Guyana Chronicle E-paper 7-25-2019

THURSDAY 25th July, 2019

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No.105709

PPP GOES BACK ON WORD

…had called for new registration, electoral reforms months after losing office

…PM, Min. Lawrence urge Guyanese to reject boycott calls

SEE STORY ON PAGE 03 ►

‘PSC caught up in political web’ – PM says body should redirect its focus to business, investment

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‘No breakdown in talks’ on GECOM chair …Gov’t refutes opposition claims PAGE

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Hope for Great Diamond squatters …as Gov’t, DDL commit to addressing housing issues

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President David Granger, on Wednesday held talks with Canada's High Commissioner to Guyana, Ms. Lilian Chatterjee during a courtesy call at State House. The Ministry of the Presidency said the President and the diplomat discussed matters of mutual interest.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 25, 2019

‘PSC caught up in political web’ – PM says body should redirect its focus to business, investment

DAYS after the Private Sector Commission (PSC) received a blistering response from the Chief Elections Officer over demands to halt House-to-House Registration, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said it should examine its leadership.

“The Private Sector has to examine whether its leadership is pursuing a business agenda or a political agenda,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo said during an interview on 94.1 FM’s Hot Seat Programme.

Noting that some of the Executives of the PSC are closely aligned to the political opposition, the Prime Minister said it is clear that they have now thrown their hats into the ring as political actors. “They are showing disrespect to the Executive because they want to inject themselves into the political arena as though they are a political party,” he said. But the Prime Minister said it imperative that the Private Sector Commission decides on which path it will take at a time when this country is listed as the fastest growing economy in the world by NASDAQ Stock Market with a projected growth rate of 16.3 per cent from 2018-2021. “It is for them to decide whether they want to pursue a political agenda or they want to pursue the agenda of the Private Sector to work in cooperation and in partnership with the State. Whoever forms the government is not important; what is important is that the Private Sector maintains its role as a pillar of the economy and do not trade that for a political role that is partisan and bias and propagandistic,” the Prime Minister stated.

He noted that the Private Sector is the engine of growth in any economy, and certainly of the Guyana Economy. Here in Guyana, he said the Private Sector has contributed to the country, registering 4.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. He noted that the PSC should be happy with the country’s stability, noting that that stability is an indication of the high level of confidence that is placed in the government.

Guyana’s economy, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $3.63 billion, a growth rate of 4.1 per cent in 2018 and 4.6 per cent in 2019, is expected to further grow by 33.5 per cent and 22.9 per cent in 2020 and 2021 respectively, according to the NASDAQ Stock Market.

The projected increase is linked to the country’s lucrative oil and gas industry on the horizon.

PSC SHOULD NOT GET CAUGHT UP Weighing in on the issue, Political Scientist Dr. David Hinds told Guyana Chronicle that the PSC should not get caught up in politics. “One assumes that when the

a worrying pattern by that organisation,” Dr. Hinds noted.

On Monday, the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, penned an opened letter to the PSC, in which he said the Private Sector Commission was misguided into believing that the ongoing House-to-House Registration is unlawful.

In the letter addressed to the Chairman of the PSC, Gerald Gouveia, the Chief Elections Officer

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Political Scientist, Dr. David Hinds

Private Sector Commission Chairman, Gerald Gouveia

PSC weighs in on political issues, it does so from the standpoint of the business interest of its members and the business sector in general.

But I am afraid that the PSC tends to get itself too entangled in overtly partisan political issues,” Dr. Hinds told this newspaper.

He said the issue of House-toHouse Registration has become very partisan and entities such as the PSC run the risk of showing their partisan hand which in the end tarnishes their credibility. “The PSC should be urging consensus rather than taking political sides. It is not out of place to conclude that the PSC appears to be fetching water for the PPP. This has now become

explained that the operationalization of House-to-House Registration 2019 is based on the directive of the Elections Commission on February 19, 2019, and by extension Order No. 25 of 2019 dated June 11, 2019.

Lowenfield, who did not mince words in his blistering letter to the PSC, said there should not have been an attempt to question his professionalism in the execution of his duties as Commissioner of Registration and Chief Elections Officer.

“It is appalling that in your opening paragraph, you sought to create an impression that I, Keith Lowenfield, have been avoiding meetings with the PSC. I have never received any such request for meetings. I have noted that all previous requests for meetings were directed to the Chairman of the Commission.

You should produce the evidence of

your meeting requests and proof of delivery to my office,” Lowenfield told the PSC. In pointing out that it was the Commission that had directed that House-to-House Registration be conducted, the CEO also reminded the Private Sector Commission of the private criminal charges that were filed against the former Chairman and three Commissioners for their alleged conspiracy to breach the Constitution which provides for elections to be held three months following the passage of the No-Confidence Motion.

Those charges, he reminded, were dismissed by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on March 15, 2019.

“Consequently, in all wisdom, my professional posture is to abide by the decisions of the Commission,” Lowenfield told the PSC. He noted that GECOM’s Legal Officer, Excellence Dazzell, subsequently advised that “in light of the judgement of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on 18 June, 2019, which stated that the process by which Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission was appointed was flawed, every act done by that Chairman (Justice (Rtd) James

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

Dazzell also advised the CEO that because Order 25 of 2019 was signed and gazetted before the judgement of the CCJ, that too, is valid. He made it clear that GECOM Secretariat understands the Constitutional requirements and also the legal premise to operationalize a valid order.

“If I am really to understand the basis of your letter that it is unlawful for the Secretariat to proceed with House-to-House Registration in the absence of a Chairman, I take it that I should wait until a Chairman is appointed before I commence the implementation of any preparatory work for the conduct of General and Regional Elections,” Lowenfield reasoned.

In light of the call by the PSC to suspend House-to-House Registration, the Chief Elections Officer made it clear that registration will continue unless the Secretariat is directed to do otherwise by a duly constituted Commission.

He also rubbished claims that the Secretariat failed to consult with stakeholders ahead of this exercise.

“At a meeting held on 2nd May 2019 with political party stakeholders, the delegation representing the People’s Progressive Party, headed

by Zulfikar Mustapha, explicitly stated that they will not be participating in any deliberation on Houseto-House Registration since they are not in agreement with the exercise and ‘walked out.’ How then can you question my consultative approach and the credibility of the exercise?”

Lowenfield stated in the letter.

He urged the PSC to consider the facts on the operationalization of House-to-House Registration and further advised it to direct all concerns to the Commission whenever it is properly constituted.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 25, 2019

PPP GOES BACK ON WORD

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…had called for new registration, electoral reforms months after losing office …PM, Lawrence urge Guyanese to reject boycott calls

By Svetlana Marshall LESS than four years after the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) championed calls for house-to-house registration among a series of electoral reforms, it has backpedalled on its position, Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, said on Wednesday.

In a frank discourse on 94.1 FM’s Hot Seat Programme, Minister Lawrence, while alluding to the October 6, 2015 Edition of the Stabroek News, said the PPP/C after suffering a major blow at the 2015 elections, had called for electoral reforms even as it challenged those elections. A fresh voters list, improved bio-metrics, electronic voting and a new Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) were among the electoral reforms that were placed on the front burner by the PPP/C, according to the article headlined, “PPP wants fresh voters list among other electoral reforms.”

But the PPP/C’s agenda, the Minister said, has drastically changed. “Now the PPP is saying that the list, that they found not to be acceptable, that it is now acceptable,” Minister Lawrence pointed out on the programme while asking Guyanese to compare the 2011 Voters’ List with that of the 2015

Voters’ List. According to her, it is vastly different – with the latter showing a significant increase in persons.

“We are all aware, especially the political persons who have been in the opposition, that for many many years we have been trying our best through the due process that is allowed to us, to remove persons from that list that ought not to be there and we never had a chance, irrespective of the documentation that we presented at the objections period,” Minister Lawrence said.

The Voters’ List expired on April 30, 2019, and is said to have in excess of 600,000 persons registered on it. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), in keeping with a decision taken by the duly constituted commission before the resignation of Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson, has commenced house-to-house registration. The opposition objected, and through Chartered Accountant and Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram, has mounted legal actions to block house-to-house registration but that Conservatory Order was refused.

The opposition is also calling for Guyanese to boycott the registration exercise but that constitutes an offence.

CREDIBLE LIST Minister Lawrence, in endors-

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

ing the move by the Elections Commission, said house-to-house registration will only result in a credible list, to be used in the upcoming elections. The process, she emphasised, is critical.

“This is a process that must take place to ensure that elections are credible. We are going to elections.

We are not running away from it but we are saying that the elections must be credible and one of the main aspects of having credible elections begins with the list,” the Public Health Minister said.

As stated by President David Granger, Minister Lawrence said the list is not only bloated with names of persons now deceased, but

‘No breakdown in talks’ …Gov’t refutes opposition claims

Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Joseph Harmon, Wednesday evening, refuted statements made by member of the Opposition, Ms. Gail Teixeira that talks have discontinued between the Government and the Opposition on the nominations for the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

In a press release issued by Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Ms. Teixeira claimed that “It is unbelievable that one week has passed and no meeting has been scheduled for the continuation of discussions at the informal level either between the Leader of the Opposition and the President or with their emissaries. We, in the Parliamentary Opposition, thought that we were making progress in the informal engagement, albeit slow, with 4

Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Joseph Harmon

names that are “not unacceptable” to the President.”

Director General Harmon noted that at no point were talks either discontinued by the Government or was the Opposition disengaged. As a matter of fact, Mr. Harmon said he expects that a meeting

will be soon held between the President and Opposition Leader. “Talks were never broken off. Both sides have been in touch since the last meeting and as we speak, arrangements are being made to have an engagement between the President and the Leader of the Opposition and this should take place very soon,” he said.

From July 4 to date, there have been four meetings between the representatives of the President and the Leader of the Opposition with the view of “hammering” out the list of names submitted by both parties. There have also been two meetings between President David Granger and the Opposition Leader, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo during that time, on July 4th and July 16th, 2019.

also includes Guyanese who have migrated for extensive periods. “It is not for this upcoming election that you cannot find them, we could not find them in previous elections when this list was used. The time is ripe for us to have house-to-house registration, and let it be known, we don’t want to disenfranchise anyone. We want to ensure that all persons, all Guyanese are given the opportunity to register,” she posited.

The Minister explained that many young eligible persons, whose personal data have never been entered into the National Database or National Register, would be disenfranchised if they are not registered.

ELECTIONS FRAUD Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said to use an expired list to conduct elections, would be to commit elections fraud. However, he said the best way to ensure a clean voters’ list would be through house-to-house registration.

It was at this point, that the prime minister, who shared the studio with Minister Lawrence, criticised the opposition for backpedalling on its People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) legacy. “The best part of my life was the political struggles to ensure that people have the right to vote in free, fair and credible elections. That is the legacy of Cheddi Jagan, that is the legacy

of the PPP and to find these romp who call themselves leaders going back on that legacy to empower Guyanese people is disgraceful and I say that emotionally because you are trying to disempower people”, the prime minister said.

He said at a time when Guyana is preparing for oil production in 2020, it is important for Guyanese to reposition themselves, and not to be misled by the rhetoric’s of the PPP/C. “Guyanese where ever you are, do not fall for this negative line that you should not register, put your name on the National Register, put your name on the database of your country. We need to know all Guyanese who are 14 years or over that they have an ID card they can be accountable for and we can know where they are. Opportunities are waiting for you in the future and the nation needs to know that you are registered,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo said.

Government-nominated GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander, during another radio programme on Tuesday, confirmed that the expired Voters’ List is bloated. He said a vast number of persons, on the list, are either dead or have migrated. The President has put this figure at 200,000.

Wife-killer has 83 years set aside, gets 30 for manslaughter THE Appellate Court on Wednesday set aside the 83-year prison term of wife-killer Paul Anthony Lo-Hing and sentenced him to 30 years for manslaughter instead.

Lo-Hing, in December 2014, was convicted by a 12-member jury and sentenced by Justice Navindra Singh for murdering his lover, Shoala Gilgeous; Gilgeous died from strangulation on August 6, 2012 at ‘E’ Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

However, Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag)Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud agreed to substitute the murder conviction with manslaughter.

The appeal was filed by Lo-Hing’s attorney Everton Singh-Lammy, who asked the court to reverse and/or set aside the conviction. He also argued

DEAD: Shoala Gilgeous

that the sentence was too severe, given the circumstances of the case.

The judges allowed the appeal and set aside the conviction and sentence.

The conviction for manslaughter was instituted and a sentence of 30 years was imposed; the time LoHing had already served will be deducted.

According to evidence led during trial at the High Court, Gilgeous and LoHing shared an abusive

Paul Anthony Lo-Hing (Kaieteur News photo)

relationship and lived together at Sophia and she was found dead on the day in question. There were no eye-witnesses and the doctor who performed the post-mortem stated that death was due to strangulation.

Lo-Hing was arrested and charged after a police investigation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 25, 2019

Boris Johnson overhauls cabinet on first day as PM (BBC) Boris Johnson has given key cabinet roles to leading Brexiteers after becoming the UK's new prime minister.

Dominic Raab and Priti Patel return to government as foreign secretary and home secretary respectively.

Sajid Javid has been named

as the new chancellor as more than half of Theresa May's old cabinet, including leadership rival Jeremy Hunt, quit or were sacked.

Earlier, Mr Johnson said the Brexit "doomsters and gloomsters" were wrong and the UK would leave on 31 October.

Speaking outside No 10, he said the UK would meet that deadline "no ifs, no buts", adding: "The buck stops with me."

Who is in Boris Johnson's cabinet?

Mr Johnson then turned his attention to a radical overhaul of the government, with 17 of Mrs May's former senior ministers being axed or stepping down.

Announcing his departure, Foreign Secretary Mr Hunt said he had been offered an alternative role but had turned it down.

Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt, a leading Brexiteer who is popular across the party, was the most surprising depar-

ture. She has been replaced by Ben Wallace, a former soldier and longstanding ally of Mr Johnson's.

Another prominent Brexiteer, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, was also ousted, along with Business Secretary Greg Clark - a vocal opponent of a no-deal Brexit.

All three supported Mr Hunt in the Tory leadership contest.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds, Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley, Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes, Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright and Communities Secretary James Brokenshire

25 July, 2019 11:00hrs ~ 12:30hrs

have also gone, along with Chris Grayling, whose record as Transport Secretary was much criticised.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell, who has left his position after four years, joked whether there would be "room" on the backbenches after all the dismissals.

This comes on top of the earlier resignations of four leading ministers, including Chancellor Philip Hammond, Justice Secretary David Gauke and Cabinet Office minister David Lidington.

Conservative MP Nigel Evans described the changes as a "summer's day massacre".

The BBC's chief political correspondent Vicki Young said the sackings suggested Mr Johnson wasn't looking to build bridges across the party.

Instead, she said, he was focused above all else on assembling the team he thought would bring about the results he needed, even if that was controversial.

As the upheaval in government was happening, hundreds of people gathered outside the gates of Downing Street in protest against Mr Johnson's appointment.

Former Home Secretary Sajid Javid - a banker before entering politics - has been given the key role of chancellor, having thrown his weight behind Boris Johnson after being eliminated from the leadership race himself.

Priti Patel - who quit as international development secretary in 2017 after holding unauthorised meetings with Israeli officials - succeeds Mr Javid at the Home Office, where she said she would focus on keeping the UK country safe and fighting "the scourge of crime".

Dominic Raab is a former Brexit secretary, but quit over Mrs May's handling of the process.

He said he was "hugely humbled" by his appointment and said the UK needed to "bring finality" to Brexit so it could focus on the other big challenges.

Boris Johnson

Other figures involved in the Vote Leave referendum campaign have also been rewarded.

Michael Gove leaves behind his environment brief to become Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, a more senior ministerial role but one without a specific portfolio.

Liz Truss moves from second in command at the Treasury to head the Department for International trade while Steve Barclay has been re-appointed as Brexit Secretary.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd are among the few ministers who backed Remain who have kept their jobs. Ms Rudd also takes on the women and equalities brief.

Meanwhile, there is a speedy return to office for Gavin Williamson as education secretary.

He was sacked as defence secretary less than three months ago after No 10 concluded he was responsible for the leaking of unauthorised information from a National Security Council meeting which he denied.

Mr Johnson's team has promised a record number of women in the cabinet.

Nicky Morgan, Theresa Villiers and Andrea Leadsom have all returned to top jobs, taking on the culture, environment and business briefs respectively.

Wednesday July 24, 2019

03 27 14 22 15 04 18

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July 19, 2019

17, 13, 15, 22, 16

8, 2, 1

1, 7, 4

02, 04, 06, 07, 09

01 02 05 07 09

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 25, 2019

PM Rowley: Parents not taking children to church (TRINIDAD NEWSDAY) THE PRIME Minister has expressed concern parents were not taking their children to church or other houses of worship and teaching them about right and wrong.

He was speaking Tuesday at the sod-turning ceremony for the new Carenage Police Station, Western Main Road.

He said many people believe that a switch or a plan can be flicked to turn off crime situation.

Dr Rowley stressed there was no one thing required to fight crime.

"Long time before we were in this situation most if not all parents used to ensure that their children used to go to church somewhere in some religion and be

taught that there is good and bad and evil and of course that there is a requirement for personal conduct and personal responsibility.

That is not taught in this society as it used to be."

He said most people are much better off passing off their responsibility to somebody else and at home no time is taken to look after children to teach them

things to behave in a certain way.

"You say that is for the teacher in the school.

And of course nowadays the same children have no compunction in going to a church and putting a gun to Fr (Clyde) Harvey head.

Certain kinds of behaviour produce certain kinds of things."

He said more people, if

they see other prospering from a certain kind of behaviour, they believe they can prosper as well.

Rowley was referring to the robbery of Fr Harvey at St Martin’s RC Church, Gonzales in June 2017. Four men were since held and Harvey has gone on to become the Bishop of Grenada.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley PHOTO BY SUREASH CHOLAI

Haiti's President Defends Choice for Prime Minister (VOANEWS) WASHINGTON/PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haitian President Jovenel Moise defended his choice for prime minister Wednesday, following complaints that Fritz-William Michel is a virtual unknown who should not have been named.

Opposition lawmakers say Michel has close ties to Deputy Gary Bodeau, president of the Chamber of Deputies, and that he was not chosen by consensus.

"Mr. Michel is a distinguished civil servant who has devoted his entire career to serving the people of Haiti," Moise said, in his first public statement on the matter

since announcing his choice.

"This is a consensus choice — made with the presidents of both assemblies to end the political paralysis that is harming the citizens of this country."

Haiti has been without a prime minister since Jean Henry Ceant was ousted by a no-confidence vote in March.

Moise's first choice to fill the position, Jean Michel Lapin, was never approved by the parliament and resigned Monday. Several attempts to consider Lapin's nomination were blocked by opposition lawmakers who used tactics such as moving furniture out of the chamber, fighting on the parliament floor and not

showing up for work.

Speaking for the opposition block in the Chamber of Deputies, Deputy Abel Descolines told VOA Creole that he does not approve of Michel's nomination and that nine of 16 opposition lawmakers do not believe Michel will resolve the socioeconomic and political problems facing the country.

"We should be starting with indictments related to the PetroCaribe affair," Descolines said.

Moise, who has been implicated in the PetroCaribe corruption report, denies wrongdoing. He insists that lawmakers should be working toward resolving the

country's problems and that his new cabinet will be inclusive.

"Mr. Michel's cabinet will be representative and inclusive, and will include members of the opposition.

We are proposing a government of national unity in order to resolve a national crisis," Moise said.

Government projects have been on hold while lawmakers bicker about the PetroCaribe corruption probe amid calls for a national dialogue. Sky-high inflation, crime and unemployment have sparked massive nationwide protests demanding the president's resignation.

People also complain

Haitian President Jovenel Moise

openly about not having a representative government, not being able to afford basic necessities, and not being able to pay for their children's education. The demands have fallen on deaf ears.

Moise urged lawmakers to move forward with the nomination process.

"The approval of the prime minister's general policy by parliament will unlock the budget and the billions of dollars in international financing that belongs to the Haitian people. There can be no more delay; we must do the work we were all elected to do," the president said.

MPs recalled to debate ‘urgent’ crime bill (TRINIDAD NEWSDAY) THE House of Representatives has been recalled from its mid-year recess to sit on July 31 at 1.30 pm to debate the Bail Amendment Bill 2019.

Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis made the disclosure to Newsday on Wednesday.

She said the House was being recalled "In the wake of the deep and justifiable concern being expressed by the Government, Police Service and other arms of national security over the most recent situation regarding crime."

Although Parliament is on its mid-year break, it can be convened to deal with any matters of urgent national importance.

The bill requires a threefifths majority for passage.

One of the main objectives of the bill is to tighten access to bail to a repeat offender involved in firearm crimes. A person over the age of 18 who commits an offence under the Anti-Gang Act can be sentenced to ten years imprisonment. Someone charged with an offence under the Dangerous Drugs Act could be sentenced to ten or more years in jail. Robinson-Regis said the bill was debated and passed on June 12 with the support of Government and Independent senators. The bill was passed then by a vote of 24 for and six against. She added, "There was no support by the Opposition."

At a news conference on Monday, Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General Fitzgerald Hinds urged citizens to condemn the Opposition's "failure to support" Government's anti-crime legislation. He alleged the Opposition’s record of rejecting the Government’s anti-crime bills was “mad, illogical and criminal."

In a statement, Naparima MP Rodney Charles said "more and more legislation will not solve our crime problem."

Minister of Planning and Development Camille Robinson-Regis speaks during Parliament.

PHOTO BY AYANNA KINSALE

He claimed that Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi was misguided in his zeal to pass legislation to give the appearance that Government was serious about crime. Charles said Government should focus instead on enforcing existing laws and setting measurable targets. He also said it appeared as if Government was continuing to pour old wine into new bottles.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 25, 2019

Reasserting SOCU’s role

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HE announcement by Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, that Sydney James will be replaced as head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), again signals that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is determined to not only shed that battered image of itself, burnished as a result of an unfortunate dark night of this nation’s recent past, but to also develop a strong professional ethos where leadership, administration and accountability are upheld to high standards.

The fact that James is the second most senior rank that has been investigated within recent times, with the results of the other still pending– sends a clear and unambiguous message throughout the Force and the nation in general that any rank, regardless of seniority, will now be held accountable for any action that serves to tarnish both his/ her rank, or which brings the institution of law enforcement into disrepute.

All this is said despite the GPF attracting negative public attention within recent weeks. However, be that as it is, it should not detract from the many positives that have been emerging from the institution, inclusive of creating a better police officer, and an institution as envisioned by the Security Sector Reform Programme (SSRP).

What must be appreciated about a police organisation that is emerging from over two decades of political inter-

ference and degraded professionalism that has spawned so many shocking and embarrassing incidents, that has lowered its morale and produce a type of police unworthy of the sworn oath to serve and protect, is that change does not come suddenly, or overnight. It is a work in progress, which has started to produce results in many areas of daily law enforcement.

In so many of our opinion pieces, the focus has been on the GPF; and this has been so because of its key role in the maintenance of law and public order which has to do with protecting the citizens and making society safe.

Implicit in this most important undertaking is the disciplinary code which has been emphasised as setting the esprit de corps for the operational ethic of any military/ para military organisation, albeit the GPF in this instance.

It has been emphasised that this code of conduct must be seen to apply across-the-board to all ranks, rather than only weighing against junior personnel, as traditionally had been the case in the GPF. And without being prejudicial as to the final outcomes of the individual matters pertaining to both officers, the fact that such high ranking officers-- one on accusations of personnel misconduct, and the other, regarding findings of the organisation, SOCU, which he headed, deemed as “damning” by Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, and which has caused him to be replaced-- points to the fact that it is no

longer going to be business as usual with regards to the more senior officers of the GPF, with respect to personal conduct and administrative accountability, whichever may be the case.

As is known, SOCU was established to investigate matters pertaining to organised crime, which had become an indelible part of Guyana’s social landscape over the past two decades. And quite the contrary to the usual voices calling for its disbandment, fearing its probing power, such a unit is essential and central to combatting this criminal scourge since its personnel can be described as crime investigative specialists. It means, therefore, that such an arm of the GPF is expected to be of the highest propriety in its own personal conduct. There can and must be no compromise where this expectation is concerned. For any police agency, whose internal conduct runs contrary to its primary mission, is bound to ring alarm bells, as has been the case with SOCU. It brings into the immediate spotlight its administration and accountability process which is the engine that sets the daily beat and pace.

The response has been swift and uncompromising, as in both cases investigative action has been taken, with definitive action taken in one instance. It is a fundamental shift that focuses now at the top, where disciplinary, administrative and accountability, and standards of behavioural conduct must begin.

Harripaul’s account exposes the fraudulence of PPP/C electoral politics Dear Editor

M

ALCOM Harripaul’s graphical account of PPP/C’s orchestrated rigging operations during the conduct of both the 2011 and 2015 national and regional elections, and of the devious strategies that Bharat Jagdeo have orchestrated to hold his support base, makes very compelling and supportive reading on what is already known about the party’s dirty squad and its deviousness that are daily hatched in the dark halls of the recesses of its party headquarters: re “ PPP/C stands to lose 50,000 votes if list is sanitised”, Guyana Chronicle of July 21, 2019.

Over time, I would have heard of other accounts given by those in the know. I can testify to one conversation that I overhead, quite brazenly given by a young member of the PPP/C who lived in my immediate neighbourhood. So bold was the activist in what he and his fellow comrades did, that he spoke in derogatory terms of the then opposition coalition party. The next morning, when I saw him, I jokingly said to him that he should write a manual for such an exercise.

Boldly, he responded – “a thiefman doan lef any evidence!”

Harripaul’s account is not surprising, and is credible, especially with the “collection of national ID cards and wads of money in boxes”.

There have been stories spoken by persons of ID cards

being bought for $5000. This, it can be concluded, disables the holder from casting his/her vote on election day; the plan no doubt, hinged on there being no house-to-house registration.

There is no national election commission that will advise national elections on such a tainted and corrupted list that is the current state of the list which the PPP/C and its leader is seeking to have used for the forthcoming national and regional elections. Indeed, it is troubling, very troubling that such a would-be electoral fraud, aided by its equally dishonest phalanx of vested interest groups, is being attempted on a nation, which is aware that there is always house-to-house registration for national and regional elections. How can a national list of registrants, not be in need of sanitising, in a nation that knows only too well about the experiences of national elections and attendant post- controversies?

For those who continue to be deliberate in their falsehoods, while misleading sections of the nation, must be aware that they are in gross contradiction of a cardinal principle for which Cheddi Jagan and his party had ensured – inclusive of even they, who are now attempting to perpetuate an electoral injustice on the nation.

Definitely, it points to a desperation, born out of a realisation that its support base has been gradually eroding, as evidenced in the results of 2011 and 2015, which on the basis of Haripaul’s account about what he witnessed to have taken

place at some PPP/C-controlled polling stations, points to a PPP/C no longer certain about its once assured ‘’numbers’’, as they have always boasted.

Of course, Jagdeo’s dangerous strategy for keeping his support base in line is well known. It says as much for his subversive mentality of risking the social peace of this nation, as against his more extreme anarchist mindset, which can only militate against the best interests of even his constituents, and the entire nation in the process. The sad aspect of this entire dangerous political gambit, is that he is supported by a bandwagon, most of whom are aware of the necessity for a clean voters’ list, but who owe their material gains/worth and social status to his personal patronage. As a result, they lack the courage, individually and collectively, to warn their benefactor of his actions and what portents they hold for the future of this country.

Again, one must ask, which nation that respects its credibility, and the need for a peaceful national environment, for socio-economic programmes of development, will want an election that insults its intelligence, and unjust to its hopes and aspirations? Not a Guyana, led by a coalition (APNU+AFC) government that respects the wishes of the people it governs.

Regards Aditya Panday

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 25, 2019

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A credible process for the selection of the Chairman of GECOM

(Message delivered by President David Granger July 9, 2019)

The Government of Guyana is intent on ensuring the conduct of credible elections at the earliest possible date.

To achieve this, it is pursuing the full implementation of the decisions of the Caribbean Court of Justice and the early selection of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on 18th June 2019, decided that the most sensible approach to appointing the Chairman of the Elections Commission was for the Leader of the Opposition and President to communicate with each other, in good faith, and to discuss eligible candidates for the position before the formal submission of a list.

The aim was to enable the two sides to agree on the names of six persons who fit the eligibility requirements and who are “not unacceptable” to the President. The Court found that, once the President and Leader of the Opposition have “hammered out” a list of names “not unacceptable” to the President, the list of six persons must then be formally submitted to the President by the Leader of the Opposition and the President

must then select the Chairman from among those names.

The Court believes that such an approach would give the President a role in the identification of the six names. It would also obviate the possibility that, after the formal presentation of the list, the President could suggest that one or more of the names, or indeed the entire list, is unacceptable. I met the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, on 4th July 2019, at the Ministry of the Presidency. We discussed the means of selecting a new Chairman of the Elections Commission (GECOM) in accordance with the judgement of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and given the need to ensure that GECOM is allowed to function in an uninterrupted manner.

The meeting aimed to reach consensus on the way forward for the nomination and appointment of the GECOM Chairman.

It was agreed that the Leader of the Opposition would submit, a list of names of persons for my consideration. That list was submitted. Ms. Gail Teixeira acting on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, wrote Mr. Joseph Harmon, Director General, Ministry of the Presidency on the 28th June 2019 saying “the Leader of the

President David Granger

Opposition is not averse to the President informally suggesting names in their proposed engagement for his consideration.”

Both sides agreed to establish a joint working group which would short-list the names to six and present the list to the Leader of the Opposition before it is presented to me.

It was also agreed that the exchange of names, or this submission of names, will include also suggestions which the President presented for inclusion on that list. I said it was up to the Leader of the Opposition to submit the names of persons who had already been submitted on the previous three lists. The Government side is adhering to the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice and to the agreement with the Leader of the Opposition. The Government side remains committed to continuing the dialogue and concluding the selection process within days to enable the Elections Commission to function. Once done, Guyanese can expect credible elections in the shortest possible time.

The President, acting on the advice of the Elections Commission that it is ready to conduct elections, will proclaim a date for those elections. This necessitates the Chairman of GECOM being in place as early as possible.

Good move by Minister of Public Service Dear Editor,

T

he recent announcement by the public service minister that persons joining the Public Service would not have to wait until after three months to access their first pay cheque, but would have their salaries payable at the end of the first month, is good news to all Guyanese.

I have known persons who had to wait as long as five months

The peaceful future of our nation is at stake Dear Editor,

I

t never ceases to amaze me the level to which egocentricity and narcissism in individuals can reach.

Many of those 26 persons who have allowed their names to be placed on lists for GECOM Chairmanship have such an inflated opinion of themselves that they believe that they can just parachute into an office with such complex processes and bound by such concomitant legal anchors, and hey presto, manage the partisan commissioners and the secretariat that is under immense scrutiny from so many important onlookers.

Even the integrity of some of them comes into question.

How, having been cast aside as not being “fit and proper”, can they allow themselves to be again nominated – literally ‘begging for the de wuk’. Very tragic; very absurd.

Greatly comedic is also the situation where there already exists for the job, a battle-tested and proven Guyanese who spent almost 16 years at the GECOM helm, establishing and managing all those myriad of new systems, and demonstrating how a Chairman can be neutral at GECOM for four elections without having, what was heretofore, the usual cataclysmic turbulence during and after General Elections.

Leaders of the major political parties and those of you have the interests of our dear country at heart, I call on you to understand that not only is time of the essence, but the peaceful future of our nation is at stake.

Yours Sincerely, Concerned Guyanese citizen

and more before they were being paid. One would now wonder why this system of payment was not introduced long before; it is certainly a welcomed action for which the ministry must be commended for and by extension the government. A few weeks ago, I visited a government department in Region Two as early as 8:45hrs to see a public official, only to be told that of the three persons who work in the office none was available, because they are all in the fields. I enquired diligently from the receptionist or secretary as to the time these officers are likely to be back at the office; her reply was that she would not be able to say. I then asked if I could access their cell phone numbers that I can ascertain from them as to the time they are likely to be back in office.

The young lady went upstairs without giving me the officers numbers, which I may never be certain she knew, but when she came she gave me the number for the office and advised that I call the next time I am coming to the office, while I suspect that when the young lady went upstairs she may have spoken to one or all of the officers who may not have reported for duty on that day. I am sure that other members of the public would have

shared the same or similar experience when visiting public office particularly on Monday morning. I am refraining for now to name the government office in question, but if the powers that be are interested and I am contacted I will willingly do so.

I am not sure that if you have three officers attached to an office, that all three of them should be in the fields at the said time knowing fully well that Mondays at most offices would be business day and as for Region Two, Fridays also.

There are other government offices where this negative pattern of behaviour takes place also. For persons having to travel from way up and down the Pomeroon River and also from far up the Supenaam Creek to these offices, only to be told that all the officers are in the field and no one seem to be certain when they would be back, is grossly unprofessional and uncaring – in the private sector these things don’t happen.

Regards Archie W. Cordis

Mayor Narine is doing a great job and holding those in authority responsible Dear Editor,

T

here is something very fishy about the story concerning money found in the vehicle assigned to M&CC’s Chief Constable, Mr. Andrew Foo, and the explanation given in a letter penned by Rayvonne P. Bourne who believes that Mayor Ubraj Narine should apologise for announcing the money found in Foo’s car and calling for an investigation into the matter.

Mr. Bourne, who I would assume works at City Hall given his detailed insider knowledge of this matter, said that the money had been left in Foo’s car since June last but was found three weeks later in July. All this time, he claimed, the Mayor had known about the money since he was informed along with other officials.

However, out of the ‘blues’ four weeks after allegedly being told, Mayor Narine decides to “do the unthinkable” and share the information with the citizens of Georgetown. The mayor had not accused anyone of wrongdoing; he expressed disappointment at not knowing about the matter and called for an investigation to ascertain how the cash got into Foo’s vehicle. I do not see this as staining the Chief Constable’s character or tarnishing the council’s reputation.

I see this as transparency at work. I am not convinced that Mayor Narine was informed about the money incident. Are we to believe that Mayor Narine received information in detail as given by Mr. Bourne and still claimed ignorance of the matter and now makes the call for an investigation?

I would like to add to this letter that the ancient ones at City Hall, whom have been there some for decades, have grown accustomed to doing things one way. It is that way that has prevented the city from reaching the potential it once had. I think Mayor Narine is doing a great job and is holding those in authority responsible, something the council has lacked for a long time.

It may very well be from disallowing the mayor from having a driver of his choice to now accusing him of deliberately trying to tarnish officials, but these very officials must be reminded that the mayor is the head of the organisation, and along with councillors, basically make up the board of directors.

He is the boss and must be given due respect, not to be bullied or undermined by longstanding officers stuck in their ways. Mayor Narine was very correct to inform the council and citizens about the money matter and calling for an investigation. Three weeks on and no one realised that a bag of money – citizens’ cash – had never made it to the bank.

What system is in place to ensure such things don’t happen?

What if the money was not found by the rank? The mayor owes no one an apology; rather an explanation regarding the poor handling of citizens’ money is required.

Regards Peter Joseph

8

OP-ED

Water touches everything and facilitates all possibilities

By Margaret Burke

E

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 25, 2019

VEN before gaining power in 2015 the government of the APNU+AFC coalition had always stated that they believe each and every citizen of this beautiful land of Guyana is entitled to the right to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. This, the government had assured, would become a priority and must be realised in the earliest possible time.

So far a sustained plan is constantly being implemented across this country to realise and sustain improved access to safe drinking water and better sanitation.

The United Nations estimates that hundreds of millions of people live without clean water, as well as without the appropriate sanitation facilities.

While Guyanese are fortunate not to have children and adults who often die from water-relat-

ed diseases, this country is not exactly where it should be in terms of the availability of safe drinking water for all.

Some people, especially in the hinterland, still feel comfortable drinking water from some of our rivers and creeks. They have done this for years and lived healthy and strong – in some cases doing some things that others in the coastland cannot do. Nonetheless, the government recognises that with developmental and other changes taking place in some parts of Guyana, the approach to using river water has to change. For example, in some cases there are necessary disturbances happening to our creeks and river water, which cannot allow it to still be safe.

FIRST TIME ACCESS October to December, 2015, a mere three months after the coalition government came into office, 1,875 resi-

The Brazilian Army, on Wednesday, October 2, 2018 tested the proposed site for the drilling of the artesian well in Karaudanawa, South Rupununi

dents received potable water for the first time. After some 30 years of living in the North Sophia area, standpipes leading into homes were installed for more than 375 residents.

An additional 900 residents in Ann’s Grove on the East Coast of Demerara received access to potable water. Also during this time in 2015, more than 600 residents in Tucberg, Savannah Park and No. 68 Village, East Berbice benefitted from this service.

During the year 2016, the APNU+AFC coalition government ensured that an additional 41,480 families benefitted from water and sanitation. Over 20,000 residents in ‘D’ and ‘E’ Field Sophia, as well as in the North Ruimveldt and Turkeyen areas benefitted from potable water access after many years.

At the same time there was the installation of distribution mains in the Dutch Cab and Dazzell Housing Schemes; Vryheid’s Lust; Golden Grove and many other areas along the East Coast Demerara.

On the East Bank Demerara, 580 residents at Yarrowkabra, Kuru Kururu, Barnwell, Mocha, and the Friendship squatting area also benefitted from the installation of water supply systems. Also in 2016, villages along the West Coast Berbice received 2,000 new mains, which were installed for access to potable water. These villages included Numbers 30, 40, 41 and 42; in addition to the Ross, Lovely-Lass, Lichfield and Esau-Jacob villages. Residents of Region Six were also recipients of the installation of more than 6,500 new mains.

Many of them were from the villages of Tarlogie, Stanleytown, Nigg, Budhan Scheme, Angoy’s Avenue and Numbers 53, 72 and 74 villages.

REGIONS SEVEN TO NINE Beneficiaries in Region Seven amounted to a total of some 1,350 residents from Byderabo, Warawatta and Kako villages. Kamarang Primary and Nursery Schools, the Upper Mazaruni, Kamarang District Hospital and Quebanang Primary School, all within the region also gained access to potable water for the first time.

At Monkey Mountain, Section Two, approximately 750 residents had some 2800 meters of pipes, catchment area, photovoltaic system, water trestle and stand pipes installed for their benefit. Simultaneously, more than 2,600 residents in Region Eight and 2000 in Princeville received pure water. Added to the list were 600 families in the Campbelltown, Mahdia area of the region.

Region Nine residents benefitted from an even larger number of drilled and installed wells. In total, there were 5800 beneficiaries from Culvert City; Kuma, Rupertee, Wowerr, Aranaputa and Shulmah.

Included in this set of beneficiaries were residents of Green Valley, Amelia’s Ward and Blueberry, Linden.

2017 WENT WIDE Except for Region Eight, every other region received potable water from this government in 2017. Residents of Yarakita in Region One and Lima Sands in Region Two could not be outdone and so they had their new well and water system installed, benefitting some 2,600 of them.

At Ridge, Wakenaam in Region Three more than 400 residents received potable water. Region Four, on the other hand, saw some 2600 residents benefitting. These residents were mainly from the Soesdyke Linden highway; Timehri and Bladenhall Railway Embankment on the East Coast. Region Five was also added to the list of beneficiaries.

Region Six had a very busy time in 2017. Various areas profited from new and improved water services to the tune of some 10,000 beneficiaries. Some of the areas included Angoy’s Avenue, Molsen Creek, Baracara, New Amsterdam and Locaber in East Canje.

Twelve hundred beneficiaries of Regions Seven and Nine gained access to potable water for the first time. Many of them live at Karrau, Tiger Pond and Semonie; Rupertee, Wowetta, Shulinab and Aranaputa. One thousand eight hundred beneficiaries of Rincon, Koko and Kamwatta are now sharing from new water supply systems. Another 1800 from the Mabaruma and Barbina

areas in Region have begun to benefit from chlorine dosing injection system. A further 400 residents from Koberimo are also benefitting from new water systems.

In Region Three an additional 2440 customers of the water company are benefitting from the installation and distribution of mains. These residents are mainly in Zeelugt, Phase Three and Best Sea Dam. Over 640 residents of Paradise Village, DeHoop, Onverwagt, Good Faith and Ithaca in Region Four gained access to potable water in 2017. This was done through the interconnection of new pipelines and the installation of new mains in the areas.

Lighttown, Highbury, DeKinderen and Deutichem are communities in Region Six, which are enjoying water facilities too. Nearly 200 residents saw the reactivation of the

In Region Three over 2,000 residents were added to a growing list of beneficiaries, these include Zeelugt, Phase Three and Best Sea Dam. D’Urban, Providence, Phase Three, Paradise, DeHoop, Park residents were also added to the list in Region Four.

There continue to be an expansion of beneficiaries within Region 10 as well.

These include residents of Andy Ville, Amelia’s Ward Self Help Squatting, No. 58 and Great Falls. Other residents include those from the villages of Onverwagt, Good Faith, Ithaca, Roseanna Park and Campbelltown in Region Eight.

PROGRESS IS SURE The expansion of water and sanitation resources to all people in Guyana will certainly open up many other developmental possibilities. Water is a necessity for life; vital in

GWI commissioned a $30M water supply system for East Bank Berbice back in March 2018

Edinburgh well station and installation of a distribution network. Seven hundred and twenty-five residents within Region Seven gained access to the supply of pure water.

They hail from the Wayaleng, Chinoweing and Chenapau. In Region Eight, 1200 residents of the Paramakatoi, as well as 300 from Yurong Paru from Region Nine are also beneficiaries of water supply.

Residents of Regions One, Three, Four, Six, Seven and Eight were all beneficiaries of potable water in 2018. In fact, improvement in water supply all over Guyana continued apace during this year. Some 4,000 residents from within three different communities of Region One are now enjoying the services of better water supply. In addition, communities with Rincon, Koko and Kamwatta, Mabaruma, Barbina and Koberimo are also enjoying similar gains.

aiding good physical, as well as mental health – bringing about comfort, food security and jobs.

Water can be seen as a sustainer of everything and so the society cannot exist without it. This is why water is a fundamental factor in the collaboration of every aspect of development within the society – education and health, science and technology, business, economy and innovation.

The coalition government of the APNU+AFC therefore recognises the fact that the need for every community to access safe water and sanitation is a crucial human right. Therefore, this matter will remain as a top priority until each household is able to acquire this right. The coalition government therefore intends to get the job of making clean potable water easily accessible and widely available.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 25, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 25, 2019

Reporting entities duty-bound to comply with AML/CFT/CPF legislation REPORTING entities in Guyana have a legal responsibility to adhere to the Anti-Money Laundering, Countering Terrorist Financing and Countering Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) legislation.

This is according to the Attorney-General Chambers following a meeting chaired

by Hon. Basil Williams SC., Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs.

The National Coordinating Committee of the Attorney-General Chambers and the Ministry of Legal Affairs met on July 19. It was during this meeting that the committee affirmed that Supervisory Authorities are duty-bound to ensure that all reporting entities become compliant with the AML/CFT/CPF legislation. “Effective AML/ CFT/CPF regimes promote financial transparency and encourage the rule of law,” a release from the AG Cham-

Attorney-General Basil Williams and members of the National Coordinating Committee

bers stated.

On Monday, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) inked Memorandums of Understanding with seven government agencies, opening the door to greater information sharing. The agencies included the Bank of Guyana (BoG), the Guy-

ana Gold Board (GGB), the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Securities Council, the Chief Cooperative Development Officer, the Registrar of Friendly Societies, and the Land Registry.

On July 19, several agenda items were also discussed

which include Guyana’s recent contribution to the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) Secretariat; the committee’s preparations to conduct another national risk assessment; the plan to strengthen its regulation of beneficial ownership applications as well

Murder of GTM executive…

Appellate Court reduces 57-year term to 30 years for manslaughter THE Appellate Court on Wednesday set aside the 57-year prison term imposed on Clive Knights for murdering Bert Whyte and replaced it with a 30year sentence for manslaughter.

Knights, in June 2015, was convicted by a 12-member jury and sentenced by Justice Navindra Singh for murdering his friend, Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Life (GTM) Insurance executive Bert Whyte, 44, with an icepick on May 14, 2012.

However, Chancellor of the Judiciary Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud agreed to substitute the murder charge with manslaughter.

The appeal was filed by Knights’ attorney Dexter Todd, who asked the court to reverse and/ or set aside the conviction which may lead to the case being remitted to the High Court for a new trial.

Todd also argued that the sentence was too severe, given the circumstances of the case.

The judges allowed the appeal and set aside the conviction and sentence. The conviction of manslaughter was instituted and a sentence of 30-years imprisonment was imposed; the time he had already served will be deducted.

Following the killing of Bert Whyte on May 14, 2012, Knights

was arrested and charged with murder. The charge is said to have resulted from a caution statement which the accused gave to Detective Constable Kester Cosbert.

The statement to the detective constable read: “Keste, I reach Whyte while I was working at

DEAD: Bert Whyte

Clive Knights

GPHC and we became friends and started hanging out together with other friends. On one evening that we went drinking he said that he was a homosexual and wanted us to start a relationship. I told him no, but we can still be friends and that his way of life had nothing to do with me. Whyte said that it was okay and we continued to go out and drink. Both of us left the job at the hospital and started working

different places, but would call each other.

“On Monday 14th May, 2012, I travelled to Georgetown from Berbice very early to do some business and finished late. I was very tired but Whyte and I talked over the phone and decided to have a drink; we went to a bar in William Street, Campbellville. I drank a couple of beers and he drank liquor. I fell asleep about two hours on the table because I was tired and high.” The statement reads.

According to the accused, “The next thing I recognised that I was being sodomised. I grabbed an ice pick and stabbed away at Whyte. I did not intend to kill Whyte. I am sorry, he was my friend.”

as the operationalising of the national strategic plan to prepare Guyana for another round of mutual evaluation

by CFATF. The committee concluded that a collaborative approach remains an integral aspect for the supervision and enforcement of an effective AML/

CFT/CPF regime.

Meanwhile, the committee noted that its members must be trained to enhance its supervisory capacity. In this regard, several of its members will soon receive assessor training by the CFATF in Barbados. The applicants will be trained to conduct a mutual evaluation using the revised Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations and methodology. Also, persons will receive pre-mutual evaluation training which will prepare them to conduct a sectoral review of the legal, financial and regulatory framework.

Editor’s Note: CFATF is an observer member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organisation that designs and promotes policies and standards to combat financial crimes.

Chief Justice clarifies matters in opposition challenge to house-to-house registration ACTING Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire, on Wednesday, clarified that the claim for an order compelling the Chief Elections Officer or the Commissioner of National Registration to take all necessary steps and actions to hold General and Regional Elections, on or before September 18, 2019 has not been withdrawn.

Guyana Chronicle, while reporting on the Fixed Date Application (FDA) filed by Christopher Ram vs. the Chief Elections Officer, Commissioner of the National Registration, the Guyana Elections Commission and the Attorney General on Tuesday, said the applicant had withdrawn that order. The report was based on pronouncements made by the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams after he and other parties in the matter had met with the Chief Justice (ag), but Justice George-Wiltshire, on Wednesday, made it clear that the claim for an order compelling the GECOM’s Officers to hold elections

by September 18, 2019 was not withdrawn.

It was noted, too, that another Fixed Date Application (FDA) was not filed by Ram. “The Notice of Application filed with the FDA was dealt with by the court and only the conservatory order that was sought was refused,” the High Court explained.

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire

“The applicant in the matter did not request to resubmit the FDA. The applicant, however, requested and was given permission to file a supplementary affidavit in support of the FDA by 16:15hrs on July 23, 2019, to be served by 10:00hrs on July 24, 2019,” the Court further explained.

The High Court also confirmed that the Chief Justice (ag) stated that the consequential orders of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) indicate that elections should be held by September 18, 2019, or such longer period as the National Assembly determines.

The hearing of the FDA stands adjourned to August 2nd, 2019 and not August 7th, 2019, the court further clarified.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 25, 2019

Everybody gets ‘a piece of the pie’

--20% Gov’t Procurement Programme focus of Small Business Bureau for 2019 THE 20 per-cent government procurement programme is the focus of the Small Business Bureau (SBB) this year. To ensure this is achieved, Small businesses across Guyana have access to government contracts and tenders.

Speaking exclusively with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Research and Marketing Officer for SBB, Shamane Headley, explained the importance of such an impactful initiative.

“That’s a programme the Small Business Bureau is responsible for – to ensure that small enterprises across Guyana have access to government contracts; government tenders that will help to build their revenue and build their capacity within our local context.”

A small business owner must have all necessary documents before applying for a government tender, and the bureau has been providing assistance with this somewhat tedious task. The SBB has been holding informative sessions for prospective registrants and business owners. This was arranged to make known the requirements when applying for government tenders – an initiative welcomed by potential business owners.

One such potential businesswoman, Shirley Fernandes, noted, “My experience was great; I learnt a lot. There are things that I didn’t know, for instance like the GRA [Guyana Revenue Authority] compliance; I wasn’t aware of that, but now I know of that and NIS [National Insurance Scheme] compliance. So, you’re learning every day; you’re never too old to learn.”

To simplify the application process for tenders, the bureau has updated its requirements for registration to match the application criteria. The bureau has

A section of the prospective business owners listening at an informative session

Research and Marketing Officer of Small Business Bureau, Shamane Headley

also set up several business help desks in Regions 2, 3, 6, 7, 9 and 10 with more to be established in Regions 1 and 8.

Shirley Fernandes, a potential businesswoman

“Through those help desks, we have been able to reach a larger number of persons, especially in the riverine and hinterland communities. So, it’s been working quite nicely for us”

Headley explained.

SBB has been working with small businesses to provide training, guidance and specialised programmes tailored to specific sectors. The bureau also provides loans and grants for small businesses once they meet the requirements.

The SBB was established under Guyana’s Small Business Act 2004 to support the development of the Micro and Small Business sectors to their optimum through the cultivation of entrepreneurship, fostering business cooperation, and solidifying the value chain for maximum contribution to the mainstream economy.

Potential business owners can visit the bureau in Georgetown call 226 8123 or visit any of the help desks throughout the country for more information. (DPI)

Zeelugt fishermen remanded for allegedly murdering colleague FISHERMEN Arnold Bruce Kennedy, 19; Tavish Mangra,19; and Richie Mashase, 26, all of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, were on Wednesday remanded to prison for the murder of 20-year-old fisherman Alvin called “Chuckoloo,” who was killed during a brawl.

The men were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and were not required to plead to the capital charge.

Particulars of the charge state that, on July 18, 2019, at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, they murdered Alvin.

Police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that on July 18, 2019, the three defendants and the deceased (Alvin) had a misunderstanding. Later that day the deceased and his brother were on their way home when they were allegedly confronted and attacked by the three men, who were armed with cutlasses. Alvin received several chops to his body and was picked up by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital; he was however pronounced dead on arrival at that institution.

Magistrate McLennan remanded the men to prison and transferred the matter to the Leonora Magistrate’s Court for August 6, 2019.

RBL donates $1.2M to support Pan Minor Music Literacy Programme

[In photo, from left] Minister of Social Cohesion, Hon. Dr. George Norton, receives cheque from Jonelle Dummett, Assistant Communications and Public Relations Officer, Republic Bank Limited

CONTINUING in its effort to develop and sustain steel pan development in Guyana, the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport, on Tuesday, received a $1.2M cheque from Republic Bank Limited (RBL).

It is intended to support the 10th Republic Bank ‘Right Start’ Pan Minors Music Literacy Programme. Launched since 2009, the annual competition aims to celebrate the creative expressions of the steel pan. Through the resuscitation of the art form in 2010, approximately 1,180 students have benefited from the Pan Minors Music Literacy Programme.

In brief remarks, Minister of Social Cohesion, Hon. Dr. George Norton commended Republic Bank Limited for its continued support, noting that the once dying art form has grown, and interest has been revived through such support. He declared that several secondary schools across the country will soon be introduced to the steel pan. These include Tutorial High School, Bartica Secondary School, Bladen Hall and Patentia Secondary Schools.

Jonelle Dummett, Assistant Communications and Public Relations Officer of RBL, said that the company is pleased to continue to invest in youth development and the development of the art form.

“This programme does not only allow school children to play the steel pan but to have an appreciation for steel pan music, to develop their playing skills of the instrument,” she said. Dummett noted that this workshop has also assisted in building and expanding the involvement of participants for the annual Pan-o-Rama Steel Band competition.

Over the years, RBL has been a key partner in the resuscitation of steelpan music, investing approximately $30M in the development and maintenance of this art form in Guyana. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 25, 2019

Massey launches ‘Dell Innovation Latitude’ line of computers in Guyana WITH the aim of taking Guyana’s technology to another level, Massy Technologies and Dell partnered to launch the ‘Dell Innovation Latitude’ line of computers, on Tuesday, at the Guyana Marriot Hotel.

According to Product Specialist of Massy Technologies, Kayanna Lloyd, Massy Technologies saw the need for more advanced technology that will greatly cater to the needs of business personnel in Guyana.

“We are trying to push Guyana’s technology to another level that allows for executives to have a more interactive session with persons that they may be having meetings with, with the advance in technology,” she said.

The computer line consists of the 3000, 5000, 7000, XPS, and the Vostro series. The 3000 series possess creativity features within reach for any business and have an ultra slim size, offering a unified workspace.

While the 5000 Series are

redesigned commercial laptops and 2-in-1s, they have sleeker, smaller footprint with scalable and flexible choices from performance to ports. They also have most secure, manageable unified workspace offerings.

The 7000 Series consist of up-leveled commercial laptops and 2-in-1s. They are smaller and lighter with premium finishes and have smarter, faster features to keep users productive anywhere.

XPS are premium, thin and light laptops with consumer-led design and innovation. They have powerful performance features with full manageability & best-in-class security software options.

Vostro laptops are at a more affordable price to help small businesses realize their full potential, while offering essential productivity features, built-in security and reliable support.

Lloyd indicated that the products are currently available at Massy Technologies.

As technology is motivating rapid change in the world and the way persons work, and advancements in capability,

bandwidth and mobility are making work immersive, more collaborative, more mobile and competitive, Masssy has sought to make the technology more affordable.

Persons interested in finding out more about the products or desirous of placing orders can reach Massy Technologies’ sales representatives on 592-639-3884 or on 592-621-3909.

MANAGING Director of Ground Structures Engineering Consultants (GSEC), Charles Ceres and his wife, Director of the Department of Environment at the Ministry of the Presidency, Ndibi Schwiers, have filed a $200M lawsuit against the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, Kaieteur News, and the Guyana Times for libel.

of at the press conference in relation to these issues were among the things that he can speak about as part of his responsibilities and duties and the law protects public officials who decide to do those type of things,” Nandlall said.

At a June 27, 2019 press conference, Jagdeo accused Ceres of being one of several involved in a massive “land-grabbing” scheme facilitated by the government following the December 21, 2018 no-confidence motion. Ceres, along with others like Deputy Director of the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA), Aubrey Heath-Retemeyer and Head of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), Trevor Benn, have debunked the claims of Jagdeo with documented proof.

However, in the affidavit in answer filed on Wednesday, Jagdeo stated that he will produce maps from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission and other public documents to support his contention that the claimants were allocated the lands as he stated during the press conference.

To establish his defence justification, Jagdeo, in his affidavit, claims that he will establish that most, if not all these lands, were allocated after the passage of the No-Confidence Motion and, therefore, their allocation is legally dubious, if not wholly unlawful.

Meanwhile, the claimant’s attorney, Wade, explained that his clients filed the proceeding since Cares’ character was damaged and his reputation was brought into disrepute by the allegation and comments that were made by Jagdeo.

The allegation and comments are baseless, they are false and malicious” Wade told the media. Come August 5, 2019, Justice Corbin- Lincoln is set to begin hearing legal arguments in the case and also the injunction. Jagdeo, at his weekly press conference, had challenged Ceres to do his worst. “He could sue me because what I state is factual,” Jagdeo said. “I am awaiting the lawsuit and the police investigation…I’m daring him to do this.”

While Ceres has stated that he does indeed have 4.5 acres of land in Liliendaal, this was received since 2017 for which he paid G$4M per acre and is paying $200,000 per acre yearly for the lease.

Meanwhile, he has rejected Jagdeo’s remarks once again that he owns or leases any land in Bohemia.

Ceres, wife sue Jagdeo, media houses over land-grabbing claims

A showcase of Dell’s Innovation Latitude line of computers

Managing Director of Ground Structures Engineering Consultants (GSEC), Charles Ceres (Delano Williams photo)

On Wednesday, July 24, 2019, the matter came up before Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln at the Demerara High Court for the civil hearing of the case. The couple, through their attorney, Darren Wade, is seeking damages in excess of $200M from Jagdeo for the publishing of the unsubstantiated and defamatory statements via the People’s Progressive Party’s social media channels. Additionally, the claimants are also seeking another $200M each from the two news outlets for publishing articles based on Jagdeo’s claims that the couple obtained the said lands by immoral, improper, illegal and criminal means.

Also, the two parties are also asking the Court to consider granting an injunction against the newspapers to prevent them or their servants from publishing further defamatory statements. In addition to the millions worth in damages, the Claimants are also seeking retractions and apologies from the two news outlets.

On Wednesday, Jagdeo’s attorney, Anil Nandlall, filed an affidavit in answer on behalf of his client. The other parties requested time to file their affidavits to the court.

“We are relying on the defence of justification, fair comment and qualified privileges,” Nandlall told the media on the sidelines as he explained that his client, as the Leader of the Opposition, General Secretary of the PPP and a Member of Parliament, has certain responsibilities to speak publically on ‘certain things.’

“The matter that he spoke

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 25, 2019

$25M disbursed to young hinterland entrepreneurs — Reg. 1 residents commend HEYS OVER 500 young Indigenous entrepreneurs in the Mabaruma and Matarkai sub-district, Region 1 received over $25M in grants to boost their respective businesses. These young businessmen and women were trained and certified under the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme and are managing established ventures ranging from grocery outlets, catering, cattle and poultry farms among others.

The grants were presented by Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock who was conducting an outreach in the region over the weekend. Most of the current youth entrepreneurs were either unemployed or school dropouts before attending the HEYS programme.

Allison Bennett, a 23old mother of one from of Bumbery Hill dropped out of school at the age of 14 and with little guidance was at home unemployed. Once word of the HEYS programme began to circulate in her village, she was the first to sign up since it has always been her dream to become a businesswoman.

According to Bennett, after completing the oneyear programme and receiving her grant, she ventured into selling beverages and snacks. Shortly after, she began planning her own family. However, the conditions under which she lived was very unsafe. “We were living in a small house, like a camp and I was very uncomfortable, and I wanted to upgrade myself and I planned to have children and wanted to ensure they would be comfortable.” With the profits she made, along with her husband’s earning, they constructed a home.

Today, Bennett said her business is booming as it has a thriving grocery establishment and she is now venturing out into farming.

She has already planted avocado, cherry and other fruit and vegetable trees and very soon will be able to sell fruit and vegetables at the Kumaka Market. Bennette was very grateful for the government’s implementation of what she described as a ‘life-changing’ programme.

Valerie Sam, of Citrus Grove, Port Kaituma, said the HEYS programme paved the way for her to pursue her dream of serving in the medical field. She is now a

Valerie Sam, Community Health Worker, Citrus Grove

Allison Bennett entrepreneur

Community Health Worker in her area, after completing a six-month training exercise in Georgetown.

“This programme not only benefitted me financially and allowed me to follow my dreams, but it also helped me to deal with everyday challenges… I am happy to say that even though we live in the hinterland, we are not forgotten and I don’t have enough words to say how grateful we are to the government for providing this opportunity.”

Addressing the youths, Minister Allicock reminded that HEYS is the fulfilment of a promise made when the Coalition assumed office in 2015. It is part of the 10-point plan for hinterland development which was outlined by His Excellency, President David Granger.

According to Minister Allicock, the programme yielded many successes.

“There is the opportunity for creating industries in the hinterland communities and that is why we have this focus on the youths. It is amazing to hear the testimonies here and in other parts of the country, the testimonies are similar. This programme has empowered others and ensure they can provide for their families. For example, some began with chicken rearing and have now diversified into other areas.

So, while the chickens are growing, they are involved in either sewing or managing a shop so they can earn,” he explained.

4,000 youths have so far been trained and close to 2,000 businesses established in 220 communities in all the 10 Administrative Regions. Some $400,000 was invested in each of these young entrepreneurs through a monthly stipend of $30,000 and an additional $50,000 to start-up their businesses.

As a result of its success, the government has decided to continue the programme; Minister Allicock announced

that another 4,000 youths will be targeted.

The youths were drawn from over 32 communities including, Barima Koriabo, Red Hill, Three Brothers, Bumbury Hill, Arukamai, Kamwatta, White Water, Yarakita, Tobago Hill, Hotoquai Hobodeia, Powaikuru, Hosororo, Baraimanobo, Arau, Smith Creek, Mabaru-

Emma Williams of Canal Bank receiving her grant from Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Hon. Sydney Allicock

ma Compound, Khan’s Hill, Morawhanna, Tobago Hill and Hobo Hill in the Mabaruma Sub-District; and Port Kaituma, Oronoque, Citrus Grove, Matthews Ridge and Arakaka in the Matarkai-subDistrict.

The government, over the past three years, has invested $2.3B in hinterland youth empowerment, which has re-

sulted in the establishment of 2,054 successful businesses under the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme.

In 2016, close to $1B was budgeted for the new HEYS project, which was piloted in Paramakatoi, Mountain Foot, Bamboo Creek, Monkey Mountain, Tuseneng and Tarukain in Region 8,

Potaro-Siparuni. A further $991M was allocated in 2017 and $981.7M in 2018.

To ensure that these businesses grew in strength and flourished, a further $176.1M was approved for monitoring and mentoring, along with additional monetary support in 2019.

(DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 25, 2019

500 charged with drug-related offences -- NANA 2018 report LAW enforcement agencies last year conducted over 300 seizures of illicit drugs and over 20 eradication operations, seizing a total of 579,412 kilogrammes of narcotics while over 500 persons were charged with drug-related offences.

Drugs seized included

cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, and methamphetamine.

This was disclosed on Wednesday when the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA) released its Annual Report on the Guyana Drug Information Network.

It was noted that most

of the drugs seized in Guyana are not for national consumption but were destined for international locations such as Europe, North America and Asian countries.

This is solely because the market returns, and value are much higher, thus a better profit for the

sale of drugs. The NANA report stated that the most served punishment for 2018 was three years’ imprisonment with fine.

This punishment was handed down to 59 persons convicted of possession, trafficking and cultivation of various narcotics.

This was followed by 24 persons who received six months sentencing plus fines for their crime.

It was underscored that the harshest punishments for drug crime in 2018 were given to persons convicted of trafficking in narcotics.

Some 18 persons were fined and sentenced to four years imprisonment and 45 received three years imprisonment with fine.

In 2018, the data indicated that three persons were convicted for cultivation and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with fine.

The report advised that based on the drug strategy, bilateral relationships should be built with Venezuela, Brazil, Suriname and Colombia with the aim of further reducing the transhipment of drugs into Guyana through sharing of information and mutual assistance.

Further, it was recommended that the Guyana Police Force increase the manpower of its Narcotics Branch and strengthen their capacity to analyse trends in the drug trade to better target their interventions.

The report aims to support the development of

evidence-based policy and programme to combat the drug problem.

The report highlighted that for 2018, drug prevention interventions was a collaborative venture with prevention specialists from both the government agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) working together.

The agencies targeted over 3,000 persons across Guyana to inform them about the impact of substance use on the individual, family and the community and to equip them with the tools necessary to make informed decisions about substance abuse.

The report also noted that many of these programmes targeted youth both in and out of school.

Moreover, through various training programmes initiated by the Minis tries of Public Health and Education, the capacity of over 600 persons was built in the areas of drug prevention and treatment interventions to address the drug problem.

Additionally, the report noted that over 100 persons have received specialised treatment for problematic drug use via the Phoenix Recovery Project and the Salvation Army’s Men Social Service.

“These are all measures to address the public health impact that the drug problem has on our society,” the report stated.

Meanwhile, the report stated that the Guyana Drug Information Net-

NANA Director, Major General (ret'd), Michael Atherly

work (GUYDIN) is an inter-agency body comprising of key stakeholders from agencies working in drug supply reduction and professionals working in the field of drug prevention and treatment, who meet regularly to share data on drug supply and demand reduction interventions.

The GUYDIN has been producing annual reports on the drug situation in Guyana since 2011 through the Task Force on Narcotics and Illicit Weapons, along with the Crime and Social Observatory of the Ministry of Public Security.

However, the report stated that since the establishment of the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA) in 2017, GUYDIN has now become an integral part of NANA.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 25, 2019

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Seven young Guyanese for exchange programme in US

SEVEN young Guyanese, aged 15 to 18, will be representing Guyana as they travel to the United States of America (USA) for a three-week exchange programme.

Representing Guyana this year are Mia Barker, Abosaide Cadogan, Brianna Gopie, Vish Kistama, Shimron Ram, Beauty Razack and Swasti Saytoo.

The seven youth ambassadors will be accompanied by one adult mentor, Laurel Seales, as they engage with their peers from countries across the Caribbean.

The exchange programme, organised under the theme “Social Transformation and Civic Engagement”, will focus on specific issues facing youths across the region.

The youths were selected from a large pool of applicants after going through an interview process. They join a cadre of youth leaders who have been part of the Youth Ambassadors Programme (YAP) since September 2012.

Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch and Deputy Chief of

Mission Mark Cullinane met recently with the 2019 youth ambassadors who will represent Guyana in the YAP. “After listening to the participants share their diverse perspectives on issues affecting youth, Ambassador Sarah Ann-Lynch noted that this programme provides a platform for each participant to develop and enhance their ability to make positive contributions and provide solutions to the very issues affecting their communities,” the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown said.

The ambassador also congratulated the new batch of youth ambassadors and shared with them, some of the responsibilities of the title “ambassador”.

When the young Guyanese return at the end of August, they are expected to complete a “follow-on” project, which is a community service-oriented project.

Through this project, the participants will use the skills garnered during the exchange to create a positive impact on their communities.

Dubai supporting STEMGuyana’s participation at Int’l Robotics Competition

By Vishani Ragobeer THE government of Dubai has agreed to fund the travel expenses of the Guyanese contingent of youths who will be representing Guyana at the FIRST Global Challenge, an international robotics competition.

The Government of Dubai governs the Emirate of Dubai, one of the seven constituent monarchies which make up the United Arab Emirates. This year, Dubai will be hosting the international competition in October and over 2,000 youth participants representing 193 countries are expected to participate.

STEMGuyana made the announcement of Dubai’s support via their Facebook page on Wednesday morning. “The Government of Dubai just agreed to pay travel for the entire team,” STEMGuyana said.

The organisation, however, said that the team still needs to raise funds to purchase the competition robot and pay for accommodation, food and other expenses.

Guyana has participated in this challenge in 2017 and 2018 when they per-

formed well. In fact, in 2017, the team was ranked first at the end of the first day and placed 10th overall at the end of the competition held in Washington, DC. Team Guyana, along with the other teams, work to devise solutions, through the use of robotics, for issues facing the world. In 2017, the challenge focused on access to clean water, and in 2018, the focus was on sustainable energy-saving techniques.

According to founder of FIRST Global, Dean Kamen, the competition aims to provide an opportunity for young people who are keen on creating a positive impact in the world through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

“Hosting the FIRST Global challenge in Dubai reaffirms the importance of this event in the design of robots, the further development of technology skills for young people and further reinforces Dubai’s interest in this futuristic sector,” Kamen highlighted.

The seven Guyanese youth ambassadors and their mentor Laurel Seales with Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch and Deputy Chief of Mission Mark Cullinane (US Embassy photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 25, 2019

School counsellors, welfare officers receive training to identify TIP victims THE Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons (TIP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE), on Wednesday, held a Training Course for schools’ guidance counsellors and welfare officers, at the Police Training Centre, Camp Street.

The training focused on educating the participants on how to identify students who may be victims of TIP, and to better equip them on how to deal with such cases.

Delivering the feature address at the event’s opening ceremony, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, noted that it is imperative that the fight against TIP be taken to the schools to increase the awareness of the issue in Guyana. “It is important for those who will be interacting with children in our school system to have a grasp of this scourge and how it happens in corners you would least expect it.

You would not expect your neighbour or close relative is doing something so repugnant all because of the profit behind it,” Ramjattan said.

For the first half of 2019 Guyana has had 18 reported TIP cases, which involved some 131 alleged victims.

Notwithstanding, over the past four years, Guyana has

seen much improvement in its fight against the crime.

In 2017 Guyana was elevated to Tier 1, in the United States Department of State’s 2017 Annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, mov-

Minister Ramjattan emphasised that the business of TIP could not be allowed to thrive in Guyana, or any part of the world, particularly because of the inclination for TIP to lead to other illicit

trafficking in persons for what it is. Women and children are most vulnerable. In Guyana women and children of our indigenous people are the most vulnerable,” Ramjattan noted.

tion. “In Guyana schoolaged youths have not been our main concern, but sometimes these crimes do occur in cycles and it could come to students being targeted regularly again. So we have

Some of the MoE schools’ guidance counsellors and welfare officers with Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan (front row, second from left) at the Police Training Centre, Camp Street

ing from the Tier 2 watch list.

The highest attainable level, Tier 1, represents countries whose governments fully comply with the minimum standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000. Countries on the Tier 2 watch list are those which do not fully comply with the standards and are making efforts to become compliant.

trades including the trafficking of human organs, and the use of vulnerable persons in the trafficking of drugs.

In Guyana TIP is most prevalent in Regions 2, 3, 4 and 7, particularly among Guyana’s indigenous people.

The country also sees the prevalence of many foreigners, particularly from our continental neighbour, Venezuela, becoming victims.

“It is important that we see

TIP among school-aged children in Guyana is not a widespread issue; nonetheless they are not immune, and should any student be a victim it is hoped that trained counsellors should be able to pick up on the issue and be able to know how to treat with the situation.

Task Force Coordinator, Oliver Profitt, said Wednesday’s training was more about focusing on preven-

to work with youths to prevent that cycle from coming around in the future,” Profit explained.

“We have to target atrisk youths, and target persons who spend more time with those youths -- welfare officers and counsellors, who have a very important role to play in the growth of school aged youth. We have to make them more equipped in their duties; while they

MoPS Task Force Coordinator, Oliver Profitt

assist students with the issues they face, they can give guidance on how to avoid being a TIP victim, so that we can ensure Guyana, as a whole, becomes a less fertile territory for this crime.

No country is immune to TIP, traffickers prey on those most vulnerable, and many times that would include our youth population.

So the world over we have seen a focus on youth.”

Wednesday’s training session was one of many that the Task Force has been holding in the fight against TIP. Profitt noted that there are plans in the pipeline for training of other groups, emphasising that there is also need for training to be done with the media corps, given their role in getting the right message out in helping to combat the scourge.

File on SOCU’s probe still with legal adviser MINISTER of Public Security (MoPS), Khemraj Ramjattan, on Wednesday said that the file on the investigation into the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) is still with the Police Legal Adviser, Justice (rtd) Claudette Singh, and reiterated the government’s stance that anyone found guilty of impropriety will be dealt with.

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan

Head of SOCU, Assistant Commissioner of Police Sydney James

Ramjattan acknowledged that this latest scandal has not tainted the system, but what has changed is that any “rogue element” will be dealt with, and be an example to others that they cannot get away with it. “The rogue element is not just the Lance Corporals and the corporals, but if they are people right up in the big high places we are going to get them. That is

the system and institutional building that we want. People must never, never feel that they can act with impunity and that is where the deterrence will come,” Ramjattan noted.

“It is a serious thing when you have maladministration and probably worse than that happening in certain institutions of law enforcement, TURN TO PAGE 17 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 25, 2019

New UNAIDS director appointed Dr. Michael Gboun has been appointed the new Country Director of UNAIDS for Guyana and Suriname, a release from the Department of Public Information has said.

During an introduction to the Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence, Dr. Gboun committed to ensuring that the progress made in the area of HIV/ AIDS prevention and control is intensified. The outgoing director, Dr. Martin Odiit, served a successful fouryear tenure. His work with the agency came in for high commendation from the incoming director who noted the successes made within recent years. Dr. Gboun, who met briefly with the Public Health Minister and Dr. Odiit, anticipates continued improvements. The Ministry of Public Health and the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) welcomed the new UNAIDS director who is eagerly prepared to get to work in his new capacity.

During an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), the new director stated that he is aware of the current status of HIV/ AIDS interventions in the country. He has since made a comparison with other countries he has previously worked and notes that reaching 100% coverage is achievable for Guyana.

The focus will also be directed in the area of motherto-child transmission of the virus. This is of importance since it has been noted that in 2016, over 100 babies were born with HIV in Guyana.

“The status, so far, is so impressive! Guyana may more than likely be one of the

countries that will achieve the 90/90/90. So, my role is to reinforce the progress made and to ensure that the last mile is achieved; that is my biggest priority… The second priority will be to ensure we address motherto-child transmission as a human rights issue,” Dr. Gboun explained, expressing confidence in the work which has been ongoing in Guyana.

Outgoing Director, Dr. Odiit, highlighted that Guyana’s progress has intensified since 2016. “In 2016, the country committed to what we call the UNAIDS 90/90/90 target, and the country is doing well on that front. He further explained: “The first of the three 90s the country is now at 93% – meaning it has achieved the 90%. The second one – it’s at 73% and the third one at 81%, but we hope that

by December 2020, when we are supposed to achieve those targets, we shall have achieved those targets.”

The UNAIDS 90–90–90 treatment for all targets, to which Guyana has agreed, aims to diagnose 90% of all HIV-positive persons; provide antiretroviral therapy for 90% of those diagnosed; and achieve viral suppression for 90% of those treated by the end of 2020. Minister Lawrence, while meeting with the incoming and outgoing directors, commended UNAIDS for the successes of their partnerships coming from HIV/AIDS prevention and control initiatives and programmes. She also shared her expectation that the attention given in the area of HIV/AIDS must come from a collaboration of all stakeholders.

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File on SOCU’s ...

you do discredit the system. But the good thing about it is that we are investigating even the very high ups and that is important. That’s a big shift.”

Earlier this year damning findings were made, in an audit report, against Head of the Unit, Assistant Commissioner of Police Sydney James, who has since been sent on leave. The audit of SOCU, which is a branch of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), was ordered by Police Commissioner, Leslie James, in February, following claims of grave mismanagement at the unit, which included the misuse of its operational fund. The issue came to light

following the firing of UK Adviser, Dr. Sam Sittlington on Jaunary 31, and the resignation of another senior official.

The issues were said to be longstanding. Last week the GPF announced that Ms. Althea Padmore was the new acting Head of the SOCU. How the issue of mismanagement and charges against James will be treated will depend on the advice given by the legal adviser.

“That is an ongoing process. The file has gone to the legal adviser. It is going to be depending on what the legal advisors say. I am as concerned as you are,” Ramjattan said.

Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence meets with UNAIDS’ incoming Director for Guyana and Suriname, Dr. Michael Gboun and his replacement, Dr. Martin Odiit

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 25, 2019

Gov’t, DDL commit to addressing housing issues in Great Diamond GOVERNMENT has partnered with the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) to address housing issues in Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

According to a press statement from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), the residents of the community, a majority of whom are squatters, have been complaining about the impact of DDL’s operations on their quality of life.

Residents had recently intensified their protests by engaging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Some of the residents had their structures “regularised” some years ago although the area is zoned for industrial activity and not for residential purposes.

In effort to quell the situation, Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Annette Ferguson, and Executive Chairman of DDL, Komal Samaroo, along with other officials, met with residents.

“This government wants

CH&PA CEO, Lelon Saul (first left) makes a point to DDL Consultant, Wesley Kirton (second from left); DDL Chairman, Komal Samaroo and Minister Annette Ferguson before the visit

Minister Annette Ferguson and Chairman of DDL, Komal Samaroo, walk with residents during the visit to Great Diamond

to ensure that you live in conditions that are designed for you to enjoy proper housing and a good quality of life.

President Granger has made it clear that no Guyanese should be living in ‘shanties, slums and squatter settlement’ conditions and we are committed to ensuring that such living conditions are brought to an end,” Minister Ferguson told the residents.

Arising out of Minister Ferguson’s visit, it was decided that the CH&PA will begin preliminary work during the coming week. The work,

inclusive of a review of the cadastral plan of the area, is expected to be completed in time for a community meeting with the residents at the end of August. Teams from both CH&PA and DDL will participate in that meeting.

Minister Ferguson is the second minister to visit the residents in less than one week, following outreaches by both the residents and DDL to government in search of a lasting solution to the dilemma facing the community. Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, and a team from his ministry along with Samaroo, met with the residents on Thursday, July 11, 2019. DDL has pledged its commitment to working with government and the residents to find a permanent solution to their predicament and to ensure that they have access to improved living conditions.

GYSM blasts PPP for attempting to Sophia miner died from block house-to-house registration gunshots, autopsy finds THE Guyana Youth and Student Movement--the youth arm of the Peoples National Congress/Reform --said it is very worried about Irfaan Ali and the PPP’s dishonest attempts to suppress the rights of young people by trying to stop a new and credible list from being developed through house-to-house registration.

In a statement on Wednesday, the body said thousands of young people who are eligible to vote are not on the old and expired list. “Acting to try and stop house-to-house registration is a clear and direct attempt to use illegitimate means to block young people from voting,” the GYSM said. Acting Chief Justice, Roxanne George-Wiltshire, on Tuesday threw out an application by the opposition to halt the ongoing exercise which started on Saturday. Over 20,000

people have already been registered, the Guyana Elections Commission has said.

According to the GYSM, the steps the PPP have taken to seek an injunction are the latest in a series of shocking manoeuvres to try and force an election on an old outdated list, which not only disenfranchises thousands of youths but also contains the names of as many as 200,000 people who are not eligible to vote. “We believe that this is a blatant attempt to manipulate the election outcome through phantom voting and multiple voting, dishonest practices which the PPP have been exposed as using by former PPP insiders, like Malcolm Haripaul. It is fear that is driving them to seek an injunction against houseto- house registration because they know they cannot win on a clean list. We will not let their fear and dishonesty steal the rights of our young

people,” the youth movement stated.

The GYSM said the coalition government is delivering for all Guyanese and respects the rights of young people. “For the first time in 23 years, the government is cracking down on serious crimes, they are building and maintaining record amounts of infrastructure, our education system is being made fit for purpose so that young people get the skills they need to get a decent job, our healthcare system is treating more people than ever before, and finally, we are seeing Guyanese people coming together as David Granger’s government promotes unity.”

“There is more that this government wants to do but it is absolutely clear to us that Irfaan Ali and his PPP cronies are putting their own selfish and dishonest ambitions ahead of our young people’s rights and the progress of

our country. This is exactly the way they operated during their 23 years of government, where their lies, selfishness and dishonesty left our capital city under water and used as the country’s dumping ground. Our education system crumbled, leaving us, the youth, without hope for the future or a decent job. They did nothing to support jobs for young people; instead, they destroyed important industries like our sugar and rice industries, leaving tens of thousands fearful of the future.”

The political movement said Guyanese came together to put an end to the PPP tricks in the 2015 elections, “but they won’t accept this, and they are relying on a dishonest list to give Guyanese people a dishonest government.

House-to-house registration is our only chance at a fair and credible election.”

-- two female suspects in custody TERRY Ault, a miner of Lot 63, Block ‘A’, South Sophia, who was reportedly shot in the wee hours of Sunday morning, died as a result of multi-perforations due to gunshot injury, an autopsy conducted on Wednesday has confirmed.

As investigations continue into the shooting to death of the 28-year-old South Sophia, Greater Georgetown resident, police have arrested and are grilling two females in connection with the murder.

Relatives said Ault left home to attend a pool party in the community but they are unsure what triggered the shooting incident.

“We don’t know what really was the conflict that led to his death,” one relative said.

Dead: Terry Ault

Reports indicate that Ault was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The miner leaves to mourn his reputed wife, daughter, father and four other siblings.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 25, 2019

Republic Bank appoints new managing director CAREER banker, Amral Khan has been appointed as the new Managing Director of Republic Bank Guyana Limited.

According to a notice from the bank on Wednesday, Khan’s appointment will take effect from August 1, 2019. He will succeed Richard Sammy, who will be taking up a new appointment at Republic Bank in Trinidad and Tobago.

Khan, who has over 34 years of banking experience,

has held positions in internal audit, risk management and retail, commercial and corporate banking at Republic Bank.

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Management from the University of the West Indies (UWI), a Diploma in Business Management from UWI Institute of Business and a Master of Business Administration in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, also from UWI.

Mental health support groups to be established next month -to tackle depression, narcotics and alcohol

Director of the Mental Health Unit, Dr. Util Thomas

THE Mental Health Unit of the Ministry of Public Health will be launching three support groups to help people struggling with depression and substance and alcohol misuse.

According to a press statement from the ministry, Director of the Mental Health Unit, Dr. Util Richmond-Thomas, said the support groups will help to provide confidentiality, shared experiences and social interaction for group members in need of mental health support.

“Support groups are additional sources of encouragement for persons with mental health issues across Guyana, and it will assist in empowering those individuals to improve difficult areas”, she explained.

She said the three support groups – depression, narcotics and alcohol - when operational, will work five days per week, three hours each day (17:00hrs – 19:00hrs) out of the Unit’s Quamina Street, Georgetown headquarters.

Each group will function for 12 weeks.

The Mental Health Unit has already trained 20 professionals to manage the support

groups to provide depression, anxiety, substance misuse and trauma counselling, which will function as a bridge between medical and emotional needs.

For Richmond-Thomas, self-harm and substance abuse are two major concerns among Guyanese.

“Self- harm occurs as a result of social stigma and discrimination, which can worsen mental health problems and prevent persons from receiving the help they need. Many individuals who suffer from mental health conditions may have experienced substance abuse disorders,” Dr Richmond-Thomas explained.

She said participants will benefit through practical feedback about treatment options, increased knowledge about health, social and economic resources, and will improve their coping-skills to handle their individual life’s challenges.

Historically, mental health problems have continually attracted social stigma which have affected the financial, emotional and social stability of patients, she emphasised.

The Ministry of Public Health has planned visits to far-flung hinterland areas to provide mental health treatment to those in need. The mental health specialist said substance misuse is prevalent in hinterland communities due to the lack of economic and social activities in those areas.

Regular exercise, relaxation and healthy eating are some coping strategies to help achieve positive mental health and well-being, Dr Richmond-Thomas said.

It was reported that the bank achieved a profit after tax of $3.1 billion in 2018, compared to $2.7 billion in 2017. According to the bank’s 2018 annual report, apart from the normal banking operations which accounted for $2,951.4 million, the increase was due to an extraordinary gain realised from the sale of a fixed asset.

Sammy in his report said against a challenging external environment, the bank

New Managing Director of Republic Bank, Amral Khan

focused on improving its operational efficiency by aggressively managing costs, restructuring workflow processes and reviewing systems and procedures.

“A key project, which commenced in 2018 and will be completed in 2019, is the Information Technology Consolidation Initiative that will harmonise the Bank’s IT platforms with other members within the Republic Group, ultimately advancing our technology and improv-

ing our product and service offerings to our customers,” said Sammy.

Chairman of Republic Bank Guyana Limited, Nigel Baptiste in his report said as Guyana prepares for first oil in 2020, Republic Bank is committed to supporting this emerging sector as well as Government-led initiatives to diversify some of the traditional sectors of the economy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 25, 2019

GLDA reports shortage of chicken on local market THE Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) has received reports of a shortage of chickens on the local market.

According to GLDA in a post on Facebook, records show that there has been a reduction in the number of cases of hatching eggs being imported when compared to 2018. This, perhaps, could be attributed to the shortage.

Some farmers have also been complaining of reduced growth rates and higher mortality, which may also be attributed to

the reduction of poultry meat on the market. The major players in the sector were consulted, and assured that the situation would be rectified during the week.

This is based on the hatching and growing out time for the chickens.

“They have also assured that they are able to maintain supply to their major customers,” said the GLDA. Guyana Chronicle spoke to some consumers, who said that the price for chicken has been raised from about $340 per pound to over $400 per pound.

Appeal Court sets aside conviction, sentence for former TVG cameraman …also orders retrial CHIEF Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud on Wednesday allowed an appeal and set aside a conviction for rape and 25-year sentence for former TVG cameraman Andre Hetsberger.

The Appeal Court also ordered a retrial for Hetsberger.

In February 2016, Hetsberger, 42, was found guilty by a 12-member mixed jury and was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment by Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court. Hetsberger was on trial for sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl on October 17, 2014.

In April 2019, an appeal was filed by attorney-at-law Dexter Todd against the severity of the sentence handed down by the trial judge.

The appeal was made on grounds that the jury was prejudiced against Hetsberger, by returning with a guilty verdict without any evidence that he had committed the act. Todd argued that there might have been a misunderstanding of section 69 of the Sexual Offences Act, since the jury’s verdict was solely based on what the victim claimed, without evidence to corroborate.

Todd also noted that his client is not asking for a retrial or lesser sentence, but rather,

Andre Hetsberger

they are seeking acquittal, since Hetsberger is innocent and there is no evidence to prove otherwise.

The state was represented by attorney Natasha Bakker, who is attached to the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire allowed the appeal and ordered that the conviction and sentence be set aside and a retrial be done at the next partial sitting of the Demerara High Court.

Hetsberger’s attorney was not present at the hearing, due to him being out of the jurisdiction. Attorney-at-law Adrian Smith held the brief for Todd.

Smith made an application for Hetsberger to be released on bail pending his re-trial; however, he was advised to apply to the High Court.

Battling duo charged with assault MICHAEL Skeet and Tray McCray on Wednesday appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty, charged with assaulting each other to cause actual bodily harm.

Skeet, a 39-year-old taxi driver of Lodge, Georgetown, pleaded guilty, while 35- year-old McCray plead-

ed not guilty. However, while Skeet opted not to proceed with the matter, McCray decided to continue against Skeet.

Magistrate McGusty transferred the matter to Court 11, where presiding Magistrate Annette Singh adjourned the case to September 17, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 25, 2019

GDF medical assistants upgrade skills

STUDENTS of the Grade II Medical Assistant Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Course 2019-01 were on Tuesday urged to place a premium value on their participation on the course by commanding officer, sixth Infantry Battalion, Lt. Col. Lloyd Souvenir.

The commanding officer was at the time declaring the courses formally open at the Headquarters’ Medical Corps, Base Camp Ayanganna.

The students were also encouraged to see this next step in their professional development as an opportunity to grow beyond what they had learned as students of the Grade III Course in the past.

“You are now pursuing studies at the second tier of your training as, medical assistants. Previously, your preparation on the induction Grade III course would have grounded you in basic principles to enable you to function as Grade III assistants.

Now, you are at this higher level and you are expected to build upon your previous knowledge,” Lt. Col. Lloyd Souvenir said.

He continued: “All of you have gained experience since completing your in-

duction medical training.

You must now rise to ensure that your time on this course fulfills for you that higher level of knowledge that will propel you to higher heights.

After this course, you will be in a better position to become trained as professional nurses, physiotherapists, and other medical professionals.

Use your time here wisely.

Focus on your studies and seek to understand all that your tutors will share with you. The sky is the limit!”

Medical assistants support the work of the doctors and other professional medical personnel at the GDF Medical Corps.

‘World Boss’ died of multiple gunshots, autopsy confirms

Leon Duncan called ‘World Boss’ or ‘ Whistle’

LEON Duncan, also known as ‘World Boss’ or ‘Whistle’, died as a result of multiple gunshot injuries which he sustained in a drive-by shooting in Williamstaad Street, Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown Sunday last.

The autopsy was performed on Wednesday.

Police recovered the silver Toyota 212 motorcar, allegedly used in the shooting that led to the murder as investigations continue.

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

Duncan, 29, was shot multiple times to his left abdomen and succumbed to his injuries.

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

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

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

At the time of the shooting, the men were gambling on a culvert at Williamstaad Road, Festival City, North Ruimveldt, when the car passed and shots were fired.

The men fell to the ground and the car sped away. The men were picked up by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital in separate vehicles.

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

Students of the Grade II Medical Assistant Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Course 2019-01

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 25, 2019

South Africa Racing

09:20 hrs Moshav

Tips

09:55 hrs Fact

Vaal

10:30 hrs Powered

08:40 hrs Gimme A Wave

Beauty 11:05 hrs Boutique Irish Racing Tips Leopardstown 12:50 hrs Chrysalism 13:20 hrs Dark Pine 13:55 hrs Windracer 14:30 hrs Zarzyni 15:00 hrs Snow Ocean 15:30 hrs Masaff 16:00 hrs Dinard Rose American Racing Tips Saratoga Race 1 Bedrock Race 2 Wedontbelieveher Race 3 Ratajkowski Race 4 Bail Out Race 5 Pyron Race 6 Joy Of Treasure Race 7 Risky Mischief Race 8 Mascha Race 9 Gold for the King Race10 Way Early English Racing Tips Sandown 08:45 hrs Kameko 09:15 hrs Romsey 09:50 hrs Space Walk 10:20 hrs Marronnier 10:55 hrs Alandalos 11:25 hrs Quarry Beach 12:00 hrs Oloroso Newbury 11:55 hrs Light Of Air 12:30 hrs Magic Shuffle 13:00 hrs Knight Shield 13:30 hrs Fantom Forde 14:05 hrs Incredulous 14:35 hrs Deep Snow 15:10 hrs Gambon 15:40 hrs Harmonise Doncaster 12:45 hrs Ninjago 13:15 hrs Global Storm 14:20 hrs Praxidice 14:55 hrs Elena 15:25 hrs Abate 15:55 hrs Aluqair

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 25, 2019

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Berbice to get ‘home of football’

GFF signs 30-year lease with New Amsterdam Municipality THE Ancient County of Berbice will, for the first time, have a home of football courtesy of a 30-year land lease signed on Tuesday between the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the Mayor and Town Council (M&TC) of New Amsterdam.

This lease, signed at the M&TC building by GFF president Wayne Forde and New Amsterdam Mayor Winifred Heywood, will see the construction of a football facility at Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam, which will include construction of a field, parameter fence, installation of lighting and construction of a football housing facility.

Following the signing, Mayor Heywood said the

signing is an opportunity for the development of the youths of Berbice: “I would like to thank the members of the Council for supporting and endorsing the application submitted by the GFF. Today’s signing is the first step in providing opportunities for young boys and girls of the community.”

For his part, Forde said the facility, which will be funded under the FIFA Forward Programme, is part of GFF’s overall strategic plan. He thanked everyone who played a role in making this symbolic achievement possible.

“The GFF recognises the importance and impact quality infrastructure will have on the overall development of the game and the quality

of players we will produce in the years ahead. This is a key pillar of our strategic plan to change the local landscape of football,” Forde noted.

Present at the signing were representatives of the Berbice Football Association (BFA), including acting president Shurwin Forde who offered his endorsement of the initiative, stating, “This is a dream come true for me personally.

“I almost lost hope in ever seeing a home for football in Berbice. I have played at every level for many years and always knew that a dedicated venue for developmental programmes would dramatically improve Berbice football. I would like to thank president Wayne Forde for his leader-

Guyanese squash team raring to go in Pan Am games GUYANA’S squash contingent to the Pan American Games 2019 in Peru, Lima will serve into action today with doubles competition.

The team of Taylor Fernandes and Ashley Khalil will play a Chilean unit that had knocked them out of the Pan American Championships last year.

According to Taylor, “I’m very excited. This is my first time (at Pan Am) and I’m going to be playing against professional players and all I want to do is go out and play my best.”

“I am a bit nervous but I keep telling myself that there

is nothing to lose and the only thing I can do is go out there and play my best game,” she added.

Meanwhile, head coach of the team, Ramon ChanA-Sue, told the media that in spite of the team having some issues, they are progressing well.

“Our athletes are obviously accustomed to the humid conditions but Mary Fung-aFat was up in England training so she’s accustomed to this kind of weather and she resides in the U.S. so the girls seem to have adjusted to the court.”

He added, “We are using

a 17’ tin for singles which is a lot different from what we have in Guyana so that’s proving to be more of a challenge than the weather.”

“We competed in the Commonwealth Games and CAC games last year and actually our team that medalled in the CAC games are going to compete here and I think we have a good chance. We think we have a shot against them.

The games began yesterday with beach volleyball and will officially open tomorrow.

Guyana’s rugby team scrums into action on Saturday.

With Pan Am U20 gold and silver, Briana Williams calls time on junior career JAMAICA’s Briana Williams has ended her successful career as a junior and will now focus on making the transition to the senior ranks.

Williams, 17, confirmed her decision on her Facebook page on Sunday last after winning a silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the Pan Am U20 Championships in Costa Rica. She won a gold medal in the 100m on Friday night, despite being hampered by a sore ankle.

“Tonight I ran my last race as a junior for Jamaica,” said Williams who won the sprint double at the 2018 U20 World Championships in Tampere, Finland.

“It’s time for me to step aside and allow the next generation of Jamaican girls to represent the black, green and gold at the junior level as I transition exclusively to the seniors. I’m grateful to all of you who have made me feel so welcome as a Jamaican ambassador and athlete.”

Coached by Ato Boldon, himself a world junior champion, Williams has enjoyed an outstanding career as a junior athlete.

In March 2018, she ran 11.13s in Jacksonville, a world record for 15-year-olds.

Between 2018 and 2019, she won six gold medals at the Carifta Games winning the coveted Austin Sealy Award in each year.

So far in 2019, she won the NACAC U18 title and the Pan Am U20 title.

Williams also set a Jamaican U18 and U20 record of 10.94 when she finished third at the Jamaican national championships on June 21. The time was also a World U18 record.

(Sportsmax) Briana Williams calls time on Junior career

ship and guidance in seeing this process through, which began almost two years ago.”

When completed, the venue will be used to house the Academy Training Centre, Elite Referees programme along with other national development and capacity-build-

ing programmes.

Forde said the next step will be the presentation and approval of the conceptual design to and by the BFA members before construction commences.

This is the third land identified and acquired for

football development, following the GFF’s Training Facility at Providence and the recently-acquired 7.4 acres at D’Urban Park. It is the plan of the GFF to acquire land across Guyana to house football development initiatives.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 25, 2019

Hungarian teen smashes Phelps record, Peaty does double

Want to stay relevant?

Fight me, Pacquiao tells Mayweather

Kristof Milak of Hungary competes in the 18th FINA World Swimming Championships - Men’s 200m Butterfly Final - Nambu University, Gwangju, South Korea (REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji)

By Peter Rutherford GWANGJU, South Korea (Reuters) - Hungarian teenager Kristof Milak shattered Michael Phelps’ 10-year-old world record in the 200 metres butterfly yesterday while Adam Peaty sewed up a third straight breaststroke double with victory in the 50 metres at the world championships.

Budapest-born Milak won gold in a time of 1:50.73, lopping 0.78 seconds off Phelps’ 1:51.51 set in Rome in 2009.

“It’s a tremendous honour to set such a great record,” he said. “Until 14 I was a back-stroker and later I focussed on the butterfly. But earlier I only did 100 metres because I wasn’t strong enough.”

There can be no question about his strength now.

At 19, Milak is the youngest winner of the 200 butterfly since Phelps triumphed as an 18-year-old in 2003, the second of the American great’s five world titles in the event.

Peaty shattered a record of his own on Sunday, becoming the first swimmer to go under 57 seconds in the 100 breaststroke semi-finals and while he could not repeat the feat in the 50 he was still streets ahead of his rivals.

The Briton posted 26.06, the third fastest 50 of all-time and 0.6 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger, Brazilian Felipe Lima.

“Got the triple double which is a massive thing for me,” said Peaty. “It’s what I came here to do. The 56 happened so it’s just everything complete really.”

Chinese swimmer Sun Yang has been a lightning rod for controversy at the championships but his bid for glory in the 800 freestyle fizzled out as he trailed home in sixth.

Sun is swimming under a cloud in Gwangju with a doping case against him set to be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in September.

His presence has upset fans and fellow athletes alike, with two swimmers, Australian Mack Horton and Briton Duncan Scott, showing their displeasure in the most public way possible.

Horton refused to share the podium after picking up silver

behind Sun in the 400 while 200 bronze medallist Scott refused to shake his hand at the medals ceremony, a move that triggered a furious response from the Chinese swimmer.

All three athletes were sent warning letters by governing body FINA over their conduct.

DOUBLE DELIGHT There was double freestyle delight for Italy with Federica Pellegrini winning the women’s 200 world title for a fourth time and Gregorio Paltrinieri taking gold in the men’s 800.

Paltrinieri said he took no additional pleasure in beating Sun, who also served a doping suspension in 2014.

“I don’t want to think about anything while I’m racing like doping or something, I just don’t care. I just want to beat them all,” said the Italian.

World record holder Pellegrini, who won her first 200m title a decade ago, hunted down Australian teen Ariarne Titmus over the closing 50 to claim gold in 1:54.22.

“I’m too old for this,” joked a breathless Pellegrini, who celebrates her 31st birthday next month.

Titmus, who stunned Katie Ledecky to win gold in the 400m on Sunday, is the new kid on the block at the worlds but the ‘Terminator’ has a big future.

“Based on training times I probably thought I had a better time in me, but what can you do? It’s what you do on the day and Pellegrini was really good tonight,” she said.

Australia ended the night on a high note though with their mixed 4x100m medley relay team pipping the United States to gold by 0.02 seconds, Cate Campbell powering home in a scintillating anchor leg to overhaul Simone Manuel.

Since anchoring the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team to gold on Sunday, Campbell has been stuck in the athletes’ village watching television while her team mates raced.

“I feel like a bear who has been in hibernation,” she said.

“I was starting to get a little bit restless in the apartment, I was like ‘come on let me out, let’s start racing again. There are only so many episodes of Friends I can watch.”

Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao became the oldest welterweight world champion in boxing history when he beat Keith Thurman in Las Vegas (AFP photo/John Gurzinski)

MANNY Pacquiao yesterday challenged Floyd Mayweather to face him again in the ring, as the retired American star taunted the Filipino great about fighting on into his forties.

Pacquiao, 40, who beat Keith Thurman on a split decision at the weekend, bit back at Mayweather on social media after the American accused him of trading on his name.

“You come to my fight and then use my name in a post but I’m the one that is trying to stay relevant? If you want to be relevant again ... #MayPac2,” Pacquiao tweeted.

Mayweather, who retired at 40 in 2017 with the unprecedented win-loss record of 50-0, had earlier claimed that Pacquiao’s “entire legacy and career had been built off its association with my name”.

“It’s about time you all stop using my brand for clout chasing and clickbait and let that man’s name hold weight of its own,” he posted on Instagram.

“When we finally fought, I won so easily that everyone had to eat their words!” added Mayweather, alongside a picture of his 2015 defeat of Pacquiao.

But Mayweather, who was ringside in Las Vegas as Pacquiao became the oldest welterweight world champion in boxing history, stayed silent about a rematch as he answered the Filipino in a later post.

“Bottom line, I make more money than you ... I beat you mentally, physically and financially!” he wrote.

“Remember, you fight because you have to, I fight when I want to!”

Mayweather is one of just seven pro fighters to have beaten Pacquiao, the only boxer to have won world titles in eight weight divisions. (AFP)

U.S. trials boast speed, Lyles-Coleman showdown

By Gene Cherry

(REUTERS) - The speed show that is the backbone of American athletics championships takes on added significance in Des Moines, Iowa this week when the United States select a team for this year’s worlds to be held in Doha.

The year’s fastest at 100 metres, 200m and 400m, as well as the 110m hurdles and women’s 400m hurdles leaders, will be on the blue track at Drake University for the cut-throat championships/world trials, which begin today.

All five athletes are under 25 years old, which is also special, said four-time Olympic sprint medallist Ato Boldon.

“Those are not times that we have seen from Americans that age before,” Boldon, an NBC analyst, told Reuters.

The headliners, of course, are 2019’s 100-metre fast-

est Christian Coleman, and 200-metre wunderkind Noah Lyles.

Coleman, 23, will double

up, running the 100m and 200m, with Lyles, 22, concentrating on the 200m where he will likely meet Coleman in

the final race at the trials on Sunday.

Coleman, the world 100 metres silver medallist, has

used his quickness out of the blocks to run the fastest 100 of the year (9.81 seconds) and joint 10th fastest 200

Noah Lyles of the U.S. on his way to winning the Men’s 100m ahead of Chris Coleman at Shanghai Stadium, China (REUTERS/Aly Song/File photo)

(19.91) “Christian is going to go down as one of the best starters ever, if not the best,” Boldon said of the world 60 metres record holder.

“He has nothing to lose,” the analyst added of Coleman’s meeting with Lyles at 200m.

The pair have met once this year, with Lyles taking a razor-thin victory at 9.86 seconds in Shanghai.

Their last race at 200m came in the 2015 U.S. junior championships with Lyles winning and Coleman finishing fourth.

Lyles also thought of going for two titles in Des Moines after his blazing 19.50 seconds in Lausanne made him the fourth fastest-ever in the 200m. He eventually decided to stick with his best event and go for his first world championship gold medal.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 25, 2019

BCB, Trophy Stall launch Under-13 Tournament for 2019

THE rainy season has gone on longer than expected and has affected the plans of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) to host as much as 30 tournaments in 2019.

The proactive and extremely hardworking Board is, however, forging ahead with its plans with the expectation that there would be an improvement in weather conditions. Recently, the Hilbert Foster-led BCB joined hands with popular Trophy Stall of Bourda Market to launch an Under-13 Tournament for the Ancient County.

BCB president Hilbert Foster at the launching stated that the Under-13 tournament is a very important one for Berbice cricket as it serves as a nursery to the county’s Under-15 level and he would encourage players to start playing at a young age.

Last year, the BCB hosted the Da Silva Motor Spares Under-13 tournament, which was won by the Rampersaud Ramnauth-led Port Mourant Cricket Club. The BCB is expecting at least 16 clubs to register to play in the tournament and they would be divided into four zones.

The date of birth cut-off point would be on/or after September 1, 2019.

A proud Foster stated the BCB/Trophy Stall Under-13 would be the 44th tournament to be hosted by the vibrant cricket board since his new

administration took over in February, 2018.

The BCB has over the last 18 months organised tournaments at the Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Under-21, Female,

uphold the high standard it has set itself.

Foster has spearheaded a massive marketing drive for the BCB which has netted over $18M in finance and kind. He expressed gratitude

BCB president Hilbert Foster and Ramesh Sunich at the launch of the BCB/Trophy Stall Under-13 tournament, at the Port Mourant Branch

Internal Zone, Intermediate, Double Wicket, Primary School, Secondary School, Second and First Division levels.

The BCB in 2019 would also be hosting an Under-23 tournament as it strives to

to the Managing Director of Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich, for his continued confidence in Berbice cricket.

The store is already a sponsor of an Under-19 tournament in the Upper Coren-

tyne area and recently donated trophies for the top two awards at the 3nd Annual Brian Ramphal Awards Ceremony.

Foster assured Sunich that the tournament would be properly organised and the BCB would make sure that his business, especially its Port Mourant branch, is properly promoted. Sunich expressed his delight to be associated with the BCB, which he described as the best organised in Guyana.

The popular businessman said he readily agreed to sponsor the tournament via the Port Mourant branch, as he was pleased with the development taking place in Berbice cricket.

Meanwhile as part of its ongoing campaign to develop new talent in Berbice, BCB would be hosting its second annual Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh Cricket Academy in early August while the countywide coaching programme is ongoing.

The BCB is also on the verge on completing its first-ever Young Cricketer Information Booklet in conjunction with the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS. The booklet would be distributed free of cost to clubs across Berbice with each Berbice cricketer in the county getting a copy, as the BCB strives to make sure that every young cricketer fully understands his/her role as Sport Ambassador of the county.

Bon Ice-cream Junior Summer Camp run by FIH coach Shiv Jagday

FOR the third year in succession, FIH hockey coach Shiv Jagday is visiting Guyana to run what has become the Bon Ice-cream junior hockey camp for Under-21 boys and girls from July 21 to 29.

Jagday has been conducting clinics and coaching teams for the past 40 years after learning his hockey in his native India before migrating to Canada as a teenager.

Shiv first visited Guyana in 1988 to conduct a Pan American Hockey Federation coaching course and fell in love with the country.

Coach Shiv Jagday demonstrates some skills to a national junior girls’ squad member

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday, July 25 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) (1) (2)

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: John Goddard & Lala Amarnath (Delhi, 1948) Clive Lloyd & Srinivas Venkataraghavan (Edgbaston, 1979)

TODAY’S QUIZ: (1) How many times the WI & India have played T20

Internationals against each other to date?

(2) What is the highest individual score made in a WI/India T20 International game to date?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

29

Now that he is semi-retired, Guyana is one of his chosen destinations to visit and conduct clinics. Apart from his clinics in the USA and Canada, Shiv now spends his time in Melbourne, Australia and Punjab India.

Thirty boys and 30 girls, who make up the current national Under-21 squads, will be exposed to Shiv’s clinic which is being held twice per day at the Georgetown Cricket Club. The schedule includes both theory and practical sessions. In addition, local coaches who work with the junior programmes

of each club have been invited to participate and observe.

President of GHB, Philip Fernandes, once a student of Jagday during his early visits, indicated that Shiv brings such a wealth of experience and sound technical knowledge that the young players of Guyana will benefit greatly from this exercise.

Fernandes went on to thank Ansa McAl, the distributor of Bon Ice-cream, for being supportive of hockey and all sports in general as the company is one of the local leaders in supporting activities for the youths of Guyana.

ANSA McAl, the sponsor of the hockey camp, is adding some happiness to Guyana with the introduction of Bon Ice cream to the Guyana Market. Bon Ice-cream is made in the Dominican Republic by Caribbean people for Caribbean people; with real, fresh Caribbean fruits.

The range includes novelties such as Bon Ice-cream Sandwich, Fruit Bars made with real fruits, Popsicles, Fudge Bars and Cream Bars along with mini cups and take-home sizes in a wide variety of flavours.

Former Windies players to conduct DCC’s 2019 summer camp

Former West Indies player Roger Harper take some participants through their paces at last year’s camp

A NUMBER of past West Indian cricketers are set to spearhead the 2019 Demerara Cricket Club’s (DCC) junior summer camp.

Formally known as the ‘Home of Legends’, DCC will roll out its 2019 edition of the camp from August 12 to 23.

According to a release from the club, the camp will be conducted by an experienced team of coaches, led by technical director Mark Harper, Gavin Nedd along with former Windies players Travis Dowlin, Reon King, Clyde Butts and Roger Harper.

This edition of the camp will be held under the theme: ‘Creating the passion and nurturing the talent’ and

will seek to inculcate the fundamentals of the game to youth between 7 and 17 years old.

The programme will involve classroom sessions, lectures by a variety of expert presenters, cricket and fitness drills, games simulations, side games and matches.

Applicants are required to pay a fee of $6 000 for the duration of the camp.

Beverages, snacks and lunch will be provided daily for participants. Interested persons can register at DCC, New Garden and Lance Gibbs Streets, Queenstown, between 14:00hrs and 21:00hrs daily. Persons can also contact the club directly on 226-2006.

Cornwall, Chase to benefit from spin camp ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – West Indies-A off-spinning all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall is one of several regional slow bowlers called up for an ongoing spin bowling camp here in Antigua.

Cornwall, the region’s leading off-spinner with 256 wickets from 53 first class matches, has been joined by Test all-rounder Roston Chase – who also bowls offbreaks – along with left-arm spinner Khary Pierre who has played three Twenty20 Internationals.

The camp, which began July 20 and will run for a week, is one of two being staged, with the second one scheduled to run from July 29 to August 3 in Trinidad.

Legendary Pakistani leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed will preside over both camps, a move director of cricket Jimmy Adams believes will be a fillip for the players involved.

“To have Mushtaq involved in our spin bowling programmes is invaluable,” Adams said.

“His past record as a world class player and coach points to someone who can make a tangible contribution to the development of our spinners and the coaches who work with them.

“We hope that this relationship with Mushtaq can be extended beyond the current term for the

benefit of our regional players and coaches.”

Mushtaq, who serves as a consultant to the West Indies senior side, said the focus during both camps would be on bowling during the critical middle overs in one-day cricket.

“We are looking for spinners that can play a role in one day cricket bowling in the middle overs, while also making the slow bowling bench strength strong,” he noted.

“So the whole point is not just to focus on national team spin bowling options, but also in domestic cricket where having improved quality spinners will also help the local batsmen.

“The potential effect here will be when West Indies play in the sub-continent, their batsmen will play spin more confidently and bowlers will develop wicket-taking skills.”

Nineteen-year-old left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop, a former Young West Indies player, is also a part of the ongoing camp along with Gudakesh Motie, Keron Cottoy, Larry Edwards, Akim Fraser and Chaim Holder.

Only Trinidadian spinners will comprise the second camp with Imran Khan, Yannic Cariah, Yannick Ottley, Akeal Hosein and Kissoondath Magram all set to feature.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 25, 2019

Ireland in command after bowling England out for 85 … 20 wickets fall on day one at Lord’s

By Martyn Herman LONDON, England (Reuters) - Ireland enjoyed a fairytale opening day in their first ever Test match against England as they bowled out the hosts for 85 before building a healthy lead at sweltering Lord’s yesterday.

The euphoria of 10 days ago after England’s nerve-jangling World Cup final win over New Zealand, turned to stunned disbelief as Ireland bowler Tim Murtagh caused mayhem.

He took five for 13 from nine overs as England capitulated in 127 manic minutes, surviving only 23.4 overs - their shortest completed innings ever in terms of balls faced.

Ireland, playing only their third Test match, p a s s e d E n g l a n d ’s t o tal before tea thanks to a free-flowing partnership between Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie.

A flurry of wickets threatened to undo their good work as Ireland slumped from 1322 to 149-7.

Yet Kevin O’Brien hung around for 28 not out and Murtagh (16) clobbered some useful late runs as Ireland were all out for 207, a 122run innings lead.

England skipper Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat, handing Test debutant Jason Roy and Rory Burns the chance to lay down a marker for the looming Ashes series.

Instead, a spot-on Ireland attack ruthlessly exposed the cracks in England’s batting as the hosts posted their lowest home total since scoring 77 against Australia in

1997.

walked out to bat with the hosts on 43 for seven, England had lost six wickets for seven runs.

ASTONISHING COLLAPSE White-ball specialist Roy, superb throughout the World Cup, had a let-off when Mark Adair had him plumb lbw off a no-ball.

But in Murtagh’s second over Roy (5) edged to Stirling who took a low slip catch.

Joe Denly looked assured for 23, but in the 10th over Test rookie Adair shaped a ball into his pads for an lbw.

B u r n s scratched around f o r six

Murtagh, the London-born 37-year-old MidIreland’s Tim Murtagh, who took 5 for 13, reacts after England’s first innings at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, Britain (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers)

dlesex stalwart, took lethal advantage of his local knowledge on a green-tinged Lord’s wicket and some bog-standard England batting.

When Stuart Broad

but played loosely at a full Murtagh delivery and edged behind to Gary Wilson.

With Root and Jonny Bairstow, two of the four

England players to have played in the World Cup final, at the wicket, an England fightback was expected. It never materialised.

Root (2) was squared up

by Adair and was struck on both pads and not even a hopeful review could spare him.

Murtagh then bowled a wafting Bairstow through the gate for a duck and two balls later Chris Woakes (0) was lbw to a ball that nipped back off the seam.

Moeen Ali then edged Murtagh through to Wilson as the 37-year-old sealed his five-wicket haul.

Curran attempted a counterattack but the carnage continued as Broad (3) edged Boyd Rankin, once an England player, behind.

Sam Curran was snaffled for 18 at short leg off Rankin to leave England on 67-9. Olly Stone struck three boundaries in an over, as England surpassed the 77 runs they scored against West Indies in January but he was bowled for 19 as Adair wrapped things up.

Ireland began steadily but Curran dismissed skipper William Porterfield (14) and James McCollum (19).

Stirling and Balbirnie

rode their luck but played some flashing strokes as Ireland seized control.

Stuart Broad broke the partnership on 87, trapping Stirling lbw for 36. Balbirnie, who was earlier dropped off Broad,

brought up his 50 in 56 balls but became Stone’s first Test victim, losing his middle stump.

Stone eventually finished with three for 29, with Broad and Curran also taking three apiece.

SCORECARD ENGLAND 1st innings R. Burns c Wilson b Murtagh 6 J. Roy c Stirling b Murtagh

5 J. Denly lbw b Adair

23 J. Root (c) lbw b Adair

2 J. Bairstow b Murtagh

0 M. Ali c Wilson b Murtagh

0 C. Woakes lbw b Murtagh

0 S. Curran c McCollum b Rankin 18 S. Broad c Wilson b Rankin 3 O. Stone b Adair

19 M. Leach not out

1 Extras: (lb-5, nb-2, w-1) 8 Total: (all out, 23.4 overs) 85 Bowling: T. Murtagh 9-2-13-5, M. Adair 7.4-1-32-3, S. Thompson 4-1-30-0, W. Rankin 3-1-5-2.

IRELAND 1st innings W. Porterfield (c) c Leach b Curran

14 J. McCollum b Curran

19 A. Balbirnie b Stone

55 P. Stirling lbw b Broad

36 K. O’Brien not out

28 G. Wilson c Root b Stone

0 S. Thompson b Broad

0 M. Adair b Curran

3 A. McBrine b Broad 11 T. Murtagh c Burns b Stone

16 W. Rankin b Ali 7 Extras: (b-10, lb-6, w-2) 18 Total: (all out, 58.2 overs) 207 Bowling: S. Broad 19-5-60-3, C. Woakes 10-2-34-0, O. Stone 123-29-3, S. Curran 10-3-28-3, M. Leach 3-0-26-0, M. Ali 4.2-1-14-1.

Trentin wins Tour de France 17th stage as tempers flare

By Julien Pretot GAP, France (Reuters) European champion Matteo Trentin won the 17th stage of the Tour de France, a hilly 200-km ride from the Pont du Gard as tempers flared in the peloton yesterday.

Team Ineos’ Luke Rowe and Lotto Jumbo-Visma’s Tony Martin were both kicked out of the race following an altercation, just under 14 kilometres from the finish.

Italian Trentin jumped away from a reduced group of breakaway riders at the foot of the last climb and powered clear in the descent to claim his third stage victory on the Tour after previous wins in 2013 and 2014 .

It was another good day for the Mitchelton-Scott team, fol-

lowing on from Simon Yates’ two stage wins and Daryl Impey’s victory on stage nine, which goes some way to make up for Adam Yates’s failure to

contest for the overall victory.

The Briton stunningly dropped out of contention in the first high mountain stage, but the Australian outfit have

since then bounced back with individual wins.

“This win is worth two wins because after stage 10 to Albi, I thought my chances to

Mitchelton-Scott rider Matteo Trentin of Italy wins the 200-km Stage 17 from Pont du Gard to Gap (REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes)

win a stage were today,” said Trentin.

“I had stage 12 to Bagneres-de-Bigorre in mind and it went well because my team mate Simon Yates won it from our breakaway group.

“Today was definitely my last possibility before three days that are extremely demanding. My mentality helped me win even more than my legs. I would have never imagined to win solo.”

Today’s 18th stage is a 208-km mountain trek between Embrun and Valloire featuring three climbs above 2 000 metres.

On another searing hot day in southern France, the top contenders stayed quiet, finishing in the peloton, just over 20 minutes off the pace behind Trentin, as France’s Julian Alaphilippe retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey.

He leads defending champion Geraint Thomas by 1:35 in

the general classification.

Trentin made his move with 14 kilometres left and never looked back, to beat Denmark’s Kasper Asgreen by 37 seconds and Belgian Greg van Avermaet by 41.

The main bunch rode the end of the stage at a leisurely pace but there was some tension between the top teams as German Martin, one of Steven Kruijswijk’s domestiques, appeared to push his way past Thomas’s team mate Rowe.

The Briton put a hand on Martin’s neck and the race stewards decided to disqualify both riders.

The incident prompted Alaphilippe to ask the riders to calm down.

“At some stage today, there was tension in the peloton and I tried to calm the situation. I told the other riders to not take any risks because I was not going to attack,” Alaphilippe told reporters.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 25, 2019

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One year from XXXII Olympiad, AAG boss hopeful of Athletics representation

By Rawle Toney YESTERDAY, July 24, marked one year before the world’s largest sporting event, the Olympic Games, gets going in Tokyo, Japan, and president of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), Aubrey Hutson, said plans are afoot to ensure that those ‘hopefuls’ receive support and are given the best chance of qualifying.

Daniel Williams (200m), Arinze Chance (400m), Brenessa Thompson (100m and 200m), Aliyah Abrams (400m) and Emmanuel Archibald (Long Jump) are just some of the names flaunted by the AAG boss during an inclusive interview with Chronicle Sport yesterday, when asked about what’s in place to help Guyana to secure that elusive medal in track and field, and which will add to the country’s lone medal (bronze) won by

Michael Paris in the sport of boxing at the 1980 Olympics.

The 2020 Olympic Games, also being referred to as the ‘Games of the XXXII Olympiad’ currently rest as a figment of our athletes’ imagination, given the fact that none of them has made the qualifying standard times and distances set by Track and Field’s global governing body, the IAAF. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in May this year released the standards that some track and field pundits are calling “the hardest ever”, giving athletes two ways of reaching Tokyo; achieve the entry standard within the qualification period (May – June 29, 2019 and January 2019 – May 2020 for Marathon/50km), or qualify by virtue of his/ her IAAF World Ranking position in the selected

event at the end of the respective qualification period.

According to reports, the process is designed to achieve about 50 percent

Arinze Chance

of the target numbers for each event through entry standards and the remaining 50 percent through the IAAF world ranking

Brenessa Thompson

Cornwall, Blackwood hit fifties but India A seize control

NORTH SOUND, Antigua, (CMC) – Rahkeen Cornwall signalled Test selectors with a counter-attacking half-century while out-of-favour batsman Jermaine Blackwood struck another but India A came away with the better of the exchanges on the opening day of the first four-day “Test” here Wednesday.

Opting to bat first at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, West Indies A were dismissed for 228 in their first innings with Cornwall top-scoring with 59 and Blackwood getting 53.

Roston Chase chipped in with 25 and tail-ender Jomel Warrican, an unbeaten 21, as the hosts recovered from 97 for five to reach their eventual total.

West Indies A were undone by left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem who claimed five for 62 while leg-spinner Mayank Markande (2-40) and seamer Siraj Mohammed (2-61) supported with two wickets apiece.

In reply, India A reached the close at 70 for one with opener Priyank Panchal unbeaten on 31, having shared an opening stand of 61 with Easwaran Abhimanyu who made 28.

West Indies A suffered an early setback when they lost left-handed opener Jeremy Solozano for nine with the score on 11 in the day’s fifth over but Montcin Hodge (16) and captain Shamarh Brooks (12) steadied the innings with a 28-run stand.

Both fell within the space of 17 deliveries, however, leaving West Indies A on 47 for three and despite Blackwood’s attempts to inspire two partnerships, the hosts lost wickets steadily to be facing collapse.

Cornwall, though, arrived to lend support to Blackwood, the pair posting 98 for the sixth wicket to rescue the innings.

T h e 26-year-old Cornwall mixed caution with aggression, lashing seven fours and three sixes off 100 balls in just over an 1-¾ hours at the crease while Blackwood anchored the stand in a 116-ball knock in just under 2-½ hours with six fours.

They were beginning to push India A onto the backJermaine Blackwood

foot when both perished in the space of 14 deliveries.

First, Blackwood suffered a rush of blood, charged Nadeem, missed a wild swing and was easily stumped while Cornwall holed out to deep cover also off Nadeem, leaving West Indies A on 195 for six.

There was no recovery this time around as the last four wickets tumbled for 33 runs even though Warrican thumped two fours and a six in an attempt at gathering hasty runs.

India A were then given a solid start by Panchal who has struck two fours in a 69-ball knock and Abhimanyu, who counted four fours off 52 deliveries.

With the close beckoning, left-arm spinner Warrican broke the partnership when he had Abhimanyu caught low down at first slip by Cornwall.

system.

“I’m confident,” Hutson noted, “I’m also very hopeful for some of the athletes to do well later this season, especially those athletes who are doing well, like Chance, Archibald, and even Daniel (Williams) locally. For the females, Thompson, Abrams and with some tweaking, I think Kenisha Phillips (100m and 200m) can turn things around.”

Despite the athletes mentioned by the AAG president having a sensational season, some even clocking their personal best (PB) in their respective events, they are yet to at least reach the qualifying standard for the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, set for September 27 – October 6 in Doha, Qatar.

Hutson said the AAG will attempt to give Guyanese athletes, especially the aforementioned, a chance

AAG president – Aubrey Hutson

to compete at several South American events sanctioned

by CONSUDATLE, in an attempt to see them qualifying.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT The issue of financial support for the country’s leading athletes will continue to be a burning issue, especially in the absence of a National Sports Policy.

“We have to pick up the slack, because it’s very important,” Hutson related on the subject of financial support.

Hutson told Chronicle Sport that there are several programmes under the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity and the AAG will “push the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) to the reach out to the IOC for that extra funding. So, rest assured that we will make an application for that funding because it’s very important.”

Andrews Supermarket supports 10th Jefford Track and Field Classic

SCORECARD

WEST INDIES A 1st Innings M Hodge c Dube b Siraj Mohammed 16 J Solozano c Abhimanyu b Siraj Mohammed 9 *S Brooks c wkp Saha b Dube 12 R Chase c wkp Saha b Nadeem 25 J Blackwood st Saha b Nadeem 53 +J Hamilton b Nadeem 16 R Cornwall c Gill b Nadeem 59 J Warrican not out 21 S Lewis lbw b Markande 2 C Holder b Nadeem 4 M Cummings lbw b Markande 0 Extras: (lb9, nb1, w1) 11 TOTAL: (all out, 66.5 overs) 228 Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-39, 3-47, 4-73, 5-97, 6-195, 7-200, 8-204, 9-219, 10-228.

Bowling: Siraj Mohammed 13-3-61-2, Dube 11-2-27-1, Nadeem 22-7-62-5, Krishnappa 7-1-29-0, Markande 13.5-3-40-2.

INDIA A 1st Innings P Panchal not out 31 E Abhimanyu c Cornwall b Warrican 28 S Gill not out 9 Extras: (lb1, w1) 2 TOTAL: (1 wkt, 22 overs) 70 To bat: H Vihari, S Dube, S Kona +W Saha, G Krishnappa, S Nadeem, M Markande, S Mohammed Fall of wicket: 1-61.

Bowling: Cummins 5-1-9-0, Lewis 6-0-28-0, Holder 3-0-12-0, Warrican 5-1-9-1, Cornwall 3-1-11-0.

POSITION: INDIA A TRAIL BY 158 RUNS WITH NINE WICKETS INTACT.

Supervisor at Andrews Supermarket, Stacy Burnett (left) hands over the sponsorship to Edison Jefford at the entity’s Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt Gardens location

ANDREWS Supermarket is the latest entity to join a list of reputable sponsors to offer support for the upcoming Jefford Track and Field Classic, scheduled for Sunday, August 11 at Mackenzie Sports Club ground, Linden.

The support from Andrews Supermarket will sponsor the Female Javelin Event. Each event carries a total purse of $80 000 with the winner taking home $40 000, second-placer $25 000 and third-placer $15 000 along with memorabilia medals.

This year will mark the 10th edition of the event, where a total of $2 million will be handed out directly to the athletes in Linden. In addition, the Champion Male and Female athletes will benefit from $25 000 worth in Under Armour Sports Gear and $25 000 cash along with trophies. The top three finishers in the School Boys and Girls 150m will receive hampers and medals.

As it relates to patrons, 10 gate prizes will be up for grabs.

Founder of the Classic, Edison Jefford, indicated that there will be something for everyone at the event this year.

He said he will be sticking to the prize structure since he has already secured the athletes cash prizes. He said that the athletes will collect their prizes immediately after each event.

Berbice to get ‘home of football’

GFF signs 30-year lease with New Amsterdam Municipality Page

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Mayor Winifred Heywood presents signed lease to president Wayne Forde on the area designated for football development, in the presence of BFA and M&TC representatives

Organisers unveil Tokyo 2020 medals a year before Games

By Jack Tarrant TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) - The medals for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics were unveiled yesterday with exactly one year to go until next year’s Games.

The unveiling of the medals, designed

by Junichi Kawanishi, was the main attraction of an extravagant ceremony in the Japanese capital to commemorate the landmark.

The event was attended by International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The medals, which are 85 millimetres in diameter, feature Greek goddess of victory, Nike, in their design along with the Olympic symbol and are made from recycled metals, collected from 6.21 million electronic devices donated across Japan.

Abe said he hoped next year’s Games would have a similar impact as the 1964 Summer Games held in Tokyo. “ S p o r t s brings the world together and it affords equal opportunities to all.

That is what sports is about,” said Abe. “Fifty-five years ago we learned that when we

hosted it in Tokyo before.

“Next year we want to demonstrate that again and we want this to be an opportunity where we can do that.”

Bach reiterated that Tokyo is the best prepared city he has ever seen ahead of an Olympic Games.

“It will be a wonderful and unique moment for our gracious Japanese hosts, for you to show the world the best of Japan,” added Bach.

Organisers believe they are on track to deliver a world class sporting event next year and with 3.22 million tickets already sold and over 200 000 people applying to be volunteers, engagement in Japan is unprecedented.

The only reminder of the issues in the build-up to the Games yesterday was the presence of new Japanese Olympic Committee president Yasuhiro Yamashita on stage with Bach and Abe. Ya m a s h i t a took over at the JOC last month, following the resignation of Tsunekazu Takeda, who is being investigated for suspected corruption related to the Tokyo 2020 bid.

A Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medal is pictured during the ‘One Year to Go’ ceremony, celebrating one year out from the start of the summer games at Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo, Japan, July 24, 2019. (REUTERS/Issei Kato)

Guyanese 27 squash team raring to go in Pan Am games

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Head coach Ramon Chan-A-Sue

Guyana’s squash team from left: Ashley Khalil, Taylor Fernandes and Mary Fung-A-Fat

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THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2019