Guyana Chronicle E-paper 7-23-2019

TUESDAY 23rd July, 2019

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No.105707

‘POLITICAL SABOTAGE’ …PM, Dr Hinds say PPP in feeble attempt to sabotage electoral process …that Guyanese will again ignore opposition's negative tactics 03 PAGE

‘Over 20,000 registered’

GECOM rebuffs PSC

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…says letter misguided, registration exercise will go on PAGE

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Boycott calls ‘backward’ 11 PAGE

…GTUC warns Jagdeo against encouraging citizens not to register

Woman perishes, after setting house on fire 17 PAGE

…as GECOM continues house-to-house registration Ginette Payne (right) and her family members proudly show their inked fingers after being registered (Samuel Maughn photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 23, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 23, 2019

‘POLITICAL SABOTAGE’

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…PM, Dr Hinds say Jagdeo in feeble attempt to sabotage electoral process …that Guyanese will again ignore opposition’s negative tactics

By Svetlana Marshall PRIME Minister of Guyana, Moses Nagamootoo, said the call by the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, for a boycott of House-to-House Registration of citizens to create a new data base for a voters’ list, is a feeble attempt at sabotaging Guyana’s electoral process.

“No sensible politician would stand in the way of putting together a clean voters’ list that would include our voting age youths and all other eligible citizens who are domiciled in the

It had embarked on a campaign of non-cooperation and civil disobedience, which has failed to impress the Guyanese people,” the Prime Minister said.

Guyanese, the Prime Minister posited, will once again resist this call by the Opposition Leader. “Guyanese will again ignore the negative tactics of the Leader of the Opposition and they will ensure that they register during the House-to-House campaign,” the Prime Minister said while adding that the “boycott call is a cover for withdrawal from the electoral process, and for a ‘No-Vote’

is widespread support for and response to the Houseto-House exercise, noting that Guyanese people are determined to have credible elections based on a clean and authentic voters’ list.

Political Scientist, Dr. David Hinds, in a separate interview with Guyana Chronicle on Monday, also dubbed the call by Jagdeo and the PPP as “political sabotage”

workers, many of whom are women, at risk.

“If persons opt not to register, then they are willingly giving up the right to vote. It can only mean one thing in the end-- they are prepared to nullify the election by any means necessary,” the political scientist reasoned.

The Opposition, in demanding that election be held within three months

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo

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I think the PPP is setting the stage for a political collision.

It is signalling to its supporters that it is not prepared to accept the results of an election with a new list unless it wins that election. This is a dangerous course of action in our politically volatile environment in which ethnic insecurity and fear abound ' –– Dr. Hinds

country,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo told Guyana Chronicle on Monday.

But calling for a boycott is nothing new for the Opposition Leader, the Prime Minister said, noting that history would show that the Opposition Leader, and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), on numerous occasions, boycotted important sittings of the National Assembly and national events. “After the certified defeat of the PPP at the 2015 polls, he boycotted the National Assembly. His party boycotted national events.

in the upcoming elections.”

He said that adhering to the calls of Jagdeo can disenfranchise persons who are eligible. “This would deny a section of our people from enjoying their democratic right to choose their Government. History will not absolve the Leader of the Opposition for this act of over suppression,” the Prime Minister explained.

WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR H2H However, he said despite the attempts of the Opposition Leader, there

Political Scientist Dr. David Hinds

which could have serious consequences going forward.

“I think the PPP is setting the stage for a political collision. It is signalling to its supporters that it is not prepared to accept the results of an election with a new list unless it wins that election.

This is a dangerous course of action in our politically volatile environment in which ethnic insecurity and fear abound,” Dr. Hinds explained to this newspaper.

He said while the Opposition has the right to protest, such protest borders on or overflow into ethnopolitical incitement, and as such, there is cause for concern. He opined that in some regards, the Opposition is putting the safety of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)

from June 18, has said that GECOM should utilize the expired voters’ list to conduct the election, but Dr. Hinds is advising against this.

ELECTORAL FRAUD “The use of an expired voters’ list or one that is tainted is tantamount to electoral fraud. One of the pillars of electoral democracy is a credible voters’ list that

is not padded and does not disenfranchise citizens. A party that insists on elections with an expired list that is also tainted has an agenda other than ensuring electoral transparency and credibility,” Dr. Hinds explained.

For him, it would be better to lose democratic elections than win crooked ones. Noting that the PPP/C has always held itself up as the great defender of free and fair elections, Dr. Hinds questioned why it is now prepared to go against its own claim to political morality.

According to him, the PPP/C is now showing the world that it has one agenda only--to win by any means necessary, including by naked fraud. “It is prepared to twist the rulings of the court and the constitution itself to facilitate its hunger for power,” Dr. Hinds contended.

Dr. Hinds said he too

fully supports the conduct of House-to-House Registration at this time, noting that it is intended to produce a clean list. “I was concerned that the exercise would have extended the timeline for elections which would have been a violation of the spirit of the CCJ ruling. But once GECOM committed to getting it done in 90 days, that problem was solved. We can now have elections by year-end which would be in keeping with the spirit of the CCJ rulings--the marrying of principle with practicality,” he told this newspaper.

House-to-House Registration commenced across the country last Saturday, and according to reports out of GECOM, persons are responding positively to the process. Thousands of young people who have never registered are reportedly eager to get registered.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 23, 2019

U.S. to ramp up rapid deportations with sweeping new rule (Reuters) - The Trump administration said on Monday it will expand and speed up deportations of migrants who enter the United States illegally by

stripping away court oversight, enabling officials to remove people in days rather than months or years.

Set to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday,

the rule will apply “expedited removal” to the majority of those who enter the United States illegally, unless they can prove they have been living in the country for at least two years. Legal experts said it was a dramatic expansion of a program already used along the U.S.-Mexican border that cuts out review by an immigration judge, usually

without access to an attorney.

Both are available in regular proceedings.

“The Trump administration is moving forward into converting ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) into a ‘show me your papers’ army,” said Vanita Gupta, the president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, on

TUESDAY July 23, 2019 09:00hrs ~ 10:30hrs

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a call with reporters. It was likely the policy would be blocked quickly by a court, several experts said. The American Civil Liberties Union, which has filed suit to block numerous Trump immigration policies in court, has vowed to sue.

President Donald Trump has struggled to stem an increase of mostly Central American families arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, leading to overcrowded detention facilities and a political battle over a growing humanitarian crisis. The government said increasing rapid deportations would free up detention space and ease strains on immigration courts, which face a backlog of more than 900,000 cases. Nearly 300,000 of the approximately 11 million immigrants in the United States illegally could be quickly deported under the new rule, according to the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said 37%, or 20,570, of those encountered by ICE in the year to September had been in the country less than two years. People in rapid deportation proceedings are detained for 11.4 days on average, according to DHS. People in regular proceedings are held for 51.5 days

and are released into the United States for the months or years it takes to resolve their cases. Legal experts said the rule shreds basic due process and could create havoc beyond immigrant communities. “ICE has been detaining and deporting U.S. citizens for decades,” said Jackie Stevens, a political science professor at Northwestern University. That policy came at a great cost to U.S. taxpayers in terms of litigation and compensation, she added.

U.S. citizens account for about 1% percent of those detained by ICE and about 0.5% of those deported, according to Stevens’ research. “Expedited removal orders are going to make this much worse,” she said.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco in March ruled that those ordered deported in the sped-up process have a right to take their case to a judge. Previously, only those immigrants caught within 100 miles of the border who had been in the country two weeks or less could be ordered rapidly deported. The policy makes an exception for immigrants who can establish a “credible fear” of persecution in their home country.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 23, 2019

President Moise names virtually unknown technocrat as new prime minister

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, Jul 22, CMC – President Jovenel Moise Monday Fritz-William Michel, an executive in the Ministry of Economy and Finance, has his fourth prime minister since he became head of state in 2017.

Michel replaces Jean Michel Lapin, who had earlier announced that he was stepping down in the interest of the country. “I have made a choice for Haiti”,” Lapin, the former culture and communications minister, who was named to the post on March 21, three days after the Chamber of Deputies voted to oust the six-month old government of then prime minister,Jean-Henry Ceant.

In a Twitter posting on Monday night, Moise named the virtually known technocrat to head his government and is expected to formalize the position in an official decree later. The new prime minister’s appointment followed talks on Sunday and Monday between Moise and the leaders of the two chambers of parliament. Lapin had become the third head of government under President Moise, who himself came to office in February 2017.

Media reports had earlier indicated that Moise had approached three people, including a woman, to replace Lapin, who had come to office, less than a month after thousands of people took to

the streets across the country demanding better living conditions and the departure of the president.

Moise faces an uphill task in getting his new nominee accepted by legislators who had used various strategies including removing furniture from the Chamber and failing to report for work in a bid to block a vote on Lapin’s nomination. The opposition parties here have accused Moise of embezzlement, but the head of state has defended himself against the report of the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigation (CSA/CA) into programmes and projects funded by the PetroCaribe, an oil alliance of many Carib-

bean states with Venezuela to purchase oil on conditions of preferential payment.

The report had found that significant shortcomings have been associated with the planning and implementation of development programmes and projects funded by the PetroCaribe Fund. The CSC/ CA audit found that significant shortcomings have been associated with the planning and implementation of development programmes and projects funded by the PetroCaribe Fund during the administration of former president Michel Martelly.

The Court made it clear that, overall, relevant documents were missing in most of the projects and contracts re-

viewed and as a result it was impossible to conduct a comprehensive audit of several projects.

For example, the 610 page report found that in 2014, for the same project to rehabilitate the Borgne – Petit Bourg de Borgne road section, the State signed two identical contracts worth more than 39 million Gourdes (One Gourde=US$0.01 cents) with two separate companies. Moise, before he came to power in 2017, headed a company which received more than 33 million Gourdes to do the road work, though the company in principle did nothing but grow bananas. CARICOM

leaders at their summit iin St. Lucia earlier this month agreed to send a prime ministerial delegation to Haiti comprising St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, the CARICOM chairman, as well as the prime ministers of Jamaica and the Bahamas. The communique had indicated that the prime ministerial delegation would visit Port au Prince “in order to inform the Community of the situation in that country”.

It gave no indication when the visit would take place.

Jamaica closer to energy mix target with new LNG terminal, PM says PRIME Minister Andrew Holness says that Jamaica is on track to achieve its ambitious target of 50 per cent of its electricity needs being generated by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and renewables by 2030.

Confirming that he is in a celebratory mood, at last Friday's commissioning of New Fortress Energy's floating storage and regasification terminal in Old Harbour, Holness said Jamaica would reach almost 44 per cent input of renewables and other clean fuels into its energy mix with the completion of the project, which he described as “a major achievement”.

“Completion of the terminal will firmly establish the island as a premier liquefied natural gas hub. It is the first of its kind in the Caribbean and will supply 190 megawatts (MW), from its Old Harbour plant, through its natural gas pipelines,” he noted.

“Jamaica is now firmly rooted in the LNG industry, and that is what I want to convey to the Jamaican people — that it is one thing to just have infrastructure, but [to] have all the support services that go into making the infrastructure work...

Jamaica will benefit from that,” he pointed out. In addition, he noted that the management of the platform is largely Jamaican, and while the ship and crew are mainly from overseas, Jamaicans are being trained as they get more exposure, and will eventually be able to not only manage the ship but also manage and maintain the pipelines. “So we are going to be

firmly rooted,” Holness remarked.

The terminal will provide environmentally friendly, lower-cost fuel to several facilities, including the Jamaica Public Service's soon-to-be-completed 190-megawatt power plant in Old Harbour, as well as the new co-generation power plant at Jamalco's alumina refinery in Clarendon. New Fortress is also supplying LNG to The University of the West Indies and local beer company, Red Stripe, and the terminal is also providing LNG for other local companies including Caribbean Products, Appleton, IGL Limited, CB Group, Clarendon Distillers Limited, Wisynco, and Seprod.

New Fortress erected a new floating regasification vessel called the Golar Freeze offshore Old Harbour, under a longterm deal which is expected to generate US$22 million in revenues annually. Holness said the New Fortress company is able to do this because it has the support of Caribbean Maritime University. “And we must do everything in our power to protect that university, because it is from those classrooms, those teachers and lecturers and labs that we will get the skills necessary to not just maintain this [project], but to expand the industry and provide labour and technical skills,” he added.

New Fortress Energy, a subsidiary of global energy infrastructure company Fortress Investment Group, is headed by billionaire investor Wesley Edens. Edens is an American businessman and private equity investor who is also a co-founder

US accuses Venezuela of aggression in skies over Caribbean WASHINGTON, DC, United States (AFP) — A Venezuelan fighter jet “aggressively shadowed” an American intelligence plane over the Caribbean Sea, US defence officials said yesterday, slamming the manoeuvre as “unprofessional”.

US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said the Russian-made Venezuelan SU-30 “Flanker” took off from an airfield 200 miles (320 kilometres) east of Caracas last Friday, following a US EP-3 at an “unsafe distance...jeopardising the crew and aircraft”.

“The EP-3 aircraft, flying a mission in approved international airspace, was approached in an unprofessional manner by

the SU-30... The US routinely conducts multinationally recognised and approved detection and monitoring missions in the region to ensure the safety and security of our citizens and those of our partners,” it added.

SOUTHCOM, in a separate post on Twitter, said the action demonstrated Russia's “irresponsible military support” to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's “illegitimate regime”. The incident also revealed Maduro's “recklessness & irresponsible behaviour, which undermines int'l rule of law & efforts to counter illicit trafficking”, it added. The South American nation was plunged into political turmoil in January when National As-

sembly speaker Juan Guaido declared himself acting president, in a direct challenge to Maduro's authority.

The Opposition leader is recognised by the United States and more than 50 other coun-

tries, but has been unable to dislodge Venezuela's socialist leader. The US has accused Russia of propping up Maduro as the crisis deepens by supplying military aircraft including the SU-30.

of Fortress Investment Group and founder of New Fortress Energy. He is also a co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks — the prominent American National Basketball Association franchise based in Wisconsin — and the Aston Villa football team in the United Kingdom, which returns to the top-rung English Premier League next season.

Edens paid tribute to Holness and the JPS, whose “vision and commitment” he said has dramatically changed the country's energy landscape in just a few years. “Just three years ago, oil-based fuels generated all the country's electricity. By next year natural gas and renewable energy will power most of Jamaica's grid. Economic conditions are improving, new jobs are being created, and the reduction in emissions will be equivalent to planting 10 million trees,” Edens informed the Jamaica Observer. “We are especially proud of all the hard work of our Jamaican employees and countless local partners. With the creation of many new jobs and our economic partnerships with local universities, a skilled LNG workforce is developing in Jamaica that will drive innovation throughout the Caribbean,” he noted.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 23, 2019

House-to-house and the big picture L

AST Saturday, Leader of the Opposition and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, announced that the opposition party that he represents will not cooperate with the house-to-house registration process. PPP Presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali, then led a protest outside the headquarters of the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM). Additionally, the Guyana Chronicle has been informed by GECOM’s registration staff that in some cases, they are being followed by men on bicycles who are discouraging Guyanese from registering.

The staff have reported feeling uncomfortable and intimidated by that development.

The Guyana Chronicle condemns in the strongest terms the transparent attempt by the opposition to frustrate the credible election of a legitimate government.

The Official List of Electors (OLE) commonly known as the “voters list,” is the starting

point of elections in Guyana. In other words, the list is the foundation upon which the entire electoral process is constructed. It follows that a list which is bloated or otherwise inaccurate cannot result in elections which are credible, nor can such elections produce a government that is not only legitimate, but perceived to be legitimate.

Therefore, the PPP’s position that elections be held based on a list that is known to be flawed is puzzling; one would have thought that the Leader of the Opposition would have supported credible elections that could come about only by use of a voters’ list that is clean, accurate, trusted, and honest.

As things are, PPP officials, through their public relations machinery, are attempting to confuse citizens and obfuscate the ‘big picture.’

Officials appear to be trying to achieve that dishonourable objective by releasing conflicting statements, and seemingly confusing directives to their supporters. The apparently nonsensical

call for a PPP boycott of the house-to-house registration process is a glaring example of that dubious tactic. Of course, it should be known and must be emphasized that if one refuses to be registered, then one will be unable to vote because that name will not be on the voters’ list.

It is, therefore, in the interest of every Guyanese to ensure that he or she is registered to vote.

Citizens should refuse to be misled by self-serving politicians who want to get into power by dishonest, corrupt, and fraudulent means.

It was mentioned that PPP officials are attempting to distract Guyanese from paying attention to the ‘big picture.’ It is the position of this newspaper that the ‘big picture’ is what really matters most. And, what is the ‘big picture’? Simply put, it is the fact that a credible and accurate voters’ list does not currently exist; the last list, which expired on April 30, no longer represents the voting population of Guyana.

There are allegedly some 200,000 persons on that old list who should not be there. In addition,

many young people who have reached voting age are absent from that list. It is clear that from its actions the PPP wants dead people to vote, and wants to deny young people the opportunity to cast a ballot. The ‘big picture’ is that the PPP wants to steal an election through dishonest means based on a list that does not represent, by any stretch, Guyana’s voters. Citizens should resist such attempts by the PPP. All eligible Guyanese have the right to choose their government. All citizens of voting age have the inalienable entitlement to express their political will through the ballot.

And, persons, particularly young people, should not allow any selfish, dishonest, unreliable, or deceitful politician to distract them from seeing the ‘big picture,’ nor deny them their right to vote in a credible election based on a reliable, valid, and trustworthy list.

These voices have all fallen silent

Dear Editor,

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CERTAINLY support your editorial on House-toHouse registration in the Guyana Chronicle of July 21, 2019.

What is being experienced at this time in Guyana is utterly astonishing for the incredulous, unmitigated vested interests that underpin the dangerous deceit and hypocrisy that is shamefully pervasive in this land of Guyana.

Indeed, you have correctly summed it up through the following questions asked in your second paragraph: “However, there is a question that is current on the lips of Guyanese whose memories are nimble, fresh and current on matters that relate to the nations continuous political journey: Where are those voices of principle that once sounded daily from the roof tops on a matter of the deepest national interest, because it represented a matter that stood at the heart of national democracy? Where are those honest citizens who, it must be recalled, lobbied internationally, and staged national protests for an issue which they vehemently argued was a right

of the people because its absence denied them the right of a fair and proper choice? And where are those citizens who were once outright in condemning undemocratic acts in this nation?

Surely, the absence of their voices is missing”.

Sure enough, these are very pertinent questions that have been asked, of a certain category of citizens, the “national conscience”, whose voices once flooded the media, of every type.

Certainly, the absence of their voices, now needed again, is this time missing on the side of moral truth; instead, now mortgaged to national mischief, of a most undemocratic and dangerous type. What great hypocrisy now exists! So shameless in its daily display of pretending truth which portents contradicts what these now politically masked, attempt to inundate the land with their distortions. Editor, it is no longer about principles, and what is right that will continue to support and uphold a central plank of electoral rights for all citizens.

Alas! These voices have all fallen silent. Deliberately self-muted, perhaps with tongues shoved into the inner recesses of the buccal cavity, with consciences also forgotten, completely replaced by considerations of material benefits

that have trampled once held sacred truths into the dust of criminal opportunism. Editor, it is no longer about the truth of democracy - it is about vested interests and narrow, selfish ends, its altar, on which the truth of the nation is being sacrificed, by a cabal of political mercenaries. These are the former embodiment of the national conscience, now turned political mercenaries, that by their daily deceptions, are stabbing local democracy deeply in the back.

It is even more shocking that they have taken to publicly denying not only the necessity of house-to-house registration for credible elections, but now claiming that it is no longer necessary to be part of the most important constitutional exercise of electing a government of the citizens’ choice.

What else is new under the sun that shines over Guyana!

Regards, Earl Hamilton

Given his track record, Jagdeo should not be surprised at CARICOM’s silence Dear Editor,

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HARRAT Jagdeo has been expressing a fair bit of consternation about the perceived silence on the part of CARICOM regarding what is unfolding in Guyana. He should, however, know that CARICOM leaders are not novices to the internal politics of their sister states, and I am quite sure, have been following events in Guyana. They are quite famil-

iar with Mr. Jagdeo’s own ‘rap sheet’ in Guyana, and based on what has been documented below, have ample reason to remain silent. Some of Mr. Jagdeo’s unheralded achievements, which many Guyanese also find quite unappealling for someone aspiring to public office in Guyana are: 1. Under successive administrations, billions of voters' tax dollars were siphoned off to his business cronies.

2. Afro-Guyanese communities were kept in the dog house.

3. His administration did not pay sugar workers their severance when they were laid off from Diamond and LBI Estates.

4. The remaining sugar workers were maintained in such a state of ignorance during his administration, through lack of education, that they can't find proper jobs, and people resorted to calling them all kinds of

names.

5. Had his acolytes at the GRDB and RPA, some of whom are PPP members, involved in allegations of fraud to the tune of $372M from rice farmers. People on the PPP executive.

6. Put a financial hole in NIS by funnelling off in excess of G$7.0B of its reserves to CLICO and the Berbice Bridge.

7. Gave Irfaan Ali 20 acres of land.

8. Gave himself a fat salary and left public servants begging for 5% every year.

9. Shut down Sharma after he started ‘skinning him up’.

10. Instituted control of issuance of media licences, handing out bandwidth to his acolytes, left right and centre.

11. Ensured that around 184,000 voters did not get a proper education during the years of the PPP’s terms in office.

12. Could very well be held responsible for the widespread poverty so characteristic of many of Guyana's communities, due to the impact of his policies, or lack thereof.

Regards, Craig Sylvester, Democratic National Congress

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 23, 2019

GMSA defends imposition of 40% CET on refined sugar

Dear Editor,

T

HE Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) wishes to state clearly that it fully supports local and regional products, and seeks to operate in an environment that promotes same. Without any contradiction, it also recognises the need to provide consumers with products of required quality at affordable cost, and this further ensures the continued viability of its manufacturing members as going business concerns.

Many manufacturers use sugar as a main ingredient in various products. Some of these formulations and processes are very sensitive to the quality of the sugar.

For example, the colour of the sugar is very critical to icing sugar and clear beverages. If the sugar is not of required whiteness, the product appears discoloured and is unacceptable to consumers.

Another critical quality is the level of insoluble solids, colloquially termed ‘grumbs’, when the sugar is dissolved.

Not only is this unacceptable to consumers when noted in products, it also causes other quality defects, including graining in sweets, and loss of the structure in ice-cream

that could lead to the icecream not being ‘fluffy’ or adequately aerated. It can further cause damage to expensive processing equipment due to its abrasiveness.

Conductivity Ash in sugar can cause foaming and loss of in sensory quality in beverages, and ‘bubbles’ with sharp edges in hard candy that can cause cuts in the mouth when eaten. From a safety perspective, Sulphur Dioxide at certain levels is known to cause hypersensitivity or allergenic reactions in some persons, and must be declared as an allergen in many countries when the level reaches 10ppm or above.

It is for these reasons that food and beverage manufacturers in the developed countries almost exclusively utilise refined sugar in the manufacture of many sugar or sugar-containing products, including beverages, confectionery, ice-cream, icing sugar and some preserves, among other products. Indeed, some franchise owners do not allow franchisees to use sugar that does not meet the refined sugar requirements. Even when the sugar meets ‘refined’ requirements, the franchise holder must first approve the supplier before such sugar can be purchased by the franchisee. This is done to ensure the franchised

product meets the quality and consistency requirements set by the franchise holder.

‘Plantation white’ sugar and ‘refined’ sugar are NOT the same. The processes to produce them are substantially different, and the end-products are similarly different. Plantation white processing, as practised in most factories, involves bleaching of the sugar by bubbling Sulphur dioxide through the sugar solution in one or more stages in order to bleach the colour out of the sugar. It is this Sulphur dioxide that leaves residues of up to 70ppm in the plantation white sugar. Insoluble Solids is another quality criteria in sugars important to manufacturers. While some insoluble solids can be filtered out, it is accepted that some could/ will remain, and so maximum levels of insoluble solids are set for plantation white sugar.

Another quality parameter, Conductivity Ash, is not removed in the plantation white process. Refined sugar, on the other hand, is re-dissolved and purified. The sugar passes though processes that extract the colour, causing compounds rather than bubble Sulphur dioxide to bleach the colour. Insoluble Solids and Conductivity Ash are also removed to result in a properly ‘refined’ sugar

that can be used to produce quality foods or beverages.

If refined sugar is manufactured in the region at affordable cost, the regional manufacturers will have no problem in purchasing same.

It is noted that the expertise to set up refineries in the region is not lacking, as the parent company of one regional producer, the Belize Sugar Industries, ‘American Sugar Refineries’, is one of the largest refiners of sugar worldwide. It manufactures refined sugar for many food and beverage manufacturers in the developed countries, including in North America and Europe, and also sells to developing countries, including Guyana, through one of its subsidiaries, Tate and Lyle Corporation. The Association notes that Tate and Lyle Corporation had previous (recent) association with GuySuCo. If manufacturers were to use plantation white instead of refined sugar, for reasons of quality, products will no longer be as acceptable to consumers and will not be able to compete on the basis of quality with products coming into the region. Further, manufacturers will face difficulty to export products out of the region to compete in extra-regional markets – exports that bring in valuable

foreign exchange. Franchise owners, including CocaCola and PepsiCola, will not permit franchisees to use sugar not approved by them. In any case, if sugar of the required quality is not available in the region, manufacturers will have to purchase extra-regionally if they want to continue to produce quality products.

To apply CET on a product that is not manufactured in the region will increase cost and make regional manufacturers unable to compete with extra-regional products coming into the region. It will also mitigate against our competitiveness in extra-regional markets. Most regional manufacturers operate under small margins, and loss of market and increased cost will jeopardise the viability of these manufacturers.

Many of these manufacturers that made many sacrifices and fought hard and long to survive will be forced to close their manufacturing lines. This will cause loss of hundreds of jobs directly, and thousands indirectly, through downstream trade.

At the same time, it will not benefit the sugar producers.

It is also to be noted that under existing CARIFORUM agreements, sugar imported into countries like the Dominican Republic will not be

subject to CET on Refined Sugar as imposed by CARICOM, but can export sugar products to the region under concessionary terms. They will, therefore, have a significant additional advantage over regional manufacturers other than those that they already have.

The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association lauds and supports the efforts of the regional sugar industry as it seeks to improve its efficiency and make the sugar industry viable. It commits itself to using regionally manufactured products that meet requirements of quality and cost. At the same time, it refuses to offer products of quality lesser than it is accustomed to offer to its valued consumers, and of lesser quality than is offered in extra-regional markets. Indeed, it cannot be competitive and continue to do business if it were to do otherwise.

Clinton Williams, President Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association Ltd

PPP refuses to participate in house-to-house registration Dear Editor,

T

HE leadership of the People’s Progressive Party met today (July 22, 2019) and decided that to participate in the Guyana Elections Commission’s illegal National House-toHouse Registration will make it complicit in aiding and abetting the violation of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)’s June 18, 2019 rulings and July 12, 2019 consequential orders, which upheld the Guyana Constitution.

The Caribbean Court of Justice ruling and consequential orders

stated that the No- Confidence Motion was valid. The No- Confidence Motion was passed with 33 of the 65-member National Assembly, and, as a result, the President and Cabinet must resign, and elections must be held within three months as required by Article 106 (6) and (7).

Further, the CCJ ordered that “The Guyana Elections Commission has a responsibility to conduct that Election, and GECOM, too, must abide by the provisions of the Constitution.” The PPP, therefore, shall not participate in this illegal unilateral activity by the Chief

Elections Officer which threatens peace and stability in the country and undermines constitutional rule. The Chief Elections Officer has embarked on a House-toHouse Registration in defiance of the Caribbean Court of Justice, the apex court of Guyana, and, even in defiance of the advice of GECOM’s internal legal officer, at a time when there is no functioning Commission in place. He must be stopped.

The approach to the court to bring an injunction to stop the National House-to- House Registration is one stage of the struggle

to ensure that constitutional rule is preserved. The PPP is convinced that this House-to-House exercise is intended to deliberately de-register thousands of Guyanese voters. The objective is to delay elections to facilitate the APNU/ AFC government remaining in office illegally after September 18, 2019. The PPP gives notice that it will, therefore, not accept any voters’ lists generated by this illegal exercise.

We remain resolute in our position that the illegal Houseto-House registration must be stopped, and that the Claims

and Objection period must commence. GECOM must immediately start preparations for general and regional elections, in compliance with Article 106 (7) of the Constitution, and the CCJ's rulings and consequential orders. The Peoples’ Progressive Party urges Guyanese not to support this illegal exercise, and calls on all political parties, civil society and other stakeholders, including the international community, to condemn this unconstitutional act.

Regards, People’s Progressive Party

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Guyana ups fight against money laundering …as FIU signs information- sharing MOUs with Bank of Guyana, other agencies

THE Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), on Monday, signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Bank of Guyana, the Guyana Gold Board and several other government agencies to pave the way for easy access to information as it combats Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism.

The Guyana Security Council, Guyana Gaming Authority, Land Registry, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Department of Cooperatives and Friendly Societies are among the entities that signed MOUs with FIU on Monday.

The MOUs were signed in the boardroom of the Ministry of Legal Affairs in the presence of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams and overseen by FIU’s Director, Matthew Langevine.

Members of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) National Coordinating Committee were also present. That committee also focuses on the countering of Financing of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Before the signing, the

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams standing with officials of the various government agencies that signed MOUs with the FIU to allow for easy access to information in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing (Adrian Narine)

Attorney General explained that it is important to increase the FIU’s access to information and data as the country prepares for the 4th Round of Mutual Evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Noting that key players in the fight “hardly like to divulge information,” the Attorney General said little progress would be made in the fight against money laundering, terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,

if important information and data are not shared. As a result, he said a decision was taken to adopt an approach that is taken globally by members of FATF and the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). “We have decided to do something that is done throughout CFATF and FATF that we will exercise now. The parties to the MOU’s now will be able to properly exchange information with one another, depending on the situa-

tion,” the Attorney General explained.

He said the government will continue to work with FATF and CFATF to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. “We will be continuing, in the interest of the people of Guyana and the people of the Caribbean, to do all that we can to assist this process,” the Attorney General assured those present.

The FIU Director told reporters that the signing of the

MOUs is in accordance with regional and international standards for the effective sharing of information between FIUs and other important agencies. “The MOU basically allows for all of the competent authorities to agree to share information, to exchange information in an efficient manner, in a safe and secure manner so that there is confidentiality and protection of the information that is shared and also share the information in a timely

manner, so that investigations are conducted in an effective manner,” Langevine explained.

He noted that the FIU has already signed MOUs with the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA). “With all the agencies now coming on board to exchange information in a more structured and efficient manner, it should allow for a more efficient and effective process with respect to investigations that we are conducting. This process is standard for FIUs and competent authorities in every country,” the FIU Director explained.

He noted that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit and the Commercial Registry are among agencies that are in line to sign the MOU with the FIU. Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga; Head of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, (GGMC) Newell Dennison; and Chairman of the Guyana Securities Council, Rawle Lucas were among the officials that signed the MOUs on behalf of the government agencies.

Local Content must be monitored to prevent corruption - GCCI Technical Advisor says EFFECTIVE monitoring is necessary in order to foster the growth of local content that is devoid of corruption, in Guyana’s emerging Oil and Gas Industry, according to Technical Advisor attached to the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce (GCCI) Dr. Nazim Baluch.

Baluch, commenting on enforcement challenges to Local Content in the oil and gas sector, noted that deficiencies in capacity, transparency and government monitoring incentives are factors which contribute to insufficient monitoring and enforcement activities.

“Local content is seen as a key tool to help developing countries reap, in a sustainable manner, the economic

and social benefits from their natural resources,” the Technical Advisor said.

However, if this is not implemented and managed carefully, while also being subjected to public scrutiny, he warned that local content can also offer significant opportunities for corruption to take place.

Particularly within the oil and gas sector, he noted that corruption and bribery are risks that have become an increasing concern for businesses. In fact, he noted that this sector has the highest incidence of corruption of all sectors and has incurred the most significant penalties.

Transparency International, in its Bribe Payers Index (2011), noted that companies in the oil and gas sector were

perceived to be more likely to bribe, than those in other sectors.

On the investment front, Baluch explained that corruption by way of bribery exists due to the high amounts of expenditure involved in projects, in the areas of procurement, sole-supplier sourcing, licenses and permits, poor custom controls, etc.

Additionally, he related that the main corruption risks in local content policies in the oil and gas sector also include nepotism and cronyism in hiring local staff, favoritism and conflict of interests, political interference, and the use of shell companies.

What corruption in local content does, according to him, is that it may also

provide disincentives to investors, dissuading them for investing in a corrupt environment which may also violate foreign bribery laws in their countries.

“As businesses in emerging markets continue to grow for the oil and gas sector, companies will become increasingly challenged by bribery and corruption risks,” he cautioned.

To mitigate against this, he posited that government and civil society monitoring should not be looked at in isolation, but rather as mutually reinforcing and beneficial activities. And all parties should focus on capacity building, specific to the sector but also contributing to sustainable governance.

“Effective monitoring relies on access to information and lack of transparency can be a challenge for both government and civil society

monitoring efforts,” he said.

“Corruption arises from a lack of transparency and a lack of people empowerment to hold government to account.”

Baluch posited that governments and companies should publish all essential information vis a vis the monitoring of oil and gas projects. This would include publishing concession agreements, laws and regulations, assessments and reports and ongoing data on implementation and monitoring.

“The benefits of robust monitoring and enforcement activities are realised only over time, although they require significant devotion of resources in the present and the future,” he related.

As such, he opined that companies within the sector should address ‘corruption risks’ proactively by implementing effective

Dr. Nazim Baluch

anti-corruption compliance programmes, which would include mechanisms of: anti-corruption clauses, establishment of independent oversight bodies to oversee local content implementation, clear and transparent laws, inter alia.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 23, 2019

9

AG condemns Jagdeo registration boycott pleas

By Svetlana Marshall

ATTORNEY-GENERAL and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, said calls by the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, for persons to boycott House-to-House Registration constitute an offence.

On the sideline of a signing ceremony at the Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Attorney-General explained that the Opposition Leader, through his continuous call to boycott the National Registration, is procuring and counselling in breach of a law of Guyana. According to him, such an act is criminal.

“It is an offence to tell people not to register. You need to register, if you don’t register, you are guilty of an offence.

So if someone incites you not to register, they are counselling you, and procuring you to commit an offence,” the Attorney-General explained.

Failure to register, according to Chapter 19:08 of the National Registration Act, is an offence. Any person guilty of this offence is liable on summary conviction

to a fine of $16,250 or to imprisonment for six months.

According to Section III, Subsection 6 (6), “Every person who refuses to make application for registration to the divisional registrar for any registration division in the prescribed manner, or fails without reasonable excuse (the proof whereof shall be upon him) so to do at any office established under proviso (a) to subsection (4) for the purpose, or who, being the parent or guardian of any child under the age of fourteen years, refuses to make such an application on his behalf, or fails as aforesaid so to do at any such office, shall, if the eligibility of such person or child (as he case may be) for registration and his residence in the registration division on the qualifying date are proved to the satisfaction of the court, be liable on summary conviction to a fine of sixteen thousand two hundred and fifty dollars or to imprisonment for six months.”

The Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC), on Monday, in asking the Opposition

to reconsider its position, and to desist from asking persons not to register, alluded to the fact that such action constitutes an offence.

The Attorney-General said notwithstanding calls by the Opposition to reject National Registration, eligible citizens of Guyana are being registered.

“People are registering, and certainly in my area on the East Coast, all of the villages, people are registering.

So one thing is being said by the Leader (of the Opposition) but the people on the ground they are registering,” Minister Williams told reporters.

He noted, however, that the government has received reports that enumerators and even registrants are being threatened. To ensure that there is no disruption, the security forces are offering protection.

On Monday, Political Activist Christopher Ram moved to the High Court to put a halt to the ongoing registration but the Attorney-General said all and sundry should remember that the

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams

Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) had planned for House-to-House Registration since 2018. He said it is a fact that the National Assembly, in 2019, approved $5.4B, in the 2019 National Budget, for the GECOM, the majority of which was for the conduct of national registration in 2019. This, he posited, was on the cards long before the No-Confidence Motion was engineered. In February 2019, the Elections Commis-

Opposition moves to the court to block house-to-house registration THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has filed Notice of Application at the High Court to block the ongoing house-to-house registration exercise.

In the court documents seen by this newspaper, attorney Christopher Ram, who is listed as the applicant, has brought the action against the Guyana Elections Commission, Chief Elections Officer, Commissioner of National Registration and the Attorney General.

Ram is applying to the High Court for: a declaration that the house-to-house registration exercise currently being conducted by the Guyana Elections Commission, Chief Election Officer, and/ or Commissioner of National Registration is in violation of Article 106 (6) and 106 (7) of the Constitution of Guyana; a declaration that the said action is in violation of the letter and spirit of the Judgment and Consequential Orders of the Caribbean Court of Justice in the consolidated Appeals; and that it is illegal, unlawful, ultra vires, uncon-

stitutional, null, void and of no effect.

Given the aforementioned stance, Ram is hereby seeking: a Conservatory Order prohibiting GECOM from conducting or continuing to conduct the current House-to-House Registration process; an Order compelling the listed parties, to immediately take all steps and actions necessary and requisite to hold General and Regional Elections on or before the 18th day of September 2019, in compliance with Article 106 (6) and 106 (7) of the Constitution of Guyana and the decisions of the Caribbean Court of Justice in the consolidated appeals.

Detailing the grounds for the application, Ram contends that since the No Confidence Motion on December 21, 2018, was successfully passed, as ruled by the Caribbean Court of Justice, and in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana, the Government should not be functioning as per norm.

Referencing articles from the Constitution, Ram out-

lined in his application that Article 107(6) states: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by a vote of majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly.”

Article 106(7): “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

He said that upon the passage of the aforesaid No-Confidence Motion, the Cabinet, including the President refused and/or neglected subsequent thereto and to date have not done so; neither has the President issued a Proclamation dissolving the National Assembly and fixed a date for General and Regional Elections, within

the three-month period, as provided and contemplated for in articles quoted above.

This, Ram contends, is in willful and flagrant violation of the articles, and in deliberate defiance of the Caribbean Court of Justice decisions and Orders.

It is the view of Ram and the PPP, that if the house-tohouse exercise is permitted to continue, it will constitute a flagrant violation, not only of the Constitution but on the rule of law and will be an assault on constitutional democracy; He is also of the view that in order to complete houseto-house Registration within an impossible time frame, it will result in thousands of Guyanese being unlawfully deregistered and will omit to register thousands of qualified registrants thereby resulting in their loss in their right to vote at the next elections. List needed to be sanitised However, the view of the government is quite the opposite. In fact, the government believes that the list

…reminds him of six-month jail time for aiding and abetting sion concretised its plans for House-to-House Registration when its seven-member commission by way of vote, signalled its approval.

This decision was made at a time when Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson’s appointment as Chairman of the Elections Commission was still deemed legal. The invalidation of his appointment was made several months after.

The GTUC, on Monday, said all the decisions taken by the Commission under Patterson’s stewardship including House-to-House Registration, are legitimate. “The people of Guyana are reminded that the nation is facing similar circumstances as with the Charrandass Persaud situation. Even though the then Member of Parliament was not properly seated in the National Assembly, the Court did not invalidate decisions he voted on. GECOM Commission, during the chairmanship of Justice James Patterson, voted to execute a house-to-house registration exercise which the Opposition is against,” GTUC needs to be sanitised in order to have credible elections.

Time and time again, the government would have insisted that no registration will result in the disenfranchisement of the youths who would have turned 18 after the last election, and those who would have had any name change.

Additionally, all the persons who would have died between the last elections, to now, will still be on the list.

It is the view of the government that this will allow for room for possible rigging of the elections.

According to recent reports, President David Granger said he will proclaim a date for elections when GECOM advises him that it is in a state of readiness for the conduct of credible, fair and free elections. “At this stage, only the elections commission has the authority to run elections, not the Executive, not the National Assembly, not the President; and I am going to abide by whatever decisions the elections commission takes with regard to the preparation of the list. I will abide by the advice of the elections commission on when to call elections.

Right now it is only the elections commission that could determine the time

explained while urging every eligible citizen to ensure they are registered, so as to have their names on the Voters List.

The Attorney-General, in reflecting on the No-Confidence Motion and its consequences, maintained his earlier position that it was not carefully thought out.

“As I said to you, the no-confidence provision was just inserted into the Constitution in 2000. It wasn’t well thought out; they didn’t deal with the consequences of the motion, if it is successful. So you are actually confronted with a situation where people were looking at House-toHouse, and within a certain time frame, and they tried to constrict it but the important thing is to have credible elections,” Minister Williams said.

The government has indicated that it not only respects but supports GECOM’s decision to proceed with House-to-House Registration ahead of elections to ensure that a credible list is generated for free and fair elections.

Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram

and the form of elections, and I am prepared to abide by their decisions,” President Granger had said.

GECOM however, through its attorney Stanley Marcus, has long stated that it could facilitate credible elections only after December 25, 2019, when the process of house-to-house registration is completed.

It has said that it cannot conduct elections on an expired List of Electors and house-to-house registration has become necessary to produce a new and credible list. Now that this action is filed, the court will decide on the way forward as it relates to elections in Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 23, 2019

2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals

Uncertain compliance scenario for Latin America and the Caribbean The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development – the principal global meeting for examining the commitments assumed by countries in order to meet the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – closed its 2019 session with a mixed balance for Latin America and the Caribbean. The region was represented at this year’s Forum by Chile, Guatemala, Guyana and Saint Lucia, countries that presented their national progress reports to the world assembly.

By delivering their Voluntary National Reviews (VNR), these countries are a reflection of the notable political commitment of the region to the 2030 Agenda four years after its adoption: Latin America and the Caribbean have already presented 22 reports in the 20162018 biennium, in addition to the four mentioned, some for the second time (Chile and Guatemala).

The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has closely accompanied its member States in this process. In this context, Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena participated actively in New York in various sessions and side events to the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), which took place July 9-19. She expressed her permanent support for the countries and underscored the pending challenges for full compliance with the Agenda in the region.

“Our balance is mixed. Many countries of the region have committed to the 2030 Agenda, created inclusive instances and special institutions for its follow-up –around 29 of a total 33 countries have already set up some inter-sectorial framework – and they have also created special public budgets to undertake this compliance, particularly when it comes to public social spending,”

said Alicia Bárcena in her remarks on the general balance at the closing of the forum.

“However, we are very concerned about follow-up and the balance, because our region is growing less, while inequality and poverty are on the rise. Therefore, on one hand, it is a region that has made a lot of effort in the past to reduce poverty and inequality, but since 2015 approximately, these have begun to increase,” asserted the United Nations high official.

Bárcena explained that this reality produces various scenarios.

First, there are some SDGs that will be met by 2030, like the reduction of child mortality. Second, there is a

Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC Executive Secretary

with platforms centered on the SDGs for debate, regional forums for peer learning and capacity building. She added that the 2030 Agenda recognizes that regional action is essential for ensuring progress on the SDGs and underlines that the regional level helps to contextualize the global goals and translate them into national sustainable development realities. At the end of this HLPF, Alicia Bárcena also concluded her role as coordinator of the UN regional commissions; the responsibility will now fall to the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Vera Songwe.

In the case of Latin America and the Caribbean, ECLAC has already organized three meetings of its regional forum, the Forum of the Countries of Latin American and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development, which last met in April in Santiago, Chile, in preparation for the world event held over the last two weeks in New York.

Her conclusions are contained in the Quadrennial Report on progress and regional challenges in relation to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, which ECLAC

The 2030 Agenda is complex and the support the United Nations Member States requires to meet its goals must be integrated, coordinated and multilevel' ––Alicia Bárcena set of indicators that are trending in the right direction, such as access to internet. Third, there may be some that will not be met at all, such as the case of clean, healthy water.

“If the region does not grow and inequality doesn’t diminish, it will be hard for us to meet those goals,” she emphasized.

In her capacity as coordinator of the five regional UN commissions – the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP); the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA); the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE); the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA); and ECLAC – Alicia Bárcena stressed that since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, these five commissions have provided their Member States

prepared jointly for the first time in April with the regional offices of UN agencies, funds and programs.

“These forums have been fundamental spaces, because they are where countries do test presentations of their voluntary reports, but they are also a place for peer analysis and generate lessons learned among them, as well as opportunities for South-South cooperation to see which countries can support others on certain issues: statistics, planning, among others,” indicated Bárcena. “In this particular High-Level Forum is the first time much more explicit acknowledgement has been made of the regional dimension. We had a session with all the presidents of the regional sustainable development forums, in our case represented by Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, who presented a report on our forum,” she said.

The next (fourth) Regional Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development, which will continue with the review of actions to comply with the 2030 Agenda in the region, is scheduled for April 2020 in Havana, Cuba, the country that currently holds the presidency pro tempore of ECLAC. Alicia Bárcena likewise underscored the opportunity that the HLPF presented for hearing representatives from other regions, and thus learn about the realities of Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and in this way share experiences with Latin

America and the Caribbean in order to contribute the best from everywhere to the global effort.

“The 2030 Agenda is complex and the support the United Nations Member States requires to meet its goals must be integrated, coordinated and multilevel,” she stated on Wednesday, July 17 at a side event to the HLPF. Said event was attended by government representatives and resident coordinators of the UN system, who analyzed how the world organization can support the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean on its path toward sustainable development for all.

In her remarks at the HLPF 2019, the ECLAC Executive Secretary underscored the importance of local contributions when it comes to achieving the SDGs, as well as the inter-relationship between national, regional and local action for their implementation. She also highlighted the importance of dialogue between the public and private sectors and all stakeholders involved, in order to meet the SDGs. During the week of the High-Level Political Forum in New York, ECLAC was also the host of a meeting on the importance of the Escazú Agreement on rights of access to information, public participation and justice in environmental matters, for Latin America and Caribbean.

On behalf of Alicia Bárcena, the Director of ECLAC’s Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean, Diane Quarless, said that over the last decade, ECLAC has put equality at the center of development, as a non-negotiable ethical principle from a rights perspective. “The reduction of inequality is not just an ethical imperative, it is a requirement for the effectiveness and efficiency needed to attain sustainable development and ensure that no one is left behind. Inequality is a barrier to development,” she said. The Agreement has currently been signed by 17 countries and was ratified by Guyana on April 18, 2019 (the first country to do so).

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was the last nation to sign the treaty at United Nations Headquarters this past Friday, July 12.

'

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 23, 2019

Boycott calls ‘backward’

…GTUC warns Jagdeo against encouraging citizens not to register …says house-to-house registration a legitimate exercise THE Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is calling on the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, to desist from calling on citizens to boycott the ongoing House-to-House Registration, warning that it could have grave implications in the future.

In a statement on Monday, GTUC said the decision taken by the Opposition Leader and by extension the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to boycott national registration, has the potential to disenfranchise Guyanese. Such action, the trade union posited, is not consistent with a call for early election or realising the rulings of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

“We remind this nation of the CCJ’s ruling for free, fair and credible election which can only result if the process from the very beginning to the very end is credible. The right to vote, which is the most precious act of every citizen to guarantee his/her participation in having a say in and shaping the development of the country of his/her birth or adoption, is sacred,” GTUC said.

It noted that throughout history and over the world, people have fought and died for the right to vote. “In Guyana, a waterfront worker named Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, in 1926, along with other Caribbean Labour Leaders put in place a framework to commence the fight for one-man-one-vote (universal

adult suffrage). Approximately two decades after, this fight was joined by political leaders such as Dr. Cheddie Jagan and then Mr. Forbes Burnham. The right to vote was not achieved until some twenty-seven years after in 1953,” GTUC reminded, while calling for good sense to prevail.

As a political leader, GTUC said, Jagdeo must rethink his party’s position of boycotting the exercise lest it be seen as a misguided and reckless act and a further travesty to the nation. “It does not bode well for the body politic for the Leader of the Opposition to be seen as calling on citizens to undermine the gains of this society, the strength of the people, and legacy of the PPP and its Founder Leader, Dr. Cheddie Jagan,” it warned.

It also took note of the fact that advising citizens not to participate in the process of registration is a violation of the National Registration Act, Chapter 19:08. Aiding and abetting this violation, the GTUC further warned, may also have consequences not limited only to legal actions.

“Such encouragement can fuel passions and give rise to confrontation, placing Registration field workers in harm’s way and at risk of violence.

Guyana cannot afford to move backward instead of forward in its political life. We must recognise, appreciate, secure, and build on the fights and historical gains of the working class, who are amongst our

most vulnerable and must be protected at all times,” the union said.

It added: “Critchlow, Jagan, Burnham, Desmond Hoyte et al must be turning in their final resting place to see this nation is not evolving from an era of division and non-cooperation. Simple political matters are being made complex and difficult to resolve.”

GTUC said the ruling of the CCJ, and its Consequential Orders are simple and straightforward to follow and

James Patterson as Chairman of the Elections Commission was flawed; it did not rule

their names on the Voters List.

Failing to do so, the union warned, is at personal risk of

General Secretary, GTUC, Lincoln Lewis

Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo

should not be distorted. Failure to proceed in a lawful and orderly manner, the trade union said, can result in dire consequences. It noted that while the CCJ ruled that the process of appointing Justice (Ret’d)

that decisions taken during his leadership of the Commission are invalid.

“The people of Guyana are reminded that the nation is facing similar circumstances as with the Charrandass Persaud situation. Even though the then Member of Parliament was not properly seated in the National Assembly the Court did not invalidate decisions he voted on. GECOM Commission during the chairmanship of Justice James Patterson voted to execute a house-to-house registration exercise which the Opposition is against,” GTUC explained while urging every eligible citizen to ensure they are registered, so as to, have

disenfranchisement.

Unite for good of country As the country prepares for oil production in 2020, the Union is challenging both the Government and the Opposition to unite for the good of the country, noting that the people of Guyana are looking to them for direction. “As the floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) “Liza Destiny” has set sail from Singapore heading to our shores to begin the production and exportation of our oil and gas, the working class and citizens are unsure what are the direct or indirect benefits to be had from the exploitation of these resources. Workers and

citizens are desperate, living in hope that our politicians will finally get it right and bring what oil and gas promises to the disadvantaged and vulnerable amongst us-an opportunity for betterment,” it explained.

Reiterating the need for the political leaders and other national stakeholders to come together, GTUC said, such is consistent with Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution, explaining that such a move would chart a way forward in securing a system of governance that would include all in the decision-making and allow for equitable distribution of the national pie.

“The trade uw nion movement having initiated and participated as a leading voice in the struggle for the right to vote is now advancing the argument that having achieved one-manone-vote, whereas election is the building block on which government stands, that is not all there is to social justice. Governing is not all about election. Governing is about the quality- good governance and social justice” GTUC noted. It said it remains committed to the ideal of improving the lives of the working class through good governance and social justice.

Young doctor leading healthcare in North Rupununi –– addresses health-related issues promptly in 14 Communities THE government’s unwavering commitment towards catering to the needs of the country’s Indigenous population has seen one more materialization. This is in the form of thirty-two-year-old, Dr. Gillian Joseph who is working to ensure the Indigenous residents of North Rupununi are healthy.

She is responsible for the efficient functioning of health facilities in 14 communities in the North Rupununi district and monitoring the work of more than 30 health staff in the district.

Since assuming the post as district health supervisor, Dr. Joseph has been crafting targeted approach-

es to improve healthcare delivery in the region, working closely with the North Rupununi District Development Board. “Since being here, one of the things I have started is holding quarterly meetings with the health staff in the district.”

This has allowed for more interaction among staff as they track progress and identify shortcomings.

This allows for the issues which exist in healthcare delivery to be addressed promptly. There are also plans to extend the healthcare service via weekly home visits and quarterly Dr. Gillian Joseph, North outreaches.

Rupununi District Health Hailing from Surama village, Supervisor and Doctor in Charge of the Annai Health Centre Dr. Joseph graduated in 2016 as a

Doctor in Medicine after studies in Cuba. After fulfilling 18 months of rotations at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. (GPHC), post graduation, Dr. Joseph was asked to serve as District Health Supervisor in the North Rupununi where she was stationed at the Annai Health Centre.

Joseph also serves as the Doctor in Charge.

Dr. Joseph stated that returning to her home (North Rupununi) and serving in the area of health has always been her dream. “Coming home was something I always planned on doing, to give back, give my services and support in the health sector to the district, that is some-

thing that I dreamt about and it is really what made me pursue studies to become a doctor in the first place.”

Dr. Joseph said.

Her biggest challenge is the lack of health education among the Indigenous peoples. The fact that patients are either misinformed or unaware of the risk factors to non-communicable diseases and other serious health issues plaguing the hinterland.

Therefore, she counsels persons whenever they visit her office, Dr. Joseph explained.

Added to that, she feels fulfilled in seeing the result of her work even if it is simply by putting a smile on a patient’s face. (DPI)

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 23, 2019

GECOM rebuffs PSC …says letter misguided, registration exercise will go on

CHIEF Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, has affirmed that house-to-house registration will continue in accordance with the law, ignoring the call by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) for the exercise to be suspended.

On Monday, Lowenfield publically responded to PSC Chairman, Gerald ‘Gerry’ Gouveia, who in a previous letter had come against the CEO for the commencement of the registration activity.

The activity is intended to create a fresh Official List of Electors (OLE) which includes youths now eligible and excludes those now dead or non-residents.

However, PSC Head in a letter on July 21, 2019 stated that it was legally advised by GECOM’s Internal Counsel that the Commission has not been legally directed to proceed with the registration activity. Gouveia referred to the exercise as “unlawful” and claimed that the activity cannot be conducted without a GECOM Chairman.

“The Private Sector Commission calls upon GECOM

to immediately suspend the house to house registration exercise until a Chairperson of GECOM has been named and can inclusively and respectfully decide the best way forward,” Gouveia stated.

Responding on Monday, Lowenfield expressed his displeasure with Gouveia’s sentiments referring to the missive as “misguided” and an uncalled for attempt to question his professionalism in the execution of his duties.

He pointed the PSC Head, elected to the post just last month, to the recent ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ); the words of GECOM’s own legal officer, Excellence Dazzell and the orders given to the Commission.

A publication in the Official Gazette dated June 11, 2019 shows that an Order was documented for the registration exercise to commence on July 20 and end on October 20, 2019.

The Order was signed by former GECOM Chair, Justice (Rtd) James Patterson whose instruction, Lowenfield informed Gouveia, still stands as valid.

Giving evidence of such, he pointed to legal advice given by Dazzell to him which stated: “In light of the judgement of the Caribbean Court of Justice on 18 June 2019, which stated that the process by which Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission was appointed was flawed, every act done by that Chairman (Justice (Rtd) James Patterson) after 18 June 2019 would be void.

However, acts done before 18 June 2019 would be valid since those acts would have been done on the premise that the appointment was bona fide.”

She also indicated that “...since Order 25 of 2019, was signed and gazetted before the Judgment of the CCJ --that is 11 June 2019-it is valid.” The CEO also reminded the PSC Head that the approval for house-tohouse registration was given since February 19, 2019 by a majority vote of the GECOM Commission which spurred preparation activities towards the commencement of same.

Furthermore, he stated that while Gouveia preaches “a clear Constitutional

Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield

requirement to hold elections within three months” he omits the Constitution’s provision for an extension of such.

This is with regard to the March 2019 dismissal of private criminal charges filed against the former Chairman and three Commissioners for their alleged conspiracy to breach the Constitution which provides for elections to be held within three months of the passage of a no-confidence motion.

“The GECOM Secretariat clearly understands the Constitutional requirements and also the legal premise to operationalise a valid Order.

If I am really to understand the basis of your letter that it is unlawful for the Secretariat to proceed with Houseto-House Registration in the

absence of a Chairman, I take it that I should wait until a Chairman is appointed before I commence the implementation of any preparatory work for the conduct of General and Regional Elections,” Lowenfield stated.

“Therefore, until such time as further directed by a duly constituted Commission, House-to-House Registration will continue.”

Meanwhile, in his letter Gouveia had also claimed that the PSC had asked Lowenfield “several times” for a meeting in relation to the matter but was denied. He questioned the need for a new National Register of Registrants Database (NRRD) when existing NRRD has been “continuously maintained” and called on GECOM to suspend the registration activity.

“GECOM’s present conduct is a complete break from its history of inclusivity and respectful engagement with all the relevant stakeholders. GECOM is failing to meet its duty to communicate, provide facts and justify its actions to the public,” the PSC Chairman stated. “In the meantime, we call on you, as Chief Elections Officer, to discharge your duty professionally and objectively and provide information to the public to correct misinformation about the voters list and voting process.”

However, Lowenfield rebutted: “It is appalling that in your opening para-

graph, you sought to create an impression that I, Keith Lowenfield have been avoiding meetings with the PSC. I have never received any such request for meetings. I have noted that all previous requests for meetings were directed to the Chairman of the Commission. You should produce the evidence of your meeting requests and proof of delivery to my Office.”

He informed that at a May 2, 2019 meeting with political party stakeholders, representative of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) delegation, Zulfikar Mustapha “explicitly stated that they will not be participating in any deliberation on House-to-House Registration”.

Lowenfield said that Mustapha stated that the party was not in agreement with the exercise and “walked out”. “How then can you question my consultative approach and the credibility of the exercise?” the CEO questioned, adding: “It is my firm belief that the PSC should consider the facts on the operationalisation of this exercise and direct any further advocacy to the Commission when properly constituted.”

The house-to-house registration exercise which commenced as planned on July 20, 2019 has been proceeding smoothly with over 20,000 persons being registered over the first weekend.

NDIA, City Engineers’ Dept. to collaborate

By Dillon Goring GEORGETOWN’S Mayor Ubraj Narine announced, on Monday, at the Georgetown Mayor and City Council’s statutory meeting, that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) was working in collaboration with the Mayor and City Council’s Engineering Department to ensure that the City is properly drained of excess water during the rainy season.

The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority(NDIA) has taken responsibili-

ty for the maintenance of the primary drainage infrastructure in Georgetown.

This means that NDIA will be responsible for ensuring that all the main canals and outfall channels in the city are cleared.

Georgetown is designed to accommodate 50ml or 2ins of rainfall in 24hrs. If that is exceeded, there’s the possibility of flooding in the City of Georgetown.

NDIA’s CEO, Mr. Fredrick Flatts, stated that, in order to alleviate flooding pumps will be used to get rid of excess water on the land.

Additionally, Flatts

made the point that there were two systems of drainage that were operational - the secondary which includes main drain and canals and the primary drains include alleyways and small drains.

Flatts further explained that there wasn’t enough accessibility to maintain the cleanliness of some of the main drains in the areas of the City because of squatting.

The CEO of NDIA assured that the authority was well equipped to deal with possible flooding in the City.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 23, 2019

Gafoors feeding programme benefits thousands OVER 2,000 senior citizens, children and adults benefitted from Gafsons Industries Limited feeding programme hosted last Sunday at the company’s Houston Complex, East Bank Demerara.

The event was hosted in the aftermath of Ramadan since the company was unable

for 30 days.

Executive Chairman, Abdool Sattaur Gafoor, whose left foot was fractured also participated in the feeding programme while being pushed in a wheelchair.

His wife Ameena, was also actively involved in the distribution of food and ham-

Corporate mogul, Sattaur Gafoor, Executive Chairman of Gafsons Industries, sharing meals to his guests while being pushed in a wheelchair

to do such during the observance which commenced on 5 May, 2019 and continued

pers to their guests.

The children and the elderly came from various

Elderly citizens and children waiting to be served meals.

orphanages and homes, as well as from neighbouring communities. The recipients were given two hot meals, and refreshments,

among other items.

During Ramadan many Muslims recite the Quran, while others donate money to charity, which is used to help

feed the needy. One of the main goals is to abstain from food and drink which will help them to understand the situation of the less fortunate.

Gafoors has been giving back to the needy for over two decades and would host such events multiple times annually.

Police recover car used in Festival City drive-by shooting IN the aftermath of Sunday night shooting in Williamstaad Street, Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, police recovered the silver Toyota 212 motorcar, allegedly used in the shooting that led to murder.

The shooting claimed the life of 29-year-old Leon Duncan known as “World Boss” or “Whistle” and left his brother and two others injured.

Reports indicate that the vehicle was found abandoned at Cauliflower Circle in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown with live rounds and spent shells inside.

Duncan was shot mul-

gunshot injuries to his left knee and a bruise to the upper right arm and Gordon received gunshot injuries to his left arm and right knee.

At the time of the shooting the men were gambling on a culvert at Williamstaad

Leon Duncan called “World Boss” or “Whistle”

Shaquille Duncan called ‘Lil Shaq’

tiple times to his left abdomen and succumbed to his injuries.

His brother, 22-year-old Shaquille Duncan called ‘Lil Shaq’ was shot to his right arm and left thigh. The brothers live at Manatee

Place, South Ruimveldt.

Also injured were Lawrence Simon called “Plait Hair”, 34, a construction worker of Festival City, North Ruimveldt and Orandy Gordon, 28, also of Festival City. Simon received

M&CC money found in Chief Constable’s vehicle A BAG containing cash belonging to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) was found inside the vehicle assigned to Chief Constable Andrew Foo, and the Local Government Commission has since been called in to launch an investigation.

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday that according to his information, the money was being kept in the vehicle, PVV 1405, for quite some time.

Speaking on the sidelines of the fortnightly statutory meeting at City Hall, Narine could not say how much money was in the bag, or who found it and reported the matter.

While not his responsibility to investigate, he is disturbed that no one at the City Council told him about this incident.

“The only thing that bothers me is that no one apprised me of this. I had to hear it on the road, which is not good for business,” Narine TURN TO PAGE 15 ►

road Festival City, North Ruimveldt when the car passed and many shots were fired.

The men fell to the ground and the car sped away. The men were picked up by public-spirited citizens

and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital in separate vehicles.

Police recovered several 9mm spent shells; four 7.62 ×39 spent shells, and three live 7.62 ×39 rounds of ammunition.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 23, 2019

Mental Health, Suicide stories should follow best practices in media reports SUICIDE is a public health issue and coverage of suicide in the media should be informed by using best practices as some suicide deaths may be newsworthy while others can just influence behaviour negatively.

This was disclosed during a Media workshop on Mental Health hosted on Saturday, at the British High Commissioner's Residence, in Bel Air Gardens Georgetown.

In attendance was British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn; Deputy High Commissioner Ray Davidson; Psychologist and Counselor Raiza Khan; Director of the Mental Health Unit Dr. Util Richmond-Thomas; Professor Paloma Mohamed, former UG lecturer Vidyaratha Kissoon and Guyana Press Association (GPA) President, Nazima Raghubir and executive of the body.

Discussions surrounded the ethical reporting on mental health and suicide, understanding suicide as a public health issue, understanding the media’s role in informing their audience without sensationalizing suicide.

British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn in his introduction to the workshop noted that suicide should be decriminalized in Guyana since the person who attempts suicide

British High Commissioner Greg Quinn during his address

feels devastated in life already.

He noted that such an act is a call for help and not a call for prosecution before the courts.

The British Envoy stated that suicide was removed from the list of criminal offences in England and Wales since 1961 and such actions should follow through for Guyana as well because it eliminates the stigma for surviving family members.

“Suicide here in Guyana

A section of the gathering at the Media workshop on Mental Health hosted on Saturday at the British High Commissioner's Residence in Bel Air Gardens, Georgetown. (Delano Williams Photo)

needs to be decriminalised.

It needs to be taken off the criminal statute. It is no way a criminal offence…It was decriminalised in England and Wales in 1961 with the appropriately named Suicide Act. What that fundamentally means is not only is the stigma removed from surviving family members, but also those who try and fail are no longer prosecuted…Trying to commit

suicide is a clear statement of a need for help,” the High Commissioner shared. Psychologist and Counselor Raiza Khan said media operatives should avoid reporting that death by suicide was preceded by a single event, such as a recent job loss or a single negative event.

She said reporting like this leaves the public with an overly simplistic and misleading understanding of suicide.

“Journalists should follow up suicide stories to see if the family is undergoing counseling,” she said.

Khan explained that media operatives should also consider quoting a suicide prevention expert on causes and treatments while avoiding putting expert opinions in a sensationalistic context.

She said media reports should inform readers about the causes of suicide, its warning signs, and trends in rates and

recent treatment advances in order to develop society.

Meanwhile, Director, Mental Health Unit, Dr. Util Richmond-Thomas noted that alcohol and substance abuse are tightly interwoven into all the mental health disorders and maladies that plague the local society. The Director noted that the integration of mental health into primary health care is an extremely important strategy for the Ministry of Public Health and for the mental health of all Guyanese.

“Self-harm is the strongest indicator of future suicide,” Dr. Richmond-Thomas stated. She further explained that many persons who commit suicide would have had several incidences of self-harm in their past, “It means therefore that if the self-harm was being treated while it was occurring it may not have led to suicide.”

Professor Paloma Mo-

hamed-Martin said journalists should take the opportunity to educate the public about suicide and avoid language which sensationalizes or normalizes suicide, or presents it as a solution to problems.

She explained that the media should avoid prominent placement and undue repetition of stories about suicide and explicit description of the method used in a completed or attempted suicide.

According to the professor, the media should exercise caution in using photographs or video footage and show due consideration for people bereaved by suicide.

She noted that information should be provided about where to seek help while noting that media professionals themselves may be affected by stories about suicide.

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 23, 2019

Participants graduate from the Reintegration of Adolescent Mothers Programme

By Jared Liddell 80 students graduated from The Carnegie School of Home Economics Reintegration of Adolescent Mothers Programme The 80 graduates were a part of the second batch of the initiative which saw 30 graduates in the first batch.

Deputy Chief Education Officer, Ingrid Trotman, during the simple ceremony, highlighted that the 6-week programme not only worked to provide training for the mothers but also, in some cases, the transportation and day-care services for the children of the students in the programme.

The Reintegration of Adolescent Mothers Programme offered two main courses, namely, Elementary Cakes and Pastries and General Cosmetology. The programme, in the near future, is likely to see additional courses in garment construction and fabric design.

Principal of Carnegie School of Home Economics, Myrna Lee, advised the students to go after their dreams, explaining to them that no dream was too big to be achieved no matter the circumstances. She reminded them to take every opportunity presented to them and to always put their best foot forward to ensure their success. Lee reflected on her own life and how determined she was to achieve her goals and charged the students to set goals for

themselves and to never stop until they achieve them.

“I dare you to go after your dreams, chase after your dreams and live out your dreams with patience and passion”, Lee instructed.

Representative of UNICEF Guyana, Audrey Michele Rodrigues, spoke to the students and encouraged them to use the training they received from the program for their own success. She encouraged them to always rise above the challenges, and that they must remain resilient in their efforts to be successful and to always seek out opportunities to better themselves as individuals, for their own benefit and for the benefit of their families.

Minister of education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, congratulated the students on taking the initiative to be a part of the programme in an effort to better themselves even after becoming adolescent mothers. She expressed to the graduates that their decision to take part in the programme would help them in getting greater chances for opportunity to provide for their families and themselves. Henry told the graduates that being pregnant at a younger age should not deter them from achieving their academic goals and aiming to better themselves.

“Become admirable professionals, I know you have the tenacity and resolve to become advocates, educators, and most significantFROM PAGE

M&CC money found ... expressed, adding, “I heard it on the road and when I came here, I walked into the Town Clerk’s office and asked her to launch an investigation.”

According to him, the bag found is one that contains a ‘lock’ or M&CC seal.

It is for this reason that it could be confirmed that the money belongs to the Council.

The Mayor said he has since called in the Local Government Commission to investigate the incident.

Meanwhile, Acting Town Clerk Sharon Harry informed councillors during the meeting that Foo could not be

13

Chief Constable Andrew Foo

present due to a family situation.

Calls to the Chief Constable’s phone Monday afternoon went unanswered.

(From right) Minister of Education, Dr Nicolette Henry, principal of Carnegie school of Home Economics, Ms Myrna Lee, Representative of UNICEF Guyana, Audrey Michele Rodrigues

Sample of work by the Elementary cakes and Pastries graduates

ly, become champions”, Minister Henry charged the graduates.

The graduates all re-

ceived kits, complements of the Ministry of Education, relating to the course of study they were graduat-

Sample of work by the cosmetology graduates

ing from. The Elementary Cakes and Pastry students received cooking utensils while the students from the

general cosmetology class received cosmetic items they could use in the world of work.

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Over 20,000 registered

…as GECOM continues house-to-house registration

By Lisa Hamilton THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), in just two days after the commencement of houseto-house registration, was able to register over 20,000 persons countrywide as many agree that the legal process is necessary for credible elections.

On Monday, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the successful response indicates an understanding of the seriousness of the process by citizens.

However, she noted that some persons in Regions Six, Three and some parts of Georgetown have been reluctant to participate in the exercise.

She is hopeful that, with time, these persons will come to see the importance of the exercise which not

Ginette Payne (right) and her family members proudly show their inked fingers after being registered (Samuel Maughn photo)

“just don’t be nervous and register.”

Meanwhile, near the intersection of Chapel and Durban Streets, a family was proud to show their inked fingers stating that they had no intention to be left out of the registration process.

A group of house-to-house enumerators on the job (Adrian Narine photo)

only equips them to vote in the coming elections but to conduct business with the provision of a new Identification (ID) card.

On Monday, the Guyana Chronicle continued its visitation to various households and found individuals eager to take part in the process which commenced on July 20, 2019.

First-time voter, 20-yearold Joel Evans, living in Campbellville, Georgetown expressed that while he was nervous, the service administered by the GECOM enumerators was good. He then encouraged other youths:

“I think it is important because if you ain’t register you can’t get to vote because, remember, the old List already expired so you need to get re-registered. I think it has been a good process; it was simple and the GECOM workers they lead you step by step and tell you what to do. This set [of workers] that I have here didn’t give me a hard time or anything, they were nice,” Ginette Payne told the newspaper.

All the way in Linden, the registration exercise continues to gain momentum in communities on both the Mackenzie and Wismar

shores.

The newspaper caught up with two youths who had never voted but ensured they got registered in Central Amelia’s Ward. Kiano Bissoon, 17 years old, registered at his residence, after being approached by three GECOM enumerators he described as courteous.

“I never voted before and I am happy that I am getting the opportunity to register and I am encouraging other youths to do the same,” he said.

Similar sentiments were shared by Andel Morville of South Amelia’s Ward, Linden who stated: “Getting registered is a must. I didn’t expect them to come to my house so quickly [but] everything went smooth, I had all my documents and I finished the process. I will make sure I vote in the next elections.”

Lindeners registered Meanwhile, Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell; Regional Chairman, Renis Morian and Municipal Councillor, Deron Adams were also among the first set to be registered.

They believe that the ease in which it is being done encourages all Lindeners to get registered, especially the youths who are first-time voters. “Me and my entire family will complete our registration and I am encouraging everyone in the Upper Demerara Region to get registered as well,” Morian said.

Teams of vibrant and enthusiastic registration officers took to the streets of Linden since Saturday, registering hundreds of residents, despite a little delay on account of the inclement weather. Ward told the newspaper that 10 Cluster Officers have been

recruited which includes four on the Mackenzie shore and six on the Wismar shore.

These are assisted by Assistant Registration Officers and field workers. “Everything is going well, we have had some challenges in dealing with the weather [but] the teams were able to maneuver their way around that,” Ward relayed. In addition to Linden, teams have also been dispatched to Kwakwani, Ituni and other outlying and riverine communities in Region Ten. Meanwhile, youth leaders of established youth groups in Linden are encouraging youths to play their part in getting registered which is the ultimate requirement of being able to vote.

ROLE OF YOUTH IMPORTANT A recent survey conducted by an international based youth group, Move on Guyana (MoG), shows that 56 per cent of Guyana’s population is below age 40, hence youths have a greater

A GECOM enumerator takes a photograph of 20-year-old Joel Evans as a part of his GECOM’s registration process (Adrian Narine photo)

role to play in deciding the fate of Guyana’s future at the polls. Since the last house-tohouse registration was held to enable a smooth flow for the 2015 elections, thousands of youths have now reached the credible age for voting and are therefore not on the Official Voters’ List (OLE).

Vernon Todd, Founder of the For the Children’s Sake Foundation in Linden --- a 17-year-old Non-Government Organisation (NGO) is not only encouraging youths to exercise their democratic right to get registered and vote, but to also play a role in mobilising their peers to do so as well. “Between now and Election Day, young people can make calls, knock on doors and mobilise their peers on college campuses and in digital spaces. I feel tremendous hope and optimism that young voters will help move our nation forward,” he said.

Youths, he explained, should realise the level of powers they hold by being at the polls. Founder of the Lin-

GECOM workers mobilize into action in communities in Linden (Vanessa Braithwaite photo)

den Youth Network, Deron Adams described the next elections as the ‘mother of all elections’.

He encouraged: “Youth voters who want to ensure change need to show their support for the candidate whom they feel best represents their needs. No one is going to vote in the interest of young people, except young people and so I appeal to my fellow youths, let’s not be complacent.”

The GECOM PRO has placed on record that in order to be registered, persons must be at home when GECOM enumerators pass by from 8:00hrs to 17:00hrs on weekends and holidays and 15:00hrs to 19:00hrs on weekdays. GECOM has a total of 29 registration offices throughout the country and some 262 cluster offices which are being manned by Assistant Registration Officers (AROs). Over 1,200 teams have already been deployed countrywide while more teams are expected to join the process shortly.

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 23, 2019

C’tyne woman perishes after setting house ablaze A THIRTY-seven-year-old woman perished Monday afternoon after setting her house on fire and finding herself trapped with no means of escape.

Dead is Sabita Sukhnanand, called ‘Tina’, a mother of two of Number 64 Village, who was seen earlier in the day consuming alcohol.

Her distraught husband, Jairam Sukhnanand, a carpenter, told the Guyana Chronicle he was at work when his 11-year-old daughter came running breathlessly to tell him that her mother had set the house on fire and was trapped on the verandah.

The fire reportedly started at around 16:45hrs.

Sukhnanand said that by the time he got to the house, the entranceway to the one-storied wooden building was already engulfed in flames, as was the entrance to the verandah, since that’s where the fire started. He said that neighbours had already formed a bucket brigade and were trying desperately to put out the fire, but the flames had gotten so uncontrollable, they had already engulfed his wife.

The man said that as he stood there looking helplessly at his wife, she began screaming for help, her hands outstretched. And without thinking, he leapt into action, and began climbing onto the

shed in an effort to rescue her, but she had already collapsed.

“I try to haul her out, but she fall down and the heat get worse, suh I jump off back,” Sukhnanand said. At the time fire started, the couple’s daughter was reportedly relaxing in a hammock in the ‘bottom-house’, and was only made aware after smelling the smoke and hearing the neighbours shouting.

She said that before running to get her father, she had the presence of mind to check to see how bad the fire was, but soon came to realise that it was almost out of control. “I would have tried to out it myself, but I know I couldn’t, so I just run to get help,” the child said.

According to reports, the woman had attempted to burn the house down twice before, the most recent being in 2016, but luckily, neighbours had managed to get it under control. Sukhnanand said the situation has left him so confused, he hardly knows what to do next. He said that given that his wife was a habitual drinker, he believes that because she was under the influence that she committed the act.

He said when he went home for lunch at around midday, his wife and daughter were both at home; and when he left, she was in good

Sabita’s distraught husband, Jairam Sukhnanand

The house on fire

Dead: Sabita Sukhnanand

spirits.

“Meh lef’ she home good; meh know she does drink. Dat what she do today, but meh nah think dis bad it woulda been. Meh wish me coulda save she; meh jus’ watch she bu’n,” Sukhnanand said.

Meanwhile, by the time the fire tender arrived, the house was already gone,

At the scene of the fire late Monday

but there were still a few flames visible. A house next door was also scorched.

Up to late Monday night,

firemen could still be seen combing the rubble to find the body. An investigation has since been launched.

A car that was parked under the house was the only valuable that the family was able to save.

Elderly woman, boy escape from burning building A 76- year-old woman and her eightyear-old adopted son escaped from a burning building on Monday afternoon after a fire broke out at their Lot 202 Middle Road, West La Penitence home.

Living to tell the tale, the elderly woman, Norma Clarke, recalled that she had to be fetched out of the home by her grandson and a neighbour when residents caught sight of the house in flames. Firefighters were quick on the scene and could be seen attempting to manage the flames which were quickly devouring the wooden structure.

“I was in the kitchen washing wares. I sent him for a match, he give me the match and he go back and he come and tell me ‘granny look fire’.

By the time he said ‘look fire’ the whole house was burning down,” the

Shawn Clarke

elderly woman stated.

The little boy chimed in: “I was watching TV, a movie which is me favourite movie and then I see the fire; me ain’t light no fire.”

Clarke does not believe that the little boy, who she adopted while only 9- months-old, started the fire. She questioned whether some electrical problem might have been the cause.

“How the fire started I don’t know. Is not he start the fire, he didn’t start any fire…is me alone does deh home. Is four boys I got and this lil boy I am taking care of,” she said.

The origin of the fire is none-

76- year-old Norma Clarke and her adopted son

Neighbour, Gillian Answick (Samuel Maughn photos) The West la Penitence house as the flames engulfed it

theless being investigated by the Guyana Fire Service.

Meanwhile, neighbour Gillian Answick detailed to this newspaper how she and others were able to help Clarke get out of the home. “I was just coming around from the back of my niece house from watching African Moods around minutes to two and I come in and I open my gate and ‘Joe Joe’, [Clarke’s] lil grandson come and said ‘aunty, aunty, fire!’ I run pass the fire because the fire was in the corner of the house and I run to get she. By the time I look I hollering for [her grandson] and he come and bolt and run up the step behind me and he had to fetch she out for me and if you see this fire take over,” Answick said.

The fire began around 14:00hrs on the upper

portion of the two-storeyed home where the Clarke resides with the adopted child. Her three sons reside on the bottom flat with their children.

One of the elderly woman’s biological sons, Shawn Clarke, estimates that over $2M went up in flames. “Microwave, fridge, everything you just name it, plus a whole music set. I can’t really give the full amount because I had nuff things in there. I had six pairs of sneakers new brand,” he said.

He stated that the family will now require clothing for three male adults as well as a teenage female who also had clothing items at the home. Anyone wishing to assist the family can do so at: +5926985309

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 23, 2019

Thousands of youths empowered at

‘One Mega Weekend’ THOUSANDS of Christian youths from across Guyana were empowered through the ‘One Mega Weekend’ Youth Summit, which zeroed in on helping them elevate themselves in the education and employment sectors.

The ‘One Mega Weekend’

was a collaboration between local Gospel recording artiste, Samuel Medas, and the Kaneville Full Gospel Church.

“We decided to collaborate to do something big and impact for young people in a way that would be very impactful and as something that’s posi-

tive,” Medas explained to the Guyana Chronicle. “We really impact young people and to challenge them to be ready for whatever God has planned for them, not only on the spiritual level but also in academics and their careers.”

The mega weekend began

with the ‘Ready Empowerment’ Youth conference at the Love and Faith World Outreach Ministry in Sophia. First Lady Sandra Granger, while delivering remarks here, noted that the young people must focus their energies on “relevant” educational avenues,

First Lady Sandra Granger delivering remarks at the Youth Conference held at the Love and Faith World Outreach Ministry in Sophia [Ministry of the Presidency photo]

Local Gospel rapper ‘Disi’ performing on Saturday night [Vishani Ragobeer photo]

Local Gospel Artiste, Samuel Medas, excites the youthful crowd at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Saturday night [Vishani Ragobeer photo]

particularly in the context of an information and technology-driven world.

The First Lady, however, stressed that education is not only “academics”, but is also “social and cultural development that helps to define who we are as individuals and as a society.” She also encouraged them to position themselves to benefit from the wealth that Guyana will soon possess once oil production commences.

In similar vein, Medas related that it was the aim of the organisation to impact the thousands of young Guyanese in attendance with more than just music and the inspirational vibes. Instead, he said, “We wanted to challenge them to get ready even for where Guyana is going.” Subsequent to the conference, a Praise and Worship Experience was held at the Outreach ministry in Sophia on Friday night. The weekend eventually culminated on Saturday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with a massive gospel concert.

Here, the parking lot was filled with thousands of youths shouting praises as they enjoyed the night of Gospel with

performances from Trinidadian gospel stars, Jaron Nurse, Mark Isaacs and Positive, alongside local talents such as Rochelle Benn, Lion Cub, Disi and Carl Damon.

While the Trinidadians seemed to attract much of the attention, Medas was given the limelight for the show, where he launched his fifth studio album ‘Ready’.

His performance blended his older music with some of the newer songs on the album, and the Guyanese crowd showed the ‘country boy’ that he had their support by singing word for word.

Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency, Simona Charles-Broomes also graced the stage earlier in the evening and left her own praises for Samuel and team.

Shedding some light on her own experiences, she related to the crowd, “If it had not been for God, I would not have been here. As such, she told them that they ought to trust God whenever they encounter struggles.

19

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 23, 2019

Green State Development Strategy emphasized at Green Conference in region 10 THE importance of the Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040 was emphasized at a three-day Green Regional Conference recently held in Region 10 with the Community Development Councils (CDCs) in collaboration with the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

Held under the theme “Sustainability in Economic, Social, Political Environmental and Cultural Development in 2019 and Beyond”, the conference saw a number of CDCs in Region 10 gathered at the Watooka House, showcasing linkages between Region 10’s Natural Resources Management and the Sustainable Development of Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean.

Dr. Simpson Da Silva, a representative of the Ministry of Communities (MoC) noted, “The three days showcased the creative and production

initiatives of some aspects of the Region’s policies, programmes, projects and activities, from the smallest household economic activities to the mid-sized enterprises up to the large-scale strategic initiatives and action plans.”

It was hoped that participants would recognise that Guyana can become a model for the Caribbean and the rest of the world towards the pursuit of sustainability for all its people. Da Silva noted the need for linkages to be established with all CDCs, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) and municipalities to operationalize the Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040.

“These are meant to indicate how we can sustainably develop the Regions, with Linden as the Sustainable Model, and which could be replicated in the other nine

The 15 delegates from 15 CDC communities within Region 10 pose for a photograph at the Watooka House.

Regions of Guyana. In Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice natural resources particularly agricultural, forest, water and

mineral resources, primary and

be the forward base for sus-

value-added production will

tainable production and con-

sumption. This will provide opportunities for producers, service providers and distributers to showcase their goods and services”.

Da Silva thanked NICIL for its involvement in helping to make the event possible.

“I do see NICIL playing a very important role in the various green conferences, green conversations that will be held throughout Guyana and helping with solutions at the community level. NICIL’s role with the Green State Strategy: Vision 2040 is very important as NICIL is one of the agencies that should be prepared to participate fully in the green development agenda” he said.

He also called on the private sector to play its role, as achieving a green state would require the collaboration of all stakeholders in the development of Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 23, 2019

Second NCLDO set for Thursday and Friday THE second annual National Conference of Local Democratic Organs (NCLDO), the forum which brings together the leadership of all three layers of government to empower and equip local democratic organs (LDOs), is scheduled for this Thursday and Friday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendall, East Coast Demerara.

The conference is being held by the Ministry of Communities (MoC) in

collaboration with the Ministry of the Presidency and is expected to be attended by the top officials from the 10 Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs), the 70 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and 10 municipalities.

“This year’s conference will consolidate and build on the achievements made in restoring functionality to the system of local governance,” Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, explained.

The main focus of the Conference will be an assessment of how much of the recommendations from last year’s Conference were, thus far, able to be implemented within the various LDOs The Conference is being observed under the theme “Advancing National Development through Empowered and Innovative Local Democratic Organs in a Green Economy”.

“The objectives are to provide an update on the

implementation progress since the inaugural NCLDO was held in July 2018; secondly, to review and prioritise the recommendations from the inaugural NCLDO 2018 and to develop a plan of action to guide the implementation of the recommendations; also to stimulate innovation through improved awareness on the role of local government in achieving local and national development.”

This year, the two-day programme will see the first day being used to focus on progress made since the inaugural NCLDO and improved awareness on the role of local government in achieving local and national development.

The second day will review the recommendations emanating from the inaugural conference and develop guiding principles for the implementation of that plan.

The conference brings together the leadership of all LDOs, including the chairman, vice-chairman and Regional Executive Officers (REO) of the RDC; the chairman, vice chairman and overseers of the NDCs; and the mayors, deputy mayors and Town Clerks of the municipalities. Minister Bulkan also noted that a representative of the mi-

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan

nority group in each of the LDOs is expected to attend.

Since 2015, government has embraced effective local government as an important partner in national development, which represents a distinct break from the centralist approach of the previous administration and entails citizens having access to essential public services within their respective regions.

With the return of local government after an absence of 21 years with the change of administration, the APNU+AFC government felt it necessary to build the local democratic organs, and organized the conference to do situational analysis of the local governance sector and identify solutions to the

challenges faced within and across LDOs. Bulkan emphasized that central government is about giving more power to the citizens to govern how their communities should be run.

He also sought to address rumours of the plans by opposition-controlled local Councils to boycott and even prevent public officers (overseers) from attending the conference.

“It is all about empowerment, and it is this strategic approach that the administration has been doing. This is a disturbing phenomenon whereby opposition majority LDOs have been given instructions not to attend.

We condemn the actions of the political opposition. This intimidation has even gone beyond encouraging overseers not to participate in this event,” Bulkan noted.

“Uninterested councils are handicapping themselves, it is only through collaboration, cooperation and partnership with central government that the concerns of individuals of respective councils can be addressed in a meaningful manner. The ultimate victims would be the residents who are looking towards those elected councillors [for service].”

City Police Department broken into

Councillors at the statutory meeting on Monday.

THAT the City’s police department has been broken into caused some amount of laughs on Monday when councillors met for their usual statutory meeting at City Hall.

“People laughed me when my office was broken into, but the City’s Police Department has now been broken into,” Mayor Ubraj Narine told councillors.

In an invited comment, the Mayor told Guyana Chronicle that he could not provide details related to the ‘breaking and entering’ as he was yet to be provided a report on the incident.

“I overheard this in the streets. The administration, and heads of departments, all of them need to go home man. They are not doing a good job at all,” the

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine.

mayor lamented.

It was the City Police Investigation Section (CPIS) that was broken into.

Just recently, thieves broke into Narine’s office and stole files that were said to be important in the running of the City Council. That investigation is ongoing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 23, 2019

Heal Guyana lauds peaceful protest, work of Police Force HEAL Guyana, a nonprofit local organization, has lauded the peaceful protest actions by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) last Friday, along with the work of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in maintaining order.

Founder of the organization, Sharon Lalljee-Richard, told the press, subsequent to the protest, that evidence of improved reasoning regarding ethnic sentiments and the demonstration of a healthy democracy were observed in the streets during the protest.

The PPP was calling for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to respect the Caribbean Court of Justice’s ruling and to scrap plans for the Houseto-House Registration exercise, which incidentally, has already kicked off.

“It was interesting to see a female Afro-Guyanese protester, holding her placard and speaking very adamantly about the need for the rule of law to be upheld while making the point that the issue was not one of race, but rather, one of principle, as she appealed to President David Granger to comply with the constitution. Her exact words were, ‘…the people are calling on him to respect the law! This is not Black and Indian, we are one! We have dougla kids!

We have Indian son-in-law and daughter-in-law! Do not divide the country! Black and Indian is the best race in Guyana that unite and live lovingly.’ She ended her plea by saying that the constitution must be kept and that we

Founder of Heal Guyana Sharon Lalljee-Richard.

(the people) are looking for President Granger to correct himself,” Lalljee-Richard said.

Her organization has been running continuous public education campaigns since the launch of its ‘National Call for Peace and Unity regardless of Political Preference’ initiative.

“Heal Guyana was unable to obtain the name of the woman but whoever she was, she has demonstrated exemplary maturity by addressing ‘the issue’ while choosing to see past the typical race-related biases we often witness within the socio-political environment in Guyana during this time.

This is what is fundamentally necessary for our country to grow and succeed as a nation. All of us, regardless of ethnicity and political preference, must hold our leaders accountable. If the Government of Guyana were

to change tomorrow, the same levels of public accountability must be upheld and it is the people’s place to see to that,” she further commented.

Lalljee-Richard also expressed a sense of satisfaction with the performance of the local police force who was assigned to maintain order during the protest.

“There was an incident where a female by-stander attempted to hurl water from the gutter onto some of the protesters during their peaceful demonstration, and the police on duty promptly arrested the assailant, removing her from the scene. Some may want to dismiss this act based on the argument that the police were merely doing their job, but I believe that the David Granger led administration should be commended for protecting the wellbeing of peaceful protesters who choose to exercise their democratic right as citizens,” the Heal Guyana founder expressed.

She recalled that a similar show of regard by the Police was evident during the MAPM (Movement Against Parking Meters) protests in 2017 which lead to the quashing of the draconian parking meter deal between Smart City Solutions and the Mayor and City Council.

“Heal Guyana plans to continue its advocacy for peace and unity, especially during this period of uncertainty. Members of the public are invited to volunteer with the organization to serve as peace-building partners,

Man who threatened girlfriend with firearm remanded ON Monday July 22, 2019, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, a thirty-one-year-old man was remanded to prison for threatening his girlfriend with a firearm.

Roalston Rowe, Aka Caesar, of Newtown kitty, appeared before Magistrate sherdel Isaacs-Marcus and pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that, on July 16, 2019, at Campbellville Avenue, Georgetown, he had, in his possession, a firearm without being the holder of a license.

Police prosecutor Adduni Inniss told the court

that, on the day in question, the police, acting on information, went to Campbellville. There they met a young lady who had allegedly reported that she was being threatened by her boyfriend who was in possession of a gun. She informed the police that the defendant (Rowe) had pointed the gun to her head.

The police arrested him and he admitted that the gun belonged to him. Investigation was carried out and, based on the investigation, he was charged.

Inniss also told the court that the accused was recent-

ly released, after spending two years in prison for robbery under arms.

“Ma head hurting right now plus them police never find me with no gun in ma hand, I had two Guinness and hundred dollar cigarette, I will plead guilty so madam do whatever you want” were the words of the accused.

Based on the explanation given, the Magistrate entered a not-guilty plea and remanded Rowe to prison until July 29, 2019.

during the upcoming efforts to educate against race-hate, quell hate-speech and monitor the behavior

of persons on the campaign trail during the upcoming election. Applications to volunteer can be sent by

visiting www.healguyana. org and clicking on the ‘volunteer’ tab to apply,” Lalljee Richard urged.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 23, 2019

Driver to stand trial –– for causing death of two passengers

A Route 42 minibus driver was, on Monday, July 22, 2019, released on $700,000 for causing the death of two of his passengers, who lost their lives during an accident on the Garden of Eden Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), two months ago.

Typhon Sampson, 31, of Supply, EBD was arraigned before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Particulars of the charge alleged that Sampson, on May 5, 2019, at the Garden

of Eden Public Road, EBD, drove minibus BXX 3014, in a dangerous manner to the public, thereby causing the death of Linden Charles and Michael Cozier.

Sampson was released on $700,000 bail and the matter was adjourned until August 6, 2019.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that Cozier, 34, formally of Charlestown, and police constable Charles were among seven passengers in Sampson’s minibus on May 5, 2019.

According to information from the Guyana Police Force, minibus BXX 3014, Typhon Sampson

which was allegedly driven

by Sampson, was travelling at a fast rate, south along the eastern side of the road in the vicinity of the Guyana Defence Force Agriculture Corps.

The driver allegedly lost control of the bus and ended up in a trench on the western side of the road.

Cozier and Charles were among seven passengers who were all injured in the accident and were rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

Cozier was pronounced dead on arrival, while Charles and the other passengers were transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for further treatment.

Charles suffered from spinal injuries and later succumbed to his injuries while the other passengers were treated and sent away.

The driver reportedly fled the scene and left the injured passengers inside the minibus. He turned himself over to the police two days after the accident.

Pregnant woman charged with assault

Cassandra Amsterdam (News Room Photo)

A pregnant woman was on Monday, July 22, 2019, arraigned before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isccas-Marcus for assault, after she allegedly threw water on a woman, during the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) protest at Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) at Barack and High Streets, Kingston, Georgetown.

Cassandra Amsterdam, 24, of Barack and High Streets, appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was released on $5,000 bail, after she denied the charge.

Particulars of the charge alleged that, on Friday, July 19, 2019, at Barack and High Streets, Amsterdam unlaw-

fully assaulted Yanalla Dalrymple.

The matter was transferred to the courtroom of City Magistrate Rondel Weaver for September 9, 2019.

Based on reports, Amsterdam threw a bucket of water onto the persons who were in the vicinity of the protest, and some of it landed on Dalrymple.

The woman claimed that the protesters were disturbing her with their chants.

The PPP supporters mounted a protest on July 19, 2019, calling on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to begin preparations for General and Regional Elections immediately.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 23, 2019

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Narine, Pollard return for 1st and 2nd ..Anthony Bramble is lone T20Is against India newcomer in 14 – member squad ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – West Indies chances against India in the MyTeam11 T20I Series, co-sponsored by Skoda, were given a boost with the recall of the veteran duo of Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Anthony Bramble is the newcomer in the 14-member squad selected for the first two T20Is in the series which will be contested on August 3 and 4 at the Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida.

The Selection Panel have the opportunity to make changes to the squad before the third T20I on August 6 at the Guyana National Stadium. The squad also includes Andre Russell, subject to him passing a fitness assessment prior to the

series. He is set to return to the playing field following his early exit from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 to undergo an operation on his troublesome left knee.

Left-handed opener John Campbell and left-arm spinner Khary Pierre have also been included alongside a number of regulars led by captain Carlos Brathwaite, as the interim CWI Selection Panel seeks to explore options with the ICC T20 World Cup looming next year in Australia.

Mystery spinner Narine last played in a T20I for West Indies against England almost two years ago at Chester-le-Street and batting all-rounder Pollard appeared last November on the Tour of India.

The 28-year-old Bram-

Sunil Narine last played in a Windies T20 side almost two years ago,

ble has given firm proof of his batting and keeping ability in the West Indies Championship for reigning fivetime champions Guyana Jaguars, who also reached the Final of last year’s West Indies Super50 Cup. He captained West In-

Guyanese wicketkeeper/ batsman Anthony Bramble is the lone newcomer in the squad.

dies “B” to the Final of the Global T20 Tournament last year in Canada and was recently picked up in the CPL draft for the first time in three years and will play for his home-based Guyana Amazon Warriors.

“We have been following his performances in regional competitions over the years and it cannot be forgotten that he led the West Indies ‘B’ Team to the GT20 in Canada, and that team did well to reach the Final,” said Haynes.

“We figured that though Nicholas Pooran will be the first-choice wicketkeeper, we needed to have someone to deputise in case something unexpected happens and he is the perfect choice.

He is 27 and has a lot of ambition, and we saw his character come out the way he batted whenever Guyana Jaguars were in problems in the West Indies Championship and Super50 Cup, so we know he is capable of getting the job done.”

As one of the most feared and fierce hitters in

the shortest version of the game, Russell will add further depth to the batting, and Haynes expects him and the other senior members of the squad to play a big role in the series.

Haynes said veteran opener Chris Gayle had notified him that he was unavailable for the series, due to playing commitments at the GT20 in Canada, so this has given the opportunity for left-handed compatriot John Campbell to fill the slot.

Windies T20 squad: John Campbell, Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, Carlos Brathwaite (Captain), Kemo Paul, Sunil Narine Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas, Anthony Barmble, Andre Russell and Kharry Pierre.

Soccer star Cristiano Windies A captain puts Ronaldo will not face rape ‘difficult’ series behind, charges in Las Vegas confident ahead of “Tests”

Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo

(REUTERS) - Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo will face no charges in Las Vegas in connection with a 10-year-old sexual assault allegation because the case cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, prosecutors said on Monday.

Ronaldo, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time and plays for the Italian club Juventus, has maintained he is

innocent of rape.

The allegation made headlines last year after Las Vegas police said they were investigating it.

The case stems from a June 13, 2009, call from a woman to Las Vegas police. She reported that she had been sexually assaulted and police took her to the hospital for an examination, the Clark County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement on Monday.

But she declined to identify the person who she said assaulted her.

The woman and Ronaldo reached a civil settlement in 2010 and law enforcement did not hear again from her until Aug. 28, 2018, when she asked police to reopen the investigation.

She said Ronaldo was the person who sexually assaulted her, prosecutors said.

“Based upon a review of the information presented at this time, the allegations of sexual assault against Cristiano Ronaldo cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” the District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

Ronaldo’s attorney, Peter Christiansen, and a representative for his sports agents could not immediately be reached for comment.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – West Indies A captain Roston Chase has described the just concluded one-day series against India A as “difficult” but said the hosts fancied their chances in the three fourday “Tests” bowling off here Wednesday.

The hosts suffered a 4-1 thumping in the five-match one-day series, their only win coming in the fourth match when they scraped home by five runs in a tense finish at Coolidge Cricket Ground.

Chase pointed to his side’s struggles with the bat, especially in the middle overs, as the source of their poor form.

“It was a difficult series, seeing the result 4-1 but I just thought that we fell down mainly in the middle overs [when] batting,” Chase explained. I thought we got some good starts in the latter games but in the middle overs we lost too many wickets at important times in the game and that brought them back into the game too often. That’s where we really fell down in the series.”

His point was no more evident than in Sunday’s final match at

West Indies A skipper Roston Chase.

Coolidge which West Indies A lost by eight wickets.

They were coasting at 71 without loss in the 14th over but once the opening partnership between Sunil Ambris (61) and Kjorn Ottley (21) was broken, Windies A lost their way as seven wickets tumbled for 47 runs.

Sherfane Rutherford’s 65 helped them recover to reach 236 all out but India A got the required runs in a canter, with Ruturaj Gaikwad (99), Shubman Gill (69) and Shreyas Iyer (61 not out) all gathering half-centuries.

Chose said as the series had progressed, India A’s batsmen

had become more familiar with the home side’s bowling.

“In the bowling department I thought early on in the series we really hit our marks, [we bowled] good lines and lengths and we fielded well,” he pointed out.

“But coming on to the end of the series, I think the [India A] batsmen worked out our plans and they got the better of us.”

Chase will be a part of the “Test” squad which will clash with India A in the opener at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

He will be joined by experienced opener Kraigg Brathwaite, who played no part in the one-day series, as one of 10 players with Test experience in the line-up.

And Chase believes West Indies A will be more at home in the longer format. “I’m looking forward to being more competitive in that series,” he noted.

“I think we’ll do a better job where the pace of the game is a little slower and we have more time to think and strategize what we’re looking to do. I’m looking forward to that and hopefully we can come out in a better position in that series.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 23, 2019

‘Perfect prep’ offers blueprint for future tours

By Sam Ferris in Southampton

THE unprecedented all-Australian pre-Ashes match in Southampton could be the blueprint for future away tours after the lead-up has been described as the “perfect preparation”.

Today, two teams of 12 made up of the best red-ball players in the country will take to the field at the Ageas Bowl for the opening day of Australia’s sole tour match before the Ashes, a fixture that has been tailor-made to suit the needs of Justin Langer’s charges as they attempt to win a Test series on English soil for the first time in 18 years.

“I can’t think of a better preparation,” Langer said in Southampton. “We’ve got great facilities, we’ve got 25 of the best cricketers in Australia here, they’re going to go head to head, they’ll play tough cricket. “We just had a World Cup so a lot of them, there’s six or seven who are battle hardened already, we’ve had some Australia A cricket, hopefully this is as good a preparation as we can get.

“Great respect to Pat Howard (Cricket Australia’s former

Executive General Manager, Team Performance) before us, we talked about it and they’ve made it happen.”

The intra-squad game is the final chapter in Australia’s Ashes preparation that began with a pre-tour camp in Brisbane before the squad departed for the UK for the Australia A tour.

That was a five-week campaign that ran concurrently with the World Cup to provide selectors a pool of players readily available should injury strike – as it did – and also allow those in Test calculations valuable time adjusting to English conditions, which have been the downfall of the past four Australian touring teams.

The idea to play a high-intensity intra-squad match for the final hit-out before the Ashes was born out from the tight turnaround between the end of the World Cup (July 14) and the start of the first Ashes Test (August 1), as well as the quality of opposition team that can picked for tour matches.

Cramped domestic schedules has led to a tendency for local teams to pick understrength sides to face touring teams and often in playing conditions that fail to rep-

Former Australia captain Steve Waugh is with the Ashes squad as a mentor.

licate those expected for the Test series.

In 2018, the ICC sent out a mandate to the game’s governing bodies around the expectations of practice facilities and warm-up matches for visiting teams to create a fair contest on the field, as a sign of respect and to protect the

spirit of the game Time will tell whether the controlled lead-up will help Australia win the Ashes, but Test captain Tim Paine says the ability to effectively host their own match in a foreign country on the eve of the series is a “good option” and could become standard procedure moving forward.

“Over the years the opposition in tour games has, I wouldn’t say it’s got worse, but I don’t think opposition cricket boards have helped each other prepare as much as they used to,” Paine said on Sunday. “You have to find different ways in your preparation to make sure everyone is ready to go for Test match intensity.

“And obviously a series of Ashes magnitude, we thought it was a great idea and as close to a Test match as we think we can get.

“It’s a perfect preparation.”

Adding to the atmosphere in the camp has been the presence of former Australia captain Steve Waugh, who is with the Ashes squad as a mentor through to the second Test at Lord’s.

Waugh has chatted to individual players around practice and helped in training drills as he pass-

es on his knowledge as the most successful Ashes player in history.

Langer has encouraged former players into the Australian camp since he took over as head coach 14 months ago, with Waugh the latest legend to join the ranks.

“It’s brilliant,” Langer said when asked about having Waugh in camp. “It’s like having Ricky Ponting. “In my office back in Perth I used to have (the saying) ‘I never went to Harvard but I employ a lot of people who did’.

“If you can employ better people than you are, Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, we’ve had Matty Hayden, we’ve had Mitchell Johnson with us through the year.

“You have great people around your squad, you’re creating an environment where these guys can learn (and) get better. “Straight away, as soon as he (Waugh) speaks, the whole room goes quiet. “He talks with great intelligence and experience, he’s been there before.

“So I’m very lucky personally but the whole squad, these young guys, they don’t realise what a great mentor and teacher they’ve got with us.” (Cricket. com.au) FROM BACK PAGE

Persaud, Sukhram shine at Lusignan American Racing Tips Finger Lakes Race 1 E J’S Legacy Race 2 Starship Metro Race 3 Fancy Gem Race 4 Sister Patricia Race 5 Cartwheelin Lulu Race 6 Tale Of A Song Race 7 Annie Go Lightly Race 8 You Tell Me Race 9 People’s Champ Chelmsford City 12:20 hrs Tarseekh 12:50 hrs Vasari 13:20 hrs Embour 13:50 hrs Cantiniere 14:20 hrs Fiery Mission 14:50 hrs Maximum Effect 15:20 hrs Chatham House 15:50 hrs Murhib English Racing Tips Musselburgh 09:00 hrs Juniors Fantasy 09:30 hrs Northern Hope 10:00 hrs Gabrial The Tiger 10:30 hrs Bill Neigh 11:00 hrs Piazon 11:30 hrs Percy Prosecco 12:00 hrs War Ensign

Canadian Racing Tips Fort Erie Race 1 Bayleaf Race 2 Congeniality Race 3 Written Race 4 Mr Changue Southwell 12:40 hrs Phoenix Rock 13:40 hrs Dark Invader 14:10 hrs Skeaping 14:40 hrs The Distant Lady 15:10 hrs Thibault 15:40 hrs Rasasee South Africa Racing Tips Vaal 08:30 hrs Shezahoyyi 09:05 hrs Turf Master 09:40 hrs Pretty Penny 10:20 hrs Ocean City 10:55 hrs Chipofftheoldblok Irish Racing Tips Ballinrobe 13:00 hrs Nibiru 13:30 hrs Dunbar 14:00 hrs Ificudiwud 14:30 hrs Soldier At War 15:00 hrs Kilbarry Lily 15:30 hrs Pump Road 16:00 hrs Above The City

AFTER two days of fierce battle, nine-time Male and Female Guyana Open Champions, Avinash Persaud and Christine Sukhram, emerged champions in the Lusignan Open Golf tournament.

In the Men’s category, the ‘A’ Flight, dubbed the championship flight, Persaud ended with a gross of 154 follow by Chandra Lekhraj (162); and Kassim Khan (163).

In the same flight, net winners were: Lekhraj (144); Khan (145); and Monnaf Arjune (147). In the Men’s ‘B’ Flight, the gross winners were: 1st – George Bulkan (171), who was tied with 2nd placed William Walker (171). 3rd was Parmanand ‘Max’ Persaud (172).

In the same flight, net winners were: 1st – Haresh Tewari (139), tied with 2nd placed winner, Deoram Dinanauth (139); and 3rd – Patanjilee ‘Pur’ Persaud (140).

Winner of the Day 1 Best

Net in this flight was Haresh Tewari (66).

In the Men’s C Flight, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners were the same in both gross and net scores.

Winners were: 1st – Guillermo Escarraga (181/139); 2nd – Pope Emanuel London (192/150) and 3rd – Maxim Mangra (198/156).

Winner of the Day 1 Best Net in this Flight was Guillermo Escarraga (70).

On Day 1, Longest Drive was won by Avinash Persaud, and Nearest the Pin

by Monnaf Arjune. On Day 2, Longest Drive was again won by Avinash Persaud, and Nearest the Pin by Kevin Dinanauth.

In the Ladies Flight, the gross places were: 1st – Christine Sukhram (171); 2nd – Joaan Deo (184), and 3rd – Shanella London (187).

For the same flight, the net places were: 1st – Sukhram (149); 2nd – Deo (157), and 3rd – London (158). Winner of the Ladies Best Net for

Day 1 was Christine Sukhram (75).

After the presentation ceremony, the soft-spoken Sukhram, said “I felt I had the game when we started the second day, so I decided to just play safe; and so, I was able to win,” Persaud explained. “Since I heard the Lusignan Open was going to be played, I determined that I would win it. I am convinced that there is no local player who matches my gross score at the moment, so I feel certain of winning any tournament where the winner is determined by the gross score,” he said.

Regrettably, Donald Sinclair, Director-General of the Department of Tourism, was unavailable for the day’s prize-giving ceremony.

However, the Honourable Ronald Bulkan, Minister of Communities, willingly filled in to assist in the presentation of trophies to winners.

A special note of thanks was also given to the MA-

CORP team headed by its CEO, Guillermo Escarraga, who has been the driving force behind the maintenance of the Golf Course.

The Lusignan Golf Club’s distinct appreciation and sincere gratitude are expressed to Director-General, Dept of Tourism, Donald Sinclair, and the Department of Tourism of the Ministry of Business, for their ready and willing sponsorship, as well as for outstanding contributions received from MACORP/ Guillermo Escarraga; ISG; BANKS DIH/Clifford Reis & Ramesh Dookhoo; ANSA MCAL/Troy Cadogan; BULKAN TIMBERS/ George Bulkan; BRUSTERS/Paton George; OASIS CAFE/William Walker; MASSY/ Lekhnarine Shivraj; Nexgen Global/ Nadia Kalika; Global Auto Spares/Hardeo ‘Curry’ Ganpat; Rommel Bhagwandin; Guyana Beverages Viva Water.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 23, 2019

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Vintage Tour de France heading for thrilling finale

By Julien Pretot

NIMES, France (Reuters) - With only five days of actual racing left, there is still no clear front runner in this year’s Tour de France, making it the most open and exciting competition in 30 years.

In 1989, Laurent Fignon was left distraught as he missed out on the title by eight seconds, with American Greg Lemond pulling off the narrowest margin of victory in the Tour’s history.

Julian Alaphilippe holds a 1:35 minute lead going into the final week but with the Frenchman fading, the yellow jersey appears to be slipping off his back as the finishing line gets closer.

With the riders placed between second and sixth separated by just 39 seconds, Alaphilippe knows that the chasing pack led by defend-

ing champion Geraint Thomas will be a constant threat to his hopes of ending France’s 34-year wait for a homegrown champion.

It has been a frustrating race for Team Ineos as they have not been able to take control in the absence of Chris Froome, the four-time champion who is missing the race following a horror crash last month.

Apart from Thomas, the main challengers are his Ineos team mate Egan Bernal, Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk, German Emanuel Buchmann and Thibaut Pinot, who is also carrying the hopes of the home nation.

EYE OF THE TIGER While Alaphilippe outclassed his rivals during the first two weeks on short, punchy climbs, hanging on in the Pyrenees and by upsetting Thomas in the time

trial, Pinot is closing in on the lead fast.

It took the 29-year-old two stages to write off the 1:40 minutes he lost due to a positioning error in the crosswinds on a flat stage last week. Following that, he emerged as the best climber as he won stage 14 and also gained time over all his rivals on Sunday.

With three gruelling stages in the Alps likely to decide the race, Pinot is the bookmakers’ favourite as he trails Thomas by 15 seconds.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen a tiger on his bike.

The look in his eyes says he wants to eat everyone,” Cyrille Guimard, who was the sports director of Bernard Hinault’s La Vie Claire team when he was the last French winner of the Tour in 1985, said.

“I’m in the game but I’m clear-headed and I keep my

Tour de France - Nimes, France, Team INEOS news conference - - Team INEOS riders Geraint Thomas of Britain and Egan Bernal of Colombia, and team manager Dave Brailsford attend a news conference during the second rest day. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

feet on the ground. The momentum can switch at every stage,” Pinot, who has stage wins on all three grand tours and won the ‘Monument’ classic Giro di Lombardia last October, said.

In Sunday’s final climb up to the Prat d’Albis, Pinot first dropped Kruijswijk and Thomas, then Buchmann and Bernal, showing his superiority for the second day in a row.

TACTICAL ADVANTAGE Without Froome, Ineos have not been able to suffocate the competition as they did to win six of the last sev-

en editions when they were known as Team Sky. The British outfit, however, may have a tactical advantage as they have two riders in position to win the race, although it could also play against them as they have not yet named a clear leader.

They are confident the race will go their way, with Thomas banking on his consistency.

“Alaphilippe still has a nice lead and he has a few days now to recover and obviously Pinot is climbing very well but the main thing about grand tours is being consistent and strong all the

way through it and how you deal with any sort of bad day you get,” the Welshman said.

Asked what he thought about potentially facing two Frenchmen on their home soil for the overall win, he replied: “I’d love it. I’d relish it. Bring it on.”

With a new heatwave expected to sweep across France this week, riders can expect extremely challenging conditions before they enter Friday’s 19th stage. During their 2,770 metres climb to Col de l’Iseran, thunderstorms are forecast, which just happens to be Pinot’s favourite weather.

Pacquiao appears to rule out November Influential Pogba must stay at Man United, says Mata clash with Khan after Thurman win Errol Spence Jr and Shawn Porter in Los Angeles in September.

Britain’s two-time world champion Khan bounced back from his defeat to Terence Crawford in April by winning the WBC international welterweight title after stopping Billy Dib in Jeddah last week.

Khan later told PA: “The next fight is going to be back in Manny Pacquiao, 40, became the oldest welterweight champion Saudi Arabia, it is going to be in in history by defeating Keith Thurman in Las Vegas on Saturday Riyadh this time and it is going night... to be on November 8.

“Hopefully it could be the MANNY Pacquiao appeared to beaten American Thurman, rule out a possible showdown Pacquiao said he did not expect Manny Pacquiao fight, we have with Amir Khan in November to step back into the ring again both signed and the fight is done after winning his WBA wel- this year. Pacquiao, who defeat- and hopefully he gets past his terweight title showdown with ed Adrien Broner in January and fight on the weekend then we Keith Thurman in Las Vegas. has not fought three times in the go and do that fight.” Pacquiao Pacquiao, 40, became the same year since 2008, is a sena- knocked down Thurman in the opening round of Saturday’s oldest welterweight champion tor in the Philippines. in history by defeating Thurman “I think my next fight will clash but ended up having to go in a split decision at the MGM probably be next year because the distance before overcoming Grand. Khan claimed earlier in I am busy this year,” Pacquiao the reigning WBA super chamthe week that he and Pacquiao told Fox Sports in his post-fight pion.

Two judges scored the had both signed up for a fight ring interview. “After this fight I in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on No- am going back to the Philippines fight 115-112 in favour of the eight-division world champivember 8. to start working in the Senate.”

But after clinching the 62nd Pacquiao said he planned to on, with the other finding in win of his 71-fight professional be ringside for the welterweight favour of American Thurman, career against previously-un- world unification fight between 114-113. (PA Sport Staff).

(REUTERS) - Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is a positive influence in the dressing room and must extend his stay at the club to help bring trophies back to Old Trafford, team mate Juan Mata said.

Pogba said last month that he could seek a new challenge after three years at United, while his agent recently told The Times that the 26-year-old intends to leave the club amid reports linking him to Juventus and Real Madrid.

However, Mata wants Pogba’s future to include United winning “big trophies” in 2019-20 campaign, having failed to lift a major trophy since their Europa League triumph in May 2017.

“We all know Paul and he is a fantastic midfielder, and a very good guy, very positive, and a good influence for everyone,” Spanish midfielder Mata told Sky Sports.

“As a team mate and a friend I would like him to stay and be happy because he is a very good player for us. “We know we have to do better than last season. This club has won more trophies than any other club in England. We want to win big trophies again.”

In Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first full season as United manager, the club will be aiming to improve on last

Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - Manchester United’s Paul Pogba gestures Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

term’s sixth-placed finish in the Premier League, when they ended up 32 points behind champions and local rivals Manchester City.

Mata agreed a contract extension at United last month, and fellow Spaniard, goalkeeper David de Gea, is also closing in on a new long-term deal, according to reports in the British media.

“David is the best or one of the best goalkeepers in the world, for sure,” Mata said. “He is one of my best friends, so I want him to stay. On a professional level, it will be great for us if he stays because he will give us many points over the next seasons.”

United open their 2019-20 league campaign against Chelsea on Aug. 11.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Divine Entertainment Super Cup football..

H&L Winners Connection rout Hi Stars 7-0 after Coomacka upset TOPP XX 2-1

By Joe Chapman

A shock 2-1 win by Coomacka FC over Topp XX and a crushing 7-0 triumph by Haynes and Lewis Winners Connection over Hi Stars highlighted play Sunday night when the Divine Entertainment Summer Super Cup football championship continued at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in Linden.

The results have left the remaining round of play in the four groups of three in this twelve team tournament still undecided, as to which teams are definitely through at this stage ahead of qualification into the final four.

The first game was be-

tween the Coomacka Mines side which, in playing their first game, stopped Topp XX 2-1, after taking the initiative from the 1st minute of the game through Lionel Peters for a 1-0 score. However, Topp XX were able to level the scores as Shawn Daniels showed his class with a fine finish which came five minutes after the early set back in the 6th minute, for a 1-1 score-line.

The battle continued in this opening period between the two lowly rated teams and neither team was able to get the go ahead goal as lemon time came.

Second-half play saw some equal exchanges as the lesser known Coomacka did not give in to their op-

Coomacka’s Cassie Campbell (left) and Lionel Peters

ponents and were rewarded when, in the 85th minute, they separated themselves with the winning goal which was scored off the boot of Cassie Campbell, as the Mines team came away with a 2-1 victory in the end.

This means that after

similar wins by Eagles United and Coomacka over Topp XX, they face-off tomorrow night to see which of the two will qualify out of Group C into the final four of this tournament.

The second game was a lopsided affair in favour

H & L Winners Connection Shaquille Frank

of the higher ranked Winners Connection as they tore apart the challenge of their lesser known opponents who could not match their play. Shaquille Frank continued to show his scoring prowess with a brace in the

40th and 62nd minutes. This was initially triggered by the double-strikes off the boot of Errol Haynes in the 14th and 22nd minutes.

The other goals in the rout were singles from Akeem Caesar (42nd), Ravon Haynes (58th) and Malachi Todd (86th minute).

However, the Winners Connection have ended their outing with a win and a draw and are hoping that the clash between Capital FC and Hi Stars would not result in a larger margin of win for the more favoured Capital FC side, who played to a 1-1 draw, or perhaps hope for a small upset by the underdogs, Coomacka, come tomorrow night.

Morgan still undecided Winfer Gardens win first Edward over England future Cobenna Memorial Windball title

ENGLAND captain Eoin Morgan insisted he was yet to make a decision on his future, saying he needed more time to consider what is ahead.

Morgan, 32, led England to their first Cricket World Cup title earlier this month after a dramatic win over New Zealand in the final. With some uncertainty over his future, Morgan said he would take a break before making a decision. “After every major tournament or challenge, I’ll always sit down and say ‘how does the

“I actually haven’t had a chance to come down off the high of the World Cup yet, so it’s been incredibly difficult to make a logical decision and that’s when I make my best decisions.

“Next week, I’m going away with my wife to get away from the game, Eoin Morgan led England to the in a really nice way. I’m Cricket World Cup title, but he absolutely knackered – is still undecided over his fuphysically and mentally ture. knackered. I need a little future look? How does the bit of time away to connext six months, year, four sider everything.” The 2020 years look?’” he told Sky ICC T20 World Cup is just Sports.

15 months away, while England will defend their 50over crown in 2023.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday July 23, 2019) Morgan said he needed COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda to decide whether he was the Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & man to continue leading England through the period.

CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 “It’s a big commitment Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) – not only to go to the T20 World Cup next year, but to Answers to yesterday’s quiz: commit to the next 50-over World Cup,” he said. “This 1. 96 Tests last five weeks has taken so 2. 127 ODIs much out of me mentally and physically. My levels of Today’s Quiz: fitness with my back have 1. When did the WI & India last play a Test always been in question and match in Guyana? it’s not a nice place to be in as a leader.

2. When did the WI & India last contest an ODI “At the forefront of it in Guyana? will be ‘can I take the team Answers in tomorrow’s issue forward?’

The Winfer Gardens windball cricketers collect their championship trophy from Neville Duncan.

WINFER Gardens Primary School stormed to their first title when the curtain came down on the Allister Munroe-organised AL Sport & Tour Promotions, National Sports Commission 22nd annual End of School Year Edward Cobenna Memorial Windball Cricket Champions Trophy at the National Gymnasium last Sunday evening.

In a thrilling final, the East Street school were able to chase down the needed target in a tense final over.

Winfer Gardens won the toss and invited West Ruimveldt to take first strike. Led

by Jonathan Andries (32), Vikash Asram (22) and Omarian Cummings (12), West

Ruimveldt were able to tally 81-2.

Winfer Gardens, led by Shane Prince, then reached 82-4 in the final over to win the title. West Ruimveldt helped the process by bowling the seven runs that Winfer Gardens needed as wides.

Prince scored 38, while R. Henry added 14.

The game proved a thriller on and off the playing area. According to the organiser, parents and supporters from both sides of the Gymnasium got involved in the game and at one stage, there was a pitch invasion.

Prior to the final, St. Pius Primary won the third-place title after an 18-run victory against last year’s third-

place winners, Enterprise Primary School.

St. Pius batted first and scored 144-1 with Danesh Ramjawan blasting 13 sixes in a game-high 82, Josh Sharples only scored off the big shots as he belted eight sixes in a score of 48.

Enterprise reached 126-1 before the overs expired.

K. Atkinson led the attack with 58 (7x6s), while Moses Cordis added 48 (6x6s).

Sports Officer Neville Munroe said that the tournament would not have been possible without AL Sport & Tour Promotions, the National Sports Commission, Kia Enterprise and the parents and all of the students.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 23, 2019

31

Lady Jags head coach ‘goes hunting’ for more talent – Coach shares plans to prepare Guyana for knockout round of U-20 Women’s Qualifiers Dr Ivan Joseph – Lady Jags Head Coach

The Lady Jags prior to kick-off against Suriname (Samuel Maughn photos)

By Rawle Toney GUYANA topped Group A to advance to the Roundof-16 for the CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championships Qualifier tournament, in their quest to be one of the three confederation representatives at the 2020 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Nigeria.

Guyana, in their first game, outclassed Bermuda 2 – 0, and would go on to defeat both Antigua and Barbuda, as well as St Lucia by the exact scoreline. In their final game of the tournament, Guyana defeated rivals Suriname 3 – 1 to maintain their perfect record and was the only team in Group A to concede only one goal.

Jenea Knight (double against Bermuda), Tiandi Smith (St Lucia and Suriname) and Captain Brianne Desa (Antigua and Suriname) scored two goals each, while Tori DeNobrega (Suriname), Kiana Khedoo

(Antigua) and Nailah Rowe (St Lucia) were the other players to find the net for the Lady Jags.

However, despite the Guyanese women’s dominant display during their run in the four games played, Head Coach Dr Ivan Joseph was adamant that some changes will have to be made before the team can even think about advancing or to really contest for a spot at the U-20 World Cup. “We got two centrebacks that are not centrebacks; we have a centremidfield converted and we have a centre-forward converted so we have to find two centre-backs. We also don’t have a natural goalscorer…so we have to think about where [we] could find those level of players,” the Guyanese coach reasoned.

He further added that “then the last thing we have to think about is just making sure that the players that [are] based here (in

Guyana), they have some rhythm and some reputa-

tion so that they don’t get left behind, because all the

other players are going to go home and play about 30 games between now and the next time and have to find an opportunity for them to do the same.

With most of the teams coming from North America, more specifically Canada, Dr Joseph pointed out the lack of women’s football being played in Guyana should not be an excuse to give the players who are locally based a chance to keep up, adding “the lack of local games will be a challenge, but those are the challenges when you’re in Guyana, so you can’t make excuses.”

“Our job is to try and figure out where can these girls play on a U-14 Boys team? I know we’re saying that there’s no girl’s league (but) the United States make a habit of playing U-14 Boy’s teams all the time and that’s the number one team in the country, (so) there’s no reason why these ladies

can’t play the same. So we have to work with the GFF to see how we could make that happen, because at the women’s level, they’re not going to get the games and the reputation and the games they need,” the Lady Jags’ head coach passionately told Chronicle Sport.

Asked about what would be the ideal preparation for his ladies as they await the results from the other groups to determine the other teams in the Round-of-16, apart from of course playing some exhibition games, Dr Joseph explained that “all these players that are here are going to play on the same club team back in Canada; the ones that are based on the GTA and our assistant coach will stay with them at least once or twice a week. The rest of the players here will work with Coach Akilah (Castello), getting what we need.”

Guyana’s Tiandi Smith (#6) caught by Chronicle Sport photographer Samuel Maughn as she was about to score the opening goal for the Lady Jags against Suriname on Sunday last. Guyana defeated Suriname 3 – 1.

Some members of the Squash, Rugby and Boxing contingent prior to their departure for Lima, Peru, for the Pan Am Games.

Boxing, Rugby and Squash contingents off to Pan Am Games OFFICIALS and Athletes for Rugby, Boxing and Squash departed Guyana yesterday for the Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru, all hoping to be on the podium for their respective disciplines.

The Squash team of Mary Fung-A-Fat, Ashley Khalil and Taylor Fernandes will be in action from July 25 – 31. David Fernandes is the team’s manager, Juanita Fernandes is the official chaperone, and Ramon Chan-a-Sue will be the trio’s coach.

In Rugby, Claudius Butts, Lancelot Adonis, Richard Staglon, Peabo Hamilton, Vallon Adams, Patrick King, Jamal Angus, Godfrey Broomes, Avery Corbin, Dwayne Schroeder, Osie McKenzie, Ronald Mayers and Selwyn Henry will look to better their previous showing at the Pan Am games when they compete from July

26 – 28, and will have Sherlock Sam as their coach, Peter Green as the manager and Akeem Fraser as the physiotherapist.

Keevin Allicock is the lone boxer to attend the Pan Am Games this time around and will be in the ring during July 27 – August 2. Terrence Poole will serve as his manager/coach.

Meanwhile, prior to the team’s departure from the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Sam said much was learnt during Guyana’s disappointing run in the recentlyconcluded Rugby America’s North (RAN) tournament in the Cayman Islands, adding “We had a bad outing during the RAN 7s, but we came home and did some work and I am hoping that translates to wins because the Pan Am Games is definitely a higher standard.”

Sam, however, added that “I don’t think it’s something we can’t handle, so we are hoping that they rise to the occasion and do their best, no battle is too great.”

Guyana is placed in Group A with the USA, Brazil and Chile, while Group B consists of Argentina, Canada, Uruguay and Jamaica. The Green Machine, as they’re more popularly known, will kick off their Pan Am Games campaign against the USA on July 26. It will be their only game on the tournament’s opening day.

For the Squash players-- Taylor Fernandes, Mary Fung-A-Fat and Ashley Khalil-- their aim will be to better Nicolette Fernandes’ bronze medal performance at the 2011 games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

“The girls we are playing are in the top 50 and it will be great to see how we measure up against the top class players,” Fung-A-Fat told reporters.

Over in Boxing, Allicock, who recently returned from his stint in Cuba, is confident of success in Peru, telling reporters that he feels strong “so everything going forward for me is 100 per cent.” Allicock’s Coach, the National Award-winning Terrence Poole, said “He learned a lot in Cuba and I am not seeing him returning to Guyana without a medal.”

Guyana has competed 15 times at the Pan Am Games which is held every four years (before the Olympic Games), winning a total of 18 medals – Two Gold, Four Silver and 12 Bronze.

(Rawle Toney)

Persaud, Sukhram shine at Lusignan See Page 28

Avinash Persaud and Christine Sukhram.

The respective winners.

Anthony Bramble is lone newcomer in Windies T20 squad to face India Mexico won the Gold Cup for the first time since 2015.

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See Page 27

TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2019