Guyana Chronicle E-paper 5-1-2019

WEDNESDAY

Happy Labour

1st May, 2019

DAY No.105624

Gov’t invested in its workforce

… increased minimum wage by 62%, President says

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02

‘we’re happy they’re here’

… Region 10 residents capitalise on ministerial outreach

Linden TV station commissioned 03 PAGE

NCN Chairman, Enrico Woolford (right) hands over some legal documents to LBN Chairman, Renis Morian in the presence of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Director-General in the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira and Linden Mayor, Waneka Arrindell

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Harmon appointed Director–General

… commences process to renounce US citizenship 16 PAGE

PPP commissioners again break up GECOM meeting 11 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Gov’t invested in its workforce … increased minimum wage by 62%, President says

PRESIDENT David Granger said his government has worked to address the concerns of the labour force and will continue to do so.

“Your government has ensured improvements in workers’ well-being, most recently, by increasing the monthly public service minimum wage by 62 per cent from $39, 540 to $64,200; attracting investment to catalyse job-creation; promoting entrepreneurship as a stimulus for employment and expanding public services,” President Granger said in his Labour Day address.

Reiterating his support for the working force, President Granger said working together would result in greater efforts to generate employment, including self-employment, especially for women and young people. As such, he urged the labour movement to

continue to work with the government, private sector and civil society.

President Granger, in his address, noted that Labour Day celebrates the achievements of the working people, adding that it takes stock of the sacrifices and struggles made for freedom, food and fair employment.

It salutes trade unions and their stewardship for the workers’ well-being, he further added while underscoring the importance of the labour movement.

“The labour movement, tasked with protecting workers’ rights and improving their quality of life, is essential to expanding employment opportunities and ensuring just conditions of work.

“Workers, through their trade unions, historically supported the struggles for the achievement of political independence, social justice, increases in wages and im-

provements in their living conditions,” he said.

President Granger said workers, today, are much better off as a result of the sacrifices of their forebears. He pointed out that Legislation, organisations, institutions and services now ensure workers’ rights, including gender equality and retirement benefits. Improved access to education, health, housing, social protection and public utilities has transformed workers’ lives.

His government, he said, remains a friend of workers and of the labour movement. “It supports, always, the trade unions’ struggle for a good life for everyone,” President Granger said.

Today, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), two of the leading voices of the

nation’s workers, will once again observe Labour Day 2019 under one banner.

At approximately 8:00hrs, hundreds of workers will march from

Parade Ground to the National Park for the annual May Day rally at 11:00hrs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

PM hails commissioning of LBN as victory for Lindeners

By Vanessa Braithwaite

IN what has been deemed a historic occasion in the town of Linden, and the fulfilment of a long-awaited promise to the residents, the Linden Broadcasting Network (LBN) was on Tuesday commissioned and handed over to the community.

The ceremony was held at the building in which the National Communication Network (NCN) presently operates.

The building was renovated and enhanced for the commissioning, which is all part of the transformation process.

Addressing the audience, which comprised several ministers, regional officials, staff and resi-

… NCN to hand over assets, staff to new outfit

over to the executives, among them, the Regional Chairman Renis Morian, who is the Board’s chairman; Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira, who is secretary, and the Mayor of Linden Waneka Arrindell, who is director.

After reminding the trustees that they are only the custodians of the station, as it really belongs to the residents, the prime minister announced that systems are in place for the smooth transition and support of NCN staff, who will now be in the employ of LBN. “You see, what has happened here,” the

stations across Guyana; something that is truly a changing phenomenon in the history of broadcasting in Guyana.

Sharing similar sentiments was NCN Chairman, Enrico Woolford, who said it was a truly joyous day for him, as his vision of broadcasting is finally being realised, which is to have broadcasting stations in every district, thereby resulting in one national link. NCN, he said, is currently working on a public broadcasting system that will link the entire country. “So, the fact that LBN is going to Part of the audience at the commissioning ceremony and that it was all thanks to President Granger and his government for being true to their word, by honouring a promise that was made to the people of Linden to deliver a means of communication that they can truly call their own.

LBN Chairman, Renis Morian saw the event as a truly momentous one for the people of the Upper Demerara-Berbice Region.

“We are truly happy that

The newly-renovated LBN building that was handed over dents, was Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who said that the day marks a victory after a long fight for a break in the monopoly of State-dominated media, and stressed that it was always his desire to see the television station returned to the residents. Noting that the legal process was somewhat stymied when trying to establish a board of directors back in 2016, Minister Nagamootoo said he then mandated former Minister of State, Joseph Harmon “to sort this thing out,” which he did expeditiously. And, in a matter of weeks, he said, a new Trust was formed, and the licence was finally handed

PM declared, “is that you are able to trust the people, and you are able to vest in them the authority to handle their own affairs and to communicate. Communication is very important; communication is power.

Knowledge is power!

Information is power!

And politicians do not give these things up easily; they do not share these things. But this is not the view of David Granger, President of Guyana.”

PEOPLE POWER The Prime Minister said that evidence of similar people power initiatives is the establishment of six community radio

be part of what is a community radio station, that is in fact a good thing, and a wonderful thing for Guyana,” he posited. He related that NCN will demonstrate its goodwill towards LBN by handing over all its assets to make sure that the network can do what it is supposed to do.

Playing an integral role in the station becoming a reality is MP Figueira, who worked beyond the call of duty with the officials to not only ensure that the legal documents were handed over, but that the building itself was transformed. In his short address, Figueira said the commissioning is not just historic, but long-awaited,

we have a government, a coalition government that keeps its promise,” he said, adding: “We are happy that we are seeing the promises made to the people come to fruition.”

LBN will have three frequencies, namely: The Learning Channel, a local channel, and NCN. These frequencies are expected to be relayed to neighbouring communities such as Ituni and Kwakwani. The appli-

cation for a television station in Linden was made after residents complained about the limited and biased content that they were subjected to during the PPP regime. This was one of the requests made in 2012, following a deadly protest, resulting in the death of three Lindeners.

The government signed an agreement to grant the licence on August 21, 2012.

West Watooka gets $3.4M to complete pavilion RESIDENTS of the Upper Demerara community of West Watooka were left smiling on Monday evening as Minister of Finance Winston Jordan made a commitment to provide them with $3.4M to complete their pavilion.

Minister of Public Telecommunications Catherine Hughes also promised that she will work to establish an ICT hub in the community.

Both pledges followed a plea for assistance from residents during a community meeting there for assistance, and were met with loud applause.

Among matters that were also raised at the meeting

were concerns relating to assistance for persons with disabilities, street lights, land titles and potable water for the West Watooka Hilltop area. Both ministers committed to addressing the foregoing issues as well, by establishing a multi-sectoral team to analyse them.

The meeting was part of a government outreach, the seventh to date, which was conducted in Linden. The Cabinet meeting, chaired

by President David Granger was also held at the Watooka House.

Over a dozen community meetings were subsequently held following the all-day outreach at the

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan Wismar Market Square, where all government ministries and agencies, such as the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) had a presence.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday May 1, 2019

Venezuela’s Guaido urges troops to unite against Maduro, violence erupts

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Tuesday made his strongest call yet to the military to help him oust President Nicolas Maduro, and violence broke out at anti-government protests as the country hit a new crisis point after years of political and economic chaos.

Several dozen armed troops accompanying Guaido clashed with soldiers supporting Maduro at a rally outside the La Carlota air base in Caracas, but the incident fizzled out and did not appear to be part of an immediate attempt by the opposition to take power through military force.

Guaido, in Twitter posts,

wrote that he had begun the “final phase” of his campaign to topple Maduro, calling on Venezuelans and the armed forces to back him ahead of May Day mass street protests planned for Wednesday.

“The moment is now!” he wrote. “The future is ours: the people and Armed Forces united to put an end” to Maduro’s time in office.

Tens of thousands of people were marching in Caracas in support of Guaido on Tuesday, clashing with riot police along the main Francisco Fajardo thoroughfare.

A National Guard armored car slammed into protesters who were throwing stones and hitting the vehicle.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino called the latest

Wednesday, May 1, 2019 03:00hrs.-04:30hrs./14:30hrs.-16:00hrs.

instability a “coup movement” but several hours after Guaido’s announcement there was no sign of any other anti-Maduro military activity. Guaido later left a rally he was holding with military supporters at the air base.

Doctor Maggi Santi of the Salud Chacao health center in eastern Caracas said there were 36 people injured in Tuesday’s incidents, most of them hit with pellets or rubber bullets. Repeated opposition attempts to force Maduro, a socialist, from power through huge protests and calls on the military to act have so far failed. Advertisement Maduro, a former bus driver who took office after the death of political mentor President Hugo Chavez in 2013, said on Tuesday he had spoken with military leaders and that they had shown him “their total loyalty.”

“Nerves of steel!” Maduro wrote on Twitter. “I call for maximum popular mobilization to assure the victory of peace. We will win!”

The move was Guaido’s boldest effort yet to persuade the military to rise up against Maduro. If it fails, it could be seen as evidence that he lacks the support he says he has.

It might also encourage the authorities, who have already stripped him of parliamentary immunity and opened multiple investigations into him, to arrest him.

The United States is among some 50 countries that recognize Guaido as Venezuela’s president, and has imposed sanctions to try to dislodge Maduro, who they say won re-election last year through fraud.

“Whatever happens now, we won’t let ourselves be stopped. Our process is moving on step by step, in

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who many nations have recognised as the country’s rightful interim ruler, talks to supporters in Caracas, Venezuela April 30, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

accordance with our constitution. We continue to stand for nonviolence,” Guaido told German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle in an interview released on Tuesday. Oil prices topped $73, partly driven higher by the uncertainty in Venezuela, an OPEC member whose oil exports have been hit by U.S. sanctions and an economic crisis. Guaido’s efforts appeared aimed at building momentum toward the May Day mass street protests and making them a turning point in his push to oust Maduro.

Guaido has said Wednesday’s protests will be the largest march in Venezuela’s history and part of the “definitive phase” of his effort to take office in order to call fresh elections.

TRUMP BRIEFED Venezuela is mired in a deep economic crisis despite its vast oil reserves. Shortages of food and medicine have prompted more than 3 million Venezuelans to emigrate in recent years. The slump has worsened this year with large areas of territory left in the dark for days at a time by power outages.

“My mother doesn’t have

medicine, my economic situation is terrible, my family has had to emigrate. We don’t earn enough money.

We have no security. But we are hopeful, and I think that this is the beginning of the end of this regime,” said Jose Madera, 42, a mechanic, sitting atop his motorbike in a protest on Tuesday.

Guaido, the leader of Venezuela’s opposition-controlled National Assembly, in January invoked the constitution to assume an interim presidency, arguing that Maduro’s re-election in 2018 was illegitimate. U.S. President Donald Trump “has been briefed and is monitoring the ongoing situation,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Tuesday. The White House declined to comment on whether the administration had been consulted or had advance knowledge of what Guaido was planning. Carlos Vecchio, Guaido’s envoy to the United States, told reporters in Washington that the Trump administration did not help coordinate Tuesday’s events.

“No. This is a movement led by Venezuelans,” he said.

But Venezuelan Foreign

Minister Jorge Arreaza, who is loyal to Maduro, blamed the United States. “This is directly planned in Washington, in the Pentagon and Department of State, and by (national security adviser John) Bolton,” Arreaza told Reuters.

Bolton, a foreign policy hawk, backed Guaido’s actions on Tuesday. “The FANB must protect the Constitution and the Venezuelan people. It should stand by the National Assembly and the legitimate institutions against the usurpation of democracy,” Bolton tweeted, referring to the FANB armed forces. Brazil’s rightwing President Jair Bolsonaro expressed his nation’s solidarity for the people of Venezuela, who he said were “enslaved by a dictator.”

MADURO SUPPORT Maduro has appeared to retain control of state institutions and the loyalty of senior military officers and has foreign allies such as Russia and Cuba. Russia’s foreign ministry on Tuesday accused the Venezuelan opposition of resorting to violence in what it said was a brazen attempt to draw the country’s armed forces into clashes.

Maduro has called Guaido a U.S-backed puppet who seeks to oust him in a coup. The government has arrested his top aide, stripped Guaido of his parliamentary immunity and opened multiple probes. It has also barred him from leaving the country, a ban Guaido openly violated earlier this year. Guaido, in a video on his Twitter account, was accompanied by men in military uniform and opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez, who had been placed under house arrest in 2017.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday May 1, 2019

Jamaica Opposition Leader wants long term anti-crime measure

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Apr 30, CMC – Opposition Leader Dr. Peter Phillips Tuesday said the Jamaica government needs to outline a long term anti-crime measure to deal with the rising crime situation after it announced a state of emergency (SoE) in Hanover, St James and Westmoreland.

“The very fact that after more than one year after the SoE in St James, there has been this resurgence of criminal activity underscores the fact that a SoE without other anti-crime measures that single out and target the producers and perpetrators of violence and bring them to justice will not provide the level of security that the

country deserves,” Phillips said in a statement. Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the decision to declare the SoE was made based on a request by the security forces.

“After careful consideration and review of the crime statistics, in particular violent crimes, which have been committed in some western parts, the security forces have advised that the situation that now currently exists would warrant the government advising the Governor General (Sir Patrick Allen) to proclaim a state of public emergency,” Holness said.

He said the Governor General has declared the state of public emergency exists “in the entire area, compris-

Prime Minister Andrew Holness (Left) and Opposition Leader Dr. Peter Phillips (File Photo)

ing the parishes of St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland”. The state of public emergency will be in effect

for the next 14 days and If necessary will be extended for up to three months by a two-thirds majority of both

Houses of Parliament. Phillips said with the increasing rate of murder in Westmoreland, Hanover and St James, there is no disagreement with a national response.

He said the country still awaits the formal announcement of the other crime fighting measures which secure Jamaica in a sustainable way.

“We expect that the accompanying regulations will be announced along with the appropriate tribunal to ensure that the rights of the people are protected. “We continue to insist that there is scope in others areas to utilise the Zones of Special Operations which is a long term crime fighting measure given that there are communities of high criminal activities

across the country, especially in the Corporate Area and Clarendon,” Phillips said.

Police Commissioner Anthony Anderson noted that since the start of the year Westmoreland recorded the most murders per 100,000 with 29 followed by St. James with 27 and Hanover with 18. Last December, the government failed to get support for extension of state of emergency after opposition legislators voted against the measure the government said was necessary to curtail crime and violence across the island. As a result the state of emergency in St. James, which was declared in January 2018, came to an end in January this year.

World Bank funds for Jamaica KINGSTON, Jamaica, Apr 30, CMC – The World Bank is to provide Jamaica with a financing package of US$140 million to help the island in building fiscal resilience, mitigating the financial impact of natural disasters, and strengthening social programs for the vulnerable population. The Washington-based financial institution said that the new funding is in addition to the more than half a billion dollars provided by the World Bank over the last five years.

The announcement of the new funds follows a meeting Tuesday between Prime Minister Andrew Holness and the World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, Axel van Trotsenburg. A joint statement issued afterwards said that they had discussed theWashington-based financial institution’s support for Jamaica’s economic reforms as well as the efforts to reduce disaster risks and promote youth-centered initiatives to strengthen human capital. It said that van Trotsenburg congratulated Jamaica for its achievements in steadfastly implementing difficult economic reforms that are demonstrating commendable results with positive economic outlook, and he encouraged Jamaica to continue these efforts.

“Axel van Trotsenburg highlighted that Jamaica stands tall as one of the few countries to have successfully cut public debt by the equivalent of half its gross domestic product in a short period. He especially noted the Jamaican experience as being marked by bi-partisan political support, citizen engagement and multi-stakeholder consensus,” the joint statement added.

Economic growth in Jamaica is estimated at nearly two per cent over the next few years and unemployment is at its lowest since 2008, falling to eight per cent in January 2019. The statement said that as part of the new financing, US$100 million will be delivered in the form of two budget support operations to create

a new line of defense in the face of disaster risks, and US$40 million in the form of an investment operation for strengthening social protection and building human capital. “This year marks 55 years of a long-standing partnership between the World Bank and Jamaica. Through the years, the World Bank financed more than 140 projects in Jamaica amounting to about US$3 billion,” the statement added.

It said that there have been significant achievements since the first investment was made in support of universal access to education. Among some of the highlights are: the first Early Childhood Development System in the Caribbean, an effective social safety net

programme, the adoption of innovative agriculture technologies and improved productivity, as well as improved access to electricity and increased share of renewables for a greener and resilient future.

“The World Bank Vice President reaffirmed the strong commitment and support of the World Bank Group to Jamaica in pursuing its economic transformation, thereby creating new job opportunities and further reducing poverty,” the joint statement added.

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Workers’ Day TODAY, workers, particularly the unionized workers, will march and hold rallies. This annual May Day event has its genesis in workers losing their lives and suffering injuries during strike action to protest for just working conditions, notably an 8-hour work day, on May 4,, 1886 in Chicago, USA. As workers participate in activities today, it would be remiss not to acknowledge that they do so in a markedly changed environment. The labour movement is going through a metamorphosis, but it is yet to be seen if this will see resurgence befitting its behemoth legacy, or resignation in accepting the status quo.

The latter notwithstanding, it is the former that helps to better understand the movement and what it has come to exemplify in the society.

Labour’s history in shaping universal rights, freedoms and conditions of work that are taken for granted ought not to be ignored. When workers of this country first distinguished themselves as an organised force in 1905 to stand up to the employer and demand a say at the table to influence their conditions of work, such has set in train a series of actions.

This act by the workers, consistent with the universal right to self-determination, freedom of association,

collective bargaining, and involvement in management and decision-making processes that affect one’s well-being, has shaped universal declarations, charters, conventions and local laws.

While the right to freedom of association respects the right not to associate, those who choose to associate and work as a collective should be allowed to do so.

Workers who gravitate to government jobs, outside of doing so based on limited opportunities or preferred career choice, would admit to good benefits and tenure, including a pension which are all attractive incentives to remain on the job or to enter the employ.

President David Granger

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday May 1, 2019

is on record saying that Guyana’s development demands a proficient, professional Public Service and public servants are essential to the country’s administration since they exert direct and daily influence on the lives of Guyanese through various official agencies, boards, commissions, departments and ministries.

“Citizens’ access to public services – such as public education, public health, public infrastructure, public security, public telecommunications and social protection, for example – requires the existence of an impartial Public Service. Such a Service would be committed to implementing the policies and programmes of the Executive and to ensuring that the delivery of services to all Guyanese continues regardless of the political party in office, the President has said.

It is worth noting here

that the President has matched his words with actions as since taking office the coalition Government has taken important policy decisions to raise the conditions of public servants. Among the many actions were the setting up of a Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service; the establishment of a Public Service Staff College and the constant increases in remuneration across the board.

Under this administration the minimum basic salary in the public service was raised to $64,000, which reflected a progressive increase since the administration took office. Besides, after protracted negotiations, the government was able to ink a three year agreement, 2016-2018, with the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU)last year.

For 2018, the Memorandum of Agreement saw teachers receiving two percentage points above

the increases granted in 2016 ( which was payable in January 2019), no further increases for 2017 than those previously granted, and an 8 per cent across-the-board increase in salary, effective January 1, 2018. Also late last year Government increased public servants salaries which ranged from seven per cent to 0.5 per cent.

The government has also raised the minimum basic salary for each public servant to $64,200 per month.

Additionally, since 2017, the government has paid salary increases beyond the “five per cent”, such that the minimum wage has rapidly increased from $39,570, in 2015 to $60,000 in 2017 and 64,000 in 2018.

It took the PPP/C administration nine years to move the minimum wage by a similar percentage, or from $26,070 in 2006 to $39,570 in 2015.

PPP’s continued quest to hunt Parker Dear Editor,

THE PPP is at it again.

Today’s Guyana Times (Tuesday, 2019-04-30) has an article where the Regional Chairman, Bryan Allicock, is calling on the Public Procurement Commission to investigate the award of contracts in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region.

As Regional Executive Officer (REO), I welcome such a call, so as to put to rest, once and for all, the spurious claims by a Regional Chairman who gallivants around the Region with his Vice, spreading hate and disunity in the villages; castigating all and sundry associated with the present government.

Even his brother, the Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs and Vice- President, the Honorable Sydney Allicock, does not escape the Chairman’s scathing, and race-laced at-

tacks.

To put the PPP’s obsessive objections to my presence in a Region that I have called home for the past 28 years in perspective, I would have to travel back in time.

So Editor, please permit me space to rehash some sordid events that occurred over that time; events that I would have highlighted over and over again; but because of the impediments to communication at that time, many of those events were not known to the general public. That is not the case now, with the advent of the super highway.

In 1993, shortly after the PPP came to power, the first-ever PPP chairman of the Region, Indranie Moses, boldly declared that she was going to “put on her soldier boots and kick all ‘blackman’ out of Lethem.”

Naturally, that did not resonate well with us of African ancestry, and I equally

boldly challenged her to kick me first. That was the genesis of the deep animosity between the PPP and me.

Because of that incident, a group of black officers blockaded the Chairman’s office, thus preventing her from working until she apologised; something that never happened to this day.

The then Minister of Local Government, Mr. Harripersaud Nokta, had to travel to the Rupununi to quell this mini-revolution. I was the spokesperson at that meeting.

Freedom House then sent a strong-arm support to the Chairman in the person of one Eddie Da Silva, who participated in intimidatory tactics to coerce cooperation with the Chairman. When those tactics did not work, he schemed up a plan to have me investigated for threatening language, when he reported to the Lethem Police Station that I had threatened to kill

him and the Chairman. In fact, it was he who tied a pumpkin to a tree and boasted that it was Parker’s head.

That pumpkin was the object of constant target practice with his personal weapon.

I subsequently suffered numerous attacks by the PPP administrations. These include: • The withholding of my travelling allowances.

Hence, every time I travelled to Georgetown, I had to ‘come out of my pocket’; • Supersession. An officer junior to me was appointed over me, even though I had the better qualification.

Appointments in those days were based on political affiliations and not academic qualifications. This was in an effort to subject me to what was known in those days as ethnic cleansing; • I was a victim of that principle. I was acting DREO before going to uni-

versity. On my return, despite being awarded the Prime Minister’s Medal, I was reverted to my substantive position as District Development Officer; a fall from Grade 12 on the salary scale to Grade 6. The financial loss was great.

• For the 1997 elections, I applied to GECOM for part-time work. I attended the training and passed with flying colours. I was stunned when I went to uplift my appointment letter and was told that the PPP objected to my employment. I had plans for that cash.

• I was given nothing to do on my return from university, by an REO I had never met before. In my resumption interview, it might as well be that I spoke Russian.

This REO never responded to any of the remarks and my offers to help the organisation.

• On my transfer to Linden in 1999, my reputa-

tion preceded me. I was touted as being disrespectful and rude; me, a 36-year- old-man!

Iwas to be avoided. When the position for DREO was opened, I applied. The DREO for Region 9 was sent to Linden as substantive DREO, Acting REO. He made my life a living hell.

• Again, I was denied my right to work. I was given nothing to do, and it was as though I was not a part of the organisation; • My daughter, who did exceptionally well at CXC in 2003, applied for a Cuban Scholarship to read for Medicine. I signed as her guarantor. She was sent to do ‘Labs’ instead. She was bitter; bitter because while in Cuba, she found out that there were students of a certain group who never did Science in school, but were doing Medicine.

TURN TO PAGE 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday May 1, 2019

PPP’s continued...

FROM PAGE 6

What’s more, the nature of the scholarship forced her to work with some of those students on their Science. She virtually taught many of them the Science subjects.

• I applied and was appointed as DREO Region 2, out of a field of nine applicants. The decision to go to Region 2 was probably a career mistake; • Before going to the Region, the then PS, Mr. Ganga Persaud summoned me to his office and informed me that “dem bhais ain’t want you deh.” He refused to disclose who “dem bhais” were when I asked.

• No accommodation was made available to me initially. I stayed for three months with my sister-in-law’s in-laws at Airy Hall, travelling to Anna Regina daily. To date, I am still to be paid my subsistence. The then REO refused to do so.

• I was promised a house at Cotton Field, but was told that the PPP was having their Congress in the Region, and the house was identified to house delegates. I was to have it after the Congress; that never happened.

• I was eventually given a house at Adventure, some 16 miles from my place of work. I asked to be assisted with gasoline, and was willing to forfeit my travelling allowance, which could not compensate for the amount of travelling I did on a daily basis. This facility was extended to some doctors who were living at Anna Regina, but working at the Suddie Hospital. You guessed right! That request was denied.

• On my arrival at Anna Regina, I found the staff using manual typewriters.

That was in 2005. I recommended that we switch to computers. The Regional Chairman, Mr. Alli Baksh, told me in no uncertain terms that Region 2 was not ready for computers. No less than three months after, a new REO was sent to the Region, and he made the very same recommendations. Computers were promptly bought.

• I uncovered massive corruption in the Pomeroon River and aback Good Hope.

I tried to get the REO to address those matters. Nothing. The Chairman, too, refused to address the issues. This was the time when the then President, Bharrat Jagdeo, was challenging citizens to provide the evidence of corruption. In my zeal, I wrote the President on my findings. Big mistake! I was the subject of an investigation by my peers for a $50,000 advance that I took some time to clear. These instructions no doubt were centrally given; • The house given to me at Adventure was devoid of any furnishings. I had to sell my car to purchase furniture, so that my family could be comfortable.

For the first time I was broken, and contemplated evil actions. God preserved me.

That was not to be the end.

• In 2007, I resigned and got a job with SOL as the manager of the Bartica operations. Not long after, I was summoned to the head office at Agricola and was confronted with a letter written by the REO, alleging that I was corrupt and had owed the Region monies. I had to convince the Manager that that was far from the truth, by detailing just what is in this letter. I was made to keep my

job.

• I left after some time, and returned to the Rupununi with my family. I opened up an Extra Lessons class for CXC. In my first two years, I was able to pilot three students to Grade Ones in Maths. In the third year, I was confronted with declining students. I was then informed that the school was ordered to give free lessons. This effectively closed down my lessons; • In 2012, I partnered with a friend; he had a minibus. I was responsible for outfitting it to suit the trail. I would have been the driver, and the profits would be split evenly after expenses. I borrowed some monies from the then Opposition Leader, now President. When I presented the bus to the bus company, the owner told me that he could no longer take the bus, since he does work for the Region, and feared losing the contracts.

All of these things affected my family, and I vowed to fight the PPP until I die. By their constant assault, the PPP has created in me a strong will to fight and resist injustice, a characterisation of their time in office. My fight bore fruit, beginning in 2011, when I was elected a Regional Councilor.

When I became REO, many persons were afraid that I would embark on a vendetta.

Well, ask the workers, many of whom I am aware are supporters of the Opposition, and let them say whether I have victimised any one of them.

So, it is no surprise to me that the PPP will continue to hunt me. But I am ready for them. I try my utmost to be professional, but they won’t let me. They have never given me a chance.

However, my focus is the development of this Region and its peoples, especially the youths, with, or without the

Equal pay for women Dear Editor, ICELAND, a country in northern Europe, has made it illegal to pay men more than women.

In the history of women and men’s pay, this is a first.

A new law enforcing equal pay between genders came into effect on January 1, 2018, according to a news agency source. Under the legislation, firms that employ more than 25 people are obliged to obtain a government certificate demonstrating pay equality, or they will face fines.

The law was announced on March 8 on International Women’s Day 2017 as part of a drive by the nation to eradicate the gender- pay gap by 2022. According to the Icelandic Women’s Rights Association, the legislation is basically a mechanism that companies and organisations evaluate every job that’s being done, and then they get a certification after they confirm the

process, if they are paying men and women equally.

It’s a mechanism to ensure women and men are being paid and respected equally. They have had legislation saying that pay should be equal for men and women for decades now, but they still have a pay gap, as men are paid a higher sum for the same job done. The Nordic country, home to more than 323,000 people, has been ranked the best in the world for gender equality by the World Economic Forum for nine years in a row. The Global Gender Gap Report evaluates gender equality in a country, using indicators, including economic opportunity, political empowerment, and health and survival. The new legislation was supported by Iceland’s centre-right coalition government, as well as the opposition - nearly 50 per cent of the lawmakers in parliament are women. Can

we start having discussions on this vexatious matter in Guyana? Currently, the majority of countries in the world do have about

a 16.9% pay gap between men and women.

Regards, Rooplall Dudhnath

DETRACTORS. I do not expect everyone to agree with what I am doing, but as long as the majority is satisfied, I will be satisfied.

Last year, while I was REO in Potaro-Siparuni, I learnt that out of 43 contracts, PPP supporters got 37. The Regional Chairman did not call on the PPC to investigate. So long as his party is on the ascendency, it is all smooth sailing. I have a job to do, and I will do it without fear or favour, affection or ill will, in the best interest of all Rupununians.

A point to note is the fact that we have spent most of the Region’s budget in villages that did not support the Coalition at the last elections. Only four villages voted in their favour.

These are not the days when villages were told that in order to get government projects, they had to vote for the then government. These are not the days when only party supporters got relief supplies.

Rather, these days have seen a new beginning. Residents have renewed hope in the process of government; communities feel safer, and are energised to reach for the stars. These are days when the populace is rejecting division and racism, and embracing social cohesion.

As the Regional Executive Officer of this vast Region, a Region that is as big as Costa Rica, I am committed to aid in the facilitation of that process; that change. I am committed to ensuring that all and sundry gets a slice of ‘the good life’.

Long live Guyana! Long live the Rupununi!

Regards, Carl Parker Regional Executive Officer UT/UE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday May 1, 2019

Ministry of Education gives clarity to Town Hall meetings Dear Editor,

IT IS encouraging that the Stabroek News, in its Editorial on April 23, 2019, sought to comment on the initiative of the Ministry of Education to host Town Hall meetings, which are designed to engage parents, teachers and community stakeholders.

Please permit the Ministry of Education space within your letters pages to provide some clarity on the matter of Town Hall Meetings hosted by the Ministry across Guyana. The Ministry of Education has commenced its second round of Town Hall meetings, scheduled for the eleven education districts during the period April 4 - June 13, 2019. The first set of meetings were held in 2018.

These meetings are among the many activities planned by the Ministry to sensitise the general public on the roles and functions of Parent Teachers’ Associations (PTAs) and

to encourage parents to embrace home-school collaboration through the various media available to them. It also seeks to encourage members of the community to play a greater role in the affairs of schools within their communities.

The Ministry acknowledges the fact that support for PTAs varies from community to community, according to the values, culture and knowledge of people. It is against this fact that the holding of Town Hall Meetings has found its way among the many activities on the Ministry’s calendar to bring awareness to the general public about the roles and functions of PTAs. The Ministry of Education is also cognisant that while the Town Hall Meetings might not be as intimate as the Parent Conferences held in all schools countrywide, many parents and community members prefer to highlight issues and raise concerns at this forum rather than at the general meetings at school. So,

while the Town Hall Meetings might not seem to be the best method, in the opinion of some, it surely is one of the strategies the Ministry will continue to use to get the attention of the general public. Further, visits to any school, whether in the hinterland or coastland, will reveal several distinct strategies employed by school administrators to engage and involve parents in the school life of their children.

However, some parents are not using the opportunities to their advantage. While there can be several reasons for this, the evidence would have shown that only one set of parents are really involved, and those are the parents whose children perform well and are often the most disciplined. The parents of children who need the attention seldom attend meetings.

It must also be noted that the misconception that PTAs only exist to raise funds for school spending is gaining momentum, and the Ministry will continue to ensure that information is available to parents by all means

necessary. Our mission is, “If they are not coming to the schools, we are going to the villages”.

Finally, all regions are responsible for coordinating activities which will adequately address specific areas of need, and give critical support to parents and teachers within the region. It is the duty of Central Ministry to give support to the regions through additional activities such as Town Hall Meetings and Community Outreach Programmes. The office of the school support unit does not only exist for dealing with parent’s and teacher’s concerns and conflict, but also to give technical support by organising activities which seek to foster healthy relationships between home and school.

Regards, Public Relations Department, Ministry of Education.

GAWU: Labour Day 2019 reminds workers that in unity there is strength!

THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) joins in extending best wishes to all Guyanese, more so the workers of our country, on the occasion of Labour Day 2019. This year’s observances coincide with the celebrations of the 100th Anniversary of the establishment of the first workers organisation in Guyana.

As is now well-known, our country occupies a special place in this regard, having the historic distinction of forming the first trade union in the then British Colonial Empire. On this Labour Day, the GAWU recognises the dedicated efforts and hard work of the Father of Trade Unionism, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow who, it is recorded, faced great adversity and daunting challenges as he pressed ahead with the setting up of the British Guiana Labour Union (BGLU). Today, as we hail Critchlow’s selflessness and dedication, we also recall those unionists who came after, and continued along the road Critchlow started on, and whose efforts collectively helped to advance the rights and conditions of our nation’s workers.

Today, as we assess the situation 100

years since, we recognise that remarkable gains were realised, and several major successes scored. But inasmuch as we are encouraged and proud of those achievements, we still recognise that many goals are yet to be attained. In our day, too, we cannot ignore the blatant attempts being made to undermine and roll back what has been won through the struggles of the working class. At this time, we urge workers to be wary of such attempts, and to be on-guard of those who come to you disguised as friends.

The GAWU cannot fail, on the occasion of Labour Day, to express, once again, its deep dismay that the Ministry of Labour has been abolished by this Government, and in its place there is a Department, a retrograde step and one reminiscent of colonial times.

This is a vexing issue, and of deep concern to the Trade Union Movement as a whole, especially when one considers that such a Ministry was in place for more than sixty (60) years. It is instructive to point out, too, that since the unceremonial exit of the Labour Ministry in 2015, there has not been any legislation which has advanced workers’ rights, though there are several matters which need

to be addressed.

Labour Day 2019, the GAWU recognises, comes when workers find themselves facing difficulties in meeting the demands of living.

The levying of taxes has taken a heavy toll.

Aggravating the situation is the tax hammer falling on previously untaxed and exempted goods and services. The concern regarding the country’s economic trajectory also cannot escape our attention. The economic situation does not give us hope or confidence in the immediate future. The GAWU is well aware that it is the workers that will be the greatest victims of any economic decline.

Workers Day comes at a time when there is widespread anxiety about the employment situation in the country. We have seen concerns being expressed about the business environment which undoubtedly has had its impact on employment. The GAWU knows firsthand of the situation in the sugar industry and the drastic fall in the quality of living of workers and their families after closure of several estates.

On this day, as we consider the many matters that affect and impinge on our workers and their families well-being, the GAWU

must express that it is heartened that Labour Day is, once again, observed with an emphasis on unity of the two (2) umbrella unions.

Our Union has long championed unity among workers and is pleased that there has been increased collaboration and co-operation among workers and their organisations in recent times. That coming together has seen workers being successful in their justifiable demands and reminds us that in unity there is strength. At this time, when workers still face formidable challenges as they march towards betterment, we are hopeful that the unity forged can be strengthened and advanced in the interest of the Guyanese working-class.

On this day too, expectedly, the workers of Guyana will take stock of where they stand and consider their next steps ahead.

Indeed, the road will be arduous, the challenges great. But, the GAWU believes, given the history of struggles and determination of the working-class, is optimistic, they will attain their objective in the end.

The GAWU, once again, extends greetings for a happy Labour Day to all Guyanese working-people and, indeed, the workers of the world.

PPP wishes workers well on Labour Day On the occasion of International Workers’ Day or Labour Day, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) takes this opportunity to extend best wishes to all workers throughout our dear nation.

This significant day, which celebrates the important resource of human labour, allows for workers to rally in solidarity with each other and to further highlight their invaluable contributions towards the development of Guyana.

From slavery, indentureship, colonial times to present day, workers have scored innumerable victories and have radically transformed their working conditions. The struggle to accomplish these feats was long

and hard. Many were brutalised; many were jailed and many paid the ultimate price with their lives. These victories must be celebrated, sacrifices respected and lives never forgotten. However, many of the gains won by these workers are now being threatened and much of the progress made are being reversed under this APNU+AFC coalition administration.

We in the PPP are aware that the economic and political situation in our country is a matter of deep concern and worry to workers and their families. Workers from every sector and people from all walks of life are apprehensive, not only about their daily existence but more importantly, about their

future, their children’s future and the future of our country. We believe that these fears and apprehensions are well founded.

Every productive sector is on the decline; in the sugar industry, estates have been closed and thousands of workers were dismissed; in the mining sector, small and medium scale miners are being taxed out of existence, which together with several other factors have skyrocketed the cost of production, thereby forcing them out of existence; the rice sector has suffered tremendous decline owing to the absence of new markets, lack of competitive prices for paddy and many other factors; the forestry sector has also suffered a deep decline; in the commercial sector, there

is a drastic decline in trade and commerce.

And we can go on.

However, in spite of these challenges the PPP is confident in the workers’ ability to overcome while recognising their diligence and daily sacrifices and will continue to stand in solidarity with them while robustly and fearlessly representing their cause. As they march in solidarity throughout the country on this Labour Day, they will no doubt make their voices heard bringing attention to their plight. Our Party, trusts that, despite the challenges faced, that in some way, the observances for Labour Day will be rewarding.

Once again best wishes to our nations’ workers on this their day.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday May 1, 2019

‘We’re happy they’re here’

9

…Region 10 residents capitalise on ministerial outreach

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, speaks with members of the public on Tuesday. (Samuel Maughn photo)

By Lisa Hamilton RESIDENTS of Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice), on Tuesday, took full advantage to speak face to face with their Ministers about various concerns and even got on-the-spot solutions to some of their problems as government rolled out another of its series of community outreaches in Linden.

WATER FOR ALL Several tents and booths were set up, opposite the Wismar Market Square, to facilitate attendees. The Guyana Chronicle spoke with both residents of the Region and visiting officials to find out their take on the outreach. Present was Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) Managing Director, Dr. Richard VanWest Charles, who told this newspaper that the exercise provided an opportunity for the company to be apprised of communities with water supply issues. “The President has spoken of the inequities and this is part of the process of helping us to identify some of those communities which we don’t know of to begin to provide access,” he said.

Van-West Charles noted that that some areas to receive assistance in this regard are: Prosville; riverine communities in the Region and the last phase of Amelia’s Ward.

Speaking of the latter, he said: “We just submitted for a new well in there so we are trying to ensure that we move everybody as quickly as possible to 24/7 water supply.” Not too far away, Ministers of Social Protection Amna Ally and Keith Scott were seated interacting with a steady stream of residents who came by the ministry’s booth.

Ally stated that the ministry dealt with issues regarding transportation for school children; labour; land;

birth certificates and more.

“We’ve had a steady flow of people wanting to have their issues addressed. We’ve been able to offer solutions; we’ve not been able to solve all because, for example, we can’t find a bus today for today. But we will look at it, of course. All in all the exercise was a good one,” she said.

At the outreach site, the ministry also handed over two sewing machines to a 30-member Community Policing Group (CPG) Women’s group from Moblissa.

“The Moblissa community is trying to establish a sewing programme whereby the women of the community formed a group and they were requesting machines to sew school clothing and other stuff to sell so that they can use it as a form of income,” APNU Campaign Member Damuka Ngqondo explained. Following a visit by a representative of the ministry to the community, the concern was relayed to Minister Ally who organised for the donation to be made at the outreach.

Over at the well-represented Ministry of Education booth, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, Adele Clarke, stated that most of the inquiries made at the booth were about jobs in the education sector. Clarke noted that one person indicated an interest in supporting the ministry in remedial work for students of depressed community through an organisation which deals with the challenge for young women.

“That person was advised to submit a proposal and then they’ll come in to us and we’ll discuss further on how we can have collaborative effort in assisting those persons,” she stated.

COMMUNITY CHALLENGE Nearby the entrance of the set-up, Patsy Alvin all the way from the Rockstone

community was waiting to speak with a minister about the communication challenges in her area. “We don’t have signal. When you want to call somebody you have to come out here at Linden. So we’re hoping to speak with them and I am happy that they are here,” she said.

Leaving Ministry of Natural Resources booth after speaking with Minister Raphael Trotman, small scale logger from Kwakwani, Wayne Harris, was happy that he was given a listening ear. His challenge was with the National Logging Export Policy which he stated only allowed for logs to be exported out of the country, using the names of concession that the logs came from which is affecting small miners.

“As such, many of the markets overseas do not want to deal with small loggers.

They prefer to deal with big companies because they have financial stability and a fixed location,” he explained. “I spoke to Minister Trotman and he was very welcoming and I am glad that he took the time to listen to my concern and he did tell me that he would get some of the details from the Guyana Forestry Commission and that he would make contact with me within a month so I’m pleased with that,” Meanwhile, Senior Land Administrative Officer for Region Three at the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GLSC), Loisel Hutson, stated that many persons came with applications for agriculture lands. Over at the Ministry of Health, several persons were taking advantage of the presence of health officials to air their concerns.

“I am a diabetic and I go to the clinic but sometimes you don’t get the medication.

Another thing you don’t get is the blood sugar strip. That strip and the machine are used to check your blood everyday but if you don’t have a

Some of the persons who turned out the Region 10 outreach (Samuel Maughn photo)

machine you have to wait another month and a half when you go back to the clinic and by that time you don’t know how high or low your sugar is,” Maurice Barker who had just finished speaking with Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence related. He added: “They said they would look into it because a lot of people are diabetic and they face that same challenge.

Speaking with the newspaper later, Minister Lawrence said that most of the

persons who came to her were part of the health sector but seeking means to improve their level of service. “The number of persons streaming into the booth has been very consistent today,” she said, adding” most of the persons who came are persons who are already in the health sector...with inquiries in terms of how they can upgrade themselves in the profession and what is it they need to do.”

This, she said, was very welcoming for the ministry

as it means that the quality of health provision in the Region will improve as persons are willing.

She also dealt with matters relating to medical issues and medication delivery. “I think that today has been a real positive day,” she said. “I think the public is very satisfied with the representation of their issues from the Ministry of Public Health and the information that we were able to share with them.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Pres. Granger chairs Cabinet meeting in Watooka, Linden

T U E S D AY ’s C a b i n e t meeting was held at Watooka House, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) and was chaired by President David Granger.

Beginning at 10:00hrs, the meeting coincided with the administration’s seventh ‘Government comes to you’ outreach held at the Wismar Market Square.

Prior to the meeting, the Department of Public Information (DPI), spoke with several ministers, who expressed satisfaction that much-needed services are

being delivered to the residents of Region 10.

Minister Simona Broomes, who was recently reassigned to the Ministry of the Presidency with responsibility for Youth Affairs, said as she focuses on her new portfolio, she looks forward to meeting and speaking with the young people of the region.

“We have the youth corps in Linden, which His Excellency just launched, that offers a wide range of training options. I am to visit that facility… We are focusing and targeting

youths between the ages of 14 to 25 years old for training,” she informed the Chronicle.

Meetings are also being planned with the various youth groups in Linden and other parts of the country, as the coalition government strengthens its policies to ensure “Education, Equality and Employment” for the nation’s youth.

President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams, at the Cabinet meeting

Government ministers during the third sitting of Cabinet at Watooka House, Linden, Region 10

East Ruimveldt man fined for dangerous driving

DARNLEY Dattering, 43, appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce on Tuesday, April 30, 2019, and pleaded not guilty to the charge of dangerous driving.

The court was told that on Saturday, September 22, 2018, on the New Hope

Public Road, East Bank Demerara, Dattering drove his motor car PKK 6143 in a manner that is dangerous to the Public.

Darnley was fined $50 000 , but Dattering pleaded with the magistrate to reduce the fine to $30 000, which request was granted.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, said that apart from the business at hand, he is to brief the Cabinet on the GYEITI report he received on April 29. The report was submitted on its April 25, 2019, deadline to the Norway-based international body. In the meantime, Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, said he too was happy to be outside of Georgetown, bringing government’s services to the people. “Residents have the opportunities to meet their ministers, not for us to tell them what we are doing, but for them to tell us how we could improve what we are doing,” he stated.

The Cabinet meeting wrapped up at approximately 14:00hrs to allow the ministers to engage with residents at the outreach before fanning out to various communities for public meetings. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

PPP commissioners again break up GECOM meeting

OPPOSITION-NOMINATED commissioners on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Tuesday staged another walkout, this time over the chairman’s refusal to breach the Standing Orders to accommodate Commissioner Robeson Benn.

But Vincent Alexander, a government-nominated commissioner, said despite attempts to stymie the work of the commission, GECOM’s Secretariat will continue to prepare for national registration. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and its nominated commissioners are up in arms against

Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj preparation for the conduct of national registration. Opposition-nominated Commissioner Bibi Shadick had made it clear that she will not participate in discussions on house-to-house registration. On Tuesday, she was absent from the commission’s weekly statutory meeting at its office.

It was expected that during that meeting, the Chairman, Justice (ret’d) James Patterson and the commissioners would have received a progress report on preparations for national registration and a report from GECOM’s Secretariat on its overall operations, but they did not get past the first item – chairman’s remarks.

Moments after exiting the meeting, opposition-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj told reporters that his colleague, Robeson Benn, was shut down when he attempted to raise some issues during the meeting, causing him to walk out. According to Gunraj, Benn was raising issues pertaining to procurement, and the recently-released report on GECOM’s hiring practice compiled by the Ethnic Relations Com-

parted at a time when there is no quorum,” Alexander told reporters.

The government-nominated commissioner noted that the commission, during this period, is basically receiving reports from the secretariat, and without a quorum, it would not be able to analyse those reports and the See page 12

Government-nominated GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander mission. Benn’s exit was followed by Gunraj’s.

But the Guyana Chronicle understands that Benn was attempting to bulldoze his way through the meeting, and insert substantive items unto the agenda without prior notice.

Alexander explained that Benn wanted to raise three substantive matters during the period allotted for the chairman’s remarks. “Mr. Robeson Benn seems to be of the view that you come to a meeting and the agenda is set at the meeting. My own disposition is that we have the standing order, in terms of what the agenda looks like; the chairman may seek to put items on the agenda and the members of the commission may also, with prior notice, pass amendments for issues to be placed on the agenda; and when the meeting starts, the agenda is adopted,” Alexander explained He emphasised, however, that the agenda is not set at the meeting, and Benn is fully aware of this. The commissioner, speaking to reporters outside of GECOM’s compound, said that nowhere in the world substantive items are placed on the agenda without notice.

Alexander said despite being fully aware of the procedure, Benn held onto his position, and subsequently left; when the chairman attempted to carry on the meeting according to the agenda, Gunraj followed him.

“There seems to be a new and emerging trend where only two members nominated by the leader of the opposition turn up. One leaves, and the other, who is constant, says well there is no quorum, so there is no reason for me to be here; so he has never really walked out of a meeting. He has de-

The Guyana Elections Commission

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

PM Nagamootoo welcomes Petrobras executives

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo displays a token from officials of PETROBRAS PRIME Minister, Moses Nagamootoo on Monday welcomed executives from Brazilian oil company, PETROBRAS, who are in Guyana for top-level talks with the Government of Guyana.

The team from the giant Brazilian petroleum company

comprises Petrobras Joint Venture Development Manager, Bernardo Castelloes, and Regional Interpretation of Sedimentary Managers Messrs Juliano Magalhaes Stica and Carlos Roberto Becker. The Petrobras delegation was accompanied

by Ambassador of Brazil

talks between Petrobras and Guyana’s energy officials for further collaborations between our countries. The Petrobras team presented the Prime Minister with a symbolic barrel of oil, while the Prime Minister gave the visitor an enlarged photo of the Official visit to Brazil of President David Granger.

Later the team met with Minister Dawn Hastings-Williams, under her new portfolio as Minister of State, and Director of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe during which they presented a five-year strategic plan for Guyana’s upcoming oil and gas indus-

around this shelf of exploration and production of oil.

As you know, oil production is bigger than bauxite, gold... this is not to say the country’s other natural resources will be pushed aside; it just means that we must be extremely careful,” she added.

Dr. Bynoe, said government welcomes the company’s support. “We are like you; we have a vision, a strategic plan in terms of where we are going... currently we have a road map and we trust that over time we begin to enhance our own capacities through buying in third-party expertise and then Guyanese

told the Guyana Chronicle in an exclusive interview.

“They are still dealing with this particular block but it is not just Petrobras, there are a number of Brazilian companies that are trying to get into the market here; we are liaising with local businesses to make connection with those in Brazil. “It is the same level with ExxonMobil. Petrobras explore and drill and do lots of things related to that but then there are smaller companies that provide parts, management of the platform and so forth,” he said.

Vieira further said that there are a lot of opportuni-

to Guyana, Lineu Pupo de Paula, and Deputy Head of Mission, Paulo Eduardo Borda de Carvalho Silos.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo reminded the team of the continuing strong relations between Guyana and Brazil, as he looks forward to positive outcomes from

Prime Minister Nagamootoo engages officials of Brazilian oil company PETROBRAS during a meeting at his office on Monday try, which includes technical assistance, export and import services and training.

Minister Hastings-Williams told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the talks between the corporation and government have been quite fruitful and promising. She hopes that this can be reinforced with the representatives’ willingness to provide a comprehensive proposal.

This, she said, will allow relevant stakeholders to have a better understanding of the information provided to see how best the government can partner with Petrobras. “We [the Coalition government] are interested in having many countries come on board

expertise moving forward as minister indicated with training,” the Head of DoE said.

He noted that despite the current challenges concerning the oil and gas industry, Guyana hopes to establish a concrete plan that will benefit its citizens. It was highlighted that Guyana has thus far benefitted from more than $16B (US$75M) directly from the oil and gas sector.

Petrobras, is still negotiating with the Government to secure an oil block offshore Guyana. The company had officially applied for an oil block early last year and is still in the process of trying to acquire the block, Deputy Ambassador of Brazil to Guyana, Ronaldo Vieira had

ties here that are related to the budding oil and gas industry. Petrobras is looking to capitalise on the opportunities. It is one of a number of large oil companies seeking to acquire offshore blocks in Guyana. It was reported that US oil major Chevron, and France’s Total are also among nine companies seeking remaining oil blocks here and government is exploring both “direct engagements” and a “select bidding process” in assigning them.

The companies that have blocks in the deep water area, offshore Guyana, are: Repsol and Tullow Oil (the Kanuku Block); Tullow (the Orinduik

PPP commissioners again break up ...

From page 11 challenges facing the secretariat in the execution of its mandate.

However, he gave the assurance that the administration is continuing its work.

“GECOM has an administration and a commission….GECOM’s administration continues to prepare for registration in keeping with a majority decision of the commission to proceed with registration, so that work is ongoing,” he said.

He however bemoaned the fact that in recent times, the commission’s work continues to hit stumbling blocks. “For the longest while we haven’t gotten past

introductory remarks,” he posited.

In addition to reports, the commission is expected to address vacancies within the secretariat. Last February, the commission voted for the secretariat to proceed with house-to-house registration. Approximately, $3B has been allocated to facilitate national registration. Since then, the secretariat has been training hundreds of Assistant Registration Officers (AROs) as well as enumerators.

The actual process of house-to-house registration is expected to begin as early as June, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

National Assembly Clerk drafted Kadir motion … says was done in innocence, not intended to glorify terrorism

CLERK of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, on Tuesday, disclosed that he drafted the motion of sympathy following the passing of former Member of Parliament Abdul Kadir, in keeping with local parliamentary practice.

Breaking his silence on the issue, Isaacs explained that local parliamentary practice dictates that, whenever a former or sitting Member of Parliament dies, the Clerk of the National Assembly is to draft a motion of sympathy.

The draft motion, he said, must be sent to the party of the deceased for its assent.

“Notice is then given by the party for the motion to be an item on the Order Paper,” Isaacs further explained.

In the case of Kadir, the parliamentary practice was observed, though he died in a US prison while serving a life sentence for plotting to blow up the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

The motion read: “Be it Resolved: That this National Assembly records its deep regret on the death of Mr. Abdul Kadir, on 28th June, 2018, and pays tribute to his dedicated service to the Parliament of Guyana as a Member of Parliament where he served in the Eighth Parliament, from 17th April, 2001 to 2nd May, 2006, and to the people of Guyana: “Be it further Resolved: That the National Assembly directs that an expression of its sympathy be conveyed to his sorrowing widow, children and relatives.”

The Clerk clarified that the debate on sympathy motions is intended to acknowledge the contributions of the late Members to the Parliament and to the people of Guyana. “It is done with no other intent. It should be further noted that the motion on the death of the late Mr. Kadir was innocently drafted by the Clerk, as has been the convention in circumstances of death of former or sitting Members,” the Clerk stated.

He expressed profound regret for any unintentional offense the course of action

Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs may have caused.

The Government, which has been criticised due to the motion, on Monday made it clear that it never intended to honour terrorism in any way when it approved a motion to remember Kadir. Government said it was merely upholding a time-honoured tradition in the house and had no intention of conveying the impression that the motion was designed to honour former MP, Abdul Kadir, convicted of terrorism in the United States.

The United States (US) Embassy has condemned the motion passed in the National Assembly on the grounds that Kadir was a convicted terrorist but the Government has maintained that its action is being interpreted incorrectly. “The Government of Guyana asserts that it had no intention of conveying the impression that the motion was designed to honour a former MP convicted of terrorism in another jurisdiction. The motion recognises the member’s service as a parliamentarian,” the Government said on Monday.

Describing the resolution as “an insensitive and thoughtless act,” the U.S Embassy contended that the motion demonstrates the National Assembly’s disregard for the gravity of Kadir’s actions.

It pointed out that, just recently, U.S. Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch, rated Guyana as “a model to the world on religious tolerance and understanding” at an International Peace Conference but said the resolution draws into question that reputation.

Abdul Kadir “It also comes on the heels of Guyana’s historic cooperation with the United States on the extradition of an alleged murderer,” and according to the embassy, Members of Parliament have placed the resolution in direct contradiction to the efforts of security cooperation between our two countries.

“With this resolution, honoring a convicted terrorist, members of Guyana’s National Assembly have left a stain on their legacy as representatives of the Guyanese people and on their commitment to the rule of law,” the U.S Embassy stated.

But the Government said motion was in keeping with the norms and practice of the Parliament. “It is well known that there is a time-honoured convention of the National Assembly to observe, in a standard and solemn form, the work of former Members who are deceased. The observance of this tradition has never been selective, and has included, over the decades, persons of all political parties and persuasions who served in the National Assembly,” the Government said.

However, it said it regrets the interpretation given to the motion passed in the National Assembly on the death of Kadir as a Member of Parliament. “The Government of Guyana continues to condemn terrorism in the strongest possible way.

The Government of Guyana reaffirms its commitment to continue and intensify the fight against terrorism in any form and is proud of its record to date in this regard,” the Government stated.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

West Demerara residents pleased with gov’t outreach

HUNDREDS of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) residents highlighted concerns and received solutions to many of their issues at the government’s multi-ministry outreach to the region on Sunday.

The event took place at the Leonora Track and Field Centre and saw persons receiving support in the areas of agriculture, housing, community issues, and more on Sunday.

Several ministers and residents spoke with this newspaper, which closely followed the day’s events which ended with community outreaches to over 12

villages in the region.

In a comment to this newspaper, Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, said that some of the main issues he had tackled so far related to local government and housing.

Regarding the latter, Bulkan said that the government, through its agencies, is looking to open some 200 acres of land in Meten-Meer-Zorg, which will yield some 700 new house lots.

Through the outreach, he said that the ministry will be better able to assess the region’s housing needs.

“What this exercise will allow us to do, is to

have a more accurate assessment of the unfulfilled demand and be able to inform central government as to the interventions that are necessary with regards to the development of new housing schemes,” he said.

Meanwhile, regarding local government issues, Bulkan said that persons who are unsatisfied with the level of services being provided at their Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) were given a listening ear.

The ministry will now engage and follow up with the highlighted NDCs to pinpoint the hindrances to addressing long-standing grievances.

Newly-appointed Minister of State, Dawn Hasting-Williams, (first left) meets with residents along with former Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, (fourth left) and Member of Parliament (MP), Mervyn Williams (Samuel Maughn photo)

Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, speaks with pensioners still awaiting land titles from GySuCo (Samuel Maughn photo) The ministry was also supported by the presence of senior management officials of the Local Government Department; the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI); the Solid Waste and Sanitation Department and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

“We are pleased with the level of representation on the part of residents in this region and we look forward to being of service to them,” Bulkan stated.

Speaking to this newspaper at his booth, Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, said that the region is the largest when it comes to agro and traditional crops.

Through his interac-

tions with the residents and the ministry’s own investigation, he was pleased that the paddy bug infestation in the region is relatively low.

He also noted that the agro-industry has been attracting a number of former employees of the Wales Estate.

Some of the issues highlighted to him came from farmers experiencing water issues coming out the El Niño period.

“We’ll be looking at how we can assist such areas like that,” Holder said.

Just outside the booth, a group of pensioners from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), who purchased land from the

company since 2002, told this newspaper that they are still awaiting the land titles.

They came to the outreach in hopes of receiving a fix to the almost-two-decades-old issue.

They spoke to Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, and representatives at the Ministry of Agriculture.

“It’s a sugar welfare problem so the Ministry of Agriculture will deal with it and we think we’re going somewhere,” Alwyn Bisram said.

Ronald Pinder, another in the group, explained that there are see page 15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

West Demerara residents hail gov’t ...

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over 60 persons affected by the same matter.

The Ministry of Agriculture was assisted by head representatives from the National Agricultural Research and Extension institute (NAREI), Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA).

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, told the newspaper that the main issue brought to him by residents related to street lighting.

He said that soon new LED highway lights will be rolled out from Wales to Parika while, in collaboration with the RDCs and NDCs, the ministry will seek to facilitate community street lighting.

Patterson said that due to the ministry’s consistent efforts at road construction and repair in the region, only a small number of persons came with road related concerns.

However, persons made the request for upgrades to farm-to-market roads in the agriculture region. “[With respect to] cash crop farmers, I will have to meet with the Ministry of Agriculture to find out if we can assist in trying to upgrade some of their farmto-market roads so that they can better access [their farms] before the rainy season starts in a month’s time.

We don’t normally do that but I can see the benefits,” the minister said.

He also made an on-thespot commitment to visit

Leguan Island in May to address the issues of residents living there.

Over at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Minister Raphael Trotman said that while the region is more inclined to agriculture, some persons reached out to him about forestry related issues.

The next government outreach will be held on Tuesday in Linden and this is where Trotman expects more natural resources issues to be brought to the fore.

“When we go to Linden, I expect a lot of mining matters to be raised [in addition to] forestry,” he said, commenting further: “I’m happy with the turnout. I think it’s good.

People seem to be comfortable, relaxed and moving from booth to booth, meeting with ministers and different agencies which is a good sign.”

At the Ministry of Public Security, residents lobbied for increased police patrol in their areas which saw Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, pledging efforts towards this cause.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Adele Clarke, tackled requests for teaching jobs and addressed the need for special focus on slow learners and additional counsellors in schools.

In health, Junior Minister of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, also spoke with residents, mainly youths, on jobs available within the health sector.

At his booth, Minister of Citizenship, Winston Fe-

lix, stated that his ministry will ensure that all Guyanese are registered at birth.

Meanwhile, Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton, informed residents about the Anti-Harassment Statement which speaks to human rights which much be respected.

Some of the other opportunities advertised by the ministry included the Youth Innovation project allocated some $70M worth of grants for 2019; the Youth Entrepreneurship Skills Training Programme and the President Youth Award Programme.

Assistant Director of Youth, Leslyn Boyce, said: “A number of persons do not know of our programmes...when we share what are the programmes and the activities we are offering we more or less bring some form of hope to these young people.”

Meanwhile, newly-appointed Minister of State, Dawn Hasting-Williams, told the media that one of main concerns expressed was the need for duty-free concessions.

She also looked into National Insurance Scheme (NIS) related matters and noted that she was pleased with the large turnout of residents.

Summing up the entire experience, Hasting-Williams said: “Irrespective of your political affiliation, we’re a government for all and we want to offer a good life to all Guyanese.”

Scores of persons perusing the many booths at the Leonora Track and Field Centre on Sunday

Minister of Natural Resources, Minister Raphael Trotman, interacts with residents (Samuel Maughn photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Harmon appointed Director–General … commences process to renounce US citizenship

By Lisa Hamilton FORMER Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, has been temporarily reassigned as Director General in the Ministry of the Presidency and will now take on some of the President’s responsibilities under the new portfolio.

He made the announce-

ment on Tuesday, following Cabinet meeting which was held in Linden to simultaneously facilitate the Government’s multi-ministerial outreach to Region 10 (Upper Demerara – Berbice) Harmon also made it clear that he is not out of the political running and will be back in Parliament to represent his country

after the next General and Regional elections. The residents of Linden were among the first to know of the reassignment as they gathered at the New Silvercity Secondary School for a public meeting with ministers.

“He [the President] announced, today, the appointment of myself as

the Director General in the Ministry of the Presidency,” he began.

“What the President said is that some of his functions he will assign to me to carry out. So, just as I’ve been doing for all of these years -- I’ve been working very closely with the President... so he has appointed me in that capacity.”

Harmon resigned as a Member of Parliament and a Minister as a consequence of a court ruling that upheld that persons with dual citizenship would not be an MP in Guyana. The issue of dual citizenship was brought to the front burner after AFC Member of Parliament Charrandass Persaud, who holds dual citizenship, broke ranks and voted in favour of the opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion to bring down his own government last December. A farmer of New Amsterdam, Compton Reid, has challenged the validity of the vote of no-confidence on the basis that Persaud is a dual citizen. The government had also raised the issue of dual citizenship with respect to Persaud.

At the meeting, Harmon also took the opportunity to make a clarification about his own situation and why he resigned from being a

Minister of Government.

Government MPs with dual citizenship tendered their resignations to the President on Monday April 1, 2019, in keeping with the indications of High Court and Court of Appeal that it is unconstitutional for a person who swore allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state to be a Member of Parliament.

These included former Vice-President and Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge; Harmon; former Minister of Public Service, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and former Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin.

“I did not choose to resign in place of renunciation. I want to make that very clear because some of my supporters, some people all over the country, they say ‘why did you resign?

Why you didn’t give back the American people their passport?’ Well, I gave up the passport but I had to resign so that the processes can go on,” Harmon explained.

He told the audience that the process of renouncing one’s dual citizenship takes on a certain procedure which must see the minister first resigning from Government. Noting, some of the concerns of

New Director General in Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Joseph Harmon supporters that the government would be losing a well-functioning Minister, Harmon assured that this is not the case. “I wrote His Excellency, the President, that I have commenced the process of renunciation of US citizenship and therefore by the time we come around to the next elections, I’ll be ready to go back in to the parliament,” Harmon said to an outburst of applause.

In the meanwhile, the Director General stated that, being out of Parliament, he will be able to spend more time interacting directly with the public in keeping with his personal commitment to public service.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Over 1000 Guyanese employed directly in O&G –– Director of Energy encourages young people to become job ready

OVER 1000 Guyanese have been employed in the Oil and Gas Sector so far, according to Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, who encouraged youth from the National Youth Corps to become trained in competencies that will get them employed.

“Already, over 1000 people have been employed directly in the oil and gas sector” Dr. Bynoe told the gathering of young people at the Kuru Kuru Training Centre on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway on Tuesday.

Currently, he explained that this figure accounts for about 54 per cent of the persons directly employed in the oil and gas sector and, by 2020, the Department aims to have that number increased to 75 per cent.

In 2017, the figure stood at less than 500 persons.

Recently, 25 Guyanese were recruited to work on the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which would have about 100 to 150 persons on board. An FPSO is basically a floating vessel that stores barrels of oil and is expected to meet Guyana’s shores later this year. Dr. Bynoe also disclosed that another 25 persons are set to receive training to work on the FPSO. The Director, however, noted that in the initial stages of the development of the industry, the number of locals employed directly will not be as high.

“If we had the choice, we would employ Guyanese first [but] because it’s a new industry we first have to build up that capability and to build up that capability you first have to have training,” he explained.

In the meantime, he also highlighted that the department is encouraging “joint ventures”, which means that Guyanese work with people who have worked in this industry before, to learn and garner skills of their own.

“By working with them, over time, we can become people of our own destiny,” he affirmed.

With this in mind, he urged the gathering of young people to “train in competencies” that will get them employed both in the oil and gas sector and the jobs that will result from the transformation of Guyana.

“Oil and gas is not just about oil and gas,” Bynoe said. According to him, Guyana has need for multiple things such as better

are expected to yield in excess of 5.5B barrels of recoverable oil. This newspaper reported, in March, that Guyana has raked in over US$75 million in 2018, directly from local content in the oil and gas sector.

And this figure excludes downstream impacts of the industry such as works in mechanics, electrical work, welding and technical warehousing, among others.

Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe infrastructure, better educational and health services and improved access to freshwater, to name a few.

He also indicated that, through the development of the petroleum sector, there will be a rise in demand for services in all other sectorsespecially in hospitality.

“There will come a time when oil and gas will be no more,” he explained and noted that as such, the government intends on using oil revenues to fund the development of more sustainable industries.

“What we should be aspiring for is those resources (from the oil and gas industry) to put us on a sustainable and continuing developmental path,” he said too, while adding that this can only be done if the young people of the country equip and position themselves.

“To be able to stay relevant, you have to keep training and learning… It is vital for succession planning and guys are the future for this country,” Bynoe said.

Chairman of Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Floyd Scott, also shared with the gathering that, whatever competencies they do decide to train in, the young people should ensure that they maximise their talents and be certified.

“Every training that you are doing to take you forward, make sure that there is an alignment for you to make yourself national and international,” he stressed.

“Let it not just be exclusively for oil and gas because Guyana will have need for your skills beyond oil and gas,” Bynoe also posited.

In Guyana’s Stabroek block alone, there have been, so far, 12 discoveries which

A section of the young people of the National Youth Corps being educated on the oil and gas sector

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CJIA and CCWU sign new Collective Labour Agreement

MANAGEMENT of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Monday signed on to a new two-year collective labour agreement with the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), at the Boardroom of the Department of Labour on Brickdam.

The signing was overseen by Chief La-

continued cooperation that we have. I am optimistic that the relationship will continue to be a nice one. There are some gaps that we need to fill in when it comes to the workers but I want to congratulate the CEO and the human resources team,� Clarke said Ogle applauded to continuous amicable state of the relationship between the two

Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, (centre) watches on as representatives from the CCWU (sitting right) and representatives from the CJIA (sitting left) sign on to the new agreement (Delano Williams photo) bour Officer, Charles Ogle, while present on behalf of the Union was its CCWU President Sherwood Clarke, Consultant Grantley Culbard and Committee members Kobena Paul and Andrew Younge.

Signing on behalf of CJIA were Human Resources Manager, Yeolena Callender, and Senior Clerical Assistants, Naresh Rhajcoomar ad Bibi Hanif.

Clarke commended the ease of the process to come to a decision on the new agreement. “I want to thank the management and the

entities over the years.

The new agreement included salary increases, increases to allowances and improvements to the companies maternity leave policy. For salaries the employees would be given 2019 increases of an additional 50 percent of the already agreed upon assigned increases for 2019.

Increases ranged from 0.5 percent for employees making $1 million and above and seven percent for the lowest scale employee making up to $99,999.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

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Chinese FM: Turning the BRI blueprint into a more tangible progress

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he second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) marks a new starting point for jointly building the Belt and Road, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said last Sunday.

Wang made the remarks during a briefing on the outcome of the three-day event which concluded in Beijing on last Saturday. He said China will continue to work with all partners for broader practical cooperation under the frame of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the future.

283 items of achievements There were 283 concrete results from the forum which was attended by over 6,000 participants from more than 150 countries and 92 international organizations, Wang said.

China took the opportunity to sign a number of intergovernmental cooperation agreements, including the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor and the China-Thailand railway.

The participating nations initiated and established a cooperation mechanism under the BRI framework such as the national standard information platform and South-South cooperation plans that will address climate change. Enterprises from participating countries reached numerous agreements on capacity and investment cooperation, said Wang.

He said that all parties are expected to enhance cooperation with China. They are willing to align the BRI to their development strategies and coordinate with regional and international development agenda. According to Wang, China has signed more than 100 multilateral and bilateral cooperation documents with concerned countries which cover areas such as transportation, taxation, trade, auditing, technology, culture, think tank and media. China has also signed third-party market cooperation documents with some countries and international financial institutions.

The initiative has reaped tangible results in the six years since its birth in 2013. It has also accumulated worldwide support. So far, 127 countries and 29 international organizations have signed up. Wang hailed support from the participants, stressing that their active participation contributed greatly to building global connectivity partnership.

New beginning, more tangible progress Looking forward to the future, Wang said China will stick to the direction of common development. BRI advocates multilateralism and we will continue to follow the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration, said the minister. “We will adhere to the people-centered principle and align with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” said Wang. “We will focus on poverty alleviation, employment improvement and the fight against corruption in a bid to let the BRI better benefit all people.

“And we will accept international rules and practice which are generally accepted, stick to result-orientation, action-orientation and project-orientation and push forward more high-quality cooperative projects.” Wang also stressed that China will build a multilevel cooperation structure and actively prepare for the third forum on the basis of implementing the results of the second.

Standing at a new starting point, more high-quality projects will be built, he added, noting that a general connectivity framework consisting of six corridors and six connectivity routes will be further promoted.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, his wife Peng Liyuan and guests of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation attend a banquet in Beijing, April 26, 2019. /Xinhua Photo)

Delegates applaud at the opening ceremony of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, April 26, 2019. /Xinhua Photo)

The leaders’ roundtable meeting of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) is held in Beijing, April 27, 2019. /Xinhua Photo)

A worker installs solar panels at the site of a solar power plant in the Damandistrict of Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan, December 16, 2018. /Xinhua Photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Naamless, East Bank Essequibo to get improved water service

RESIDENTS of Nameless on the East Bank Essequibo will see an improved level of service early this month following moves by the Guyana Water Incorporated to reactivate the Hubu well station.

This was related to community members by GWI’s Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, during a community meeting on Monday, the corporation said in a release.

The community is currently being served by the Vergenoegen Water Treatment Plant, but residents have recently complained of receiving a reduced level of service. An assessment of the water situation in Naamless has shown that customers in neighbouring villages are pumping water directly from the distribution network, thus affecting those towards the end of the system. Customers were, therefore, urged to de-

sist from this practice, since it is also illegal.

Dr. Van-West Charles highlighted that the ideal improvement measure would be to drill a new well to better serve the population.

With the use of available technology, this can be done

by August, 2019, he stated.

However, since this was not budgeted for, additional revenue is needed to finance such a project.

The Managing Director

GWI’s Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles addresses residents of Naamless during the community meeting on Monday, 29th April, 2019 used this opportunity to plead with residents to satisfy their bill payments in a timely fashion, since the community of Naamless currently has a debt figure of GY$110M. He called on farmers and other residents to settle their outstanding balances, so as to generate revenue to fund the project.

A commitment from customers to pay on time as well as to desist from pumping directly from the lines will ensure a speedy improvement for the community. GWI has also committed to constantly flush the pipelines, so as to ensure a better quality of water.

Take care of matters that are important to people – COTED Chair, CARICOM SG BARBADOS Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Hon. Sandra Husbands, wants Trade Ministers to take action on matters that will allow the people of the Region to actively feel the benefit of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

“We need to take care of certain elements that are important to our people,” she said. She was at the time delivering remarks at the opening of the Forty-eighth Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) at the Guyana Marriott, Georgetown.

Minister Husbands, who chaired the meeting, told delegates that collective thinking, identification of common interests and unity were necessary to achieve integration goals. Ministers, she added, needed to be strategic, deliberate and effective with decisions and implementation activities of the CSME. The Implementation of the CSME is one of the main issues under discussion at the two-day meeting. Delegates will review the agreed implementation plan for the CSME and challenges that are being encountered, and will also brainstorm priorities for making the flagship programme more effective.

It was important, she said, for Ministers to view their work under the umbrella of COTED, not from the perspective of individual Member States, but rather what was best for the common interest of the Region. Minister Husbands added that this was necessary to create the level of economic growth and development and the kind of society that was just, fair and prosperous. “Let us strengthen ourselves to go forward as a Region at this Forty-Eighth COTED,” the Chairman said.

In his remarks to delegates, CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque also honed in on the necessity of the COTED to take decisions that impacted the people of the Region. “An urgency to complete the agreed measures and make the CSME a living reality for our citizens has been the hallmark of the recent discussions among our Heads of Government. As the Council tasked under the Revised Treaty to “promote the development and oversee the operation of the CSME” you have a pivotal role to play in ensuring that we accomplish the goals in that regard,” he told the meeting.

He also placed emphasis on the importance of implementation of decisions. “Implementation cannot be a shifting target.

We cannot come to meeting after meeting and agree to a Plan and not carry forward the work,” he warned.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

GAWU engages GFC restructuring taskforce –– urges impartial and fair process

THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) on Monday engaged members of the taskforce charged with examining the operations of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).

During the meeting held at the Union’s High Street Headquarters, GAWU said though pleased with the engagement, it drew to the taskforce’s attention that Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, was informed via a letter dated April 12, 2019, of its status as the bargaining agent for the Commission’s workers. In that letter, GAWU told the minister that it has a deep interest in the work of the taskforce.

GAWU also noted that since the establishment of the taskforce, several commentaries have appeared in the media but the Union is, nevertheless, prepared to engage in good faith.

“Our Union urged the body, however, not to ignore the sentiments in the media.

Our Union expressed that the Commission’s employees were very much concerned as to whether the exercise will serve to reduce the staffing levels of the GFC. On this score, the taskforce assured it had no preconceived notions and that it would merely make recommendations which may or may not be accepted by the Administration,” GAWU said in a statement on Tuesday.

GAWU, during the meeting, took note of the fact that the Commission has many functions and its employees have manifold responsibilities.

It also used the opportunity to express its concern over the financial situation of the Commission. “Such a situation is not healthy for the organisation, we opined, and could well harm the organization in the medium-term,” it posited.

“GAWU noted that it saw in the National Budget Estimates, the surplus of the Commission declining from $213M in 2013 to an expected $2.2M in 2019. In the same period, we noted revenues have risen from $711M in 2013 to an expected $1.435B in 2019, a 101 per cent rise, whereas expenditure has risen from $498M to $1.432B, a 187 per cent rise. The rapid rise in expenditure vis-à-vis

revenue, we contended, must be a matter that should not escape the taskforce’s attention,” it said.

Nonetheless, GAWU said that the taskforce’s success is linked to a process that is seen as fair and impartial, noting that the recommendations are responsive to the circumstances of the Commission.

“We contended that an open and transparent approach is necessary and the need for inclusion among the stakeholders, most significantly, the Commission’s hard-working and dedicated workers, should not be underscored. Of course, we added that such engagements must be facilitated in an atmosphere of respect and cordiality and with an open mind,” GAWU said.

The taskforce, for its part, gave an overview of the Forestry Commission which was established in its current form in 1979. Over the years, the Commission, the taskforce pointed out, has been generally concerned with logging and sawmilling and that its revenues were primarily derived from forestry activities.

In the statement, GAWU said in more recent times, given advancements in technology and concern about protection of biodiversity, environmental degradation, watershed management and other tasks within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the role and work of the Commission has expanded.

The developments have resulted in the Commission taking on several new responsibilities and are incurring higher expenditure in the pursuance of those tasks.

With the now new roles of the Commission, the taskforce will be examining means to ensure that the GFC remains on a sustainable footing so that it can adequately deliver on its new mandate. In this regard, the taskforce will examine the addition of new revenue streams or alteration to existing streams in order to meet the Commission’s costs today and tomorrow as well.

The meeting was attended by a delegation from the Union comprising its General Secretary, Seepaul Narine; Assistant General Secretary,

Aslim Singh; Organising Officer, Porandatt Narine; Executive Committee member, Gordon Thomas, and GFC GAWU General Council member, Monica Jacobs.

The taskforce members included Clayton Hall, Dr David Singh, Simone Benn, Rickey Jagroop, and Jacy Archibald.

Officials from the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (right) meeting with members of the taskforce charged with examining the operations of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

E’bo couple on TIP charges

By Clestine Juan

DHANRAJ Rambarran, 58, and his wife, Khamwattie Rambarran, 53, on Tuesday, April 30, 2019, appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court for trafficking two women, one a Venezuelan, for sexual exploitation at La Ca-

Khamwattie Rambarran bana Bar and Hotel.

The Rambarrans were initially charged with using their property as a brothel.

The director of public prosecutions (DPP) had advised that the charges be dropped and the couple be charged with two counts of trafficking in persons, based on the evidence.

The new charges read

Dhanraj Rambarran that, between January 1, 2019, and February 16, 2019, at La Cabana Bar, Henrietta Village, Essequibo Coast, the couple recruited, transported and harboured the women for sexual exploitation.

The couple pleaded not guilty to the two charges, while their attorney, Bernard DaSilva, made an application for bail.

Magistrate Sam granted the couple $200,000 bail each and adjourned the matter to May 15, 2019.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that the elderly couple was nabbed at La Cabana Bar and Hotel during a Trafficking in Persons (TIPs) raid conducted by the police and a Ministerial Task Force TIP team from Georgetown.

Accident

ON Tuesday afternoon, the driver of a black motor car was speeding along Lamaha Street and collided with motor car PFF 9818, which was parked in front of Herdmanston Lodge.

No one was injured. (Photo by Adrian Narine).

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Fresh Co Supermarket manager charged with attempted murder XIUOXI Qu, a 28-year-old manager of Fresh Co. Supermarket was on Tuesday, April 30, 2019, granted bail by Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for attempting to murder one of his customers.

Qu, who is a resident of 853 Block X, Section B, Diamond, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on April 22, 2019, at Diamond Public Road, East Bank Demerara, he wounded Gregory Samoogan with intent to commit murder.

According to the prosecution, on the day in question around 20:15hrs, Samoogan went into the supermarket to purchase a few items. After he left the building to await transporta-

tion, the defendant attacked him, inflicting a blow to his head and dealt him several injuries about his body.

Samoogan then went to the Golden Grove Police Station to make a report when he collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. The defendant reportedly went into hiding and was later contacted by the police and charged with the said offence.

He was represented by Attorney-at-Law Hewly Griffith, who made an application for bail for his client.After listening to the submissions made by both the attorney and prosecutor, the magistrate granted the defendant bail in the sum of $400,000.

He is expected to make his next court appearance on May 7, 2019.

Bandit shot dead after robbery in Queenstown

A BANDIT was shot and killed after robbing a Cuban on Tuesday morning in Crown Street, Queenstown, Georgetown.

The deceased has been identified as 36-year-old Nigel Wellington of Mocha, East Bank Demerara. He is no stranger to the police having been charged on several occasions for a series of robberies under arms.

The incident occurred around 04:30hrs as the Cuban was about to enter an apartment building in Queenstown, Georgetown. Guyana Chronicle was informed that the victim had just returned from the airport and was attempting to make his way into his apartment building when he was approached by the suspect who pointed a gun at him. It would later turn out that the suspect had one bullet in his gun. According to reports, as the Cuban exited the taxi and was making his way into the building, the suspect, with the gun in hand, followed him.

However, a security guard who was inside the building and monitoring the movements of the Cuban, observed the suspect. Guyana Chronicle was told that the guard, in his quest not to alert the suspect of his presence, allowed him to carry out the robbery on the Cuban. But as the suspect was about to leave the premises, the security guard called out to him and ordered him to freeze. At that point, the bandit allegedly attempted to shoot the guard; however, the guard reportedly shot the bandit to the foot.

Despite being shot to the foot, the suspect still attempted to point his weapon to the security guard who then shot him in the arm, but that too did not deter the suspect from attempting to retaliate. As he again made attempts to shoot the security guard, the man fired at him again, this time twice and he was fatally hit. A 9mm pistol with one round was recovered from the scene along with the stolen property from the 33-year-old Cuban victim.

The police were summoned and responded promptly as they had already heard the gunshots and were combing the area to find the exact location. In an official statement to the media on Tuesday, the police noted that the victim is a chef and confirmed that he was indeed robbed by the suspect.

The police report noted that the remains of the suspect were taken to the Lyken Funeral Parlour.

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Brilliant all-round Ramsammy puts defending champs Berbice on the back-foot

By Michelangelo Jacobus

DEFENDING Inter-County 3-day U-19 champions Berbice got off to a shaky start in their title defence as Select U-17 spinner Zeynul Ramsammy turned in a valuable performance with both bat and ball on day one of their first-round encounter, at the Everest Cricket Club (ECC) ground.

Select U-17 at stumps were leading by 58 runs with four wickets in hand after a good day in the field.

Berbice won the toss and elected to bat but could not string together an innings of substance as Ramsammy and Sheldon Charles struck at junctures to eventually bowl out the defending champions for a paltry 127 from just 36.2 overs.

Only Garfield Benjamin who top-scored with 32, Je-

tendra Outar (22) and Nigel Deodat with 21 got starts as the other batsmen failed to string together partnerships.

Ramsammy with his near unreadable leg-spin captured 3-18 from four overs while Charles’ fast bowling reaped figures of 3-29 from six overs.

In their reply, Select U-17 began with a solid opening partnership between Matthew Nandu and Ramsammy before the former

was bowled by Junior Sinclair for 22. However, Ramsammy remained rock-solid and scored a resilient 58 before he too was bowled, by Kevlon Anderson. His knock included eight boundaries and spanned 109 deliveries.

Where Berbice failed miserably to string together partnerships, Select U-17 batsmen showed patience and determination. Mavendra Dindyial continued his good run of form by

notching up yet another half-century, 56 from just 67 deliveries laced with 10 boundaries.

At the end of the day’s play, Select U-17 were on 185-6 (54 overs) leading by 58 runs with four wickets in hand.

When play resumes today at 10:00hrs, Niran Bissu (6 not out) and Sunil Chaitnarine (18 not out) will look to extend that lead.

Essequibo routed for Barbados Tridents set for 75 against Demerara new ownership in 2019 CPL

By Rajiv Bisnauth

… embattled Indian business tycoon Vijay Malliya is out

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Embattled Indian business tycoon, Vijay Mallya, will not have ownership of Barbados Tridents for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season, organisers said here yesterday.

Speaking at a media conference, CPL chief executive Damien O’Donohoe, said the league was in the process of wrapping up discussions with the relevant parties and that new owners should be in place before the players draft scheduled for May 22 in London.

Mallya is currently fighting extradition from the United Kingdom to his native India where he is wanted by authorities to face alleged bank fraud and money-laundering charges amounting to nearly US$ one billion.

His mounting legal and financial woes have also impacted the franchise with players yet to be paid in full for the 2018 season which wrapped up last September.

“That’s obviously been a big headache for us … (but) that issue in relation to Barbados will be getting resolved in the next two to three weeks,” O’Donohoe said.

“We will also have a change of ownership which

we hope to announce in two weeks’ time and that’s a very experienced owner who is going to come in, and it’s something that we’re obviously excited about and we’re looking forward to a fresh start at the end of this month.”

The 63-year-old Mallya secured ownership of the Tridents in 2016 – the same year he fled India to avoid attempts by authorities to recover millions in unpaid bank loans. He has since been holed up at a mansion in Hertfordshire, east England.

Tridents players also suffered non-payment issues following the 2017 season and were only fully remunerated just ahead of the 2018 draft.

In recent months, former Barbados and West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith, a marquee player for Tridents, has been critical of CPL and the franchise over the matter, and called on both entities to speak to the issue.

However, CPL chief operating officer, Pete Russell, expressed gratitude to all affected players for their professionalism and assured the non-payment of salaries would be resolved shortly.

“We just want to put on record how grateful we are to the patience of the players.

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They’ve been very understanding,” he said.

“For us it’s just the worst possible scenario where you’ve got to assess circumstances where an owner for whatever reason can’t pay players is just not acceptable really. It’s been a process we’ve had to go through and we’re at the end of the process and it’s all positive going forward.”

He also noted that systems would be implemented to make sure there was no repeat of the situation.

“And this is again working with Cricket West Indies (CWI) to make sure that in the future players’ salaries are ring-fenced prior to the tournament so we know that money is sitting there, so the players are protected because we will not experience this again, under any circumstances,” Russell stressed.

Tridents will hope for improved fortunes under their new ownership. Last season, they finished bottom of the standings, marking the third straight season they missed the playoffs.

The 2019 CPL will now run from September 4 to October 12 in order to accommodate the revised itinerary for India’s tour of the Caribbean beginning in August.

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HOSTS Demerara took the honours on day one of their first-round Hand-in-Hand Under-19 Inter-county three-day encounter against Essequibo, yesterday, at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground.

Demerara played well, but were helped by a dismal Essequibo batting performance, as one dismissal followed another. They eventually folded for just 75. In response, Demerara reached 1625 with Alphuis Bookie striking a well-composed 52, and Robin Williams a gritty 42.

Demerara, who surprisingly omitted left-arm spinner Daniel Mootoo from the final eleven, closed the day with a first-innings lead of 87 runs.

Earlier off-spinner Joel Spooner made the headlines after Demerara decided to bowl in murky conditions. Spooner claimed 5-10 off just 4.4 overs.

Orlando Jailall top-scored with 27 while Jerimiah Scott made 17.

The remaining visiting batsmen failed through a combination of poor strokes and excellent bowling, especially from Spooner, and were bowled out in just 33.4 overs.

They lost opener Kevin Christian, leg-before-wicket to medium pacer Qumar Torrington without scoring.

Ameer Singh then went, off the bowling of medium pacer Sachin Singh for one, at 10-2, while Bhumshwar Ramkissoon was trapped plumb in front to Bookie also for one, at 23-3.

However, fellow opener Jailall, who remained firm to the end, was joined by Scott, and together they took the total to 50 before Scott was removed by left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd just before the interval.

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The left-handed Jailall was on 23 at the break. The afternoon session was crucial for the visiting side, since a recovery was desperately needed. As it proved, Essequibo’s remaining batsmen flattered to deceive.

Upon resumption, Azim Mohamed was bowled off a no-ball from Torrington, but he failed to make use of the opportunity, and was out caught on the long-on boundary off Spooner, who claimed five of the last six wickets including that of Jailall, whose resistance ended soon after, when he was taken bat/pad.

Adrian Hinds and Williams then added 21 runs before Hinds retired hurt on 12. The attacking Singh struck three boundaries in his 13 before he was dismissed by medium pacer Mervyn Benjamin at 38-1.

Boodie then joined forces with Williams, and the pair put together 61 runs for the second wicket, a stand during which Demerara wiped off the first-innings deficit.

Both batsmen looked compact with Williams hitting four fours and a six before he was dismissed by spinner Amit Persaud.

The right-handed Bookie also played some attractive strokes much to the delight of the small crowd. He struck five fours and a six before he was caught behind off medium pacer Ramkissoon.

Bookie’s dismissal saw the return of Hinds to the middle, but his stay was short as he was bowled behind his back off Persaud for 17, at 138-4.

Off-spinner Badesh Parsotam then removed Andrew Samaroo for nine.

Pradesh Balkishun (11 not out) and Zachery Jodah (7 not out) survived until the end.

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32

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

RCB knocked out of IPL 2019 after Gopal hat-trick, no-result THE shorter the game, the more Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were supposed to be in it.

But a target of 63 runs in five overs was quite underwhelming considering the start they got and the batting resources on show. The Rajasthan Royals (RR) coasted at 41-1 in 3.2 overs before rain returned to wash the game out.

The teams shared the points in a must-win game for RCB, who were knocked out as a result.

Shreyas Gopal removes Kohli, AB de Villiers and Marcus Stoinis to claim a hat-trick.

Shreyas Gopal’s hattrick was the inflection point of the first innings.

RCB were flying at 35-0 in the first 1.3 overs with 3 fours and 3 sixes, only to go on and lose 7 for 27 in the next 3.3 overs. Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Marcus Stoinis’s dismissals during the hat-trick set the slide in motion.

A six over long-off was how Virat Kohli started the innings. The next ball from Varun Aaron, though off the top edge, went for a six too before AB de Villiers capped the over with two boundaries. It took Gopal’s hat-trick to mend the innings.

WHERE DID RCB GET IT WRONG? Yes, there was no-result but RCB looked set for a defeat when the rain returned. Kohli was adamant about using pace upfront when RR had changed the match earlier with spin in the second over.

Opening the innings for the Royals, Sanju Samson and Liam Livingstone put on 41 runs for the opening wicket.

Umesh Yadav and Navdeep Saini gave away 22 runs in the first two overs.

Not an outrageous start by any means but RCB went with another over of pace, only to see Kulwant Khejroliya concede 18 in

the third.

HOW LONG WAS THE RAIN DELAY? Scheduled to start at 20:00hrs IST, the match finally began at 23:26hrs IST, the dot cut-off time for a five-over game.

But the fact that we got a game was thanks to the subair system at the Chinnaswamy Stadium combined with the excellent efforts of the groundsmen.

Brief scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 62/7 in 5 overs (Virat Kohli 25; Shreyas Gopal 3-12) vs Rajasthan Royals 41-1 in 3.2 overs (Sanju Samson 28; Yuzvendra Chahal 1-0) - No result

Berbice cricket clubs donate $150 000 to Beacon Foundation’s Cancer Programme

Sharaz Ramcharran hands over the ACCC donation to Beacon Foundation.

THE caring and humane side of Berbice Cricket was on full display last Sunday when arch rivals Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets and the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club (ACCCC) first division teams joined hands to donate $150 000 to the Beacon Foundation’s Cancer Programme.

The top two teams in Berbice were part of a special one-day tournament organised by the vibrant Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) in conjunction with Beacon Foundation. The main objective was to raise funds to enable Beacon Foundation to look after patients who have reached Stage Four Cancer.

Shawn Pereira made the donation on behalf of RHT Gizmos & Gadgets.

Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets defeated ACCCC by five wickets to lift the $100 000 first prize while ACCCC took home the runners-up package of $50 000. The management of both clubs, along with their players, agreed before the match to donate any prize money they won back to the organisers.

The BCB president Hilbert Foster praised the kindness of both clubs. BCB, he stated, was fulfilling all of its mandates on the cricket field and was willing to work along with social and charitable organisations to make a positive difference.

Cancer, he said does not look at status in life or race, religion or creed. Cancer is

one of the worst illnesses in the world and he lauded the outstanding work of the Beacon Foundation, which cares on a monthly basis close to 30 patients in Regions Five and Six. Foster blasted the national cricketing administration, who debarred six contracted players from playing in a charity match to assist those in need.

Chairperson of Beacon Foundation, Patrick De Groot, expressed gratitude to the BCB for its cooperation in hosting the tournament and explained the outstanding work of his organisation. He also expressed profound gratitude to the two clubs for their donation.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

33

Hamilton Green 9-a-side Inter-Ward ‘Devastated’ Hales reps criticise ECB Cup football concludes May 5 … Teams urged to be at venue for 15:00hrs

THE organisers of this year’s Hamilton Green Cup Inter-Ward/Village 9-a-side Knockout Football Tournament are putting everything in place to provide fans with a fitting conclusion to the annual event.

The final is set to be played on May 5 (Indian Arrival Day) at the Den Amstel ground, West Coast Demerara, and, according to coordinator Lennox Arthur, they are busy preparing to ensure that spectators have a great time throughout the day with action set to kick off at 16:00hrs with round of 16 play, before the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final are played.

Arthur is asking all teams to be at the venue by 15:00hrs to ensure that there is a prompt start to the day’s proceedings.

The opening salvo of round of 16 action will see Timehri, with players Seon David, Colwyn Cort and Sheldon Holder in their lineup, tackle Mahaicony, who will be spearheaded by Delbert Wilson, Sheldon Toney and Bertie Shepherd.

Tyrone Khan’s Soesdyke then take on Liliendaal in what is anticipated to be an exciting affair.

Khan will be supported by the likes of Delon Smith

and Alvin Adams, while Liliendaal’s quest for victory will be led by Anthony Sancho, Otto Jones and Akeem Saul.

The Mocha versus Charlestown encounter is a virtual final with the Stewart brothers Orville and Dorville and Kevin Gordon expected to lead the former in pursuit of a win while Keiron Solomon, Jamal Cozier, Jermin Junor and Devon Charles are the key players for the latter.

ing and Maxwell Trapp will be the lynchpin for Goed Fortuin in their skirmish against De Kinderen, who will have in their line-up Colin Henry, Steffon Coleman and Romel Medas.

What more could be said of the Sophia vs Bourda Blues game which has players the calibre of Peter and Ernie Smith and Jermaine Nedd starring for Sophia, while Lennox Cort, Tevin Curry and Joshua Brathwaite will don colours for the Blues.

Delon Lanferman

Kevin Humphrey, Michael Thomas and Keron Boyce will lead Pouderoyen in their clash against Bagotville, who will depend on the services of Corwin Wright, Mark Chester and Brian Fredericks to orchestrate a win.

Anthony and Ashley Hard-

WADA retrieves more than 2 000 samples from tainted Moscow lab (REUTERS) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said yesterday it had retrieved more than 2 000 samples from a tainted Moscow laboratory that will be used to strengthen cases against athletes who may have cheated.

WADA said in a statement a five-person team retrieved 2 262 samples from the laboratory, which had been split into A and B samples contained within 4 524 collection bottles.

All samples targeted in advance of the mission were located and extracted and are currently being sent to a WADA-accredited laboratory outside of Russia.

“These samples will be used to strengthen cases against those who may have cheated and may exonerate athletes who have not committed an anti-doping rule violation,” WADA Intelligence and Investigations Director Gunter Younger, who is leading the process, said in a statement.

WADA also said the authentication process of the Moscow data it extracted in January, one of the final hurdles to be cleared in the Russian Anti-Doping Agency’s (RUSADA) conditional reinstatement, is close to completion.

According to WADA, a progress report on that process will be sent in early May to the independent Compliance Review Committee and an update will be presented at the May 15-16 WADA Executive Committee and Foundation Board meetings in Montreal.

WADA voted last September, amid widespread protests, to conditionally restore RUSADA’s accreditation as long as it allowed inspectors access to the Moscow lab and data to which it had long been denied.

RUSADA was suspended in 2015 after a WADA-commissioned report outlined evidence of systematic, state-backed doping in Russian athletics. Another report the following year documented more than 1 000 doping cases across dozens of sports, notably at the Winter Olympics that Russia hosted in Sochi in 2014.

Trayon Bobb

Delon Lanferman, Kevyn Murray, Kobe Kingston and Dwayne Wilson will lead hosts Den Amstel Back Street’s attempt to advance, while opponents Zeelugt have Avery Fraser, Dillon Schultz and Jason Peters to rely on for victory.

National player Trayon Bobb, Jamaal Harvey and Seon Bobb will represent Uitvlugt in

their encounter against Vreeden-Hoop, who will be spearheaded by Curtis Garraway, Trvon Abrams and Jamal Mounter.

Teams will be battling for a chance to claim the John Fernandes $300 000 first prize and Prime Minister Trophy along with hampers from Ricks and Sari. The second-placed team will take away the Courtney Benn-sponsored $100 000, third $60 000 put up by Techno Mills and fourth $40 000 donated by Ready Mix along with the respective trophies.

All the trophies have been sponsored by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

Also at stake are the individual rewards for the Most Goals - a Dinette Chair from China Trading, runners-up - a Lazy Boy chair from AH&L Kissoon, Best Goalkeeper - the Minister of Natural Resources Trophy.

Among the sponsors so far are Techno Mills, Ready Mix, Sataur Gafoor, E.C Vieira, BEV Enterprises, BK International, IPA, New Thriving, Ricks and Sari, E-Networks, Star Computers, NAMILCO, Cummings Electrical, National Sports Commission, Star Entertainment, Alfro Alphonso, Guyana Police Force, GuyOil, Minister of State, Prime Minister and Ministry of Legal Affairs.

ALEX Hales’ representatives say he is “devastated” by the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) decision to remove him from their preliminary World Cup squad.

Hales was included in the 15-man squad for the tournament on home soil, but it emerged last week that he had been sanctioned under the ECB’s disciplinary policy for a second time.

A report in The Guardian newspaper said the hard-hitting batsman was serving a 21-day ban from cricket for recreational drug use.

The 30-year-old has been stood down from this Friday’s one-off oneday international against Ireland in Malahide, the upcoming limited-overs matches against Pakistan and the World Cup, which starts on May 30.

Hales’s management company, the 366 Group, said the player was “devastated” after assurances from the ECB were apparently “rendered meaningless”.

It said in a statement: “We are hugely disappointed at the treatment of our client, Alex Hales, by the ECB. “The ECB insisted on Alex taking certain rehabilitation measures following his suspension. In line with both the ECB and PCA (Professional Cricketers’ Association) guidelines,

those measures must remain confidential.

“However, at every stage, Alex fulfilled his obligations and both he and his representatives were given assurances that any suspension, again under the ECB’s guidelines, could not affect his selection for the World Cup.” Hales’s latest misdemeanour comes just a few months after he was suspended and fined by the ECB for his part in a street brawl in Bristol also involving Ben Stokes in September 2017.

Ashley Giles, ECB managing director of England Men’s Cricket, said: “We have thought long and hard about this decision.

“We have worked hard to create the right environment around the England team and need to consider what is in the best interests of the team, to ensure they are free from any distractions and able to focus on being successful on the pitch.

“I want to make it clear this is not the end of Alex’s career as an England player.”

Hales has played 11 Tests, 70 one-day internationals and 60 Twenty20 internationals but is now regarded as a white-ball specialist.

Andy Ruiz Jr set to be Anthony Joshua’s opponent for New York bout UNIFIED world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is set to face American Andy Ruiz Jr in New York on June 1.

Joshua, 29, was due to face Jarrell Miller at Madison Square Garden but the American failed drug tests, forcing him out of the Madison Square Garden bout.

California-born Ruiz, 29, has fought for a world title once before and was likely to be confirmed as Joshua’s opponent for his US debut yesterday.

Promoter Eddie Hearn says Ruiz will “do anything” to become a world champion.

“He will entertain you, give it his all. Even if it means getting sensationally knocked out, he will rather do that than not do it,” Hearn told Fighthype.com.

“I couldn’t afford a guy who I thought may not be good enough or game enough to entertain the fans. I had to pick a guy in my heart who I thought will do everything to become world heavyweight

Andy Ruiz (left) beat German Alexander Dimitrenko two weeks ago.

champion at the Garden.”

Ruiz has agreed to terms, leaving only small details to be finalised.

Ruiz beat Germany’s Alexander Dimitrenko on April 20, weighing in at 262lb, which is 17lb heavier than Joshua in his last win over Alexander Povetkin in September.

At 6ft 2in, he is four inch-

es shorter than Joshua and will be at a substantial reach disadvantage.

In his only world title shot to date, Ruiz lost on points to New Zealand’s Joseph Parker, whom Joshua outpointed 15 months later to unify the WBA, IBF and WBO world titles.

O n M o n d a y, B r i t i s h

heavyweight Dillian Whyte said Ruiz represented “a savethe-show fight”, insisting the challenger would pose no problem for Joshua.

Joshua will end about nine months of inactivity when he steps into the ring and will seek to extend his 22-fight unbeaten record.

(BBC Sport)

34

By Martyn Herman LONDON, England (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino said he was living the dream in the buildup to their Champions League semi-final against Ajax Amsterdam but it must have felt like a nightmare at times against the classy Dutch side yesterday.

His patched-up team were comprehensively outplayed in the first 30 minutes and were fortunate to concede only a 15th minute goal that was coolly converted by Donny van de Beek to give the visitors a 1-0 win and a precious away strike.

With forwards Harry Kane and Son Heung-min unavailable through injury and suspension respectively, Spurs were blunt in attack and they also lacked creativity in midfield as they slumped to their 18th defeat of the season in all competitions.

To make matters worse Jan Vertonghen, one of three centre backs employed by Pochettino, had to be substituted in the first half after a sickening collision with team mate Toby Alderweireld left him with concussion and a bloody nose.

“The attitude was there but we didn’t find a way to play,” said Pochettino, who has led Tottenham to their first semi-final in Europe’s blue-riband club competition for 57 years.

“We didn’t show the energy that we wanted to show.

They showed more energy

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Pochettino's dream turns sour as Spurs misfire against Ajax than we. The way we conceded the goal was painful. They were more proactive than we.

“Our approach to the game was not good. I am the manager so I have responsibility.”

go to Amsterdam where they will bid to become only the second side to reach the final having lost the first leg at home - after Ajax managed the feat in 1996.

the bleeding from a gash on his nose before it appeared he was ready to go back on and continue playing.

The clearly groggy Belgian international was then

Reuters/Andrew Couldridge)

POCHETTINO HOPEFUL Tottenham face a crucial trip to Bournemouth in the Premier League this weekend as they seek to secure a top-four finish to guarantee qualification for next season’s Champions League.

After that they must

Pochettino, however, remains hopeful that his side can turn things around next week when his prolific South Korean striker Son will be available again after his suspension.

“We pushed them to play deeper (in the second half). We started to press in the way we wanted to press.

The second half has given us the hope for the second leg,” he said.

The Argentine coach was also asked to clarify the situation with former Ajax defender Vertonghen, who needed lengthy treatment to stem

helped off the field as it became clear he could not continue.

“I wasn’t involved. It was the doctor’s decision.

It is so important,” Pochettino said. “The rules and the protocol were there and the medical staff followed them.

“In the next action we had to take him out. The most important thing is the health of the player.

I am never going to be involved. I only need to listen and hear what they say and take a decision.

I will never debate their decision.”

Silver Bullets open defence of title tonight DEFENDING champions Silver Bullets will open the defence of their title with a tricky matchup against High Rollers in the feature clash on Day Two of the Linden Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ competition, which resumes this evening, at the Mackenzie Market Park.

Six games are planned and the night’s action promises to produce some sizzling encounters with former champions Dave & Celena set to go up against Wisroc in a must-win situation for them, having lost their opening encounter to debutants Presidential.

Another team Haynes

Hitters, who face Quiet Storm in the first game, must win as well to keep their hopes of advancing alive,

while NK Ballers are in a similar situation following their defeat at the hands of Ashasa Ballers.

DEONTAY Wilder will fight Tyson Fury this year and Anthony Joshua in 2020, according to manager Shelly Finkel.

Wilder will defend his WBC title against mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale next month, with Joshua then set to make his American debut at Madison Square Garden on June 1 against an unnamed replacement for Jarrell Miller, expected to be Andy Ruiz Jr. The unification bout against WBA, IBF and WBO champion Joshua appears no closer to coming to fruition.

John Skipper (Executive chairman of DAZN, Joshua’s American broadcast partner) more than once.

He and I are developing a very good relationship, I’m very fond of him.

“Those talks will continue, and eventually it will lead to a fight of Deontay and Joshua.

“I think that on his (Wilder’s) resumé, the same as one Joshua’s, it’s a fight that should and will happen, and it’s a fight that will be remembered because there was such a buildup, very difficult to make. But the fight

Deontay Wilder had no trouble with his left hand when he fought with Tyson Fury to a thrilling draw in December. (Source: AFP)

Ajax’s Donny van de Beek scores their first goal. (Action Images via

Despite an improved second-half display, Spurs managed only one effort on target as they lost at their new stadium for the second time in four days and there is a suspicion that they are running on empty at the end of a demanding season.

Wilder to fight Fury in 2019, Joshua in 2020 - Finkel

Play in the competition continues on Friday when action switches to Silver City Hardcourt.

Action in the Linden Zone of the 2019 Guinness Greatest of the Streets competition

However, Wilder recently insisted it was inevitable and Finkel anticipates it will finally happen next year.

“He’s fighting his mandatory now then we have a pretty full slate for this year, then we will discuss fighting Joshua next year,” Finkel told Thaboxingvoice.

“The name calling, the immaturities that are in the press, they won’t help but won’t hinder making the fight.

“They are all in the works. There is nothing confirmed at this point, the only thing that is locked in is the fight with Breazeale on May 18.

“If everything goes the way we hope it will, we will then discuss his next fight.

“I have spoken with

will happen and the fans will get to see it.”

Wilder and Fury fought to a thrilling draw in December and Finkel is hopeful a rematch can happen this year despite the Gypsy King having signed with ESPN and the American being contracted to Showtime.

“He’s someone we continue to speak with as well,” Finkel added.

“The difference is, in the negotiations with Fury, we’re dealing directly and it’s not in the press, there’s no name calling, there’s no gamesmanship.

“That fight will also happen when it’s ready, which will be in 2019 I believe. If that fight is to happen, it would be a joint promotion.”

Cavaliers Sports Club 5-a-side football tournament kicks off today

THE Cavaliers Sports and Tour Club has teamed up with the Brave Heart Football Club to host a Labour Day 5-a-side small goal competition today.

The tournament will kick off at 14:00hrs at the East Ruimveldt Secondary School ground.

Participating teams have been drawn from the East Ruimveldt community and will compete in U-11, U-13 and U-15 categories.

The tournament will be played in a round-robin format which will be followed by a knockout stage, semi-finals and the final of each category.

The games will be played in halves of 15 minutes.

The organisers of the tournament in a release to the media noted that the aim of the activity is to encourage and promote the development of football among the youths of the community as well as to provide opportunities for the boys and girls to enjoy and participate in football at all levels.

Trophies and other lucrative prizes will be up for grabs.

Additionally, on Sunday (May 5), an All-Girls junior football tournament will be held at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue from 10:00hrs.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

35

India tour of West Indies to start early August CRICKET West Indies (CWI) has agreed the BCCI’s request of pushing back India’s 2019 tour of the Caribbean by a couple of weeks. ESPNcricinfo understands the tour is likely to commence in the first week of August and run till September 4.

venues will be finalised by CWI at its board meeting on May 13.

As per the ICC’s FTP, India were scheduled to tour West Indies immediately after the World Cup for a full tour comprising two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is. Although no dates had

reach the Caribbean immediately after the World Cup final on July 14. However, the BCCI might have wanted the India players to have a break before the West Indies tour, which the CWI was happy to entertain.

CWI also wanted a clear

KL Rahul reverse pulls the ball

The final dates for the India tour along with the

been finalised, it is believed that India were meant to

window for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL),

GCC, Saints, Hikers and Old Fort record wins in Bounty/Solo U-20 Leagues

which has now also been rescheduled, owing to the shift in the India tour itinerary. Originally, the seventh edition of the CPL was scheduled from August 21 to September 27.

As per the revised dates, the tournament will now be played between September 4 and October 12.

ESPNcricinfo understands that the BCCI has requested CWI to include a three-day warm-up match during the India tour. India A will also be playing three four-day matches in the West Indies prior to the senior team’s tour game.

A final schedule for all the tours will be finalised at the CWI Board meeting in two weeks.

Johnny Grave, CWI’s chief executive officer, said having a clear window would mean all the West Indies players would be available for the CPL. “We are pleased that we have been able to collaborate with CPL to find a spot

in our international calendar to ensure that all the best Caribbean cricketers can take part, as the tournament plays a crucial role in our preparations and planning for the T20 World Cup in 2020,” Grave said in a media release issued by CPL.

CPL’s chief operating officer Pete Russell said the change of schedule would not hamper the tournament in any way. “The Biggest Party in Sport may have been delayed by two weeks, but it is going to be even better as a result.”

Canada T20 to kick off second season in July

TORONTO (Reuters) - The Global T20 Canada league said on Tuesday it will kick off its second season in July with a clash between the defending champion Vancouver Knights and Toronto Nationals.

The 22-match tournament will be held in Toronto from July 25-Aug. 11 and organisers have promised a bigger, better and stronger cricketing spectacle than last year.

The first season of the league included a number of big-name players, including Steve Smith, who played his first matches since he was banned by Cricket Australia last year for his roll in a ball-tampering scandal.

Among the other high-profile players who competed in the inaugural event were Australian David Warner, who was also banned in the ball-tampering scandal, and Jamaicans Chris Gayle and Andre Russell.

The list of marquee players competing in this year’s event will be announced in the coming days, organisers said in a statement.

More support for RHTYSC award ceremony

Action in the GHB/Bounty/Solo 2nd Division League.

OVER the past weekend, GCC Bingo Spartans, Saints, Hikers Cadets and Old Fort Ballerz all racked up wins when the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB)/ Bounty Paper/Solo Drink U-20 and second division leagues resumed at Saints ground.

The Spartans duly dispatched GCC counterparts Her-Ricanes 8-0 with Abosaide Cadogan, Paige Fernandes and Makeda Harding notching a brace each while Madison Fernandes and Sarah Klautky scored one goal apiece in that U-20 fixture.

In another Girls’ U-20 fixture, Saints thrashed

YMCA Old Fort Bellas 9-0 with a hat-trick from Maria Seegobin while Charlia Webb and Cherub Outar struck the back of the net twice each.

Nia Williams and Clayza Bobb were the other players to score.

Meanwhile, in the Men’s 2nd Division action, Hikers Cadets inflicted a 7-0 drubbing on YMCA Old Fort Rusty with Colonel Haywood picking up a hat-trick while Devin Munroe netted a brace.

Sherwyn Caesar and Brian Asregado were the other names on the scoresheet.

In the same division, Bounty GCC and SHC Savages played to a goalless

draw while GCC Sequel beat SHC Shockwaves with Patrick Edghill scoring all four goals. The latter then suffered a 3-0 loss to Old Fort Aces.

On Sunday when the Men’s 2nd division continued, SHC Savers pipped Hikers Cadets 2-1. The latter then suffered their second loss of the day against Old Fort Aces (1-3). Bounty GCC also beat Shockwaves 3-1.

Sequel were also winners as veteran Philip Fernandes scored a hat-trick in his side’s 5-0 win over Old Fort Rusty.

Action will resume at the same venue on Saturday and continue on Sunday.

A representative of Sentinel Security hands over donation to Simon Naidu.

THE Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club MS (RHTYSC) is forging ahead with plans to host its 29th Annual Award Ceremony on May 19.

The committee, headed by Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster and assistant secretary Simon Naidu, has worked overtime to make sure that all plans for the ceremony are in place.

A total of 80 persons would be honoured while several outstanding Guyanese would receive the club’s highest Award “The Dolphin Award of Excellence”.

The club last Thursday received major boosts for the ceremony with dona-

tions from Bounty Farm Ltd, Food for the Poor (Guy) Inc., Sentinel Security, Moonish Singh, Mike’s Pharmacy, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond and A.H. & L Kissoon.

Singh donated financially, Campbelle donated a cycle while her club colleague Grimmond contributed two special prizes. Bounty Farm Ltd General Manager Patrick De Groot donated four hampers and would be contributing chicken towards the preparation of meals. Long-time supporter Food for the Poor (Guy) Inc. handed over $200 000 worth of prizes while CEO of Sen-

tinel Security, Noreen Gaskin, assisted with $60 000 worth of trophies.

Managing Director of Mike’s Pharmacy, Lakeram ‘Mike’ Singh assisted with prizes worth $100 000.

Naidu stated that among the players to be honoured are Clinton Pestano who is among the favourites to clinch the prestigious Cricketer-of-the-Year Award, Kevlon Anderson, Kevin Sinclair, Campbelle, Shabiki Gajnabi, Jonathan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Chanderpaul Govindan, Junior Sinclair and Sheneta Grimmond.

Hand-in-Hand U-19 3-day Inter-County

Brilliant all-round Ramsammy puts defending champs Berbice on the back-foot Page

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Select U-17’s Zeynul Ramsammy is rock-solid in defence during his knock of 58 against Berbice in the Hand-in-Hand U-19 3-day tournament.

(Adrian Narine photo)

Barbados Tridents set for new ownership in 2019 CPL … embattled Indian business tycoon Vijay Malliya is out

Hand-in-Hand U-19 Inter-county cricket

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Essequibo routed for 75 against Demerara 31

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… Joel Spooner main destroyer with 5-10

Joel Spooner leads Demerara players off the field after he claimed 5-10.

Embattled former Barbados Tridents owner, Dr Vijay Mallya

India tour of West Indies to start early August → Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019