Guyana Chronicle E-paper 7-24-2019

WEDNESDAY 24th JULY, 2019

No.105708

No injunction …High Court throws out request to block house-to-house registration …PPP, Ram forced to withdraw application for court to set elections date …AG urges return to Parliament to extend time 03 PAGE

Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield responding to questions from the media on Tuesday outside of the courtroom (Adrian Narine photo)

NO breakdown in democracy Kumu hydro

…CARICOM insists will not interfere in Guyana unless democratic, judicial processes break down PAGE 02 …says community monitoring situation, fully engaged with leaders

project moves forward 15 PAGE

President given clean bill of health

...after evaluation in Cuba

PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

NO breakdown in democracy …CARICOM insists will not interfere in Guyana unless democratic, judicial processes break down …says community monitoring situation, fully engaged with leaders

By Lisa Hamilton EVEN as Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, has been calling on CARICOM to break its “silence” on the current political situation in Guyana, CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, has stated that the opposition leader must allow the ongoing discussions to continue.

President David Granger and Jagdeo have been in talks since the Consequential Orders of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on July 12, 2019, which have also urged the two heads to meet to decide on the way forward towards fresh

President David Granger

elections.

Only last week, in addressing allegations by the opposition that he and his government are acting in

bad faith, President Granger assured the nation, that he and his government are acting in compliance with the Constitution and the ruling of the CCJ. “I would not have met; I would not have set up a working group to meet with the opposition, six times in three weeks, unless I was acting in good faith, and unless I was interested in a favourable outcome for both sides, a win-win situation,” he said, while emphasising that the allegations, are what they are – false, and misleading. The President said the people of Guyana could look forward to the appointment of a Chairman of the Elections Commission, a fully functional

Elections Commission, and elections in the shortest period of time.

However, in the midst of these “good faith” discussions, the opposition

Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo

leader and his representatives have been calling on the international community to deem the very government they must engage with for a way forward as “illegal”. “We cannot be busy sending missions to Haiti when they have an interruption of constitutional rule, or Venezuela when they have a breakdown of democratic order, and here in Guyana – which is the headquarters State of CARICOM – [where] you have a government now in office that is illegally there … [CARICOM] just sits by and not say anything about it,” the opposition leader is reported in the news recently.

On Tuesday, howev-

er, LaRocque differed in his opinion on the same when he told the media that CARICOM is aware that discussions are ongoing between the two leaders which represent an adherence to the rightful democratic and judicial process.

Speaking directly to opposition’s request to offer additional input, he stated, “The request was made but then the very day or the day before – I can’t remember when it was – there was a meeting between His Excellency the President and the Honorable Leader of the Opposition. [In other words] I’m saying, dialogue is continuing and we TURN TO PAGE 4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

No injunction

…PPP, Ram forced to withdraw application for court to set elections date

By Svetlana Marshall AN attempt by the opposition to stop house-to-house registration failed on Tuesday when Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire refused to grant a conservatory order to halt the data gathering process, however, the substantive matter challenging the legality of it, will continue.

The Conservatory Order was sought by Chartered Accountant and Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram, in a matter brought against the Chief Elections Officer and the Commissioner of National Registration, Keith Lowenfield; the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM); and the Attorney General, Basil Williams.

In the application filed on Monday by Attor-

and Regional Elections on or before September 18, 2019, but this was withdrawn.

In another Fixed Date Application (FDA) filed by Ram, the constitutionality of the ongoing house-to-house registration is being challenged on the grounds that it is in violation of Article 106 (6) and Article 106 (7) of the Constitution, and the letter and spirit of the judgment and consequential orders of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in the consolidated appeals. Though the Chief Justice (ag) did not rule on this particular case on Tuesday, she said it lacked supporting evidence.

Before the court, the Chief Justice (ag), in addressing the substantive case, asked the attorneys representing Ram to resubmit the Fixed

General Nigel Hawke, confirmed that the Chief Justice refused to grant a Conservatory Order blocking the conduct of house-to-house registration.

He said Nandlall, in buckling under pressure, had no other choice than to withdraw the application for the court to issue an order compelling GECOM and its officers to conduct General and Regional Elections by September 18, 2019 because the CCJ has already ruled on it. “If the CCJ wanted to make a ruling, they would have done so. If the CCJ wanted to make a ruling that elections should be held by the September 18, they would have done so. If they wanted to make a ruling that we must hold elections within three months, they could have done so but they

Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall, speaking to reporters outside of the courtroom after the High Court refused him a conservatory order to halt house-to-house registration. His client, Christopher Ram, pays keen attention

neys-at-Law, Anil Nandlall and Ralph Ramkarran, Ram asked the High Court to grant a Conservatory Order prohibiting the Elections Commission, the Chief Elections Officer and the Commissioner of National Registration from conducting or continuing the process of house-to-house Registration, which commenced on Saturday July 20.

But on Tuesday, the Chief Justice (ag) threw out the application when she addressed the matter in Chambers. As part of that application, Ram, through his attorneys, had asked the High Court to issue an order compelling the Chief Elections Officer and the Elections Commission to immediately take all necessary actions to hold General

Date Application by 16:15hrs on Tuesday July 23, 2019.

The respondents in matter – the Chief Elections Officer, GECOM and the Attorney General – were given up to July 29, 2019 to respond.

However, Lowenfield’s Lawyer, Senior Counsel Neil Boston, had lobbied the court for 14 days to file his Affidavit in Defence, contending that there was no need to rush the case, but the Chief Justice held fast to her July 29, 2019 submission date. The matter will come up before the Chief Justice again on August 2, 2019.

At his Carmichael Street Office, the attorney general, who had appeared in the High Court with a battery of lawyers inclusive of the Solicitor

didn’t because that would be a breach of the doctrine of the separation of powers,” the attorney general told reporters.

Ram and the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, had asked the CCJ to order that elections be held within three months from June 18, 2019 – the day that the court validated the December 21 vote of no-confidence against the government. But the CCJ, in upholding the submission of attorney general, ruled that only the President, the National Assembly, and implicitly GECOM can set timelines and a date for elections.

The President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders, in handing down those consequential orders on July 12, said the court lacks the power

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…AG urges return to Parliament to extend time

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams and Senior Counsel Neil Boston entering the courtroom at the High Court on Tuesday

to set a timeline or day for the holding of elections, explaining that the Constitution places that power in the ‘hands’ of the President, the National Assembly, and indirectly GECOM. In ‘rejecting’ the submission of the opposition leader, the court said it simply cannot issue coercive orders or detailed directives dictating how the President and the National Assembly should act. “It is not, for example, the role of the court to establish a date on or by which the elections must be held, or to lay down timelines and deadlines that, in principle, are the preserve of political actors guided by constitutional imperatives. The court must assume that these bodies and personages will exercise their responsibilities with integrity and in keeping with the unambiguous provisions of the Constitution, bearing in mind that the no-confidence motion was validly passed as long ago as 21 December 2018,” Justice Saunders explained.

Minister Williams, on Tuesday, maintained that the judgments and pronouncements of the CCJ are clear, and Ram’s application to the High Court to compel the conduct of elections, can be seen as an attack on the CCJ. Weighing in on the mat-

ter of election, the attorney general said because the three month period, stipulated in Article 106 (7), for the conduct of elections, following the passage of a no-confidence motion, elapsed while the matter was still engaging the attention of the courts, it is now for the parliamentary parties – the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to return to the National Assembly and by a two-thirds majority vote, extend the time. He added there is nothing in the Constitution that states that the extension should be for another three months. “There is no limit on the period of extension when you go for a two-thirds, because by then, you would have GECOM, all the main constitutional actors getting together, [and] Leader of the Opposition, and you arrive at a definitive date for elections,” he explained.

The opposition has repeatedly stated that it will not return to the Assembly to extend the time but the Attorney General remains hopeful that good sense will prevail.

He said if this extension is not granted, the President would be required to proclaim a date for elections, in accordance

with GECOM’s advice.

On the corridors of the High Court following the adjournment of the case, Nandlall, in the presence of his client Christopher Ram, confirmed that the CCJ did not grant the Conservatory Order to block the continuation of house-to-house registration.

He also confirmed that the CJ was dissatisfied with the affidavit filed in the substantive case, and asked that it be resubmitted with the required evidence.

“She (the Chief Justice) wants more evidence to persuade her, that this exercise that GECOM is embarking upon will take us beyond that time frame (for elections),” Nandlall explained.

He maintained that the ongoing house-to-house registration contravenes the National Registration Act and goes against the orders of the CCJ because it will prevent elections from being held before September 18, 2019. However, while Nandlall, and by extension the opposition, is maintaining that election must be held within three months of the CCJ’s ruling, the CCJ did not order GECOM to hold election or specified a timeframe within which elections should be held.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

GECOM ramps-up workforce for NO breakdown... house-to-house registration

FROM PAGE 2

CHIEF Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, has stated that the house-to-house registration workforce has been increased to speed up the national exercise.

Updating the media on progressions on Tuesday, Lowenfield said that the Commission’s report on over 20,000 persons already being registered is satisfactory news.

“It has been going to our satisfaction at this point in

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

time,” he stated.

“We’re going in to areas as identified; we have many more teams at the front end and people are coming out to register. The amount of enumerators, we’ve in-

creased them at the front end…so that we can move the process as quickly as possible.”

Initially, 1,800 teams were set to participate in the exercise while there are 262 cluster offices across the country. Over 1,200 teams have already been deployed while more teams will be added in the coming days to ensure that there is a full complement.

The house-to-house registration commenced on July 20, 2019 and is expected to run until October 20, 2019. 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.

Wed., July 24, 2019 10:00hrs.-11:30hrs.

have to allow the dialogue to continue.

“If things break down then obviously, one needs to take a different position on the situation as it is. But for now, let the situation continue. I’ve spoken to both of them and I’ve made the offer that CARICOM is prepared to assist if both parties deem it necessary. I cannot respond to one and not the other, both parties.

I’ve made it clear on numerous occasions that this is how we operate.”

The Secretary-General acknowledged that the CCJ’s ruling was very clear and stated that, “all the actors concerned – the Executive, the opposition and GECOM – must play their part”.

Meanwhile, he reminded that following the ruling, he has engaged with both leaders while CARICOM continues to closely monitor the situation.

“We continue to monitor everything, very, very, very closely. I have met with both the President and the Leader of the Opposition on more than one occasion following the ruling.

I’ve met with the opposition leader following the ruling and I have spoken to his Excellency following the ruling. So, I am in touch. I will continue to be in touch,” he said.

LaRocque also stated that the CARICOM Chairman is also being regularly briefed on the matter.

“We’re going to continue monitoring this. We remain available to assist if we are asked to assist but CARICOM does not interfere unless the democratic and judicial process breaks down; we are very much engaged as far as I am concerned,” he said.

Amid attempts to sabotage his government, and to create an atmosphere of chaos, President David Granger last week told

this newspaper that his administration continues to act within the confines of the Constitution, and remains committed to having elections held within the shortest time possible in adherence to the rulings and declarations of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Friday, President Granger said “unfortunately,” since the passage of the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018, there have been a lot of misrepresentations of the facts, suggesting that his government is illegal. “There are some cases where some public officers do not comply with the instructions of the ministers, particularly in the Ministry of Communities, and these have led to, I would not say demoralisation, but they have led to, I would say sabotage of some governmental functions; and this I suppose could be seen as creating confusion in the minds of normal public servants, normal members of the public going about their day-to-day business,” the Head of State told this newspaper.

The President made it clear that there is no crisis. It was explained that while the no-confidence motion created some expectations, the opposition – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) – in engineering the motion, failed to consider whether the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is capable of conducting elections within three months or 90 days. Additionally, he said the opposition, in passing the motion, also failed to consider and understand the roles of the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary.

Saturday 20, July 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

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Tribunal providing easy access to justice for public officials THE Public Service Appellate Tribunal is hosting a three-day outreach programme at Regency Suites in Georgetown, to sensitise public officials on the service they have available to them, as it relates to getting justice for issues within the Public Service Commission (PSC), particularly when seeking redress.

At the opening of the programme on Tuesday, Registrar of the Tribunal, Petronilla Browne-Stewart, said that the Tribunal serves as a court for public officers, but it is more cost effective than the courts.

She explained to the attendees the process that has to be undertaken in order for their matters to be heard.

“You first have to file Notice of Appeal to the Tribunal, supported by an affidavit, after which we will have a preliminary hearing, then the appeal will be served on the Public Service Commission, and then PSC has to show cause why the appeal should not be allowed, then we will have a hearing, and a decision will be passed. During this time, the officers can speak on their own behalf.

No representation from an attorney is necessary. This is where the cost effectiveness comes in. Additionally, the long time to have your matters heard at the law courts, is not the same with the Tribunal,” Browne-Stewart said.

Noting further, that the decision made by the Tribunal is final, and no other court can intervene on their decision.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice (Rt’d) Nandram Kissoon, gave a historical review on the Tribunal. The information given to the officers who attended the outreach, states that “the Public Service Appellate Tribunal was established by Act 17/1984, now cap.27:01, to hear and determine appeals of public officers aggrieved by the decision of the Public Service Commission regarding disciplinary action or appointment by promotion.

The Tribunal consists of three members including a chairman and two members appointed by the President and serve at three year intervals. Although the members of the bench of the Tribunal are appointed by the President, they are not subject to the authority of any person or body. Therefore, the Tribunal

Some of the attendees of the Public Service Tribunal outreach programme (Photos by Adrian Narine)

is independent.

An appeal may be brought to the Tribunal within ninety days from when the aggrieved person became aware of the decision or was informed, whichever is earlier.

The bench of the Tribunal has the power of a Judge of the High Court to summon and examine witnesses.

Even though the Tribunal was in existence for decades, it was not functioning for over 20 years, since the pre-

vious administration had put a halt to its operations. It was in 2017, two years after the coalition government would have taken over, that the Tribunal was reconstituted.

When the decision was made to reconstitute the Tribunal, Joseph Harmon, who was the Minister of State at that time, had said the appointment of the Public Service Appellate Tribunal is part of government’s commitment to addressing the conditions of terms and service, including

wages for public servants.

“The Tribunal, which had lapsed for more than 20

years, had negatively affected the appointments, promotions and other issues for several public servants who had no other recourse other than taking court action,” Harmon had said.

Due to this, he further noted, many cases were delayed and issues unresolved.

The appointment of the Tribunal, is part of a raft of measures, that will improve the quality of service of the nation’s public servants, and the issues which need to be dealt with, will not be addressed in a piecemeal manner. It will also provide a mechanism for redress, against any perceived wrongful action, to enable public servants to discharge their duties fearlessly, and they will be protected against any form of victimisation or illegal sanction for doing so.

Browne-Stewart told the Guyana Chronicle that since the Tribunal was reconstituted, no sensitisation was

Registrar of the Tribunal, Petronilla Browne-Stewart

really done, to have persons become aware of what is available to them.

Due to the aforementioned, this three-day seminar will serve as a start to increasing awareness of the Tribunal; to encourage public officers to utilise the Tribunal; to address questions raised, regarding the tribunal; and to sensitise public officers of an expeditious and more affordable alternative to the courts when seeking redress.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Potable water for all

THE APNU+AFC administration has long recognised the importance of a reliable and sustainable supply of clean potable water to all communities in Guyana. And the administration’s policies, initiatives and programmes have reflected that position since the Coalition was elected to office in 2015.

That recognition is admirable, as it is consistent with the findings of the experts, and compatible with the government’s determination that all Guyanese should enjoy a good life, regardless of where they live.

President Granger stated, “On entering office in May 2015, we immediately recognised that the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) had severely neglected all public utilities. On careful

examination, it became evident that large swaths of the country had no access to a safe water supply, and in communities that had water, the quality was questionable. It was clear that people in these communities could not enjoy a good standard of life if a basic necessity like a safe water supply was not readily available.”

Commendably, the administration took prompt action.

To date, Over 3000 residents in various heavily-populated communities, including Sophia, Ann’s Grove, Eccles, Lodge, Amelia’s Ward in Linden, Savannah Park and a number of villages in the Corentyne have received access to potable water for the first time ever. Unfortunately, the PPP regime had neglected those and other communities,

thereby depriving them of one of the basic necessities of life. In fact, within the first year of being elected to office, some 40,000 residents of seven regions have received access to potable water for the first time. In the capital city alone, more than 3,000 residents in eastern Georgetown, and those of surrounding communities have benefited from an improved water supply.

President Granger has also acted on his promise to ensure that hinterland communities have access to water. For example, almost 1000 residents of Monkey Mountain in the Potaro-Siparuni region have gained access to potable water for the first time due to the installation of close to 3000 metres of pipelines, construction of reservoirs and

PPP/C supporters are allowing themselves to be duped by their party Dear Editor It is now day three of the process of house-to-house registration at the time of writing this letter. From reports via GECOM’S public relations officer, the exercise has recorded thousands of citizens so far, who fully understand the necessity of such a procedure, especially since it affords the opportunity of having a national identification card, which is an absolute for transaction of business etcetera.

Not surprising, there have been reports of non-cooperation with the process of

national registration, in some areas of known PPP/C support: Regions Three, Five and Six. It is quite obvious that this make-no-sense-action, is as a result of the opposition party deliberately misleading its many constituents, into a non-beneficial action.

This is criminal, and can be seen as the dress rehearsal for shouts of disenfranchisement at the end of the voting process. One may ask, how could such an action be resorted to, when these supporters would have been instructed to resist?

Editor, we are dealing with a political party that

has a history of devious behaviour in securing its political ends. But, in many cases such has been of no avail to this party that is still trapped in a fossilised age, of using their supporters as pawns. It continues to be a tragedy of PPP/C political culture.

All citizens of this country, named Guyana, must be reminded that National Registration is sanctioned by law; in fact, by the National Registration Act Ch. 19: 08.

Therefore, it is compulsory for every eligible Guyanese to register, since it attracts a penalty in law, for non-regTURN TO PAGE 7

other infrastructure. In a number of villages in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region almost 5000 residents got water for the first time due to the drilling of new wells.

Notably, residents of the Deep South Rupununi now have year-round water security for the first time as a result of positive action of the APNU+AFC administration.

Eight wells have been drilled, commissioned and handed over to communities in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region, and as a result of this, no longer will residents have to suffer during annual droughts in the area.

The wells, which were handed over to village representatives last December, are located in the commu-

nities of Aishalton, producing 5,000 litres of water per hour; Chukrikednau, producing 6,000 litres; Karaudarnau, producing 4,500 litres; Achiwuib, producing 6,000 litres; Awarawaunau, producing 4,000 litres; Marunranau, producing 6,000 litres; Shea, producing 4,000 litres; and Baisahidrum, producing 6,000 litres per hour. The wells have been drilled to various depths to optimise water flow rates.

According to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), “Lack of drinking water and basic sanitation has a devastating impact on development processes. It is the second largest cause of morbidity and mortality for children under five years of age in the Region, and the largest

contributor to the burden of environment-related disease.” Obviously, the APNU+AFC administration is aware of that fact.

The Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) has said that considering the importance of the availability of potable water, it is working to create “water fields”, which are multiple wells serving the same areas, so that if one well fails to function for any reason, the others can fill the void. The administration’s commitment to providing every Guyanese with a reliable supply of potable water is to be commended. After all, as Guyanese say, “water is life”. And, evidently, the good life promised by the APNU+AFC would be impossible without access to potable water.

PSC in second letter to Lowenfield Dear Mr. Lowenfield, THANK you for your letter of July 22, 2019, and your prompt reply, in response to our letter of July 21, 2019, on the subject of the commencement of houseto-house registration by GECOM. You are correct in pointing out that, in fact, we had requested, on several occasions, a meeting with GECOM addressed to the chairman and not directly to you and wish to assure you that there was no intention on our part to hold you personally responsible for GECOM’s failure to meet with us.

Our letter raised a number of both factual and technical issues with you with regard to GECOM’s intention

to establish a new National Register of Registrants Database (NRRD). We raised these issues because of the fact that the current NRRD has been subject to cycles of continuous registration, under your custody, since the 2015 elections and has delivered credible National and Regional Elections and Local Government Elections in 2018.

You have, unfortunately, made no attempt in your response to explain or provide any reason for GECOM’s rush to abandon the existing NRRD. Your response has failed to address the concerns which we have raised about the feasibility and credibility of a house-to-house registration exercise under the conditions which it is

presently being conducted.

GECOM is forcing this registration in isolation from all of the political parties involved, irrespective of the prior engagement of all of the relevant stakeholders, without independent scrutiny and in the absence of essential public information and education.

Your response has failed to address our questioning the credibility of GECOM’s advice to the President claiming that 200,000 entries on the NRRD should not be there on a register which is under your custody and which has benefitted from continuous registration.

Regards Private Sector Commission

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

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The PPP/C needs to be properly investigated Dear Editor Since December 21, 2019 when the no-confidence motion was heard I have been following the story. The first thing I want is Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP/C to know that the Guyanese people have no confidence in him or his regime.

The PPP/C regime should not be eligible to contest the election because the PPP/C, when they were in office, were involved in corruption and money laundering and extra judicial killings.

The coalition party was

too lenient and wasted a lot of time with them. The ruling party was supposed to investigate them about a number of things which include their wealth. The permanent secretary secured one term under Ramotar and he got billions of Guyana dollars. He told the Guyanese people that he sold phone cards. The Guyanese people are gullible to believe that. If he is a permanent secretary and he has so much money, what about the president and the ministers.

The Guyanese people would have to be stupid to vote for the PPP/C.

If the PPP/C goes back in office we wouldn’t be able to continue the investigation and they would be getting by stealing taxpayers’ money.

I am asking a question.

Why Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP/C are so anxious to get back in office? Is it because of the oil money? Or is it because of?

I am of the view that the Guyanese people want neither of the parties to govern them because they are fed up of them for the past 53 years making promises to the Guyanese people, and when they get into office, they fail

on their promises.

I also think that he Guyanese people need a new government. If we can’t get a new government by the next election, the Guyanese people should vote the APNU+AFC back into power until we can find someone suitable to rule this nation.

The APNU+AFC, since in office, did something that the Guyanese people may not appreciate, that is to amend the money laundering law which the PPP/C failed to do and which there was a reason why they didn’t do that. From the time the AP-

Constitutional respect paramount Dear Editor

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has been following keenly the unfolding developments on the national stage in recent days. At this time, from practically all quarters, we have seen various rationales and expressions regarding the way forward in light of the recent ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Opinions have been many and approaches differing, as credence is being given to the ruling by our nation’s foremost judicial institution – the CCJ. Indeed, while we have seen several postulations and prognostications, we reiterate, that the CCJ left, in our view, no ambiguity. The court’s ruling was manifest and any rationale; clear-eyed person would recognise that respect for the Constitution was expressly reiterated in the ruling. It, therefore, befuddles us that we have seen so many arguments and reasons being aired in the

public contrary to what the court said in the first place. It appears to us, like many reasonable-minded Guyanese, that there is a clear ploy to obfuscate the court’s decision and muddy the clear-watered ruling. We are at a loss to see the logic in such an approach especially when those contentions being advanced are quickly sliding down the slippery slope.

Most recently, we have seen the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) commencing what some have deemed to be a questionable house-to-house (HTH) registration exercise. The commission, for its part according to the media, has proffered that it is furthering an exercise born out of a legitimate decision of the commission. The legitimacy of the decision is contentious bearing in mind that it was supported by a GECOM Chairman who the CCJ ruled was improperly appointed. Moreover, we could not ignore the seeming surreptitious appearance of an order regarding the commencement of the HTH

which has only served to heighten apprehensions.

The grounds for the HTH, so far, remain unconvincing. We recall, for instance, the sentiment that hundreds of thousands of Guyanese are improperly on the extant list but, so far, empirical evidence to substantiate this assertion remains lacking. At the same time, the call for HTH is sounded against the backdrop that thousands of youths are excluded. Again facts supportive of this assertion remains questionably absent.

Neither has any explanation been advanced as to why the ‘youths’ in question did not take advantage of the several claims and objection exercises over the years. Political parties, in our view, have a role in this regard and it astonishes us that parties did not take an active role.

Apart from what seems to be sorely lacking justifications, the CCJ emphasised the Article 106 of the Constitution is engaged. With the clock-ticking and the midnight hour approaching, there are little, if any, prepa-

rations regarding compliance with this aspect of the court’s ruling. It is simply abhorrent that institutions of the State have turned apparently, a blind eye to their responsibilities and obligations that are outlined clearly in our statues. Such actions, from our perspective, cause us to worry about the example it sets and the precedent it creates. The FITUG, at this time, sees the need without further delay for full and complete abidance with the ruling of the CCJ and the enabling of the necessary mechanisms that will see our Constitution complied with.

In our view, the perpetuation of the ‘skirting-around’ we have seen will do our country and its people no good.

We have a nation to build, a future to secure and goals to achieve.

We of FITUG hold that our national aspirations must rest on the bedrock of respect for our laws and the upholding of democratic rule in our society.

PPP/C supporters are... istration.

It continues to be a national tragedy that constituents of the PPP/C continue to allow themselves to be heartlessly misled by their party, for personal ambitious ends, which is not about the people which they pretend to represent. Party supporters

should remember what this party did to the sugar industry that once offered secure livelihoods for so many who had been in its employ – used the workers for their selfish political ends, without seeking to erect plans to rescue the industry from the multibillion dollar debt, that eventually

Regards FITUG FROM PAGE 6

caused sugar to become unprofitable. For me, the latter has become the symbol of PPP/C criminal abuse and neglect of its supporters. It exposes the PPP/C love of self, cronies and friends.

Regards Carla Mendonca

NU+AFC got into office to now, at least 60-70 per cent of the money circulating is clean money and to earn clean money it calls for hard work and sacrifice. In the PPP/C regime this country was fuelled with illegal money including the PPP/C stealing taxpayers’ money.

So I am asking the citizens of the Republic of Guyana to make a choice of who they want for Guyana.

This is especially for Bharrat Jagdeo, Anil Nandlall and all the PPP/C regime members. Don’t tell the Guyanese people anything about

upholding the Constitution and laws. Go and exhume Janet Jagan and tell her that.

Let me remind you if you don’t remember that Janet Jagan threw a court order over her shoulder. Your eyes pass the Guyanese people and are very disrespectful. The coalition government wasted a lot of time with you all.

The PPP/C needs to be properly investigated and compensate the Guyanese people for all the taxpayers’ money they stole.

Regards Concerned citizen

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Protecting Intellectual Property Dear Editor, While all eyes are mainly focused on elections and oil at this moment in our country’s history, I want to give a reminder that there are other important issues gathering dust on the table of promises as well.

We live in a country that does not have a copyright law, which creates a bad situation for our creative minds, hands and voices. Two different parties have governed our country

post-independence, and none of them have accomplished this.

Imagine a young, upcoming musician who invested his/her university years learning music. Imagine spending further time and resources to record a nice, ‘catchy’ song. Now imagine waking up one morning and hearing your song being played on the radio under someone else’s name or being used in company advertisements. Imagine not getting paid for your own

work and what that can do to your psyche. That’s our reality here in Guyana today.

We should have passed comprehensive copyright legislation years ago. The US has strictly enforced laws protecting the intellectual rights of the owners/ creators of published writing, art, music, sculptures etc. Their creative people are able to make a living off of their work, and even receive huge settlements in the event someone uses their creation without the

relevant permission. Even our Caribbean sister nations have some form of copyright law in effect and enforced, and these countries have produced and continue to produce some of the biggest renowned musicians in the world. Meanwhile, many Guyanese artists/artistes are forced to keep a day job to pay the bills.

Our next government MUST prioritise the passing of copyright legislation, and do so after consulting with the creative commu-

nity in Guyana to listen to their recommendations. This will allow our local cultural scene to flourish again, and encourage more persons to pursue careers in any creative discipline and enjoy the proper recognition and financial rewards for their efforts. This will also be a step in the right direction to open opportunities for investment in studios, art galleries, theatres and other similar assets that will provide the resources for creatives to get to work.

I call on all Guyanese creatives to lend their voices to urge politicians who want their votes to ensure they not only make promises and talk about doing it, but actually present a plan in their manifesto that shows exactly how and by when this will be accomplished. Let’s take care of our people better.

Sincerely, Shazaam Ally The Citizenship Initiative

Mayor should retract statement, apologise to Chief Constable

Dear Editor,

At statuary meeting of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) held on Monday, July 22, 2019 I noted with shock and surprise in the print media that the Mayor of Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Narine, reported that 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.

I further noted that the Mayor said, “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 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.” as reported in the Guyana Chronicle newspaper on Tuesday, July 23, 2019.

I wish to state categorically that the mayor’s claim of hearing of the discovery of the bag on the “Road” is untruth, deceitful and is

a clear attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Chief Constable and more particularly the image of the City Constabulary Department which is the policing arm of the Georgetown Municipality that is a hybrid body comprised of the regular personnel (sworn officers) and an auxiliary section of security guards.

The provision of services to the municipality and to citizens is executed through several sub stations and units of the agency and pertains to the enforcement of the City Government ByLaws and other laws within the City limits, provision of cash escorts, protective details (demolition exercises) prosecution support to the Engineers and Public Health Departments and security of municipal installations. In keeping with its mandate under section 137 (1) of the Municipal and District Councils act Chap.

28:01, and also empowered under the Summary Jurisdiction Offences act. Chapter 8:02, section four (minor offences committed chiefly in town) which provides for members of the City Police to have police powers.

Please allow me to set the record straight on the discovery of the BAG containing cash belonging to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) that was found inside the vehicle assigned to Chief Constable, Andrew Foo, on Tuesday, July

16, 2019 by City Police 1930 Norman Hope.

At about 15:40hrs on Thursday, June 20, 2019, a request was made for the vehicle assigned to the Chief Constable’s office to be used to transport monies to the bank. In keeping with the request made, City Police 1930 Norman Hope used vehicle number PVV 1405 assigned to Chief Constable’s office to take the revenue team, along with the Escort Unit of the City Constabulary Department to the bank and returned with them at City Hall Compound where they disembarked the said vehicle and went their separate way.

At about 16:00hrs on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 while City Police 1930 Hope was cleaning the said vehicle he discovered a sealed bank deposit bag under the driver’s seat and he immediately brought it to the attention of the Chief Constable.

The Chief Constable then summoned the Administrative Inspector, Petal Bancroft-Anthony, and the Officer in Charge of the City Police Investigation Section, Inspector Lindon Bristol, to his office and informed them what the City Police 1930 Hope found in his vehicle.

Inspector Petal Bancroft-Anthony was instructed by the Chief Constable to lodge the sealed bank deposit bag at the Constabulary’s Enquiries office which she did without any delay.

Inspector Bristol was

ordered to lunch an investigation into the matter which commenced immediately and is ongoing.

Following that, The Chief Constable informed the Georgetown Mayor, Mr. Ubraj Narine; Acting Town Clerk, Sharon Harry- Munroe; Clerk of Market, Sherlock Lovell; the Human Resource Manager of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, (M&CC) Paulette Braithwaite, and others officials of the council about the discovery of the BAG containing cash belonging to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) that was found inside the vehicle assigned to him.

At about 09:30hrs on Thursday, July 18, 2019 the Clerk of Market, Mr. Sherlock Lovell, arrived at the City Constabulary Headquarters and identified the BAG containing cash belonging to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) as the BAG with the monies collected from the Bourda Market in revenue collection on Thursday, June 20, 2019.

An initial investigation revealed that the cash was checked off and placed in a bank deposit bag by the Bourda Revenue Collectors for depositing at the bank on Thursday, June 20, 2019.

The investigation further revealed that ranks attached to the Escort Unit of the City Constabulary department had transported the Bourda’s

Revenue Collectors to the bank to deposit the money on Thursday, June 20, 2019 which they never did.

Three weeks later, on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 the BAG containing the cash and deposit slip that supposed to have been deposited

by Revenue Collectors on Thursday, June 20, 2019 was found by City Police 1930 Hope inside the vehicle assigned to Chief Constable, Andrew Foo, and the matter is now under police investigation.

However, I find it very strange at this initial stage of the investigation that the Mayor of Georgetown, Mr. Ubraj Narine, whom I have great respect for in society as a young, intelligent and ambitious young man with integrity, would go publicly to say that the Chief Constable never informed him about the incident and he only learnt about it on the road when it is not so.

The Mayor of Georgetown should retract statement he made at Monday’s statuary meeting and apologise since his report on the matter can be seen as an attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Chief Constable, Mr. Andrew Foo, and more particularly the image of the City Constabulary Department collectively which doesn’t look good in the eyesight of public.

Yours faithfully, Rayvonne P. Bourne

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

President given clean bill of health ...after evaluation in Cuba

President David Granger

PRESIDENT David Granger returned to Guyana on Tuesday after his team of medical specialists in Cuba found nothing wrong with his present state of health.

According to the team, his rate of recovery is satisfactory.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ambassador of Guyana to the Republic of Cuba Halim Majeed, CCH, said President Granger’s scheduled medical evaluation at the Centro de Investigaciones Medico Quirurgicas (CIMEQ) in Havana was successful. The President went to Cuba last Saturday.

“The President’s team of medical specialists undertook four investigations and expressed satisfaction with the results and, indeed, his recovery process. They have found nothing negative about his present state of health; in keeping with the protocol associated with the treatment and monitoring of this type of medical condition, the specialists have proposed that he return to Cuba after 90 days for another round of evaluation,” Ambassador Majeed explained.

President Granger was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin

Lymphoma last year after an intensive series of tests by specialist doctors at the CIMEQ. In April, 2019, President Granger completed his regime of radiotherapy in Cuba without any complication. That was done after he had successfully completed his regime of chemotherapy which formed part of his medical treatment for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

According to the American Cancer Society, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (also known as non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, NHL, or sometimes just lymphoma), is a cancer that starts in the white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body’s immune system.

During his brief stay in Havana this time around, President Granger received the Guyana medical students who graduated on Tuesday from the University of Medical Sciences of Sancti Spiritus, Pinal del Rio and Ciego de Avila. Also, on Tuesday, he met the Director-General of the National Botanical Garden of Cuba, Jorde Rivero Dominguez and the Director of International Relations of the University of Havana, Silvia Gonzalez Legarda. The President was accompanied by First Lady Sandra Granger, and his ADC Major Mark St Clair.

CREDIBLE ELECTIONS President Granger

By His Excellency Brigadier David Granger, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Guyanese, the Constitution of Guyana is sacrosanct and supreme. The independence of the judiciary remains intact and the Elections Commission remains independent.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has now concluded its deliberations and has issued its Consequential Orders on the consolidated cases related to the appointment of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission and

the passage of the No-Confidence Motion. The Court has noted that, of the greatest public importance, the President and the Leader of the Opposition should conclude the process of appointing a new GECOM Chairman.

The President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders, stated that this is imperative and of utmost urgency. I agree. I have committed since 21st December 2018 to the holding of free and fair elections.

Credible elections are essential to representative democracy. The credibility of the elections is dependent, in part, on the integ-

rity of the Official List of Electors.

I maintain that a contaminated list can vitiate the credibility of elections.

Guyanese, I met the Leader of the Opposition on 4th July in good faith. We discussed the process by which the nomination of persons would be submitted to me for the post of GECOM Chairman.

Representatives of both the Government and the Opposition have met three times this week. However, that good faith has not been reciprocated by the Leader of the Opposition. It was my hope that the two sides would have been able to

“hammer out” the list of six nominees in accordance with the CCJ guidelines.

It is unfortunate that, despite the meetings between the two sides, the Leader of the Opposition rejected the idea of acting in a consensual manner. He chose to put forward candidates for the post who have been rejected previously.

Guyanese, it is clear that elections have to be held in the shortest possible time and, therefore, it is crucial to appoint a chairman of the Elections Commission.

This could be done as early as Monday if the Opposition is prepared to act in a consensual manner and in good faith. GECOM and not the Executive is in charge of the elections.

GECOM has to advise the President on its readiness to conduct elections.

I commit to the holding of credible elections in the shortest possible time.

Guyanese, I will devote all my energies until the forthcoming election to serving our people and our country and to delivering good governance.

We live in a country that is moving forward; with an economy that is more resilient - providing better jobs; communities that are safer; in a society that has better infrastructure, greater access to quality education and that is more cohesive.

Guyanese, we are on the right path. I urge all our people, of whatever background when the election comes, to back myself, and the coalition to secure a better future for Guyana.

meets graduating medical students

HIS Excellency, President David Granger, who returned from Cuba following a scheduled medical evaluation by his Medical Team at CIMEQ on Monday, met with Guyanese medical students who graduated on Tuesday, July 23, from the Universities of Medical Sciences of Sancti Spiritus, Pinar del Rio and Ciego de Avila.

The graduation ceremony was held at the famous Karl Marx Theatre in Havana. According to a release from the Guyana Embassy in Cuba, the medical graduands are Drs. Aliyah Poonai, Lawrence Newton, Tacquin Wilson, Mark Singh, Michelle Persaud, Natasha Paul, Delleana Anderson, Leema Heimraj and Davendra Sewkarran.

President Granger is seen with the students after his brief remarks

The students with the staff of the Guyana Embassy in Havana

President Granger received the students at his Protocol House in Havana and congratulated them on their well-earned success. He briefed them on the economic developments taking place in Guyana and urged them to set their sights on reaching the pinnacle of their profession. Monday evening, the Guyana Embassy in Cuba hosted a formal dinner for the graduands

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

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Guyana eyes REDD+ Readiness before year-end GUYANA is aiming to achieve REDD+ Readiness to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation by the end of 2019, after years of complex efforts and joint discussions at the national and regional level.

“Searching for innovative and sustainable ways for the preservation of forests has remained a key factor in the path towards achieving the ultimate objective.

In the international arena, Guyana’s REDD+ strategy could soon be considered a worldwide model for forest conservation as Costa Rica is today. Examining the different REDD+ readiness activities is crucial to understanding the overall process taking place in Guyana’s path towards reducing emissions in forests nowadays,” a release from REDD+ Guyana noted.

Consistent with the REDD+ Strategy and the Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA)

for Guyana, three final project concepts have been identified for implementation in both indigenous and non-indigenous for-

est-dependent communities.

These pilot projects were based on overall consensus using a ranking system whose criteria included emission reduction potential, provision of ecosystem services, scalability and

replicability, and multiple co-benefits.

The three pilot projects identified for implementation were Support

C o m munity-Based Forests Inventory and Forest Management Planning, in the community of Muritaro; an Integrated Fire Management project in Shulinab Village, in the South Rupununi; and the Development of Alternative Income Projects for Forest-Dependent Communities, to Support to Community-Based Açaí Production, Processing and Marketing,

Two Berbicians jailed for separate offences A We s t B a n k B e r b i ce (WBB) man was jailed for 36 months for burglary, and another for four years for trafficking in narcotics at the end of their trials at the Blairmont Magistrates Court on Monday last.

Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh imposed the sentences, in the first instance, on 41-ye ar-old Abdool Zainood, aka ‘Pataroll’, of Shieldstown, Blairmont, WBB, and on London Davis, aka ‘MamaG’, aged 27, of Murphy Dam, Rosignol, WBB. Both men had plead-

ed their innocence to the charges, but were found guilty by the magistrate, based on evidence provided by witnesses during their trials.

With respect to Zainood, evidence led by Police Prosecutor, Corporal Racquel Mars disclosed that he had broken into the home of Serine Lily, of Plaintain Walk, also in WBB, between September 20 and 22, 2018, and stolen household items with a total value of $247,000.

During his trial, the Court heard that the stolen items

had been found at his home.

With respect to the charge against London, witnesses led by the prosecutor disclosed that the Police on November 18 last had accosted him while he was standing at Murphy Dam with a multi-coloured haversack in his possession, and that when challenged, he tried to escape arrest but was pursued and held.

A search of the haversack reportedly unearthed 172.5 grams of cannabis.

Both men are said to have had previous brushes with the law.

Three weeks community service for assault VIVIAN Bourcin of Georgetown found himself before Magistrate Rondell Weaver at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer a charge of assault.

It is alleged that Bourcin committed the offence against Murtland Cameron on

March 20, 2019, at Bourda Market.

Magistrate Weaver ordered that Bourcin do three weeks of community service at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court; additionally, he was fined $10 000 or an alternative of 21 days in prison.

in the community of Siriki.

“Throughout the process of project identification, prioritisation and afterwards implementation, stakeholders, as well as partners and facilitators, have been active participants and have assisted with their expertise to provide support for training, guidance and oversight,” the release said.

Furthermore, focus meetings with the communities have commenced to initiate the establishment of steering committees and further engage the community and village councils in the process.

“By helping Indigenous communities gain the knowledge and capacity to participate in REDD+, they can further significantly contribute to the pursuit of forest

conservation strategies.”

It was made known as well that Guyana is carrying out different actions to analyse land tenure and carbon ownership to inform the allocation of benefits and rights, as well as the development of a benefits sharing mechanism for the implementation of REDD+ in Guyana.

Workshops with participants from government and non-governmental organisations have come together to discuss carbon rights in the context of Guyana’s land tenure and regulations, while comparatively reviewing other countries’ approach to such issue.

Based on initial stakeholder feedback and communications materials, a

draft version of the proposed system for the allocation of carbon rights has been presented at several meetings throughout the country and is still to be approved.

“Collaboration between different actors is necessary to achieve the desired objective. Guyana’s commitment to managing deforestation will engender continued accrued benefits for forest conservation and its consequent positive effects,” the release noted, adding that “Guyana’s actions reflect that it has been at the forefront of the move toward a REDD+ mechanism and has great potential of becoming an international leader in the subject in the following years.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Reg. 8 rated most improved district ...at NGSA 2019

Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton, and senior education officials with the region’s top 10 pupils

REGION Eight is the most improved region at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson has disclosed.

According to the chief education officer, the performance of the region is a testimony to all the efforts that have been made towards education in the region.

“I can say without any degree of contention, that when we look at the results for Region Eight, it is the most improved region.”

According to Dr. Hutson, the Ministry of Education is very keen on closing the gaps in terms of performance by schools on the coast and those in the hinterland.

He said too that the ministry is also keen on achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) four that speaks to access, equity and life-long learning.

Regarding access to education, he committed that the ministry will continue to strive to ensure that the nation’s children have access to education, particularly since universal primary education has already been achieved.

In terms of quality of education in the region, the CEO noted that though the region may have an issue with quality teachers, the ministry is not oblivious to the fact and related that teachers are being trained in the region at Paramakatoi to

become trained teachers.

“We have to be concerned about how our children are educated. Primary is the most basic of education. If you do not have one [primary education] it becomes increasingly difficult to matriculate,” the CEO noted.

Hutson was at the time addressing parents, guardians, teachers and the region’s top 10 NGSA students on Monday at the Kato Primary School, Region Eight, where those students were honoured for their performance.

The top performers were each given a token from the Ministry of Education as well as a bursary made possible by the Smalta brand, distributed by Ansa McAL Trading Limited.

Teachers, as well as parents, were congratulated by the CEO for the work done with the children. He also stressed that teachers are the most influential persons in the education system.

With a 10 per cent improvement in the performance of mathematics in the region, Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton, said if the children can do well in mathematics, they possess the ability to perform well in the other subject areas.

He told the students that the fact that they are in the hinterland is no reason why they should not earn spots at top

schools. “Gone were the days when persons in the hinterland were graded differently to get into top schools in Georgetown,” he said.

Minister Norton urged parents that they need to start working with their children from the early stages as they will now enter secondary school. “You have the foundation already,” he said.

The parents were encouraged to ensure that they are involved in extra-curricular activities such as sports, since this will result in the children not viewing school as a burden and result in them becoming rounded individuals in society. In this vein, Minister Norton also donated some sports gears to the Kato Sports Club.

Regional Education Officer, Penelope McIntosh, said the performance of students was an outstanding achievement of the region.

She said it is important that the 120 primary school teachers in the region are congratulated for the work done to ensure their pupils perform well. McIntosh said she has been inspired by the openness of teachers in the region to take advantage of any training the Department of Education or the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) has to offer.

Mayor wants staff audit of all departments GEORGETOWN Mayor, Ubraj Narine, has said that a personnel audit of all the departments at City Hall will need to be carried out to ensure that no corruption is taking place in this regard.

“We had a lot of issues with staffing, and I am calling for a personnel audit to be done in all of the departments at City Hall. It is a total mess. Up to now, we can’t get a right number of staff,” Narine told this publication in an interview.

Speaking on the sidelines

of the City Council’s statutory meeting on Monday, Narine said this especially so in the Solid Waste Management Department, headed by Walter Narine. “Since I took office, we always getting bring and carry with sanitation workers. We always have issues with compactor operators; how they’re paid, what they’re doing.”

The mayor said the issues are not only about staffing, but have to do with the list of duties that a worker is expected to carry out.

“You have the PR (public

relations) taking home more money than the treasurer and so on in this place. All this nonsense needs to stop.”

During the statutory meeting, the mayor called out the Solid Waste Director for not doing enough. “The solid waste director is not doing enough. Mr. Narine, you need to do more.”

Just recently, senior officers could not provide a satisfactory explanation as to why the number of sanitation workers and street orderlies keep fluctuating each month.

Currently, the City Council could be paying out salaries to persons who do not work in the organisation.

“The Human Resources Committee should deal with this issue seriously. There’s a cook-up going on here, but it doesn’t have salt,” the mayor had remarked.

It was Councillor Heston Bostwick who brought up the matter, comparing various monthly reports of the Solid Waste Management Department.

Last April’s report said the department had 10 street

orderlies while another said three. While the April report showed 38 sanitation workers, another report said 47.

Fluctuations in the number of workers were also found to exist in the markets and Public Health Department, the Engineer’s Department and the Human Resources Department.

An audit has since been arranged to determine if the council is indeed in possession of all of the workers mentioned in the reports.

Councillor Oscar Clarke had pointed out that the Hu-

man Resource Department needs to have knowledge of who is being fired.

The mayor had noted that the situation is triangular, in that the Human Resources Department and the City Treasury’s Department also must have knowledge of who is being paid by the City Council.

Acting Town Clerk, Sharon Harry, had said that this is a very serious allegation. “If the report is being padded, it means that the payroll is also being padded,” she observed.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

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Kumu ‘hydro’ project moves forward THE Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) recently held a public consultation with stakeholders and residents of the villages of St. Ignatius, Kumu and Quarrie as preparations advance for a proposed 1.5 megawatt Kumu Hydropower Project.

The project is expected to be funded by the Islamic Development Bank and is expected to become operational by 2025.

With over 140 participants, the consultation, which was held in St Ignatius at the ‘Community Benab’, was conducted as part of the process to ensure that residents and other stakeholders were aware of what the project entails, its benefits to the community, and to address the residents’ concerns regarding the project.

Attendees included representatives from the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), the Mayor and Town Council, the Rupununi Chambers of Commerce (RCCI), the Lethem Power Company (LPC) and residents of Kumu, St. Ignatius and Quarrie.

Located on the Kumu River of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Region Nine, the Kumu Hydropower project is a diversion type run-of-the-river plant that is located 15 km southeast of the town of Lethem. The project aims to utilise water from the Kumu River which will facilitate the installation of a 1.5MW plant.

It will be connected to the Lethem electrical grid to serve Lethem and nearby villages with electricity.

Regional Vice-Chairman, Carl Singh, in his remarks, said the RDC is very pleased that the project is moving forward. “…this consultation is very important as a project of this nature requires all of our input and I would like to thank GEA and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure for including us, the residents, in the process,” Singh told the gathering.

Speaking to the project’s

alignment with the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS), he posited that “… while the project will allow for a reduction of electricity rate, and that is a very good thing, it also aligns with Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy and the vision for Guyana to become a Green State”.

He encouraged those present to view the project as more than just the reduction of electricity cost.

POSITIVELY IMPACT “The weather pattern was once so reliable that we knew when to plant our cassava and peanuts but because of global warming and climate change, we cannot be as certain as we once were.

This project will allow us to reduce our carbon emission and allow us to positively impact our environment… the RDC therefore welcomes it and have no objections to the project moving forward,” he concluded.

Town Clerk, Keisha Vincent, in her remarks said, “The M&TC of Region Nine welcomes the project and the fact that it will improve our energy sector”.

While Toshao of St. Ignatius, Dinnis Benedict, said he was, “… happy that GEA has included the residents in the process and is facilitating the process of them learning more about the project and is willing to address any questions and concerns they may have”.

Based on questions posed, Hydro Power Support Engineer, Dolwin Khan, who facilitated the presentation, assured those in attendance that, “… the project will be designed to minimise environmental impacts during construction and operation.

The resort at the foot of the hill will not be negatively affected by the hydropower plant.”

He further went on to explain that “…the water extracted through the diversion system to operate the hydropower plant will be returned into the river passing through the resort”.

In addressing questions

A section of the gathering at the consultation

related to possible flooding due to the breaking of the hydro power weir/dam, Khan affirmed that “this was not a concern given the anticipated design and location of the dam”. Data gathering, which included location coordinates and flow measurement, for the Kumu Hydro Power Project began in 2013 while a ‘Water Level Logger’ was installed approximately 300 m upstream of the Kumu resort by the GEA with support from the Hydrometeorological Service (Hydromet).

This allowed for consistent water level and spot flow measurements to be performed throughout the study period.

MAIN BENEFITS Khan explained that, “…a significant reduction in the production cost of electricity generated in Lethem is one of the main benefits of the construction of the hydropower station while the need for annual government subventions, which amounts to about US$500,000 per year, would be eliminated after commissioning”.

This, he said, “… would result in residents benefitting from a decrease in electricity cost… thus the proposed plant would contribute to affordable electricity tariffs”.

Other benefits of the project include supplying electricity from a renewable indigenous energy source

Six months for stealing chicken OMALO Dick, 26, wash bay helper was on Tuesday sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for simple larceny

by Magistrate Rondel Weaver at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Dick, a wash bay helper of ‘A’ Field, Sophia, was on trial for the charge which reads that on June 22, 2019, at ‘D’ Grill Kings, Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, he stole 170 pounds of chicken valued

$51,680, property of Rawle Burkett.

Dick was found guilty of the offence in absentia since he did not attend court that day. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

to the town of Lethem and its environs (St. Ignatius, Kumu, etc.); to promote and increase the use of renewable energy in Guyana; to support the social and economic development of the town of Lethem and surrounding communities, and to reduce the dependence on fossil-based fuels for electricity generation in Lethem.

The 1.5 megawatt plant will be connected to

the Lethem Power Grid, which is operated by the Lethem Power Company Inc. (LPCI), a subsidiary of the state-owned Hinterland Electrification Company Inc. (HECI) that oversees the generation, transmission, distribution and sales of electric energy to customers in the hinterland region.

In April 1976, Montreal Engineering Company Limited (Monenco) conducted

a comprehensive study that identified 67 potential sites with over 7,000 Megawatt (MW) of hydropower potential in the country.

Guyana, through the GEA, is focused on studying and analysing the various options for hydropower presented in the study with the ultimate objective of providing a reliable and affordable supply of energy for all within a sustainable framework. It is in this context, the Kumu Hydropower site located on the Kanuku Mountain range on the Kumu stream was identified for development and is also in keeping with the Green State Development Strategy.

Supervision of the project during the construction phase will be conducted by GEA’s Engineers, along with their counterparts from the HECI and the Lethem Power Company Inc. Additionally, regular updates on the project will be provided to the RDC, mayor and councillors of Lethem and the residents in the beneficiary communities.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

PUC urges GPL to lift standards IN reviewing the Guyana Power & Light Inc. (GPL) Operating Standards and Performance Targets (OSPT) for 2018, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has found that most of the company’s standards fell short of what constitutes an “efficient utility”.

While the company has improved on its 2017 performance as it relates to the standards of System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) and the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI), the goals set for 2018 were still not met.

In a release on Tuesday, the PUC indicated that is has decided not to impose further penalty on the entity which has imposed a five per cent of the total dividend payable to the company’s shareholder(s) in the calendar year 0f 2017 last year when it failed to meet its OSPT for the year.

The licence granted to the GPL has made provision for

its OSPT to be submitted to the PUC on a one and fiveyear basis. The company is judged on the eight targets categorised as: customer interruptions, voltage regulation, meter reading, issuing of bills, accounts payable, account receivable, system losses and average availability.

The targets must be included in the company’s development and expansion program which is submitted for approval by the minister.

It also provides that by March 30 of each year beginning in 2012, the PUC shall receive GPL’s performance for the previous calendar year with the respect to the OSPT. An analysation of this performance by the PUC determines whether GPL has failed to achieve and/or to reach the specific targets.

Failure can result in a monetary penalty in an amount no more than 25 per cent of the total dividend payable to the

company’s shareholder(s) in the calendar year.

On June 20, 2019, the PUC conducted the review of GPL’s 2018 performance at a later date than March 30 as it was properly constituted at the time. The company made its presentation to the commission at the Duke Lodge.

Regarding customer interruptions, the PUC found that the SAIFI standard, which sets out to limit the average number of outages received by customers in 2018 to no more than 70, was not met.

The average number of outages received by customers in

2018 was instead 106.

Meanwhile, the SAIDI which limits the average duration of outages that a consumer receives during 2018 to no more than 80 hours was instead pegged at 112.41 hours. The explanations offered by GPL for the failures were that there was inadequate backup redundancy in the generation and transmission of systems; there was a significant deficiency in the design and configuration of some substations and a significant portion of the transmission’s infrastructure were in a poor state contributing to constant failures and maintenance challenges.

Regarding voltage regulation, the standard required GPL to, “seek to maintain in stable condition voltages of more or less than five per cent of the nominal voltage and more or less 10 per cent following a system disturbance”.

GPL had expressed from the inception of the OSPT reporting this would be difficult to monitor and report on the voltage supplied to each customer and the same went unmeasured in previous years.

At the 2018 OSPT report, the company spoke of plans to utilise the Advance Metering Infrastructure (AMI) to address the challenge and reported recently that it is still

committed to doing such.

“There is compelling evidence to suggest that the voltage received by consumers in some areas is not consistent with what the company has been contracted to deliver.

This often results in damage to consumers’ equipment,” the PUC indicated. However, the commission noted that the company rolled out some 30,000 AMIs which will greatly assist in the reduction of system losses and its ability to do better in the coming years.

When it comes to system losses, GPL went over the standard limit of 26. 6 per cent by 1.1 per cent. “The company did not achieve the set target,” the PUC stated, adding: “It nevertheless reduced system loses by approximately two per cent year on year.”

The company also reported that a field survey undertaken in 2018 revealed that there are 19,000 street lights countrywide of which 9,000 were not metered and therefore escaped the billing cycle. On the matter of meter reading, GPL was required to read 97 per cent of maximum demand consumers and 90 per cent of non-maximum demand consumers but achieved 91 per cent and 90 per cent respectively.

It explained that missing the maximum demand target was due the inability of the handheld devices to access data. The devices use radio frequency to communicate with meters. With a “short time line for corrective action”, GPL stated that this resulted in a higher than intended estimation of bills, a similar issue highlighted at the 2017 Hearing.

Regarding the issuing of bills, GPL was able to meet these targets. While it was required to issue maximum demand bills within seven days and non-maximum demand bills within 10 days after the meters have been read, it issued the same within an average of five and eight days respectively.

On the matter of accounts payable, GPL went over the 26-day limit to setting with its creditors only by one standing at an average of 27days to do the same.

With regards to accounts receivable, GPL’s cash collection cycle stood at 54 days when the standard commits it to a 30-day cycle while it exceed the average availability standard of 80 per cent by 6.9 per cent. In its general consideration of the GPL’s OSPT for 2018, the commission stated, “The commission further wishes to signal to the company that its inability to achieve all of the standards as set out in the company’s 2016 to 2020 Development and Expansion Programme does not auger well for the efficiency of the company’s vis-à-vis its customers.”

However, it considered that the company’s failure to improve its services in the face of the 2018 five per cent penalty and has “decided not to impose a further penalty at this time.” “…most of the standards fall far short of what constitutes an efficient utility.

There remains much to be done to attain these standards and we can only hope that in the near future that there will be incremental improvements in the quality of service to consumers,” the PUC stated.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

conference zeroes in on strengthening region’s digital space

CANTO’S 35th Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition opened on a high noted as stakeholders directed focus on the need for collaboration, co-ordination, disruption and the harmonisation of the regulatory structure within the Caribbean and Latin America so as to develop the Region’s digital space.

The conference, which is ongoing at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, is being held under the theme “Transitioning to a Digital Region – Opportunities and Challenge”.

At the conference so far, which opened on Sunday, Senior Vice-President and Chief Technology/Product Officer, T&I, Liberty Latin America (LLA), Vivek Khemka, and Country Manager, C&W Communications, Barbados, Jenson Sylvester, used the opportunity to present on the current focus, accomplishments and future direction of LLA and C&W Communications.

Khemka noted LLA’s US$771M capital investment in the Region in 2018 and the 68 per cent growth in Internet carried by LLA. He

also highlighted that in 2019, LLA promises to pump 19 per cent of its revenue into capital investment for the company and the Region.

On the other hand, Sylvester said while some of the Region’s territories lagged behind international averages for Internet network and LTE coverage, the Caribbean is uniquely poised through C&W Communications’ leadership position in the industry to make a strong push forward in digital optimisation for future progress.

At the conference too, a Ministerial Roundtable brought to the fore the similarity in philosophies and initiatives by countries to optimise digitisation and digital technologies to access government services, stimulate economic growth and create digitally-literate nations.

Leveraging her over 30 years of experience in the telecommunications industry; Miranda Curtis, Board Director, LLA reiterated the capacity of digitisation to provide opportunities to expand entrepreneurial activity, build start-ups and facilitate the delivery of government resources, in particular in

the areas of health and education.

There was also an interactive discussion on “Strategies to Survive Disruptive Times” which emphasised the need not only to plan ahead for the inevitable disruptions taking place in an increasing digital space, but also invest in disrupting yourself as a company because “what got us here is not going to get us there”.

“There was consensus by the panel that there must be synergies with employees, customers and your business plan,” CANTO said.

Representatives from government, academia and the Region’s private sectors, discussed the possible Market Consolidation in the Age of Convergence, and they acknowledged that digital transitions, which may be driven by business considerations, should also work to benefit the people of the Region.

Caribbean residents, it was noted, may reside in small countries, but they expect “the best the world has to offer -- the best service and lowest prices to enable them to compete in the global market”.

Closing off Monday’s round of talks was an insightful and provocative discourse on bridging the digital divide and the partnerships and strategies required to enable greater broadband connectivity.

Panelists speculated that broadband connectivity to every home, while desirable, may not be feasible in the context of scale and the business case for the Caribbean Region.

However, it was suggested that connectivity to foster domestic growth, capacity building for users, increased digital literacy and an allround analysis of the entire eco-system of innovation are the parallel discussions that must take place in our Region when considering connectivity.

The conference agenda included strategic industry discussions on the current regulatory environment in the Region, cyber security and data protection.

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Pending psychiatric report stalls murder PI EIGHT months after 26-year-old Anthony King was charged for the murder of his brother-in-law, whom he allegedly beheaded, the preliminary inquiry (PI) into the matter is yet to commence.

Anthony King

King on Tuesday made another appearance before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. He is currently on remand for allegedly killing Justin Peterkin, 39, on November 5, 2018, at Section ‘C’ Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara(EBD).

The court is still awaiting a psychiatric report on the accused. The report was ordered by Magistrate McGusty a few months ago to determine if King is fit to stand trial.

The outstanding report is stalling the commencement of the PI. However, at the court hearing on Tuesday, Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones asked for a short adjournment date for the report to be presented in court.

Magistrate McGusty therefore adjourned the matter until September 10, 2019.

According to a police report Peterkin is an electrician and father of one, who resides at Paradise Village, East Coast Demerara and King visited the Golden Grove property. Peterkin was at home with his wife, Cassandra King, who is the defendant’s sister. Shortly after Cassandra King and her father David King left for work, an eyewitness reportedly saw King chopping his in-law in the yard.

An alarm was raised and the defendant allegedly left the scene, but was promptly arrested by the police, who were summoned. Peterkin’s body reportedly bore multiple wounds to the neck, head, and shoulder.

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Caribbean leading way in climate action ― UN official Miroslav Jenca

CARIBBEAN counties are leading the way on climate action, adaptation and mitigation and the international community should support these efforts by providing the necessary public and private resources.

This is according to Head of the UN Delegation, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Miroslav Jen?a, who made remarks on the same at the 10th General Meeting between CARICOM and the United Nations (UN) system on Tuesday.

This year’s meeting marks

the 10th Anniversary of Biennial Meetings between the two since the very first which was held in 1997 in New York.

It is being held in Guyana at the CARICOM Secretariat from July 23-24 where Heads and representatives of the UN, CARICOM institutions, specialised agencies and associated institutions are meeting.

There, Jen?a observed that the multi-agency cooperation of the UN with CARICOM to adopt and implement a Counter-Terrorism Strategy is just one of the

Head of the UN Delegation Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Miroslav Jen?a (left) and CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque (Delano Williams photo)

many examples of how the shared cooperation has become ever more successful.

He expressed gratitude on behalf of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs’ (DPPAs) for the event and that it was represented by twice as many persons as at the 2015 General Meeting in Georgetown.

“I think I can say on behalf of all UN colleagues that

we are impressed with your fantastic organisation of this meeting, especially because we know how incredibly busy you are with your countless tasks,” he said.

Meanwhile, for the first time, the General Meeting will see discussions on the issue of human mobility, as an increase in the flow of migrants into CARICOM member states has been observed.

of which shelter is often the primary need in the post-disaster phase.

Other topics to be covered during the two days include debt sustainability; financing for development; blacklisting; the withdrawal of correspondent banking relations; crime and security; Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the 2030 Development Agenda; youth and human resource

disasters, environmental degradation and affects biodiversity.

Additionally, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has recognised the challenges and economic constraints which impeded the development of some states in the Region and has vowed to strengthen UN support to CARICOM. Guterres also called on

Heads and representatives of the UN, CARICOM institutions, specialised agencies and associated institutions were in attendance at the CARICOM Secretariat on Tuesday (Delano Williams photo)

Speaking on the same was CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, who said that the meeting is geared towards discussing matters crucial to the sustainable development of the Region. In relation to the issue of human mobility to be discussed, post-disaster displacement will also be up for deliberation for the first time. The matter deals with the right to adequate shelter of people affected by disasters,

development; food security, agriculture and fisheries; and non-communicable diseases, HIV/AIDS and pandemics.

Meanwhile, LaRocque said that the threat of climate change still “hangs heavy” and there is urgent need for enhanced action to fight global warming.

He informed delegates that CARICOM Heads of Government have realised that climate change contributes to an increase in natural

the 10th General Meeting to review the UN-CARICOM cooperation and explore areas where this can be expanded.

“It is a partnership that the member states of CARICOM rely on, one that has become more effective in our coordination and implementation; one that will continue to evolve in response to changing needs and priorities and one that on this tenth anniversary we can be proud of,” he stated.

Chief Constable clears air over allegations levelled at City Constabulary CHIEF Constable of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council Andrew Foo is clearing the air with regard to a bag of money found inside the vehicle that is assigned to him and the Local Government Commission.

In Tuesday’s edition of the Guyana Chronicle, Mayor Ubraj Narine is reported to have said that “money was being kept in the vehicle, PVV1405, for quite some time.”

This vehicle PVV 1405 is used by the chief constable, but of recent made transactions of cash from the market to the treasury, because the vehicle that is normally used for that purpose has experienced mechanical

failure.

Chief Constable Foo said that on July 16, 2019, he was made aware of the money found in the vehicle. Foo stated that he made contact with the mayor, town clerk and other relevant authorities about what he had found.

It was at Monday’s statutory meeting of the council that the mayor revealed that no one had apprised him of the situation and that he had to hear it on the road, which according to the Mayor “is not good for business.”

The city’s chief constable made the point that he is baffled as why the mayor would make such claims, when in fact the situation is that the mayor, town clerk and other relevant authorities

were briefed and an investigation was launched to ascertain the situation about the money.

According to information received, an inspector said that he told the mayor of the situation on Wednesday last; additionally, the administrator of the Constabulary Department of the council noted that the chief constable brought it to her attention and it was recorded in the book that is used to record such information.

The amount of money that was left in the vehicle is $153, 000.00, but the chief constable believes that there is something sinister afoot and as such, he will write the mayor on the matter.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

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Nandlall admits CCJ refused PPP orders …but takes issue with AG pointing it out

OPPOSITION, lawyer, Anil Nandlall has admitted that the Caribbean Court of Justice had refused to grant the orders sought

by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

In a missive complaining about a full-page advertisement by the Attorney General Chambers which showed the consequential orders sought by the opposition and what the court grant, Nandlall pointed out that the clear objective of the advertisement is to demonstrate that the specific Orders sought by the Leader of the Opposition and Zulfikar Mustapha were refused by the CCJ. He noted that the advertisement is divided into two columns. In one column, it lists the Orders prayed for by the Leader of the Opposition in the No-Confidence Motion cases and the Orders prayed for by Zulfikar Mustapha in relation to the case chal-

lenging the appointment of James Patterson as chairman of GECOM. “However, the author deceptively omits the parts of the judgments which say emphatically, that those Orders were not granted because the Constitution itself, specifically and adequately, provides for what must happen when a No-Confidence Motion is passed in the National Assembly, that is to say, Cabinet, including the President, must resign, elections must be held within three months and within that three-month period, the Government remains in Office as a “caretaker” until the next President is sworn-in.”

However, contrary to Nandlall according to the Adrian Saunders, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice at Paragraph 5 of the No Confidence Motion judgment: “The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has the responsibility to conduct

PI into murder of suspected bandit continues THE Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of a 26-year-old man, who was shot and killed in 2016, allegedly by Moses Singh, continued on Tuesday before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

Singh, a 60-year-old businessman, formerly of Sarah Johanna, East Bank Demerara (EBD), is currently on remand for the capital offence and is before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The indictment alleged that Singh on August 20, 2016, at Pearl Village, EBD, murdered Seon Clarke.

Singh is being represented by attorney-at-law Latchmie Rahamat, while the state is represented by Police Prosecutor Richard Harris. The matter continues on August 15, 2019.

Clarke, 21, was shot dead by vigilantes while his friend was badly beaten, because they were suspected to be bandits on the day in question.

Reports were that the men, armed with a gun, were allegedly planning to rob a grocery store in Sarah Johanna, EBD, but their plan was foiled when the alert proprietor of the store noticed their suspicious movements.

Moses Singh

The shop owner raised an alarm and called out to a policeman who was passing on the road at the time. The men managed to run into a nearby bushy area and eluded authorities. However, hours later the duo emerged, they were spotted by members of the community on the Pearl Public Road and were apprehended by public-spirited citizens.

During the incident it is alleged that Singh, who is a licensed firearm holder, shot Clarke while others inflicted a beating on his accomplice.

Clarke was rushed to the Diamond Public Hospital and died while receiving treatment. His accomplice subsequently took investigators to a location where they had concealed a gun.

Elections …” Secondly, Justice Saunders, expressed “Article 106 of the Constitution invests in the President and the National Assembly (and implicitly in GECOM), responsibilities that impact on the precise timing of the elections which must be held. It would not therefore be right for the Court, by the issuance of coercive orders or detailed directives, to presume to

instruct these bodies on how they must act and thereby pre-empt the performance by them of their constitutional responsibilities. It is not, for example, the role of the Court to establish a date on or by which the elections must be held, or to lay down timelines and deadlines that, in principle, are the preserve of political actors guided by constitutional imperatives.

The Court must assume that these bodies and personages will exercise their responsibilities with integrity…”

Chief Justice Saunders added at Paragraph 3 of the No Confidence Motion judgment: “It is now a matter of the greatest public importance that the President and the Leader of the Opposition should, as soon as possible, embark upon and conclude the process of appointing a new GECOM Chairman.

PPP, Lawyer Anil Nandlall

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Interview: Expert applauds Xinjiang’s decades of development ISLAMABAD, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China has witnessed great strides in its development over the past few decades, said one political and strategic analyst, who first visited the vast region in the 1970s.

“I have been an eyewitness to the development that has taken place,” Sultan Mehmood Hali, said of Xinjiang.

“Today, Xinjiang is unbelievable,” the China expert told Xinhua in a recent interview. The airports, roads, buildings and facilities in the capital Urumqi are “remarkable,” he added.

Hali first went to Xinjiang in the 1970s. At that time, Xinjiang was underdeveloped and the city of Urumqi was small, the former Pakistani Air Force officer recalled.

Xinjiang is a very attractive region, which has mountains, lakes, deserts and cities, said Hali, who has written more than 10 books, five of which are on China.

The region’s various ethnic groups have retained their cultural characteristics, which have become luring attractions for travelers, Hali said.

Furthermore, while the Chinese government “deals with miscreants with an iron fist,” it attempts to bring those who are affected by extremist ideology into the mainstream by giving them vocational training and jobs, Hali said.

Having studied the various approaches that other governments have applied against extremism and terrorism, the Chinese government has evolved its own policy and helped locals lead a prosperous life, Hali said.

“The government’s policy is successful,” he said.

Since the advent of the Belt and Road initiative, Xinjiang has ushered in greater development opportunities because many of the initiative’s projects are located there, he added.

Chinese economy to grow further despite U.S.-China trade dispute: experts AMMAN, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Jordanian experts said Sunday that the Chinese economy will witness further growth despite the U.S.-China trade frictions.

“China is a strong exporter and has strong ties with Latin America, Africa, Russia, Europe and Asia, and this enabled the Chinese economy to overcome the negative impact of the U.S. measures against the Chinese economy,” economist Khaled Zubeidi told Xinhua.

According to the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics, the Chinese economy grew by 6.3 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2019 (H1) and reached 45.09 trillion yuan (about 6.56 trillion U.S. dollars). The growth is in line with the government’s annual target of 6-6.5 percent.

The Chinese economic policies are drafted in a manner which makes them

resilient and Washington’s trade tensions with Beijing would eventually hurt the American economy, as they would undermine the U.S.

export and U.S. economy’s ability to grow, the Jordanian economist said.

Noting that the Chinese economy is growing in

various sectors, including technology and the digital economy, Zubeidi said that the U.S. “tariff weapon” will not work effectively.

Khalil Haj Tawfiq, head of the Amman Chamber of Commerce, said China’s economic growth in H1 showed that the country is

able to absorb the impact of the trade tensions.

“China’s openness to the world and the reform policies prove that the Chinese market is still flourishing and growing and China is headed to become one of the largest competitors in the fields of economy, commerce and investments,” Haj Tawfiq told Xinhua.

He added that the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) creates a new multilateral trade system and boosts economic growth.

Iyad Abu Haltam, member of Amman Chamber of Industry, said the Chinese economy is considered a safe haven for investment.

Focusing on infrastructure development, China is expanding cooperation with the rest of the world within the BRI framework, and by contrast, Washington’s protectionism measures will bring no benefit to itself, Abu Haltam said.

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Guyana commits to accelerate implementation of SDGs United Nations member states to present their reports on implementation of the SDGs to the ECOSOC forum. So far, more than 150 states, including five Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, have reported.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Na-

Guyana’s delegation at the United Nations (L-R) Troy Torrington, Sonya Roopnauth, Carl Greenidge, Minister Dawn Hastings-Williams; Dr Olney Daly and Gerald Gouveia

GUYANA has made progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly in the area of environmental preservation; it however continues to experience challenges in the provision of quality education and health services, infrastructure and access to concessionary financing, human capacity and data gaps.

Guyana’s Foreign Secretary Carl Greenidge made these pronouncements when he gave a detailed report on the country’s implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), at the high-level political forum of the United Nations

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The political forum was held recently at the UN’s Headquarters in New York.

During his presentation of the country’s first Voluntary National Review (VNR) report to ECOSOC, the foreign secretary said progress had been made in a number of areas, including in preservation of the environment; he pointed out challenges being faced in the provision of quality education and health services, infrastructure, access to concessionary financing, human capacity, and data gaps.

He also explained that the preparatory process had proven to be useful in consolidating national progress in implementing the SDGs, particularly in the context of

Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy – Vision 2040.

Minister of State Dawn Hastings-Williams who led the delegation, while offering her perspective as an indigenous educator with over two decades of experience in the hinterland, emphasised that the delivery of educational services was especially challenging.

Director, Office of the Budget, Ministry of Finance, Sonya Roopnauth, however said that efforts are being made by Guyana to integrate the monitoring of the SDGs in the national planning and budgeting framework. She noted the efforts being taken to address the challenge of significant data gaps.

Guyana was one of 47

tions member states in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for global peace and prosperity. In a report on the post-2015 sustainable development agenda (A/69/700) the United Nations noted that “we must give meaning to the organisation’s promise… to take the world forward to a sustainable future.”

Among members of the Guyana delegation were Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Gerald Gouveia; Director, Global and Multilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Troy Torrington; and SDGs Focal Point, Guyana Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Dr Olney Daly.

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High-capacity irrigation pump for Mora Point soon WORK is progressing on the construction of the superstructure for a high-capacity irrigation pump at Mora Point, Mahaicony.

National Drainage and

Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Engineer in Region Five, Mr. Bhagwandas Seeraj, disclosed earlier this week that the construction of accommodation for the pump with

an overall cost of $255M is about 60 per cent complete.

The base has been completed and the walls are currently being erected. The pump itself is currently being

Work on the foundation for the pump station two weeks ago has since been completed

manufactured in India and should be completed and brought into the country by October.

Once this pump arrives, he said, its installation should be completed for commissioning by year end. The contractor, Roopan Ramotar Investments, was awarded the contract in January.

Once completed, the Mora Point pump with a capacity of eighty cusecs will deliver water from the Mahaicony River into several irrigation channels for

large rice-producing areas within the Mahaicony-Abary Rice Development Scheme (MARDS). Some 2500 acres of rice cultivation and more will benefit from guaranteed irrigation, even during drought-like conditions.

An official from the NDIA said that the operations of the pump will make farmers feel secure about investing in their crops and make the area much more productive than it currently is. The new pump station at Mora Point will replace the

old pump station and the two old pumps previously installed by colonial government over 100 years ago.

The century-old pumps, one of which was said to still be working, will be “spruced up” and kept at their current location, as historical artifacts and their accommodation could become a drainage and irrigation (D&I) heritage site.

Funding for the new pump was acquired through a loan under an Indian Line of Credit.

Ogle-to-Diamond bypass ‘soon come’ – design to be submitted before next month-end

THE completed designs for the much-touted East Bank to East Coast road link network, that is expected to alleviate traffic congestion on the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara, are to be submitted before August month-end.

The roadway will serve as an alternative bypass from Georgetown for persons traversing between the East Coast and East Bank. The submission, however, will only be done after final approval by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Meanwhile, a draft report comprising designs, estimates and an ESIA (Environmental Social Impact Assessment) report is to be handed over to the agency on July 27. This will be followed by a mandatory 60-day consultation process.

The Technical Services Manager within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Nigel Erskine, in giving

an update on the project, explained that during the 60-day process, the EPA will make all of the project documents available for perusal by the public.

At the end of the consultation process, all of the reports will be incorporated, finalised and approved, Erskine said. He added that the ministry is working towards realising the launch of the project, at least by year-end.

Other aspects, such as the submission of bids, awarding of the contract and procurement, are expected to be conducted during the first quarter of the year 2020.

Meanwhile, physical work has commenced on the draining of some five km of swamp area between the East Bank communities of Mocha and Diamond that are inundated with water, he disclosed.

Erskine explained that initially, the final draft design was to have been sub-

mitted on April 13, but this was delayed to allow for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to conduct and complete an Environmental Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). A draft TOR (Terms of Reference) was developed by the EPA in May. The proposed main alignment will consist of four lanes stretching from Diamond to Ogle, with four connectors – at Great Diamond, Mocha, Eccles, Haags–Bosch and at Aubrey Barker Street, that would connect the East Bank Demerara road to the new alignment.

In 2016, the Government of Guyana secured a US$50M loan from the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India for the design and construction of a 20km bypass road from Ogle, ECD, to Great Diamond, EBD. The supervisory aspect of the project will be undertaken by the government.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

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‘Vanilla’, ‘Barry’, Michael ‘J’ make the cut

Vanilla

– as gov’t announces first 15 recipients of landmark creative industries grant

DIRECTOR of Culture, Tamika Boatswain, on Tuesday announced the first 15 winners of the Guyana Fund for Cultural and Creative Industries (GFCCI).

The Fund, which comes under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Youth and Sports, Department of Culture, was awarded to 15 artisans in the creative arts field, namely: Trevon Monroe; Michael Jordan; Carlene Gill-Kerr; Martin Massiah; Shunette Jonas; Keith Easton; Gavin Mendonca; Barrington Braithwaite; Leon Saul; Lynn Ronnkvist; Leonard Colvin Marks; Ivor Marslow; Mohamed Handi; Errol Chan; and Melissa Roberts.

The announcement was made at a press conference, with Boatswain stating that it is truly a historic moment for the Cultural and Creative Industries in Guyana, since it is the first investment ever made in that sector.

Boatswain pointed out that the creation of the Fund is one way of showing that the government cares about the Cultural and Creative Arts Industries and their development.

“We expect that in the coming years, the government’s investments in the creative industry would grow,” she said.

According to Boatswain, the Department had $20M, which she described as a small sum of money, to satisfy the projects of the grant applicants.

Noting that the Department would have received a total of 28 applications, Boatswain said: “Seven of those applicants would have requested $10M or more in grants, and we could not give one individual so much of money…So the committee that was put together to look at this took a critical decision in terms of disbursement to allow more people to have a chance to get some money from the grant.”

She, however, said that the seven applicants at reference will be considered at another round of grants distribution, with the aim of getting them “off the ground”.

According to Boatswain,

applicants were awarded based on their proposals and the properties of those proposals.

The judging criteria included originality, project existence, and collaboration with stakeholders/partners.

“Participants were given points; they were scored, and the scores were tallied, and it was even audited to ensure that there were no biases in the awarding of the scores,” she noted.

The director indicated that the Department of Culture, in an effort to help develop the cultural and creative sector, has been carrying out numerous activities such as exhibitions, craft markets, and “even international participation where we encourage the participants of the creative industries, in order to help them have visibility in the global market.”

Also at the press conference was Minister of Social Cohesion, Culture Youth and Sports, Dr. George Norton, who stated that the initiative is one that the government of Guyana, through the Department of Culture, will continue in an effort to support and empower persons in the cultural and creative industries, as demonstrated with the awards.

“It is up to us to foster an environment which lends support to the artistic community by providing avenues for capacity building, technical assistance, and assistance to source funding which will inevitably transcend into economic value for our nation,” Dr. Norton said.

He highlighted that the initiative is not limited to the empowerment of artisans, but it also helps to support the ministry’s determination to preserve Guyana’s various cultures.

“As we focus on economic development and industry, in many aspects, the cultural industry can become one of the key vehicle- driving development, as we use our cultural assets for impactful economic growth,” Dr. Norton said.

The Minister is also encouraging other artisans to apply the next time GFCCI calls for proposals.

The grant forms part of the Department of Culture,

Youth and Sport’s effort to foster and promote the creative industries, and to provide platforms for the sector’s growth and development.

It was highlighted during the Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton’s 2019 Budget presentation that the $20M initiative is intended to

not only advance the livelihoods of persons engaged in the cultural and creative industries, but to encour-

age new cultural products and to facilitate the market of the local industry.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

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G/town Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’

Final round of Group Stage set for ‘Berlin’ tomorrow night

FOLLOWING two exciting nights of group stage action, the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Georgetown Championship continues tomorrow, with the final round-robin match-day at the Berlin tarmac (Drysdale and High Streets).

In the opening match, Alexander Village tackle Charlotte Street at 19:00hrs, while Broad Street battle John Street at 19:30hrs and Albouystown-A face Future Stars from 20:00hrs.

The fourth match will pit

Sophia against Rising Stars at 20:30hrs while LA Ballers take on defending champions Gold is Money from 21:00hrs and Leopold Street face-off with Tiger Bay at 21:30hrs.

In the final two matches, North East take aim at Back Circle from 22:00hrs and Sparta Boss will match skills with Albouystown-B at 22:30hrs.

According to a release from tournament coordinator Three Peat Promotions, “The ongoing group stage has been the most competitive in the history of the event as several

Injured Brathwaite, Dowrich out of first “Test” against India ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Injury has ruled captain Kraigg Brathwaite and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich out of the first four-day “Test” of the three-match series against India A starting here today.

Both players, members of the senior side, have picked up ankle injuries and have been ordered to rest.

Left-handed opener John Campbell will also miss the series after being called up to the West Indies squad for the opening two Twenty20 Internationals against India in Fort Lauderdale next month.

Selectors have therefore summoned the Leeward Islands Hurricanes’ pair of wicketkeeper/batsman Jahmar Hamilton and opener Montcin Hodge as replacements for Dowrich and Campbell, while Trinidad and Tobago left-handed opener Jeremy Solozano has come in for Brathwaite.

Solozano, 23, will also act as cover for Brathwaite for the second Test in Port of Spain starting next Wednesday, if the righthander is still unavailable.

Brathwaite’s absence means that Shamarh Brooks, the regular A-team captain, returns to the helm for the encounter.

West Indies A will be hoping to make amends for their struggles in the preceding five-match one-day series when they suffered a 4-1 drubbing.

Their squad will feature the likes of out-of-favour Tests players Jermaine Blackwood and Miguel Cummins, along with left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican.

The final Test is scheduled to bowl off at the Brian Lara Stadium on August 6.

SQUAD – Shamarh Brooks (captain), Sunil Ambris, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Miguel Cummins, Jahmar Hamilton, Montcin Hodge, Chemar Holder, Shermon Lewis, Raymon Reifer, Jeremy Solozano, Jomel Warrican.

teams have displayed their respective championship credentials ahead of the knockout rounds.

“We have seen fierce competition from the outset, with the traditional teams being severely tested by the newcomers and emerging units.

This has certainly been a treat for the fans.”

It further read, “Also the return of the Berlin tarmac to the list of venues has been another highpoint of the event.

The residents of the area and respective environs came out

THERE’S an old saying that a cricketer is not complete until he succeeds at the international level. So for Guyana wicketkeeper/batsman Anthony Bramble’s maiden international call-up is a life-time opportunity and he must make count.

The 28-year-old is the lone new face to the 14-member squad released by the selectors on Monday, to play the first two matches in the MyTeam11 Twenty20 International Series, co-sponsored by Skoda, at the Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida on August 3 and 4 with the third scheduled for the Guyana National Stadium on August 6.

“It’s an opportunity; I must make it count - an opportunity which will now allow my career to further

flourish. It was a great feeling when I got a call from (interim) chairman of selectors (Robert Haynes). The time has come now and I need to be ready,” he told Chronicle Sport.

Bramble has given firm proof of his batting and keeping ability in the West Indies Championship for reigning five-time champions Guyana Jaguars, who also reached the final of last year’s West Indies Super50 Cup. He captained West Indies ‘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

respectively and the corresponding trophy.

They will also automatically seal a place in the National Championship in August.

To date Beacons (Bartica Champions), Melanie-B (East Coast Demerara winners), Brothers United (West Demerara/East Bank Demerara winners), Trafalgar (Berbice champions) and High Rollers (Linden champions) have sealed automatic berths to the National Championship.

Thursday, Berlin tarmac

Vote for Williamson, England...

nominations for New Zealander-of-the-Year, according to the nation’s media.

In a statement issued through his management yesterday, Stokes said that while he was proud of his New Zealand and Maori heritage the nomination “would not sit right”.

“I feel the whole country should align their support to New Zealand captain Kane Williamson.

He should be revered as a Kiwi legend. He led his team in this World Cup with distinction and honour,” Stokes said.

“He was the player of the tournament and an inspirational leader of men.

He shows humility and empathy to every situation and is an all-round good bloke.

He typifies what it is to be a New Zealander.

“He would be a worthy recipient of this accolade. New Zealand, fully support him. He deserves it and gets my vote.”

Nominations for the award opened on July 1 and

I must make it count, says Bramble

By Rajiv Bisnauth

in their numbers and supported the decision, which is indicative of the community’s nature and groundings of the tournament.”

At the end of the group stage the top two finishers will progress to the knockout round. This will be staged on Friday at the National Cultural Centre tarmac.

Winner of the event will collect $500 000 and the championship trophy, with the second-, third- and fourthplace finishers copping $300 000, $200 000 and $100 000

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 on his selection.

“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 Bramble is the perfect choice.

“He is young and has a lot of ambition, and we saw his character come out in 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.”

In 12 T20 matches, the right-hander has a strike rate of 107.69 and has taken nine catches and effected one stumping.

will close on September 15.

A shortlist is confirmed in December, with the winner named next February.

- July 25 (1) Alexander Village vs Charlotte St - 19:00hrs (2) Broad Street vs John Street - 19:30hrs (3) Albouystown-A vs Future Stars - 20:00hrs (4) Sophia vs Rising Stars - 20:30hrs (5) LA Ballers vs Gold is Money - 21:00hrs (6) Leopold Street vs Tiger Bay - 21:30hrs (7) North East vs Back Circle - 22:00hrs (8) Sparta Boss vs Albouystown-B - 22:30hrs

FROM BACK PAGE

The last sportsman to win the award was former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw in 2016

after he led the side to their second successive Rugby World Cup title in late 2015.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

RHTY&SC, BCB invest in cricket academies

ROSE Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) and Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) recently made several donations towards Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) and D’Edward Cricket Club academies.

The donation included a bicycle each for the Player-of-the-Academy, trophies, a large quantity of packed water, schoolbags and certificate frames.

BCB would also produce coaches for the academies in each area along

with some other items such as educational materials, medals and Youth Information Booklets.

The academy in Upper Corentyne would be the first of its kind in the area at the Scottsburg Ground where 50 young cricketers between ages 8 and 18 years are expected to participate. The academy would be a follow-up to coaching sessions organised by BCB under Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh Coaching Programme.

The academy at D’Edward Club

also caters to needs of 50 youths from the club and others from the West Berbice area.

Meanwhile, president of BCB, Hilbert Foster, has also committed to assisting clubs like Port Mourant, Whim, Rose Hall Canje, in organising coaching sessions for their young players.

BCB, over the last month, assisted the RHTY&SC and Albion Cricket Club with the hosting of their cricket academy.

Ravindranauth Kissoonlall hands over donation to UCCA vice-president Sydney Jackman

Two things we learn from the World Cup

By Ian Chappell, former Australia captain

THE biggest positive to come out of the 2019 World Cup was the reminder - to

one and all but particularly those administrators infatuated with T20’s success - of

what a good game of cricket, a 50-over contest, can be.

In the ODI there is time to recover from a poor period of play; there’s a place for tactical manoeuvres; and despite the limitations on bowlers and fielders, an extended good spell of bowling is possible. Played well, it can be an exciting and dramatic condensed version of the longer game.

This provides a definitive answer as the teams are placed in that order either by virtue of the number of wins or by a net run-rate tie-breaker.

If the Super Over doesn’t provide an outright winner then this is the least controversial way to decide a winner. England would still have won under this system, and they also com-

England won the 2019 World Cup on a Super over

This tournament also served a sharp reminder that huge first-innings scores with a plethora of boundaries isn’t necessarily the best recipe for tension-filled close finishes.

A cascade of sixes and fours often condemns the chasing team to a large defeat, and doesn’t involve any athletic and skilful fielding or any daring running between wickets.

When the limited-overs game first captured the public imagination, fielding and running between wickets were two of the most often mentioned aspects that created the excitement.

The World Cup final provided all this and more including controversy over the way the eventual result was decided. The ideal way to unravel a tied final is to consider the position of the two competing teams on the table at the end of the preliminary rounds.

fortably defeated New Zealand in their round match.

The DRS came under fire again, particularly after the dismissal of Jason Roy in the semi-final, and his tirade which followed that decision. The DRS was introduced, in the words of the ICC, “to get rid of the howler and to reach the right decision”.

Most players use the review to adjudicate on 50-50 decisions, and on occasions it’s used as a tactical ploy. Firstly, 50-50 decisions don’t cause animosity between opponents, and secondly, umpiring should never be part of the tactics in a game of cricket.

A thorough overhaul of the DRS should place it in the hands of the umpires and not the players. And if the ICC was really serious about fairness in the decision-making process, they, and not the television

company that’s providing the coverage, would be in total charge of the technology. That way every series would be played utilising the exact same technology, and therefore, under the same set of laws.

However the Roy incident raised another question about the DRS. Until the DRS was introduced, players grew up knowing the first principle when playing cricket was, “The umpire is always right.”

If the umpire gave an incorrect decision, the player had to find a way to promptly leave the scene and make his way to the dressing room without showing dissent. This was one of the great character-building aspects of the game.

When the administrators introduced the DRS they were encouraging players to disagree with umpires.

The worst-case scenario is what happened in the Roy incident. As so often happens, it’s the administrators who make poor decisions but the players then suffer the punishment for that error in judgement.

A comprehensive review of a World Cup that finished on a gloriously high note would hopefully come to the following conclusions: a) That an even balance between bat and ball needs to be maintained as much as possible; this will require tough decisions to be taken on bats and boundaries, and an assurance that pitches provide some encouragement for the bowlers. b) That a complete overhaul of the DRS is undertaken. This would mean bringing the system under the total control of the ICC and the umpires.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

By Julien Pretot NIMES, France (Reuters) - Australia’s Caleb Ewan claimed his second victory in this year’s Tour de France when he prevailed in a bunch sprint at the end of a crash-hit 16th stage yesterday.

The Lotto Soudal rider beat Italian Elia Viviani and Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen, who took second- and third-place respectively, at the end of a 177-km ride around Nimes as temperatures reached 40 degrees Celsius (104°F).

Defending champion Geraint Thomas took yet another tumble but escaped unhurt to stay 1:35 behind the overall leader, Julian Alaphilippe of France.

“He’s okay, he fell on his left side. He was checked by the team doctor, it doesn’t seem to be serious,” his Team Ineos sports director Nicolas Portal said.

Ewan claims second stage win as Thomas takes minor tumble Dane Jakob Fuglsang, who started the day ninth overall, crashed 28.5 km from the finish and abandoned the

Ewan, competing in his first Tour de France, is now the only sprint specialist with two wins this year,

Lotto Soudal rider Caleb Ewan of Australia wins the stage

(REUTERS/Christian Hartmann)

race.

One of the pre-race favourites after winning the Criterium du Dauphine last month, Fuglsang crashed out of the race for the second time in the last three editions.

having already prevailed on the 11th stage in Toulouse last Wednesday.

“I knew if I kept persisting I would win and now I’ve got two wins,” said Ewan.

As temperatures soared,

three-time world champion Peter Sagan said the riders’ association (CPA) did nothing to protect them after failing to trigger the ‘extreme weather protocol’.

“The CPA should do something to protect us; that’s why we pay them,” said Sagan, who leads the points classification.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) regulations state that the protocol involves convening a meeting between stakeholders, including organisers, riders and teams, when extreme weather conditions are anticipated.

Yesterday’s stage was the sprinters’ last chance to shine before Sunday’s final stage in Paris, as the race now heads to the Alps.

Today’s 17th stage is a hilly 200-km ride from the Pont du Gard to Gap before the overall contenders battle it out for the title from tomorrow to Saturday.

Henry, Hardat cop top prizes at RHTY&SC cricket academy THE 29th annual award ceremony of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS (RHTY&SC) concluded last Friday with an impressive closing ceremony at the St. Francis Training Centre.

The academy, conducted

by Delbert Hicks and Eon Hooper, was described as a huge success.

Under-13 players Eon Henry and Trisha Hardat, copped the major awards at the closing ceremony. The impressive Henry won the Overall Player-of-the-Academy award while Hardat was named Female Player-of-the-Academy by the coaches.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that the management of R H T Y & S C w a s o v e rwhelmed by the large registration of 105 young cricketers.

The main objectives of the academy were to improve the cricketing skills of each player, to educate the players of the tradition, rules, history of the game and to get them to understand their roles of sports ambassadors.

Foster, who also serves as president of Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), stated that RHTY&SC has a rich tradition of success to uphold, and as such, uses the academy each year to nurture new talents for the future and to further develop existing talents.

The academy over the

years has developed players like Esaun Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Abdel Fudadin, Khemraj Mahadeo, Delbert Hicks, Eon Hooper, Renwick Batson, Shawn Grant, Junior Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Shawn Pereira, Shemaine

both worked beyond the call of duty to make sure that every player was looked after individually. Club members Keith Hicks, Ravindranauth Kissoonlall, Tyrone Pottaya, Phil Archer and Pamie Brusch were also praised for their contribution.

shirts.

The top awardees at the academy, selected by the coaches were: Best batsman - Kamalchand Ramnarace, Best Bowler - Christopher Deroop, Best All-rounder - Xavier Henry, Best Fielder - S. Hardat, Most

PCB chief Ehsan Mani to lead ICC Finance committee

THE International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed Ehsan Mani, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, as the head of one of its most powerful committees - Finance & Commercial Affairs.

Ehsan Mani

Mani’s appointment brings to an end the stranglehold that the Indian, English and Australian cricket boards had for more than a decade over the F&CA, which is responsible for designing budgets for ICC events and distributing money to its member countries.The other members of this committee are: Indra Nooyi (independent director), Amitabh Choudhury (BCCI acting secretary), Chris Nenzani (CSA president), Imran Khawaja (ICC vice-chairman), Earl Eddings (CA chairman) and Colin Graves (ECB chairman).

ICC chairman Shashank Manohar and ICC chief executive officer Manu Sawhney will also sit on the F&CA as ex-officio members.

This will be Mani’s second time as F&CA chairman.

He had held the post between 1996 and 2002 and negotiated the ICC’s first ever broadcast

rights deal then worth approximately US$550 million. Mani, then, moved on to become ICC president until 2006 and was also instrumental in helping the ICC seal a US$1.1 billion media rights deal with ESPN Star Sports for the 2007-15 cycle.

It is understood that Manohar had recommended Mani to the F&CA chair during the ICC annual conference held in London last week.

This committee holds significant power within the ICC. Back in 2014, when its working group, comprising N Srinivasan, Wally Edwards and Giles Clarke (heads of the BCCI, CA and ECB respectively), put forward a revenue distribution model that allowed India, Australia and England to take home a greater share of the ICC’s profits on the argument that they brought in the most money anyway.

The model broke down in 2017 when Manohar took charge and said it amounted to bullying by cricket’s Big Three countries.

In the last 10 years only one person outside the Big Three has led the F&CA - Alan Isaac, former head of New Zealand Cricket, in 2011-12. Interestingly, when the ICC Board approved the Big Three revamp in 2014, Isaac was the governing body’s president.

Leading the F&CA, Mani, who also sits on the ICC Audit Committee, will be taking some major decisions including identifying the events the ICC will host in its next cycle (post 2023 World Cup) and negotiating the media rights deal for that period.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

Newcastle sign Brazilian striker Joelinton for club record £40M

NEWCASTLE United have signed striker Joelinton from Hoffenheim for a club record £40M fee on a six-year deal.

The 22-year-old Brazilian is Steve Bruce’s first signing since he was named the club’s new head coach on Wednesday, replacing Rafael Benitez.

here,” said Joelinton, who will wear the number nine shirt at St James’ Park. “I know it’s a large investment that the club has made in me, and that comes with a huge responsibility.

“I’m highly motivated and hope to give back on the pitch.”

Joelinton scored 11 goals in 35 games for Hoffenheim last season

The top cricketers of the academy including Eon Henry and Trisha Hardat

Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Sheneta Grimmond and Shabika Gajnabi.

Assistant Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu, who served as the Director of the Academy, hailed the outstanding work of Hicks and Hooper, who

Each member of the academy who successfully participated received an educational package worth $2 500 while the top awardees received special prizes including bicycles, cricket gear, clocks, photo frames, caps and t/

Disciplined - Dorasammy Mahadeo, Most Improved - Ta m e s h w a r D e o n a n dan, Best Female - Trisha Hardat, Disciplined Junior Player - A. Batson and Cricketer-of-the-Academy - Eon Henry.

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Joelinton scored 11 goals in 35 games for Hoffenheim last season, with seven of those coming in the Bundesliga.

He started his career at Brazilian side Sport Recife before moving to Germany in 2015.

The deal smashes the previous club record fee of £20M paid for Paraguay playmaker Miguel Almiron from MLS side Atlanta United in January.

“I’m really happy to be

Bruce said: “The kid has got an exciting time ahead of him.

He is a smashing young player and we are obviously delighted to get him. It is been going on for a little bit now, so to get him is great for everybody.

“He has got everything that a modern-day player wants. He is big, strong and athletic, and of course he’s got age on his side too which is vitally important.” (BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Roy, Stone to make Test debuts against Ireland today (REUTERS) - Opening batsman Jason Roy and fast bowler Olly Stone will make their England Test debuts in a one-off match against Ireland starting at Lord’s today.

Surrey batsman Roy becomes the latest player to have a crack at England’s problem position of opener in the longest format, having racked up an impressive 443 runs in his country’s triumphant 50-overs World Cup campaign.

Roy is poised to bat at the top of the order with Surrey team mate Rory Burns in a four-day match against Ireland and will have an opportunity to impress the selectors ahead of the Ashes series against

Australia starting on August 1.

“With Jason, we want him to be himself, express himself and trust his instincts as much as possible,” England captain Joe Root told a news conference yesterday.

“He brings something different to our Test batting side. He’s a proven performer in international cricket and fully capable of making big contributions.

“There were occasions in the World Cup when he had to trust his defence and he might have to draw that out a bit longer in Test cricket but he can put pressure back on the opposition. He’s one of the best in the world at that.”

Warwickshire paceman Stone will make his debut having recovered from a back injury that forced him to return home from England’s tour of West Indies earlier this year.

The 25-year-old edged out Somerset’s Lewis Gregory in the battle to deputise for the experienced James Anderson, who failed to recover from a calf injury.

TWO SPINNERS Jack Leach has also been called up for the Ireland Test giving England the option of two spinners in the lineup with Moeen Ali also named in the team.

“Olly’s got good pace, that’s one thing he brings to this squad, and it’s a good opportunity to see him play this week,” Root added.

“Lewis is the unfortu-

nate one to miss out, along with Jimmy, (but) it gives us good balance and plenty of options with the ball.”

Anderson, England’s leading wicket-taker in Tests, is one of several England bowlers who are struggling with injury ahead of the fiveTest Ashes series against Australia.

Fast bowlers Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, part of the World Cup-winning one-day team, were not available for selection for the Ireland Test because both have suffered side strains.

Wood has been ruled out for four to six weeks, while Archer will have a period of rest before being considered for Ashes selection.

Having been awarded Test status in 2017, Ireland are chasing their first win in the longest format after losses to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

England team v Ireland: Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, Rory Burns, Sam Curran, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Jason Roy, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

THE very first pick at the 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) draft was opening batsman Alex Hales who will be playing for the Barbados Tridents.

Hales says he is really looking forward to turning out at the CPL for the first time.

“When I was picked it was incredible news. Barbados is probably one of the best places in the world for cricket, incredible ground and good atmosphere in the Caribbean.

It’s also a tournament I have never played in before and from what I’ve heard from players and coaches, the standard is really high and the atmosphere is brilliantl so it’s a great opportunity for me. I’m looking forward to it.”

When asked if playing in T20 tournaments around the world helps in terms of

getting international recognition, Hales said the extremely high standard means that selectors have to take notice of performances in leagues like the CPL.

months later you find yourself playing against them; so these guys know your strengths, they know your weaknesses. So, the standard and drive to improve and

Olly Stone (left) and Jason Roy. (Reuters photo)

Russian boxer Dadashev dies after injuries sustained in Alex Hales has one eye on T20 IBF light welterweight World Cup as he prepares for CPL fight

Maxim Dadashev had won all of his previous 13 fights

RUSSIAN boxer Maxim Dadashev has died at the age of 28, following injuries suffered in his IBF light-welterweight fight against Subriel Matias.

Dadashev was reportedly unable to walk to the dressing room after his bout was stopped by trainer Buddy

McGirt, at the end of the 11th round on Friday.

He was hospitalised with bleeding on the brain and underwent emergency surgery but failed to recover.

The Russian Boxing Federation paid “deep condolences” to his family.

USA-based Dadashev

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday, July 24, 2019)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL- Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) (2)

2002 (Bourda) 1989 (Bourda)

(1)

(2)

Who were the captains involved when the WI & India played a Test match for the first time?

Who were the captains involved when the WI & India contested an ODI for the first time?

Today’s Quiz:

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

had won all of his previous 13 fights but had to absorb a barrage of punches from Puerto Rican Matias during the course of the fight in Maryland.

McGirt had said afterwards he “could not convince” his fighter to stop, but opted to throw in the towel when he saw him “getting hit with more and more clean shots as the fight went on”.

Northern Ireland’s former world champion Carl Frampton was among those to pay tribute, saying on Twitter: “Saddened to hear about the passing of Maxim Dadashev.

Deepest condolences to his friends and family. RIP.” British boxing promoter Eddie Hearn added: “So terribly sad to hear the news of the passing of Maxim Dadashev. Rest in peace!”

(BBC Sport)

Englishman Alex Hales heads to the Barbados Tridents

“I think the standard now for franchise cricket is just going through the roof, particularly with all the analysis and all the money that’s involved in it.

“You play with all sorts of different players from all sorts of countries and a few

work on your weaknesses and keep on top of your strengths is massive.

“I think it’s definitely something that national selectors look at or certainly should be looking at because the standard is fantastic.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 24, 2019

John dethrones John to grab 6th Grenville Memorial Road Race in Berbice

THE Ancient County of Berbice on Sunday played host to the whirlwind battle of the Johns in the much anticipated sixth annual Grenville Felix Memorial Cycling Road Race, as the younger Briton John dethroned last year’s winner Jamual John in stupendous fashion.

In a field of Guyana’s top cyclists, Briton John had one of his best races so far in his short career. He stuck with the peloton for the majority of the race before making a solo breakaway to eventually cross the finish line without

an opponent to seriously challenge his bid for victory.

The 60-mile road race began in East Canje before heading to Number 51 Village, Corentyne and back to the point of origin; Briton completed the route in 2 hours 40 minutes 37 seconds with last year’s winner and 2019 National Road Race champion Jamual John, finishing second as he outsprinted Michael Anthony (third) and Team Evolution cyclist Paul De Nobrega (fourth).

Meanwhile, the remaining top six spots were

Malinga to retire from ODIs after first Bangladesh match, says Karunaratne

Lasith Malinga has taken 335 wickets in 251 ODIs

LASITH Malinga has told Dimuth Karunaratne he will retire from ODIs following the first match against Bangladesh, according to the Sri Lanka captain.

The 35-year-old had already announced plans to quit cricket following next year’s T20 World Cup, yet his final ODI appearance is set to come this week.

Sri Lanka face Bangladesh in a three-match ODI series, starting on Friday, but Karunaratne is expecting to be without Malinga following the opener in Colombo.

“We need to find a wicket-taking bowler because Malinga is not available after this series,” the skipper told a news conference.

“He is going to play the first match. After that, he is retiring. That’s what he said to me. I don’t know what he said for the selectors but, for me, he said he is playing only one match.”

Malinga has taken 335 wickets in 225 ODIs, sitting third on his country’s alltime list, with 13 dismissals at the recent Cricket World Cup. Karunaratne added ahead of taking on Bangladesh: “As the captain of Sri Lanka, after the World Cup, we need to build a good team.

“We are trying to find some new talent, so we are giving some chances to the youngsters in this series.

We want to play a good cricket series.”

grabbed by Ajay Gopilall and Kemuel Moses in that order.

Anthony secured two ‘primes’ as did DeNobrega and Jamual John while Andrew Hicks and Andre ‘Padlock’ Greene copped one apiece.

The various category winners of the 6th annual Grenville Felix Memorial Cycling Road Race

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G/town Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’

Final round of Group Stage set for ‘Berlin’ tomorrow night

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Part of the group stage action in the Georgetown Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Championship at the Berlin tarmac last Saturday night.

I must make it count, says Bramble

Vote for Williamson, Injured Brathwaite, England’s Stokes Dowrich out of first tells New Zealanders “Test” against India Page

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New Zealand Kane Williamson was named player of the 2019 World Cup tournament LONDON, England (Reuters) - England all-rounder Ben Stokes says he was flattered to be nominated for New Zealander-of-the-Year but the country’s beaten World Cup cricket captain Kane Williamson should win it.

Stokes, 28, was born in New Zealand but moved to England at the age of 12 when his father Gerard took a rugby league coaching job.

A man-of-the-match performance in England’s dramatic super over victory against New Zealand in this month’s World Cup final earned Stokes some early Anthony Bramble

TURN TO PAGE 35

Windis A captain Sharmarh Brooks

Russian boxer dies after injuries sustained in IBF light welterweight fight Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2019