Guyana Chronicle E-paper 31-05-2019

FRIDAY 31st May, 2019

No.105654

3 BANDITS SHOT DEAD …policeman injured in Norton St shootout

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…as cops respond to robbery of construction worker

Injured policeman, Clive Clarke

Heavily-armed police arriving on the scene as backup during Thursday night’s shootout on Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown (Rabindra Rooplall photo)

‘Accelerated spending’ …Gov’t working to increase implementation of PSIP

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday May 31, 2019

3 BANDITS SHOT DEAD …policeman injured in Norton St shootout …as cops respond to robbery at home of construction worker Street jail break.

The shootout stemmed from a robbery where the bandits invaded the home of a family, but were holed up in the house as a police patrol was summoned and responded promptly on the

By Rabindra Rooplall In its continued fight against crime, police Thursday night confronted and killed three armed bandits in a fierce two-hourlong gun-battle on Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, during which a policeman, Clive Clarke was also shot and injured.

Two of the dead bandits have been identified as Junior Nurse and Shawn Browne (jnr); the third was unidentified up to press time. Browne (jnr) is allegedly the son of the late notorious criminal, Shawn Browne, who was among several dangerous criminals who were involved in the brutal crime wave following the 2002 Camp

with his sister-in-law. “By the time I get up to go and lock up the door, one man jumped over the fence and rush to my door, pointing a gun to my face, telling me ‘where the gold and the money deh’, and if I don’t

of the policemen collected him and then I jumped through the window,” he said. This is the first time Leslie has been robbed at Lodge. He has been living in the community for the

Neville Leslie and his sister talking to reporters at the crime scene

The house which was attacked by the bandits and where they were killed

scene. Thursday night’s killing comes two weeks after police in Berbice eliminated three other bandits who were tormenting residents in that region. It also come on the heels of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) saying that its members are deeply concerned that insufficient progress is being made with regards to the fight against crime.

The three bandits had attempted to rob a family with relatives who recently returned from overseas and would usually hang out at their Lot 46 Norton Street, Lodge, home when they were shot dead by police. Luckily for the family of Neville Leslie, a 40-year-old contractor, whom the bandits pounced on, a police patrol was in the area at the time.

The policemen on patrol intercepted the bandits and cornered them in the house during the shootout. Police recovered three guns and many spent shells from the crime scene. The victim said he was confronted by one of the bandits at approximately 20:30hrs. His wife had left for work at 20:00hrs, along

talk they will shoot me. At the time, I my five-year- old son come downstairs and he told me that if my son don’t keep quiet, they will shoot my son,” the traumatise man explained.

One of the bandits, he said, asked him about a relative who recently returned to Guyana. “He ask where the gold that she does deh wearing deh and the money.

I had to tell them all those things were fake and has no real value. Imagine he come to rob me and I am at home for two months now, without work,” the contractor said.

He continued: “Then another one said ‘let we tie up this man and do him like what we does do everybody else’ and I said, man y’al don’t have to do we nothing, and my son keep asking, ‘daddy they gon shoot we’”.

The father said he then heard police arrive on the scene and the men scattered and he immediately ran into his room and barricaded the door with his bed. “I then loose out some of the louvers from the room window and I let down my son and one

past two years. “All three of them (bandits) were armed with handguns; these men were young and in their 20s; before I come out the house one of them fired at the police and the police fired back and he started groaning,” the young father related. He added: “I was praying in my mind all the time for the police to pass and then I hear people hollering, ‘men gone in that house and lock in that door’ and that looked unusual, and the police ask if it was someone with a flap hat and they said ‘yes’ and from then shots start.”

Residents in the area were loud in praise of the police.

When asked what could have prompted the men to want to rob him, Leslie said people are of the opinion that if barrels arrive from overseas, “yo got money”.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday May 31, 2019

Accelerated spending

…Gov’t working to increase implementation of PSIP …Minister Jordan says challenges being resolved IN the coming weeks, citizens can expect acceleration in the implementation of a number of multimillion dollar projects and programmes intended to meet their needs as the David Granger Administration redoubles its effort in the implementation of the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP).

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, on Thursday, acknowledged that while there are challenges, government has found workable solutions to aid in the timely implementation of the PSIP, the Ministry of the Presidency said in a statement.

“There are a number of issues still in the process, not least of which are quality staff; understanding procurement, its rules and procedures; and we also have the issue on the private sector level where persons are taking on much more than they can do. So, all of these are adding to the challenges that we continue to observe in the PSIP. Today’s meeting heard those challenges again and we offered some solutions in some areas. Some of them are more medium term,” Minister Jordan said.

At the time, he was

President David Granger (fifth right) addresses permanent secretaries today at the Baridi Benab, State House, in the presence of government ministers

speaking at the conclusion of a PSIP meeting of Ministers of Government, Permanent Secretaries and Deputy Permanent Secretaries, held at the Baridi Benab, hosted by President David Granger, and chaired by Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo.

The finance minister said that among the measures put in place by government, is the amendment and passage of the Procurement (Amendment) Bill Number Two of 2019.

The legislation seeks to ensure that in the process of procurement, definitions are defined; there is a wider range of procurement methods listed; expansion of the way tender invitations are published; availability of budgets; mandatory registration of bidders; splitting of procurement; due diligence; description of the subject matter of procurement iteria; cancellation of procurement; forms of communications; debriefing; contract man-

agement; code of conduct; language of prequalification documents; debarment and suspension of suppliers and “green procurement” among others.

“I laid some amendments to the legislation couple weeks ago that will look at bidding, procurement planning, debarment and so all of that are part of the process.

We are looking at the Department of Public Service and giving credence to the creation of some technical

100 per cent owned subsidiary of Guyoil, Exeter said.

The company commenced the importing, marketing and distribution of aviation jet fuel, from January 1, 2015.

Further, she said the company’s business is carried out at two locations: Guyoil’s main terminal at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and at the CJIA. The CEO explained that the Providence terminal location houses a storage capacity of 10,000 barrels while CJIA’s storage capacity is 1,309 barrels.

The terminal at Providence, she said, supplies fuel to the Eugene F. Correia International Airport (EFCIA), through its intermediary, Caribbean Aviation Maintenance Services Inc. (CAMS).

GASI, she explained, provides service to local and international carriers such as Suriname Airways, Aruba

Airlines, American Airlines, the Guyana Defence Force, Correia Aviation Maintenance Services and other private carriers.

Director (ag) for Aviation at the Guyana Civil Avi-

ation Authority (GCAA), Colonel (rtd) Cargill Kyte, said aviation fuel quality is very important and the supply of such is the respon

posts to make certain that this process is driven,” Minister Jordan said.

He said the meeting was very important from the standpoint that PSIP itself is critical to the national economy, adding that in the case of Guyana, PSIP accounts for a sizable part of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The minister told the ministers and permanent secretaries, given the importance of the PSIP, another meeting will be held in a month’s time to review the progress made.

“Relative to 2017, we had done quite well in 2018 and we hope to build in 2019 on what we did in 2018. It is only May but at the half year review when we are reviewing the performance in the economy, we will know for sure where we stand at that stage and how we look for the rest of the year,” Minister Jordan said.

Speaking on the thrust of the government’s PSIP, the minister noted that government is investing and will continue to invest in areas that are most needed by citizens.

“Most of the spending as it relates to government is done in critical areas and particularly in civil works and to be quite frank, a number of these outreaches have shown that our PSIPs are trending in the right direction. There were a lot of kudos for the roads, the schools, the water,

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the community centres and so on. We were able to outline the programme of continuation as we look to 2020 and beyond,” he posited.

According to the Ministry of the Presidency, President Granger has repeatedly said that the meetings with permanent secretaries and their respective ministers provide a platform to examine what currently obtains in the government ministries. He has also noted that the PSIP meetings help the government to plan efficiently and prudently for the next budget year.

Since taking office in May 2015, government has placed significant emphasis on building a strong, resilient economy capable of withstanding shocks and sustaining high growth levels. It is through the PSIP, President Granger reminded that government’s projects and programmes are implemented.

In order to achieve the ‘good life’, the Head of State reminded that the government’s task is to improve the quality and quantity of goods and services, provide safer communities, quality education and healthcare to the nation’s citizens. The PSIP ensures that citizens’ needs are addressed through a myriad of methods.

Guyoil commissions jet refueler truck

By Rabindra Rooplall

GUYOIL Aviation Services Inc. (GASI) has purchased a brand new 10,000 gallons Jet Refueler to add to its fleet of refueler trucks which will service domestic and international planes landing at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The company commissioned the vehicle on Thursday at a simple ceremony held at the fuel division at the CJIA. The SkyMark branded Refueler is the world’s leading producer of high quality aircraft refueling vehicles.

Guyoil’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Renatha Exeter, said the company is cognisant of the potential growth of the local aviation industry and decided to add the modern vehicle to its fleet.

Added that, the GASI is a

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday May 31, 2019

Guyoil commissions ...

Guyoil CEO, Renatha Exeter

Aviation Director (ag), Colonel (rtd) Cargill Kyte

The SkyMark branded refueler truck that was commissioned on Thursday (Rabindra Rooplall photo)

sibility of the supplier.

He explained that the commissioning of the Skymark branded refueler forms part of the chain of responsibility and GASI must take cognisance of all internation-

al best practices.

Colonel (rtd) Kyte said the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) must be followed, especially those dealing with safety manage-

Friday, May 31, 2019 - 02:30 hrs & 14:30

◄ From page 3

Guyoil and GASI Chairman, Mark Bender

ment systems.

“We at the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority recognises the efforts of the Guyoil Aviation Service Incorporated to maintain a high quality of fuel delivery and congratulates the company on the purchasing and commissioning of your new fuel truck,” he said.

Chairman of Guyoil and GASI Board of Directors, Mark Bender, said international standards and best practices will be maintained by the companies.

“We also commit to self-regulate and to ensure that we have an operation that is acceptable to all key stakeholders,” he said.

He said the new fuel truck is a part of a process that puts Guyoil and GASI in a strategic direction to remain competitive.

“We at the board level have a fiduciary duty to the ultimate owners of the company, and the ultimate owners of the company are the people of Guyana, represented by the Government of Guyana,” Bender said.

He explained that the profits that the companies make would not migrate but remain in Guyana’s economy to build hospitals, health centres, roads and education.

“This is a local company; it is a viable company, it is a profitable company and I am very proud to be a part of this organisation,” the chairman said, adding: “As we go forward, we will continue to provide quality service to our loyal customers.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 31, 2019

Notorious wanted man captured -- as police dismantle criminal network in Berbice

A MAN, who is reportedly linked to the notorious trio who were killed in Black Bush Polder (BPP), Corentyne, Berbice, during a shootout with police on May 19, was captured early Thursday morning by police.

The wanted man, Vinod Gopaul, 29, was nabbed in a joint operation by police in ‘B’ Division and a SWAT team.

Gopaul was found in an abandoned house in Yakusari, BBP, by ranks acting on information provided to them. He was unable to escape or put up any resistance as he was quickly overpowered by the lawmen.

An arrest warrant was issued for him after he was sentenced in absentia for a

crime, as well as his links to the three bandits who were killed recently. Gopaul, like the trio, has a long rap sheet of criminal activities.

He served time for the murder of his father in 2004 and escaping from prison in 2007 with 18 other prisoners.

He was recaptured but escaped again in 2011 with four other high-profile prisoners.

Gopual was further charged in 2014 for a $1.2 million armed robbery of the family of a Black Bush Polder rice farmer, among other charges. He is reportedly from Yakusari, Black Bush Polder and has been terrorising residents while in hiding.

Guyana Chronicle has been reliably informed that a relative of Shivchand Sewlall,

52, called “One eye Papi”, who was among the three killed, was also detained for questioning following a suspicious wound to his foot.

Relatives are claiming that the wound was as a result of a ‘hard boil’ while police are seeking medical verification as it appears to be a gunshot wound.

Sources close to the investigation disclosed that the arrests are all part of an ongoing operation since the May 19 shooting, as ‘B’ Division police continue to clamp down on the support network of the trio who terrorised East Berbice, Corentyne residents.

On May 19, three criminals, identified as Kelvin Shivgobin called ‘Kelly’ or ‘Mad Dog’, 35; Ramnarine

Jagmohan called ‘Baby’ or ‘Tiger’, 33; and Sewchan Sewlall called ‘One Eye Papi’, 52;, were shot and killed as ranks of ‘B’ Division swooped down on their hideout at the backlands of Johanna South, BBP. Police recovered four high-powered weapons from the career criminals.

Ranks have also recovered over 250 rounds of ammunition for the weapons, in addition to bulletproof vests, face masks, several cellular phones, cash, a quantity of jewellery, a solar charger and a small quantity of marijuana.

In addition, they also found freshly cooked meals with no evidence of fire nor cooking utensils. This

Policeman among two arrested in hit-and-run accident THREE weeks after the mangled body of Keno Akeem Sinclair, 25, of Lot 136 West Canefield, East Canje, Berbice, was discovered on the Cumberland Public Road, a police officer and the daughter-in-law of a prominent New Amsterdam businessman have been detained.

The detainees are assisting Berbice sleuths with their investigation, Commander Paul Langivine confirmed on Thursday.

Cops reviewing video images from nearby close circuit cameras have found vital infor-

mation regarding the accident.

The Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that the female detainee was pursuing her husband who was allegedly in an extramarital relationship when the collision occurred in the vicinity of where the labourer was discovered motionless.

Following the incident, the lance corporal reportedly attempted to ‘cover the tracks’ of the female driver but was caught and detained.

It was rumoured that the deceased met his demise after being struck by a truck that transports sugar from Guyana

Sugar Corporation’s Albion Estate to the Rose Hall Estate Bulk Terminal. That driver had allegedly failed to stop.

Sleuths travelled to the Corentyne-based Albion Sugar Estate and found the vehicle allegedly involved in the accident, motor lorry GLL 481 parked in the estate’s compound.

The driver was seen washing what appeared to be blood stains off the wheels of the vehicle.

The 40-year-old driver of Don Robin Village, East Coast Berbice, was arrested but he was taken back to the

scene and reportedly told police investigators that he was not aware that he was involved in an accident.

Police are continuing their investigations.

suggested that the men had an outside support group.

Police have been

gathering intelligence as they seek to dismantle their criminal network.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 31, 2019

Taking heed of climate change THE natural resources of a country belong to the people, and must be protected and shared among the citizens, current and future.

These resources do not belong to any specific group; as such, it requires national policies and programmes to preserve and protect both our forestry and mining sectors.

In countries such as ours, at times our lapses are not caused by the absence of policies and laws, but by the disrespect of those policies and laws. The destruction of the environment has scientifically shown that it has contributed to changes in weather and oceanic patterns as in the case of the hurricanes roaring through the Caribbean.

Aqua life, which includes fishing and re-populating, is being destroyed and this

makes life and economic welfare difficult for seafood users and suppliers. Man and the forests have an intertwined and interdependent relationship, not only through economic pursuits, soil protection and resources for shelter, but also in the air needed for our existence, wherein the plant, as it gives off oxygen, Man intakes, and Man, as he gives off carbon dioxide, the plant intakes.

Today, Guyana finds itself at a critical juncture, whereby the preservation of the physical environment is seen as an important element in development within the international community, and which, quite rightly, the nation has bought into. As such, it requires a new way of thinking and doing business in the forestry and mining

sectors.

It is instructive that, only this week, President David Granger, in receiving Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) Vision 2040 from United Nations Environment Programme’s Director, Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr. Leo Heileman, said the strategy is very important not only to Guyana, but to those countries within the Guiana Shield and even our CARICOM sister territories.

According to him, the world is realizing, almost by the day, that climate change is a grim, relentless reality. He said there is no avoidance, noting that hardly a day passes “that we do not see the adverse impact of climate change. It is great for us to be ahead of the game. We have

challenges with our coastal zone management; we have cycles of El Nino, drought and flood in our hinterland; we have industries which are now starting to have an impact on air quality and water quality,” the President said.

In the area of mining, for a number of years, mining companies operating even in this Region, as close as in Jamaica, are expected to refill and return areas dug out to its original elevation, and more so to replant vegetation. In Guyana, the exercise continues as mining companies, domestic and foreign, destroy the forests, leave logs to rot, dig major holes in acquiring the minerals they are in search of, and move to other locations without returning the respective areas to conditions that would

ensure they are habitable.

In whatever is being done, acceptable universal practices and values must be respected; at no time should this nation countenance any imposition to the contrary by any group, domestic or foreign, given that the country has embraced the “Green Economy,” which constitutes sustainable development, environmental protection, labour policies and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Core Labour Standards.

As a nation, there is need to learn from history. For, right around the corner, the forests in Haiti were destroyed, not merely by Haitians, but by foreign investors. While a people ought not to harbour any anti-foreign investment idea or position, sight ought not to be lost

that the citizens today are the custodians of the properties for future generations.

Every programme, in every sector, has to be developed within the confines of immediate, mid-term and long-term plans. It is to this nation’s and its people’s well-being that investments be conducted in a manner which is respectful of sustainable development, wherein extraction will be accompanied by the refilling and re-vegetating of the land and extracting in a manner, where the forests are not destroyed or the land mined-out in a period of time that denies coming generations opportunities to benefit.

A political Auditor General is against the dictates of his constitutional role

Dear Editor

IT had long ago been observed a new-found exuberance and vibrant line being taken by the Auditor General, with regard to his office’s findings on state accounts since 2015.

It certainly comprised an unmistakable public chiding of the relevant state authorities, which action on his part had been totally absent during his functions during the former PPP/C administration.

His actions, that had to be commented on publicly by the Minister of Finance some time ago, were undoubtedly

playing the political card.

Editor, it is fully understood that the Office of the Auditor General (AG) is autonomous, and therefore functions independently, as is now fully demonstrated. Surely, this government’s record has been respectful of such independence, ensuring that it is upheld. No one can dispute that the AG and his office are allowed to operate in an entirely professional manner.

Except that his actions are not in keeping with his constitutional mandate. There are indeed contradictions, as pointed out by the Finance Secretary.

Memory would remind us of the many glaring findings of serious irregularity that this particular Auditor General had found during his numerous audit exercises of government accounts, during the PPP/C period of governance. Sole sourcing had been a particular regular feature, as the quoted example of the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (NGPC) by the Finance Secretary illustrated, in addition to the huge sums that had been awarded. In fact, that agency had been the government’s chosen favourite for drug importation, especially when it was report-

edly given access to pre-conditions which were denied other similar pharmaceutical agencies which those against agencies have consistently railed against.

Of course, the AG never emphasised such findings, as with the other serious ones found during the audit of government accounts during the past administration. I stand corrected by saying that despite compelling grounds and legitimate reasons for ordering police investigations in many instances – he never did. Contrast this deliberate inertia, not wanting to rock the boat, or perhaps fear of re-

prisals, a political staple of the government in those times, with a now pro-active official who is now pronouncing on reported issues in the media, even before he is requested to take official action.

It is clear that the Auditor General has overstepped his mark, if one is to follow the Financial Secretary’s statement, as reported in Guyana Chronicle, May 29: “Beware of bias”. The AG’s statement is indeed political, designed to play to a particular gallery.

Further, his bias and subjectivity is exposed, particularly when comparing and contrasting his pattern of silence

under the PPP/C administration, as against his many pronouncements these days.

The Auditor General and his office perform a most critical function.

Buttressing the fact that these are protected and safeguarded by the Constitution, as reminded by the Finance Secretary. The stipulation certainly requires him to perform his duties without political influence.

It is a reminder that he should heed.

Regards Carol Mendonca

World No Tobacco Day Dear Editor

courage a 24-hour period of abstinence from all forms WORLD No Tobacco Day of tobacco consumption is observed around the around the globe. The day world every year on 31 is further intended to draw May. It is intended to en- attention to the widespread

prevalence of tobacco use and to negative health effects, which currently lead to more than 7 million deaths each year worldwide, including 890,000 of which are the re-

sult of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.

[1] The member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) created World No Tobacco Day in 1987. In the

past twenty-one years, the day has been met with both enthusiasm and resistance around the globe from governments, public health organizations, smokers,

growers, and the tobacco industry.

Regards Rooplall Dudhnath

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 31, 2019

Ramotar’s attempt at subverting the truth Dear Editor NAME it, and Donald Ramotar, via the letter columns of both Stabroek News and the Kaieteur News, has done it: rancid lies, half-truths, deceptions, misinformation; all with the deliberate intention to mislead the Guyanese nation.

As a former president, and one who has earned the right to be described as an elder statesman and veteran politician who has been there, at most of this nation’s seminal moments, should be expected to offer perspective and guide towards our challenges, helping to make Guyana a better place.

However, this has not been Ramotar’s daily endeavour, given his dangerous politicking on behalf of his party, in his devious contributions towards it seeking to return to political power. His lies, outstandingly dangerous, without foundation, underline the communist construct of a person who would have spent some time in Eastern Europe, during the middle years of the cold war. His daily entreaties, well-honed in the crucible of the well-known Stalinist brand, which celebrated examples would have sent the likes of Zinoviev, Kamenev, Zhadanov, Bukharin, Rykov, and Kirov and numerous other prominent Soviets to their deaths on charges that were labelled “preposterous” and, at best, trumped up.

On this side of the Atlantic, Ramotar’s lies have all the potential for destabilisation.

The good thing is that it does not ring true among sections of the Guyanese populace, because they are fully au fait with what has occurred during the period of PPP/C governance. It would not even hold among his party’s supporters who would have, with the rest of the nation, also lived through the years of the worst national administration ever experienced in the history of this nation. They can only stifle their moral consciences, because of race.

His missive, “Great reversals in the last four years”, in Stabroek News of May 19, is yet another stirring example of the infamy which Ramotar and his ilk continue to propagate. Reading this latest heap of dark treacheries, there is no doubt that it is an exercise intended to deflect from his party’s administration abysmal governance.

Three of these perfidious examples will serve to support my contention. It is only a liar of massive proportion, and one who intends to rewrite history, that will accuse the APNU + AFC political

parties of “…a very effective exercise of massive disinformation’’, during the 2015 election campaign. Ramotar then continues” I will not doubt that there was some corruption during the PPP time in government, however, it was never near to any level that the PNC-led APNU and AFC painted”.

This claim is a shameful disrespect to the intelligence of the Guyanese people, and even to those international bodies in whose numerous annual reports, the PPP/C administrations, both under Ramotar and is puppet master, Bharat Jagdeo, had been cited for the cancer of corruption.

It was a campaign that the then opposition mounted in a fair manner, because it had all of the facts, by way of annual auditor general reports, and media investigative sources which continually exposed the high-voltage pillage of the State.

Editor, the fact that Guyana had been branded a “criminal state” and Bharrat Jagdeo, President of a “Mafia state”, according to State Department report, should convey to Ramotar just what kind of administration that they were managing. For all the blind and devious denials that they have been making about their role in what had clearly been a criminal enterprise of gigantic proportions, they have never dared to refute the findings of professor Clive Thomas, well documented, detailed tracking and growth of this criminal carnivore of state and other resources.

It can only be a Guyanese citizen, devoid of any conscience and national shame, who will claim that “many in the leadership of APNU and AFC believed their own lies.

That is why as soon as they took the reins of office, they began forensic audits.”

It is for that reason of not wanting to be informed by hearsay, or even circumstantial evidence, although very compelling in many instances, which caused the coalition to commence an auditing exercise; which has certainly exposed and brought to public light, the lecherous and parasitical state that exacted the untold venalities on the state and people of Guyana. If Ramotar is going to claim, as he has brazenly attempted to do in his missive, to make light of the level of state criminality under the administrations of his and Jagdeo’s governance, then he ought to be prosecuted for lies, in the same mould that Boris Johnson, leading British Brexiteer, and former Foreign Secretary is about to be brought to the English court

for lies pertaining to Brexit. It is a story which the Ramotars and Jagdeos would do well to follow, as to how political liars are viewed in those parts of the world.

Ramotar is reminded that the audits fully supported the reality of the criminal state, as perpetrated and institutionalized under his party’s successive administrations.

Here again, is Ramotar doing the well-known Jagdeo, of shifting accusations of corruption to the government of the day, by reference to the D’Urban Park Project: ‘’From the moment the regime took power, the APNU and AFC big boys and girls began a massive money grab …..The D’Urban Park Project became a milking cow ….billions are not properly accounted for…”

As far as is known about this project, in terms of money spent, it involves millions, and not the billions as is claimed by Ramotar, for both misinformation, and mischievous purposes. And if he has information on which coalition “big boys and girls’’ have been ‘’milking such a cow’’ for personal gain, then he ought to, as an upright citizen, submit such data to the government, who has demonstrated that it is not averse to investigating its own, if necessary. In fact, As I understand it, this matter is supposed to be the subject of a current audit.

Yet, at the same time, who is Ramotar to talk about “milking the cow”. Has he or his master ever took action against those of his former government; some party members, friends and cronies who feasted illicitly on state resources? It is they who have the billions, wherever it is stashed away. Finally, the old tune of GuySuCo is being played for political purposes. Again, it mirrors a wicked and sickened mind who would want to accuse the coalition government of pettiness, coupled with vindictiveness…. In the regime’s attitude to sugar”.

Without any pretence at diplomatic language, Ramotar and his ilk should hang their heads in national shame for what they have criminally done to a once giant industrial entity. Simply put – these political self-seekers not only used and abused the sugar workers for their own political ends, but knew that the entity had been sinking into the debt mire, and had been warned by a World Bank report to close Wales Estate in 2008 because it had become unsustainable. Maybe, it ought to explain to its constituents why it closed the Diamond, LBI, and Enmore

estates. These were the troubling signs that had placed the GAWU leader, Komal Chand, on a collision course with then president Bharat Jagdeo. We all can recall the public exchanges, inclusive of a threat to de-recognise the union because of its growing concerns about the industry and by extension, its members/sugar workers.

Whatever action the current government took, in terms of downsizing, were not dissimilar to the then PPP/C government closing some sugar estates, as mentioned. There is no honest government that would have

continued to pump tax-payers money into an entity that had become debt-ridden to the tune of multi-billions, for mere political reasons, such as ensuring its political hegemony of its political base. It amounts to an abuse of the nation’s tax-payers.

And in any other jurisdiction, Ramotar and company would have faced judicial sanction.

This continuous sugar mantra, as an example, epitomizes the gross dishonesty and lies of the Ramotars et al of the PPP/C. The four years of coalition government administration has continued to un-

earth the misrule of twentythree years, but has, since 2015, commenced to effect remedies and renewals to the image of the nation, eradicating the scourge of corruption and the many social ills, apart from restoring the foundation for national socio-economic growth and development that will benefit ALL Guyanese.

Regards Earl Hamilton

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 31, 2019

UG unions have no Certificate of Recognition …Lewis warns against exercise that transgresses VC’s rights

Dear Editor: REFERENCE is being made to letter “UG unions threaten to pull out from GTUC” (Guyana Chronicle 30th May, 2019) signed by Dr. Jewel Thomas and Mr. Bruce Haynes, UGWU & UGSSA Executives. My recent two letters in the newspaper on issues pertaining to the University of Guyana (UG) were responses to allegations made by a writer who is not an employee of the UG or a member of the UG unions.

As such, what was said needs

to be taken within that context, more particularly given that at the time of those responses, the leadership of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), which yours truly was a part of, was in engagement with the said unions in an effort to resolve their expressed grievances.

Thus, the letter signed by Thomas and Haynes, both of whom are in discussions with the GTUC’s leadership, is more than passing strange. This notwithstanding, since the unions see it fitting to place the matter in the public domain, it is in-

cumbent that the public has the benefit of hearing from me-one of the players identified as a source of their dissatisfaction.

The undermentioned forms my response to theirs.

1. It is the unions’ view that I “no longer [have] a grasp of the situation at the university, or the nature of the struggle in which the University of Guyana Unions are currently involved.”

My first engagement with Professor Ivelaw Griffith, Vice-Chancellor (VC) and Principal of the UG was in 2016. That engagement was

as a result of a complaint made by the unions that the university refused to pay the across-theboard (ATB) increase to some lecturers. I sought an engagement with the VC and the unions to ascertain the reason and to find a solution. It was revealed that those who would not have received the ATB salary were lecturers who failed to submit the students’ grades and graduation was scheduled within a fortnight. Among this group were persons identified as leaders of the two unions.

I advised management that it cannot withhold an ATB increase, which is different to that of an increase acquired through the performance evaluation process, and urged the unions to encourage their members to submit the students’ grades. At that meeting, I also called on both parties to move to have a Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) which will guide and regulate the relationship between them.

The unions have stated their advocacy “for an institution-wide commitment and adherence to principles of transparency, accountability and good governance.” This must be applauded and represented by all stakeholders, viz the UG Council, management, unions, workers, and students.

Each group, individually and collectively, play(s) their role in ensuring the effective and efficient functioning of all and the institution. Where the unions have a disagreement with the policy direction of the management and are calling for an audit, these matters can be raised under what is termed a “General Question” under the Avoidance and Settlement of Dispute Procedure which is normally enshrined in a CLA. A trade union should have a CLA. Its Certificate of Recognition, which is provided by the Trade Union Recognition Board (TURB), copies are issued to the employer and trade union. As it relates to a trade union’s Articles of Association, elections, auditing of its records and other internal activities, access to them fall within the remit of its membership and such is protected by ILO Conventions Nos 87 and 98.

Mindful of the aforesaid, I have sought to impress upon the unions to know their rights and responsibility and get themselves in order. There remains concern that since the establishment of the Trade Union Recognition Act (1997), no Certificate of Recognition exists for the university unions, and three years hence a CLA has not [been] negotiated which has left salary and working conditions of the staff to the dictate of the university management.

It should be said that though

there exists no Certificate of Recognition, the fact that management has been engaging the unions constitutes acceptance of recognition, but the possession of a Certificate is always more advantageous. These were brought to the attention of the unions.

In any relationship between a trade union and employer, what is fundamental is putting that CLA in place, and the acquisition of this usually takes priority over any other activity. Outside of a CLA and the grievances will fester and the environment more acrimonious. The role of the Department of Labour falls within the purview of the CLA’s Avoidance and Settlement of Dispute Procedure. My advice to the unions, which they find objection to, is premised on these basic industrial relations practices.

2. “The UG Unions’ dissatisfaction with the GTUC’s representative on the UG council is not a recent occurrence.”

The unions, over the years, have engaged me on what they perceive as infractions on the part of our representative on the Council, Ivor English. Last year when the unions met with me to air their grievances about some decision-making/policy on the Council, they were advised as to the procedure they should adopt in having these matters addressed by the university.

That advice has not been heeded and this is consistent with their right to either accept or reject.

With regards to the written charges made against English, the President-- Coretta McDonald-- advised the unions that English will have to be given the opportunity to respond, which was done.

3. GTUC’s nominee’s “support for the vice-chancellor being paid in lieu of leave.” At the meeting with the unions on Wednesday, 22nd May, we advised that payment in lieu of leave was a practice in the private and public sectors. It, therefore, would have been unwise for the GTUC to undo a long-held principle and practice. The GTUC further advised that tactically, it is to the unions’ advantage to use this opportunity to encourage their members to benefit from the practice.

On evaluation, there is a trade union principle that says, ‘If I am not evaluated then my performance must be considered as good and I be remunerated.’ The issue of an evaluation for Griffith who is an employee of the university, though at a higher level, is not a fault of his but his principals who hired him and failed to put such a system in place.

The unions were advised it is

a transgression of one’s right to put in place the tools and process of evaluation at the conclusion of his/her contract and that this has to be done at the commencement of employment.

I am wary of any exercise that seeks to transgress one’s rights because it is my belief where there is support for an unjust act against another, it opens the door for same to [be] committed against you and others. In this specific case, to entertain the transgressing of Griffith’s right can set the precedence to transgressing the rights of other employees on the campus. The GTUC remains mindful of this.

4. “The unions have written to the TUC and outlined in great detail the multiple instances over many years when Mr. English openly and consistently adopted anti-worker positions.” With regards to these complaints levelled against English, which he has responded to, the public is deserving to have the benefit of hearing his side. Consequently, it is better for him to speak to the specific issues which would, hopefully, eliminate the accusation that I continue to “persist in his staunch defence.”

5. Previous views expressed by me as to the different role and responsibility of the GTUC’s representative and the UG unions’ representative on the Council are seen as, “Taken together, these views expressed suggest that the General Secretary of the GTUC does not consider it necessary for the GTUC’s representative on the council to act in solidarity with or to protect the rights and interests of the UG faculty and staff.” Such charges, though noted, are without merit and I remain open to having them further discussed and clarified with the unions.

6. “That unless there is some change in the umbrella body’s positions in the next week, we shall be taking steps to disaffiliate from the organisation.” The GTUC reiterates its willingness to continue engagement with the unions and shall invite them for an engagement shortly.

I remain steadfast that these challenges are not unsolvable. Where there remain respect and adherence for universally acceptable principles, practices and laws, parties can build positive relations and peacefully co-exist.

Regards Lincoln Lewis General Secretary Guyana Trades Union Congress

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 31, 2019

Republic Bank begins refunding defrauded customers

By: Tamica Garnett Republic Bank Limited (RBL) has begun refunding several customers affected by a recent Visa Debit card fraud that hit the institution and has already paid out over $5 million in refund, according to a Bank of Guyana (BoG) report.

Even as the bank continues to recover from the scam, on Thursday customers experienced issues with its system that saw ATMs and other services going down. By midday services were said to have been restored.

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan last Tuesday noted that he had contacted the Central Bank asking for the issue to be investigated. He stressed that once the bank is at fault, customers were expected to be reimbursed.

“All customers are protected under the banking laws,” Jordan established.

“The question is they [RBL] have to do an investigation and it has to be proven that [customers] monies have been taken out of their account by [persons] other than them and the bank will have to make the necessary adjustments to the accounts.

This matter has come to our attention and we’re waiting on a report.”

The requested report has been submitted. BoG Governor, Dr. Gobin Ganga, confirmed to Guyana Chronicle that RBL has already begun refunding customers, even as the investigation continues as more customers come into the bank to report issues with their accounts.

“Republic has submitted a report. They [Republic Bank] would’ve refunded about 75 customers so far amounting to over $5 million and it’s an ongoing process.

Republic Bank Limited (RBL) has begun refunding several customers affected by a recent Visa Debit card fraud that hit the institution As the customers come in with an issue they [RBL] will look at it and will do the necessary to refund them,” Dr Ganga said in a telephone interview on Thursday.

Following a public outcry and complaints from its customers, RBL two weeks ago confirmed that some customers had been impacted by fraudulent activity on their international Visa Debit cards and the company implemented additional security measures to mitigate the effect to other customers.

UNAUTHORISED DEDUCTIONS Customers reported unauthorised deductions being made from their bank accounts, noting that when they informed the bank of the issue they were told that the money was deducted for online shopping at various site, including Netflix.

Just how many customers were affected, or exactly how much money may have been taken from customers remains unknown as the bank depends on customers report

for the bank to determine what would have been legitimate transactions and what would have been fraudulent.

“They wouldn’t know until they receive from the customer the necessary information. Initially when the customer started to go into them, then they started to realise. It’s an ongoing process and they will be reporting as more customers come forward, it’s an ongoing process also with respect to refunding,” Dr Ganga said.

Most of the customers, who reported being affected, say they lost amounts less than $100,000. The bank noted that measures were put in place to fast track claims by customers COUNTERMEASURES “We have put special measures in place to expedite the process and this is progressing,” the bank said in a subsequent statement.

“Republic Bank follows existing standard global practices for disputed international Debit Card transactions.

The completion of this pro-

Robber pounces on Bakewell salesman Police on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) are searching for a man who grabbed a Bakewell salesman’s lunch bag during a botched robbery attempt at Little Diamond, EBD on Tuesday.

Reports are that the man, who is well-known to many in the area, went to a school around midday on Tuesday to pick up a student.

Eyewitnesses revealed that the man stopped at a shop at Waja Street, Little

Diamond to make a purchase while he left the child on his motorcycle, with the engine running.

Surveillance footage at the shop showed the robber as he launched an attack on the Bakewell salesman as the man arranged sales with the shop owner.

The assailant then fled with the man’s lunch bag and persons noted that the bandit may have assumed it was the salesman’s bag of

cash. The salesman’s lunch bag contained his personal documents as all as his keys.

Police visited the school on Wednesday after the perpetrator was seen there by residents. However, the suspect fled the scene after he found out that the cops were looking for him. Several officers combed the area in search of the man but their efforts were futile. Police are continuing their searching.

cess is contingent upon the customers’ completion of relevant forms to initiate the claim.”

The international Visa Debit Card is issued by Republic Bank but is owned

by Visa Inc, a US company.

In 2009, Republic Bank became the first bank in Guyana to offer the international Visa Debit Card ser-

vice. The service opened the door for customers to access their account and use their card anywhere in the world where Visa card is accepted, including online.

To boost trust in their service, Visa Inc promotes it’s “Zero Liability Policy” listed on its website. The policy promises that customers “won’t be held responsible for unauthorised charges made with [their] account or account information”. The company noted that customers are protected if their Visa credit or debit card is “lost, stolen or fraudulently used, online or offline”.

Several banks have since started offering the service.

However, while the service has to be requested at some banks, at Republic Bank, the service is automatically offered on customers’ Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.

Dr Ganga said that while other banks have experience occasional issues, thus far Republic Bank remains the only institution to have reported such a widespread case.

9

Bank of Guyana Governor, Dr. Gobin Ganga

“From time to time they may have one or two but we haven’t seen widespread as Republic Bank, no other have reported it so far,” he noted.

Most of the banks warn customers about the possibility of fraudulent activity on their card and speaks to preventative steps that can be taken to avoid being a victim of fraud.

“Cyber risk is one of the major issues when one is using electronic payment and this is one of the issues that we all have to be very aware of and be careful with,” Dr Ganga said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday May 31, 2019

Gov’t intensifies consultation on SGDs -- as country prepares to submit Voluntary National Review Report

By Svetlana Marshall THE Guyana Government is hosting another round of consultation on a Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the country’s progress in achieving the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.

The results of its efforts to attain the 17 SDGs would be presented during a High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) at the United Nations, Headquarters in July.

HLPF is the UN’s central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for the SDGs, and provides for the full and effective participation of all UN member states.

On Wednesday, the government held a stakeholder consultation for the Voluntary National Review (VNR) of progress on the 2030 SDG at the Guyana Forestry Commission Multiplex Building with the private sector, non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations. The high-level political forum, which would be held under the under the auspices of the Economic

and Social Council, will be held from July 9-18; however, a three-day ministerial meeting of the forum would commence on July 16.

Director of the Multilateral and Global Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Troy Torrington, said Guyana will be submitting its results on July 18. At the time, he was speaking to reporters in the company of Dr. Olney Daly, the Minister Counsellor – Permanent Mission of Guyana to the UN -- on the sideline of the consultative forum.

Torrington said this is the first time Guyana will be submitting a progress report on the implementation on the SDGs that were adopted in 2015. At this stage, he said it is important to receive input from government and non-governmental entities on the 17 goals and their accompanying 169 targets that covers a wide cross-section of sectors.

It was noted that the stakeholder consultation on the Voluntary National Review of Progress 2019 builds on the widespread consultative process that informed

Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Guyana to the UN, Dr. Olney Daly, with Director of the Multilateral and Global Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Troy Torrington (Carl Croker photo)

the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS).

Based on reports, the director of Multilateral and Global Affairs Guyana has demonstrated strength in the area of the environment, noting that the forestry sector is a “strong performer”. He posited that Guyana is among global leaders in terms of Sustainable Forest Management. However, he admitted that there are challenges.

“One that is very common for Guyana and the Caribbean is in fact in relation to financing for development, the means of implementation,” Torrington said while underlining the importance of having greater access to concessionary resources.

“Leaving aside our windfall from our oil and gas sector, in pursuing a diversified economy, middle income countries have found it es-

pecially difficult to access those grants and softer loans, because as soon as your GDP rises, you enter into a dilemma where you no longer have a great access to concessionary resources so you have to borrow on harsher terms,” Torrington explained.

He posited that in the case of middle income countries, the rise of a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) does not translate to an eradication of challenges.

Nonetheless, he said, in general, “Guyana is on a good trajectory”. He posited that there is strong political leadership and a commitment to achieving the SDGs. Dr. Daly told reporters that the recently completed ‘Green State Development Fund’ (GSDS) is aligned with the SDGs: 2030, and as such, most of the data was captured during the consultative process.

Like Torrington, Dr. Daly underscored the importance of receiving support from the public and private sectors.

“One of the important things about the review is that there should be that stakeholder buy-in, and the review should be country- led and

country-owned,” the minister counsellor said.

She has been in Guyana for the past month engaging public sector officials and staff within ministries and their departments.

“I have been here almost a month, I have met with all of the ministries and the departments within the ministries, we have got their reports,” Dr. Daly posited.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals include: to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education; promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth; reduce inequality within and among countries; take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts; and promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.

The theme for the July 2019 High-Level UN Political Forum on Sustainable Development and this round of VNRs is “Empowering People and Ensuring Inclusiveness and Equality.”

It was noted that following the review in July, the global report would be presented in September 2019 to the General Assembly.

Gov’t to fix roads, streetlights in Red Village MINISTER of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams and Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, have assured Red Village residents that they will address prevalent issues affecting the community during a recent outreach there.

Minister Trotman, underscoring the many successful outreaches thus far, highlighted that the outreaches serve to discuss the issues of citizens and to return to President David Granger to relay the needs of the people of his country.

"This country has one government, led by President Granger, and we want this to be more of listening and not talking. We want to go back to the President and say this is what your people want from you and government.

We are here not because we are afraid, running or trying to hide, but we are here to fix problems now and later on,"

government services, among other things.

“We see it as important to bring the government to the people. Wherever you are, it is our duty to

bring ourselves to you. We understand the struggle of accessing us and our services and we are here for a purpose, we are your humble servants.” Minister

Hastings-Williams said, before noting government’s obligation to support the people and TURN TO PAGE 11 ►

Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams and Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, at the outreach at Red Village

Minister Trotman relayed.

He went on to stress the law-abiding nature of the President and the APNU+AFC government, noting that the courts are dealing with the current political situation and that the government will respect the outcome of the courts.

“Whatever the outcome, elections are due within the

next 12 months, and as a government, we are preparing to defend our record of service,” Trotman said.

Echoing the Natural Resources Minister’s sentiments was Minister Hastings-Williams, who stated her elation towards being in the village and being able to better understand the situation of persons in accessing

A resident making a point during the community outreach

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday May 31, 2019

Address high duty-free sugar imports into CARICOM – Regional producers –– say changes needed to save thousands of jobs MORE than two-thirds of the sugar consumed within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Region comes from extra-regional sources and the regional producers are urging those in authority to implement policies to address the issue, while at the same time, saving thousands of jobs.

The appeal was made by members of the Sugar Association of the Caribbean (SAC) at their recent 170th Board of Directors meeting held earlier this month in Belize, a release from the body stated.

The members of the SAC are the Barbados Agricultural Management Company, Belize Sugar Industries Limited; Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc., and The Sugar Manufacturing Corporation Of Jamaica Ltd. The Belize meeting focused on the future of regional sugar supply and the SAC noted that 18 months after changes removed market preferences for CARICOM sugar in Europe, regional producers are still looking for solutions within its own regional market. The SAC noted that sugar industries across the Region are investing hundreds of millions of dollars to match quality and supply to regional demand.

The sugar imports are displacing market opportunity for over 200,000 metric tonnes of CARICOM sugar, which is forced onto the

low-value global market, the association said.

The association says policy changes are required to secure the integration of the sugar market within the CARICOM Single Market & Economy (CSME). It stated that the failure to achieve this threatens a major agricultural sector of the Region’s economy, hundreds of thousands of Caribbean jobs, and questions the effectiveness of the single market in meeting its stated objectives.

“CARICOM industries investments are set to deliver to market nearly 300,000 metric tonnes of food-grade sugar within the next 18 months, matching the Region’s demand,” the release stated.

R. Karl James, chairman of the SAC, called the need for change “immediate and urgent.”

“SAC Directors are squarely focused on how regional integration can benefit industrial users and consumers of sugar through competitive longer-term pricing strategies, which are not directly impacted by cyclical global sugar price surges,” James said.

He also said, “the utilisation of regional sugar in most of our products would reduce this risk alongside the processing and import costs associated with importing sugar from outside the Region. This would bring CARICOM in line with other regional sugar

markets.”

As part of its plans to address the issue, the SAC Board said in the coming months, it is calling for further discussion between sugar producers and users to find a pathway to achieve this mutually beneficial outcome.

“A part of the solution must be the correct implementation of the existing treaty (Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas) processes, in particular for brown sugar, which has seen a marked erosion in value in recent months. SAC members continue to dialogue with their respective governments, sugar users and the CARICOM Secretariat to find solutions,” James said.

In terms of the CARICOM market, it was noted that over the next 12-18 months, SAC industries would have the capacity to supply the regional market with 280,000 tonnes of direct consumption and plantation white sugar as investments are currently taking place to increase capacity.

The association says additional lands are being brought into cane production that would increase sugar production and that in one member state, storage and shipping has increased to accommodate larger vessels of up to 30,000 metric tonnes.

Regionally, the members of the SAC are projected to produce around 450,000 metric tonnes of sugar for the 2018/19 crop.

FROM PAGE 10

Gov’t to fix roads, streetlights ... ensuring equal access to all services.

The minister, identifying the beauty of the community, went on to boast the restoration of local government and stated that there must be gradual moving away from dependence on the central government. Minister Hastings-Williams urged residents to take the development of their community into their hands and the government will listen and work towards satisfying the community. This made way for a fruitful discussion between the ministers and residents and saw the raising of community concerns and requests for government assistance.

Prevailing all, were re-

quests for improved roads, installation of streetlights, and better strategies to tackle crime in the area. The ministers made undertakings to address and to also refer those they cannot, to other subject ministers.

Upon the meeting’s culmination, the government was lauded by Sheldon Norton and Simone Halls, who both expressed their gratitude for the work the government is doing. Simultaneously, they called for the tackling of unemployment and creation of opportunities to involve community youths.

Red Village is a low-income housing programme/ scheme in Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast, constructed

by ‘Food for the Poor’. The programme saw the construction of 100 homes. Earlier this year, the government has ventured on the ministerial outreach initiative which has been to five administrative regions so far.

This initiative serves as a platform for residents of communities to interact with government ministers, voice their concerns, and have their community issues addressed. The ministerial outreach ties handin-hand with the ‘Bringing Government to the People’ outreaches.

Europe producers also benefit from exporting sugar to Europe and it was noted that to date, the Region has exported 133,000 tonnes of sugar to the European Union (EU) market at global market prices. But there are some concerns. The SAC said that extra-regional duty-free im-

ports are being dumped into the CARICOM market at less than half the value they achieve in their home markets.

In terms of the United States market, the SAC says regional industries will ship all of the quotas allocated by the United States (43,175

metric tonnes) under the Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQ), representing less than 10 per cent of production.

At a recent meeting, regional producers requested and are expected to receive additional quotas for the 2018/19 marketing year, the release said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday May 31, 2019

‘Hold your leaders accountable’ …PM tells Essequibo residents during gov’t outreach

By Vanessa Braithwaite RESIDENTS of Huis't Diernen, Pamona and surrounding communities were admonished to hold their local leaders accountable, since some of the issues they face are as a result of neglect and lack of concern for their welfare.

Giving this strong admonition was Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, during a community meeting on Wednesday evening at the Aurora Secondary School, where scores of residents attended and voiced their concerns over issues that are affecting them at the neighbourhood and regional level.

Nagamootoo expressed astonishment that he, as prime minister, had to visit to listen to simple issues that are in the remit of local leaders, who were elected at the lower tiers of government, by the very same residents.

He said no excuse should be given since central government allocates millions of dollars yearly with the expectation that it will be filtered down to the people. The PM was surprised at the fact that the NDC officials were not even present at the meeting to hear the concerns of the

people. "You elect an NDC and the NCD supposed to look after your little problem.

They consider themselves to be politicians, and they came to you for your vote, put me in office and I will serve you, there it is, when the prime minister comes to your community, your local leaders are not here. That speaks volumes of your local leaders, that they don't have your interest at heart and you gotta pull them up for that," he urged. He added, "I didn't see the Chairman of this region, I didn't see the Deputy Chairman of this region."

“While these officials are absentees, residents are suffering, students are suffering, dorms are without lights, drains need desilting, drainage and irrigation is of major concern, schools are in a terrible state, revetment work needs to be done, among other things.”

These were some of the concerns raised by residents at the meeting. "The government gives the region huge sums of money a year to take care of agriculture, health, education, water supplies, basic services like drainage and irrigation, huge sums of money year after year and you come to the communities and

people complain that they don't have these services," the prime minister said.

DONATION OF SPORT GEAR In trying to bring urgent solutions to the issues, Nagamootoo committed to donating $100,000 in sports gear and equipment to the community centre, as well as to make representation with Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, for a more effective

Resident of Pamona, Mr. Thom gives the government thumbs up for a job well done during its first term

Residents of Huis't Dieren present at the community meeting to share concerns with Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo

internet system to come to the community. The Regional Executive Officer, Denis Jaikaran, was also able to

provide answers on some of the issues raised and promised to have them resolved at the earliest opportunity.

In fact, the residents at the

meeting, praised Jaikaran for the good work he has been doing in the region since the commencement of his tenure.

The residents also commend-

ed President David Granger and his administration for genuinely trying step-bystep to bring the good life to all Guyanese. "In fact, we can see development in Supenaam, in Anna Regina and other areas; I must say I am happy to see what has happened. My honourable prime minister, please tell the President to keep on doing a good job, don't look left, don't look right, just keep on trusting God. You guys are doing a wonderful job," Mr. Thom said.

In this regard, Nagamootoo urged the residents to stay the course with the government as what is left to be completed, will be, in another term since the coalition government made a good start. He said the government is committed to doing good for all Guyanese. "We need politicians of doing good, not just of winning power," he said.

Similarly, residents of other communities were engaged with other ministers at community meetings across the Essequibo Coast.

This followed a massive government outreach that occurred earlier in the day.

Georgetown American University now accredited as the American Heart Association training center in Guyana THE Georgetown American University (GAU) has recently received accreditation to function as the designated American Heart Association (AHA) training center in Guyana.

Co-founder and Chief Executive Director of GAU, Dr. Melissa Varswyk, told the Guyana Chronicle that the institution is now equipped to provide the courses in line with the standards that are provided by AHA. AHA, she said, is one of the oldest institutions in the United States that is working towards improving cardiovascular health, worldwide.

“They (AHA) have a series of programmes that they have put together, like the Basic Life Support (BLS) course, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and they have teamed up over the years with Occupational Health and Safety

Georgetown American University located at 81 Croal St, Georgetown

Act (OHSA). They work in collaboration to improving workplace health and so forth. And so they recommend that certain workers should be trained in basic life

support so to help decrease the incidents of cardiovascular health issues at the workplace,” Varswyk explained.

The BLS and ACLS are two of the courses that GAU

will be offering from next month. Persons can choose between being trained as a provider or as an instructor.

Upon completing the courses, persons will be is-

sued the AHA provider cards, for those who have been trained as providers, or instructor cards for those who have been trained as instructors. The card certifies them for two years, Varswyk said.

“There are a lot of statistics out there that show having first responders at your workplace, how it has increase productivity, and in the United States, decrease liability for companies. Because you have a first responder there who can help to take care of anyone who may at the initial stage, been affected by any cardiovascular illness. I think that every household, every institution, every private company, should have somebody who is a provider, equipped to do first response, in case of a cardiovascular collapse of a patient,” noted It is important to note, Varswyk added, “that this

is just a primary response.

You are basically aiding the patient before additional help gets there. Research shows that early response saves lives, because you’re providing them with oxygen and stimulating the heart, to help it to resuscitate as we await professional medical response.”

Additionally, Varswyk said that the university is also awaiting accreditation for the Emergency Trauma Response course.

“With the recent increase in number of motor vehicular accidents that we are having, with the emergency trauma response course, persons can be better equipped to remove trauma patients from vehicles to prevent further injuries,” she said.

Persons interested in taking the course, can email ahacourse@gau.edu.gy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday May 31, 2019

‘Sleepers exist in every ministry’ – Min. Jordan OBEY the rules of the public service or resign,” Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, warned this evening.

While answering a question about the government’s retention of some officials known to be opposition supporters, the minister said that the coalition government remains steadfast in giving all, “a chance to be professional”.

The minister cited an incident where details concerning his duty-free concession, car payment and other personal business conducted via the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) was posted on the Facebook Page of an

opposition supporter. This occurrence, a few days ago, the minister said, brought home the stark details of what the government is facing in many ministries and not just the GRA. “Sleepers exist in every ministry,” the finance minister said.

Highlighting that he has done nothing wrong and the legitimacy of his documents, he intimated that he, “did not mind, as a politician, since it comes with the territory, and your life becomes an open book”. The minister, however, shuddered to think what persons with ill intent, “could do to lesser mortals”.

He explained that while he was entitled, as a minister,

Reports don’t match reality on ground -- Patterson tells Queenstown meeting

Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon

Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson addressing persons at Queenstown (Samuel Maughn photo)

PUBLIC Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson has said that reports which he receives from regional officers vary from the reality on the ground.

Patterson made the observation during community meetings in Essequibo Coast, Region Two, on Wednesday.

Speaking at a meeting at Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, the minister said his views were shaped by the different areas he visited Government has been working to address the realities but Patterson said there are limitations to how government can help.

Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, said government is making progress in bringing the government to the people.

“It was our commitment to face the people, interact with them, understand

concerns and solve those concerns in a consensual manner,” said Harmon.

He said government is about the people of the country.

As such, he believes it is important for government to return to the people for new ideas.

Government has since created new towns and decentralised key services.

Persons can now access passport offices, acquire birth certificates, enquire about lands and receive many other services in their region compared to the past when they had to travel to Georgetown for those services.

“We want to offer more so you have to say what is bothering you,” said Harmon.

He said government is ready to give and receive advice.

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan

to duty-free concessions and other emoluments, “subliminal messages were being sent”. These, he opined, were an attempt to demonstrate the difference between politicians and ordinary citizens as, “look he got duty free and you don’t have. He can buy a car and you can’t” and “we know your business and can expose it anytime.”

As a matter of principle, Minister Jordan indicated that he ordered the GRA’s Commissioner-General to investigate the breach thoroughly to ascertain the source, those responsible and to, “deal with them condignly.” He reminded of the ill-advised purge undertak-

en by the former Foreign Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee. This action, immediately after the PPP took office in 1992, resulted in every person with “black sounding names being sent home”. This, Minister Jordan noted, was brought to light when the, then New York Consul General, whose surname name was “Singh”, was ordered fired after Rohee discovered she was not fully East Indian, much to his dismay.

Unlike the previous government, Minister Jordan reiterated, the coalition government believes in giving all persons “a chance to be profession-

al.” The minister warned, however, “don’t mistake government’s kindness for weakness…We are not going after people due to affiliation, but there are people in the ministries who are bent on frustrating the government’s efforts to end corruption.” The GRA staffers are duty-bound to an oath of secrecy not to disclose the personal affairs and business of their clients. Minister Jordan opined that while this oath was breached several times under the previous government, the coalition government would not encourage such behaviour. (DPI)

Gold Board licensing process above board ––law firm CAMERON & Shepherd, the oldest law firm in Guyana, said the Guyana Gold Board’s dealer licensing process was not compromised in the case of nine applications submitted for review, among them Adolphus Mining Inc. In recent times, the Guyana Gold Board has been criticised for issuing a dealer’s licence to Adolphus Mining Inc. after one of its principals was found with a large quantity of gold.

In acknowledging the issuance of the licence, the Gold Board said its management and board were aware of the circumstances surrounding a quantity of gold that was brought before the then GGB management in 2011.

It explained that additional due diligence revealed the holder of that gold was the producer. The gold was weighed at the GGB and full payment was made at market rates prevailing in 2011, the

Gold Board assured.

Given the recent contention, the Gold Board directorate authorised the engagement of the independent law firm of Cameron & Shepherd to review and evaluate the licensing process. The law firm was tasked with determining adherence to all of the components of the GGB’s process and to determine whether any exceptions or special considerations were granted to any approved dealer in general, and Adolphus Mining, Inc. in particular.

In a letter addressed to Guyana Gold Board Chairman, Gabriel Lall, on Thursday, Cameron & Shepherd made four primary observations, all of which cleared the Gold Board of any malpractice with respect to the issuing of dealer’s licence.

“While not yet fully documented, we are satisfied that the Guyana Gold Board

has a standard procedure in evaluating applications, which consists of setting out, for applicants, the documents required and the process, collating submitted documents, assessing the documents for authenticity, interviews with the applicant or applicants, consideration by the board of directors and recommendation to the Minister,” Cameron & Shepherd observed.

It noted, too, that based on the review of the process and the records of the applicants, it is satisfied that the applicants were fully aware of the requirements and followed the requisite procedure in their submissions.

“Having reviewed the records you provided to us of the applicants listed below, we are satisfied that they provided the documentation that they were required to provide; and we are satisfied that none of the applicants appears to have been given special or relaxed consider-

ation, as all applicants appear to have followed the same procedures,” the law firm stated.

The companies assessed were Adamantium Metals Inc., GBTI Property Holding Inc., Pure Diamond Inc., El Dorado Trading, Adolphus Mining Inc., Dinar Trading, Gold Bar Development and Consulting Inc., Excel Minerals Inc., and Mohamed’s Enterprise.

On Monday, the Guyana Gold Board insisted that it issued a dealer’s licence to Adolphus Mining Inc., but not before all the necessary checks and verifications were conducted.

It said there was nothing that militated materially against, or that did serve as an effective bar to the issuance of a gold dealer’s licence to Adolphus Mining, Inc.

Man found guilty of dangerous driving JOSEPH Thorne was on Thursday, May 30, 2019, found guilty of a charge of dangerous driving.

The Charge was read out in the Providence Magistrate’s Court by Principal Magistrate, Judy Latchman,

while Thorne was absent.

It is alleged that, on March14, 2019, Thorne drove his vehicle in a manner that

was dangerous to the public.

Thorne was fined $70 000 or the alternative of six months in prison.

Miner remanded for armed robbery

Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus on Thursday, May 30, 2019 remanded a 57-year-old miner to prison for armed robbery which was committed at a Lime Tree Backdam, North West District mining camp, six years ago.

Kenrick Blades of Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara, made his appear-

ance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Particulars of the charge alleged that Blades, on October 16, 2013, at Lime Tree Backdam, while being in the company of others and armed with guns, robbed Asif Mohammed of a quantity of goods, a 12-gauge shotgun, three ounces of raw gold and

a radio set – totaling $3.1M. “This is a fabrication my worship” the unrepresented man told the court as he answered to the charge.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Gordon Mansfield, explained that Blades has been evading the police since 2013 and poses a flight risk.

The victim told the court that, following the robbery,

several reports were made to the police station, but Blades always managed to dodge the police.

Mansfield told the court that Blades was positively pointed out during an identification parade.

The Acting Chief Magistrate remanded Blades to prison until June 4, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 31, 2019

Solar farm for Essequibo Coast

By Navindra Seoraj

ESSEQUIBO Coast residents will soon have much more to be proud of as government moves to transform public infrastructure in Region Two. Government will soon modernise the Charity Water Front and extend the main access road to create a dual carriage road. Those and other projects are part of government’s Vision 2020 plans.

“We are doing all of this now, imagine what we can

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson delivering remarks to residents of Queenstown, Essequibo Coast (Samuel Maughn photo)

do with oil money,” said Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, during a community meeting at the Queenstown Primary School, Essequibo, on Wednesday.

Patterson told residents that there is a lot to be done but it will take time and patience in order to make real progress.

Apart from the Vision 2020 projects, Patterson said there are initiatives in the pipeline for the remainder of this year.

Among those projects

are the restoration of the dilapidated Good Hope Ferry Stelling; the installation of street lights from Supenaam to Charity and much more.

“I see you have LED lights, but government has made a commitment to ensure they light the entire Essequibo Coast,” said the public infrastructure minister.

In addition to lights, he said Essequibo can expect more reliable electricity as government plans to construct a solar farm.

According to Patterson, government has started the process to procure equipment for the farm which is expected to produce four megawatts of power.

“With this, we hope to give you cheaper electricity,” said Patterson, adding that there will be better systems in place. Residents of Essequibo started to rejoice after hearing the news.

“Seeing this makes me happy... individuals and po-

litical parties cannot compete with you when you have so much vision,” he said.

Patterson believes that the citizens of Essequibo must move forward because once there is a will, there is a way.

He encouraged residents to support the government in their efforts to make Guyana a better place.

Some $4.5B was allocated in the 2019 budget for Region Two’s (Pomeroon-Supenaam) development and transformation with $175M to be spent on projects in the education sector.

Among the transformative projects executed in Region Two in 2018 was the 300-metre sea defence project at Johanna Cecilia, Essequibo Coast and the asphalt road at Onderneeming, costing $40.1M. Three new generating sets were also installed at the Anna Regina Power Station.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday May 31, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday May 31, 2019

PM supports free tertiary education at UG PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo, strongly supports the idea of no tuition at the university, which will be effected if the Coalition Government is elected to a second term in office.

This he expressed to residents of Essequibo, during a community meeting on Wednesday, at the Aurora Secondary School. “In the future we are looking, David Granger and I are looking at the possibility of abolishing fees for the university, in a second term…to address

that issue, of free access to education,” he posited. The prime minister noted that at the moment university students benefit from a loan from a revolving fund that is repayable in 15 years after the students find jobs. This fund should be converted to a grant in order for the new generation to benefit from oil and gas revenues.

He said that the government desires to produce an educated nation, since that is the core of democracy and the real means of giving

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, engages with residents during a community meeting at the Aurora Secondary School

power to the people, since a powerful citizen, is a learned citizen. “That is what democracy is all about, it is to enriched your mind, so you as new leaders can lead the country in a different way, can take the country, this country in the age of oil and gas and wealth and develop it in a way that we have ever dreamt and generations before us as ever dreamt,” he said.

In the interim, he said that government will continue to support the university’s

ple effect of our government, is access to affordability, and achievement and so we want to deliver the country, to a nation of achievers, a nation that knows where to take the country, not by political power, but by the power of the mind, the power of the intellect,” he said.

He commended the residents for raising issues affecting the education of

Residents at the community meeting

revolving fund as this would enable the student to have peace of mind when studying, as they don’t have to be bothered with how their fees will be paid and the measures and strain their parents may be under, to provide same. This is opening avenues for students to be holders of not only degrees, but also achievers in their various fields of study. “You can become an achiever, another A, the tri-

their children. Residents raised issues of electricity at schools, availability of internet services and the state of school buildings.

He urged the local leaders not to view these issues as meager, but to prioritise on providing a conducive environment for learning for all students, from nursery to secondary.

Fungus forces relocation of City Treasury Department

FUNGUS is taking over the walls and ceiling of the Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) Treasury Department, resulting in an employee becoming “terribly ill” recently.

Mayor Ubraj Narine made reference to the current state of the department on Tuesday when councillors met for the fortnightly statutory meeting.

He said the employees in that department are working in an unhealthy environment, and that many of them are risking their lives by doing so.

The Kitty Market has been housing the staff of the Stabroek Market, and according to Town Clerk (ag) Sharon Harry, the Treasury Department may also have to be relocated there.

Since the Treasury’s Department accepts payments for rates and taxes, it is not clear if citizens will have to go to Kitty to make such pay-

ments. But Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis has said that it may be that some communities will continue to pay at City Hall, while others will be directed to Kitty. A final announcement in this regard will be made, she said.

“An employee fell terribly ill on Tuesday and the cause was attributed to the state of the office currently.

But an inspection is being done right now, and is expected to be completed today,” Lewis said on Wednesday.

Following such inspection, a decision will be made regarding when the relocation will begin.

The Treasury Department is responsible for administering the affairs of the City Council, including the collection of all revenues. Its functions also include making all payments on behalf of the municipality.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday May 31, 2019

Relocation of flood-affected families a priority – Mahdia mayor THE Mahdia Town Council is working to ensure that an area in the town, which has been set-aside for the relocation of residents affected by the recent flooding, will be ready for the construc-

from affected residents for lands at the identified relocation area. He said that the allocation of the house lots will be done in two months time and the town council will have to meet and agree

as he noted that once it rains heavily, the area will see an accumulation of water.

As regards works which can be done to alleviate the situation should it reoccur, the mayor noted that the gov-

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, and Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, interact with a family which was affected by the flash floods at Mahdia (DPI photos)

tion of new dwellings in the next few months.

Mahdia’s Mayor, David Adams, told the Guyana

on the plan. Adams said that the issue will be discussed at next month’s statutory meeting.

A resident of Mahdia points to a mark where the water level rose to during last week’s flash flood

Chronicle that the plan is being pursued by the council and will see residents being relocated to an area close to the airstrip.

Adams said that he, along with Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, and Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, met with the affected residents recently to discuss the situation.

While describing the move as a priority, Adams said that the council has already received applications

He said 14 families were affected by the flash flooding caused by persistent rainfall last Thursday and the affected areas are low-lying lands between the Danjou Hill area and the Seven Mile area.

Adams said that the residents living in those areas are no strangers to flooding since they were warned before by the regional authorities that the area where they reside is flood-prone and that they should not occupy the lands there. “These things are seasonal,” he said of the rains,

ernment is expected to undertake works to a nearby creek.

He said siltation of the creek will not curb flooding but will provide a means for the water to flow freely whenever there is heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, beverage giant, Banks DIH Limited, has joined in the relief effort to assist residents of the town who were affected by flooding.

In a release issued on Thursday, the company said that it made a donation of Rain Forest bottled water to the residents of the community following the intervention of Ms. SherryAnn Balkaran, the reigning Indigenous Heritage Queen.

Ms. Balkaran reported that infants and adults are at risk of water-borne diseases due to pollution of the community’s main water source.

She expressed gratitude to the company on behalf of the residents of Mahdia, Guyana’s newest township, for its urgent response to the relief effort.

Communications Manager Mr. Troy Peters said that Banks DIH Limited was very concerned about the situation regarding the affected residents and immediately responded. The bottled water was air-dashed to Mahdia on Thursday following a brief handing over at Thirst Park.

Mr. Clive Pellew, Waters Brand Manager, made

the presentation to Ms. Serena McKenzie, who represented Ms. Balkaran in the presence of Mr. Gavin Jodhan, Branches Controller.

Civil Defence Commission (CDC) officials record information from a resident following the flood

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday May 31, 2019

Minister Cummings markets Guyana to German investors FOREIGN Affairs Minister, Karen Cummings, recently called on German companies to invest in Guyana, while noting that her government was committed to building a more robust and diversified economy.

Dr. Cummings was attending the Latin America and Caribbean Initiative and Future Forum for governments from the region. The event was organised by the Federal Government of Germany and hosted by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Heiko Maas.

The two-day conference held on May 28 was attended by 26 Latin American and Caribbean foreign ministers, as well as major German business executives and experts. It aimed at deepening cooperation between Germany and the regional states.

Minister Cummings, in

Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Karen Cummings (centre) with German Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas (sixth from left) and Caribbean foreign ministers

her presentation, highlighted Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040, noting its importance in guiding her country’s policy-making agenda as well as

its prioritisation of environmental conservation, sustainable growth and development of a green economy.

“Our strategy provides significant opportunities for

profitable investments,” she said while adding: “We welcome foreign investments, integrated agriculture and agro-processing zones, green and clean technology, en-

Guyana, Ghana to explore sustainable air linkages

Ghanaian High Commissioner to Guyana, Professor Abena Pokua Adompim Busia, along with Director General Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field, and others at the GCAA

THE Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCCA) and the High Commission of Ghana have verbally agreed to explore the possibility of creating sustainable air linkages.

The establishment of sustainable air linkages between Guyana and Ghana was among areas discussed when the new Ghanaian High Commissioner to Guyana, Professor Abena Pokua Adompim Busia, paid a courtesy call on Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lt. Col. (ret’d) Egbert Field, at GCAA’s Headquarters.

In a statement, GCAA said Col. Field and Professor Adompim Busia discussed areas of mutual interest to both countries, including the

promotion of air transport and the possibility of creating sustainable air linkages between the two nations.

The Ghanaian high commissioner also touched on the potential benefits which can be derived from commercial exchanges, tapping into the available expertise to strengthen legislation and improve compliance with international standards in the aviation sector and the emerging oil and gas sector.

Tourism, she said, is also an area of interest, noting that there are possibilities for the promotion and expansion of heritage tourism between the African and Caribbean regions.

High Commissioner Adompim Busia also met

board member, Beverly Carrington, and members of the management team of the GCAA. Her delegation included minister and deputy head of mission, Peter Kobina Taylor, and Kwame Jantuah from the African Energy Consortium Limited.

Field said he is looking forward to working with Professor Adompim Busia and her team on the areas of mutual interest. He said it is important for both countries to benefit from each other’s expertise and skills.

The GCAA director-general expressed interest in the areas of Safety Management Systems, State Safety Procedures, Security, drone use and control and technical assistance in general.

In November 2018, Guyana and Ghana signed an Air Services Agreement at the Third African Diaspora Meeting held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. Under this agreement, airlines operating from Guyana or Ghana will be able to fly to any destination within both countries as well as provide any number of services between both countries and beyond to any third country, with no restrictions on capacity, frequency, aircraft type and routing. Further, in December 2018, Guyana also signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement with Ghana for the exchange of knowledge and technical expertise in the area of civil aviation.

gineering services, tourism economic zones, pharmaceuticals production, information and communication technology, and mining.”

Meanwhile, alluding to

additional areas for partnership, the Guyanese foreign minister noted her government’s role in efforts to address climate change, such as its agreement with the Kingdom of Norway, which aims at providing the world with a model of how the REDD+ [reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation] mechanism could align development objectives of affected countries.

“Guyana, like many developing states, continues to support calls for greater support to be provided to vulnerable countries for urgent implementation of climate change initiatives,” Minister Cummings stated.

Minister Cummings led a five-member delegation that included Guyana’s non-resident Ambassador to Germany, David Hales.

Man gets 12 years for killing cousin

JUSTICE Navindra Singh handed a 12-year sentence to Levi Stevens, after he pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge on Thursday.

Stevens was initially charged for murdering his cousin, Arnold Gordon.

However, with the guidance of his attorney, Mark Conway, he pleaded not-guilty to murder, and guilty to manslaughter.

The 29-year-old man was a farmer of Kumu Village, Central Rupununi, and on March 16, 2017, at Tiger Plate, Central Rupununi, he killed his cousin. The body of the 24-year-old was found with an arrow in the chest. He was a labourer of Kumu Village, Central Rupununi.

According to police, Gordon was apparently clubbed, then shot with a bow and arrow under his right arm-pit. An iron rod was also found near the murder scene.

According to an eyewitness, Stevens used a length of wood and a metal rod to hit Gordon. The police reportedly learnt of the incident through a Toshao, who came by the information from the eyewitness’ grandmother. Acting upon what he was told, the Toshao put together a team and went in search of Gordon, the police said.

The search party eventually found what appeared to be a shallow grave in some bushes some 20 feet from the suspect’s campsite. The police were summoned, and Gordon’s remains were discovered in the shallow grave.

About three weeks later Stevens was captured.

When the matter was called before Justice Singh on Thursday, he did not waste the court’s time with a trial, but rather, admitted and showed remorse for what he had done.

Woman charged for using abusive language FORTY FIVE-year-old Yonette Moses appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Providence Magistrate’s Court on Thursday May 30, 2019 to answer a charge of using abusive language.

The Court was told that on May 23, 2019, Yonette Moses used abusive language to Kimberly

Sanchar.

The Court was also told that Moses was previously charged with a similar offence and was fined $20 000.

Moses was charged, on Thursday, after pleading guilty to the offence and was fined $20 000 with the alternative of one month in prison.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday May 31, 2019

Man gets 75 years for Mocha mechanic’s murder JUSTICE Navindra Singh on Thursday slapped a 75-year jail sentence on 24-year-old Kenkassie Lynch for the murder of a mechanic in Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara, back in 2015.

The sentence was handed down at the Demerara High Court. The indictment reads that on June 1, 2015, at Nelson Street, Mocha-Arcadia, EBD, Lynch murdered 23- year-old Terrence Lanferman.

Lynch faced a trial before Justice Singh and a mixed 12-member jury, with 15 witnesses testifying during the trial. According to reports, Lynch also implicated a cousin of his, Sedley Liverpool, called ‘Birdman.’

Liverpool was later charged for Lanferman’s murder and

is currently awaiting trial at the High Court.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that the shooting stemmed from a feud between ‘Birdman’ and Lanferman, but Lynch reportedly admitted that he alone carried out the shooting.

On the day in question, Lynch allegedly returned to Mocha and met his cousin, Liverpool. Lynch then proceeded to Nelson Street in the same community, to conduct surveillance on Lanferman’s house, after which he returned to ‘Birdman’s’ residence around 19:00hrs; Liverpool then allegedly gave Lynch a handgun. The two later returned to Nelson Street on a ‘CG’ motorcycle.

While Liverpool waited in a nearby street, Lynch reportedly went to Lanferman’s

‘Sharky’ gets14 years for armed robbery MURDER accused, Wayne Chester, called ‘Sharky’ was on Thursday, May 30, 2019 sentenced to 14 years jail by City Magistrate Rhondel Weaver, on a series of charges, including robbery under arms and two firearm-related charges.

Chester, 22, formally of Section ‘C’ Block ‘Y’ Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, was found guilty of five different criminal charges when the trial ended at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The first charge read that, on January 6, 2019, at Conciliation Drive, Tucville, Chester, while being in the company of others and armed with a gun, robbed Coet Cromwell of a quantity of gold jewellery and cash totaling $512,060.

The other charges read that, on the same day, Chester damaged Cromwell’s car’s front windshield and bumper worth a total of $85,000 and also discharged a loaded gun at him (Cromwell). Chester had a Walter .32 pistol along with .32 spent shells when he committed the offence.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that Cromwell, who is a wash bay operator, was robbed by two men on a motorcycle who shot at his motor car and relieved him of jewellery and a sum of cash. Cromwell managed to apprehend Chester while the other person ran away. The motorbike was impounded while Chester was searched by the police and the gun was

Wayne Chester called ‘Sharky’

found in his possession.

Magistrate Weaver sentenced Chester to five years imprisonment for the robbery under arms charge and five years for damage to property.

For the charges of possession of a gun, a spent shell and discharging a loaded firearm at Cromwell, Chester was ‘handed’ a three-year imprisonment on each of the charges.

The Magistrate ordered that the sentences run concurrently so Chester will only spend five years behind bars.

Chester is currently on remand for the murder of Clothes vendor, Purcell Moore Jr. who was gunned down during a robbery at Craig Old Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) in December 2017.

The father of two was robbed of his gold chain and other jewellery on the day in question. He sustained two gunshot wounds to the head during the attack which occurred one street away from his mother’s home in Craig.

Kenkassie Lynch

residence and knocked on the front door. Lanferman opened his door and was confronted by the gunman.

At the conclusion of the trial and the State closed its case, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

However, defence attorney Adrian Thompson requested a probation report.

When the probation officer took the stand on Thursday, she said that Lynch admitted to committing the offence.

That sparked a dispute since

his attorney said that he did not admit to the offence.

The accused then stood and say he is innocent. But the probation officer maintained that Lynch admitted.

Justice Singh then started at a base of 60 years and then added 15 years for several aggravating factors, including the use of a gun to commit the act.

The state was represented by prosecutors Abigail Gibbs, Tuanna Hardy and Teriq Mohammed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, May 31, 2019

‘I am Legend’ in retrospect...

Fans upset ‘Natural Black’ was sidelined −but ‘homey’ takes it all in his stride

W

HILE many would have praised the Buju Banton ‘I am Legend’ concert held at the National Stadium last Saturday, there were those who expressed grave disappointment.

Their disappointment had to do with the fact that Guyana’s own Reggae star, Mortimer Softley, better known as ‘Natural Black’, was deprived of the opportunity of performing at such a mega concert.

But according to the promoters of the show, due to time constraints, the Jamaican legend had to go on stage in a hurry, causing ‘Natural Black’ to be cut right out of the lineup.

At the event, many patrons told ‘The Buzz’ that they felt a lot of time was wasted, and a lot of time was given to the wrong artistes.

“If I was the promoter, I would go back to the drawing board. I would have recalculate the time, as it is Guyana Independence. Buju is the guest artiste invited to perform at the Guyana Independence Celebration as part of his ‘I am Legend’ tour. However, our local artiste, ‘Natural Black’ should have been given a little more priority to perform on the stage,” one man said.

Another patron said, “This is not quite acceptable for me, because people were all anxiously awaiting to see him perform. During the time those DJs were playing, he could have used that time.

And even the time that was given to the Hip Hop artiste could have been given to ‘Natural’ because this was a Reggae show; this wasn’t a show for her.”

Many local artistes as well joined in the rant, and took to their social media pages saying that many local artistes are always slighted when they have these big shows in Guyana. It was said that time and time again, Guyanese artistes are disrespected on many levels when it comes to events and shows right in their own country.

“Buju is Buju, but at the end of the day ‘THIS IS WE OWN’, and I am so disappointed that our own people were yet again kicked to the curb. Our Guyanese acts show up and out EVERYTIME, most times surpassing the headliner(s) but never get the credit nor respect,” one local artiste posted on Facebook.

However, when ‘The Buzz’ spoke to ‘Natural Black’, he said that all is not lost. His major concern, he said, was to let people know that he was there, since he didn’t want persons to run away with the idea that ‘Natural Black’ was ‘a no-show’.

He, however, said that he looking forward for the opportunity to grace the stage and perform for his Guyanese fan-base.

Though a bit saddened and disappointed, ‘Natural Black’ said that his works are still relevant, and he is continuing to produce more music.

Just last year, he released an album titled ‘Eyes ah Look’, and is currently working on pushing this album. With 10 tracks on the album, he said that many of those songs are capable of becoming hits, just like other hit songs he would have produced.

For Guyana Day in New York, the Guyanese reggae icon is already booked and confirmed, and says that he will put on one of the best performances that he would have ever done.

‘Natural Black’ said though he has been dormant for too long, his love for music still remains, and as such he is working assiduously on getting his name and music buzzing as it used to.

‘Morning Glory’ takes the crown

F

IVE beautiful and brave little flower girls of the Pine Street Nursery School in Linden on Saturday evening competed in the 8th annual Independence pageant, which this year was themed, ‘I am a flower girl’.

The event saw Delegate

Number Four, Amelia Wills walking away queen, after an elegant, brave and gracious performance, which no doubt impressed the judges as it did the crowd all night. Wills represented the flower, Morning Glory. and displayed the same strong-willed and persistent

Pine Street Nursery’s Independence Queen, Amelia Wills

characteristics as the flower.

She was, however, given stiff competition, as the other delegates, in like manner, delivered electrifying, jaw-dropping performances, just as Wills, throughout the five segments. These were the opening segment, the tea party wear, the talent piece, and evening gown and intelligence segments. For the talent piece, the flower girls were tasked with describing the flowers they represented. In addition to Morning Glory, the other flowers were the Hibiscus, Daisy, Sunflower and the National Flower, the Victoria Regia Lily.

Emerging as first to fourth runners-up respectively were Delegates Numbers One, Dividica Jerrick, Miss Victoria Regia Lily; Number Three, Kiara Daniels, Miss Daisy; Number Five, Amaiah Edwards, Miss Sunflower; and Number Four, Lethalia Britton, Miss Hibiscus.

Wills also walked away with the prize for ‘Best Gown’ and ‘Best Talent Piece’, while Jerrick copped the prize for ‘Best Smile’.

Wills’ stunning, red-carpet, yellow-and-blue gown, was a jaw-dropper for the crowd,

−at annual Pine Street Nursery’s Independence Pageant especially after the little queen gracefully strutted her way across the stage while containing the dress’s trail, and keeping her poise, pageantry gestures and splendid walk intact. At the end of the night’s proceedings, all of the

delegates went home with well-deserved prizes as they were all adjudged for their efforts. The audience was also kept well entertained with several cultural pieces, including songs, dances and poetry.

Delegates in their evening gowns

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, May 31, 2019

‘Dedication to Daddy 3’ to honour exemplary fathers

P

HENOMENAL songbird Delisha Wright is gearing up to ‘trill’ the audience when she performs at ‘Dedication to Daddy 3’ under the theme “Suspicious Minds”, slated for Sunday, June 16 at the National Cultural Centre.

H&T Theatre Arts Group, a production company that has been around since 2012, is currently in the midst of preparing for a successful presentation of song, dance and drama, and promises treats for all those dads who will be in attendance.

Four fathers will be honoured on that evening, once they were recommended by family or community members as being exemplary fathers. This will be an element of surprise, as only family members of these fathers will

have been informed, and they themselves ill be in the dark.

Other vocal renditions will be presented by singers Colin Ambrose, Cleve-

Director/Producer Sheron Cadogan-Taylor

land Hutson, Barbara Lee, Simone Dowding, Ezzie Crandon, Ronald Green, Allan C. Bakker and Donald Wallerson.

Henry Rodney will be

performing one of his own calypso compositions, and there will also be a dance performance by Sandia Ramnarine, and a ballroom pre-

sentation by the Millennium Star Dance Group.

Some of the dramatic performers include Kevin Smith, Melika Edmonds, Keisha Sam, Nelan Benja-

Ezzie Crandon Delisha Wright

Ronald Green

Guyana raises the bar on haute couture −with inaugural fashion extravaganza

Floral Savvy by Sidney Francois (Elvin Croker photo)

A

FTER watching a bevy of lithe models strut down the 60-foot runway before a packed-to-capacity audience, donning from the breathtaking to the dramatic outfits, many of the patrons who attended last Friday night’s Guyana Fashion Showcase could not stop gushing about how much they think the event may have just raised the bar where fashion shows in Guyana are concerned.

Standing out among the many international designers on display, the Guyanese

designers among the lineup, Randy Madray, Sidney Francois and Quinton Pearson more than proved that local designers are definitely on par with their foreign counterparts with their ‘head-turners’.

Also ‘reppin’ for the Golden Arrowhead were overseas-based Guyanese designers Roger Gary and Michele Cole, along with the latter’s young daughter, Sapphire Rose, who showcased for the first time in Guyana, and Andrew Harris from New York.

Some 15 local, regional and international designers displayed at the Ramada

Georgetown Princess Hotel’s Roraima Room for the inaugural event, which the Chief Executive Officer, Philbert Giddings has promised will become an annual feature for Guyanese fashion lovers.

And if he stays true to his promise, many are already anticipating the show’s return, including First Lady Sandra Granger, who was front and centre at the show and seemingly enjoyed every moment of it alongside her daughter, Mrs Han Gaskin.

“It was fantastic; I’m just so overwhelmed by the reception. It was warm and welcoming; the sponsors, Star Party Rental was there for us.

Caribbean Airlines was there for us; so, right now, I’m so overwhelmed,” Giddings told ‘the Buzz’ at the end of the show.

“We’re going to make this an annual event,” he said.

“This is just the launch; just the birth of Guyana Fash-

Guyana’s First Lady, Sandra Granger (right) was front row at the Guyana Fashion Showcase (Elvin Croker photo)

ion Showcase. We’re looking forward to it being an annual event, and we’re looking to bring other international designers. We wanted persons to see what we have to offer.

We’re looking forward to some new sponsors who have agreed to come on board and growing.”

Giddings also had much praise for the man behind putting it all together, Roger Gary. A veteran in the business, Gary is very pleased with how well the show lived up to his expectations. Not that he was expecting anything less.

“I’ve been doing this for a very long time, so I knew I could’ve done it. It worked out well, and I’m very happy,” Gary said, adding: “There are always little things that can happen or not happen to make a difference, but everything worked out well. We had a few glitches; nothing that would have been noticeable on the runway. But that’s what it is; you have to really coordinate backstage.

And people have to come on

min, Shivina Demendonca, LaVonne George, Ryan Headley, Leslyn Johnson, Kester Whyte, and Nalini Nareswarie. Appearing on the programme also is Safisha Castello and little Felicity Grainger.

Director/Producer of the event, Sheron Cadogan-Taylor told the Buzz that the cast is working assiduously with the aim of celebrating fathers, while encouraging others to “Stand up”.

Tickets cost $2000 and $1500, and are available at the National Cultural Centre or from any member of the cast. The production is family-oriented. A complimentary glass of wine awaits all fathers. There will also be door prizes and giveaways.

The show will commence at 20h00.

Cole continued the promotion of her newest line, ‘Colefacts Wedding’, which is all about unconventional bridal wear, designed to leave one excited about their wedding day. “ T h e idea for this collection was something for every bride, be it the casual beach wedding or formal princess wedding.

Or for the edgy woman that just doesn’t want a wedding

time.”

Gary showcased 14 pieces from his ‘Aqua Couture by Roger Gary’ brand.

Celebrating ten years as a designer, Randy Madray, as always, did not fail to produce praiseworthy pieces, though he was subtle on the dramatic looks this time around. The collection was big on feathers, beads, and sheer material, with the collection comprising of a number of evening dresses.

François, on the other hand, preferred to work with a lot of tulle this time around, with an opening piece rocked by model Xamiera Kippins that really turned heads.

“I did an haute couture collection this time around,” François said. “All our pieces A piece by Randy Madray g o w n ; were hand-created. that per(Elvin Croker photo) We created over one h a p s million flowers, and prefers a used a lot of crystal to en- wedding pants suit,” Cole, hance the beauty and shimmer who now lives and works in in this collection,” he added.

New York noted.

Overseas based Guyanese designer, and Coordinator for Guyana Fashion Showcase, Roger Gary (Elvin Croker photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, May 31, 2019

‘Nothing to Laugh About’ kicks off tonight

−promises to mek yuh laugh til yuh belly bus!

Chris Gopaul in action

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HE Saturday and Sunday nights ‘Nothing to Laugh About’ shows are almost sold out, and organisers and performers are busy putting the final touches on various aspects of the show, which is billed to be held Directors and producers Lyndon Jones and Maria Benschop from tonight to Monday again be held at the National Cultural Centre (NCC), and night. co-director and producer, Lyndon ‘Jumbie’ Jones has been Director and producer emphasising that in an effort to show respect for those who Maria Benschop told the turn up on time, the three-hour-long show will start at exactly Buzz on Thursday that work 20h00. at this point is hectic, as the Tickets cost $1,000 for balcony, $1,500 for auditorium team continues to work at rear, and $2,500 for auditorium front, and are available at the perfecting the skits and get- NCC, Sterling Products Igloo Outlet, Elegance Jewellery and ting the show together.

Pawn Shop, Payless Variety store, Gizmos and Gadgets, the She is still dealing with New Nigel’s Supermarket, and Giftland Mall’s Department ticket sales and doing some Store and Supermarket. amount of marketing.” So Jones told this publication that it is no exaggeration to say far, tickets are going real- that this year’s show will surpass the previous shows by far, ly fast,” she said, adding, if only the taxes being charged could have been reduced, his “We’re all set.” wife, Maria, pointed out.

This year, the show will “I don’t mind paying the NCC rental fees and the usher

fees, but the 20 per cent on ticket sales and 14 per cent VAT! If they take off one of those taxes from the producer, I think a lot more persons will become involved in the arts,” Maria said.

Lyndon said the authorities can also do little things to help producers promote such a cultural show. For one, they can air their advertisements on the government-owned station for free, and even allow them to use the electronic billboard outside of the NCC.

‘Jumbie’ and ‘Credit’ in a scene from a previous show

This year’s show will feature some of the best personalities in the field of comedy and acting, such as ‘Jumbie’; Michael ‘Credit’ Ignatius; Leza ‘Radica’ Singh; Mark ‘Chiney Man’ Kazim; Chris Gopaul, and Mark Luke Edwards.

A scene from a previous show

Imperial House launches new teen pageant I

MPERIAL House, led by Director Wasim Khan, is returning to pageantry with a new flagship event, “The Miss Guyana Teen Scholarship”, and is currently accepting applications from eligible teens between 13 and 19 years old.

The pageant is slated for September 7 at the National Culture Centre, and will see the winner walking away with an award that will cover tuition, possibly text books and other essentials, and examination fees towards her academic pursuits.

Imperial had previously leased the Miss Talent Teen Guyana franchise from Simpli Royal, and last held a pageant in 2016, when it was won by Aliya Wong. Simpli Royal returned to the helm of the pageant in 2017, which was the last time the pageant was held.

Khan explained, however, that this new pageant is not affiliated with or to be mistaken for the Miss Talented Teen Pageant.

“This is a completely new franchise; our flagship event.

It’s a social programme for the

−one with an academic slant

advancement of education for young women in Guyana. The scholarship will be awarded to the winning delegate,” Khan said, adding: “We felt that an investment in our queen’s education would be more lasting, and give her an opportunity to truly develop and meet her full potential. What you gain from this crown will forever be with you, and can never be lost, taken away or faded with time. An education, however, is the passport to the future; for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today, and we want to do just that by investing in our youths.”

For this pageant, the delegates will compete in a personality interview, and talent and evening wear categories, as well as being involved in community projects and outreaches as part of the preliminaries. They will also undergo a lot of other preliminary training, with the intention of imparting life skills on the young ladies.

“In addition to the weekly rehearsals, pageant participants will have weekly education sessions through which

Director of Imperial House, Wasim Khan, (left) and Cindy Khan with 2016 Miss Talented Teen queen Aliya Wong (sitting)

they will learn skills that will help them during their pageant and in later stages of their life. These sessions include: CV/Essay Writing, money management and budgeting, conflict resolution, makeup and skincare, public speaking, time management, self-esteem and body Image, and women’s health in general,” Khan said.

Imperial House is a registered organisation working towards creating and implementing social programmes for the advancement of Guyanese youth through pageants and the theatrical arts. Its mandate is to support social investments through youth empowerment, community service, entrepreneurship and the advancement of education.

Application forms for the pageant are currently available for downloading on The Imperial House’s Facebook page, or they can be purchased at the Medical Choice Pharmacy on Camp Street for $1000.

All interested teens are asked to submit their applications on or before June 22, 2019 at the aforementioned location.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, May 31, 2019

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Personality of The Week

Shamar Spooner Urban Fashion trendsetter

T

HE importance of youth in the development of a country can never be over-emphasised. Youth play one of the most important roles in nation building, as they are social actors of change and progress.

This week’s personality is a 20-year-old creative young

man, who has definitely been demonstrating the embodiment of a social actor for the progression of youths in Guyana.

Shamar Spooner, an entrepreneur and event coordinator, is passionate about setting trends in the urban fashion industry, and uses his platform to promote other youths in the arts, in aid of revitalising the industry.

“I believe that Guyana has so much untapped talent in our youths, and we don’t recognise it. So I aim to find ways to incorporate their talents and make it as unconventional and different as possible,” Spooner told ‘The Buzz’.

He has a Fashion brand/Movement called Upper Echelon that was founded in November 2017. The brand came from his love and drive for fashion, especially street wear, which comes from the influential pop culture.

Since its launch, Spooner’s brand has gotten tremendous support, and is now a booming business for the young man.

He said that though it is successful, the challenges were enormous.

“I wouldn’t say that there weren’t any challenges because that would be a lie. The challenges were quite numerous as it relates to places to learn fashion, capital to sustain the line, and sourcing materials locally. However, I must say that since I’ve started, the young generation has really graced me with appreciation and love I didn’t even think I would receive. For example, I would release a collection Online, which is where I’m currently located, and the pieces would sell out in 24 hours,” the young businessman said.

The name “Upper Echelon”, he said, came about since back in 2013 when he was in high school, and it represents something of a higher standard and out of our societal norms.

Last year, Spooner hosted two events with another creative partner: ‘Filling the Void’ and ‘Seeing is Believing’.

Both were successful, as they were well-attended by scores of Guyana’s youth population.

The events were used as a means to promote youths in the arts, and have persons recognise the wealth of youth talent in the country.

They also showcased different art forms such as sculpt u r e , architecture, fashion, robotics, digital art, photography and fine arts.

At the ‘Seeing is Believing’ event, patrons were able to see live painting exercises.

Spooner told ‘The Buzz’ that this is just a tip of the iceberg of what he intends to do in the near future. He disclosed that persons should stay tuned for ‘Filling the Void II’, which is to be held this year.

He said that there is so much more that can be done for young people like himself, making mention of the government’s support and creating opportunities.

However, he believes that it is also essential to note that young people must also believe in themselves; that they can become a big asset both individually and collectively to national development, if they work hard.

YEAH! Yeah! Tell me about it! Before you know it, it’s a new weekend! Where on earth did the last one go!

Anyways, it’s time to start the ball rolling and fill you in on what’s happening in and around Guyana.

Today ►

First off, the biggest, boldest comedy show is back!

‘Nothing to Laugh About 12’ comes to the National Cultural Centre for four nights of phenomenal comedy (May 31 – June 3). Part 12 is going to definitely top the others! Tickets: $1000, $1500 & $2000.

Tomorrow

►District Ultra Lounge presents Memories of Carnival (MOC)V2 featuring the return of Gully Ras and Diamond.

Ladies free before 22h00.

Johnnie Walker bottle specials all night.

► Next on the list is Escape Fridays Guyana Carnival Wash-down at District Ultra Lounge.

Music by Guyana’s top DJs. Heineken specials all night. Ladies free before 22h00.

► Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspurs meet in Madrid for the first all-English Champions League Final since 2008 when Manchester United triumphed over Chelsea on penalties. And the action starts from 15h00 at the Marriott beachfront. Enjoy the game with drinks in a great atmosphere.

► Not interested! No sweat! There’s always the Pegasus poolside where the Ignite Bar and Grill serves up fun, food, and entertainment every Friday and Saturday.

► What to do on Saturday nights? Vintage Lounge presents Brazilian and Latin Saturdays.

Come out and dance to some good ol’ Brazilian and Latin rhythms. Enjoy food and drink spe-

cials, and dance the night away with DJ Tranquilo Santos.

►It’s time to show off your talent. Aracari Resort presents Karaoke and Dance this and every Saturday. Enjoy karaoke, dance and dinner, featuring Reyaz Rafeek and Group. ►

Sunday

The Vintage Wine Bar, Restaurant and Lounge presents ‘Dinner with 70s and 80s music’. Sundays were meant for the 70s & 80’s!

►Red Stripe Beer and Guyana Lottery Company’s Let’s Bet Sports will be hosting the NBA Finals viewing party at 704! From 21h00. Go witness Game 2 of the NBA finals between Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors, and stand a chance to win authentic NBA gear.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday May 31, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, May 31, 2019

Windies launch ambitious World Cup campaign against Pakistan today

NOTTINGHAM, England (CMC) – Fuelled by a desire to prove their many detractors wrong, a confident West Indies will launch an ambitious bid to win the ICC World Cup when they take on enigmatic Pakistan at Trent Bridge here today.

Winners of the first two World Cups back in 1975 and 1979 West Indies’ star has since fallen and are no longer considered one-day powerhouses. And with just a single series win in the last five years, their tag of underdogs is perhaps justified.

Yet, their performance against world number ones and tournament favourites, England, in the Caribbean this year pointed to somewhat of a rejuvenation, giving players and fans alike the faintest of hope that the side could put together a formidable World Cup challenge.

Written off before the start of the England series, the Caribbean side managed to pull off a 2-2 draw, doing so while brandishing a bold, audacious brand of cricket not seen in recent years. The result also instilled a new level of self-belief in the squad and there is now a quiet confidence the Caribbean side can now put the lean years of under-achievement behind them.

Captain Jason Holder, leading West Indies for the second straight World Cup, said the squad was settled and in a good place mentally heading into the opening clash against Pakistan.

“One thing I like coming into this tournament is that every player is in a good frame of mind,” he told media here yesterday.

“Everybody is playing with a smile on his face, and I think that’s how we play our best cricket. We’re fearless, we enjoy what we’re doing and we enjoy one another’s company. I can safely say within the group we’ve got that.

“We’ve got an atmosphere that we would like to create, and we’ve got the energy going into this tournament that we would want to have.”

He added: “I think the rest is left to us on the field. We’ve just got to execute whatever plans we formulate, and I think execution is key in this tournament, you know, whether it’s West Indies, England, India or whoever.

“I think the teams that execute their plans and are as disciplined as they can be more often than not they’re going to come out on top.”

West Indies will have to buck recent history against Pakistan, which has seen them lose 11 of their last 16 ODIs in bilateral series.

The Caribbean side have had better luck against Pakistan in World Cup match-ups, however, winning six of their eight meetings – including in the 2015 edition when they crushed their Asian opponents by 150 runs.

For their part, Pakistan enter the contest on the back of a poor run of form that has seen them lose 13 of their last 18 ODIs. Earlier this month, they were creamed 4-0 in a five-match series by hosts England.

But Pakistan are mercurial, lurching from mediocre to brilliant in the blink of an eye and Holder said his team would be taking

nothing for granted against them.

“We’ve obviously looked at their players, tried to formulate our plans towards them and obviously our mode of attack,” he explained.

“We’ve had a few discussions as the team and a few team meetings just to formulate whatever plans we’re going into tomorrow’s game with. But yeah, it’s just a normal thing. It’s nothing different depending on who the team is.

“We just want to be as professional as we possibly can, not take anything for granted. I don’t think we’re in a position to take anything for granted; to just be in a situation where we just assess who we’re playing against, formulate our plans or look to execute them.”

West Indies’ batting is to be feared. Headed by veteran talisman Chris Gayle, it boasts the likes of the classy Shai Hope and Darren Bravo, as well as the brawn of Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer and the spectacular Andre Russell.

Against England earlier this year, they twice scored in excess of 350 – including an all-time record 389 in the fourth ODI in Grenada.

Their mammoth 421 against New Zealand in their last official warm-up in Bristol last Tuesday served as a timely reminder of the Caribbean side’s ability and at Trent Bridge where there have been several large totals this season, expectations are already high.

However, Holder reminded that cricket was played on the day and depended heavily on conditions, and there was no guarantee of consistently high totals.

“I don’t want to sit here and try to predetermine what’s going to happen, but I just think in this situation we play a normal cricket game,” he stressed.

“We assess the conditions as early as possible and we play to suit.

I think where the game has gone now, especially in England here, there have been some high totals, but there have been totals where I saw one or two games lately that were relatively low-scoring. It can happen.

“That’s the way cricket is played, and that’s the nature of the game. I just don’t want to sit before a game and say we’re looking to score 500 or 600, I just want to play it as we see it and assess the conditions like any other game.”

SQUADS: WEST INDIES – Jason Holder (captain), Fabian Allen, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Nicholas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas.

PAKISTAN – Sarfaraz Ahmed (captain), Asif Ali, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Imam-ulHaq, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz.

England crush SA in World Cup opener (AFP) - Ben Stokes starred in all departments as England began their quest to win the World Cup with a 104-run thrashing of South Africa in the tournament opener at The Oval yesterday.

The all-rounder top-scored with 89 in England’s 311-8, held a brilliant catch in the outfield and took 2-12, including the last wicket, as England won with 61 balls left.

Jofra Archer did the early damage with the ball, the fast bowler taking 3-27 in seven overs.

Barbados-born Archer, who only qualified for England in March, made his presence felt even before he had taken a wicket with a bouncer that beat Hashim Amla for pace and crashed into the grille of the helmet, with the veteran opener retiring hurt on five.

Archer then reduced the Proteas to 44-2.

Aiden Markram edged to Joe Root at slip and South Africa captain Faf du Plessis fell for just five when he top-edged a hook to long leg.

But Quinton de Kock kept the Proteas in the hunt, although the opener was lucky when on 25 he played a ball from leg-spinner Adil Rashid onto his stumps only for the bails to stay put.

The dashing left-hander went on to complete a 58-ball fifty but holed out off fast bowler Liam Plunkett for 68.

Rassie van der Dussen then made exactly 50 without pressing on when he miscued Archer to mid-on.

His exit saw Amla return with South Africa struggling at 167-6 in the 32nd over.

The game was all but up for South Africa when a back-pedalling

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and diving Stokes held a brilliant one-handed catch in the deep to dismiss Andile Phehlukwayo.

Amla’s brave effort to rescue the innings ended on 13 when he was caught behind off Plunkett’s slower-ball bouncer and Stokes finished the match when Imran Tahir edged him to Root.

Stokes was one of four England batsmen who got to 50 on a tricky surface, with captain Eoin Morgan (57), Jason Roy (54) and Root (51) all out soon after reaching the landmark.

England lost a wicket second ball before Roy and Root shared a stand of 106 that was equalled by Morgan and Stokes. du Plessis opted to field despite being without injured spearhead Dale Steyn and took the unorthodox decision to give leg-spinner Tahir the first over.

The 40-year-old, the oldest player in the tournament, struck second ball when Jonny Bairstow was caught behind by de Kock for a golden duck.

Roy and Root repaired the damage but were dismissed when well set as England lost two wickets for four runs in four balls to be 111-3.

Morgan, whose aggressive approach has been symbolic of England’s rise to the top of the one-day international rankings after their woeful first-round exit at the 2015 World Cup, struck the match’s first two sixes off successive balls from Lungi Ngidi before he too was caught in the deep.

Left-hander Stokes saw his 79-ball knock end in the penultimate over when caught at third man following a reverse hit off paceman Ngidi (66-3).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, May 31, 2019

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Briggs, three debutants named in Golden Jaguars Gold Cup squad

By Rawle Toney FOUR years after he made his debut for Guyana in a 2 – 0 win over Grenada, Matthew Briggs will return for the Golden Jaguars after being named in Coach Michael Johnson’s 23-man squad for the June 14 – July 7 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Briggs, 28, was kept out of the National side due to eligibility issues, but now, the former Fulham FC, Watford and Colchester defender is set to play a major role in Guyana’s Gold Cup campaign.

Former Ajax youth player Terell Ondaan (winger), along with Jordan Dover (defender), Liam Gordon (defender) and goalkeeper Quillan Roberts are the debutants in the side, while Western Tigers’ Pernell Schultz and Daniel Wilson, Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Kevin Layne and goalkeepers, Alex Murray and Akel Clarke, are the only locally-based players in the squad.

Sheldon Holder, who plays professionally in Trinidad and Tobago with Caledonia AIA, also got the nod.

However, probably in the biggest surprise, there was

no place for Trayon Bobb, but, looking at the team’s composition, it would’ve been difficult for the winger to play ahead of former Arsenal player, Anthony Jeffery and Reading FC’s Callum Harriot. Ondaan, a product of Ajax’s academy, also plays in the same position as Bobb on the wing.

Matthew Briggs

“The Technical Staff is very confident and excited about the composition of the squad arrived at for the continuation of this historic journey. As you would appreciate,

the selection process was not easy by any means and we do appreciate there will be disappointment amongst some players,” Johnson said.

Commenting further on the team’s selection, Johnson noted that “we would like to encourage players, fans, well-wishers and the media to get behind your Golden Jaguars, as we all aim to prove to the people of Guyana, at home and in the Diaspora, that we belong.

Wherever you are in the world, the staff and players are asking you to get behind the team and enjoy this historical moment. Your country needs you!”

Assistant Coach, Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard, a former Golden Jaguar player, also commented on the final squad, pointing out that “It’s an exciting time for the Golden Jaguars and we are energized to show that we can compete at the highest level in Concacaf. It’s going to be very tough, but we are looking forward to the challenge.”

The Golden Jaguars have been drawn in Group D of the 16-team tournament with the host nation USA, along with Panama and Trinidad and Tobago.

Following the opening match against the USA on June 18, Guyana will travel to Cleveland, Ohio where they will take on Panama on June 22 at the First Energy Stadium and then it’s on to the final group match against Caribbean Football Union rivals, neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago on June 26 at the Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas.

Golden Jaguars team: Matthew Briggs, Terell Ondaan, Jordan Dover, Liam Gordon, Quillan Roberts, Sam Cox, Neil Danns, , Emery Welshman, Keanu Marsh-Brown, Ronayne Marsh-Brown, Callum Harriott, Anthony Jeffery, Pernell Shultz, Warren Creavalle, Elliot Bonds, Terrence Vancooten, Kevin Layne, Stephen Duke-McKenna, Sheldon Holder, Daniel Wilson, Akel Clarke and Alex Murray.

Despite having a stellar showing in the qualifiers for the Gold Cup, Trayon Bobb could find no place in the squad

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, May 31, 2019

PMTC win NAMILCO 50th Anniversary volleyball competition PORT Mourant Training Centre (PMTC) continued their good run in Berbice volleyball, after claiming victory in the National Milling Company of Guyana Inc. (NAMILCO) 50th Anniversary volleyball competition, which was recently played at the Albion Community Centre.

The five-team, round-robin, men’s competition culminated with PMTC defeating Number 52 Survival 30-22 in the final to cop the winners’ trophy and $25 000.

Number 52 received a trophy and $15 000 for their second-place finish, while Black Bush got the better of Three Strikers to collect the third-place prize and $10 000.

The women’s battle between Port Mourant and the invited Castrol Strikers never materialised, since the Georgetown side did not show up.

Along with the men’s competition, there was a two-player battle, which ended with the Mohabir pair defeating the Philiana pair 25-22, in a time-allotted clash.

The winners collected a trophy and $10 000.

Prior to this competition, PMTC had won the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) ‘B’ Division.

In that one-day competition, which was played in early April, at GUYSUCO Apprentice Hostel compound, Port Mourant ladies had bested the visiting Castrol Strikers team.

Naomi Osaka

By Martyn Herman

The various winners captured with their prizes at the conclusion of the NAMILCO-organised competition

Guyana Wado-Ryu Karate Association holds Junior tourney

The students display their certificates

THE Guyana Wado-Ryu Karate Association (GWKA) held its annual Junior Karate Tournament on May 18 last.

Students from the Banks, Mae’s and Eccles Dojos participated in the tournament which was sponsored by Banks DIH Limited and International Pharmaceutical Agencies.

The event was declared open at 13:00hrs by the president of GWKA, Sensei Darren Nurse, and continued under the direction of 8th Dan Sensei Winston Dunbar.

Outstanding performances

Osaka lives to fight another day, Djokovic cruising at French Open

were produced by Rovaldo and Seara Mohamed, Aaliyah Nelson, Kirmani Smith and Elijah Mohamad. The full results are: Kumite 5 years – 6 years male 1st place – Elijah Mohamad, 2nd place – Christian Sugrim 7 years – 8 years female 1st place – Saphra Sam, 2nd place – Upasna Singh, 3rd place – Analisa Singh 7 years – 8 years male category A 1st place – Kirmani Smith,

2nd place – Tahj Frank, 3rd place – Brandon Cummings 7 years – 8 years male category B 1st place – Japheth Terborg, 2nd place – Adam Mohamad, 3rd place – Yodish Persaud, 4th place – Kaiden Kirton 9 years – 10 years female 1st place – Seara Mohamed, 2nd place – Oshana Quamina, 3rd place – Tinashe Craig, 4th place – Liandoris Profeiro 9 years – 10 years male 1st place – Jason Abra-

ham, 2nd place – Hemanchal Persaud, 3rd place – Jeremiah Forde, 4th place – Antonio Singh 11 years – 12 years male 1st place – Justin Abraham, 2nd place – Diego Hernandez 13 years – 14 years female 1st place – Aaliyah Nelson, 2nd place – Jilnell Abraham 13 years – 14 years male 1st place – Rovaldo Mohamed, 2nd place – Shaun Osman, 3rd place – Jayden DeSouza, 4th place – Samuel Bidajhar

PARIS, France (Reuters) - Naomi Osaka stayed on course for a third successive Grand Slam title and Novak Djokovic a fourth at the French Open yesterday but their paths to the third round could not be more different.

For the second match in a row Osaka had to battle back from a shocking start, this time losing the first four games against former world number one Victoria Azarenka before winning a titanic tussle 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in just under three hours.

The Japanese top seed struck 52 winners as she stretched her winning run in the Grand Slams to 16 matches.

“I have this mindset that I feel like I can win if it gets down to the wire, like, if I have to break a person. I feel like I have the ability to do that,” Osaka, who next plays Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic, said.

Djokovic, bidding to hold all four Grand Slams simultaneously for the second time in his career, had no such dramas as he followed Osaka on to Court Suzanne Lenglen.

The Serb was in cruise control as he beat Swiss lucky loser Henri Laaksonen, the world number 104, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 to set up a third-round clash with Italian qualifier Salvatore Caruso.

“He has nothing to lose. I’m sure he’s going to be very motivated to play his best,” Djokovic, who won the title to complete his first ‘Nole Slam’ in 2016, told reporters.

Serena Williams moved smoothly through to the third round with a 6-3, 6-2 defeat of Japanese qualifier Kurumi Nara, setting up an all-American tussle with Sofia Kenin who benefitted from the withdrawal of 22nd seed Bianca Andreescu through injury.

Williams is trying again to match Margaret Court’s 24 Grand Slam titles, having fallen twice in finals last year on her comeback from maternity leave.

Defending champion and third seed Simona Halep did not have things all her own way against Poland’s Magda Linette but came through a tough battle 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

Dominic Thiem, beaten in last year’s final by Rafael Nadal, also had some trouble against Alexander Bublik.

He had to save two set points in the fourth set to avoid a decider and was relieved to win 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3, 7-5. He will play unseeded Pablo Cuevas next.

Fifth seed Alexander Zverev, ninth seed Fabio Fognini and 13th seed Borna Coric all progressed with ease although Juan Martin del Potro, the eighth seed, needed five sets to subdue Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.

Several Frenchmen survive in the draw, including Gael Monfils who will face a second successive all-French clash in the third round when he plays wildcard Antoine Hoang.

Hoang enjoyed a memorable win on Court One “Bullring” against Spain’s experienced 23rd seed Fernando Verdasco.

No French women have reached the third round for the first time since 1986 after Caroline Garcia lost 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Russian qualifier Anna Blinkova.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday May 31, 2019)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL- Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: (1) Australia (2) New Zealand (1) (2)

TODAY’S QUIZ: What was the result of the first game of World Cup 2019?

Who was voted Man of the Match?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, May 31, 2019

ExxonMobil partners with Petra for 2nd Schools Football tournament

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powerment and sports as a good means of such because of the cohesion it fosters, the leadership skills and the development of a person as a whole.

“We are excited to be working with Petra, the GFF and the MoE. I’m excited to see what the winners will do in terms of a project for their school this year.”

Barker-King of the MoE’s Unit of Allied Arts explained, “We (MoE) encourage well rounded students and we appreciate this collaboration which will help increase participation in this sport (football).

A total of 24 male teams will be divided into six groups for the group round-robin/knockout format that was used last year, while there will be 12 female teams.

Bermuda to host Guyana in Gold Cup warm-up game

From left: Petra’s Mark Alleyne, Lorraine Barker-King, Administrator of the Unit of Allied Arts; Petra’s Troy Mendonca; ExxonMobil’s Nicholas Yearwood and Deedra Moe; and GFF president Wayne Forde

By Stephan Sookram EXXONMOBIL has joined forces with the Petra Organisation for the second instalment of the Schools Football tournament.

At the launching yesterday at Cara Lodge, organisers announced that the 2019 edition of the tournament will also feature a segment for both boys and girls.

The boys’ tournament gets going next Saturday while the girls’ tournament is set for a June 29 commencement.

Matches are expected to be played at the Ministry of Education (MoE) ground.

In attendance at the launch were head of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde; Deedra Moe, Senior Officer of Public and Government Affairs (ExxonMobil); Troy Mendonca, co-Director of Petra Organistion (the promoters of

the event) and Lorraine Barker-King, Administrator of the Unit of Allied Arts.

Mendonca said, “ExxonMobil came on board last year and we are proud that they are on board for another year”, further noting, “This tournament will be played predominantly among Georgetown teams with a few teams from the East Coast and East Bank being invited.”

Forde took the opportunity to formally invite Petra Organisation to use their recently commissioned National Training Centre all-weather football pitch, located at Providence, since rain might threaten play at the MoE ground.

Forde also mentioned that any support Petra Organisation and MoE need, GFF will be willing to assist since “the GFF has more than enough certified coaches at its disposal”.

ExxonMobil’s Moe shared during the launch, “When we look at how we can engage the community, we look at em-

HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) - Bermuda will face Guyana in an international friendly at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence on June 6 as both countries prepare to make their debut in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the region’s most prestigious football tournament, officials announced yesterday.

Bermuda last faced Guyana here in a 2011 World Cup qualifier, with the game ending 1-1.

John Barry Nusum put Bermuda ahead in the 72nd minute before Ricky Shakes levelled with an 81st header.

The Gold Cup will take place from June 15 to July 7, with Bermuda facing Haiti, Costa Rica and Nicaragua during the group stages with matches being played in Costa Rica, Texas and New Jersey on June 16, 20 and 24.

Guyana’s Gold Cup group-stage opponents will be United States, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago.

Guyana, who finished seventh in the CONCACAF Nations League qualifiers and two places below Bermuda, play the U.S. at Allianz Field, St Paul, on June 18, Trinidad and Tobago at the FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on June 22 and Panama at the Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, on June 26.

Guyana players are coached by Michael Johnson, the former Birmingham City and Derby County defender.

Guyanese think consistent cricket needed for WI third World Cup title

By Rajiv Bisnauth

WEST Indies are the twotime champions of the ICC World Cup. Their first title came in the inaugural edition in 1975 and they lifted the second title in 1979.

These titles came on the back of some stupendous performances led by their skipper Clive Lloyd, Sir Viv Richards and the famed pace battery of Roberts, Garner, Holding, and Croft.

Since their 1983 finals loss to India, the team is yet to make it to a World Cup final. The long-running feud between the Board and the cricketers meant that cricket in the Caribbean has suffered and the quality of players coming through the system isn’t yet up to the mark. Though they have lifted the World T20 title, they are a disappointment in ODIs. And with their first match of the mega event starting today against Pakistan hopes do go around for the Windies in the 2019

World Cup and in this article, we spoke with a few Guyanese on their thoughts of West Indies chances.

Yutesh Dhanpaul

Former Berbice Cricket Board president, Anil Beharry is of the opinion that the team which plays consistent and aggressive cricket will win the World Cup. “West Indies doesn’t fit well into the first quality but

fits perfectly into the second category. If West Indies can be consistent enough, with the team they have, they will win the World Cup. It gives them a great chance, and as we all know, West Indies can beat any and all the teams on their day ... the warm summer in England will also give them a chance,” Beharry reckoned.

Kevon Boodie, a Guyanese wicketkeeper/batsmen, who played one List A game against Combined Campuses and Colleges on January 17, 2016 said, “Well I know they will go far in the tournament and once they play well enough I have a strong feeling they can win it.

We have a lot of talent in that team it’s just up to them now to perform well.”

Yutesh Dhanpaul, who is currently coaching and playing cricket in New York, told Chronicle Sporks via social media that he feels the Caribbean side have the fire power to go all the way “I think they have the bat-

ting but I’m worried about the bowlers. Having said that, I think they will make it all the way with the likes of Chris Gayle, Shai Hope and our home boy Shimron Hetmyer,” he said.

West Indies, as a cricketing side, over the years, have seen some magnificent power-hitters and tearaway pacers make their way into the team and establish themselves as mainstays in the team.

Even in present day, this team is blessed with some amazingly talented players. Evin Lewis, Hope, Hetmyer and Darren Bravo form a fearsome batting quartet, along with Chris Gayle and all of them are blessed with differing capabilities.

Lewis and Hetmyer are regarded as brutal hitters of the cherry and Hope and Bravo being capable of dropping anchor when required. In addition to this, they have the all-round abilities of Andre Russell and Carlos Brathwaite which make their batting order extremely

fearsome.

Also, after a long time, the West Indies have a pace attack that can, on good days, bully

Kevon Boodie

the best sides into submission.

Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, Sheldon Cottrell, and Oshane Thomas along with Jason Holder form a fiery pace attack.

With the kind of talent on offer in this West Indian side,

one cannot deny their chances at the World Cup.

TODAY’S PREDICTION Pakistan come into this match as favourites to win the game and that would mean snapping a miserable tenmatch losing streak.

Their form has been poor and that is largely due to their bowlers struggling to click into gear, which does not bode well when playing the fearsome West Indian batting line-up.

The one thing in favour for Pakistan coming into this game is their recent record against the West Indies - Pakistan having won five of their last six meetings although the last of them came over two years ago.

This is a very different West Indian team now with some of their exiles back in the squad and the likes of Gayle and Russell are capable of making the difference to inspire them to victory in what should be a high-scoring affair.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, May 31, 2019

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Windies

launch ambitious

World Cup

Veteran opener Chris Gayle hits out during a net session ahead of today’s opener against Pakistan

campaign against Pakistan today

England crush SA in World Cup opener Page

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Ben Stokes top-scored for England with 89.

(Getty)

Jofra Archer was quick to make an impact. (Getty)

Briggs, three debutants named in Golden Jaguars Gold Cup squad 25

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FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2019

FRIDAY 31st May, 2019

No.105654

3 BANDITS SHOT DEAD …policeman injured in Norton St shootout

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…as cops respond to robbery of construction worker

Injured policeman, Clive Clarke

Heavily-armed police arriving on the scene as backup during Thursday night’s shootout on Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown (Rabindra Rooplall photo)

‘Accelerated spending’ …Gov’t working to increase implementation of PSIP

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