Guyana Chronicle E-paper 5-16-2019

THURSDAY 16th May, 2019

Not so soon

No.105639

…Gov't rejects application of Eastern Airlines

…the rebranded Dynamic Airways still owes GRA, CJIA

…some passengers still to be refunded

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Gov’t seeks $3.4B for GECOM to hold elections PAGE

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Shake-up of Permanent Secretaries coming 02 PAGE

…President says no decision yet on new 2nd vice president

Republic Bank says robustly tackling fraudulent transactions PAGE

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From left to right: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings; newly accredited Ambassador of Suriname to Guyana, Mr. Ebu Rohno Jones; President David Granger and Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Audrey Jardine- Waddell

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Shake-up of permanent secretaries coming

…President says no decision yet on new 2nd vice-president PRESIDENT David Granger said his government has not decided whether a new vice-president will be appointed to fill the void left

by Carl Greenidge, but he hinted that there will be more changes in permanent secretaries by the end of June.

Greenidge resigned from the Parliament of Guyana in April – a move which automatically resulted in him relinquishing his positions as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Second Vice-President.

He, along with three other government ministers and three opposition members of Parliament, was forced to resign after the High Court and the Court of Appeal ruled that it was unconstitutional for Members of Parliament to be dual citizens. All seven of the former MPs are dual citizens, however, the majority have committed to renouncing their foreign status.

On the sideline of a credential ceremony at the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday, President David Granger told reporters that while Dr. Karen Cummings has replaced Greenidge as Minister of Foreign Affairs, a decision has not been made on whether another vice-president will be appointed at this point in time. The remaining Vice-Presidents are: Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo – First Vice-President; Third Vice-President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; and Minister of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs, Sydney Allicock – the Fourth Vice-President.

President Granger said while a decision on a new vice-president is pending, other changes will be made in the coming weeks. “Other changes have to be made at the level of the permanent secretaries and by the end of this month and the beginning

of June, there should be some announcements,” President

Department of Frontiers and Territorial Integrity and the

President David Granger

Granger told reporters.

Meanwhile, Greenidge was recently appointed Foreign Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this new portfolio, Greenidge will be responsible for the

Department of Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Under his leadership, the Guyana/Venezuela Territorial Controversy was placed before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to re-confirm

the 1899 Arbitral Award after decades of the issue being stalled at the ‘Good Officers’ process. With Venezuela refusing to submit its Counter-Memorial on jurisdiction, Guyana has asked the ICJ to proceed with the holding of oral hearings, at the earliest possible date, to determine its jurisdiction over the case brought against Venezuela.

Dominic Gaskin, former Minister of Business; Joseph Harmon, former Minister of State; and Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, former Minister of Public Service, are the other officials who had resigned alongside Greenidge. They have all since been reassigned.

Gaskin has been appointed Director of Manufacturing and Marketing within the Ministry of Business, while Dr. Roopnaraine is now the country’s Director of Public Service Training within the Ministry of the Presidency.

As Director of Manufacturing and Marketing within the Ministry of Business, Gaskin will be responsible for the enforcement of standards. Under this new portfolio, Gaskin is expected to provide assistance to small producers and access to markets, particularly Eastern Caribbean markets. Gaskin was replaced by Haimraj Rajkumar as Minister of Business.

Meanwhile, Dr. Roopnaraine is now responsible for training standards at the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service, Guyana Defence Force Staff College, and Guyana Police Force Staff College. Dr. Roopnaraine was replaced as Public Service Minister

by Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, while Harmon was replaced

by Dawn Hastings-Williams as the new Minister of State.

SOCU report with legal adviser THE Audit Report on the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) is now with the Police Legal Adviser, Justice Claudette Singh, President David Granger disclosed on Wednesday.

It was explained that the report, which contains damning findings on the operations of the anti-crime unit, was handed over to the Police Legal Adviser by the Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, for advice. The audit of SOCU was launched in February on the instructions of the Police Commissioner following claims of grave mismanagement, which included the misuse of its operational funds.

On the conclusion of a ceremony at the Ministry of the Presidency, President Granger, while fielding questions from reporters, said the Police Commissioner will take necessary action. “I asserted correctly that SOCU is an organic part of the Guyana Police Force, so in terms of investigation, in terms of any recommendations out of the investigation, it would be up to the Commissioner of the Police Force to initiate

action, and I’m sure, I will be advised by the Minister of Public Security,” President Granger said.

Approximately one week ago, President Granger had assured that necessary actions will be taken if it is found that there were acts of misconduct. “It is an organic part of the police force and it is not a free agent; it is not a loose cannon and we will ensure that the public confidence in SOCU is restored but it’s going to remain. It’s not going to be dismantled.

It has work to do,” the President said.

Head of SOCU, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sydney James, who has also been interviewed during the investigation so far, is still on the job. Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, at a recent news conference, hinted that a shake-up at SOCU was imminent.

“I have seen the report, it is not a very nice report and the commissioner has told me that he is going to take action. Operational matters a minister must not indulge in and that is an operational matter. I am hoping that

President David Granger speaking to reporters at the conclusion of a credential ceremony at the Ministry of the Presidency (Samuel Maughn’s Photo)

action will be taken very early. Certainly [there] will have to be shifting around, probably some terminations too. I don’t know what his [the commissioner] decision will be, but that is going to be the commissioner’s decision,” Minister Ramjattan told reporters.

The audit has reportedly uncovered serious irregularities, including the falsification of records. The police commissioner had cause to summon the SOCU head to a meeting to discuss issues including mismanagement of operational funds at the agency, after it came under

public scrutiny. This was after the firing of then adviser, Dr. Sam Sittlington, and the resignation of another senior official. According to an earlier report by this publication, the problems at SOCU have been long-standing, and it was reported that Sittlington had observed issues pertain-

ing to mismanagement at the agency and those issues were raised with the head of SOCU. It was also reported that Sittlington had encountered resistance at a very high level within SOCU when he first joined the agency, but given government’s determination to have the programme of the agency remain functional, such resistance had to be quelled. Among the more notable issues which recently made its way into the public domain, was the resignation of Sheronie James, the former deputy head of SOCU, who resigned amid concerns about her credentials. Ms. James was hired

by SOCU on the basis of documentation she had reportedly presented, indicating that she was an ACCA affiliate; it was subsequently discovered that the certification she had proffered belonged to another person who lives in Ghana and who bears the same name.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Not so soon …Gov't rejects application of Eastern Airlines …says the rebranded Dynamic Airways still owes GRA, CJIA …some passengers still to be refunded

By Lisa Hamilton

a little while before we actually grant them a renewed license,” Patterson told the Guyana Chronicle. “Basically, we’re saying that we’re not comfortable immediately after them having filed for bankruptcy to start back immediately after.”

Patterson explained that there were two main issues which helped to guide Cabinet’s decision. These arose

Airport (CJIA).

“We did a public request for anybody who had any issues with them restarting and CJIA and GRA had written saying that the old airline owed them money. What we discovered is that this is a newly-registered company and that this newly registered company is saying that it is the old company that owes and not the new company

things like that,” the minister said.

He added: “So, before we rush into any decision we decide it’s best for the travelling public [for us to wait] and to ensure that we have a better understanding how they operate [before we give approval].”

In the meantime, Cabinet has asked the GCAA to monitor the modus operandi of Easter Airlines while Pat-

EARTERN AIRLINES, formerly branded as Dynamic Airways, has been denied its application to re-enter the Guyana market following a cautionary decision of Cabinet.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed of the decision

by Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson on Wednesday. The decision is directly related to the financial challenges of the airlines’ former brand, Dynamic Airways. Eastern Airlines, which had applied to Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) back in December 2018 to ply the Georgetown to New York route once-weekly, filed for bankruptcy last year.

Hundreds of Guyanese passengers who had made bookings to fly on the troubled airline are still to receive the payments.

“Eastern Airlines made an application which I carried to Cabinet yesterday (Tues- Leezel Cambridge (middle, blue and white shirt) back in December 2016 had missed her wedding due to the poor service of Dynamic Airways

A crowd of people waiting to board their flight at the Cheddi Jagan airport on Saturday August 12, 2017

day) and, after deliberations, Cabinet has said that maybe the time is right for them to operate somewhere else for

within letters of concern written by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Cheddi Jagan International

that is now applying. GRA is saying that they owe them quite a lot of money and they had to put down a bond and

terson stated that there is a future possibility the application can revisit Cabinet for approval. Had the airlines’ license been granted locally, it would have provided service for a three-year period.

Previously, Eastern Airlines, which was headquartered in Miami, operated a charter service between Guyana and New York through an arrangement with Travel Span and One Guyana. However, Eastern Airlines folded in 2017 and was bought over by Swift Air. Following a range of investment manoeuvrings, a document seen by this newspaper indicated that Dynamic International Airways had applied to the United States Department of Transportation

travel agents here to inform passengers left behind that they needed to officially write the company in request of refunds for tickets purchased.

Several weeks before the announcement, travel agents indicated that they were unable to book flights with the troubled airline.

Dynamic subsequently announced that as of March 8, 2018, it was out of bankMinister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson

to operate its Boeing 767 aircraft under the Eastern Airlines name.

The document filed with the U.S. authorities stated that Kenneth Wolley, a 38 per cent shareholder of Swift Air became a 100 per cent owner at Dynamic Airways after it exited bankruptcy earlier this year. As a result, Dynamic Airways is able to use the ‘Eastern’ brand.

However, Guyanese travellers are familiar with Dynamic Airways and its troubles. In July 2017, following several instances when passengers were stranded at the CJIA and the John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport, the carrier announced that it had filed a voluntary Chapter 11 petition with the United States Bankruptcy Court.

It stated that it intended to continue its operations here as its principals had restructured plans. The airline noted that its decision to file for bankruptcy protection followed litigation matters resulting from Hajj flights the airline operated in 2014 for Air India.

Later, Dynamic made its final flight out of Guyana in October 2017 and left it to the

ruptcy protection and would be developing its ACMI charter business under its Eastern Air Lines brand.

On Wednesday, the Public Infrastructure Minster explained that the same precautions taken with Eastern Airlines will be taken with other chartered airlines hoping to operate in Guyana due to negative trends observed.

“We find that airlines are just coming here and operating for less than a year and then they’re folding, so it’s a holistic approach that we took,” he said.

Meanwhile, he added that the interest to operate in Guyana remains steady as the Government is currently engaging a number of airlines hoping to set up partnership in the English-speaking, South American country. “There are other Expressions of Interest. Quite a few other airlines: two American and one European are interested in Guyana and we’re actively engaging them,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Biden expands lead over rivals NEW YORK (Reuters) Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has expanded his lead over a wide field of candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination by 5 percentage points since he entered the race in late April, according to a monthly Reuters/Ipsos poll.

The poll released on Wednesday found 29% of Democrats and independents said they would vote for Biden in the state nominating contests that begin next year.

Thursday, May 16, 2019

That is up from 24% who said so in a poll that ran in late April, days before Biden announced his bid.

Biden led the field among all major demographic groups except millennials (ages 1837), who favored U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont over Biden 18% to 16%.

Biden, 76, remains in the strongest position for the top of the ticket despite questions about his age and centrist positions. He also has faced criticism over his unwanted touching of women and his

03:00 hrs

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treatment of law professor Anita Hill three decades ago during Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ confirmation hearing. The monthly survey showed 29% of women who identify as Democrats and independents said they backed Biden, up 4 points from last month.

And among registered Democrats, those who supported other candidates still listed Biden as a top alternative if their choice dropped out of the race, according to the poll. “That means that there is not a significant anti-Biden block of voters split between the other candidates,” said Chris Jackson, a polling expert at Ipsos. “At this moment, Joe Biden is a clear front-runner in the

Democratic primary,” Jackson added. The Democratic nominee will likely face Republican President Donald Trump in the November 2020 election.

Besides Biden, 13% of Democrats and independents said they would vote for Sanders. None of the other candidates received more than 6% support in the poll.

With more than a month until the candidates square off in the first televised debates and 18 months before the 2020 presidential election, the American public appears to be selecting candidates they know best.

Less than 20% of Democrats said they were familiar with many of the candidates, including U.S. Representative

…despite lack of support from millennials

Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, Montana Governor Steve Bullock, Washington Governor Jay Inslee and Wayne Messam, mayor of Miramar, Florida. In comparison, more than 84% said they were familiar with Biden and Sanders.

However, Biden probably is not leading on name recognition alone, said Kyle Kondik, a political analyst at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. “It’s not valuable if people know you but don’t like you,” Kondik said. “We saw that for (former Florida Governor) Jeb Bush in 2015.

He had good name ID - everyone knew his family name - but he wasn’t polling as

well as Biden is now because Republicans didn’t like him.”

The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in English throughout the United States from May 10-14.

It gathered responses from 1,132 Democrats and independents and has a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of 3 percentage points.

Advertisement Respondents were asked to pick from 23 potential Democratic nominees, including New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is expected to announce his plans this week. The poll did not include 89-year-old Mike Gravel, a former U.S. senator from Alaska, who is running.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Expansion of self-employment threatens labour situation in Caribbean …new joint ECLAC/ILO study finds

The expansion of self-employment, the emergence of new forms of work intermediated by digital platforms and, in various countries, the greater informality seen in salaried employment, are indicators of new setbacks for fulfilling the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 8, which seeks to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

So says the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) in a new edition of their joint publication Employment situation in Latin America and the Caribbean.

According to the document, due to the low rate of economic growth projected for 2019 (1.3% on average in the region), at a regional level employment and unemployment rates will not undergo major changes in 2019. More specifically, the rates of urban and national unemployment are seen coming in again at around 9.3% and 8.0%, respectively (the same figures recorded in 2018). In addition, with the exception of countries that have strong inflationary pressure, real wages will remain relatively stable, with modest increases predominating.

However, weak economic growth will once again lead to the slow creation of salaried employment, which means that an in-

crease is forecast in jobs of poor average quality, especially certain kinds of self-employment, which will contribute a large proportion of the new positions being created. Therefore, the United Nations organizations fear that labor informality will continue to rise, both due to the weakness in the creation of salaried employment as well as increasing informality among existing jobs in some countries. As a result, it is expected that the employment situation will deteriorate, above all in countries that are facing economic crisis in 2019, such as Argentina, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

In the analysis of the region’s labor performance in 2018, there is a noteworthy reduction in the gaps between men and women with regard to participation and employment rates, but this is not true of the unemployment rate – and the increase in women working occurs in a context in which the majority of new jobs are of poor quality.

Meanwhile, the expansion of self-employment contributed approximately 49% of the increase in the number of employed people in the labor market last year, while the creation of salaried employment contributed just 37%. Other categories of employment contributed the remaining 14% of new jobs. This composition of net job creation in 2018 indicates that the largest part corresponds to low-quality work, which would verify a further deterioration in the average quality of work in

the region, they state.

In the current edition of Employment situation in Latin America and the Caribbean, ECLAC and ILO affirm that in a medium or long-term time frame such as that established by the 2030 Agenda, progress on fulfilling SDG No. 8 will be affected by a series of trends that will have a profound impact on labor markets, among them the population’s accelerated aging, major migratory movements, and the transformation of the productive structure to achieve environmentally sustainable growth.

Another trend that is affecting labor markets in the region – and which will do so even more sharply in the future – relates to technological transformations, characterized as technological change 4.0, the publication adds. Recently, with the aim of “harnessing and managing technology for decent work,” the Global Commission on the Future of Work convened by the ILO has highlighted the relationship between new technologies and work as one of the aspects that requires renewed efforts for dialogue and regulation. At a regional level, meanwhile, ECLAC coordinates the Ministerial Conference on the Information Society in Latin America and the Caribbean, in the framework of which the development of policies for the productive and inclusive use of new technologies is promoted, and the seventh session of which will take place in 2020.

“In this twentieth edi-

tion of the joint ECLAC/ ILO report, a specific aspect very relevant to the relationship between new technologies and decent work is analyzed. Digital platforms create new job opportunities both at a local level as well as in global digital markets. However, in many cases such new forms of work are developed outside of existing regulations, so these workers do not enjoy the labor and social rights established by the corresponding legislation,” Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, and Juan Hunt, the ILO’s acting Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, warned in the foreword of the document.

This report emphasises that digital platforms create different modalities of work that have novel aspects, as well as others that conjure up forms of employment already known in the region, such as the work of agricultural day laborers with the intermediation of recruiters, or working from home.

In this way, the current debate about regulations suited to these new forms of work must take into account the specific characteristics of the new modalities of work, but at the same time it can benefit from the guidelines developed in the past regarding those labor relations. Both organizations indicate that the regulation of these new forms of work must be the result of a social dialogue that includes all relevant stakeholders.

Antigua urges US to grant CARICOM extension to CBERA

WASHINGTON, May 15, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda is urging the United States to grant an extension of a waiver allowing Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to continue to benefit from the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA).

The island’s Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, outlined the position as he testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission which is conducting an investigation into the impact on US industries, persons and the US economy of CBERA that was enacted in 1983.

CBERA is part of the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), launched by then US President Ronald Reagan and kept in place by successive administrations in Washington.

Sir Ronald said that CBERA and the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) which grants preferential access for Caribbean exports to the US market, is only possible because of a waiver from the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The waiver expires at the end on December 31, this year.

The Antigua and Barbuda diplomat told the Commission that, over the years, the US has benefited more from the existing trade arrangements than the 17 Caribbean countries for whom benefits were intended. He said that the US has enjoyed years of trade surpluses with the Caribbean countries.

In 2018, the US benefitted by a surplus of US$12 billion. But Sir Ronald said despite this, seven CARICOM countries that are the principal beneficiaries of CBERA “would face serious financial challenges if they were to lose the preferential access from which they now gain.

“The resultant weakening of the economies of these countries would have a harmful effect on the region by spillover effects into neighbouring states, including the U.S.”, he said, calling also for CBERA benefits to be applied to trade in services. He told the Commission that the economies of most of the CBERA countries are services-based, accounting for more than 75 per cent of employment and 66 per cent of total output.

“Based on the inter-relationship between US and Caribbean industries, including banking, tourism, air and maritime transport, accountancy and auditing, health and education, a relationship could be developed exponentially, creating new jobs, new sources of revenue and increasing opportunities for prosperity,” he added.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

The importance of social cohesion

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N Monday May 13, Guyana observed the fourth Annual Social Cohesion Day. The observance was intended to underscore the administration’s commitment to ensuring that Guyana develops along a trajectory of national unity, inclusionary democracy, and cooperative-oneness of purpose.

Those ideas were not invented by the APNU+AFC coalition administration; instead, those noble ideals have long been enshrined in our constitution, articulated in our national motto, and are, in fact, a part of the name of our country –The Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Admirably, towards the goal of cohesion, the government recognised the need for more than rhetoric; the government understood that in a diverse society such as ours, action is required.

The necessity of actively working toward cohesion was recognised and acted upon by the APNU+AFC government shortly after being elected to office. The creation of the Ministry of Social Cohesion is the concrete manifestation of the recognition of that need. The fact is that the need for concrete action was evident to the coalition even before the general elections of 2015, as was previously stated by this publication.

The construction of the Cummingsburg Accord gave birth to the coalition of parties. Multi-ethnic in composition, it was no surprise that the coalition, the APNU+AFC, made national unity one of its main election campaign platforms. Such unity is a coveted goal that necessarily resonates with all right-thinking Guyanese, especially those who would have lived through the racial strife of the early 1960s, and witnessed what it did in terms of damaging what was once good, neighbourly relations among our peoples, and the harm that was in-

flicted on Guyana’s national psyche. Tensions and even violence which have accompanied subsequent general elections have made the necessity of a concerted, determined, and comprehensive effort towards unity even more evident.

As an accomplished historian, the narrowness of the 2015 coalition victory would not have missed President David Granger’s analytical appraisal in terms of what it meant for Guyana. It explained why he readily offered his administration’s willingness to work with the political opposition, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), towards establishing a mechanism to work towards national unity. His sincerity to such an end was underlined by his formation of a Ministry of Social Cohesion. Such a development was widely and immediately welcomed, and was hailed as a necessary step in seeking to advance such a seminal concept to its desired and intended end. The importance to what could accrue for the socio-economic potential of Guyana became immediately evident.

The importance of social cohesion cannot be overemphasised. According to the United Nations, “Fostering social cohesion is about striving for greater inclusiveness, more civic participation and creating opportunities for upward mobility…Social capital refers to trust between people and in institutions and the sense of belonging to a society.” Though we understand the inherent challenges in the concept of national cohesion, it is still a desired goal, a missing element and an absolute necessity for a country, such as Guyana, that is ethnically diverse.

President Granger has repeatedly emphasised the importance of this groundbreaking undertaking. His Excellency has explained its purpose. Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of the Presidency in

Do something about this security firm Dear Editor,

T

his letter is on the behalf of all the people employed

by Integrated Security Services Inc. Region Six with working locations at the R.D.C, public hospital, mental hospital, State House, R.E.O, drugs bond, all government schools (nursery, primary and secondary), the nursing school and the Ministry of Education.

We are all facing the following problems 1. Money deducted for NIS yet no contributions for us at NIS. 2. We are entitled to leave passage yet none is

paid.

3. We are not receiving our salary on time. We have to work months before we get one fortnight or twoweeks’ pay.

4. Sometimes when we go to the bank, no money there for us. We hear that the cheques are being payed in alphabetical order, but only some individuals are recipients.

5. Mr. D.J. Darren, who is in charge for the Integrated Security Services Inc. in New Amsterdam, tells workers who complain to bring their letter of resignation from the company if “they ain’t able with the situation”.

6. I have visited the la-

bour department and was told by the officer that I can be fired from my job. I told her I don’t know where else to go to.

7. A lot of times, forth nightly we receive $8,000 when we are supposed to be paid $225 per hour.

We are family people.

Most of us are single parent mothers. This security company is taking advantage on us because to them, we are the minority.

They treat us like outcast people being given jobs.

I hope that the people who can help us read this letter.

Regards Security Guard

September 2018, the president said, “Social cohesion isn’t a device for one ethnic group; it is a national means of ensuring people are treated with respect, even at the level of the national festivals,” The president, was, at that time, alluding to Guyana’s cultural diversity, and our country’s recognition of that fact. Noting that earlier in the year, government participated in celebrating Chinese Arrival Day, Portuguese Arrival Day, Indian Arrival Day and African Emancipation Day. The President said that through respect for each other’s culture, Guyanese will build social cohesion, not by sweeping away another culture or ignoring it. He also added that, as of the first day in September, there will also be a respectful observation of Indigenous heritage.

In May 2018, at the opening of the Seventh-Day Adventist’s Convention, the president iterated, “Social cohesion rests on a foundation of religious and cultural liberty, a recognition of the plural character of the nation and the promotion of greater respect for others. He also noted that the church has a vital role to play in fostering friendly relations among the faithful by working to ensure social cohesion, particularly in the plural societies, which exist in most, if not all, Caribbean jurisdictions.

President Granger and his administration have demonstrated the importance it places on the ideals of cooperation, unity, and cohesion. The Head of State has repeatedly underscored exactly what he intends to accomplish through the pursuit of inclusion, economic equity, social equality, and national cooperation; he has left no room for doubt or misunderstanding of his objective. The benefits of that goal should be obvious to all right-thinking Guyanese, who would, naturally, welcome such a worthy endeavour.

Some commendable efforts by the Education Ministry Dear Editor,

A

s a father of three, with two attending school, I feel it is my duty to express how I feel about issues surrounding education and to express some of my observations.

Editor, I noticed that the Education Ministry is placing greater emphasis on programmes that were not adequately captured in the past; and at the same time, continuing with its traditional programmes. It is encouraging to see that the Education Ministry is strengthening its psychosocial unit to cater to the needs of children, especially those who are facing challenges which may impede their learning. Such a service

will ensure that there are no obstacles to learning.

Mr. Editor, there is now a policy in place to facilitate the reintegration of teenage mothers back into formal education. This will ensure that these young women have another opportunity to make amends. Interventions such as these will benefit any nation as it presses ahead with its developmental agenda.

Another plus is the expansion of the school-feeding programme which ensures that every child is adequately fed in order to function effectively in the classroom. While some might advance the argument that these interventions are mere top-surface issues, as a father and a person who values education, I know that they are

essential links to completing an effective education chain that will yield results.

In closing, imagine if all the children of this country can have a healthy meal before they start school.

Imagine a society that encourages its teenage mothers to become productive citizens by creating avenues for them to do so and not to berate them. Imagine a society where our children can easily access professional assistance and support with issues affecting them. These social programmes will aid in the strengthening of the education sector and the development of Guyana.

Regards Leon Persaud

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Sentenced: Octavius Williams

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Fruit vendor gets four years for sexually assaulting minor SIXTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD, Octavius Williams was on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, sentenced to four years’ imprisonment by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for engaging in sexual activity with a minor.

Williams was first arraigned on February 04, 2019. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which read that, on January 31, 2019, at North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he engaged in sexual activity with the 13-year-old minor.

Reports are that, on the day in question, the minor was

at her home when she saw Williams, who entered the home and forced her into a bedroom and sexually assaulted her.

Shortly after the act the girl’s father walked in. The matter was reported to the police and Williams was subsequently told of the offence and arrested. As such, the magistrate believes that the trial provided sufficient evidence against the defendant and he was consequently sentenced to four years in prison.

Williams was charged in 2016 for a matter of similar nature.

Dr. Vishnu Ragoonath got it all wrong Dear Editor,

W

illiam Shakespeare must have materially anticipated the likes Dr. Vishnu Ragoonath. I refer to an article in the Guyana Times under the deceptive caption “Caribbean wonders reasons for Government approaching CCJ” (Monday, May 13, 2019). Mark Anthony, in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, made this seminal observation: “Oh judgment thou art fled to brutish beasts and men have lost their reason”. Dr. Ragoonath must have lost his reason. His capacity for judgment must have fled. And, it is for just that reason that his political diatribe has found such front page prominence in nowhere else but Guyana Times.

Below, I articulate my reasons for such harsh criticism of Dr. Ragoonath. But first full disclosure: I am not disassociated from government’s litigation in this matter; but I was not a member of the government’s team of lawyers appearing before the CCJ. First, it is both common sense, and sound constitutionalism, that those in public office, who are responsible for representing and advocating the PUBLIC INTEREST in court, must be the sole judges of what that public interest requires.

Under our constitution that responsibility is, exclusively that of the attorney general. The Attorney General is Basil Williams, S.C. Dr. Ragoonath, self-evidently in his seeming anti-government dispensation, and disposition, ignores, at worst, or trivialises, at best, this constitutional truism. So, with his political blinkers on about government’s considered decision to have the constitutionality of the passage of the No-con-

fidence Resolution (R101), finally and authoritatively, determined by the courts, he says “So it is something that most of us as POLITICAL SCIENTISTS AND LAY PEOPLE in the Caribbean would have (asked) why is Guyana going down this route. Why are they not going to call elections when they should and why is the government now challenging this thing when they initially accepted it.” Editor, no constitution, not ours, is written by, or for, an interpretation by lay people (and for present purposes “political scientist” no matter how academically qualified, are lay people). Our constitution was written/drafted by lawyers bred and nurtured in the tradition of technicalities and complexities of legal-constitutional concepts (e.g. simple and absolute majority). Our constitution was intended by its framers to be interpreted not by “laypeople”; but by judges bred and nurtured in those technicalities. Whatever the ruling of the CCJ, the concept of absolute majority is a technicality of ancient vintage, as the case of Sir Arthur Clay and others v The Grand Junction Water Works Company (1904) illustrates.

Judicial clarification of such technicality in the context of our Constitution, is not an option, it is an imperative.

Second, there is no virtue in the persistence of an error in interpretation of the Constitution, and its misapplication (given the Court of Appeal decision) at the level of the Speaker of the National Assembly. It must be a matter of sheer common sense, and sound judgment, that on a matter with the potential of subverting, impairing, undermining, cutting down the five years term of office of an elected government as entrenched by the framers of the constitution, full and final determination by the

courts (being the only constitutional interpreters of our constitution) was not merely desirable, but emphatically, a matter of FIRST RESORT; not last resort, given that a constitutional crisis of uncertainty about the validity of this government, needed to be timeously avoided in the public’s interest.

So, if that was the thinking of the learned attorney general (in his constitutional capacity as “principal legal adviser to the Government of Guyana” – article 112), no one exercising sound judgment, and reason, can, or would, fault him (“AG wants court to determine absolute majority in no-confidence vote” Guyana Chronicle Tuesday, January 8, 2019).

Nor, was the AG alone in this disposition. The Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly decidedly took this position. Here, in his own words, is an excerpt from Dr. Barton Scotland, the Speaker (holder of a doctorate degree in law- Ph. D; recipient of the Order of Roraima (OR), and more relevantly, a practicing lawyer) in his address to the House viz: “Honourable Members, during the last week I have received, from diverse sources, information, both solicited and unsolicited, supported by Case Law and practice emanating from other jurisdictions WHICH HAS RAISED DOUBTS as to whether the no-confidence motion was carried and properly so, by the majority of vote…..FULL, FINAL AND COMPLETE settlement of these issues by a court of competent jurisdiction will place, beyond doubt, any question which may exist and serve to give guidance to the Speaker and to the National Assembly for the future” (“Announcements by Dr. Barton Scotland, Speaker of the National Assembly” Guyana Chronicle Friday, January 4, 2019). Surely,

no unbiased commentator can say that Dr. Scotland’s judgment had fled to brutish beast, or that he had lost his reason in advocating such a position. Quite the contrary.

Third, perhaps as a political scientist, Dr. Ragoonath (even as a matter of intellectual curiosity) should have discussed with his invented Caribbean audience, whether the elected APNU+AFC government owes a primary, fiduciary duty to that majority of the electorate who democratically elected it, to endeavor to serve it for the five years term (ending on June 10, 2020 all other things being equal) for which duration of time it had elected it, and accordingly, has a legitimate expectation, that unless the Constitution truly and properly applied, clearly, and beyond a reasonable doubt (not disputably or doubtfully) shows the government to be defeated and thereupon required to call or hold early elections, the government would serve them, and country, for that five years. I submit that in both politics, and law, alike, the APNU+AFC government has, and owes, that duty. And I submit further, that the government is not permitted to abdicate that duty, merely to satisfy what some may perceive as political correctness.

So, the question for Dr. Ragoonath is this: would any sensible, rational, and accountable government abdicate (by calling early elections) its duty of five years’ duration service to its electors, and country (see article 70(3) of the Constitution) such early elections involving, as it would, the reality of irretrievable, or irrecoverable loss of year(s) (even when it wins the election), even as the matter is (with much merit, not frivolously or vexatiously) before the courts, for full and FINAL (i.e. only by the CCJ) determination

as to whether the government has been defeated by some valid parliamentary process? I submit that the answer is an emphatic – NO. A government cannot, with sound judgement, with reason, rationally be expected to abdicate that duty, and not avail itself of the opportunity within the three months window for challenging the constitutionality of any purported defeat. That defeat was, then, inconclusive, it was reviewable by the courts at the instance of the attorney general, or any interested private party.

Fourth, I hold no brief for the Honourable Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo.

But, it seems to me that even the most gullible in opposition would accept that what the PM said on the night of December 21, 2018 (a night that would live in infamy for its grave suspicions of political chicanery and extra-constitutionalities) about elections in three months was manifestly extempore, and in the agony of that moment. It is not about some volte face, (“about turn”). In any event, the Court of Appeal majority ruling on March 22, 2019 that R101 was not carried, and was unconstitutional, as the absolute majority required a vote by 34 members, vindicates, and justifies, such “about turn”.

Fifth, the imputation that the handling of the matter by the courts was somehow conspiratorial (even as the CJ (ag) decision is one unfavourable to the government) is laughable. Courts/judges are not litigants. Courts/ judges do not initiate court proceedings. Compton Herbert Reid, in exercise of his right as a private citizen, was the first litigant to challenge the constitutionality of R101. Subsequently, the AG did so too on different grounds. With commendable alacrity, and urgency, the

learned Chief Justice (ag) gave her decision on January 31, 2019. Appeals were filed.

Full and final determination was imperative. The Court of Appeal delivered its decision on March 22, 2019.

There is no precedent in our judicial annals of such judicial expedition. And, it is a moot point (still not decided) as to when the ‘three months’ period expired. On one possible view, it expired on March 31, 2019. (see section 6(1) (c) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Act Cap 2:01 which defines “month” to mean “calendar month” – the month of March ends on the 31st), i.e. even after the Court of Appeal’s decision that the government is valid.

Academics are expected to be profound researchers. Dr. Ragoonath does not appear to have done any research.

I end with this: until, (if he does) Dr. Ragoonath disassociates himself from the deception and misjudgments attributed to him in the Guyana Times article, then on one possible view he has adopted them, they are his. The claim this government is “dodging” elections is not obvious.

What is obvious is this government’s disposition for constitutional clarity and certainty. The Speaker (even by his presence at the CCJ) and represented in all three courts by a senior counsel, has demonstrated a conviction and commitment, to the court’s resolution of this matter of outstanding and profound constitutional significance.

My abdication point is not empty political rhetoric.I welcome (even anticipate) Dr. Ragoonath’s (not Guyana Times) reply to the views I have expressed in this letter.

Regards Maxwell .E. Edwards Attorney-at-Law

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Republic Bank says robustly tackling fraudulent transactions REPUBLIC Bank Guyana has acknowledged that some customers were affected by “fraudulent activity” via their international Visa-One ATM cards.

The admittance came after hundreds of customers took to social media on Tuesday to speak out against unauthorised deductions from their bank accounts.

Several customers reported that monies mysteriously disappeared from their account and when they reported the matter, bank officials say the deductions were made for online payments to Netflix accounts or online shopping.

“The bank is taking the necessary steps to regularise all affected accounts… the bank regrets the inconvenience to its customers and advises that impacted customers will be asked to confirm and validate their transactions to assist with this process,” the bank said in a statement on Wednesday.

The bank also said it is “committed to debit card security,” and is beefing up security measures to mitigate the effect to other customers.

“Additional security measures have been put in place to reduce further impact, and as a result, some customers may experience interruptions in service levels,” the statement noted.

The statement added: “The bank will continue to

ensure that the most up-todate security is available through all of its channels toward the financial safety of the banking public.”

Bank of Guyana (BoG) Governor, Dr. Gobind Ganga, confirmed that Central Bank was made aware of the issue and reached out to Republic Bank for a report on the situation.

“Republic Bank has noted that some of their international debit cards have been compromised and they informed us about that. They sent something to me that says they’re trying to reduce the impact on other customers so they are putting measures in place and they will be advising customers to check their accounts,” Dr Ganga said.

Affected customers say the main question on their mind is whether or not they would be able to get their money back.

“I read it [the bank’s statement] and I am glad they acknowledged the problem but I hope they do refund persons their money and not just saying so for the sake of looking good in the media,” said one customer who claimed to have been a victim of the scam multiple times.

WHY ONLY NOW For other customers, they questioned why the issue has been going on for such a

long time and why it is being addressed only now.

“I am still mad at them, because why ‘till now? I would say they know what

for some 10 different transactions and also a POS Visa Debit somewhere in Amsterdam. All these transactions amounted to over $140,000.

get back the missing money.

The Visa Debit Card is issued by Republic Bank but is owned by Visa Inc, a US company.

Republic Bank says it is taking necessary steps to regularise all affected accounts

they were doing all the time,” commented one customer, who claimed he lost some $20,000 from his account since December 2018.

Another customer claimed to have lost over $100,000 after fraudsters went on a shopping spree last weekend using his card information.

“Over the weekend I realised a large sum of money was missing from my account. When I went in on Monday I was made aware that my card was used online

This is very upsetting. I hope that all of my money is refunded to me in a timely matter and then I will close my account,” the customer noted.

The Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) has noted that affected persons can file a report of such incidents with them. The CCAC plans to report every complaint filed.

Despite hundreds attesting to being victims of the situation, the CCAC said only one case was report earlier this year and the customer was able to

In 2009, Republic Bank became the first bank in Guyana to offer the international Visa Debit Card service. The service opened the door for customers to access their account and use their card anywhere in the world where Visa card is accepted, including online.

Once someone has a Visa Debit Card attached to their account, Online payment simply requires the 16 digit debit card number, the card’s expiration date, the name of the account holder and the

three digit card verification value (the three-digit number at the back of the card).

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

However, there is a disclaimer. The company said “Visa's Zero Liability Policy does not apply to Visa corporate or Visa purchasing card or account transactions, or any transactions that are not processed by Visa.”

Other specific restrictions and limitations may also be determined by the issuing bank.

On their website, Republic Bank said the card “provides guaranteed security and confidentiality” but warns that “there are also risks associated with the loss of personal banking information” and provided steps for customers to follow to decrease risks.

Lindeners to benefit from apiculture training

By Vanessa Braithwaite IN an effort to push agriculture in Linden, the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN), is hosting an entrepreneurial and apiculture training targeting 30 Lindeners.

After the two-week training, the participants will benefit from start-up loans for their beekeeping businesses. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LEN, Tanniza Gasper, related on Wednesday that each participant will use the loan to purchase four hives.

While the company was able to solicit assistance from a donor who will be providing four bee hives, these will be presented to four outstanding participants who will automatically get five

hives. The training will commence in the third week of June. The first week will focus on becoming a successful entrepreneur, by managing resources to develop a viable business. The second week will focus on the bee-keeping aspect, which will see participants garnering theoretical and practical knowledge, on maintaining honey bees.

A beekeeper, or apiarist is someone who keeps bees for the purpose of collecting their honey and other products that are produced by the hive such as propolis, beeswax and royal jelly; or to produce bees for sale to other beekeepers. In Guyana, beekeeping is a growing form of agriculture, as there is an increased demand for locally produced honey.

Gaining cognisance of

this, has prompted LEN to get involved in beekeeping and to arouse the interest of youths in Linden in this regard. While LEN has been giving financial and technical support to persons involved in agriculture, there was need for training in apiculture, since it is a new frontier for many. Bee rearing is done on a four-month turn around and Gasper related that the participants can either rent extractors for their honey, or to become extractors themselves and more financial support can be considered, given the progress the participants might have made.

While LEN initially started off with the purpose of providing loans for either start -up or business expansion, in 2018, the company launched a five-

year strategic development plan, whereby it is creating a presence in various sectors, agriculture being one of them. The company has been sifting out potential clients interested in the various forms of agriculture, not only in Linden, but in the various outlying communities in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice). At an outreach at Rockstone, apiculture was one agriculture sub-sector for which residents had expressed interest in gaining financial assistance.

For 2019, LEN was given a subvention of $200 M.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Guyana, Suriname recommit to strengthening ties …as new Surinamese Ambassador to Guyana accredited

GUYANA and Suriname agreed to consolidate their bilateral relations in the areas of trade and investment, culture and the environment, when His Excellency, Ebu Rohno Jones, presented his Letters of Credence to President David Granger as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Suriname to Guyana.

The new Surinamese Ambassador presented his Letters of Credence to President Granger during a simple ceremony at the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday, in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings and Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Audrey Jardine-Waddell.

Moments after receiving Ambassador Jones’ credentials, President Granger said Guyana and Suriname have collaborated in the fields of agriculture, culture, environment, fisheries, forestry, health, mining, security, trade and transportation, and his country remains open to enhancing collaboration.

“Guyana looks forward to working with Suriname within the ambit of the Caribbean Community and the Guyana-Suriname Cooperation Council to continue to improve trade, to intensify cultural, economic, environmental and social cooperation and to combat transnational threats,” President Granger said.

Guyana, he said, is moving towards the establishment of a ‘green’ state. As such, the country continues to place major emphasis on the protection of the environment, the preservation of the country’s biodi-

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Suriname to Guyana, Ebu Rohno Jones, presenting his Letters of Credence to President David Granger (Samuel Maughn’s Photo)

versity, the promotion of renewable energy and the adoption of practical measures to ensure adaptation to climate change.

With Guyana and Suriname forming part of the Guiana Shield – one of the world’s largest blocks of tropical forest – the Head of State said the Environmental Cooperation between the two countries could become a model for the protection and sustainable management of their forests and biodiversity.

Additionally, President Granger said Guyana remains committed to ensuring that the Caribbean and the South American continent remains a zone of peace. “Peace in our Region could be endangered by transnational threats such as trafficking in illegal weapons, narcotics and people, illegal migration, money

laundering, environmental hazards and territorial controversies,” he pointed out.

Ambassador Jones, in his remarks, said collaboration between Guyana and Suriname entered into a new phase in 2010, when his President, Desiré Delano’ Bouterse, entered into office.

“It is worth mentioning that the first foreign visit of President Bouterse, shortly after taking office, was made to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. It is also of crucial importance to highlight, that the bilateral meetings between the two Heads of State, resulted in the revitalisation of the Cooperation Council consisting of representatives from both countries,” the Suriname Ambassador recounted.

He said the Suriname Govern-

ment acknowledges the potential of both countries and will continue to work closely with Guyana. “The cooperation between our countries, given the diverse and regional nature of it, is of strategic importance for the development objectives of our nations. The Government of Suriname believes that the main focus of cooperation should be placed on achieving sustainability in the pursuit of development for our countries and peoples,” Ambassador Jones said.

Like President Granger, he underscored the importance of maintaining an atmosphere of peace, togetherness and friendship. He noted that the countries’ common interest should be the driving force to further intensify their relationship based on mutual respect, under-

standing, cooperation, good neighbourliness and mutual benefits.

“In light of cooperation for the realisation of sustainable development of our countries, the administration, under the Leadership of H.E. Desiré Delano Bouterse, is convinced that there is even more potential for cooperation in the sustainable use of our natural resources, as well as exploring the environmental, tourism and agricultural opportunities both countries have to offer,” Ambassador Jones explained.

With Suriname having 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, he said that country is willing to share its knowledge with Guyana and, if necessary, to support the further development thereof.

He said Suriname is more than ready to deepen the cultural relationship the two countries share, and to intensify economic trading activities. “With reference to cultural integration, there is a large group of Guyanese Diaspora living for decades in Suriname and is contributing to the economic development. On the other hand, many Surinamese have family ties with Guyana and cross-border travel between both countries is increasing substantially,” he pointed out.

“The border issue is one of the important challenges, where we as sovereign nations should find a sustainable solution for,” the Suriname Ambassador added.

Guyana established formal diplomatic relations with Suriname on its attainment of Independence on November 25, 1975.

SHEA helping crippled man to walk again Berbice farmer missing ERIC Shepherd was left crippled after an accident in February but his fortune is about to change as the SHEA Foundation takes on the task of arranging treatment for him overseas.

According to the SHEA foundation, Shepherd’s vehicle hit a utility pole when he swerved to avoid a headon collision with another vehicle which was speeding towards him in the wrong direction.

While trying to avoid the collision, the man hastily maneuvered his car to also avoid hitting pedestrians in his path.

“Thankfully, none of the pedestrians was hurt but Eric suffered disastrous injuries which left him paralysed from below his waist. He is unable to move his low-

Eric Shepherd and his family (SHEA photo)

er body and has developed bedsores and other complications due to his immobility,” said SHEA. Eric, his wife Charmaine, and their little girl Kaylee are now struggling in many ways

since Eric now requires care all day.

“Charmaine wants to see Eric walk again and she wants Kaylee to enjoy her father’s company. She has made a heart-wrenching plea

to SHEA for her beloved husband and although SHEA has pledged to primarily assist pediatric patients, we are moved by this young family and we want to assist them in ensuring that Eric receives much-needed medical care,” said the organisation.

SHEA believes that there is hope for Shepherd and he may even walk again but not without proper medical treatment.

The organisation has accepted the man’s case and has already secured medical treatment for him in the Caribbean including travel, housing and daily meals.

Donations towards this and other worthy causes can be made on the organisation’s website at http:// savinghandsemergencyaid. org/ericshepherd.

A BERBICE family is frantically searching for 68-year-old Chandramohan Ishmael called “Lionel” of Yakasari, South Black Bush Polder, who has been missing since Thursday, May 9.

According to the man’s sister, Golden Ishmael, her brother left to visit another village in the farming community to handle a property-related matter, when he disappeared.

Now the family is appealing to the public to help them locate the elderly farmer and have him safely reunited with his family.

“We are begging if anybody see him to call us and keep him safe and we will come for him,” his distraught sister pleaded.

Their many searches proved futile. A police report

Missing: Chandramohan Ishmael

was made but so far there has been no trace of Chandramohan.

“We get the message that he is missing two days after and we went with his children to search for him all over the Savannah and they didn’t find him, but people say he is around because he is talking to people, asking them for some water to drink and a TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Gov’t seeks $3.4B for GECOM to hold elections

By Svetlana Marshall

GOVERNMENT has asked the National Assembly to approve $3.4B for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for the holding of General and Regional Elections. The move is in keeping with a commitment

by President David Granger that his Administration will ensure that GECOM is ready to facilitate early elections in the event the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) rules that the ‘Vote of No-Confidence’ against his Government was validly passed. The Court of Appeal, however, has invalidated that motion, and a decision from the CCJ – Guyana’s highest court, is pending.

On Wednesday during the 114th Sitting of the National Assembly in the Eleventh Parliament of Guyana, Supplementary Estimates (Current and Capital) to the sum of $3,496,496,155 were presented for the Elections Commission.

Of the total sum, approximately $182.4M has been

budgeted for ‘capital projects’ which include the purchasing of five vehicles to the tune of $48M, two boats and engines (40 Horsepower and 150 Horsepower) at the cost of $10M, and update of the Multiple Identity Document Issuing System (MIDIS) at a cost of $75M. Additionally, a number of drawer office desks, office chairs, power surge equipment, vertical filing cabinets and canvas tents would be purchased as well.

The remaining $3.314B, budgeted for ‘current projects,’ will be used primarily for the payment of wages and salaries for polling day staff, the purchase of print and non-print materials, local travel and subsistence, the purchase of drugs and medical supplies and field materials and supplies. GECOM has also budgeted for food and security services among other important materials and services. The estimates are expected to be debated in the National Assembly during the next sitting next week.

L a s t N o v e m b e r, t h e House cleared approximately $5.4B for GECOM when

it considered the 2019 National Budget. Of the $5.4B, approximately $3B was budgeted for House-to-House Registration.

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan presenting the financial papers

Before the Court of Appeal invalidated the ‘Vote of No-Confidence,’ the Parliamentary Opposition – the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) was pushing for GECOM to utilize the $3B intended for National Registration for the holding of General and Regional Elections but the Government appointed GECOM

Commissioners had objected to such a move.

In February, after months of disagreements on the way forward, the Chairman of the Commission, Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson used his casting vote to break a tie, and voted in favor of Houseto-House Registration. That process has begun, and with the Official List of Voters expiring on April 30, the conduct of National Registration becomes even more important.

Last week during the hearing of the consolidated appeals on the vote of No-Confidence at the CCJ, GECOM’s Attorney, Senior Counsel Stanley Marcus told a panel of judges led

by President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders, that in the event the court rules that there should be early elections, funding would be needed.

“I don’t think I have to belabour the point that funding is necessary to administer elections,” Marcus told the judges while pointing out that the 2019 programme of the elections commission

was unanimously decided upon. That decision covered the revision of the Official List of Voters which was in use for more than a decade. “…a list that was compiled in 2008 by no stretch of the imagination could be valid for elections in 2018 or 2019,” Marcus told the court.

During that hearing, the Senior Counsel also informed the Court that the Elections Commission could only facilitate General and Regional Elections after October, 2019. It therefore means GECOM, even with the finances being provided, would only be ready to hold elections, if the need arises, in November or thereafter.

The CCJ concluded hearing oral submissions on the appeals last week Friday and has indicated that a date for the decision would be announced later.

Justice Saunders said based on the decision of the court, GECOM’s Attorney may be asked to reappear before the CCJ on behalf of the elections commission “It may be necessary for us to hear further submis-

sions from GECOM, but of course we don’t want to hear those submissions now,” the CCJ President told the parties in the consolidated appeals. It was explained that once the CCJ arrives at its decision, a date would be given for the ruling. If the CCJ overturns the decision of the Court of Appeal, early elections would be required in keeping with Article 106 (7) of the Constitution, which provides for elections to be held within three months following the defeat of a government in the National Assembly. However, Government has argued that the Opposition, as indicated by the Court of Appeal, did not secure an absolute majority, and therefore the vote was invalid.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland, during Wednesday’s sitting, told the Government Members of Parliament, in the voluntary absence of the Opposition, that the decision of the Court of Appeal will stand pending the outcome of the CCJ decision.

Youth to help craft solutions to nation’s challenges -- as National Youth Week gets underway from Saturday

By Vishani Ragobeer SOME 5,000 young people will be able to contribute their ideas for solutions to some of Guyana’s challenges as part of activities organised for National Youth Week which begins on Saturday.

“The Guyana National Youth Week seeks to provide a platform for young people to be united and address the many challenges affecting the society at large,” Assistant Director of Youth, Leslyn Boyce said.

This year, the theme for the week of activities is: “Inspire and build resilient youth.” The events for the week are focused on specific objectives, geared at the overall promotion and empowerment of young people to participate in national and community-focused decision-making.

“It is also hoped that National Youth Week will bring to focus the various trainings offered by TVET institutions through the Department of Youth and the National Youth Corps,” Boyce said.

When questioned about the focus on TVET, she explained that the Department of Youth has been working to ensure the programmes offered at TVET institutions

are accredited.

“We are raising awareness to say to them that the certificates that you are getting from these institutions are not another certificate, it is a certificate that adds value, it is accredited and hence we want to raise awareness that come May/June when we want to begin recruitment, they will be more comfortable joining or enrolling in our institutions,” she said.

With the imminent oil and gas industry set to begin pro-

duction in 2020, much focus has been directed to training for the sector through TVET. And since this specific industry is one which demands accredited certification as a prerequisite, the department is seeking to get youth up to task.

GREATEST ASSET “Youth are our greatest asset, they represent the future and it is therefore incumbent on the government through the Department of

Culture, Youth and Sport as well as concerned stakeholders to ensure that their needs are met,” Boyce said.

The week of activities will also zero in on raising awareness on Guyana’s territorial integrity, mental health and youth unemployment.

“We are again trying to create a nationalistic view among our young people... camaraderie… to solve issues internally and externally,” Project Officer at the Youth Department, Germaine Wat-

son explained.

The week of activities will commence on Saturday with a rally, exhibition and concert in Region Six which will focus directly on mental health.

“The whole concept of the rally, exhibition and concert is to bring awareness, of mental health. Not just that it is an issue, and it is being covered,” Planning Committee Member of the Department of Youth, Ewin Enmore said.

He also said youths from

At left: Planning Committee Member of the Department of Youth, Ewin Enmore; Senior Research, Planning and Development Officer, Adeti De Jesus; Assistant Director of Youth, Leslyn Boyce; and Project Officer Germaine Watson at the launch of National Youth Week (Vishani Ragobeer photo)

New Amsterdam Prison will be involved in the day’s event in an attempt to show that despite being institutionalised, all young people can contribute meaningfully to society.

Senior Research, Planning and Development Officer, Adeti De Jesus noted that another of the major events of the week will be the round-table discussion on youth unemployment, which will be held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Tuesday.

Here, scores of young people alongside representatives of various large youth organisations across the country will be provided with the opportunity to share their views and suggestions on youth unemployment in Guyana.

Importantly, she shared the youth department will document the discussions had and suggestions proffered and a report will be presented to Social Cohesion Minister, Dr. George Norton and Youth Affairs Minister Simona Broomes for further action.

“It is hoped that through the weeks of activities, young people will be better informed of their role in national development and inspired to get involved,” Boyce underscored.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Gov’t greenlights Customs Amendment Bill THE Customs (Amendment of Schedules) Bill 2019, intended to replace all the Schedules to the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01, was passed in the National Assembly on Wednesday as Guyana moves toward be compliant with international obligations.

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, explained that the updated schedules will reflect the current harmonised commodity description and coding system referred to as the harmonised system or HS. He said the HS is a multipurpose six-digit international commodity classification system used by governments, international organisations and the private sector as a basis for customs tariffs, international trade statistics, freight rates and production statistics.

It is applied worldwide by over 180 countries which, together, roughly represent 98 per cent of goods in international trade.

the multi-purpose nature of literature by taking into account of the various users.

The finance minister further added that the HS 2007

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

He said the legislation is amended every five years to ensure trade patterns, technology, environmental issues, clarifications of texts and simplification to enforce

version was implemented in Guyana in 2011 and has been in use since then, and the 2012 version was never implemented in Guyana as was recommended by the

border customs organisation.

“Now we have moved to the 2017 version which is the current version that will ensure that Guyana is compliant to its obligations to the World Customs Organisation and to also ensure a more modern and consistent legislation in trade to protect Guyana’s revenues,” Minister Jordon said.

He said the HS 2017 edition introduces regulations to control dangerous chemicals and organic pollutants, while new products are now classified under new headings.

“Advances in technology are also included in the amendments, like LED lamps, multicomponent integrated circuits, and hybrid vehicles,” he said.

He said the amendments are vast and varied in keeping with modernised systems.

Chief-of-Staf f urges ranks to focus on future CHIEF-OF-STAFF, Brigadier Patrick West, has challenged warrant officers and senior non-commissioned officers to be ready for the future of the army and Guyana as the force continues its “Transformation for Total National Defence”.

He was at the time delivering the feature address on Wednesday at the warrant officers and senior non-commissioned officers’ conference at Base Camp Ayanganna.

Brigadier West highlighted some of the transformative occurrences happening in the

Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Patrick West

A section of the gathering at the warrant officers’ and senior non-commissioned officers’ conference

force, from the recapitalisation of units such as the Air Corps and Engineer Corps, the expanded role of four Engineer Battalion, the ex-

pansion of services offered by the GDF Co-op Credit Union, to the expanding of opportunities for warrant officers and senior non-commissioned officers to pursue academic programmes at the University of Guyana.

He emphasised the need for the conference participants to remember their role within the GDF and to continue working to ensure the success of all GDF missions.

The two-day conference, which is being held under the theme “Transformation for Total National Defence”, will see the participants discussing a number of issues relating to their collective and unit responsibilities, with a view to seeking solutions to various challenges.

The conference concludes today.

Youth largest bloc of housing solution applicants

YOUNG people were the highest percentage of applicants to be interviewed for land and housing solutions from the Central Housing & Planning Authority (CH&PA) in 2017, representing 62 per cent of all applicants.

This was disclosed in the CH&PA’s 2017 Annual Report presented in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Having reduced the age to apply for housing solutions from 21 to 18 years, the Authority saw some 588 individuals between the ages of 18 to 20 sending in applications.

The majority of these youths stood within the $75,000 or less income range (393), while a total of 121 fell between the $75,000 to $99,999 range.

There were 64 individuals in the $100,000 to $199,999 income range, while 10 were within the $200,000 and above range. Still in the category of youths, a total of 2451 individuals between the ages of 21 to 29 sent in applications for housing solutions.

A total of 1182 persons were a part of the $75,000 or less income range; 557 fell within the $75,000 to $99,999 range; 527 were within the $100,000 to $199,999 income range and 185 were making $200,000 or more.

In other age groups, such as those within the age range of 30 to 39, there were 947applications; while those within the age range of 40 to 49 put in 510 applications. Those in the 50 to 59 age range applied to the total of 291 while 138 persons, aged 60 and over applied.

Collectively, there were 4,927 applications for housing solutions in 2017.

Those applying from the ages of 18 to 29 saw the report arriving at the 62 per cent total of involved young people. Housing solutions include both land and housing units. “The year 2017 was pivotal, as it saw the authority going in a new direction in its mission to create cohesive and sustainable communities through the provision of a variety of housing solutions to the populace,” the report indicated.

It highlighted the ‘Housing Solutions 2017 and Beyond’ inaugural housing exposition as an event which showcased the initiative and which the authority reportedly received favorable feedback from the public and triggered great interest in housing solutions.

Meanwhile, with the aim of providing housing units at the Perseverance Housing Scheme and schemes which were to be constructed in other Regions, a total of 7,714 applications were received for units.

The preference of applicants with respect to house type for 6,375 registrants showed that some 4,213 persons preferred single-elevated houses, while 941 preferred the flat duplex. The least preferred by applicants were three bedroom houses.

‘Tattoo nose’ remanded for allegedly murdering miner

By Deneita Fredericks

FIFTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD Phillip Bacchus, also called ‘tattoo nose,’ was yesterday (May 15, 2019) remanded to prison by Principal Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for the capital offence of murder.

‘Angry’ woman gets bail for allegedly attacking police officer

By Deneita Fredericks KEISHA Burke, a 20-yearold woman who claims that she was upset over the manner in which a female police officer approached her was yesterday granted bail at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court by Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty on four charges.

Burke pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The first charge alleged that on May 13, 2019, at East La Penitence, Burke assaulted Police Sergeant Odacia Johnson to prevent her from successfully exe-

cuting her duties.

Particulars of the second offence stated that on the same day at East La Penitence, she behaved disorderly.

The third charge read that on May 13, 2019, at East La Penitence, she used indecent language to Police Sergeant Odacia Johnson.

The fourth charge stated that on the same day and at the same location, she resisted lawful apprehension

by Sergeant Johnson, who was at the time executing her duties.

The fifth allegation read that moments after on May

13, 2019, she assaulted Sergeant Johnson, causing her actual bodily harm.

The last charge alleged that on May 13, 2019 at East La Penitence, she broke a pair of spectacles belonging to Sergeant Johnson, worth $40,000.

Police prosecutor Seon Blackman stated that on the day in question, at around 08:30hrs, Sergeant Johnson was on duty at the East La Penitence Police Station when she noticed a female standing in the compound.

As a result, she asked Burke her reason for being there.

Burke reportedly refused

to answer, so the sergeant asked her once more; it was then that she left the compound and began to curse Johnson.

When Sergeant Johnson attempted to arrest the defendant, she retaliated and allegedly dealt the sergeant several punches to her face; this resulted in damage to the sergeant’s spectacles.

Burke was then arrested and taken into custody.

The magistrate eventually released her on bail in the sum of $80,000 and she is expected to make her next court appearance on May 29, 2019.

Remanded: Phillip Bacchus

Bacchus, a security guard and father of four, was not required to plead to the indictable charge. Particulars of the offence stated that

between May 9, 2019 and May 10, 2019 at Princeville, Mahdia, he murdered Lavern Daniels, a 44-year-old miner of Princeville Village.

The prosecution represented by Prosecutor Sanj Singh is contending that on the day in question, the now deceased and some friends were liming at a shop consuming alcohol, when the defendant approached their table and requested to join them. However, as his request was denied, he became furious and reportedly threatened to harm Daniels.

He eventually left the scene.

Moments after, Daniels also left and was heading towards a camping site, when he was allegedly attacked

by Bacchus and stabbed in his abdomen; Bacchus then made good his escape. The victim was picked up and rushed to the Mahdia Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Bacchus’s next court appearance will be today,Thursday, May 16

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Local content creating ripple Environmental degradation threatens effects in Linden economy

By Vanessa Braithwaite CONTRACTORS residing in the mining town of Linden have spoken positively about noticeable improvements in the process of contracts being awarded, through the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

In the past, this system was berated and criticised.

Not only has there been a noticeable increase in local contractors benefitting from contracts as mandated by government’s 20% local content policy, but this is also creating a ripple effect in the township and is one means by which Linden’s economy is being nurtured. For 2019, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) received a budgetary allocation of $3.9 Billion.

While the contractors are the main beneficiaries of these contracts, the funds are however trickling down to all classes of residents. At first, contractors had complained about not being awarded contracts and therefore, very little of the billions pumped into the region yearly by central government was reaching the common man. While the situation is not perfect, contractors believe that it has got much better.

One of these is Michael Hercules. He said, “I would say that a lot more is being done, because if you look at the tender board that is out right now, I would say that 90 per cent of these contracts are being awarded to local contractors; so yes, I would say that you are seeing improvement in that regard,” he said.

In addition, Hercules pointed out that there is also an im-

provement in the payment process as well, which was a sore issue in the past.

Another contractor who wished not to be named, said that there is indeed an increase in contracts being awarded to locals, as opposed years past and believes that this is because of the stern call made by the government. “Yes, there is improvement; for one, I was stigmatised because of my political affiliation, but now I am benefitting and I’m seeing others benefitting; so to be fair I would say, yes, better is being done. There is room for more, but better is being done,” he said.

Zooming in on the ripple effect created by this change, the contractor said that this is what Linden needs and while it will not solve all of Linden’s problems , more people are getting money in their pockets. “The saw mill would benefit; the hardware store would benefit; the truck man would benefit; the eggball lady at the corner would benefit; the lady selling the two guinness at the shop after work would benefit,” he explained.

These sentiments were echoed by Hercules, who said that the spinoffs are evident; and he also encouraged local contractors to continue down the trickling trail by also supporting their own. He said that while there are uncontrollable cases where items and labour need to be outsourced, it should not be a common practice. He related that while some materials may be cheaper in Georgetown, contractors should realise that the difference is not so huge, that it merits outsourcing. “They should remember that when

you purchase from the hardware store in Linden, you are purchasing from an employer who employs Lindeners as well; and then most times you can get those items on a credit basis, which is better for you,” he encouraged.

Relative to outsourcing of skillsets, Hercules is encouraging, particularly youths in Linden to elevate and empower themselves in this regard.

“There is a demand for persons to upgrade themselves, whether in academics or skills training, you know especially in the 21st century; so if we are saying we are not finding the skillsets in Linden, we are saying that persons who have the desire in the said field to get themselves upgraded, attend GTI, get the relevant qualifications.”

At April’s RDC statutory meeting, Regional Chairman Renis Morian said that a letter will be written to the Finance Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, seeking permission to grant local suppliers an advance payment, when contracted to supply the RDC with items needed in a specific time frame. This is to bring them up to par with what is done with suppliers from out of town. Morian had also made a call to youths to get their businesses registered to also benefit from small contracts.

Realising the economic power of the construction industry, the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) has included same into its five-year Strategic Development Plan, which seeks to provide financial aid and technical assistance to contractors and others involved in the industry, which will empower them for even

qualifying for these contracts.

DIRECT INVESTMENT STILL NEEDED President of the Linden Chamber of Commerce, Victor Fernandes, believes that empowering contractors would create a positive impact in Linden’s economy, but opined, that what would create that major change needed is direct investment into the town.

Contracts, he said, create short-term employment and the RDC can only procure what it has been allocated, which is once a year. He said investment which will create continuity of spending power is needed to fully transform Linden. “We require more than just that: we must get some direct investment, we need continuity and as the private sector, I would continue to advocate for direct investment,” he posited. Investments such as factories and industries for value- added production he believes, need to come to Linden and if central government cannot provide same at this time, the process and bureaucracy that is hindering private investors who have expressed interest in investing millions of dollars in Linden, should be reviewed earliest. One sore issue that has been of major concern, is the issuance of land for industrial purposes.

He believes that the powers that be need to create an environment for investment in Linden, so that Lindeners do not have to be solely dependent on government for a means of earning, whether it be directly or indirectly.

Residents call for fire service on Wismar shore

By Vanessa Braithwaite RESIDENTS of the Wismar communities of Linden are calling on the relevant authorities to establish a fire outpost on the Wismar shore.

This, they say, will augment the resources available at the Mackenzie Fire Station, in the event of a fire.

The petition has been reinforced by an upsurge in fires, in April. For the year already, Fire Chief of Linden, Kirkland Harry, has related that 40 fires were reported from Wismar alone, out of a total of 111 fires reported in Linden.

Many of these occurred during the recently concluded dry season. In many instanc-

es, these fires were not attended to in a timely manner and residents had to seek alternative ways to put them out. One concerned resident, Michael Hercules, said that something needs to be done before the next dry season commences, or before any unforeseen fiery situation occurs. He related that the fires were not dealt with in a timely manner, given the distance the trucks have to travel from Mackenzie.

Another major concern is the situation regarding the Mackenzie/Wismar bridge.

The bridge is closed at least once a week for maintenance and repairs and Harry related that there is no system in place to allow for a fire truck to utilise the bridge during

this time. There are no other alternative routes to Wismar, other than across the bridge.

“So it is something that we welcome, even if it is a fire truck to be housed at the Wismar Police Station or the Wismar Hospital….somewhere central….it is something that is needed, because a lot of people suffered last month, due to fires.”

Currently, the residents of Wisroc are experiencing severe erosion issues that resulted from them breaking a main pipeline to out a very threatening bush fire. Since this publication reported on the issue last Thursday, the situation has got worst and the breakage has now crept to the only access road. Engineers from the Ministry of

Public Infrastructure ( MoPI), have since visited the site and are expected to commence corrective works.

Regarding the fire situation, Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell, met with representatives from the Linden Fire Station and the Guyana Water Authority and reiterated that another major solution to the matter is access to water. She is therefore looking to collaborate with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) to have fire hydrants placed at key locations around the township. Arrindell also said that there is need for sensitisation, to inform residents about the dangers of setting and “outing” fires irresponsibly.

Linden tourism industry

HOSPITALITY entrepreneurs residing in Linden are calling on the local authorities to do more in the area of environmental sanitation, since the current state of central Mackenzie is threatening their businesses, and by extension, the town’s tourism industry.

Speaking out on the situation was environmentalist and owner of Hyacinth Bread and Breakfast, located in Manni Street, Mackenzie, Samuel Wright.

Wright said that for his business to attain some level of success, he has to invest a lot of time, energy and resources in creating a welcoming and pleasant environment for his clients, since the surrounding environment is very unwelcoming. He referred to nearby garbage piles, stray animals, dirty drains and unregularised roadside vendors, that all take away from the aesthetics of the business hub of Linden.

Wright’s Bread and Breakfast compound is beautified with flora that forms part of an extensive flower garden. He said this has to be done as part of the décor, to give his clients, many of whom foreigners, a pleasant feeling and a distraction, from what is just outside of the gate. “We try to meet certain standards, but it is difficult, physically, the physical infrastructure of Linden, we have to improve that. This beautiful garden is part of our décor, it gives that pleasant feeling that you can rest, but look at what they have to walk through to get to me, the drains, it’s not welcoming, the conditions in Linden…it’s really awful, it is not conducive to tourism develop,” he said. The Bread and Breakfast entity has received clients from all around the world, including from Ireland and Jamaica.

Linden is poised for greater things in the tourism industry, with the imminent construction of the Linden-to-Lethem road, and Wright believes that more needs to be done to prepare the town for what is coming, which will also significantly boost its economy. Linden is the gateway to the interior, and more needs to be done to keep it looking attractive as a transport hub. “I have an interest in a clean town, in an environmentally safe

place, but we are defeating our own self by not having a better environment,” he said.

Wright believes that there is need for more sensitisation on the part of the council as residents play a part in degrading the environment.

Chairman of the LMTC environmental committee, Wainwright Bethune, said that the council is aware of the situation, especially around central Mackenzie, and are working on solutions to make the situation better.

The council will be gifted a quantity of drums from BOSAI and Troy Resources and will be soliciting assistance from the Linden Technical Institute and another bodywork shop in Linden to construct bins from the drums.

These will be distributed at various spots across Mackenzie. A proposal was made by the committee to have the skip bins that are currently in the market arena to be elevated and secured to prevent animals from accessing the garbage and dragging them across the area.

The committee, he said, is also looking into the drainage network system across central Mackenzie and will be soliciting assistance for funding to have these cleaned, as the council is not in a financial position to do so. “So we have recognised that there is a problems and it’s not that we don’t want to do anything about it, but the council has its own limitations as well,” Bethune said.

He also said that the council is open to consultation and suggestions and that there is an open-door policy for anyone who wants to discuss a way forward.

Meanwhile, Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell, last week sought assistance from US ambassador Sarah Ann-Lynch during her visit, with her vision to transform Linden into a sustainable town by adopting some of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. She reiterated the goal of ‘clean water and sanitation’ and related that the aim is to start this practice in schools. Sanitation is one of the main issues in the township and she believes that by creating a clean and sanitary environment in our schools, communities and constituencies will soon follow.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Minister Ferguson meets MoC senior managers THE senior management team at the Ministry of Communities (MoC) on Monday met with newly-appointed Minister, Annette Ferguson, and

beyond their challenges and unite their efforts and energies to collectively and collaboratively work towards bringing much-needed services to the people.

Minister Annette Ferguson is greeted by MoC Chief Planning Officer, Roger Rogers

updated her on the progress of works at the ministry.

Following a Cabinet reshuffle in April, Ferguson, a former minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, was re-assigned as minister responsible for housing. She replaces Minister Valerie Adams-Yearwood, who is now minister within the Ministry of Agriculture with responsibility for rural affairs.

Ferguson noted her enthusiasm in giving full support to Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, whom she has a history of working alongside.

She looks forward to working with him in achieving the goals of the MoC At Monday’s meeting, Ferguson also had the opportunity to garner firsthand information on the challenges in implementation of the projects and proffered solutions on the way forward.

She encouraged the management team to look

The minister outlined policy that would help chart the way forward for the ministry.

She urged the staff to remember to submit weekly written reports on key projects, particularly when the projects encounter delays in their execution.

The minister said her goal remains to better the lives of the people and, with her wealth of experience and technical capacity, she plans to do just that.

Minister Bulkan noted that although Ferguson’s appointment is specifically to oversee housing, his desire is to see her integrally involved in the operations of the entire ministry.

He reminded staff that they are a team with the overall responsibility to give meaning to the oath of ensuring taxpayers’ resources are spent in a transparent and accountable manner.

Minister Bulkan added that the characteristics to deliver on quality spending revolve around time-

liness, thoroughness and trustworthiness, which relate to equity, fairness and accountability.

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Newly-appointed Minister with Responsibility for Housing, Annette Ferguson, receives a bouquet from Administrative Secretary, Grace Adams, welcoming her to the Ministry of Communities

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Call centres stand to benefit as House amends Inception of Communications Act CALL Centres in Guyana and other telecommunication companies will soon be able to legally record their staff and clients, once consent is given, now that the Interception of Communications (Amendment) Bill 2019 has been passed in the National Assembly.

The Bill, which is intended to amend the Interception of Communications Act to include five more exceptions, was passed on Wednesday following a statement by the Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, in the absence of the Parliamentary Opposition.

In defending the Bill, Minister Hughes told the House that Section Three of the Interception of Communication Act makes it criminal for a person to intentionally intercept a communication in the course of its transmission by means of a telecommunications system. A person who commits such an offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five million dollars and imprisonment for

a term not exceeding three years.

The Act provides for only two exceptions. Section 3:02 states: “A person does not commit an offence under this section if – (a) the communication is intercepted in obedience to a warrant issued by a Judge under section 6; (and) (b) the communication is not intercepted in obedience to a warrant issued by a judge under section 6 but on the authority of a designated officer in the case of a national emergency or in responding to a case where approval for a warrant is impracticable having regard to the urgency of the case.”

However, the exceptions do not cater to the needs of the expanding Telecommunication Sector, such as call centers. As such, the amendment to the legislation would expand the exceptions to allow for call centers and other telecommunications companies to monitor the quality of their services by recording some of their calls.

“The Bill seeks to provide more exceptions, includ-

Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, addressing the National Assembly on Wednesday (Photo by Samuel Maughn)

ing, if the person has reasonable grounds for believing that the person to whom or by whom the communication is transmitted consents to the interception, or if the communication is not a private telecommunication etc. These exceptions can be found in most similar legislation across the Region,” Minister Hughes said, while quoting the Explanatory Memorandum at the back of the bill.

Among the five proposed exceptions, one caters for the interceptions done by telephone companies and call centres. For this exception, the “communication is intercepted as an ordinary incident in the course of employment in the provision of telecommunication services.”

This amendment will also provide for the interception of a communication transmitted by a private telecom-

munication network and is done by a person who has a right to control the operation or use of the network or the express or implied consent of the person whom or by whom the communication is transmitted.

According to Public Telecommunications Minister, the Inception of Communications (Amendment) Bill is a small amendment with a big impact. Due to the current Act, call centres are legally barred from recording the calls between their clients and staff.

“The main reason for such recording as many of us would know, is in the interest of ensuring better quality service to their customers,” Minister Hughes posited.

She said globally, the Call Centre Industry is now a $156B Industry, noting that here in Guyana, the local industry has approximately 5,000 seats with a number of centres established in the country.

“We recognise that to remain viable, we must be able to attract and continue to attract a major interna-

tional clientele. The passing of this amendment is likely to create a herculean leap in confidence in terms of those potential clients,” Minister Hughes told the House.

It was noted that international operators, who have interest in Guyana, have taken note that the primary Act does not allow for the recording of conversations. Guyana, the Public Telecommunications Minister said, has a unique advantage, and the amendment to the legislation will allow the country to tap into the industry even more. “The call centre business provides employment, not only to young people, but to a range of individuals across ages, across sectors, and therefore as a country, we see this as an industry that can provide much-needed jobs to our citizens of all ages,” Minister Hughes told the House as she submitted the Bill for approval.

National Accreditation Council Bill passed

THE National Accreditation Council (Amendment) Bill of 2019, which makes it illegal for an institution not to register with the council to offer tertiary education in Guyana, was passed in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

The bill was tabled by Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry.

“Education and training is crucial to our individual and collective futures, it is the cornerstone of a strong democracy which all citizens can use to determine the type of society in which they wish

to live and prosper, which is one of the most fundamental factors with the achievement of sustainable, economic, social and productiveness in creating human development,” Minister Henry said.

The bill, which amends the 2004 Act, intends to improve the effective administration and enforcement of the act through the amendment of definitions of terms such as “qualifications”, “recognise” and “register.”

Minister Henry said the National Accreditation Council needed to be empowered to carry out its functions to

Education Minister Nicolette Henry

ensure all intuitions provide quality education for students in Guyana.

Minister Henry said the

bill is concise in updating important pieces of the legislation and amend the National Accreditation Act with a view

of incorporating regulations.

The minister explained that the bill seeks to enhance the development of the education sector.

The bill also provides for the council to maintain a register of institutions or providers registered or accredited in Guyana and their accredited courses, programmes and awards.

The amendments also provide for restrictions and prohibitions with respect to institutions and providers, for decisions to be made in keeping with the principles of natural justice, and provide

transparent procedures for the imposition of administrative fines and penalties with respect to non-prosecutable breaches.

It also seeks to insert a new part which provides for various matters related to institutions and providers.

Institutions shall not use words such as "university", "college", "tertiary college", "polytechnic, community college", "technical college", "technical institute" or "technical university" in its name unless authorised by the council, an internationally-recognised body or any other law.

Kwakwani NDC targets Multi-purpose centre, ICT hub …from increased gov’t subvention

By Vanessa Braithwaite THE Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), of the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) sub district, Kwakwani, is putting its subvention of $12M from central government to good use.

This subvention marks a one-million-dollar increase from 2018.

Vice-chairman of the Kwakwani NDC, Cort Sim-

eon, said that top on the agenda is the construction of a community multi-purpose centre which will consist of a library and an Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) hub to the tune of $2.8 M. There is currently no such facility like this in the community.

Another capital project is the construction of a stage house to the tune of$2.2M at the community ground, where sporting, social, cultural and

other national activities take place.

Two main access roads are also being constructed.

The first is a road on the other side of the Berbice River, while the second is the ‘Old Plant Side Road.

These are being constructed to the tune of $2 M. “That road was down for years, it was condemned and the people were suffering,” Simeon explained.

In addition to the subven-

tion, the NDC also garners funds from the barge that transports motorists and pedestrians across the Berbice River; revenue and rates are also collected. The new council was able to increase the shares from the barge from 31% to 35 %. These means of income are used to offset administrative expenditures, such as paying salaries, etc.

Simeon related that surpluses were used to clean drains and illegal dumpsites and to do institutional strengthening at the NDC itself. “We would have finished off a walkway

at the council, we did some upgrades, purchased equipment and office supplies,” he related. The newly sworn- in council also honoured the Kwakwani basketball team, who have been resounding champions since 2006.

The new council highly favours community consultation and collaboration and has demonstrated this by holding quarterly public meetings, where the residents themselves get to air their views on what areas should be the focus. As a result of those meetings, the

council and residents staged a community clean-up project which was deemed a major success. “We are getting the support from the residents, we are trying to establish that relationship and that partnership to get things done,” Simeon said.

The Kwakwani NDC is mixed politically. Of the 12 council chairs, four went to the APNU, three to the AFC, three to the Independent Group Kwakwani United For Progress and two to the PPP.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

New NGO to tackle drug abuse in schools

A section of the attendees at the launch of Life Reform

‘LIFE REFORM’, a new Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) geared at tackling the abuse of drugs

in Guyana, was launched on Tuesday at the National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown.

The short programme saw the attendance of parents, teachers, students, and members of the media, who

Some of the members of Life Reform’s Executive Body, (From left); Trevor Hohenkirk, Kasper Carter, Philip Drayton and Lavern Fraser

were briefed on what the organisation sets out to do. With ‘Making strides to save lives’ as their motto, the NGO is

seeking to provide citizens with the necessary information needed to prevent drug addiction. Chairman of the

Chairman of Life Reform, Philip Drayton

Organisation, Philip Drayton, said that society has the right to fact-based information that may enable it to make informed decisions.

“We have the statistics that show 70 per cent of the youths here in Guyana, literally believe it is cool to drink and smoke… 80 per cent of society does not understand the dangers of addiction. It is with these statistics, that a few individuals dawned upon an awareness that most persons must have basic life-coping and refusal skills, to actually conduct life in a more cognitive way. This was when ‘Life Reform – Making Strides to Save Lives’, was created.

Knowing that, it will take commitment, compassion, honesty, open-mindedness, willingness, and bring about this huge transformation that is urgently needed throughout Guyana,” Drayton expressed.

He told the attendees that anything that alters the mood and the mind is considered a drug. “And illicit drug use is undercutting traditional values, threatening the existence of stable families, communities, educational institutions and work organisations throughout Guyana. We believe that people have the right to be protected from the harm created by drug use…” he said.

And this can be tackled through education, Drayton further noted. “Education on the huge impact that these substances have on individuals, and society as a whole, should

be implemented. So our members began to work towards a drug-free Guyana, engaging our certified and drug treatment specialists, social workers, counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists, who will assist the general public, and persons suffering from substance misuse,” he said.

To kick-start their intervention process, the NGO also launched the Secondary School Drug Education and Prevention Programme (SSDEPP), which is slated to commence in June. Giving details on the programme, Drayton explained that the programme will be reeled out in all the schools across Guyana, with a systematic approach. “We will start tackling from the PTA aspect of it.

First [we will start by] engaging the parents and teachers to equip them with the tools necessary to pin-point manipulative behavioural patterns or addictive personalities when they arise in students. Then we will target the student body, particularly the prefects, because they are the police within the school. This will enable us to detect the students who are already using drugs, and target those first, then we will address the entire student body,” he explained. Because they want to engage the students in an age-appropriate way, the first and second form students will be dealt with separately from the third and fourth formers, and the fifth and sixth formers will be in a bracket by themselves as well.

“It’s a systematic approach and it will work. And intervention, how long it will take, will depend on the amount of freedom we have in a particular institution. But we will see how best we can do a collaboration and fit into the timetable in the schools,” Drayton said.

Also on the executive body are Kirk Jardine, popularly known as ‘Chow Pow’; Trevor Hohenkirk and Kaspar Carter, who shared stories about their recovery from drug addiction.

There are other members of the body, all committed to ensuring that the mandate of the NGO is successfully fulfilled.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Irfaan Ali fraud charges Legal advice sought in matter further delayed corporal’s death

Dead: Carlos Alleyne

PPP Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali

The hearing of the civil proceedings, filed by PPP Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali, to challenge the 19 fraud charges laid against him, has been delayed to allow for time for submissions to be made.

The matter was called in the Chambers of Justice Franklyn Holder on Tuesday, and the parties were given seven days to file their written submissions, and the matter will be called again on May 29, for oral submissions.

Ali brought the matter to the High Court after he was charged with 19 counts of fraud last November. The charges read that between

2010 and 2015, Ali conspired with persons unknown to defraud the Government of Guyana when he acted recklessly in presenting the value of 19 plots of state land situated at Plantation Sparendaam and Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara, and sold the said lands at grossly undervalued prices without first obtaining a valuation to determine their true value. The defraud amount totaled $174M. The criminal trial at the Magistrate’s Court has been put on hold, pending the outcome of this fixed date application filed at the High Court.

THE investigation file of a 25-year-old special lance corporal, who died while seeking medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital, has been sent for legal advice after a police sergeant was implicated in his demise.

Carlos Alleyne went to the hospital on May 4, 2019 at about 14:52hrs after he reportedly complained of feeling unwell.

This was following an “incident” earlier in the day at about 09:30hrs at the Special Constabulary Headquarters, Princes Street, where he was involved in a fight with the sergeant.

An autopsy done revealed that Alleyne died from brain hemorrhage and blunt trauma to the brain.

Campbellville man to stand trial for killing of pandit, son CAMPBELLVILLE resident, Orlando Douglas, was, on Tuesday, committed to stand trial at the High Court, for the July 2018 murder of Pandit Deonarine Lilah, 61, and his 28-year-old son Omkar Liliah, at their Craig Street, Campbellville home.

Principal Magistrate, Judy Latchman, who is presiding at the Providence Magistrate’s Court, ruled that a prima facie case was made out against Douglas based on the evidence presented by Inspector Shellon Daniels.

The preliminary inquiry (PI), which had commenced before Magistrate Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, concluded at the Providence Magistrate’s Court where she is now stationed.

Douglas is set to go on trial before a judge and jury at the next sitting of the Demerara Assizes.

The charge against Douglas stated that between July 7, 2018 and July 10, 2018 at Craig Street, Campbellville, he murdered the two men during the course of a robbery. Douglas was represented by attorney Melville Duke.

According to reports, the Pandit and his son, Omkar,

Orlando Douglas at his first court appearance

were last seen alive on July 7 at their Craig Street, Campbellville home. That same day, another son had called from overseas and was told by the father that he was going “to a wuk” at 19:00hrs.

However, three days later, on July 10, the said son received a call from a tenant, an Indian national who was renting a bond, and who said that the two people had not been seen for days. Also, that a foul smell was emitting from the upper flat where they had resided.

This prompted the son to telephone an uncle, who, upon calling Pandit’s cell phone and receiving no an-

swer, summoned the police.

The police, upon arrival, recognised that the back door was ajar and the decomposed bodies of the men were on the floor. The son’s body was found in a back bedroom partially covered under a mattress, and that of the father in the hallway.

A post-mortem examination revealed that the victims had been stabbed a total of 66 times. The father sustained 34 stab wounds and the son 32.

Police subsequently recovered CCTV footage which showed a male individual jumping the western fence and entering the home.

In addition, the police managed to trace one of the victim’s cellphone which was stolen from the home back to Douglas who had gone to try to sell the equipment at Leopold Street.

Also, he, Douglas, was positively pointed out during an identification parade.

Several witnesses, including Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, had testified during, a voir dire, (a trial within a trial) to determine the admissibility of statements given by a witness for the prosecution.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

All airport fees now included in passengers’ ticket prices

EFFECTIVE May 11, 2019, all airport-related charges payable at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) are included in the passenger ticket prices.

According to a statement from the airport’s management, the airlines confirmed that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) had incorporated the fees into the price of the ticket and therefore passengers purchasing tickets after May 11, 2019 will no longer be required to pay this charge separately. The Cheddi Jagan

International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) expressed appreciation to IATA for their support in expediting the process.

Last month, the airport’s management issued a call for IATA to assist in fixing the process in which increased fees were being paid over the counter by passengers. Caribbean Airlines had issued a statement regarding the fee increase, which passengers noted was affecting their check-in experiences.

In a statement issued through the Ministry of Pub-

lic Infrastructure late last month, the CJIAC noted that

poration wrote the airlines in keeping with provisions of

on January 25, 2019, the cor-

the terms and conditions of

the Air Carrier Agreements between the Airport and the airlines, informing them of proposed fee increases, effective April 1, 2019.

The corporation said that it also provided explanations for the fee increases. “CJIAC had budgeted $2B in capital works for 2019/2020 to improve the services offered to the passengers and its airport stakeholders. The larger terminal with passenger boarding bridges has seen a significant increase in operational costs, inclusive of power consumption,” the air-

port said. The CJIAC pointed out that the decisions of the corporation are guided by the Public Corporations Act, the CJIAC Order, relevant ICAO recommendations, and the Air Carrier Agreements between the airport and the airlines.

The CJIAC said it remains committed to working with its stakeholders to provide a seamless and gratifying experience for the travelling public and hopes that IATA will also assist in this regard.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Unhygienic food establishments could face sanction –– up to public health officers to act, says food department director

By Navendra Seoraj ONE day after releasing a survey on the operation of local restaurants, Director of the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department, (GA-FDD), Marlan Cole, has said that it is up to public health officers to impose sanctions where necessary.

The GA-FDD released the statistics on Tuesday following a six-month survey which ended in March 2019.

In making the disclosure, Cole explained that the survey covered 55 randomly selected food service establishments in Region Four, between Georgetown and Timehri; and Region Six, between New Amsterdam and Corentyne.

“The inspection officers and public health officers now have information which they could use to take action and guide local restaurant owners,” said Cole during a press conference on Wednesday.

Cole said the department will be lending support to public health officers by arming them with the information to take action.

Despite leaving the results in the hands of the inspectors, the GA-FDD hopes that some of the restaurant operators will understand what they need to do and change things without being sanctioned.

“We are not asking them to cease operation, we are basically giving them a chance to get it right,” said Cole.

He believes that it makes sense for the department to work with those establishments instead of resorting to extreme measures and taking appropriate action.

A representative of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown, Dr. Suzette Reynolds, said intervention is needed, especially in the City.

Based on the survey, there was an alarming amount of cross-contamination and diseases and she hopes that the Council will look at new ways of cutting down the high rate of contamination.

“We must revise our systems to do more… what we can do is work on making the educational talks with restaurant owners different,” said Dr. Reynolds.

Although the Council is short-staffed in the area of food inspection, it will be looking to comb the “fine areas” in the City.

Based on the survey conducted from September 2018 to March 2019, only 25 per cent of the facilities practised adequate food storage while 34 per cent of the facilities had satisfactory cold storage.

Seventy-eight (78) per cent of the food establishments had no functioning temperature monitoring device (thermometer).

“In regard to food preparation, only 18 per cent effectively protected the food from contamination, whilst a mere 11 per cent practised meat thawing safely.

Food handlers in only 13 per cent of establishments used gloves. As it relates to sanitation, only four per cent of the establishment’s workers were observed applying the correct principles of cleaning and sanitising [dishwashing)],” Cole detailed.

The Food and Drug Department Director however, noted that the statistics show that there was adequate external garbage disposal present in 73 per cent of establishments, but only 56 per cent had adequate temporary internal garbage disposal. With regard to employees’ hygiene, only 20 per cent practised hand- washing correctly, and in 42 per cent of the establishments, workers used no hair nets.

Berbice farmer ...

FROM PAGE

cigarette to smoke and then he move on and still we can’t find him,” Ishmael said.

Lionel, the youngest brother of seven siblings, lives at his Black Bush Polder home.

His sister has made a passionate plea for his safe return.

“Please come home back because your chil-

9

dren and family miss you and crying to see you back and everybody overseas all stressing about you,” she said.

The family is asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact them on telephone numbers 615-1050 or 337-2285 or the nearest police station.

GA-FDD Director, Marlan Cole

M&CC representative, Dr. Suzette Reynolds

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Berbice trump ... ing bowlers were somewhat wayward upfront, off-spinners Amit Persaud and Mahesh Ramnarine bowled well in tandem, claiming three wickets apiece. Persaud ended with 3-27 while Ramnarine had 3-19 off nine overs.

Openers Zeynul Ramsammy and Nandu, whose first three scoring shots were all boundaries, added 24 runs for the first wicket before captain Ramsammy was trapped leg-before-wicket to Jerimiah Scott for a 23-ball five.

Dindyal joined Nandu to keep the Essequibians at bay before rain intervened after 15.3 overs of play.

But during that period of play, they took the score to 61 with the help of some errant bowling, especially from pacers Elian Whyte and Romario Stephen, who contributed ten extras between them from their opening spells.

Upon resumption after 78 minutes had been lost, Dindyal smashed Persaud for a six but the Select Under-17s lost their way thereafter.

Nandu was the first to go, bowled by Persaud while Azizi Christiani,

FROM PAGE 27

whose selection remains questionable, was also removed by Persaud without scoring.

The batting side then suffered the loss of four quick wickets, including Dindyal, who struck three fours and a six in his 65-ball knock. He was removed by Lance Roberts before Sarwan Chaitnarine became Persaud’s third victim.

Ramnarine then got into the act with the wicket of Romel Datterdin before Chetram Balgobin was run-out. However, Seepersaud stood firm at the other end despite the loss of Ramraj and Ajay Gainda.

Dowlatram was the other not-out batsman on five.

Essequibo then suffered an early blow in the runchase, losing the in-form Orlando Jailall, to Romel Datterdin for one, at 19-1.

However, Kevin Christian (22), and Scott (33), then joined forces for a second-wicket stand of 41 runs but Scott, after hitting two fours and a six, was dismissed. His dismissal triggered the collapse with only Roberts (14), the other batsman to reach double figures.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday May 16, 2019)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL- Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 39 times (2) Brendon McCullum-166 & James Marshall-161 (NZ vs IRE, Aberdeen, 2008) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who are the IPL 2019 champions?

(2) Who was declared Man of the Series in IPL 2019?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

American Racing Tips Belmont Race 1 Happy Sophia Race 2 Star Of The East Race 3 Purchasing Power Race 4 Mentality Race 5 Dark N Cloudy Gulfstream Park Race 1 Uncle B Race 2 Art’s Table Race 3 Elissas Secret Race 4 Be A Hero Race 5 Great Kahuna Race 6 Rudiger Race 7 Malibu rainbow Race 8 Umetuka

South Africa Racing Tips Vaal 08:30 hrs Golden Lion 09:05 hrs Chariot Of Gold 09:40 hrs Bold Coast 10:15 hrs Topmast 10:50 hrs Tudor Manor English Racing Tips Salisbury 08:40 hrs Welcome Surprise 09:10 hrs Frisella 09:45 hrs Humanitarian 10:20 hrs Inference 10:55 hrs Stratification 11:25 hrs Warning Fire 11:55 hrs Jungle Inthebungle 12:25 hrs Tamerlane York 08:50 hrs Dark Shot 09:25 hrs Lah Ti Dar 10:00 hrs Too darn Hot 10:35 hrs Beringer 11:05 hrs Soldier’s Call 11:35 hrs Hong Kong 12:05 hrs Carnwennan Newmarket 12:10 hrs New Jazz 12:45 hrs Apollinaire 13:20 hrs Gentlewoman 13:55 hrs Hameem 14:30 hrs Albadar 15:05 hrs Sezim 15:35 hrs Migration Irish Racing Tips Clonmel 12:20 hrs Dualla Time 12:55 hrs Touch Of Oscar 13:30 hrs Arizengo 14:05 hrs Megalomaniac 14:40 hrs SassY Yet Classy 13:15 hrs Whatsinthecorner 13:45 hrs Bigbadandbeautiful

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Alonso escapes Indy crash unhurt (REUTERS) - SPANIARD Fernando Alonso escaped injury when he crashed during an Indianapolis 500 practice run yesterday after his car lost traction in the middle of Turn 3 and made contact with the wall three times.

The double Formula One world champion’s No.66 McLaren Racing Chevrolet slid into the wall on the exit of Turn 3 before skidding across the track and into the interior barrier and striking the outside barrier again.

When his car came to a stop, the 37-year-old managed to get out unassisted and was later checked, cleared and released from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Infield Medical Center.

“It was understeer on the car, and even if I lifted the throttle on the entry of the corner, it was not enough, and I lost completely the

front aero,” Alonso said.

“The wall came too close and too quickly. Unfortunately, it happened today.

We will lose a little bit of running time again. I’m sorry for the team, but we will learn and hopefully we will come back stronger tomorrow.”

Before the crash, Alonso had recorded 46 laps, with a best of 225.433 mph.

Alonso on May 26 will try to join Graham Hill as the second driver to achieve the “Triple Crown of Motorsport” by adding an Indy 500 win to his triumphs at the Monaco Grand Prix and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

It will mark the second time Alonso has taken part in the race, which he led in 2017, before retiring with an engine problem.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Curry’s Warriors beat Portland in game one

Stephen Curry (middle) is three years older than his brother Seth (right)

Alonso escapes unhurt after crashing into a wall.

(BBC) - STEPHEN Curry inspired the Golden State Warriors to a 116-94 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in game one of the NBA Western Conference finals.

Curry scored 36 points, including nine three-pointers, for the defending NBA champions, who are playing their fifth straight Western Conference final.

He also added seven assists and six rebounds as the hosts dominated.

Game two in the best-ofseven series is on Thursday, 16 May, also on top-seeded Golden State’s home court.

“It was a nice flow,” said Curry. “It just puts so much pressure on the defence.

“It’s fun when everyone’s running around, cutting, and we’re whipping the ball

around - that’s when we’re at our best.”

Klay Thompson also hit 26 points for the Warriors, who won a second consecutive game without star forward Kevin Durant, ruled out because of a calf injury.

The Blazers, whose side included Curry’s younger brother Seth, made just seven of 28 three-point attempts.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Academic learning and sports education Record number of complement each other – Minister of Education players in CPL 2019 draft THE final list of players, who have made themselves available for the 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), has been sent to teams ahead of the draft which will take place in London on May 22, 2019.

The number of players, who have put their names forward for the draft, has increased yet again in 2019, as well as the number of countries from which the overseas players come.

A record 536 players from 20 overseas countries and the West Indies are available to be picked by the six Hero CPL teams.

Included in the list are some of the best T20 players in the world, with the likes of Alex Hales, Rashid Khan, Shakib al Hasan, Jofra Archer and JP Duminy putting

their names forward, along with Caribbean stars such as Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope.

Prior to the draft, each franchise will have the option to retain and/or acquire a maximum of six players, although there is no obligation to do so. The players they can potentially retain are as follows: Minimum of three (3) West Indian players, a maximum of four (4) Maximum of one (1) overseas player, reduced to none if four (4) West Indians retained.

A Marquee Player whether retained or acquired An ICC Americas Player, whether retained or acquired.

All retentions will be

announced during the live broadcast of the player draft which will be broadcast on the Hero CPL social media channels from 14:00hrs GMT on May 22.

Speaking about the player response to this year’s draft, Michael Hall, Hero CPL Tournament Operations Director, said: “The fact that so many players have registered for our draft is a testament to the stature of our league.

Playing cricket in the Caribbean is something that all players look forward to, and the CPL combines that allure with a high standard of cricket. We expect that this year’s tournament will be no different.”

The players who are available to be drafted and/ or retained are listed on the attached spreadsheet.

GUINNESS GREATEST OF THE STREETS LINDEN FINAL

High Rollers vs Amazings will be a classic!

Scenes from the earlier quarter-final action in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Linden Zone between Capital Storm and Quiet Storm at the Mackenzie Market tarmac.

IN less than three days, a new champion will be crowned in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Linden Championship, when first-time finalists High Rollers and Amazings face-off at the Mackenzie Market tarmac.

High Rollers earned their place to the championship match, after dethroning defending champions Silver Bullets in the semi-final round via penalty kicks.

This occurred after High Rollers secured another unlikely 2-1 victory against Swag Entertainment in the earlier quarter-final round.

On the other hand, the dogged Amazings outfit clinched a semi-final win against Capital, compliments

of a 2-1 penalty shoot-out victory. In their earlier quarter-final match, Amazings once again required penalty kicks to survive a dangerous Coomacka outfit.

According to an official release from the tournament coordinators, “The anticipation is in the air for what promises to be a great final between two teams who are desperate to secure the coveted championship and the bragging rights for their region and the right to represent the zone at the National Championship.”

The release further said, “The fact that we have two first-time finalists is an indication of the overall improvement in quality of the tournament. Neither of the teams was expected to challenge or

formed part of the group of possible contenders when the tournament commenced, so it is refreshing that first-time champions will be crowned.

Even the third-place match features a first-time semi-finalist.”

“It also highlights that teams have been preparing better and want to etch their name on the trophy and put their respective communities on the map by securing the title. This occurrence will serve as an inspiration for the other teams and bodes well for the continued improvement in quality of the tournament,” the release concluded.

Meanwhile the thirdplace playoff will pit former two-time champions Silver Bullets against Capital Storm.

“IT must never be forgotten that academic learning and sports education complement each other,” said the Minister of Education, Dr the Hon. Nicolette Henry at the second day of the Federation Internationale de Football Association’s (FIFA) Conference on Development.

According to Minister Henry, sports education and academic learning resemble two sides of the same coin, adding that “if sports education is carried out accompanied with the academic curriculum, the overall personality of the student is increased to quite an exten..”

Addressing members of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Caribbean Football Union (CFU) and the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) at the Marriott Hotel, Minister Henry said that sports has

been and will continue to be a vital aspect of the school curriculum.

“One of the Ministry of Education’s mandates is to ensure that students are physically and emotionally healthy and that they remain focussed, so that they perform well in their academics,” Minister Henry noted.

It was further explained that the Ministry of Education has provided Sports and Physical Education curriculum guides from primary to secondary education.

According to the Education Minister, in 1995 the Allied Arts Department of the Ministry in collaboration with the Commonwealth Sports Development Programme produced a Physical Education Curriculum.

Moreover, she said that the Ministry collaborates with many external agencies to fulfil its mandate and provide optimal learning that benefits students, schools, regions and

by extension Guyana.

“The Guyana Football Federation Inc. and the Federation Internationale de Football Association are among the external agencies that join forces with the Ministry to fulfil the best practices in Physical Education and Sports. These associations must be commended for their dedication, commitment and tireless effort in implementing well-structured and sustainable School Football Programmes,” Minister Henry remarked.

The Development Conference which was opened on Tuesday is aimed at discussing and highlighting ways to further develop the sport of football.

Following her presentation, Minister Henry was presented with the official ball to be used for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup that will be hosted in France.

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Lima United, Walton Hall through to North Essequibo T20 Final

By Elroy Stephney

LIMA United and Walton Hall secured contrasting victories on Sunday at the Walton Hall ground to book their places in the final.

The first encounter was reduced to 14 overs due to rain and Charity Sports Club posted a challenging 160-7 from their allotted overs with veteran opening batsman Barry Alphonso striking a brisk 42 (8x4).

There were two wickets each for Uvindra Balgobin and Vishwanauth Lall.

The eventual winners were indebted to Suresh Persaud who batted superbly from the first to the last ball to register a magnificent century.

With Walton Hall needing six runs from the final delivery, it was anyone’s guess.

However, with Persaud still at the crease, he savagely smashed the ball over the boundary to take the score to 161-6

and seal an exciting six-wicket win.

He remained unbeaten on 115, decorated with 15 exquisite boundaries and five maximums.

In the second game at the same venue, Lima United enjoyed a run-fest with the game also being reduced to 14 overs.

Batting first, Lima United plummeted to 205-7 with Abdool Ghani hammering a fine 62 (10x4) and Fizal Karim 50 (8x4) leading the charge.

Off-spinner Anthony Persaud claimed 4-28 from 3 overs.

In reply, Anthony Persaud returned to blast 74 (7x4, 3x6) in a losing cause, as Devonshire Castle could reach only 167-8 when their overs expired to lose by 38 runs.

The final will now be contested on Sunday at the Walton Hall ground in front of an anticipated large crowd.

Cash incentives and trophies will be at stake, compliments of the North Essequibo Management Committee.

The officiating umpires will be senior national umpire Shannon Crawford and Wazeer Dhanraj.

Government supports youths at Belle West Primary MINISTER Khemraj Ramjattan on Tuesday, donated sporting gear, including cricket bats, pads, helmets, gloves, cricket balls, and volleyball to the Belle West Primary School.

The sporting gear will be used to enhance the learning experience of the students and promote extra-curricular activities.

The donation is the fulfilment of a simple promise made by Minister Ramjattan during the Government’s Ministerial Outreach, bringing government to the people in Region 3, held on April 28, 2019.

The Headmistress (acting) Ms Parbattie Ally, staff and students of Belle West Primary expressed their gratitude to the Hon. Minister for his gesture and look forward for further collaborative efforts in the community of Belle West, West Bank Demerara.

Minister Khemraj Ramjattan donates sporting equipment. (DPI photo)

MSC Special General Members Meeting on today MACKENZIE Sports Club will host a Special General Members Meeting today from 17:00hrs in an effort to get ready for its Annual General Meeting and Elections on June 30.

General Secretary of the MSC, Marlon Pearson, in the absence of the president Avery Trim, who is out of the jurisdiction, has advised that all non-financial members put their house in order.

The names of all members dating back from 2014 to present are posted for scrutiny on the Notice Board and those who are non-financial are advised to put themselves in order to have a say when the AGM and biennial elections are held at the end of next month.

Apart from that, the meeting is called to deal with the Club’s outdated rules which are to be replaced with a proposed new Constitution, something that will help the club to move forward.

All this comes as the club has been released from the scrutiny of the Linden bauxite firm which paid salaries

for the MSC staff, among other things. The onus is now with the Club’s Management Committee.

Being saddled with that and the general upkeep of the facilities, along with the fall-off of most financial members, meant the club could not properly meet the needs of uplifting its status accordingly.

In light of this, regaining lost members and adding new ones, coupled with a new MSC Constitution to look into the current financial status and the many concerns persons have, will now have to be addressed.

However, following a recent meeting with Minister within the Minister of Agriculture Ms Valarie Yearwood, the efforts by the current Management Committee is being noted and the will to make the club one of Guyana’s best seems possible.

Persons who want to become new members of the MSC are encouraged also to uplift Membership Forms which ware available at the desk of the Club’s steward, Ms Keisha Quow, between 10:00hrs and 17:00hrs, Monday to Friday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Action heating up in Woodpecker Junior nationals THE girls enjoyed their first matches of the Woodpecker Products Junior National Tournament on Tuesday evening in the Under-11 category.

The youngest player in the competition, Tiana Gomes, aged 8. showed great spirit in her games against category favourite Christiana Fernandes.

Gomes earned some good points with solid drive retrievals against the talented and athletic Fernandes. In the 3-0 match, Fernandes displayed developing shot execution for the 11-2, 11-5. 21-4 win.

Mohryan Baksh maintained his winning streak against Dhirren Persaud and Joshua Verwey in the Boys Under-13 category, while Louis DaSilva picked up his second win and Chad DeAbreu his first.

Ever-improving Nicholas Verwey moved easily around the court against Demetrius DeAbreu to secure a clean sweep 11-5, 11-3, 11-4.

DeAbreu was first off the mark in all three games and went hit-for-hit with Verwey in the first game up until 5-5.

Verwey then moved up a gear and took six straight points for the first win.

Despite long rallies and some superb shots from DeAbreu, Verwey dominated throughout.

In the Under-17 & U-19 Boys, a category which crosses over two age groups, Shomari Wiltshire displayed the usual brilliance on court against Gianni Carpenter.

Conceding very few points, Wiltshire’s calm, precision play left Carpenter unable to return many of his shots.

Some great rallies ensued, however, and Carpenter showed evidence of improvement, but was no match for the No.1 seed who finished an 11-1, 11-3, 11-1 victory with finesse.

The much-anticipated match against training partners Samuel Ince-Carvalhal and Michael Alphonso showed the dynamics of these youngsters who are best buddies off court but know how to battle inside the squash court walls.

Alphonso’s use of deception and speed edged him ahead in the first game for an 11-8 victory, but Ince-Carvalhal’s improved retrieval and racquet head speed put him clearly ahead in the second for an 11-4 answer.

The third game came to a nail-biting finish when Alphonso battled from a 10-6 deficit to level at 10-all.

However Ince-Carvalhal held on to close off the 3rd at 12-10. In his stride, Ince-Carvalhal flowed through the fourth with excellent court movement and well-timed winners to a triumphant 3-1 victory over Alphonso.

The level of squash displayed was testament to the dedicated hours of training many of the junior players are putting into their development, and the remaining days of the Junior Nationals promise to showcase more of the young talent.

Play continues at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street for the remainder of the week, finishing on Saturday with two sessions from 11:00hrs and 18:00hrs.

RESULTS GIRLS Under-11 ♦ Christiana Fernandes whipped Tianna Gomes 11-2, 11-5, 11-4 ♦ Shriyah Persaud beat Maya Dean 11-5, 11-6, 11-3.

BOYS Under-13 ♦ Mohryan Baksh routed Dhirren Persaud 11-1, 11-0, 11-0. ♦ Louis DaSilva trounced Shiloh Asregado 11-4, 11-3, 11-2 ♦ Chad DeAbreu thrashed Matthew Spooner 11-2, 11-2, 11-4. ♦ Mohryan Baksh crushed Joshua Verwey 11-0, 11-0, 11-3.

BOYS Under-15 ♦ Nicholas Verwey overpowered Dimetrius DeAbreu 11-5, 11-3, 11-4.

BOYS Under-17 & U-19 ♦ Shomari Wiltshire thrashed Gianni Carpenter 11-1, 11-3, 11-1. ♦ Samuel Ince-Carvalhal overcame Michael Alphonso 8-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-3. ♦ Gianni Carpenter beat Demetrius DeAbreu 11-6, 12-10, 11-1.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 16, 2019

Big wins for Back Circle, Leopold Street as Corona futsal continues

FUTSAL action continued on Tuesday evening at the National Gymnasium with big wins for Back Circle and Leopold Street.

In the opening game of the evening, Tiger Bay beat Tucville 4-1 thanks to a hattrick from Anthony Abrams (5th, 7th & 20th minutes) and Deon Alfred’s 14th minute strike. Tiger Bay had Nicholas McArthur (15th) on target.

Leopold Street showed no mercy when they played Mocha, decimating them 6-0 with strike from Okenny Fraser (9th), Eon Alleyne (10th), Cecil Jackman (14th), Darren Benjamin (15th), Carl Tudor (20th) and Rishawn Sandford (20th).

Back Circle were also winners against Beacon 7-2.

Selwyn Williams three goals (5th, 6th and 7th) coupled with single strikes Stephan McLean (4th), Trayon Babb (18th), Quason Mcally (19th) and Dellon Kelly (20th) ensured that the two goals scored by Beacon’s Kimba Braithwaite (12th) and Joshua Nicholas

(19th) were nullified.

Bent Street drew with Future Stars 2-2 with Sheldon Holder (16th) and Dan-

California Square thanks to Mishack Buretta 19th minute strike.

In the final game of the

Square from 19:30hrs and from 20:30hrs Mocha will play Future Stars.

Tucville and West Front

Intense action was the headline of Tuesday night’s action in the Corona Futsal Tournament. (Samuel Maughn photo)

iel Wilson (2nd) scoring for the former while Jamal Cozier (6th) and William Europe (15th) scored for the latter.

Sparta Boss, through Gregory Richardson (9th), also had to settle for a draw against

evening, North East went down 0-1 to West Front Road thanks to Hubert Pedro in the 16th.

Round-robin matches continue on Saturday with Beacon taking on California

Road clash from 21:00hrs while Tiger Bay meet North East La Penitence at 21:45hrs, Leopold Street face Bent Street from 22:30hrs and Back Circle oppose Sparta Boss from 23:15hrs.

Heart-breaking loss for Guyana at Beach Soccer Championship … Golden Jaguars go down 0-2 on penalty kicks

for a victory.

Gael Geolier put the French West Indies side in the lead eight minutes into the game, but just before the close of the first period, Shane Luckie pulled one back for the Guyanese men.

Michael Wilson made it 2-1 in the 20th minute, to close the second stanza.

However, in the final period, Alan Lefort netted just after resumption, but Guyana almost two minutes later, through Jamal Haynes, found the back of the net to

Berbice trump Demerara by 32 runs despite rain

By Michelangelo Jacobus THE Berbice U-19s defeated their Demerara counterparts by 32 runs yesterday at the Everest ground to tighten their grip on the Hand-inHand U-19 50 Overs Inter-County trophy.

Having already dismantled Essequibo on Monday at Albion, the Berbicians won the toss and elected to bat after rain caused the game to be reduced to 49 overs.

The batsmen yet again struggled but managed a respectable total of 185 all out in 47.4 overs thanks to solid contributions from opening batsman Junior Sinclair (44), Seon Glasgow (31), Kevlon Anderson (28) and Leon Swamy who scored 29.

Alex Algoo (2) was the first wicket to fall, lbw to Qumar Torrington with the score on just three. However, skipper Kevlon Anderson joined Sinclair and together the duo put on a partnership of 59 before Anderson was bowled

by Sachin Singh for 28 which included four boundaries.

That was the only partnership of substance as Torrington, who ended with figures of 3 for 39 (10 overs), Ashmead Nedd (2-36 off 10 overs) and Alphius Bookie with 2-13 from 3.4 overs struck at regular intervals

to restrict the Berbicians to what looked like a par score.

In response, chasing 186 for victory, a few of the Demerara batsmen got starts but like their opponents, could not carry on, as Anderson, Swamy and Nigel Deodat applied the brakes After Anderson and Swamy removed openers Sachin Singh (3) and Robin Williams (1) cheaply, Adrian Hinds and Bookie combined for a third-wicket partnership of 54. However, when Hinds holed out off the bowling of Deodat for 31 (4x2) with the score at 64, it sparked the beginning of the end for Demerara.

Only Alphius Bookie who made 30 (4x1, 6x1) and Nedd with 19 (4x3) offered any resistance for Demerara who could not up their run rate. When their allotted 49 overs were up, they were left on 153 for 8, 32 runs short of their target.

Anderson was the pick of the bowlers for Berbice with figures of 3-38 (10 overs). He received solid support from Swamy who ended with 2-32 (9 overs) and Nigel Deodat who picked up 2-11 from his six overs.

Berbice have now won both of their games and will next face the Select U-17s where a victory will officially hand them the trophy.

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

Select U-17 spinners defend 135 against Essequibo

Essequibo off-spinners Amit Persaud (right) and Mahesh Ramnarine claimed three wickets apiece but their batting again failed.

Shane Luckie (#9) about to score what was Guyana’s first goal of their heart-breaking 0-2 penalty kicks defeat to Guadeloupe.

GOLDEN Jaguars played much their 39 minutes against Guadeloupe with four men after Deshawn Joseph was given a red card.

After a 3-3 scoreline at the end of extra time, they fell 0-2 on penalty kicks in their second game at the 2019 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship in Mexico.

Following their spirited 4-8 defeat to Group D leaders El Salvador in their opening game, Guyana went into the game against Guadeloupe hoping

HAND-IN-HAND U-19 50 OVERS INTER-COUNTY

By Rajiv Bisnauth reclaim the lead 3-2.

Guyans’s celebration, however, was short-lived, since Guadeloupe equalised a minute later off the boot of Benoit Zembama.

Luckie and Haynes both had several chances to put the game away, but their shots were either saved by Mikael Germaine in goal, or, came off the crossbar and goal post.

It came down to kicks from the penalty spot and G u a d e l o u p e ’s R i c a r d o Mezence was first up – his

shot was good.

Jermine Grandison was up next and in his effort to level things in the tense penalty shootout he sent his shot off the mark.

Sebastien Hell made it 2-0 for Guadeloupe in the shootout, leaving Luckie in a ‘must-score’ situation to give Guyana a chance, but the Lindener was unsuccessful.

Guyana will play their final Group D game today against Belize. (Rawle Toney)

LED by spinners Matthew Nandu and Chanderpaul Ramraj, the Select Under-17 team defended 135 runs to beat an ill-fated Essequibo team by 39 runs in round two of the Hand-in-Hand Inter-county Under-19 limited-over encounter yesterday, at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground.

Essequibo, chasing 136 for victory in a game which was reduced to 47 overs-aside, were comfortably placed at 60-2, but a batting collapse which has now become customary, saw them lose nine wickets for just 36 runs. They

were eventually bowled out for 96 in 30 overs.

Off-spinner Nandu was adjudged man-of-thematch. Left-arm spinner Ramraj used the conditions well, much to the delight of their skipper. He produced a disciplined effort to finish with figures of 5-20 and 3-16 respectively.

Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, three Select Under-17 batsmen reached double figures with Andre Seepersaud top-scoring with an unbeaten 38 off 58 balls, while Movendra Dindyal made 32 and Nandu 18.

While Essequibo’s openTURN TO PAGE 23

Academic learning and sports education complement each other The official ball for the FIFA 2019 Women’s World Cup is being presented to Minister of Education Nicolette Henry by FIFA Member Association and Development Director, Veron Mosgengo-Omba.

(Ministry of Education photo)

Action at the Georgetown Club squash courts. (Delano Williams photo)

– Minister of Education

Page

25

Action heating up in Woodpecker Junior nationals See page

26

HAND-IN-HAND U-19 50 OVERS INTER-COUNTY

Berbice trump Demerara by 32 runs despite rain See page

27

Demerara’s Adrian Hinds drives through covers off the bowling of Junior Sinclair during his knock of 31 at the Everest ground.

(Adrian Narine photo)

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THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2019