ensure that every mother has basic tests done. These basic tests include blood group, haemoglobin or blood count, blood sugar, HIV, and Hepatitis B. It is also recommended that an ultrasound be done preferably in the first trimester, or at least before the 20th week of pregnancy.

All pregnant women should be treated for intestinal parasites and given iron tablets and folic acid.

During antenatal visits, the fathers are encouraged to be present and to actively participate so that all the counselling on hy-

(Minister within the Ministry of Public Health)

giene, breast-feeding and birth complications could be discussed as a team.

Patients should be aware that from their first visit, they should have a complete physical examination done

by the medical personnel.

On completion of the examination, the clinic information would be duplicated and one copy would be given to the patient, while the other is kept in the health facility.

The patient’s family history is recorded and any health condition should be revealed to the doctor, as this might affect the treatment needed for the safe and healthy delivery of the baby.

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Maintaining law and order: An imperative for development MAINTENANCE of law, order and strong institutions is inextricably linked to indissoluble development. Every country, in every epoch, where there is breakdown of law and order, citizens live

with unrealized potential and unattained developmental possibilities, while those that have advanced have done so in tandem with (or driven by) adherence to law, order and good governance.

Collective values shape the culture of any society; this column is of the view that over the last two decades Guyana has descended into a culture of lawlessness, more than [at]any other time.

Two reasons may be advanced: our values and attitudes change faster than the willingness or capacity of law makers to review old and introduce new statutes; ruling politicians deliberately allowed legal regiments to deteriorate so that they can capitalize on the lack of checks and balances. When systems break down, the politician becomes the object of law; (s)he says what is or isn’t permissible and who gets what. Broadcasting in the pre-APNU+AFC era is a prime example. Under the presidency of Bharrat Jagdeo, the industry ran on an “I say so” principle.

He personally directed what happened in the sector based solely on personal sentiments, devoid of uniformed standards resulting in a misaligned, fractured and underdeveloped broadcasting sector.

In other sectors, persons were allowed to escape legal scrutiny because they know or are related to ruling politicians and senior police officers or have “lines” in the law administration sector. This is why I have no difficulty with the universal application of the 2 am ‘curfew’; not necessarily for the reasons advanced by Minister Ramjattan, but for a more fundamental reason.

We should seek to adhere to laws currently on the books designed to maintain public order. Those who believe it should be changed may have valid reasons, but simply disregarding statutes is not the way to run society. Change-advocates should instigate national conversation, pressure group or lobby their representatives in parliament to revise the law. We can’t just continue to have nightclubs, rum shops and drinking parlours situated

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 28, 2018 in any neighbourhood, swing their goods can be sold, in so open their doors anytime they doing will exacerbate the issue feel like and blare music at any and promote greater lawlessdecibel without the necessary ness. We cannot continue to permit and or licence. vend anywhere we feel like or Guyana cannot advance if encumber any reserve or parathis monkey stays on our back, pet we deem convenient or alit is time for a culture shift. ter public property deliberately Routine disregard for statutes unmindful of existing rules. cannot continue unabated. We Many laws and ordiopen, in any neighbourhood, nances have been routinely pig and chicken farms, ma- disregarded for such a long chine shops, noisy production time that the lines between lines, spray painting shops, right and wrong are blurred, woodworking outfits, carwash the current generation of bays, corner shops etc. without youth can barely discern the environmental or other per- differences. Violators are mits. The country is littered middle-class, working-class, with mechanic shops that have impoverished, political elite, dozens of derelict vehicles law enforcement and just lining the parapets, encumber- about everyone. As a naing the free flow of traffic for tion (government and peoyears with impunity. There are ple), we have to make some thousands of citizens across hard decisions. I advocate the country who just colonise a comprehensive national portions of the government re- initiative to curb and reoriserves for personal enjoyment ent our value system with a without recourse of law. view to thwart the culture The Freddie Kissoon col- of lawlessness that pervades umn recently expressed in- every aspect of society. As a dignation that vendors are nation, the longer we dabble being “chased” from the Sea- in this culture of non-adherwalls and Stabroek Square ence to existing institutional among other places. In keeping mechanisms and general with law and order, I have no law and order, the longer qualms over the removal of we spend on the benches vendors, but must hasten to of underdevelopment. This say that I cannot support any will be an uncomfortable but action taken in isolation of a necessary process; we must well thought out, economically bite the bullet and endure it. sensitive, practical, systematic It requires transformative and publicly vetted plan to leadership, political courage curb the culture of illegal vend- and national will to confront ing across the country. These and defeat this beast. Many sporadic overnight flare-ups who have benefited from the serve no useful purpose, apart decades of lawlessness and from isolating the political believe they have attained support base of the current the status of untouchable will government, they add to the resist, but that should not problem since vendors are deter our resolve. Otherwise, poor and depend on vending despite the blessings of new for their daily sustenance; they resources, Guyana will not will simply relocate to another cross that threshold between part of town where they reckon potential and actualization.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 28, 2018

By Elson Low

The Sugar Wars THE Sugar Wars are over, and we have lost. As the industry slowly winds down with the recent closure of some Berbice estates, I want to point to two clarifying questions. First, why did we produce sugar here? Second, when did the purpose of sugar stop being to make profits?

The first question should help Guyanese understand why we won the war for so long, and the second why we eventually fell.

As a reminder from our social studies text books, Guyana produced tobacco at one point, before switching to our most famous crop. This is because the best places to grow tobacco are Cuba and the Carolinas, and the best place to grow sugar is Guyana.

Those writing about cuts to GuySuCo should recognise that the administration is merely cleaning up after the battle, after we already knew the industry was unsustainable. The moment that sugar became about employment rather than profits, it was all going to fall eventually.

This thinking creates per-

verse incentives, pushing us towards the wrong decisions for the industry rather than the right ones.

This is not to say that we don’t want sugar to provide employment, but rather that a different national strategy could have both preserved jobs and grown the industry.

To clarify how far off the rails we went, I’ll draw on the surprisingly analogous history of Frederick the Great, described by Napoleon as the greatest general.

When Frederick came to power in Prussia, a small German state, he found his father had left him one of the largest and most militarily capable armies in Europe. Legacy of the Prussian independence struggle, Frederick had to decide whether to dismantle the army or use it.

This is quite similar to the situation in which we found ourselves when our protected European prices started to slip away. We had a massive, well-developed industry operating in the best possible conditions in the world at our disposal.

At college, I remember

coming across brown sugar from Hawaii, and as excited as I was to try it, I had to use so much in my tea I thought I would get diabetes! I was used to Guyanese sugar, which is much sweeter, and thus far less is required.

Those types of competitive advantages come from producing things for prolonged periods of time, and the Hawaiians were about 200 years behind. Similarly, because of the long Prussian independence struggle, Frederick had an analogous advantage, in that his veteran troops could fire about twice as quickly as his opponents.

Making use of this, he went out of his way to fight whenever he was on relatively even footing, knowing that he would always be able to overwhelm his enemies. What this means is that if we had been able to get Guyanese sugar close to our competitors’ prices, we could have leveraged our sweeter sugar to aggressively compete them out of business.

But even at the height of our efforts to save the industry, building the Skeldon plant, we

still were using language like “keep estates open.” The goal was to preserve employment, especially as that industry had historically supported the administration of the time.

Because we were focused on employment, the difficult conversations needed to return the industry to profitability just couldn’t happen.

We may not have been able to prevent laying off some workers, but is that any better than the current situation?

Instead, many workers could have been retrained to facilitate and maintain more mechanised

plantations, especially if our goal was to expand acreage planted to compete in new markets.

Rather than a slow death, expansion would have driven employment in the industry, and maybe, just maybe, things would be different in Berbice.

The international economy is structured such that countries must take a realistic look at where they have competitive advantages and expand, pressing those home.

We may not now be able to save sugar, but we can learn from this as we move forward.

Guyana also produces the world’s finest rum. It should be our national mission to drive firms like Bacardi, with their bitter, watery rum, out of business.

Plantation closures will always be difficult to stomach, but if our national approach remains only fostering employment rather than also increasing competitiveness, it’s hard to see other industries reaching their true potential.

The lessons from the Sugar War were bitter, but if we learn from them, the future will taste a lot better.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 28, 2018

Safe...

From page 11

At each visit, the patient’s weight, height, blood pressure, heart rate, urine test and sugar test are done.

This data also includes measurement of the mother’s abdomen and palpation to define the position of the baby.

A device is used to check the baby’s heart sound.

IDENTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF HIGH-RISK PREGNANCIES High risk is used to describe those patients who are expected to have a complicated pregnancy due to a health problem with either the mother or child. Such patients need to be seen by an Obstetrician throughout their antenatal care. Once diagnosed, these patients are referred to a specialist as early as possible. Some of the risk factors that influence high-risk pregnancies are as follows: age (<18 or > 35 years old), lifestyle (use of drugs and alcohol, smoking, obesity), existing health conditions (High blood pressure, diabetes, sickle cell, anaemia) and conditions of pregnancy (twins, malformations, placenta previa, etc.).

It should be emphasised that high blood pressure remains one of the most seen conditions in our high- risk clinics and patients are encouraged to continue with their balanced diets, exercise, and medications when needed. Depending on the medical condition that the patient presents, a delivery plan would be made for her during her antenatal visits.

This plan includes timing of delivery and mode of delivery; that is, whether it would be by normal delivery or caesarean section.

Other important conditions include diabetes, malaria, and some sexually transmitted diseases.

CLEAN AND SAFE DELIVERY All our health care facilities throughout Guyana where deliveries are done should have a skilled birth attendant present. The presence of this person helps to ensure the safety of the

mother and the neonate.

The health care facility should have systems in place in the event of an emergency.

All health care workers should be able to recognise obstetric emergencies and call for immediate help. Everyone, including Community Health Workers (CHWs), needs to be re-evaluated every two years to ensure their skills are evaluated and upgraded.

For the mother, it is important that the signs of labour be explained to her. These signs include regular contractions, rupture of membranes (water bag bursting) and “show,” which is a bloody discharge on the patient’s underwear.

POSTNATAL CARE Before discharge from the health facility, the mother must be aware of alarm signs which include fever, smelly vaginal discharge, heavy bleeding, and pain to the breasts. Even after the mother has had a safe delivery, she is asked to do a follow-up visit a week after the birth to ensure her safety and well-being.

Initiation of breast-feeding is highly recommended for all new mothers at all health facilities, except if medical conditions prevent this activity. Exclusive breast-feeding is promoted for all infants. At this first postnatal visit to the health facility, the health care personnel should check to see that breast-feeding is being done, unless it is medically unindicated.

At this visit also, we would also initiate the conversation about family planning, so that the mother would be able to make an informed decision about spacing of her children. In an ideal world, zero maternal death is the benchmark, but this goal can be an almost impossible task.

However, the cooperation and education of our population help to promote and ensure “safe motherhood” for all our womenfolk. The Ministry of Public Health asks all citizens to work collaboratively to reduce the maternal mortality rate across Guyana.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 28, 2018

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 28, 2018

More inclusivity for persons with disabilities will n

By Lisa Hamilton

STUDENTS with disabilities at the Open Doors Centre will now be included in the President’s Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG) programme, as a continuation of the government’s aim to facilitate the inclusivity of all citizens.

This was established

by Executive Officer of PYARG, Alistair Collins, at the centre for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in ‘C’ Field Sophia on Friday, January 26.

The programme will see the students participating in exciting after-school activities such as martial arts, swimming, football, cricket, dance, drama and community service, all tailored to their abilities.

Collins told the media that disability centres as well

as remote areas, once limited by resources, under new management can now be exposed to the Award which also seeks to tackle social,

to respond to those with different needs and those who are differently abled in our society,” Collins stated. “The measure of a society is how

begin the programme as soon as in the next two weeks and will have the chance to choose from the three levels of the Award: Gold, 18

Students of the Open Door Centre for persons with disabilities listening to the range of activities that will be available for their participation

economic and psychological issues.

“All of us are not the same and we have to be able

we treat those who we would consider to be the weakest among us.”

The students are set to

months; Silver, 12 months and Bronze, six months.

In addition, the PYARG Executive Officer says he ad-

mires the vision of Minister of Social Cohesion, George Norton, who demonstrates a passion for the inclusivity of all citizens, especially those in remote areas of the country.

“The programme would not be just limited to this narrow coast and just those reachable areas…we’ve had to also look at…fairness and equity,” Collins said. “We are privileged to be living in this time when we can have leaders with a heart and compassion that say ‘Even if it’s five in areas that are remote, they can also experience what the thousands and hundreds in Georgetown can experience.’”

Collins says that the programme is not a competitive one and as such, each individual who seeks to improve his or her personal standards, despite disability, can do so without fear of discrimination or prejudice.

According to Teresina O’Connell, a parent who

came to the event all the way from Chateau Margot, the undertaking will provide an opportunity for her daughter, who suffers from epilepsy, to receive some much-needed exercise.

“I think it’s a good initiative,” commented O’Connell, “I’m happy that they have programmes like this for the children.”

Meanwhile, Manager of the Open Door Centre, Arthur Lewis, remarked: “This is one of the boldest steps that have been taken over the years to get our persons with disabilities, who are youths, [to]…contribute.”

Lewis believes that persons with disabilities should be given every opportunity to become assets to society and should be allowed to engage in all activities, simply because they have the potential to produce works of their own.

“If we want to build their self-esteem, this is one of the ways forward. They will

Hundreds atten

Scenes from the Ministry o

ON Saturday, more than 1200 children turned out for the start o at improving the performance of children at the National Grade According to the ministry, the camp is another in its intervention The camp will be held at three locations, namely West Ruimveldt present to assist and learn strategies on Saturday were scores of pare The initiative was commended by parents and students and ac

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 28, 2018

now be eligible to benefit from PYARG programme organisations, they discriminate against persons with disabilities,” the manager lamented. “They [businesses] don’t want to bear the same weight… if they

Executive Officer of the President’s Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG), Alistair Collins, answers questions coming from parents

become assets in our society instead of liabilities,” Lewis said.

This, however, is not easy. One of the challenges the institution faced over the past years was a lack of job placements for students for

the Electronics/Electrical Installation skill course, due to discrimination from a number of businesses.

As a result, the centre was forced to drop the course but will, in its stead, launch a new Cosmetology

nd Maths Camp

of Education’s Maths Camp.

of the Ministry of Education (MoE) Maths Camp, which is aimed e Six Assessment, 2018. n to improve performance at the grade six level. t Primary, F.E. Pollard Primary and North Georgetown Primary. Also, ents helping teachers for a collective impact. ccording to the ministry, the camp will run until March 24, 2018.

programme in April, which will also see the males receiving training in barbering.

“Too many companies,

want to cut out.”

Another issue he indicated was media houses which he says are not placing enough emphasis on the activities of persons

Manager of the Open Door Centre, Arthur Lewis

know it [craft, carpentry or garment work] is done by someone with a disability, they won’t want to pay the same price. That’s what we

with disabilities. However, if done correctly, the exposure can help to create awareness of the potential of PWDs.

The Open Door Centre is the only of its kind which offers technical and vocational training in Information Technology, Garment Construction and Carpentry/Joinery to persons with disabilities, in order to facilitate an inclusive society.

There are presently 31 students between the ages of 16-45 at the institution who possess a speech, hearing, physical or learning disability.

The PYARG is a flagship programme of the government’s Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, which was launched in Guyana in 1998.

It receives its funding from the government and previously conducted similar ventures of inclusivity at the Gifted Hands School for Special Children.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 28, 2018

Lethem to one day boast its own control tower --as GCAA moves to take the service regional

THE Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is looking to take its air traffic control service to Lethem, as the government gears to upgrade the airstrip there to a regional hub.

But by the look of things, it won’t be happening anytime soon; at least until the next two years, officials say.

In the meantime, plans are in train to sensitise Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) residents, particularly those at Lethem and other stakeholders of the GCAA’s aviation plans, and an outreach to this effect is carded for the Rupununi border town early next month.

ernment was in the process of negotiating with a multilateral donor to secure a US$15M loan to finance a project for the further development of airstrips and aerodromes across the hinterland.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan, during his 2018 budget presentation, said the upgrade of the Lethem airstrip will allow flights originating from Brazil and other Latin American countries to land there.

Jordan disclosed that $35B has been allocated for infrastructural development in 2018, and that some $250M has been set aside to improve airstrips and aerodromes across the country.

Last October, Lethem

An aircraft preparing to land at Lethem (Photo by Alva Solomon)

The GCAA is expected to bring awareness to interested persons on air traffic control, a move which signals that the service will be provided to aircraft operating within the airspace at Lethem soon.

According to an advertisement, the GCAA plans to undertake the outreach on February 1-2 at the Ori Hotel at Lethem. The air navigation outreach will see presentations on the history of aviation in Guyana, and to provide residents with information on career opportunities in the sector, mainly air traffic control and related services such as aeronautical information services, the duties of management officers and other aviation professionals.

An aviation source noted over the weekend that among the authorities’ plans are the construction of facilities such as an air traffic control tower, and a port health facility at the Region Nine town.

Those plans are expected to materialise before the end of 2019.

Last November, the gov-

was officially declared a town and President David Granger noted during celebrations to mark the occasion, that he foresees a bright future for Lethem, now that it no longer looks like the frontier town it once was that reminded him so much of the legendary ‘El Paso’ of the fabled Wild West.

“In the past, Lethem used to suffer from what I call ‘the compound mentality’,” the president said, in that back then during the colonial period, the country was run by “a few compounds” of senior officials who were more concerned about taxation than with development.

“Today, we have a municipality which comes from among the people that are concerned with development and not government. That is why we changed the name from the Ministry of Local Government to the Ministry of Communities,” the president said.

The President also called on residents to adopt a policy of cooperation, despite their political differences. “Say Rupununi first!” he declared.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 28, 2018

Contracts for ‘Shelter-belt’ expansion …completion of Kitty roundabout approved SIX multi-million-dollar contracts have been approved, paving the way for expansion of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Shelterbelt and the construction of a roundabout road at Kitty, among other critical projects.

At his post-Cabinet media briefing, Minister of State Joseph Harmon disclosed that US$719.950M was approved for the rehabilitation and expansion of GWI Shelter-belt, a project being executed under the Ministry of Communities.

The contract was awarded to Hi-Pro Ecologicos S.A De C.V of Mexico.

Minister Harmon also noted that a $78.9M contract was awarded to S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services for the construction of a road roundabout at Kitty, Georgetown.

This is the final phase of the Carifesta Avenue/Vlissengen Road Roundabout Project, which commenced in 2017 under the watch of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. The third phase resulted in the Stanley Place section extending to the centre of the carriage way.

When this final stage is completed, all the roads will be connected – Carifesta Avenue, the Seawall Road, the Rupert Craig Highway and Vlissingen Road. Upon

completion, it will allow for a smoother and unhindered flow of traffic at the busy intersection. The roundabout will reduce waiting and stoppage time for motorists heading to the East Coast of Demerara and those using Carifesta Avenue, Vlissengen Road and the Kitty Public Road.

A $257.4M contract was also awarded to Puran Brothers Disposal Inc in association with Cevons Waste Management Incorporated for the provision of operation services at the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill Facility, Region Four.

The De Winkle Building at Fort Street, Kingston, Georgetown, is in line to be rehabilitated at the sum of $35M. The contract was awarded to Doodnauth Construction.

Maintenance works will also be carried out at Canals No. 1 and 2 Polder main drains in Region Three. The contract for that project was awarded to the West Demerara Environment Maintenance Association at a cost of $43.1M. The final contract approved during this round went to EC Vieira Investment Limited for the rehabilitation of two extra-large pontoons for the Demerara Harbour Bridge. The contract sum was set at $31.7M.

The GWI Shelter-belt that will be rehabilitated and expanded to the tune of US$719.950M

The Carifesta Avenue and Vlissengen Road area where the roundabout will be built (Photos by Adrian Narine)

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PM dismisses opposition’s racial-bias charges PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Friday called out the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) for its stance taken on the matter of re-organising the sugar industry.

The prime minister said the opposition’s claims of racial bias in the closure of sugar estates is mischievous and must be stopped. “They say Skeldon is being closed because this government don’t like Indo-Guyanese people; it is racially driven they said. How can you try to divide people …all of us are Guyanese and we all are looking to find a solution for this mess.” the prime minister stressed.

In addition, Prime Minister Nagamootoo said that the estates which are being retained, predominantly employ Guyanese of East Indian descent, and questioned the logic of the opposition’s arguments. “I don’t believe [President] Granger and Nagamootoo because of racial reasons, we are protecting and saving three factories and estates with five sugar-producing areas…. workers’ jobs are being protected. At Albion…

Blairmont, the majority are Indo-Guyanese, Wales, Uitvlugt are Indo-Guyanese in the majority. How is it we are being accused of going against Indians by closing down factories and trying to reform the sugar industry?”

Nagamootoo asked.

Further, the prime minister said that the government

has made a determined effort to curtail the number of persons affected by the re-organisation. He maintained that the re-organisation was necessitated by the previous government’s mismanagement of the industry.

“Eleven thousand workers’ jobs are being protected by the actions that we have taken to provide more funds.

In addition to the $32B subsidies given to the sugar corporation in less than three years of this government, GuySuCo (Guyana Sugar Corporation) used up every single cent that it has sold sugar for. Between 1992 and 2015, it used $260B and we know that there was a lot of incompetence and mismanagement which GAWU (Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union) pointed out,” the prime minister explained.

He also reminded that in 2010, when the head of GAWU, Komal Chand, highlighted that the mismanagement of the sugar entity was a result of unsuitable persons being placed in positions of authority, former president Bharrat Jagdeo threatened to de-recognise GAWU. The prime minister on Friday led a team comprising Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder and Minister within the Ministry of Finance Jaipaul Sharma to Skeldon and Rosehall to meet with redundant workers and stakeholders of the sugar industry. (DPI)

President invites UN programme heads to Cabinet roundtable PRESIDENT David Granger was on Friday paid a courtesy call by United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator, Ms. Mikiko Tanaka, who gave him a status update on the work of the various UN agencies in Guyana. The meeting was held at State House.

Ms. Tanaka informed that in 2017, a total of 15 UN agencies executed various projects in Guyana, all with the aim of ensuring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are met. The UN agencies have conducted several capacity-building programmes with ministries and government agencies and conducted a series of community awareness/sensitisation programmes on various issues, including gender-based violence, HIV/AIDS, corporal punishment and nutrition.

Meanwhile, President Granger said that Guyana is committed to working closely with the UN system to ensure that their programmes are successful. To this end, he designated Minister of Public Affairs, Ms. Dawn Hastings-Williams to work with Ms. Tanaka to consolidate the UN programmes and to conduct an analysis so that implementation can be more effective.

Additionally, the President has extended an invitation to the UN Heads of Programmes in Guyana to a roundtable discussion, which would allow for them to interface directly with Cabinet members. This, he said, will pave the way for greater synergies between the UN system and the Government. (Ministry of the Pesidency)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, January 28, 2018

Lands and Surveys Commission to send high-level note to UNCCD A HIGH-LEVEL note will be submitted to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) following an approval by Cabinet, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said on Friday.

“The high-level note will outline the measures that will be undertaken to achieve the National Land Degradation Neutrality Targets in Guyana by the year 2030,” Minister Harmon explained.

It was noted that the measures, compiled in a Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Programme (LDN-TSP) Country Synthesis Report 2017-2030, were compiled after wide consultations with all of the relevant stakeholders.

During one of the consultative meetings in 2017, GLSC and National Focal Point for the UNCCD, Trevor Benn had explained that incidences of floods, droughts, saltwater intrusion in agricultural areas and natural resource utilisation in the mining forestry and land sectors were among the key land degradation issues facing Guyana.

He had further explained that the LDN-TSP would provide the country framework for a timely monitoring

management and reporting on land degradation, land reclamation and sustainable land management.

Guyana opted into the LDNTSP in April 2016. The process is intended to be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal 15: life, land and the target 15.3 which seeks to combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, droughts and floods and strive to achieve a land degradation neutral work by 2030.

GLSC is seeking to strengthen relevant existing laws and to recommend the creation of new ones where they do not exist. “This, together with the implementation of the national action plan to combat land degradation, will provide us with the necessary tools to aid us in this process,” Benn had said.

Guyana ratified the UNCCD and acceded to it on June 26, 1997 and effectively became a member on September 24, 1997.

The UNCCD supports the development and implementation of national and regional policies, programmes and measures to prevent, control and reverse desertification land degradation and mitigate the effects of drought.

GTT signs on as ‘The Official Technology Sponsor’ for GPIX 2018 THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) on Saturday announced itself as the Official Technology Partner and Platinum Level Sponsor for the recently launched Guyana International Petroleum Summit, which will be held in Guyana from February 7-9 at the Marriott Hotel.

According to a release from the company, the support for the conference at such a strategic level signals GTT’s support of the emerging oil and gas sector and its recognition of its importance to the growth and development of the Guyana economy and Guyanese as a whole.

“We are the premier technology company in Guyana and the only one adequately able to provide full service to the oil and gas sector,” said GTT’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Nedd.

Nedd noted that for local and international connectivity, unparalleled holistic solutions are found at GTT, adding “we (GTT) continue

to do more to improve our products and services to the oil and gas sector. For 2018, we will exceed the tremendous work done in 2017 and create more satisfied customers.”

GTT, who was awarded by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry the award for Large Business of the Year 2017 and Corporate Citizenship Award of the Year 2017, stated that they stand ready to provide technology solutions to cater to the needs of the oil and gas industry.

In the past, GTT has shown similar support for the mining industry as demonstrated in the establishment of telecommunication facilities for Troy Mining Resources at Issano, Region Seven.

Businesses are encouraged to visit GTT’s booth at the summit to acquaint themselves with the wide array of technology business solutions. The company extends its welcome to all participating companies in the inaugural event.

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Wins for Chase, Buxton and St Rose’s as 2018 Milo U-18 football tournament opens

By Stephan Sookram

CHASE Academy started with the victory they wanted, as this year’s Milo Schools U-18 Football tournament got underway yesterday at the Ministry of Education ground.

The defending champions maintained their ruthlessness by overpowering Carmel Secondary 12-0 in one of three matches in the first round.

Jeremy Garrett (2nd and 49th), Malachi Adonis (22nd and 24th) and Stephan Rudd (42nd and 65th) were the main destroyers. Sin-

gle strikes came from Randel Peters (21st), Nickolas McArthur (29th), Isaiah Jack (52nd), Kevin Padmore (62nd) and Marcus Wilson (64th).

One own goal came from Carmel.

In the day’s opening game, Buxton were made to work for their 4-2 win against The Business School with a ‘Shamar’ doing all the scoring. Shamar Kingston netted the team’s brace in the (27th and 70th) while Shamar Singh (52nd) and Shamar Scott (66th) were the other goalscorers.. Jermaine Pad-

more (7th and 15th) gave the Business School the lead and then doubled it before his side were overtaken.

St Rose’s were also victors on day one as Akeem Forde and Shane France scored in the 21st and 45th minutes to down Cummings Lodge 2-0.

Matches will continue today with South Ruimveldt playing Charlestown Secondary from 12:00hrs, Masters Academy clashing with Queenstown Secondary from 13:30hrs and Sir Leon Lessons facing Uitvlugt Secondary.

Bravo interventions put Renegades in Big Bash semis

25 from 3.5 overs while fast bowler Kane Richardson led the attack with four for 35.

Seamer Chris Tremain was also among the wickets with three for 29.

Middle order batsman Alex Ross top-scored with 36 from 27 balls while Ben Cutting lashed an explosive 18-ball 35.

However, it was Bravo who struck at crucial times during the innings to hurt the Heat run chase.

After sliding to 29 for three in the sixth over, the

Heat recovered, courtesy of 47-run, fourth-wicket stand between Ross and Matt Renshaw (22) but Bravo broke the stand, sending back Renshaw to a superb running catch at mid-off by Tom Cooper.

When Cutting and Ross tried to rebuild in a 48-run fifth-wicket stand, Bravo came up trumps yet again, removing Cutting to a catch at deep square leg

by Marcus Harris.

It was Bravo who sealed the critical win for Renegades when he bowled last man Mitchell Swepson for two.

Earlier, Cooper topscored with an unbeaten 65 off 38 balls while opener Matthew Short struck 62 from 48 deliveries, and partner Marcus Harris, 42, as Renegades piled up 187 for three off 20 overs.

Short and Harris put on 75 off 58 balls for the first wicket before Cooper joined Short to add a further 83 for the second wicket.

West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard failed with one after arriving at the crease in the 18th over.

12:10 hrs Princess Mono-

12:20 hrs Mount Pelier

Melbourne Renegades all-rounder Dwayne Bravo.

BRISBANE, Australia (CMC) – Captain Dwayne B r a v o ’s t h re e - w i c k e t haul proved crucial as Melbourne Renegades romped into the semi-finals of the Australian Big Bash with a 26-run win over Brisbane Heat here yesterday.

Defending 187 at the Gabba, Renegades held the Heat to 161 all out with a ball to spare, to claim their sixth win of the preliminaries and finish third in the standings on 12 points.

West Indies all-rounder Bravo snatched three for

noke English Racing Tips Sedgefield 09:10 hrs Black Art 10:10 hrs Blottos 10:40 hrs Ascendant 11:10 hrs NMever Up 11:40 hrs Camron De Chaillac

South Africa Racing Tips Irish Racing Tips

Scottsville

Naas

08:25 hrs Eccellerate

09:50 hrs Sandsend

09:00 hrs Mr Roy

10:20 hrs Jury Duty

09:35 hrs La Ferrari

10:50 hrs Ballyward

10:10 hrs London Call

11:20 hrs Randalls Ur Poet

10:45 hrs Celtic Captain

11:50 hrs Surf Instructor

11:20 hrs Obvious Child

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India rip through SA batting line-up to seal consolation victory JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) - Superb seam bowling allowed India to rip through South Africa’s batting line-up and seal a 63-run consolation victory on day four of the third and final Test at the Wanderers yesterday.

Chasing 241 for victory on a wicket with pace, bounce and prodigious lateral movement, South Africa were on top at 124 for one, but lost their last nine wickets for just 53 runs as India roared back into the contest.

Opener Dean Elgar (86 not

Mohammed Shami finished with 5 for 28 in India’s 63-run win (BCCI photo)

out) and Hashim Amla (52) had given South Africa hope with a 119-run second-wicket stand, but the home side lost their way following the latter’s dismissal 20 minutes before tea.

The wickets were shared between the excellent Mohammed Shami (5-28), Ishant Sharma (2-31), Jasprit Bumrah (2-57) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1-39).

South Africa had claimed the series 2-1 after victories in

Cape Town and Pretoria.

The Test victory will be especially pleasing for India after it was achieved on a treacherous Wanderers wicket.

“We required some character playing on a pitch that was very difficult to play on, but our guys showed great guts and determination through the four days,” India captain Virat Kohli said at the post-match presentation.

“We took the challenge;

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 28, 2018

we wanted to face it head on.

Batting first was something that didn’t go down well with a lot of people, but we knew it would get even more difficult to bat as the game went on.”

The batsmen in particular showed bravery and skill on a surface that at once stage was deemed so dangerous by umpires Ian Gould and Aleem Dar that they suspended play 20 minutes from the close on day three.

Resuming on 17 for one, South Africa played patiently through the rain-shortened morning session, but Amla’s dismissal sparked a swing in momentum.

The key wickets of AB de Villiers (6) and Faf du Plessis (2) followed quickly afterwards, and when the out-ofform Quinton de Kock was trapped leg-before-wicket first ball, the home side’s chances diminished.

At one stage India’s rampant seamers picked up six wickets for 17 runs, with only the lone hand of Elgar able to keep them at bay.

“India outplayed us in this Test; we didn’t take our chances and were sloppy.

We weren’t as consistent as in the first two Tests,” South African captain Faf du Plessis said.

“It’s very disappointing

SCORECARD

INDIA first innings 187 SOUTH AFRICA first innings 194 INDIA 2nd innings Murali Vijay b Kagiso Rabada

25 Parthiv Patelc Aiden Markram b Vernon Philander 16 Lokesh Rahul c Faf du Plessis b Vernon Philander 16 Cheteshwar Pujara c Faf du Plessis b Morne Morkel 1 Virat Kohli b Kagiso Rabada

41 Ajinkya Rahane c Quinton de Kock b Morne Morkel 48 Hardik Pandya c & b Kagiso Rabada

4 Bhuvneshwar Kumar c Quinton de Kock b Morne Morkel 33 Mohammed Shami c AB de Villiers b Lungi Ngidi

27 Ishant Sharma not out

7 Jasprit Bumrah c Kagiso Rabada b Vernon Philander 0 Extras: (b-5, lb-12, w-12)

29 Total: (all out, 80.1 overs)

247 Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-51, 3-57, 4-100, 5-134, 6-148, 7-203, 8-238, 9-240.

Bowling: Philander 21.1-5-61-3, Rabada 23-5-69-3 (w-1), Morkel 216-47-3 (w-2), Ngidi 12-2-38-1, Phehlukwayo 3- 0-15-0 (w-1).

SOUTH AFRICA 2nd innings (o/n 17 for 1 Aiden Markram c Parthiv Patel b Mohammed Shami 4 Dean Elgar not out

86 Hashim Amla c Hardik Pandya b Ishant Sharma

52 AB de Villiers c Ajinkya Rahane b Jasprit Bumrah 6 Faf du Plessis b Ishant Sharma

2 Quinton de Kock lbw Jasprit Bumrah

0 Vernon Philander b Mohammed Shami

10 Andile Phehlukwayo b Mohammed Shami

0 Kagiso Rabada c Cheteshwar Pujara b Bhuvneshwar Kumar 0 Morne Morkel b Mohammed Shami

0 Lungi Ngidi c (sub.) b Mohammed Shami

4 Extras: (b-7, w-6)

13 Total: (all out, 73.3 overs)

177 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-124, 3-131, 4-144, 5-145, 6-157, 7-157, 8-160, 9-161.

Bowling: Kumar 18-4-39-1, Shami 12.3-2-28-5, Bumrah 21- 3-57-2 (w-1), Sharma 16-3-31-2, Pandya 6- 1-15- 0 (w-1).

standing here after a loss, but if you had offered me 2-1 before this series I would have bitten your hand off. India is a fantastic team, but we have played some really good cricket in this

series.”

The teams will now play six One-Day Internationals starting on February 1, followed by three Twenty20 Internationals.

Wozniacki wins Australian Open for first grand slam title

By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Caroline Wozniacki held firm to edge a brave Simona Halep in a classic Australian Open final yesterday, claiming a long-awaited grand slam title after two heart-breaking misses.

In a captivating tussle played out in stifling humidity, the Dane hung tough in a nerve-shredding final set to win 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4 under the lights at a heaving Rod Laver Arena.

She swiped Halep’s world number one ranking in the process, six years after losing it at the 2012 tournament at Melbourne Park, the restoration having taken a record amount of time.

“I have to take a second to hug Daphne ... it’s a dream come true, and my voice is shaking, it’s a very emotional moment,” a teary-eyed Wozniacki said, cradling the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup at the presentation ceremony.

“I want to congratulate Simona. I know today is a tough day and I‘m sorry I had to win.”

After closing it out when Halep netted a backhand, the overwhelmed Dane threw her racquet away and collapsed onto the blue hardcourt as the packed terraces roared.

Following runner-up finishes at the 2009 and 2014 U.S. Opens, it was third time lucky

for the 27-year-old who saved match points in her second round match against Jana Fett.

Making the breakthrough in her 43rd grand slam appearance -- only three players have needed more -Wozniacki will no longer be known as one of the game’s best without a major success.

“Honestly, I think that’s one of the most positive things about all of this,” the second

Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki with her trophy after winning the Australian Open final.

seed told reporters.

“I‘m never going to get that question again. I‘m just waiting for the question: when are you going to win the second one?”

Top seed Halep was gallant in defeat and at the end of an exhausting campaign, she came back from a break down in the final set to push within two games of victory.

But Wozniacki took full advantage of the fatiguing

Romanian, claiming the last three games after some furious all-court play.

“I was close again, but the gas was over in the end,” said twice French Open runner-up Halep, all class after her third grand slam final disappointment.

“I‘m still losing and I‘m still waiting,” she added with a wry smile. “Maybe the fourth one will be with luck.”

On a steamy evening, Wozniacki’s power told early as she roared to a 3-0 lead in the opening set before Halep could find her range.

She wobbled when serving for the set at 5-3 when a hollering fan broke her focus.

But she was commanding in the tiebreak, closing it out swiftly with a blazing shot that all but knocked the racquet out of Halep’s hand.

The world number one was on the back foot and suddenly dizzy, and she called a medical timeout to have her blood pressure taken after holding serve to 3-2 in the second set.

She then began grabbing at her left thigh after points, but somehow found the energy to break Wozniacki with a swashbuckling forehand down the line.

Nothing would come easy for Halep, who saved further break points in a nervous service game before claiming the set with a risky dropshot that Wozniacki failed to deal with.

29

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 28, 2018

Ricks and Sari Agro Industries 11-race programme

Dey draws ‘first blood’ as 2018 cycling season starts CURTIS Dey took `First Blood’ yesterday when the 2018 cycling season commenced with the 25th Annual Ricks and Sari Agro Industries-sponsored 11race programme around the inner circuit of the National Park.

Dey, riding tactically, stayed with the chasing bunch after Briton John and Paul DeNobrega broke from the pack after eight intense laps of racing, opening a more that 600-metre lead on the peloton.

However, after 22 laps were completed, DeNobrega developed a problem with his back wheel and had to change his cycle and this left John struggling to keep up the pace as he had no one to help him.

Eventually, John was `balled’ in by the peloton

with nine laps remaining in the 35-lap race. Two laps later, DeNobrega surged to the head of affairs and led for one lap before Deoraj Garbarran took over and led for two laps and was then joined by Akeem Wilkinson and together the duo held on to the lead until the final lap when both Garbarran and Wilkinson were `balled’ in by the main chasing pack.

With approximately 125 metres to the finish line, Romello Crawford started the sprint but was pursued

by Dey who, on rounding the turn to the finish, joined Crawford and in the end he (Dey) prevailed and won by half a length from Crawford.

Orville Hinds, Junior Niles, Kemuel Moses and

Curtis Dey (right) surges over the finish line ahead of Romello Crawford in yesterday’s feature 35-lap race in the National Park. (Adrian Narine photo)

Andre Green occupied the other four places respectively.

Of the eight prime prizes that were on offer, Hinds, De-

Nobrega and Griffith won two each, while Andrew Hicks and Briton John took one each.

In other results from

the day’s programme, John Niles won the BMX Boys’ 9-12 years old three-lap race ahead of Mark Lewis and

Jahme Henry in that order.

The BMX Boys’ 12-14 years three-lap event was won by Jonathan Ramsuchit.

Second was Brian DeNobrega, while Steve Simpson placed third.

Junior Niles was the winner of the veterans’ Under-50 five-lap race. Second was Wilbert Benjamin while Jaikarran Sookhai placed third.

Kennard Lovell won the veterans’ Over-50 five-lap race ahead of Gary Benjamin and Linden Blackman respectively, while John was unstoppable in the Juveniles’ 10-lap race. He won ahead of Adelie Hodge and Ralph Seenarine respectively.

Shane Bourne was the winner of the five-lap race for Mountain Bikers. Second was Ozia McAullay.

Defending champs Showstoppers off to winning start DEFENDING Guinness Greatest of the Streets’ West Side edition champions, Showstoppers, got off to a winning start in this year’s tournament, after ‘stopping’ Admiral United 1-0 when the tournament kicked off at the Pouderoyen tarmac Friday evening.

Stephon Jupiter’s 12th minute strike was good enough for the champions, who are looking to claim the tournament’s $400,000 first-place prize and book their spot in the national playoffs set for later this year.

Thirty-two teams will vie for the coveted title but on the

opening night, several left licking their wounds in defeat.

In the opening game, Boom Bang edged Young Ballers 3-2 on sudden-death penalty, after the two sides finished scoreless at the end of regulation time.

West Side Ballers picked up a 1-0, thanks to Quessey Alleyne (14th minute), over Jetty Ballers while Mocha won 2-1 over Agricola.

Ballers Empire defeated Asylum Youths 1-0 on penalty kicks, after having finished without a goal in regulation play.

Bagotville All-Stars also won on penalty kicks over Nismes

(1-0) and Up-Like-7 were 1-0 winners over Patentia Money Team.

Kester Alleyne’s second minute goal saw Dream Team win 1-0 over Front Line Ballers and Police B needled ESPN (1-0).

Veterans had to dig deep for their penalty kicks 1-0 win over Zeelugt and similarly Harmony Ballers defeated Facebook Ballers.

The Pouderoyen tarmac will be the venue for the entire championship. The other playing dates are January 31, February 2, 7, 9, 13 and 17.

IPL Auction

Rajasthan sign Stokes for £1.4M BEN Stokes was snapped up for big money by Rajasthan Royals at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction yesterday, as Chris Gayle and Joe Root went unsold in the first round of bids.

The Royals paid £1.4 million to sign Stokes, the top price paid for any player, despite the all-rounder facing a charge of affray relating to an incident in Bristol in September.

The IPL had guaranteed teams they will be able to replace the England international should the legal proceedings leave him unavailable for the duration of the competition, which takes places from April 4 to May 31.

Stokes is due in court to answer the charge on February 13.

Destructive West Indies batsman Gayle has been a star performer in the lucrative Twenty20 competition, playing for Kolkata Knight Riders

and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

But the 38-year-old will have to wait for the second day of the auction to learn if he will feature in the 2018 tournament.

Ravichandran Ashwin went to Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians signed Kieron Pollard and Mitchell Starc joined Kolkata.

Delhi Daredevils secured Starc’s fellow Aus-

Ben Stokes

Root was also overlooked on day one, with franchises potentially concerned about the availability of England’s Test captain.

S u n r i s e r s H y d e rabad used their Right to Match to retain Shikhar Dhawan after considerable interest from rivals.

His India team-mate

tralian Glenn Maxwell and Chennai Super Kings retained West Indies’ Dwayne Bravo.

KL Rahul (Kings XI Punjab), Manish Pandey (Sunrisers Hyderabad) and Kedar Jadhav (Chennai Super Kings) were among the most expensive Indian players sold. (Omnisport)

… Gayle and Root unsold in first round

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 28, 2018

Bounty/Antonio’s Grill One-Day hockey competition opens 2018 season

THE Bounty GCC men’s hockey team will be given a chance on Friday, March 2, to defend their trophy, as the Guyana Hockey Board opens its 2018 season with the Annual Bounty OneDay hockey competition at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Pizza Hut GCC ladies also return as champs in this year’s edition of the tournament, one that they have never lost in its seven-year existence.

The 2017 men’s competition had produced a thrilling spectacle between Bounty GCC and the Pepsi Hikers that finished at 3-3.

Dwayne Scott, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) scored in the resulting penalty shootout to give Bounty GCC the win. This year Scott again leads his side which will be further boosted by veterans Kevin Spen-

cer and Orland Semple along with the young exciting junior nationals Kareem McKenzie and Meshach Sargeant.

The Pepsi Hikers boast the record of most wins in recent local hockey and will be prime candidates to unseat GCC. Hikers and Guyana national captain Robert France, who along with GCC’s Medroy Scotland, gained selection to the Pan American Federation Indoor Allstar team, leads a side with several international players.

Among those expected to stand out for the Hikers are the Branford brothers Rayon and Aroydy, Randy Hope and Devin Munroe.

Old Fort Carriers and Saints have been the two most improved teams of 2017 and will be nipping at the heels of last year’s finalists.

For the Carriers, Chris-

Low Koan, Omar Hopkinson and Stephan King will lead their charge while Saints

veteran full-back Robert Fernandes.

GCC ‘The Sequel’, SHC

While Pizza Hut GCC will be without injured 2017 MVP Aliyah Gordon,

Hikers’ Robert Fernandes is challenged by an army of GCC defenders.

will see the energetic Chester brothers, Hilton and Hilmar on display along with

New Tricks, Hikers B and Old Fort Warriors complete the men’s lineup of teams.

their roster is filled with several national players who make them just as po-

tent. Prolific striker Sonia Jardine leads a forward line that includes Shebiki Baptiste and Carina Moller while national sweeper Ulrica Sutherland marshals their defence.

The Woodpecker Hikers’ Marisha Rodrigues and Maria Munroe are likely to have greater support this year from the much improved strikers Kenisha Wills and Nicole Eastman.

Old Fort Shooting Stars midfield duo of Mino Culpepper and Bushani Kaladeen are two of the game’s most exciting players in this young improving side.

GCC Spice, Saints and the Bingo Spartans will also be vying for the championship spot in the women’s division.

Matches begin at 09:00hrs with the men’s final set for 16:30hrs and the women’s final at 17:00hrs.

P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Ltd ‘Friends of the game’ donate balls to YBG sponsors GSSF Annual Practical Pistol Match LOCAL practical shooters will for the third year be given an opportunity to participate in the Annual Practical Pistol Match which has been exclusively sponsored

by P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited and hosted by the Guyana Sport Shooting Federation (GSSF).

President of the Federation, Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, noted that the match will usher in the New Year of practical pistol matches as local pistol aces compete in the first competition for the GSSF’s calendar year.

She further pointed out that for January, members have thus far completed two practice sessions at the GDF Range to help sharpen shooting skills and training.

A lot of focus was given on training in this regard and the usual monthly safety shooting course was duly completed.

Competitors in the upcoming Match will be divided into two teams based on their firearm setup: Production Division (for out of the factory firearms) and Limited Division (where some add-ons and higher end aftermarket parts are allowed.)

Chairman of the Practical Shooting Committee and Match Director, David Dharry, noted, with sponsorship from P&P Insurance Brokers & Consultants Limited, prizes for the Top Three Overall Shooters in each division will be up for grabs. He expressed apprecia-

tion to P&P for its continued support of the GSSF and the continued building of the sport in Guyana.

Director Vikash Panday echoed the same sentiments that his company stands com-

pre-register.

Interested sanctioned practical shooters, wanting to come out to have some safe shooting fun, can contact any Committee Member of the GSSF. At the small ceremony

HAPPY BALLERS! Jermaine Softley makes the presentation of balls to Lugard Mohan during Youth Basketball Guyana’s session at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Vikash Panday, Director of P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Ltd, hands over sponsorship funds to GSSF treasurer Ray Beharry, in the presence of P&P’s Account Executives Dhavina Bhalgobin (left) and Melinda Sammy Ali (right).

mitted to continued support of the Federation and sport shooting in spite of the slow economic conditions that currently exist. Dharry noted that the match will be open to all experienced Practical Pistol Shooters of Guyana and advised competitors to

at P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Ltd.’s office located at Lot 35 North and King Streets, Georgetown, treasurer of the Federation, Ray Beharry, in accepting the kind sponsorship, thanked the Director Vikash Panday.

A GROUP of basketball aficionados, both local and overseas, pooled their resources to make a contribution of balls to the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG), in an effort to help the organisation realise its goals of expanding the game through youths.

Jermaine Softley, Joel Waithe, Joel Simon, Othniel Greene, Narcom Parris and Famhi Waddell who all would have played the game in their ‘heydays’, were impressed with YBG’s approach to fostering holistic development of the sport and more so coach Lugard Mohan’s dedication to the programme, and felt that is imperative to help sustain the club’s vision.

Softley was on hand at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall to make the presentation to YBG, which was collected by Mohan, during one of their regular weekend

sessions.

Mohan, one of the country’s most popular figures in the sport, turned his attention to coaching after retiring from the game, but chose to focus primarily on the youths. He has embraced YBG’s philosophy of using the younger generation to foster the growth in Guyana.

The former hot-shot point guard thanked the group for their donation, calling it “time-

ly”, since over the years, YBG has seen an overwhelming interest shown by parents and students to join the programme.

Softley said the donation is the first of many to YBG and encouraged others to contribute. Persons desirous of donating can reach out to Simon and Parris in New York, Waddell in Miami, Florida and Softley in Guyana.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday January 28, 2018) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 13 players (2) 222 runs Today’s Quiz: (1) Who are the ICC Under 19 World Cup 2018 semi-finalists?

(2) What are the semi-final match-ups?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

31

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 28, 2018

‘You have our unwavering support,’ GMR&SC tells GT Motorsports Time to move on …

WHEN Cricket West Indies (CWI) made the bold announcement last year July that it had offered “temporary amnesty” to the players who did not fit its selection criteria in order to have them available to play One Day Internationals, there was much euphoria among Caribbean fans who envisaged that this decision would have paved the way for the return of the so-called “stars”.

Prior to this “temporary amnesty” CWI has had a stringent policy of picking only those players who are active in the domestic one-day tournament for 50-over internationals but had boasted at arriving at a truce with the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), paving the way for all CWI registered players to be available for selection. At least, this was the feeling of CWI. Some six months later, it’s back to square one with CWI chairman of selectors Courtney Browne revealing that four of the region’s marquee players in Darren Bravo, Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard had turned down an invitation to join the World Cup squad in its last-ditch attempt to secure an elusive spot in the 2019 tournament.

According to Browne, the players have instead opted to participate in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) which clashes with the ICC World Cup qualifiers scheduled for Zimbabwe in March.

The decision by the players, though somewhat surprising and perplexing, begs the question as to whether this supposedly “temporary amnesty” was indeed mutually agreed upon among CWI, WIPA and the players. One should take note of the silence of WIPA on the issue and also question its true role as a representative body of the players.

The latest impasse between CWI and the players has been plaguing regional cricket since the rise of the T20 game with its so-called best players opting to chose the lucrative leagues around the world. Those who choose to do so, and maybe rightly so, have often been branded mercenaries available to the highest bidder.

Mindful of this development and admitting that the issue was a difficult one, CWI had pointed out that it was committed to finding a solution but it is clear that the bugbear remains one of finance. Former West Indies captain Darren Sammy had noted that there was no point offering “amnesty” to West Indies’ freelance T20 stars if the board does not pay them better.

Sammy was critical of “how little money the players stood to

make from domestic cricket as against playing in franchise T20 tournaments around the world.”

He also felt that the temporary amnesty would not solve the standoff between the CWI and the players since the former would need to draw up flexible contracts to allow players to represent West Indies while also featuring in their choice of T20 leagues.

While CWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Johnny Grave has indicated that his board had made “big commitments to the players”, it’s obvious that these commitments have still not met the approval of the “stars.”

Grave also revealed that the body was also “looking to make most scheduling conflicts a thing of the past” and was working at the ICC level to create future tours programme all the way to 2023 that will see the West Indies not playing any international cricket during the two months of the Indian Premier League (IPL) or any international cricket in white ball format in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Grave also alluded to the fact that CWI is aiming to create a framework both contractually and in terms of schedules that allows players to maximise their income and allows them to play for the West Indies and to represent the region but also where there are opportunities to maximise their revenues and earnings in what is still a short and uncertain career.

The recent developments clearly indicate that while CWI, from all appearances, has been trying its utmost to bring the two sides together, it’s fighting a losing battle with players who clearly don’t have regional cricket at heart.

The Sports Desk is unequivocally of the view that the players who recently declined to represent the West Indies in the upcoming ICC World Cup Qualifiers should no longer be considered for selection to the regional team without first providing formal indication of a desire to return. It’s time to move on.

CWI should not be held to ransom by a group of players as the battle between immediate financial gain and regional representation rages on.

All the rage about consistent uncertainty regarding one player’s status as an international cricketer as playing a crucial role in his reluctance to pass up opportunities to play in lucrative T20 leagues around the world is all hogwash. Why is he still even being considered for selection, based on his ODI record, is quite baffling. He shouldn’t be prevented from having the opportunity to support his family.

By Stephan Sookram THE support from the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) will remain and definitely increase for karting locally following a successful year.

This sentiment was met with a round of applause Friday evening by president of the Club, Rameez Mohamed, as GT Motorsports held its presentation ceremony for the 2017 championship of the Georgetown Grand Prix.

“We want to thank Vishok (Persaud) for what he has done here and to know that we are as committed to karting as we are to circuit racing and its other sports.” he said.

Indeed, the club has shown its commitment to that division by including four events in its 2018 calendar and integrating its marshals to assist in the smooth running of the various events.

Meanwhile Persaud, the owner of GT Motorsports, the body that hosts the championships, explained his vision when he first started the project. His idea was to give children an avenue to get into racing.

Kristian Jeffrey was not present to collect his champion trophy for the shifter kart class due to the Barbados Radical Carnival this weekend He was represented by his father Kevin.

The runner-up in the class, Elliot Vieira was also abroad as he gets ready to compete in the Canadian Superbike Championship (CSBK) this year. Third place

Pure Racing’s Jeremy Ten-Pow receives his championship trophy from Ms. Avasa Persaud,

went to Canadian Darryl Timmers.

The battle in the 125cc Senior class was won by Pure Racing’s Matthew Phang who is also in Canada studying while the second placer, Trinidad’s Bridget Singh, picked up second and Denzil Hopkinson finished third.

The 125cc Junior champion was Mikhail Persaud with Rayden Persaud in second place and Pure Racing’s John Phang third.

Easy Cup Light came down to the wire with Raymond Seebarran ending as champion over Haniff Mohamed and Ralph Persaud while the Easy Cup Heavy winner was Shan Seejattan ahead of Mohamed and Seebarran.

The Rookie class was picked up by Raymond Baksh with Ralph Persaud second and Dharmendra Dharmo third.

The Sunburst Kids 60cc cup was by far the most competitive with Pure Racing’s Jeremy Ten-Pow taking the trophy ahead of Nathan Rahaman and Pure Racing’s Paige Mendonca.

Several other tokens were handed out by GT Motorsports to its marshals as well as several outstanding sponsors and persons whose support was unwavering in their dedication to the development of the sport.

The 2018 edition Georgetown Grand Prix Championship round one takes place on March 3 with the second leg billed for April 28, the third leg on July 1 and the final leg on October 20.

Easy Cup Rookie champion Raymond Baksh

Easy Cup Light winner Raymond Seebarran

Cream of Guyana’s cyclists to contest GCF’s 65-mile points race today THE cream of Guyana’s cyclists will today contest the Guyana Cycling Federation’s (GCF) first race of the 2018 season, as they take to the road for a 65mile event at 08:30hrs.

The local cyclists are expected to turn out in their numbers at the Homestretch Avenue starting point. They will proceed to Long Creek on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway before returning to the starting point.

The GCF will be using this event as well as many

more during the 2018 season to select individuals or teams to represent the Golden Arrowhead at Regional and International cycle races during the course of the year.

Last year, Team Coco’s Jamal John won three of four points races and was subsequently named GCF’s cyclist-of-the-year.

Apart from winning the points races, John won or placed in a number of other races that were organised by cycle coach

Hassan Mohamed as well as clubs.

Today, he is sure to make his presence felt after finishing down the order in yesterday’s feature 35-lap race in the National Park.

That event was the feature on Mohamed’s Ricks and Sari 11-race programme and was won by Curtis Dey. Other riders expected to make an impression today are Orville Hinds, Christopher Griffith, Akeem Wilkinson and Andrew Hicks.

The 125cc Junior champion Mikhail Persaud

‘You have our unwavering support,’ GMR&SC tells See page GT Motorsports 31

Wins for Chase, Buxton and St Rose’s as 2018 Milo U-18 football tournament opens See Page 27

The official kickoff of the sixth Milo Schools U-18 Football tournament was done by a representative of the Milo Company in the presence of teams and officials. (Adrian Narine photo)

One of the many goals scored on the opening day of the Milo U-18 Schools Football tournament.

CWI, PCB to renegotiate five-year agreement KARACHI, Pakistan (CMC) – Financial concerns have forced the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to cancel its proposed five-year agreement with West Indies but has confirmed the

Caribbean side will still tour Pakistan in March for a three-match Twenty20 series.

The PCB had last year announced a bilateral agreement with Cricket West Indies (CWI) which

Stiff competition expected for today’s GMR&SC Endurance meet

By Stephan Sookram

THE friendly banter will become rivalry today when the first round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) Endurance Championship gets going at the South Dakota Circuit.

Mechanics and drivers have been trading blows and today’s event will give credence to all that talk.

As races get started the frontrunners of the various classes will emerge as the club tests out a new format for the ‘distance’ brand of racing.

Still the eyes will be on Shan Seejattan and his crew as he gets set to defend that overall title he picked up last year-end at the last event.

Meanwhile GMR&SC executive member Paul Jiwanram confirmed that all systems are in place for today’s race and encouraged all competitors to turn up prepared.

“We want to remind competitors that we are not doing manual timing nor will we use any results done by any team.

All cars should have fully charged transponders,” he said.

“Otherwise, things are ready. All the requisite plans and arrangements are in place and we predict an exciting day of racing.”

In the first class, cars up to 1500cc will be considered eligible, with the second class being 1501-1600cc. The third class will see cars in the 1601-2000cc, with the unlimited class featuring cars over 2000cc.

There will also be a one-hour endurance for bikes.

would have seen the Windies play an annual T20 series here, with Pakistan contesting a reciprocal Tri-Nations Series in the United States, involving West Indies and a team to-be-determined.

PCB chairman Najam Sethi, however, told media here that after a review of the figures, the agreement would not be financially viable. “ T h e We s t I n d i e s will come to play three T20 matches this year in March but the rest of the agreement was not cost-effective,” Sethi said.

“The problem is that with three games, we can’t get enough sponsors to cover our costs.

So now we have decided on a one-off series

this year followed by a Tri-Series in Florida later in the year.”

Sethi said under the proposed agreement, the PCB faced high production costs and players fees which could not be offset by commercial agreements.

A new Memorandum of Understanding will now be prepared with Cricket West Indies, the administrator said.

West Indies had been expected to face Pakistan in a three-match T20 series here last November but the tour was abandoned because of thick smog in Lahore and the unavailability of players due to the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League.

PCB chairman Najam Sethi

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Hashim Amla, too, had to resort to evasive action against the bouncers en route to his second half-century of the match ©BCCI photo (See story on page 28)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, JANUARY 28, 2018