Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 7-26-2019

FRIDAY 26th July, 2019

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No.105710

THE WAY FORWARD SEE STORY ON PAGE 03 ►

President lays govt’s response to current political situation

…in engagements with diplomatic corps, civil society

…maintains gov’t acting within confines of constitution

…stresses need for free, fair, credible elections President David Granger on arrival at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Thursday morning for the second annual National Conference of Local Democratic Organs (NCDLO).

The Head of State was escorted by Ministers of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan (left) and Ms. Annette Ferguson (right).

No room for partisanship’ -President Granger tells local leaders welfare of citizens must be their priority 02 PAGE

Bars, liquor restaurants must be sound-proof 10

Coalition removed 12 political fear from society

-- Public Security Ministry’s task force recommends

…WPA tells residents in Linden outreach

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

‘No room for partisanship’ –– President Granger tells local leaders welfare of citizens must be their priority

PRESIDENT David Granger, on Thursday, said the improvement in citizens’ wellbeing should not become a source of partisan division nor should there be room for partisanship when it comes to the welfare of citizens.

The Head of State was at the time speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2nd National Conference of Local Democratic Organs, which will conclude today at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC). The Conference is a deliberate intervention intended to become a platform for promoting the work of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) and Municipalities. It aims to provide a practical basis for them to work together with Central Government to strengthen community development and improve citizens’ quality of life.

This is the second year that the Opposition controlled NDCs, RDCs and Municipalities have boycotted the Conference. “Cooperation and collaboration will help better deliver these services. People are paramount. This improvement in citizens’ wellbeing, therefore, should not become a source of partisan division. There should be no room for partisanship when it comes to the welfare of our citizens. We have to work together, across the divides of class, geography, politics and race to bring improvements to our people. It is regrettable that for the second time, that this forum, intended to promote cooperate and coordination for the common good, has become a victim of a partisan boycott. Who gains? The people lose when their officials boycott, whether it is the National Assembly or a forum organised by the Minister of Communities,” the President said.

President Granger noted that local government is aimed at satis-

President David Granger delivers the feature address at the opening of the second annual National Conference of Local Democratic Organs held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

fying the basic needs of the people, particularly at the community level and is concerned with ensuring safe, secure and economically sustainable communities. He said that the local democracy is a public good.

Local democracy is about bringing governance “…of the people, by the people, for the people” at the community level.

“We are all products of communities –whether those communities are villages, or neighbourhoods or municipalities, we all depend on communities. All of us have emerged from communities. It is the community which has clothed, educated, fed, housed and protected us. The community, as social unit must, be preserved, protected and improved so that it can continue its vital role of socialising present and future generations. Councillors of our local government system, therefore, are the custodians of our com-

munities. It is they who must ensure that citizens can enjoy safety, security and economic sustainability in their communities,” he noted.

LOCAL DEMOCRATIC ORGANS President Granger also said that local democratic organs are vital elements of the system of local government. The Constitution at Article 74 reposes significant responsibilities in local government organs. It entrusts them with the authority: “…to maintain and protect public property, improve working and living conditions, promote the social and cultural life of the people, raise civil consciousness, preserve law and order, consolidate the rule of law and safeguard the rights of citizens…. Local democratic organs, in order to discharge these responsibilities effectively, must be invested with greater autonomy.

No one sitting in Fort Street can run 70 or 80 local democratic organs effectively and efficiently. We have begun the process of enhancing the autonomy of local democratic organs. Ministerial approval is no longer needed for local democratic councils’ budgets, estimates of rates and expenditure and to implement their revenue-generating measures.

We hope, eventually, to wean local democratic organs off of financial dependence on central government.

Local democratic organs are being empowered, not enfeebled. We have unshackled them from domination and miniaturisation by central government,” the Head of State said.

The President, who while in Opposition protested for the holding of Local Government Elections, said that local democratic councils, under his watch, will not be dominated or dictated to. He noted that his administration does not desire

to control local authorities but rather seeks to cooperate and collaborate.

Notwithstanding this, President Granger said that the Government is not unaware of the challenges which the local democratic organs face, ranging from resource scarcity-- financial, human and technical; leadership constraints and lack of capacity have all hobbled local government organs in the execution of their plans.

“We are responding purposefully to these challenges. The Ministry of Communities, under the guidance of Minister Bulkan, is implementing a robust, holistic capacity-building agenda that goes beyond the provision of training. It is also providing technical support to local authorities.

The Ministry has taken steps to standardise and enhance financial accountability. It has increased the stipends for some categories of officials. It is working with you to ensure that the local government system can continue to improve services to residents and to become a catalyst for development.

Local government is overcoming the legacy of neglect, political interference and maladministration. We are re-empowering local government through enhanced autonomy, capacity-building and through structure cooperation, collaboration and coordination among local democratic organs and especially with regional and national government,” he stated.

The Conference is the brainchild of President Granger and is themed ‘Advancing national development through empowered and innovative Local Democratic Organs in a ‘green’ economy.’

(Ministry of the Presidency)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

THE WAY FORWARD

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President lays govt’s response to current political situation …in engagements with, diplomatic corps, civil society …maintains gov’t acting within confines of constitution …stresses need for free, fair, credible elections

By Lisa Hamilton PRESIDENT David Granger, on Thursday, met with members of the diplomatic corps; executives of the private sector and civil society and leaders within the religious community to personally explain Guyana’s current political, the legal actions taken by the government thus far and its intention to usher Guyana into fair, free and credible elections as early as possible.

The representatives met separately in their numbers at the Baridi Benab at State House on Thursday. There, the President committed to upholding the Constitution; respecting the National Assembly and the courts; ensuring the rule-of-law; safeguarding human and civil rights and preserving democracy.

He gave a detailed review of the legal processes which began with the challenging of

accepting the resignation of four Cabinet ministers on April 25, 2019 who were dual citizens.

Regarding the latter, President Granger said, “It was very painful, but we obeyed the court.” He also highlighted that he has since made three broadcasts to the nation on the government’s acceptance of the CCJ's ruling and Consequential Orders and has accepted the resignation of the former GECOM Chairman, Justice(ret’d) James Patterson.

The President has also met with the Leader of the Opposition on July 4 and 16 and established a joint government-opposition working group which has already met four times.

Meanwhile he has presented the government’s case to the Commonwealth Secretary General twice; to the CARICOM Chairman and to the diplomatic community earlier on Thursday. Still, amidst the

2019 or a future date if Parliament grants an extension.

Nonetheless, Boyer said that he would be discussing the President’s address with the chamber’s committee members. Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) President, Coretta McDonald, stated that she was pleased with the President’s promise to continue the current engagements.

“We’re comforted by the

acts of ‘good faith’ in keeping with the CCJ’s urgings, he laid the observation that there has been “strong resistance by the opposition to the Elections Commission's work plan to correct the List of Electors by a process of its own choosing.”

He stated that free, fair and credible elections are essential to a democracy but can only be achieved if there is an independent and functional Elections Commission; an acceptable and credible Official List of Electors (OLE) and an efficient and competent secretariat to manage these elections.

“The credibility of elections is dependent in part on the integrity of the Official List of Electors. A corrupted or contaminated List can un-

MEETING SOON

President David Granger met with members of the diplomatic corps; executives of the private sector and civil society and leaders (Adrian Narine photo)

dermine the electoral process, encourage mischief and malpractice and result in elections being vitiated,” he stated.

SELECTION OF GECOM CHAIR Meanwhile, on the matter of the selection of a new Chairman of the Elections Commission, he reminded that the CCJ has interpreted the provisions of the Constitution as ascribing a role for the President in identifying persons for consideration as Chair. “The President is not a passive bystander in the process,” he affirmed. “He is an active participant in ‘ham-

vise the President on its readiness to conduct free, fair and credible elections. It would be reckless and irresponsible, on my part, to name a date for elections without the commission’s assurance and advice that it would be ready to conduct elections on such a date.”

REACTION Following his remarks, several members of the private sector and civil society spoke to the media about their take on the presentation.

“It is comforting to hear him accept the interim status; that was comforting,” President of the Georgetown

Numerous members of the diplomatic corps turned out to the President’s engagement earlier on Thursday (MoTP photo)

the passage of the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018 and ended with the ruling of Guyana’s highest appellate court, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

He also spoke to the case of the issue of dual citizenship which also spurred out of the no-confidence motion.

With documents to prove the same provided to the representatives, the President stated that at each interval the government has acted in good faith and has complied with the rulings of the three courts involved.

Such intervals highlighted were: meeting the Leader of the Opposition in January 2019; meeting the Elections Commission in March 2019;

the issues that borders governance,” he said.

He is pleased that the President made the decision to personally address civil society on the situation and the manner in which he did so. “The major element is the President taking the opportunity to come to talk about the issue; put his side in a very cogent way,” Lewis said.

Director General at the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, speaks with attendees further, following the President’s address (Adrian Narine photo)

mering out’ the list of persons not unacceptable to him.”

Added to this, President Granger reminded that the CCJ did not issue a date, deadlines or timelines of the holding of new elections.

He stated: “It is for the Elections Commission to ad-

Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Nicholas Boyer, stated. However, he said that there is “conflicting interpretation” of the CCJ’s Consequential Orders as Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire has stated that elections must be held by September 18,

Several representatives of the private sector, civil society and religious community accepted the President’s invitation to meet at the Baridi Benab at State House on Thursday (Adrian Narine photo)

fact that the President has said that he will continue to meet with the opposition leader until they can iron out the Chairmanship of GECOM,” she said.

However, she told the media that she came with the expectation of being able to question the President on matters still unclear to some GTUC members. Though she opted not to name these matters, McDonald is mulling seeking another forum with the President to address the same.

General Secretary of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU), Lincoln Lewis, told the media that while the two leaders and their representatives engage in talks, they should take the opportunity to discuss other pertinent matters of national interest such as oil and worker’s rights. “Election is only a means of acquiring political power, after that the issue is of governance…we thought that this would have been an ample opportunity for the President, the Leader of the Opposition and their respective teams to include in whatever they say, whatever they think about,

Following the meeting, Director General at the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, stated that the two sides are likely to meet again before the end of the week.

He expressed his optimism that they will, very soon, come to a consensus on a list of six eligible persons for the post of GECOM Chair from which the President will select one.

“It [another meeting] will be before the end of this week; the President and the Leader of the Opposition will discuss this matter one-on-one and they will arrive at a situation,” he stated.

“They will meet and they will determine what needs to be done in the interest of Guyana. Speaking to both of them, both the Leader of the Opposition and the President, I get this sense of urgency for us to have this matter clarified in the interest of the people of this country. I think we will find common ground, I think there’s going to be a consensual list which is in keeping with the Constitution and the injunction given to us by the Caribbean Court of Justice.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

'I'll make Britain great again', PM Johnson says, echoing Trump LONDON (Reuters) - Boris Johnson promised on Thursday that Brexit would make Britain the greatest place on earth, echoing the patriotic rhetoric of U.S. President Donald Trump in his first speech to parliament as prime minister.

Johnson, who was hailed by the U.S. president as Britain’s Trump, has promised to strike a new divorce deal with

the European Union and to energize the world’s fifth-largest economy after what he casts as the gloom of Theresa May’s premiership. On entering Downing Street on Wednesday, Johnson set up a showdown with the EU by vowing to negotiate a new deal and threatening that, if the bloc refused, he would take Britain out on Oct. 31 without a deal to limit economic dislocation.

“Our mission is to deliver Brexit on the 31st of October for the purpose of uniting and re-energizing our great United Kingdom and making this country the greatest place on earth,” Johnson proclaimed. He said Britain could be the most prosperous economy in Europe by 2050, a feat that would mean drawing far ahead of France and then overtaking Germany.

Johnson promised that British children and grandchildren “will be living longer, happier, healthier, wealthier lives”.

STERLING FALLS AGAIN Johnson’s ascent has placed an avowed Brexiteer in charge of the British government for the first time since the 2016 EU Brexit referendum, which shocked the world and upset financial markets. Sterling has lost more than 5% of its

value since early May and recently touched a 27-month low against the dollar. It fell further on Johnson’s first day in office, trading at around $1.2450. Trump has repeatedly praised Brexit and has advised the United Kingdom to “walk away” if the EU offers a poor deal. While he grew frustrated with May, Trump said this week he liked her successor.

Johnson spiced his pitch to the EU on Thursday by bluntly stating that one of the most hotly contested elements of the Brexit divorce agreement would have to be struck out if there was to be an orderly exit. His bet is that the threat of the economic disruption that a “no-deal” Brexit would cause will convince the EU’s biggest powers - Germany and France - to agree to revise the divorce deal that May agreed

last November but failed to get ratified. Johnson told parliament he would not accept the Irish backstop, an insurance policy designed to prevent the return of a hard border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland by provisionally keeping Britain in a customs union with the EU: “It must be clearly understood that the way to the deal goes by way of the abolition of the backstop.”

EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier quickly rejected that condition. “As suggested by his rather combative speech, we have to be ready for a situation where he gives priority to the planning for ‘no deal’, partly to heap pressure on the unity of the EU27,” Barnier said in a note sent to EU member states.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also warned Johnson in a phone call that the deal the EU struck with May last year was “the best and only” one, an EU spokeswoman said. Johnson stuck to his guns, telling Juncker that the backstop had to go, a Downing Street spokesman said.

Both sides agreed to stay

in contact.

NO MAJORITY The Irish backstop is contained in a protocol of the Withdrawal Agreement that Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, agreed to in November. It is the most contentious part of the deal for British lawmakers, who fear it could ultimately slice Northern Ireland off from the rest of the United Kingdom.

Johnson’s government does not have a majority in parliament, and so rules with the help of 10 Northern Irish lawmakers from the Democratic Unionist Party, who vehemently oppose the backstop. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Wednesday that Johnson’s pledge to secure a new Brexit deal was “not in the real world”. While repeatedly refusing to countenance rewriting the Withdrawal Agreement, the EU has said it could change the non-binding “Political Declaration” on future ties that is part of the divorce deal.

THURSDAY July 26, 2019 - 12:00hrs ~ 13:30hrs

Wednesday July 24, 2019

03 27 14 22 15 04 18

July 19, 2019

H 11, 03, 24, 06, 25

1, 4, 5

01 02 05 07 09

9, 0, 3 04, 08, 11, 13, 16

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

OECS to establish Green-Blue Economy Strategy and Action Plan CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Jul. 25, CMC – The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Green-Blue Economy Strategy and Action Plan – the first of its kind in the Caribbean and globally to combine green and blue economy strategies for sustainable development ,will be advanced under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was recently signed between the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) and the OECS Commission.

In a statement on Thursday, the OECS said CANARI will work with the body to develop and implement the Strategy and Action Plan,

which will keep the OECS at the forefront of global dialogues on sustainable development in a small island context.

A green economy is one which minimises ecosystem degradation, and is low carbon, resource efficient and socially equitable. Within this, a blue economy focuses specifically on coastal and marine resources. In an OECS green-blue economy, growth in employment and income levels is driven by investment into economic activities, assets and natural infrastructure which conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services that are critical to OECS countries and territories.

Director General of the OECS Commission, Dr. Didacus Jules, noted that “with limited financial, environmental and human resources, and with the devastating impacts of climate change already being felt in the Eastern Caribbean, now more than ever the OECS needs to focus on future solutions that enable economic growth while preserving invaluable biodiversity and improving the region’s resilience to natural disasters and climate change.”

Development of the OECS Green-Blue Economy Strategy and Action Plan was mandated by the OECS Council of Ministers for Environmental Sustainability to

build on the 2018 diagnostic study by CANARI entitled Exploring opportunities for transformation to inclusive, sustainable and resilient economies in the Eastern Caribbean, which was supported by a grant from the European Union. Developing a clear programme of policies for greening priority economic sectors and creating enabling regulatory, fiscal and financing policies and programmes which support micro, small and medium enterprises were among the recommendations emerging from the study.

The study’s findings were highlighted in a CANARI policy brief and the Eastern Caribbean Green Economy Barometer 2018 published

by the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for green and fair economies, for which CANARI serves as the Caribbean hub.

CANARI’s current work with OECS and others in the Caribbean is being supported by the European Union. The OECS Green-Blue Economy Strategy and Action Plan will be presented to the OECS Economic Affairs Council and the Council of Ministers for Environmental Sustainability in early 2020.

This will improve the ability of the OECS to access global funding for climate change resilience and direct foreign and local investment towards inclusive and sus-

tainable economic activities.

The MOU runs from 2019 to 2022 and will support other ongoing work by CANARI with the OECS, including the development of a Biodiversity and Ecosystems Management Framework and Action Plan, a Civil Stakeholder Engagement Strategy and a Caribbean Strategy for Climate Resilience in the Forest Sector and Associated Livelihoods. These strategies will be enabled through joint fundraising and project development to support implementation.

Cuba and Russia to coordinate efforts against unilateral coercive measures HAVANA,Cuba, Jul. 25, CMC – The Government s of Cuba and Russia have annuounced plans to coordinate efforts to jointly confront unilateral sanctions with extraterritorial character.

This was disclosed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez, at the conclusion of a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday.

Rodriguez said that based on the conversations held by both foreign ministries, Havana and Moscow are coordinating efforts in the face of what he called an epidemic of extraterritorial coercive measures that generate a threat to international peace and security.

Cuba reports billions of dollars in economic losses and human damages due to the impact of the trade, eco-

nomic and financial blockade imposed by the United States 60 years ago, while Russia is subject to sanctions by Washington and the European Union.

He added that the meeting also addressed actions to better coordinate and work more actively in cooperation to promote economic, trade, investment and tourism programs, as well as increase coordination in international

Holness welcomes Boris Johnson as new UK Prime Minister KINGSTON, Jamaica, Jul. 25, CMC – Prime Minister Andrew Holness has offered congratulations to the new British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who assumed office on Wednesday.

In welcoming the new prime minister of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland to the post, Holness said Johnson’s “leadership comes at a critical time for the United Kingdom, Europe, and the wider world. Indeed, the many challenges that confront us all call for strong political leadership and joint action to achieve the shared goals of development, prosperity, and security for our peoples and nations.

We wish for you and your Government wisdom, vision, and courage in undertaking this new mandate.” Holness

said that Jamaica highly values the United Kingdom as a close and dependable partner and friend. “Our long-standing relations extend across a wide gamut of areas which remain crucial to both our countries. I assure you of our commitment to continued close collaboration at the bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels,” he added.

Holness wished Johnson a successful tenure, noting that Jamaica stood ready to have dialogue on critical issues and to build bonds with Johnson’s administration. Jamaica, he said, was looking forward to “the further enhancement of these relations through deeper engagement and cooperation on issues such as climate change, peace and security, human rights, and justice”.

Johnson has vowed to break

the impasse that defeated his predecessor by leading the country out of the European Union.

organizations. He pointed out that relations between the two countries are currently in good shape and are developing dynamically, and that next year they will have important moments such as the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War and the 60th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Lavrov stressed that government officials will visit Cuba and several activities will take place regarding the 500th anniversary of Havana.

Rodríguez and Lavrov met earlier this year and then discussed similar issues, in addition to actions to follow up on the agreements signed by Presidents Miguel Díaz-Canel and Vladimir Putin in November 2018.

Tourism, rail transport, tele-

communications and energy generation are key sectors in the commercial exchange between both countries, which also have a high coincidence in the vision towards the different issues of the international agenda, the defense of peace and the role of international institutions. Lavrov arrived in Cuba earlier this week as part of a tour that will also take him to Brazil and Suriname.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

Prevailing against the odds

THE African Guyanese community will, next week Thursday, celebrate another Emancipation anniversary. Emancipation is, of course, one of the most important events on our national calendar. As a country, we can trace our national roots to the moment and process of emancipation.

When the enslaved finally overthrew the slavery system in 1838, they not only guaranteed their own freedom from bondage, but they ushered in a new society free from the inhumanity of slavery. Although other groups came to Guyana as indentured labourers and that system maintained some of the social relations of

slavery, the fact that slavery was formally abolished was a significant factor in how the society functioned.

The immediate post-emancipation era witnessed the evolution of the Village Movement, which sowed the seeds of the modern Guyanese political economy. Just out of centuries of forced bondage, African Guyanese bought lands and set up villages. This was a courageous and heroic act, for they did so against the wishes of the plantocracy which wanted to continue the exploitation of their labour.

The villages reflected both a symbolic and substantive break with slavery and the slave plantation. This was the essence of Emancipation—

the act of self-activity and self-determination.

The villages represented the affirmation of African Guyanese humanity and identity and served as the early building block for Guyanese humanity and nationalism.

The erection of churches and schools and the birth of the village economy, along with the village councils, reflected a sophisticated vision of the present and the future. The villages were an investment in the future of Guyana. What was beautiful about that vision is that it was entirely native—drawing on the collective imagination and the sense of cooperativism. They bought the lands, not with loans from banks, but with the “cash money” they saved

from meagre earnings during the period of Apprenticeship.

So, as we observe Emancipation 2019, there is much to celebrate and to be proud of. The challenges since 1838 have been many and most persistent, but in the end, the Emancipation spirit of overcoming has prevailed.

We often, amid gloom, forget our accomplishments--often against the odds. That we can, in our various communities, take to the open space and beat our drums and dance to ancient and contemporary rhythms without chains around our feet speaks volumes of the distance we have travelled away from the plantation.

But even as we celebrate, we must also reflect on

where we are. The African Guyanese community, in particular, must take a hard and sobering look at itself and ponder its state. Times have changed since 1838, but some of the challenges of that time have persisted to this day. Many African Guyanese activists have complained of the group’s marginalisation by the previous political administration. Others have pointed to structural problems in the community while some have called on African Guyanese to take responsibility for the perceived and real decline in the community. In the final analysis, the challenges of any of our cultural communities have consequences for the country as a whole. So, if the Eman-

cipation spirit must mean anything substantive, it must move all of us, regardless of ethnic origins, to confront our setbacks and shortcomings.

But for now, let our African Guyanese brothers and sisters reflect on their past and contemplate how to ensure that that journey continues into the future. In the spirt of self-activity, which was at the centre of the Emancipation creed, they are best placed to show the way to a future in which their group maintains its dignified place as an integral part of our multi-cultural and multi-ethnic Guyana.

The no-confidence motion has awakened this nation Dear Editor

Was the NCM a blessing in disguise, a cauldron of unintended consequences?

Did it release a sociopolitical pressure valve? And when the steam subsides, will a nation be scalded beyond use or properly tenderised and seasoned to do business with any giant; will Guyana be led by a leader for ALL, monitored by an opposition for ALL, and guided by the demands of a more knowledgeable, more understanding, more united, and more sophisticated citizenry? Is it possible...?

Guyanese, my brethren, we have to be hopeful and patient while being deliberate. I've refrained from commenting on most political discussions because quite frankly, I'm not interested in politics or discussions that are race-driven or divisive.

But I also reasoned that who in these times can escape the ubiquity of Guyanese politics?

Occasionally, I'm privy to intellectually deep, stimulating, and emotionally-charged discussions on Facebook. A ringside view of the array of brilliant Guyanese engaged in sociopolitical discussions ranging from group and party loyalty to nationalism. And while many are locked in debates on who should govern this 83,000 sq. miles or the limitations of party or group loyalty to produce the kind of leadership and unity Guyana needs for its socio-economic development, there is a political battle of will taking place in Guyana.

The tendency of group and party loyalty to transcend politics and descend into racial and social malaise has many Guyanese wondering if Guyana will ever emerge from this political crisis unscathed. Some even openly ask if Guyana will ever transform into the regional economic force, a place earned not only by its oil potential but by all of its natural resources. Unscathed? Hmmm ... only time will tell. But

emerge, yes. I have to believe it will. It has to. While Guyana is in checkmate by its politicians, I believe that a solution is inevitable.

Even though I prefer to keep my thoughts to myself, some of these conversations, though controversial, intense, and at times condescending, are very engaging and revealing. Recently, I shared with a close friend that if we are honest and if history is not hijacked by revisionists, which seem to be the dominant ghosts that haunt Guyana's historical corridors, we will chorus the NCM was a blessing in disguise.

Then there is the irony of unintended consequences – a peeling or stripping of the hubris masks off our politicians. Who could have imagined the mass awakenings of Guyanese home and abroad – many of whom normally slumber through these political periods?

The NCM released a valve in this sociopolitical pressure cooker – and however one sees it, by the un-

intended engagements, it seemed necessary.

A group of politicians, driven by ... I'll let history decide ... redesigned the political theatre, causing brighter lights to be aimed at actors and actresses often hidden because their script has either been destroyed or is to be rewritten.

--Act 1 awed and shocked the audience.

---Act 2 cleared the stage for the legal scene.

----Act 3, now all the lights are on. The director is confused.

The writers did not anticipate the play would have awakened and attracted such a large, knowledgeable, sophisticated, and interested audience. The audience refuses to leave the theatre and is demanding more, and however strange the scenes, they demand an ending, a proper ending even though no one knows what, how, or exactly when. The audience seems restless. The theatre might not withstand their impatience, fuss, and fury. The

NCM – was it good or bad?

It really doesn't matter. It has happened, and the jaguars are awake and on the prowl. Who will tame them, what will satiate them, and when will they sleep again?

The NCM – its unintended consequences – is perhaps a blessing. For the observers, neocolonial, et al, who may have thought they knew, understand and can manipulate the Guyanese ethos ... – including those who might have thought that Guyana is devoid of the brains, experience, knowledge, skills, and talents to check themselves, to monitor and course-correct, are perhaps wondering how could they have so underestimated this nation. Maybe they should have looked beyond our politicians, for while some can hold their own, there are Guyanese far more educated, more knowledgeable, and more sophisticated than our politicians. The NCM was that gust of wind, however inconvenient, low down and dirty, and however it seems

to have halted progress, it has awakened a nation.

Who could have imagined the avalanche of anger and debates distilled in these digital discussions?

Many are left wondering if they should hate BJ or thank him. Is he a scoundrel or an act of fate? Have BJ and his core group considered they might, all of us, be pawns and puppets in this cosmic play in this political theatre called GUYANA? Guyana, I believe, has awakened ALL her children, because she intends for EVERYONE to benefit from the abundance dormant in her womb. The politicians have had their say, and while their scene may not be over, hopefully, before the final curtain, will come to an agreement, forced to surrender to what is right for ALL. Regards Selwyn A. Collins

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

Sickening to see PPP using children to protest Dear Editor

IF America had placed laws around Caucasian children becoming part of the KKK and witnessing lynching’s like holiday outings there might have been less readiness for the acceptance of racism today in those Dixie states.

The KKK alone was not the only factor, but anything to diminish prejudice at even a two percent is commendable.

Hitler learnt from the Americans and created the Hitler Youth, they evolved into the Allgemeine SS, the

Einsatzgruppen and the rest is history, but the template has travelled to Asia to Africa, and to the one man commando. I have been in many protests from 1996 to 2010, during the protests for justice when young Jermaine Wilkinson was murdered. I remember a young woman with her pre-teen son joining the march. I was among others who advised her to leave as political protests are not for children. I have never witnessed a child in any protest I was involved in or witnessed until I saw July 20, in Stabroek News, page 17, two young pre-teens

female children were captured with an anti-Granger poster – no doubt given to them in a PPP protest. It was as distasteful as the indiscriminate shouts of ‘Rape’ in parliament not so long ago by two grown women who are not supposed to be mental defects. These children have a sinister implication, why because I lived on the East Coast with my god-parents as a young child until they died, this was Mahaica, and I knew the levels of racism Indo-Guyanese children were taught, it was constant and drilled into their minds. I can only imagine what these chil-

dren were lectured in before thrown into the adult world of political protests 2019. In ‘The West on Trial’ Jagan blamed the ethnic division in the 60’s on the efforts of Daniel P. Debidin who originated the slogan “Apan Jhaat” and “crude religious and racist appeals were made

by Pandits” – pg 114 ‘The West on Trial’ by Dr. Jagan established that the templates are there, which he himself was accused of allowing without denunciation towards the political benefits of such, to permit the survival of the PPP by stalwarts like Eusi Kwayana, Jai Narine Singh

Sr, among others.

I was surprised that none of the organisation who appear in the interest of Guyana’s young were again not proactive in rejecting the use of children as political fodder, and they should be aware of the media disclosures by both Malcolm Harripaul and Mohamad Yusuf on the 1973 incident, where persons were incited to attack armed soldiers to steal ballot boxes, then upon the expected result call the sacrificial lamb; martyrs. We need to be pro-active and guard against exploitation and the dark indoctrination of our young.

During the 2015 elections there was footage of a child turned away from a voting station with evident hyped ID’s. Execute this houseto-house registration with diligence as I have always referred to the Solomon romance with the two mothers and the one who would prefer the child murdered if she could not possess it.

Recent events, briberies, postures and actions point to that particular illegitimate macabre pretender, the child slayers before us.

Regards Barrington Braithwaite

There should be some analysis of the performance of public schools vs private schools at the NGSA Dear Editor, It is noted that during the announcement of the results of the 2019 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) the Honourable Minister of Education drew the attention of the nation to the fact that the two top performers came from the public school system.

This is noteworthy, if only for the fact that it draws comparison with that of the private schools. If anything, this announcement underlines the fierce rivalry that exists between the public and private schools for the much-coveted trophy for the best performance. The

nation is well aware that the Ministry of Education was gifted with the largest allocation of the 2019 national budget and so is incumbent for the ministry to sing loudly of any modicum of evidence which signals that the investment in education is bearing dividends. However, a closer analysis of the results gives you the gripes.

The Chief Education Officer was quoted in iNews Guyana on July 5, 2019 as saying, “We have to make sure that we’re not focusing on Mathematics and English at the expense of others… only one subject area – Mathematics – recorded progress when compared to last year’s

results. The other three areas – English, Science and Social Studies – saw a reduced number of students gaining 50 per cent or more.” (Is this a case of one step forward three steps backward? This must be painful and disappointing for the Ministry of Education).

While the Honourable Minister of Education celebrated the fact that the public school copped the two top positions at the NGSA, the Guyana Times Newspaper of July 03, 2019 reported that, “Private schools dominate NGSA top 10.” It will be instructive for the Ministry of Education to extend its collaboration with CXC by asking for the performance

of the public and private schools to be disaggregated for the NGSA and CSEC examination and to make this information public.

INews Guyana also quoted the Chief Education Officer as saying, “We want to see our children improve in their performance overall in every subject area…That is something that is brought sharply into focus at this time.” In its endeavor for improved performance at the NGSA, the ministry should also consider the following: 1. Have the subject specialists monitor the schools with a view to ensure that concerted efforts are made to fill any gaps that might

exist when pupils transition from one grade to another.

This intervention will inform the ministry on whether the content for the NGSA is adequately covered well before the assessments at Grades two, four and six.

2. Craft an intervention that will determine the capabilities of teachers to deliver the content of the NGSA. What percentage of the teachers of the Grade Six classes, for example, can score over 90 per cent (a conservative estimate) for the NGSA? I know. Not a pleasant proposition and certainly one that will provoke the ire or some; but the Ministry of Education cannot afford to leave any

stone unturned to achieve its desired outcomes. Too much is at stake. The Holy Bible says, “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required.” (St. Luke 12:48 – NRSV).

It is hoped that the disappointment which the Ministry of Education felt for the less than satisfactory performance at the 2019 NGSA can quickly be morphed into exhilaration at the announcement of the 2019 CXC results.

Regards Bernel L.H. Wickham

Guyanese breathed a sigh of relief when the PPP/C was defeated Dear Editor,

In a letter published in the Kaieteur News on July 22, 2019 by Robin Singh titled, “This is a land of confusion, led by a man with a confused mind”.

As a young Guyanese man growing up under the PPP/C administration there were times we could not walk on the streets after dark, we were scared for our lives.

The police who are mandated to serve and protect shut their gates before dark, leaving citizens to the mercy of criminals. In high school,

we hurried to get home in the afternoons because gunshots and dead bodies were part of what assaulted our psyche on a daily basis.

Under the PPP/C’s leadership Guyana became black-listed due to money laundering, Guyanese were stifled from having a say in how their communities were run with the absence of local government elections for 20 years, certain communities were denied economic opportunities, crime and drug trafficking were rampant. All of the above do not reflect on a stable state of affairs of

Guyana from 2002 onwards under the PPP/C stewardship.

These are just a few examples for Mr. Singh to ponder what constitutes confusion.

Editor, in 2015 Guyanese breathe a sigh of relief when the PPP/C was defeated by the enlightened APNU/AFC coalition which has since transformed Guyana into a more positive and recognised country. We are no longer a pariah state known as a major transshipment point for drug trafficking.

President Granger in the last four years has embarked on programmes, which has

benefitted all Guyanese and not only his supporters.

Among the numerous transformations are the salary increases for public servants and upgrades in all areas of public service provided to citizens. In 2016 the Drug Enforcement Administration Office was officially opened in Guyana and with its help, this government has had successes in putting brakes on the ‘criminalised-narco’ State which took root under the previous government.

In four years as President of Guyana, H.E. President David Granger has put

this country on a trajectory towards a stable, peaceful country with a better health sector, education sector, and with people having access to potable water, (some for the first time in 25 years) and with major infrastructure works across this country.

With a clear conscience, we can see that our efforts in 2015 were not wasted and Guyana is moving ahead under the APNU/AFC government.

It is my belief that Mr. Singh is looking in the wrong direction when he talks about confusion and a confused

mind. He needs to look at the PPP/C at this time; since to date there is some level of confusion about the authenticity about Irfan Ali’s, the PPP/C presidential candidate, qualifications. Then there seem to be more confusion, as Irfan Ali is the PPP/C presidential candidate however, it is the general secretary who is speaking on issues that the presidential candidate should be addressing. Robin Singh I think you are confused!

Regards Ceion Rollox

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OP-ED

IT has been almost two years since I sat in a security plane flying over the once familiar, but then almost unrecognisable, terrain of Dominica-- the country of my birth. I was on my way from Barbuda where Hurricane Irma had caused unimaginable destruction, forcing a complete evacuation of the island. It is hard to describe the gut-wrenching effect of watching acres of utter devastation unfold before my eyes. Hurricane Maria’s ferocity had claimed lives, demolished the country’s GDP and completely changed landscapes, turning villages into wastelands, bulldozing mountainsides, and even stripping the bark from trees.

But it is not just in the Caribbean that natural disasters linked to climate change are rising in number and intensity. In widely varying locales and environments around the globe, we see the scars of droughts, freak storms, hurricanes, cyclones, floods, mudslides and rising sea levels. In 2018 alone, natural disasters claimed more than 5,000 lives and resulted in 28.9 million people needing to receive emergency assistance or humanitarian aid.

These events have brought far deeper awareness of the issues at stake, triggering street protests, generating new

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

Commonwealth enables governments to tackle climate change

By Patricia Scotland Secretary-General of Commonwealth

hashtag trends, and prompting widespread popular concern and urgent debate in parliaments. When Commonwealth Heads of Governments met in April last year, it was evident that everyone around the table recognised climate change as a serious threat.

With the Atlantic hurricane season again imminent, countries are bracing themselves for the possibility of disaster, and considering strategies to withstand or mitigate the impacts of the escalating climate crisis. Yet, with heavy question marks hanging over commitment to multilateral collaboration, there are added threats to the ability of the governments that need it most to leverage in really effective ways the full benefits that international cooperation brings.

The range of perspectives and collective support that intergovernmental organisations such as the Commonwealth bring to the fight against climate change can too easily be taken for granted, and the transformational opportunities they are able to unlock, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalised, tends to be overlooked. An example of this, in which the Commonwealth has clearly demonstrated its value, is the facilitating of financing for climate action.

There are hundreds of billions of dollars, as much as US$681B in 2016, earmarked

Baroness Patricia Scotland Secretary-General of Commonwealth

for initiatives related to climate change, including for ocean preservation projects, to have fewer CO2-emitting vehicles on the road, and for boosting renewable energy options. Many Commonwealth members are eager to take advantage of these funding streams but are finding it difficult to cut through the red tape and comply with the onerous criteria and conditions tied to the funding.

However, since we launched our Climate Finance Access Hub in 2017, a Commonwealth initiative which deploys specialists to ministries to assist with funding applications, we have helped countries in Africa, the Carib-

bean and the Pacific to access US$25.3M, with a further US$367.4M in the pipeline.

We have also been focused on how to help countries make the best use of development assistance. Preliminary research by the Commonwealth shows that between 2010 and 2016, small states failed to utilise US$4.5B of development assistance made available In fact, there are a myriad examples of unused funds being returned to donors because small and vulnerable member states were not able to draw down and use them, mainly because of lack of capacity and coordination for the implementation of developmental projects. The issue is one of the most challenging obstacles facing our smaller and less-resourced member states and is a powerful example of the key role multilateral organisations, including the Commonwealth, have in helping member countries to address climate change. Intergovernmental bodies such as the Commonwealth Secretariat are able to serve as ‘consultants of choice’ for member states, offering cost-effective access to in-house expertise. Our experts have also created a number of DIY resources in the form of implementation toolkits.

Along with our training programmes, these help countries build the skillsets they need to create strong and effective

programmes that satisfy donor requirements. One such tool is our Commonwealth Disaster Risk Finance Portal which is currently under development.

The portal is designed to help member states navigate the complex and growing provision of disaster finance. As well as helping governments to find what disaster finance instruments are available, the portal will assist them with identifying those that are most suited to their particular needs and circumstances.

Our Commonwealth approach has always been to cooperate in exchanging, among regions and at all levels of development, experience gained through practical action. To assist in this, we issue technical papers to update small states on case studies and responses that have or have not proved to be effective in strengthening disaster preparedness, response and recovery. In 2018, we undertook a comparative analysis of the experience of Dominica and Vanuatu with disaster risk reduction and management, particularly in the cases of Cyclone Pam and Hurricane Erika. Both countries embody similar geographical, social and economic characteristics and vulnerabilities.

The main lessons from this analysis reinforced the importance of (i) strong macroeconomic foundations, (ii)

mainstreaming and implementation of disaster risk reduction and management strategies and (iii) having provisional financing arrangements in place.

Our experts presented these findings to 23 small states at the fifth Commonwealth Global Biennial Conference on Small States.

Deeper awareness of how our action or inaction will affect the future of our planet is now firmly embedded in Commonwealth engagement at every level. This was clear when our member governments adopted the Commonwealth Blue Charter last year, which includes commitments to rid the ocean of plastic and to ensure its resources are used in ways that do not cause further damage to sea life.

By taking coordinated collective action, the nations of the Commonwealth can accelerate the mobilisation of international efforts that are the only hope if we are to prevent further detrimental human impact on the delicate natural balance of our planet. It is our duty to ensure that our children and our children’s children have clean air to breathe, can benefit from a healthy ocean, and are able to live sustainably and in harmony with a diverse and thriving range of animal and plant life in our ocean and on our common earth.

Young diplomats learn essence of good negotiation skills YOUNG and rising diplomats in Guyana’s public and private sector have been lectured on how to improve their negotiation skills with this expertise coming all the way from Geneva, Switzerland.

A lecture series, ‘Geneva to Georgetown’, facilitating the same was held via skype on Thursday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where several diplomats and aspiring diplomats from the public and private sector were in attendance.

The event was coordinated by the Ministry’s Foreign Service Institute (FSI) and Guyana's Ambassador in Geneva in conjunction with the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

It marks the fourth lecture series to be held on matters directly addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of countries.

On this occasion, it took on the topic: “Negotiating and Re-negotiating for Sustainable and Beneficial Outcomes”.

In his opening remarks, FSI Director, Ambassador Ronald

Austin stated: “[These] lectures are intended to really provide information and to provoke discussions and ideas to help us at the level of training our diplomats here and also proving the kind of data we need to improve, expand and inform our foreign policy.”

He explained that knowledge on negotiation is central to diplomacy and will enable persons to become effective diplomats.

Meanwhile, presenting on the topic was Deputy Permanent Representative of the Singapore Mission to the WTO and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Ye-Min Wu. Wu has worked with the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Singapore for over a decade and has chaired United Nations (UN) negotiations and represented the Group of 77 and China in UN negotiations in sustainable development issues.

She told the attendees that people negotiate daily and the more someone practices negotiating skills the more he or she can improve.

In explaining what leads to a

Foreign Service Institute (FSI) Director, Ambassador Ronald Austin (third left) listens to lecture series via skype along with other aspiring diplomats and diplomats (Keno George photo)

poor negotiation results, Wu implored that diplomats must be able to identify the difference between the bargaining position and the existing interest.

She stated that diplomats must also be able to determine the negotiable and non-negotiable matters and

the “low-hanging fruits” for negotiation.

She reminded that even when differing interests exists, it is not an excuse for heated dispute.

During the presentation, Wu also introduced topics such as packaged deals; the negotiator’s pause; clear mes-

saging; a time horizon; the forming of relationships in negotiations; a-symmetrical negotiations; the non-compromise of values and more.

Following her presentation, there were comments and questions from the panel audience.

The first such series was

held in March 2019 and since then topics such as health, climate change and the fourth industrial revolution have been discussed.

There are two more lectures scheduled for the initiative with the very next which expected on September 14, 2019.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

Two-day local gov’t confab opens …Min Bulkan reminds officers of obligations to serve all residents within their communities

By Tamica Garnett THE importance of decentralised governance and putting more power in the hands of citizens to participate in the development of their communities were stressed

by President David Granger and Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan on Thursday when they delivered remarks at the opening ceremony of the second annual National Conference of Local Democratic Organs (NCDLO) Held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, the two-day engagement has brought together the leadership of all three layers of government with the particular aim of empowering local democratic organs (LDOs) across the country.

“Local government organs are required in order to provide quality services,” President Granger stressed.

“We are moving forward, local democracy has been restored. Never

President David Granger during his remarks at the 2019 NCLDO (Adrian Narine photo)

again would a government dare not to hold local government elections for 20 years,” the Guyanese leader said in reference to the PPP not holding the elections for the life of its 23 years in government.

At the first NCLDO, President Granger said he had expressed the

desire that the conference should continue every year because it is a deliberate intervention to improve the work of local government organs to provide practical basis for them to work together with government.

The conference is being held by the Ministry of Communities (MoC) in collaboration with the Ministry of the Presidency, and is a part of the government’s strategy to strengthen the local government system since it was restored. Since 2015, two local government elections have been held, in 2016, and again in 2018, reinstating a number of local government organs in the form of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and municipalities; a number of new NDCs and townships have also been created over the past few years.

Each of the NDCs and municipalities become responsible for much of the management and development within their respective

areas. Minister Bulkan reminded those officials gathered of their obligations to serve the residents within their respective communities.

The NDCs and municipalities are provided with subventions from central government to fund works

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan

within their locality. Guyana has 10 Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs), 70 Neighbourhood

Democratic Councils (NDCs) and 10 municipalities. “Local democracy is integral, not peripheral or secondary, but an integral part of the democratic organisation of our State, as provided for by the Constitution. The time has now come for you to rightfully seize ownership of this renewal process and deliver.

As leaders directly elected and not selected by a party, you are the rightful owners of this process,” Minister Bulkan noted.

With the process of local government only recently returning, the Ministry of Communities has spent the past few years focusing on capacity-building, and better equipping the councillors to understand their roles and functions, and to better manage their finances to ensure what needs to get done is done.

“The record will show that the APNU+AFC government spared no effort to resuscitate and breathe TURN TO PAGE 11 ►

Bars, liquor restaurants must be sound proof -- Public Security Ministry’s task force recommendation BARS and liquor restaurants in the near future will have to be sound proof before they are issued an operation licence from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ministry of Public Security’s Task Force on noise nuisance has recommended.

This was disclosed by Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, during two-day workshop on Noise Management Training for police officers at the Police Training Complex, Camp Road, Eve Leary, Georgetown on Thursday.

“Of course that standard will take some time because we know the peculiar nature of our conditions here,” the minister noted.

He said the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are the enforcing agencies which are governed by the laws of Guyana.

“We have been receiving ongoing complaints from all across the country and we want this to be dealt with, we have to deal with them in a variety of ways too, not only prosecution and conviction for the various provisions that make it a criminal offence, but we have to literally work sometimes as a task force, utilising other methods and

one such method is to take the profit out of the illegality,” Minister Ramjattan said.

He said that means the guilty businesses must be deregistered and the licence

you cannot affect the rights of others and that is where there is a collision course especially in a democratic society,” he noted.

Minister Ramjattan fur-

nuisance and to reduce discomfort caused by noise pollution while building a culture of law and order countrywide.

The minister said the noise management training

Force Training Officer (FTO), Assistant Commissioner, Clifton Hicken

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan during his address to police officers at the opening session on Noise Management Training for Police Officers at the Police Training Complex, Camp Road, Eve Leary Georgetown (Rabindra Rooplall photo)

granted by GRA will be taken away.

“It must be made a condition that before you continue to do your bar services that we are going to make a condition that you must adhere to certain noise levels and when it is breached, we can take the licence away,” Ramjattan said.

He explained that societal living requires a balance and music must be enjoyed but such must be done with others rights in mind.

“In enjoying your rights,

ther explained that the interagency approach has been adapted to deal with noise pollution and the partners includes the EPA, the GPF, the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), the Central Planning and Housing Authority (CH&PA), the Public Infrastructure Ministry and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

He said the objective of the task force is to ensure a greater enforcement of the laws and regulation on noise

is important in making an impact on the task force on noise pollution.

Meanwhile, Force Training Officer (FTO), Assistant Commissioner, Clifton Hicken said the GPF and the EPA have established a partnership to tackle noise nuisance, which cannot be treated in isolation.

The assistant commissioner said cooperation of members of the public is needed in order to have successful prosecution since the enforcement

exercise with the EPA ensures transparency.

The force training officer noted that partnerships with the media and other stakeholders are needed to educate society, which will result in successful prosecutions.

“When we are looking for statements and they are not forthcoming. It looks like if the police are not taking the appropriate action. Awareness is necessary and the public needs to know that if they want to have the noise pollution stemmed or managed so that the impact will be less, they will have to cooperate with us too,” the FTO said.

Hicken hopes that the training will be continuous until every member of the GPF understands the concept and partnership approach towards fighting noise pollu-

tion, which is an epidemic in society.

EPA Executive Director, Dr. Vincent Adams, said the establishment of the interagency task force on noise nuisance in July 2017 is testimony to the persistence of noise-related emissions and the authorities’ commitment to allocate resources to address and eventually mitigate the problem.

Adding that the development of a strategy to effectively address noise nuisance must be based on proper scientific collection and evaluation of data, Dr. Adams said the training of police will expose them to strategies to collect noise data using the noise meter and analyse the data obtained.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

‘Scrapping NGSA’ must come with a plan -- says former education minister

Former Minister of Education, Dr. Henry Jeffrey

By Vishani Ragobeer FORMER Education Minister, Dr. Henry Jeffrey, said he is not in support of the suggestion to scrap the country’s primary school exit examination, known as the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), unless there is a better replacement.

Recently, Director of Economics at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr. Justin Ram, suggested that Guyana should abolish the NGSA since it places young children under much pressure to excel academically.

According to Dr. Jeffrey, this suggestion is one the Education Ministry has considered for at least the past few decades. He, however, made known that there are certain prerequisites needed, that have not been realised, which have long prevented this from happening.

“Essentially, you have to

bring up all school to scratch and then eliminate the Grade Six, period,” Dr. Jeffrey said.

In Guyana, the NGSA is written while pupils are in Grade Six, which is the final grade of primary school.

After engaging in this assessment, the pupils are graded and assigned to schools based on their performances.

When ranked, the top performing pupils would gain positions in “Senior Secondary Schools”, which are Queen’s College, the Bishops’ High, St. Stanislaus College, St. Roses’ High, St. Joseph’s High and President’s College. Pupils who did not score enough to get into these schools would attend junior secondary schools, which may be close to where they reside.

The former minister explained that in bringing all schools up to scratch, it would mean that the quality of education delivered is the same, with an equitable distribution of resources.

When this is done, he noted that pupils could be placed in schools located close to where they reside.

Commenting further, he shared his hope that bringing all schools up to this standard is the agenda of the policymakers in the education system.

“You see how people in the rural areas are gaining enough marks to get QC and those schools? All of that is in an effort to raise those schools up to scratch,” the

former minister said, adding: “Maybe when you get more money when you get oil then maybe you can do it faster.”

This year, indeed, pupils from each of the regions with rural populations were able to

RIGHT FOR NOW Like Dr. Jeffrey and Dr. Henry, headmaster of the Anna Regina Multilateral School (ARMS), Lalljeet Ruplall, shared his belief that the NGSA is the “right thing”

Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry

secure spots at senior secondary schools.

“I am not saying abolish it, but what would you put in place if you abolish it?” Dr. Jeffrey said, and stressed: “There is nothing to put in place until you raise all schools to that acceptable standard.”

Dr. Jeffrey’s statements were in line with those made

by Education Minister, Dr. Nicolette Henry. The current education minister welcomed the suggestion from Dr. Ram, but made known that before such a decision is made, there are several steps to be taken.

FROM PAGE

for Guyana right now.

ARMS is seen as the ‘top school’ on the Essequibo Coast and many of the pupils who write the NGSA would usually aspire to attend this school. However, the headmaster who also worked at the Johanna Cecilia Secondary School previously shared his belief that there was little to no stigma for children who went to that school instead of ARMS. In fact, he said, “[At Johanna Cecilia], we got students with very low marks who were able to complete university and get their degrees.”

However, Ruplall contended that scrapping the NGSA could be an avenue pursued in the future. He suggested that a feasibility study could be done over a number of years and then a decision would be taken thereafter.

Weighing-in on the matter, trained graduate mistress and teacher at the Bartica Secondary School, Rosalie Perreira, felt that abolishing the NGSA was a “good idea”.

She explained that Bartica pupils who do well are placed at the Three-Mile Secondary School and those who do not are posted to Bartica Secondary.

At Bartica Secondary, the students learn Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) instead of the traditional secondary education curriculum.

TVET is taught at Bartica Secondary because it enables students to have an employable skill when they leave secondary school.

“As an educator, I know that the focus is mainly on the cognitive domain which is basically reading, writing and in-class testing,” she said, noting that “Students should be given the opportunity to develop their talents and their other abilities that they can tap into.”

Perreira continued: “In Guyana, I think we need to develop more industries and if we’re going to be developing those then we need to start having it included in the education system -- not only in the secondary level – but in the primary curriculum as well.

STIGMA She also highlighted that there is some amount of stigma attached to Bartica Secondary and teachers work with the students there to keep them motivated.

In fact, she noted that some of the school’s top performers are transferred to Three-Mile where they sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

Instead of the NGSA, she suggested that some other form of assessment be crafted so that different talents and abilities could be assessed.

“The idea is that you take it away, but you still need to know that at the end of instruction period, you have some way of assessing children so that you know that they have been progressing,” she said.

Education Minister, Dr. Nicolette Henry, has welcomed the suggestion from Dr. Ram, but noted that before such a decision is made, several steps have to be taken.

“It would be ideal to have that (abolishing the NGSA), but we are not at a stage where things are ideal here. Looking forward, in terms of long-term, I can see so many changes taking place and who knows what we would eventually morph into in terms of when the education system is able to make even more tangible improvements,” Minister Henry told this newspaper.

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Two-day local gov’t ... new life into this vital system. This is a demonstration of our unwavering commitment and the political will to this process of fixing this system for which no silver bullet exists, to deliver a solution,” Minister Bulkan said, adding that: “This form of governance is closest to people and is the vehicle by which the ideals of participatory democracy can be realised. Strong local governance is essential to fostering the conditions for social cohesion, for deepening our democracy and for ingraining development that is sustainable in communities countrywide.”

This year’s conferences objectives are: to provide an update on the implementation progress since the inaugural NCLDO was held in July 2018; to review and prioritise the recommendations from the inaugural NCLDO; to develop a plan of action to guide the implementation of the recommendations; and to stimulate innovation through improved awareness on the role of local government in achieving local and national development.

“During the next two days, we will continue our discourse aimed at advancing and consolidating the

gains made in this vital process of local government rejuvenation,” Minister Bulkan said. “The inaugural NCLDO was a launching pad for a participatory process of conducting a situational analysis of the local government sector and identifying solutions to challenges encountered by local organs in servicing their communities, towns and regions.”

The conference brings together the leadership of all LDOs, including the chairman, vice-chairman and Regional Executive Officers (REO) of the RDCs; the chairman, vice chairman and overseers of the NDCs; and the mayors, deputy mayors and Town Clerks of the municipalities.

In the pursuit of inclusion, invitations were also extended to a representative of the minority parties in each of the LDOs. However, several officials from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) opposition-controlled local Councils choose to boycott and even prevent public officers (overseers) from attending the conference.

President Granger said such actions would only hurt the residents, as the conference was an opportunity for all to benefit, regardless of po-

A section of the participants at the 2019 NCLDO (Adrian Narine photo)

litical affiliation. “The cooperation and collaboration that we aim at would be essential in developing a better life for all citizens. There should be no room

for partisanship when it comes to the wellbeing of citizens. We have to work across the division of political party,” Granger said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

Coalition removed political fear from society …WPA tells residents in Linden outreach -urges them to get registered, give coalition a second chance

By Vanessa Braithwaite EXECUTIVE Members of the Working People's Alliance (WPA), one of the parties in the APNU+AFC coalition, on Wednesday rode into Linden urging residents to get registered and give the President David Granger-led administration a second chance.

The WPA believes it is the best government to entrust the wealth that will emerge from the oil and gas industry.

Lindeners were urged to look at the bigger picture and that of securing the country's patrimony and economic gains.

While there are several surface accomplishments of the government, the WPA stressed on critical accomplishments that can be deemed the hallmark of progress made over the last four years. Executive Member of the WPA, Dr. David Hinds, articulated that one of the signal achievements of this coalition government is that of upholding democracy and freedom of speech by not interfering in the civil liberties of its political opponents.

"This is the first government in the history of Guyana that has not gunned down and assassinated political oppo-

nents......this is the first government, that its hand doesn't have the blood of opponents and that for me, is one of the biggest accomplishments....in fact, it is its signal accomplishment, the fact that this government has not locked up opponents, have not charged people for treason and gunned down opponents, that is a qualitative change," Dr Hinds said.

Actions such as these prove that the APNU-AFC made a noticeable effort in transforming the society and changing the status quo by removing political fear from citizens, thus making the society freer.

Another hallmark achievement of the coalition is the return of dignity to the nation as well as the lack of corruption within its system, particularly at the level of the President.

With the influx of wealth that is expected to flow into Guyana, corruption should be of paramount concern to every Guyanese so as not to return to the former days, where attention was given to only a selected few and constituencies where supporters of the former administration resided. "What Granger has done is that he has brought back dignity and uprightness to the top office of

A section of the meeting as a resident stresses the need for the return of the coalition

Dr Davids Hinds addressing the gathering

this country and I am sure that he will continue to give the country that....so sisters and brothers, what I am encouraging you here tonight is to think the big picture, the small picture is important....I am saying to you give them one more chance," he urged.

The WPA called on youths, in particular, to demonstrate their democratic right and get registered while affirming the importance of house-to-house registration. Hinds stressed that while claims and objections will merely reform the list, house-to-house registration will completely clean it up

and that is what is needed at this juncture, for free and fair elections. This 'mother of all elections' he stressed, is not about the citizens of today, but about the children of tomorrow.

"Think about your children, think about what the next 10, 15, 20 years can be..."

While Hinds highlighted some challenges faced within the coalition, he believes that the bigger picture is not about loving one's political partner as he has often been criticised as a critic, but it is about realism and reality. His constructive criticisms are only motivated from his genuine concern for the government to not adapt the mistakes of its predecessor.

One challenge, he said, was the unilateral way in which the main players in the coalition acted and while WPA and the other smaller parties may not

have the strength to pull as many votes, these parties bring their own forte and expertise to the table. He deems WPA as the intellectual party, and the expertise of many of its members could have been used at many top-ranking decision-making tables. In that way, the WPA could have been in a better position to influence policies, rather than to be given the role as sideliners. "We must do everything in our power so that when we win, we will make our coalition better," he said, as he remains hopeful that the coalition will return to office.

Executive Members Kidackie Amsterdam and Tacuma Ogunseye also stressed the need to get registered during the ongoing house-to-house registration and to rally around the coalition government. "The first round of this battle is regis-

tration, the election war started with registration fight....the war has started and we have to keep our eyes to the future because oil and gas is like the promised land," Ogunseye said.

WPA has commenced holding community meetings across Guyana. Linden was the second stop, while Buxton was the first. The executives stressed that while the bigger parties will hold rallies using bigger campaigning strategies, the WPA will serve as the foot soldiers, cleaning up the small constituencies and bringing deep reasoning on the transformations done by the government that is beyond surface achievements.

In addition, the WPA will be on a recruitment drive to convince the youths to not only join the party but to get registered and vote.

CDB wins top industry award for driving geothermal energy development in Region THE Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is being lauded and awarded for its work advancing geothermal energy development in the Caribbean.

On July 17, the Geothermal Congress for Latin America and the Caribbean (GEOLAC) gave CDB’s Sustainable En-

ergy Facility for the Eastern Caribbean (SEF) programme its top prize for Best Financing Programme at its GEOLAC Industry awards.

SEF, which is developed in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and executed by CDB, was specifically rec-

ognised for the financing which combines grant, contingently recoverable grant, and concessional loan resources coming through the IDB from Global Environmental Facility, Clean Technology Fund, and the Green Climate Fund. SEF also utilises IDB and CDB resources. SEF is one of the

CDB’s Head (acting) for Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency, Joseph Williams, collected the award on behalf of the CDB along with Christiaan Gischler, Lead Energy Specialist and ‘lead architect’ for SEF at the IDB

programmes under the CDB GeoSmart Initiative.

CDB Vice-President (Operations), Monica La Bennett, noted that the small size and relative isolation of many of the CDB’s Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs) means that energy costs are high but the barriers to exploring geothermal and other indigenous energy potential are also enormous.

“The high cost of energy impacts competitiveness in many BMCs and makes the economies especially vulnerable to oil price swings. For some time now, Caribbean governments have been supporting the use of our natural

resources like geothermal to produce cleaner, lower-cost energy. However, the availability of appropriate financing, particularly in the exploration and development stages when the costs can be relatively high, has been a major challenge.

We have prioritised mobilising low-cost and concessionary financing to help kick-start geothermal expansion in our BMCs and so are especially pleased that our efforts in this area have been recognised.”

The sixth GEOLAC, which was held in Santiago, Chile July 17-18, 2019, is the largest annual gathering of the regional geothermal market. Its

awards highlight entities that are significantly advancing geothermal development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

CDB’s GeoSmart Initiative aims to reduce the financial, technical and institutional barriers to geothermal energy development in five Eastern Caribbean states – St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, St Lucia and Dominica. It also helps governments build capacity and strengthen institutions so they can be better equipped to implement and manage geothermal energy initiatives.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

GECOM commissioner blasts “partisan” PSC CHAIRMAN of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Gerald ‘Gerry’ Gouveia, is being accused of having an “obsession” with taking any stance which would give his “preferred political party” a chance at power.

The observation came from Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner, Desmond Trotman, who stated on Wednesday that Gouveia’s position on the current political situation is financially motivated. Earlier in the week, Gouveia had called on GECOM’s Chief Election Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, to “immediately suspend” the ongoing house-to-house registration exercise” deeming it as “unlawful”.

He called on the CEO to ensure that GECOM “prepare itself for holding General and Regional Elections within the timeframe prescribed by the Caribbean Court of Justice.”

Contrary to his remarks, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has not prescribed a fixed time for the Commission to hold elections. In fact, it is publicly known that the Court’s Consequential Orders stated that it had no authority

to set a timeline or date for the holding of elections; only the President, the National Assembly and GECOM, in their respective roles, can do so.

On Monday, Lowenfield responded to the PSC Chair informing him of the same and assured that house-tohouse registration will continue in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, Trotman’s recent response highlights other contentions found with Gouveia’s statement which he said is laced with “inaccuracies” and an “obsession” with ousting the current Administration.

Much aligned with the push of the Opposition, Gouveia had defended the National Register of Registrants Database (NRRD) as fit to be used in the coming elections, had pushed for a Claims and Objections period in place of the national exercise and had claimed that the Commission was not adhering to the advice of its Legal Counsel, the latter being since debunked by the CEO. "I believe it will help if the PSC adopts a posture that recognizes the

Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner, Desmond Trotman

obligation of all the players on the field to ensure that the right thing is done for Guyana," Trotman began.

"At this time you are signalling your obsession with ensuring that the Granger administration falls and is replaced by your preferred political party. People are not taking you seriously. They see you and others in the PSC as close confidants of

Jagdeo with no interest other than the extent to which you can financially benefit from the PPP/C being in office.

Go on the streets and ask the populace how they see you; they will confirm what I have said."

Trotman made it clear that his sentiments, unlike Gouveia’s, are not motivated by politics but by a desire to see the holding of credible elections whereby the results of such can be trusted. “I want to make it very clear at this juncture that I do not care which party wins the elections. What I am most concerned about is the fate of the country in a post-elections scenario if the losers decide that mayhem must ensue as a result of their disaffection with the results. I believe that could be avoided and it is in that context, I believe, that GECOM’s role is to ensure that the conditions for credible elections are in place when they are held. I, therefore, support the actions of Lowenfield as he pursues House-to-House Registration with the objective of holding credible elections in Guyana,” the Commissioner said.

He stated that being a part of the electoral process since the 1970s, he is well aware of the dangers inherent in holding elections in Guyana with a flawed list. The house-tohouse registration exercise is intended to create a fresh Official List of Electors (OLE) which includes youths now eligible and excludes those now dead or non-resident.

The previous OLE expired on April 30, 2019, while, since 2018, the Commission had taken a decision and was given the finances to hold the national exercise which was last held some 11 years ago.

Trotman told the PSC Chair that he was the person who seconded and voted for the motion that the registration exercise be held after it was met with resistance from the Opposition-nominated Commissioners. He said that he would willingly do the same again if it came to it.

In his reading of Gouveia’s letter, the Commissioner also chastised the Chairman for his assassination attempt on Lowenfield’s character.

He stated: "If truth be known, all that Lowenfield

--- who over the years has been known and accepted as a highly competent person--has been doing is carrying out the instructions of the full Commission, including PPP Commissioners, which took a unanimous decision to implement GECOM’s 2019 work programme that includes house-to-house registration as a necessary component. It is my understanding, as I am sure it is yours, he is also, in keeping with his obligations to ensure elections are held in the shortest possible time, been carrying out those tasks which do not require the presence of the Chairman."

Trotman said that, in his estimation, the national registration exercise is the one best way to guarantee acceptance of the results with a List all actors can have confidence in. While the PSC stated that it has been seeking an audience with members of the Commission and Secretariat for discussions on the same, Trotman said that based on the “disconcerting” tone taken, he would have “tremendous difficulty” in facilitating this engagement.

Rice millers trained in grading process cence, Peters said, will last for two years. Only participants who pass the test will

Participants at the training programme organised by the GRDB

IN keeping with its mandate to sensitise as well as to keep farmers updated with current changes in the rice industry, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has conducted a massive training course in Region Two. The course commenced on July 23 and lasted for three days. It provided participants from the various mills with knowledge of the grading process.

The grading course was facilitated by GRDB officers and specifically focussed on the correct grading of rice and paddy as well as quality management.

Allison Peters, GRDB Quality Control Manager, who opened the training course, said the initiative seeks to sensitise, educate and provide essential information to millers regarding the grading process.

Peters said that it is important for the grading procedures to be observed upon the delivery of the paddy to the mill. After the training, participants will be allowed to write a test and once that person is successful, he or she will be issued a graders licence.

She also said the participants will be continuously monitored to ensure what they were taught is put into practice. The grading li-

be issued a licence.

Similar training will also be conducted with

rice farmers within the region to educate them on the grading process.

14

‘Girls in Tech’ coming to Guyana

By Vishani Ragobeer

Inter-Development Bank (IDB).

The project encompasses wide-reaching data collection, targeting as many females as possible in Guyana; capacity-building and education, and creating digital or digitally-based solutions for communi-

ing in empowerment and STEM projects. Currently, the board comprises GIRLS in Tech (GIT), a global head of department for the Computer non-profit that works to put an end Science Department at the University to gender inequality in high-tech of Guyana, Penelope DeFreitas; tech industries and startups, will launch entrepreneur, Indrawattie Hirai; ICT its Guyana chapter on August 7. engineer in the eGovernGIT aims to support women with the access and ment Agency, Ministry of community they need to Public Telecommunicasucceed in tech by educating tions, Rosanna Ferreira; and empowering those who lecturer at the University of are passionate about technolGuyana, Vineeta Persaud; ogy and entrepreneurship in programmer/developer with technical industries. the United Nations, Tanika As a result, technology and business courses, Jones; and entrepreneur, including coding courses, Marissa Lowden. bootcamps, hackathons and The Girls in Tech global startup competitions, are community is 60 chapters offered to young girls and strong with an impact of women more than 100,000 mem“These global probers in 36 countries. grammes will also be supported by local initiatives, At the August 7 launch, such as Coffee & Code, a Gurchuran noted that atmonthly mentorship meet tendees will have the opup and an annual tech fair, portunity to hear about the which aims to not only inmission of putting an end troduce young women to GIT Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the possibilities of careers Adriana Gascoigne, with global chapter Managing to gender inequality and in STEM, Robotics and Ar- Directors, including GIT’s Managing Director for the network in order to make tificial Intelligence (AI) but Guyana Chapter, Evie Gurchuran (third from right) meaningful connections also encourage industries to with other women in tech develop automation processin the local community. es,” Founder and Managing Director ties. It is through this project that the They will also have the opportunity to of the local GIT chapter, Evie Kan- opportunity to bring GIT to Guyana learn about upcoming educational and became solidified. hai-Gurchuran said.

“Having the resources of a global entrepreneurial programmes that Girls Gurchuran is a Guyanese restaurateur and tech entrepreneur. In 2018, nonprofit [GIT] gives us the opportu- in Tech will be bringing to Guyana. she was chosen for the Young Leader nity to not only amplify our current The event is sponsored by Sites of the Americas Initiative (YLAI). efforts as individual organisations Builders, a website and mobile The woman has been working in but to be supported by highly skilled application development platform various tech-related empowerment and technical people, networks and projects over the past few years and community that currently do not exist that encourages users to learn and monetise the skills of building and this year, crafted her “Girls and Tech- in Guyana,” Gurchuran said.

The local GIT chapter also com- designing responsive websites and nology can change Guyana” project, which was funded by YLAI and the prises women who have been work- mobile apps with or without coding.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

BCGI workers call for increase in wages, salaries -- union, company continue negotiations for new collective labour agreement WORKERS of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI) are calling for an improvement in vacation benefits, increase in wages and salaries, education allowances for workers and their families, among other things.

On behalf of the unionised workers, the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) has started negotiations with the company.

According to a press statement from the union, following the settlement of a dispute on March 20, 2019, between the BCGI and workers of Aroaima and Kwakwani, there has been engagement with the BCGI management, on day-to-day differences.

The union has been able, to date, to conduct its activities in an uninhibited atmosphere. Workers are, however, still mobilised and are anxiously awaiting the outcome of a new Collective Labour Agreement which is to be realised from the on-going negotiation which will continue on Friday, July 26, 2019.

The GB&GWU's negotiation team would be led by General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis and BCGI Branch President and Secretary, Ephraim Velloza and Leslie Junor, respectively. Both union and the BCGI management are expected to continue the negotiation in good faith.

The negotiation was preceded by a gruelling struggle for respect for the recognition by the employer of the union, even though the union was recognised by the Trade Union Recognition

and Certification Board since May 2007.

The struggle to bring the union and the BCGI management together was the longest struggle of such nature in the history of independent Guyana, lasting for nine-plus years, and spanning three political regimes.

GB&GWU commits to upholding its end of the agreement and will not shy away from holding BCGI accountable for same.

“We are committed to ensuring a new CLA being realised within the shortest possible time,” said the union.

RUSSIAN-owned bauxite company, RUSAL, which owns 90 per cent of the BCGI, agreed to engage in bilateral discussions with the union, a step down from its initial refusal to meet with the union if its general secretary, Lewis, was present.

It was reported that the company and union have been at odds for close to a decade and the situation worsened recently when RUSAL fired a number of workers who had protested a meagre salary increase.

The company had also declared that it has not been making profits in recent years and will be closing sections of its operations while laying off some 91 workers.

Despite not recognising the union in the past, the company had made it clear that it will recognise the union in the interest of the workers and nation.

Lewis said it is necessary for both sides to work together in the interest of the workers and the country.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

President's address to

I have invited you today to explain in greater detail the current political situation in my country. I start by assuring you that the Government of Guyana is committed to upholding the Constitution; respecting the institutions of the State – including the National Assembly and the Courts; ensuring the rule of law; safeguarding hu-

man and civil rights; and preserving our democracy especially through the conduct of free, fair and credible Local and General and Regional Elections.

Your excellencies, recent political developments have been subject to some misinterpretation and misrepresentation of Government’s intentions and they need to be clarified and explained.

THE LEGAL PROCESS The Government, since the passage of the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly on 21st December 2018, sought to respect the decisions of the Court. We have upheld the Constitution.

We challenged the validity of the no-confidence Motion.

We defended the challenge to the constitutionality of the appointment the Chairman of

the Elections Commission.

The legal processes which we initiated were neither frivolous nor calculated to delay the consequences of the no-confidence vote. They sought to explain more clearly and to interpret certain provisions of the Constitution. The legal challenges were taken to the Supreme Court, then to the Court of Appeal and, finally, to the Caribbean Court of Justice

President David Granger

(CCJ), our final court.

THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE The Government, through the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, filed a Fixed Date Application on 7th January 2019, challenging the passage of the no-confidence motion on the basis that the Opposition did not secure a majority as required by the Constitution. The Attorney General, by way of the application, asked the Court to determine whether the Speaker’s declaration that the no-confidence motion was carried by a majority in the National Assembly was unlawful, null and void on the basis that it contradicted the Constitution (at Article 106 (6). The Chief Justice (ag) on 31st January 2019 ruled that the no-confidence motion was lawful.

The Chief Justice ruled, also, that on the issue of dual citizenship, the vote of the former Government Member of Parliament who had voted in favour of the Opposition motion was valid although, as a person holding dual citizenship, he was occupying a seat in the National Assembly in contravention of the Constitution of Guyana.

THE COURT OF APPEAL The Government filed an appeal on 5th February 2019 challenging the Chief Justice’s ruling. The Court of Appeal, on 22nd March 2019, by a majority ruled that the no-confidence motion

against the Government was invalid. The Court of Appeal ruled, additionally, that a person holding dual citizenship was not entitled to be a member of the National Assembly. The Government, in accordance with the Court’s ruling, replaced four of its ministers of the Cabinet who held dual citizenship on 25th April 2019 in pursuant of the Court’s ruling.

THE CARIBBEAN COURT OF JUSTICE We then went to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Excellencies, as you are aware the Parliamentary Opposition filed an appeal on 27th March, 2019 asking the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to issue an order to direct that General and Regional Elections be held in the shortest possible time if the Court found that the no-confidence motion was validly passed. The CCJ, on 18th June 2019, declared that the no-confidence motion in the Government was valid and, on 12th July 2019, issued its Consequential Orders. The Court declared that the provisions of the Constitution (at Articles 106 (6) and (7)), applied to a no-confidence motion and that the Government Member of Parliament who voted to support the Opposition motion was ‘ineligible’ to be elected to the Assembly by virtue of his citizenship of another State but that his vote on the motion of no-confidence was valid.

THE ELECTORAL PROCESS Excellencies, the Presi-

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

o the Diplomatic Corps perhaps even meet to discuss, eligible candidates for the position of Chairman. The aim of these discussions must be to agree the names of six persons who fit the stated eligibility requirements and who are not unacceptable to the President…”

I have acted in good faith.

I met twice with the Leader of the Opposition since the CCJ issued its rulings, first on 2019.07.04 and, again, on 2019.07.16. The teams identified by the Government and Opposition to continue the process of identifying nominees for the position of Chairman of the Elections Commission met four times between 2019.07.08 and 2019.07.17.

dent of the CCJ declared inter alia that the process applied to appoint the Chairman of the Elections Commission (GECOM) was flawed, void and in breach of the Constitution. I personally, in accordance with the Court’s ruling, accepted the resignation of the Chairman. The President embarked on a process to engage the Leader of the Opposition to select a new Chairman.

THE CONSTITUTION (AT ARTICLE 161 (1)) STATES: “…the Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or who has held the office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation with the nongovernmental political parties represented in the National Assembly.”

In that Article, the word court is mentioned six times giving the criteria for the selection of the Chairman a particular complexion. The CCJ, in its ruling of 18th June 2019, proposed, however, that: “… before a list is submitted, the Leader of the Opposition and the President must communicate with each other in good faith on, and

THE CCJ’S RULING, OF 2019.06.18, ALSO STATED: “Once the President and the Leader of the Opposition have hammered out a list of names not unacceptable to the President, the list, comprising the six persons, must then formally be submitted to the President by the Leader of the Opposition and the President must then select the Chairman from among those names.” The CCJ emphasized that this approach “gives the President a role in the identification of the six names…” The CCJ has interpreted the provisions of the Constitution as ascribing a role for the President in identifying persons for consideration as Chairman.

Excellencies, I had the reasonable expectation that the Government’s recommendations would have been accorded serious consideration during the consensual process. I have advised the Leader of the Opposition that any list emerging out of a process which does not accord serious consideration to the Government’s recommendations, in the spirit of the CCJ ruling, would be spurious and that I would have great difficulty in accepting such a list.

We are committed to complying with the Orders of the Courts. We are resolved to ensure the expeditious appointment of a Chairman of the Elections Commission. We seek fair, free and credible elections as early as possible. The Elections Commission, at present however, is without a quorum owing to the absence of a Chairman. My Government will continue to act in good faith to ensure that a Chairperson, “not unacceptable” to the

President, is appointed so as to ensure that democratic elections as early as possible.

Free, fair and credible elections are essential to representative democracy but can be assured only if certain minimum conditions are met.

These include: - an independent and functional Elections Commission; - an acceptable and credible Official List of Electors; and - an efficient and competent secretariat to manage these elections.

The independence of the Elections Commission is safeguarded by the Constitution. It is insulated from political influence, instruction and interference. The Constitution (at Article 62) charges the Commission with the conduct of elections: “Elections shall be independently supervised by the Election[s] Commission in accordance with the provisions of article 162.”

THE CONSTITUTION (AT ARTICLE 162 (1)) STATES: “The Elections Commission shall have such functions connected with or relating to the registration of electors or the conduct of elections as are conferred upon it by or under this Constitution or, subject thereto, any Act of Parliament; and, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Commission-

(a) shall exercise general direction and supervision over the registration of electors and the administrative conduct of all elections of members of the National Assembly; and (b) shall issue such instructions and take such action as appear to it necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the provisions of this Constitution or of any Act of Parliament on the part TURN TO PAGE 19 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

EPA responded to 156 noise nuisance complaints in 2018 – executive director THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recorded 156 complaints of noise nuisance last year and some 105 thus far this year, a 35 per cent increase within a period of one year.

EPA Executive Director, Dr. Vincent Adams, made the disclosure on Thursday during an address at a noise management training for police officers at the Police Officers Training Centre, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

“Many people have also stopped complaining because of their perception that they are not getting any responses,” he said.

Cognisant of the impact of noise pollution on the health of human beings and the environment, Dr. Adams said the EPA regulations of 2000 were developed with the framework to manage

noise pollution in the environment.

This framework, he said, includes authorisation of facilities that emits noise and adherence to permissible limits and monitoring to ensure compliance.

He said an academic article on the psycho social effects of community noise concluded that school children exposed to elevated noise level had significant decreased attention, social adaptability and increased opposing behaviour in comparison with school children who were not exposed to elevated noise levels.

He said with Guyana’s economic growth unfolding, there will be an increase in the noise pollution, and as such, it must be monitored and contained.

Dr. Adams said access

EPA Executive Director, Dr. Vincent Adams

to more finances will ensure that the country has better building, planning and construction to reduce noise pollution while the tools will be available to police those

breaking the law.

The EPA, through robust regulatory framework, he said will strengthen institutional capacity; enhance monitoring and enforcement;

collaborate through extensive education and awareness aimed at engendering a population that is environmentally conscious.

He said the establishment of the interagency task force on noise nuisance in July 2017 is testimony of work to address and eventually mitigate the problem.

Adding that the development of and strategy to effectively address noise nuisance must be based on proper scientific collection and evaluation of data, Dr. Adams said the training of police will expose them to strategies to collect noise data, using the noise meter and analyse the data obtained.

“This data can be used to address noise nuisance cases and alleviate the discomfort to citizens. Operators of sound-making devices and loud speakers must be compliant with the permissible limit. Police officers

equipped with noise meters and trained in their correct use can determine the compliance of the operator,” Dr. Adams said.

He noted that the two-day training with the Guyana Police Force, which is a key partner, must continue.

“I look forward to someday when every officer will be equipped to police noise emissions; no doubt that noise is a big problem in Guyana, the government agencies are working together to address it, but I urge the members of the public to do their part to reduce noise pollution, turn down the volumes, employ sound technology to attenuate the noise emission and implement good management practices to protect yourself and others from the impact of noise pollution,” the EPA executive director advised.

President's address to ...

FROM PAGE 17

of persons exercising powers or performing duties connected with or relating to the matters aforesaid.

(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Constitution, if the Elections Commission is satisfied that the holding of an election pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of article 60 or article 160(2) on the day appointed therefor would be attended, either generally or in a particular area, by danger or serious hardship it may, after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition by notice published in the Gazette – (a) postpone the holding of the election to a day specified in the notice; or (b) postpone the voting in any area specified in the notice to a day so specified.”

Excellencies, the proclamation of an unrealistic date by the Executive is ruled out by the Constitution which gives certain powers to the Elections Commission. The adoption of a list by any agency outside of the Elections Commission is prohibited by our Constitution and would damage the elections if held an attempt was held under such a spurious date or with such a spurious list.

Excellencies, the credibility of elections is dependent, in part, on the integrity of the Official List of Electors. A corrupted List can undermine the electoral process, encourage mischief and malpractice and result in the elections being vitiated.

The existing Official List of Electors falls short of acceptable standards. It cannot guarantee free, fair and credible elections. A new List needs to be constituted and it has been recommended that this should be done through a process of ‘house-to-house’ registration. This is entirely a matter for the Elections Commission, it is not a matter for any political party or the Executive. The Commission must decide.

House-to-house registration is an efficient and credible process. The Elections Commission, in 2018, had requested funding for its planned ‘house-to-house’ registration upon the expiration of the existing ‘List’ the validity of which came to an end on 2019.04.30.

The National Assembly approved prior to the expiration of the list a sum of $5.371 B in November 2018, and subsequent to the vote of no-confidence approved an additional

$3.482 B this year. So, in all, the Elections Commission has been provided with over G$8.8B. So, the Government has not been dilatory in providing funds for the Elections Commission to do its work.

Excellencies, elections will not be practicable unless the Elections Commission is prepared. It is for the Elections Commission to advise the President on its readiness to conduct free, fair and credible elections. It would be reckless and irresponsible, on my part, to name a date for elections without the Commission’s assurance and advice that it would be ready to conduct elections on such a date. My Government is keen to have elections in the shortest possible time. It has to be satisfied, however, that the bases for the holding of free, fair and credible elections exist. We shall continue, in the interim, to uphold the Constitution, to comply with the Orders of the Court and act in good faith in the consensual process to appoint a Chairman of the Elections Commission. Step by step with the legal process and the electoral process is of course the political process.

THE POLITICAL PROCESS Excellencies, I wish to advise that, in the wake of the passage of the no-confidence motion in December 2018 and, following the CCJ ruling and orders in June and July 2019, I have taken the following action: - meeting the Leader of the Opposition in January 2019; - meeting the Elections Commission in March 2019; - accepting the resignation of four Cabinet ministers on 25th April 2019; - making three 'broadcasts to the nation' on 18th June and on 9th and 12th July on the acceptance of the CCJ's ruling and Consequential Orders; - accepting the resignation of the Chairman of the Elections Commission, on 25th June; - meeting the Leader of the Opposition on 4th and 16th July; - establishing a joint Government-Opposition 'working group' which has already met four times.

- presenting our case to the Commonwealth SG twice, by telephone.

- presenting our case to the CARICOM Chairman, by telephone.

- meeting the diplomatic corps in Georgetown on 25th July.

Excellencies, there has evidently been strong resistance by the Opposition to the Elections Commission's work plan to correct the list of electors by a process of its own choosing.

There has been resistance by the Opposition to adopting the procedure for the selection of the Chairman of the Elections Commission by a 'consensual' rather than 'unilateral' process.

I assure you that I shall remain engaged in working towards ensuring that the Elections Commission receives the support it requires to conduct credible elections in the shortest possible time. I will not intrude or instruct the Elections Commission to vary from the powers granted to it by the Constitution of Guyana. The Government of Guyana accepts that it is an ‘interim’ government and must continue to provide public services. The Constitution (at Article 106 (7)) states that, notwithstanding its defeat in the National Assembly, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election.

The Government has made it clear that during this ‘interim’ period, it will restrain the exercise of its legal authority and prepare for the holding of General and Regional Elections by the Elections Commission. We accept that status.

The Government will continue its routine management of the country; it will address urgent issues that are in the public interest but will not initiate projects which are controversial or which are irreversible. It will be prepared, also, to continue to consult with the Opposition on matters which require the agreement of both sides.

Excellencies, the processes which have led us to this present juncture may seem to have been protracted but it is the Government’s view that they were necessary to ensure the functioning of the Constitution “…the preservation of justice and the peace and prosperity of Guyana.”

I believe that the measures we have taken have fortified democracy. The holding of free, fair and credible elections as soon as possible will make our democracy even stronger.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 26, 2019

G

UYANESE Superstar Eddy Grant’s management team yesterday announced that the ‘Electric Avenue’ singer will do a rare live performance on the popular late-night talk show, ‘The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon’ on July 31.

Grant was reportedly approached by Fallon’s people on Jimmy’s behalf to perform his massive USA & Worldwide hit, ‘ELECTRIC AVENUE”, which topped the USA Billboard Hot 100 charts at #2 back in 1983, and was also nominated for a Grammy (Best R&B Song of 1983).

‘Electric Avenue’ has been covered numerous times by other artists/

Guyanese icon, Eddy Grant

bands, the likes of Beck, Skindred and Refugee Camp All Stars ft. Ky-Mani Marley.

The song was also used in the 2015 Super Bowl advertisement for BMW, featuring Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel, and featured in the popular movie, “Pineapple Express”, starring Seth Rogen.

‘Electric Avenue’ is named after a street in Brixton, London, and in 2016, Eddy was invited by the Mayor of London to switch on the illumination instalment of the street name “Electric Avenue”.

‘The Tonight Show’ host, Jimmy Fallon

Eddy Grant to perform live next Friday ―on ‘The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon’

DJs ready for ‘2019 Art of War’ - $1M up for grabs!

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ne night, one stage, and six DJs all battling through five rounds for a winner-take-all $1 million cash prize, a trophy and one year bragging rights! Tomorrow, the Empire Media Inc. Art of War DJ Competition goes down at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) Tarmac.

The DJ’s have been on an Art of War Tour for the past few months giving the public a taste of what’s expected this Saturday, and the anticipation has really been building up.

The competition will see DJ Damion from Major Vybz, DJ Dauren, DJ Supreme of Notorious International, DJ Versatile from Vigilante, and Jimmy Slaughta of Firehouse lock horns with the three semifinalists of last month’s “XL Lock De Scene” DJ tournament: DJ Bandit of Spotlight Sound; DJ Kevin of Royalty Vibes; and DJ Guy out of the Mighty Ruler Sound.

DJ clashes being what they are, there’s not a DJ in the bunch who isn’t brimming with confidence, and certain that the competition win is already theirs.

Fresh off his win of the from the “XL Lock De Scene”, 24 year old DJ Kevin, whose real name is Kevin Sookhbarow, says the others need to watch out because he’s going to keep it unpredictable.

“Just tell the DJs them to prepare themselves properly. They know me full of surprise, a lot of

surprise. The rest of DJs know me’s a youth like wuk with ‘nuff energy,” DJ Kevin boasted in an interview with The Buzz.

The Mon Repos DJ says persons need only look at his performance during the Art of War tour to see why he’s walking away with that trophy come tomorrow night’s competition.

Despite this being his first time in the Art of War, DJ Kevin is back by ten years DJ-ing experience under his belt, and has two sound clash wins to his name, he’s says he’s about to collect his third.

“I’m fully prepared for it.

During my tour in the art of war competition going up against the other DJs I come out the best. So I’m fully confident, during the tour I even impressed myself that I do better than the rest of DJs them,” he said.

Berbician DJ Dauren is another one with some amount of experience under his belt, he won the 2017 “No Retreat No Surrender” DJ clash, participated in the 2018 Armageddon DJ Clash and was a 2017 Art of War finalist. He says he’s back in Art of War for the win.

“I am very confident going into competition, I am well geared for the event all prepared and everything for it. Patrons can come out and expect a wonderful night of entertainment,” DJ Dauren says.

Whoever the win goes to it will not come easy, they will

have to survive the five energetic round to prevail. The DJ’s can breathe and use the first round – the “Introduction Round” - to warm and get themselves pumped without fear as there would be no elimination. Each DJ will get five minutes.

The second round will see the DJs paired off for the “Engage the Enemy/FaceOff”, where the paired DJs will battle for 10 minutes straight, and when things settles four DJs will be sent packing.

Round three will be “Anything Goes” for the four remaining DJs, giving each seven minutes to impress, only the three most impressive performances move through.

Round four will be about “Big Tunes & Big Speech” and the DJs get five tunes each. Down to the final two round five will be “Tune fi Tune/Vocal Round” winner is the first to seven points, DJs must feature a vocalist. All Rounds except Round 4 will be judged by the fans, Round 4 will be judged by three judges.

The DJs will be governed by a few rules, including no profanity allowed, and the no playback rule will be enforced from round three.

The 2018 Art of War competition winner, DJ Magnum, real name Dorrel Romeo, is not in this year’s competition. The winner of this year’s Art of War competition will get automatic placement in the 2020 Armageddon DJ Clash, also hosted by Empire Media Inc.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 26, 2019

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Freedom Fest 2019 set for August 1 in Linden

OR the third year running, Lindeners can enjoy their own hyped and culture-filled Emancipation celebration, with a bigger and better “Freedom Fest 2019”.

Event organizer, Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira, s a i d that Africa will be brought to Linden on Emancipation Day at the Wisroc Community Ground as the programme will be filled with an authentic cultural extravaganza in recognition of African excellence in art and craft, music, dance, clothing, food and much more.

Slated to be present at this year’s event is Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan; Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon;

Local Reggae artiste set to go places G UYANESE-born Reggae artiste Clarence Fraser is looking to see how he can better collaborate with a Jamaican group called Musiq UK Records so that local productions can be enhanced.

Fraser has lived in Jamaica for about 20 years, and has been in the music industry for the past 15 years.

He wants to be able to improve the work coming out of his own production house, House of Relatives Entertainment.

“I want to enhance my production by collaborating with a Jamaican production in terms of beat, and producing better material. They also just recently had a big hit song called ‘Polo’, one of the hottest songs in the streets of Jamaica at the moment. They kind of give me the beats, and are willing to work along to help us with our production. It’s more like a joint venture,” Fraser told ‘The Buzz’ during an interview.

He has been able to collaborate with the owner of Musiq UK Records, Shawn Bygrave and engineer known as ‘Terror.’

Because of his Local Reggae artiste Clarence Fraser years in Jamaica, he

and Dr. David Hinds of the WPA amongst other special invitees.

Freedom Fest is in keeping with the essence of the emancipation of slavery. Figueira said the event was conceptualised in 2017 after it was recognised that there was no activ- ity i n Linden to mark the occasion, despite the fact that residents of the com- munity are predominantly of Afro-Guyanese.

This caused most of the residents in the community to sojourn to Georgetown to participate in Emancipation activities there at the National Park.

Emancipation celebrations are held every year in other parts of the country, especially in those villages that were owned by freed slaves.

―after hooking up with Musiq UK Records

has gained a lot of experience in the music industry and has managed to develop many contacts. “I have done music with many other Jamaican productions,” Fraser said, “So, knowing these people, it’s not hard to get someone to come on board to help me.”

Having been back in Guyana for the past six years, Fraser recalled that there was hardly any scope for music in times past. Hence, wanting to develop his talent and skills, he opted to move to Jamaica.

Now, he wants to be able to use the experience he gained abroad locally. “The experience you gain, you bring back,” he said, adding: “I’m sharing this not because I am better than you, but because I’ve learnt it from worthwhile people. That’s the whole idea of going to come back and inspire your own people.”

Two of his albums that especially stand out to him are “Black I born” and “Woman of the Black Land”.

At the moment, Fraser wants to be able to help others. “It’s not about me at this time; it’s about what I can do for others in music.

There comes a time when you have to put your focus on younger people,” he said.

Having his own studio makes it possi-

ble for him to put whom he

Owner of Musiq UK Records, Shawn Bygrave

ents

young talthat we have at the moment.”

An excursion to the

L

‘Motherland’

INDEN is known as one of those towns in Guyana where most of the residents can trace their lineage to other villages, particularly Berbice.

This means that every year, without fail, Lindeners would usually journey back to their ‘Motherland’, particularly to attend Emancipation events such as soirees.

This year, the journey to Berbice is made all the more interesting and sweeter with a grand ‘Bus Excursion and Boat Cruise’ this Sunday, courtesy of Club LnL, Linda’s Restaurant in the USA, and Fran, aka ‘Big Red’.

The excursion starts in Linden, while the cruise

starts at the Rosignol Stelling in West Berbice, and heads to Orealla, on the Berbice River on the ‘MV Malali’.

Freedom songs as well as all genres of music to get the party spirit activated will be played by Thunderbolt Sound System; Murphy’s One-Man Band; Errol One-Man Band; Selector Wata Dawg; Selector Papa; and ‘Fyah Feelings One-Voice Family’ and Selector Slata. Regular tickets cost $4000, while tickets with meals included cost $6000.

The bus will be leaving Club LnL, in Linden, at 06:00hrs.

in the spotlight those finds with good talent.

“Guyana can produce a lot of music,” he said, “but it all comes down back to the quality and p ro f e s s i o n a l mixing and recording.

And we are not good at that.

But there is some w o r k I am doing with a few

EX

PLORER

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‘You don’t need no copyright laws’

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 26, 2019

IGH R Y P CO

T

―‘I am the copyright law’, says Martain Al-ameen, the man behind High Rollas Inc.

T

HE struggles in the local music industry can never be overemphasised. It is known by almost every Guyanese how the arts are vastly affected by the lack of several things in Guyana.

Though our artistes have been making do with what is available to them, a bright sun seems to be peering through the dark gloomy sky.

This bright sun goes by the name, Martain Al-ameen, the man behind High Rollas Entertainment.

In an interview with ‘The Buzz’, Al-ameen said that he has returned to his home country to take over the music industry, as his intervention is what is needed for Guyanese artistes to adequately be compensated for their work. His aim, he said, is putting Guyana on the map through the music industry.

The young man said that he would have spent a number of years in the US, and would have acquired knowledge on the ins and outs of the business side of the music industry, and he believes that the knowledge he has is

capable of paving the way for the future of entertainment in Guyana.

Through his company, High Rollas Production Inc., in collaboration with Trinity Promotions and Vizion Sounds Records, Al-ameen is hosting a production tour that will be executed in Guyana and several other countries.

Through this tour, he said that he will be networking with artistes who are interested in coming through his channel to earn from their work.

“I have the power to put every Guyanese artiste in the international market.

My plan is to have no music coming out of the country unless it’s coming through me. I’ll be like the DJ Khaled of Guyana, because the other people don’t know what they’re doing. So we are working to put things together for those who are serious about their work, and help them to make it international.

We don’t need no copyright laws; I am the copyright law,” the ambitious young man said.

Sharing his come-up sto-

ry, Al-ameen said that in 2016, he came home to Guyana and shot his first video with Jamaican Dancehall artiste, Jahvillani, and after that video, 75% of the Guyanese artistes started reaching out to him to listen their songs and wanting to work with him.

The channel has gotten so popular that promoters would usually run through the channel to find artistes to book for live shows.

This was where he saw the opportunity to use his channel to help other artistes earn from the views.

Additionally, the ones that

The face behind High Rollas Production, Martain Al-ameen

It was from there his fame and career ‘shot off’.

“So I created a YouTube channel, and it currently reaches over 35 countries, heading to over 2M views,” he said.

attract a lot of people, he works further with them by improving their content and managing them.

“So, instead of me listening to the music, I give the fans to listen the music

and they would decide who they love. Then I work directly with the person and contribute to push them as an artiste. Through me being overseas, they already do not have a market in Guyana, and don’t have the quality of music to suit the international market, so my job is to listen to the song, and if I like it, redo it and I put it out on various platforms. A lot of people don’t make money from social media, so I will give them a percentage of the earnings. If it is good enough, or whichever gets popular, I will propose to register it under my company and do management for that artiste, once they are serious about their work,” Al-ameen explained.

Thus far, several artistes are interested in his vision to revolutionise the industry, and works have already started.

In fact, when he leaves Guyana, he will be heading to Jamaica, French Guiana, Suriname, The Bahamas and the US. But given that Al-ameen

is Guyanese, his main focus will be on developing his own, to the level they need to be.

He said that the collaboration he has, provides more than just the opportunity to be featured on YouTube, but rather a package that cannot be provided anywhere else in Guyana.

Through the collaboration with Trinity Promotions, he said, an ‘open mic’ stage will be provided for the artistes to get onstage exposure, which is the Frass Friday event held every Friday in Tiger Bay. And with the collaboration with Vizion Sounds, recording opportunities will be provided.

Additionally, ‘High Rollas Production’ comes with an entire team, whereas if an artiste signs on to their company, a package with security, cameraman, manager, DJ, etc. will be provided for each artiste.

Al-ameen believes in his plan for Guyana, and is working assiduously to ensure that his takeover mission is accomplished.

‘The Tenants’ opens to rave reviews ―and calls for copyright protection

‘THE Tenants…Rent’s Due’ premiered earlier this week at Caribbean Cinemas with Writer and Producer Richard Mahase calling on the authorities to implement some kind of copyright protection so that the arts can move forward.

counted Mahase’s life as a journalist, and complimented the project, while Rohee recounted that the late Mr. Subraj’s work was as a humanitarian and applauded the effort.

Subraj offered that this movie was the last major project her husband was

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo (at center) attended the first screening of the movie

In attendance were Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, former Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, Mr. and Mrs. Loaknauth Persaud of King’s Jewellery World, and Mr. and Mrs. Sase Persaud of Sankar’s Group of Businesses.

Wife of Producer, the late George Subraj, Mrs. Gloria Subraj, was also there for the opening.

The Prime Minister re-

working on before he passed.

“It was always his dream to make a movie of his work.

Sadly, he is not here to share it with you, but as they say, he lives on in the films. And he is in this film.”

In asking for copyright protection, Mahase expressed: “This way, the country, our singers, musicians, writers, poets can export this talent to show and share Guyana’s beauty

and warmth without been exploited.”

The film, a 111-minute-long drama by the George Subraj Foundation and Red Lock Media, was officially introduced to the Guyanese populace last month, with daily showings billed for Caribbean Cinemas. The film will show four times daily for one week.

Popular Guyanese-American entrepreneur and philanthropist, George Subraj (now deceased), along with Mahase, who is a longstanding member of the local entertainment industry, began talks of producing a Guyanese film in an American setting since back in 2015.

Mahase had said that the film was made by Guyanese to the United States’ level of production.

Known for leading many medical missions here, Subraj, as a New York resident, developed a huge rental enterprise before he died. The film is, therefore, about his experience in the industry in Queens, New York, long considered an expansive ‘melting pot’ of sorts in the USA. As such, the movie reflects the business that Subraj ran, and the struggles people from all across the world endure while seeking to rent an apartment in New York.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 26, 2019

Personality of The Week...

TALKING Ministering - with through music

A

T just five years old, while still learning the fundamentals of talking and playing with other children, Samuel Medas began making music by pressing the black-and-white keys of the piano.

He had no training in the instrument, but says that it was God who taught him what to do.

“I’ve been in music all my life,” 30-year-old Medas told the Buzz. His musical journey began when he was just that young inquisitive boy pressing the piano keys, but has now transformed to the point where he is a full-fledged recording and performing gospel artiste.

As Medas progressed into his more formative years, it was clear that his musical talent was bright as the “Star of Wonder” that guided the three wise men to the manger in Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. And,

as he grew up, the young man found that his calling was in spreading the gospel of the Lord. Eventually, he would have made a career for himself by combining the two.

In the beginning, it was a bit of a struggle for Samuel to ‘break’ into the music industry, primarily because of the lack of finances. One thing he learnt, however, was that consistency is the key to anything.

“I’m grateful that my growth in music has been organic and gradual,” Samuel said, adding that he has been creating music that people, and not just the avid churchgoer, love.

More than that, he related that he is kept grounded by the fact that people love his music and he has to remain consistent if he is going to be effective in spreading the word of God. In fact, he has been so

consistent that after 10 years of producing music, he is reaping the benefits of ‘holding the faith’. He highlighted that he is being rewarded for his dedication by being booked in many countries all over the world, where he is able to travel and perform with other exceptionally talented artistes, His music is also available for streaming online, so he does have his fans around the world.

Earlier this year, Samuel was awarded Best Regional Artiste of 2018 at the Gospel Music Awards of Trinidad and Tobago. A few days later, the Country copped another regional award as he was adjudged the Caribbean Artiste of the year at the Sterling Gospel Music Awards in Jamaica.

And importantly, last weekend he launched his fifth studio album- “Ready”, which he spent more than one year crafting and refin-

IT’S time for the weekend again people, and it’s time to keep you in the loop with what’s ‘buzzing’ in and around Guyana.

TODAY

● Are You Ready For Summer 2019? Then take a trip to Hawaii as Pulse Entertainment brings to you “Hawaiian Night - Aloha to Summer” at The Boardroom, Giftland Mall. Come in your Hawaiian outfits and enjoy cocktails from the authentic tiki bar! First 200 ladies get in FREE. Take part in the Couple’s Coconut Smushy Challenge and win a bottle rum. Music by DJ Ryan and Hutson.

Tickets: $2000 ● Ste4Life Entertainment and World Travel Lifestyle presents “Frat Friday” at District Ultra Lounge featuring PStar Perry out of Trinidad. University/College ID holders FREE before 10pm. Music by DJ David and DJ Vemon. ● Head down to the Pegasus poolside, Ignite Bar and Grill every Friday and Saturday for fun, food, and entertainment!

TOMORROW

● It’s “Y.M.S: You, Me and Soca” inside District Ultra Lounge featuring DJ Avalanche. Enjoy Johnny Walker specials. ● Lloyd and De Arts Production presents “Culturama 3: Explorign the Grandeur of CARICOM” at the Theatre Guild. Enjoy an evening with focus on Guyana, Jamaica, Grenada and the Dominica Republic. Wine and Cheese Fiesta from 7.30pm – 8pm. Tickets: $1500 ● Moruca Expo presents “Miss Moruca 2019 Pageant” at the Kumaka Recreation Ground. See Esther Marslowe crown her successor. Enjoy the night at the delegates represent the various villages of the Moruca sub region in Introduction, talent piece, cultural wear, evening gown and question and answer. ● The Vintage Lounge presents “Brazilian and Latin Saturdays”. Enjoy food and drink specials. Music by DJ Tranquilo Santos. Doors open from 5pm ● Aura Sky Lounge presents Seductive Saturdays! Doors open at 8pm!

SUNDAY

● Marvelous Entertainment presents Marvelous Sundayz at its new location 592 Spot and Night Club (John and Norton Street). Ladies free all night. Music

by Stereo Sonic, Fusion and Boom DJs. ● G-Money in association with Leprechaun Entertainment presents Summer Sundays at Club Privilege (Main Street, Georgetown). Free entry for first 50 ladies. Throwback music and finger foods. Music by One Drop from NY, DJ Denzil, Selector Dexter and a special guest DJ and one man band.

The Vintage Wine Bar, Restaurant and Lounge presents “Dinner with 70s ad 80s music.

Sundays were meant for 70’s & 80’s!■ So, too, is Vintage Wine Bar, Restaurant and Lounge’s “Dinner with a 70s and 80s twist”

s a d e M l e u m a S

Samuel Medas performing at a recent youth concert [Vishani Ragobeer photos] ing. This album is one which he hopes he can spread the word of the Lord through as well.

However, he said that he is not close to fulfilling his true purpose. Medas related that both he and his crew will start working with young people, outside of the stage and spotlight, in hopes of positively impacting them and also challenging them to live on purpose.

“I have to use my influence for good,” Samuel stressed.

In the meantime, he will continue fostering opportunities for young local artistes to travel and perform with him so that they could get that exposure Samuel Medas serenading the crowd they need to thrive as well. of young gospel fans

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday July 26, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 26, 2019

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PMTC to celebrate 100th anniversary THE horse racing stalwarts are preparing for the 100th Anniversary of the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) with an event on August 1.

The seven-race programme is being organised by the 4 Horseman Promotions in collaboration with the Ryan Crawford Turf Club.

During a press briefing yesterday, co-coordinator Colin Elcock related that the meet will focus a lot on the locally bred horses.

“I’m trying to promote local content,” he told the media, adding that his meet will use the Jamaican Formula where locally bred horses and foreign-bred horses will run for the same prize moneys.

According to Elcock, “The idea behind the event is to do something for the 100th Anniversary of the PMTC and try to rescue horse racing from where it is currently.”

Elcock singled out the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred

Guyana’s National U-19 team departs for St Vincent GUYANA’S National Under-19 team departed yesterday for the West Indies Rising Stars U-19 tournament in St Vincent.

Title-holders for five consecutive years, the Guyana are scheduled to compete against the Windwards in the first of five rounds on July 28 at 09:30hrs at Arnos Vale.

The squad will be accompanied by Julian Moore, coach, and Andy Ramnarine as assistant coach and manager.

The team includes Ashmead Nedd (captain), Kevlon Anderson (vice-captain), Alex Algoo, Sachin Singh, Garfield Benjamin, Alphius Bookie, Seon Glasgow, Adrian Hinds, Daniel Mootoo, Kevin Umroa, Joel Spooner, Qumar Torrington, Leon Swamy and Junior Sinclair.

GCB secretary Anand Sanasie met with the squad prior departure where he expressed his confidence for them, as they prepare to collect yet another victory under their belts.

American Racing Tips Saratoga Race 1 Countenance Race 2 Assault Breaker Race 3 I Can Do Anything Race 4 Queen of Bees Race 5 Tiz R Bella Race 6 Balon Rose Race 7 It was Considered Race 8 New York’s Finest Race 9 Looking At Bikinis Canadian Racing Tips Woodbine Race 1 Gold Sting Race 2 Big Classic Race 3 Tequila State Race 4 Unbounded Spirit South Africa Racing Tips Fairview 08:25 hrs Horse Haizi 09:00 hrs Fort Winter 09:35 hrs Wild Brier 10:10 hrs Foreign Source 10:45 hrs Coyote Creek English Racing Tips Ascot 08:50 hrs Stars In The Sky 09:25 hrs Man Of Promise 10:00 hrs Crystal King

10:35 hrs Magnetic Charm 11:10 hrs Almost Midnight 11:45 hrs Arecibo 12:15 hrs Texting Newmarket 12:35 hrs Cape Cyclone 13:10 hrs Laikaparty 14:10 hrs Arigato 14:40 hrs Passion And Glory 13:40 hrs Chlosllie York 13:00 hrs Moftris 13:30 hrs Spring Romance 14:00 hrs Boosala 14:30 hrs Frankellina 15:00 hrs Alexander James 15:30 hrs Amplify Irish Racing Tips Down Royal 12:30 hrs Millisle 13:05 hrs Zippity 13:35 hrs Dapper Power 14:05 hrs Royal County Down 14:35 hrs Downdraft 15:05 hrs Loudest Whisper 15:35 hrs Mallacoota

racing committee as one of those that share this vision of using that formula, adding that they have already altered their upcoming programme to match that.

The seven-race programme, which is expected to secure the traditional sponsors, will see the fea-

ture event being the 1300m 3-year-old Guyana-bred horses for a first prize of $300 000.

Other events include the H3 and Lower class over the same distance for a $220 000 first prize while the 2-yearold Guyana-bred horses will run 1000m for the same prize

money.

The J and Lower 4 years old and over horses will run 1300m for a first prize of $180 000 while the K2 and Lower 4 years old and over class will run over the same distance for a first prize of $170 000.

The L Class Open (2- &

3-year-old horses not allowed) along with the L1 and Lower Class (4 years old and over) will run over 1100m for first prize of $160 000 and $140 000 respectively.

The event will be held under the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) rules.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 26, 2019

Bancroft impresses in final Ashes warm-up fixture CAMERON Bancroft pitched his perfectly timed submission for inclusion in Australia’s Ashes squad to be named tomorrow, by delivering a stand-out, unbeaten 93 on what proved the final day of the sole Test series warm-up fixture.

Bancroft remained unconquered having faced 194 balls as the Graeme Hick XII recorded a five-wicket win over fellow coach Brad Haddin’s team in the long-anticipated practice game that yielded a constant flow of wickets but not so many selectorial answers.

Given the ascendancy of bowlers for most of the two and a half days played, and the comparative contributions from other batters on both teams, Bancroft’s innings was as noteworthy as it was timely.

Only his former Test opening partner David Warner was able to reach 50 in the face of bowler-friendly conditions in this game, and Bancroft would surely have reached a century if Tim Paine had not scored the winning runs before he had the chance to reach the milestone.

But even without celebrating the milestone, Bancroft’s achievement stood head and shoulders above all other batters.

Under usual operating

protocols, yesterday’s victory target of 121 with eight wickets of Test-calibre batting available to get them at the resumption of play would not have appeared overly daunting.

scoring proved against the Test-standard bowling on show in the intra-squad game, even with in-form pair Bancroft and Matthew Wade in occupation at play’s start it loomed as a tall order.

gne on the opening day, Bancroft showed the benefit of past months spent negotiating the Dukes-brand red ball in British conditions while traversing the local county circuit.

The victorious Hick XII celebrate the win (Getty)

But as the clatter of wickets and the nature of the Rose Bowl pitch underscored during the past two days, this has been anything but a regulation fixture.

The gradual deforestation of the live grass that covered the pitch on day one had seen scores increase incrementally across the preceding six sessions.

B u t s o d i ff i c u l t h a s

The dismissal of Wade – caught by a diving Alex Carey, having squeezed a delivery from Jon Holland into his pad – for a hardfought seven from 33 balls rendered that assignment more challenging.

But while Bancroft remained at the crease, the Hick XII seemed to have the task in hand.

Like Marnus Labuscha-

The 26-year-old currently sits 17th on the Division Two batting rankings with 726 runs from 17 innings for Durham at an average of 45.38 with two centuries and a highest score of 158.

The 93 he scored overnight won’t rank among his most memorable, but it will likely sit among his most timely if his name is among the 17 in the Ashes squad to

be announced in Southampton today.

Against a four-pronged seam attack of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle and the left-arm spin of Holland, Bancroft batted for significantly longer than rival batters in the game.

Not only did he defy and new and old ball, he wore several body blows including a clatter to helmet during Starc’s first over of the day, and another painful strike to the groin having suffered a similar indignity on day one.

He began the day unbeaten on 25 from 47 balls faced on Wednesday evening, and spent much of the morning session closing in on a patient and deserved half-century which he reached shortly before lunch.

Bancroft was involved in a 29-run fourth-wicket stand with Peter Handscomb (13 from 42 balls) and then a more sprightly 54-run union with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (23 from 39 balls) as the victory target inched closer.

Handscomb fell in a manner that has become familiar on a pitch that has offered seam movement and variable bounce throughout.

The right-hander was pinned on the crease by Hazlewood, to give the Test

quick his second wicket of the game.

As he had done in the final hour of the opening day, Marsh appeared as comfortable as any player and scored at a rate that belied the demons in the surface, and the quality of the bowlers.

Marsh’s 29 in the first innings came from just 33 deliveries, and while his effort today was a little more circumspect he still found the boundary on four occasions as the large first stride he takes into the ball helped to negate the disconcerting movement.

He eventually fell to Starc, who had undergone scans on his sore right knee overnight but looked a far more threatening proposition this afternoon when he began bowling around the wicket with the old ball.

The left-armer not only struck Test skipper Tim Paine a frightening blow on the left hand from the first ball that Paine faced, he also sent Bancroft collapsing onto the pitch in a cloud of dust, courtesy of a trademark yorker speared at the opener’s toes.

But it was Bancroft who had the final laugh and, after more than a year of anxious and introspective waiting, now has less than 24 hours before knowing if his ambition to return to the Test-fold has been realised.

Bernal gains time as Alaphilippe hangs on to yellow jersey

By Julien Pretot

VALLOIRE, France (Reuters) - Egan Bernal had the edge over the other top Tour de France contenders, as France’s Julian Alaphilippe hung on for dear life to retain the yellow jersey at the end of a punishing day in the Alps yesterday.

Julian Alaphilippe dug deep on the Galibier to preserve his yellow jersey

(AFP photo/Marco Bertorello) Nairo Quintana won the 18th stage, a 208-km trek at high altitude from Embrun, but all eyes were on the battle for the title, as his fellow Colombian Bernal powered away from a reduced pack about two kilometres from the top of the Col du Galibier with his rivals unable to respond.

His advantage quickly rose to 43 seconds, but an attack from

his Ineos team mate, Geraint Thomas, dented his lead while Frenchman Thibaut Pinot then reined in the defending champion with most of the other favourites on his wheel.

Only Alaphilippe was dropped, but the world number one made his way back to the group in the high-speed descent to the finish.

He leads Bernal by 1:30 going into the last two competitive stages in the mountains and while his yellow jersey seems to be hanging by a thread, Alaphilippe has shown he will not go down without a fight.

Thomas is third and 1:35 off the pace with Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk in fourth place a further 12 seconds behind. Pinot is in fifth position, 1:50 adrift of Alaphilippe.

Thomas’s move, however, highlighted a leadership conundrum at Ineos as the defending champion effectively chased down his team mate and brought his rivals closer.

“The call was made for Egan to go and hopefully that would kick it off a bit, but it didn’t really - (Alaphilippe’s team mate) Mas just started riding his tempo,” said Thomas.

“That’s when I went as well, just to test. But at least Egan gained some time on everyone else.”

Bernal, who is now bestplaced to deprive France of a

first home-grown Tour winner since Bernard Hinault’s triumph in 1985, said he had spoken to Thomas before his attack.

“G asked me how I was feeling. I said I was feeling really good so he asked me to attack to try to move the race,” he said.

Pinot, who was the in-form rider in the Pyrenees, could not follow Bernal, but found the strength to catch Thomas at the end of the 23-km climb up the Galibier, which stands 2 642 metres above sea level.

“I wasn’t on a great day,” said Pinot.

“The goal was to follow the best. I couldn’t do it with Bernal, he was too strong today. Thomas also made a strong attack that hurt us but we managed to come back.”

Up the road, Quintana claimed an emphatic win from the breakaway thanks to an impressive attack in the ascent to the Galibier, the third summit of the day above 2 000 metres.

Frenchman Romain Bardet took second place 1:35 behind Quintana, who snatched his third career Tour stage win, with Kazakhstan’s Alexey Lutsenko third (2:28 behind).

Today’s 19th stage is an explosive 126.5-km effort from St Jean de Maurienne with a mountain-top finish in Tignes, as this year’s Tour will reach its highest point at the Col de l’Iseran, 2 750 metres above sea level.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 26, 2019

Bolt right to defend coach, insists McLeod

REIGNING 100m World champion Omar McLeod believes former world’s fastest man Usain Bolt was well within his rights to defend longtime coach Glen Mills.

The decorated Olympian and sprint icon set off a social media storm in recent weeks when he was highly critical of the work attitude of some of the current crop of sprinters following criticism of veteran coach Mills.

In recent weeks, multiple athletes affiliated to the Racers Track Club had

Jamaica’s athletics coach Glen Mills

written social media pieces critical of the coach and the operation of the now-famous club.

In a terse response, Bolt suggested that the athletes had only themselves to blame for any lack of success, accusing them of not working hard enough.

While admitting that he did not know enough about the issue, McLeod claims to understand the sprinter’s defence of the coach.

“I don’t know about what happened in-depth, I’ve seen the interview.

I’m really happy he made

the decision to speak up for his coach. It can be a thing when athletes don’t get what they want they try to point fingers and blame other people,” McLeod told Nuffin’ Long Athletics.

“Nobody knows the extent of what happened, I don’t, so I don’t want to speak of it but I just think it was good of him to come out and speak because he and his coach have had a really good career and I guess he is a father figure to Usain Bolt.” (Sportsmax)

Alberttown Martial Arts Academy holds first karate examination

FOUR karatekas were promoted when Alberttown Martial Arts Academy, a branch of The Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association, held its first annual Martial Arts Karate Examination last Monday.

The exam was conducted

by Master Lloyd Ramnarine, instructor Roman Pollard, followed by Zafar Ramnarine, Julie Ramnarine and Alliyah Ramnarine.

The successful students were Eonthe Garraway promoted to yellow belt, Troy Harris promoted to orange belt, Leanna Barnard to orange belt and Whitney Garraway to blue belt.

Meanwhile Sensei Pollard would like to extend an invitation to the youths in the community to get involved in martial arts, because according to him, it is not all about violence but discipline.

“The styles that I teach are Shotokan, Ju-jitsu and traditional weapon. On behalf

of my students and myself, I would like to thank Master Lloyd Ramnarine and his

family for taking time off to come and conduct this examination.”

The karatekas and instructors pose after the grading exercise

The Alberttown Martial Arts Academy started in March this year at 71 Light Street. This club is open to the public.

At the moment there are summer programmes at the Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association, which include classes at the Iron Fist Martial Arts Academy, located at the New Diamond/ Grove Primary School, East Bank Demerara; The Red Dragon Martial Arts Academy at the Belle West Primary School, West Bank Demerara; La Parfaite Harmonie Invisible Kick Martial Arts Academy, West Bank Demerara; and Vreed-enHoop Martial Arts Academy located at the Vreed-en-Hoop Primary School, West Bank, Demerara, opposite Royal Castle.

If anyone is interested in joining the various clubs, further information can be acquired from 698-6727, 673-0823, 698-7456 and 6686952.

United’s late winner against Spurs wraps up perfect tour SHANGHAI (Reuters) Manchester United’s Angel Gomes grabbed an 81st-minute winner to secure a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the International Champions Cup as they ended their pre-season tour of Asia and Australia with a fourth win in four games on Thursday.

United youth product Gomes, 18, struck after Spurs’ Lucas Moura cancelled out Anthony Martial’s first-half opener and gave the 20-time Premier League champions another victory after they beat Perth Glory, Leeds United and Inter Milan.

However, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s joy was tempered by a knee injury

to central defender Eric Bailly, who was carried off 10 minutes after his halftime introduction.

United had the better of the opening exchanges against last season’s Champi-

Manchester United's Axel Tuanzebe in action with Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-Min REUTERS/Thomas Peter - Copyright THOMAS PETER (Reuters)

ons League runners-up, with Martial hitting the post after four minutes, although Spurs midfielder Dele Alli then forced David De Gea to turn a low shot around the post.

United kept Tottenham’s defence under pressure, however, and Brazilian Andreas Pereira slid the ball to Martial who took advantage of goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga’s poor positioning to slip the ball home at the near post after 21 minutes.

New United signing Daniel James threatened with his pace and Paul Pogba went close with a long-range effort as the Old Trafford side ended the first period in the ascendancy.

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WBC seeks information on Whyte dope test reports

Heavyweight boxer Dillian Whyte

LONDON, England (Reuters) - The World Boxing Council (WBC) said yesterday it had asked Britain’s governing body for information after media reported that heavyweight Dillian Whyte failed a dope test before fighting Colombian Oscar Rivas in London last weekend.

Whyte won the fight on a unanimous points-decision at the O2 Arena, making him a mandatory challenger for WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.

The world body said it had yet to receive “any notification from anyone about a positive anti-doping test allegedly yielded

by Dillian Whyte in connection with last Saturday’s fight.

“The WBC has requested that the BBBofC, as the local governing entity that oversaw that fight, formally provide any available information to the WBC.” The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) has made no comment other than saying all anti-doping procedures were carried out for them by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD).

UKAD also had no comment.

Whyte’s promoter Eddie Hearn said on Twitter that Whyte and Rivas “were subject to extensive VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) and UKAD testing for their bout.

“Both fighters were cleared to fight by both bodies and the BBBofC,” he added.

Rivas’s promoter Yvon Michel said on Twitter he had read a report on the Boxing Scene website (www.boxingscene.com) with “great stupefaction”.

“Up to this moment nobody on the concerned parties have confirmed or denied to us this information,” he added.

American Wilder published an expletive-laden tirade on Instagram yesterday in response to the reports.

Whyte, 31, served a two-year ban between 2012 and 2014 after testing positive for a banned stimulant. The BBC said he risked an eight-year ban for a second offence, if confirmed.

Divine Entertainment Summer Super Cup

Rockers brush aside Blueberry Hill 3-0, Eagles stop Coomacka 2-1 to reach semi-finals

SECOND-RANKED Net Rockers served notice of their intention with a 3-0 brushing aside of Blueberry Hill while top-ranked Eagles United spanked upstarts Coomacka 2-1 in the Divine Entertainment Summer Super Cup. First set of semifinal slots were decided on Wednesday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

Tonight, Capital FC will face Hi Stars from 19:00hrs looking for a win in their Group C deciding game while Botofago meet Silver Shgttas in a Group D encounter from 21:00hrs.

Needing to win to qualify Net Rockers struck in their first goal in the first half through midfield player Shane Luckie in the 29th minute and were looking confident when the first half ended.

As the game continued it looked as if there was a slight chance of Blueberry Hill coming back into contention, but two goals in the final 10 minutes of play sealed the win for Rockers.

In the 81st minute striker Denzil Pryce netted then in the 87th minute midfield player Deshawn Joseph notched up his second goal in the tournament in the 87th minute and the game ended 3-0 for the Rockers.

The second game was interesting, as Coomacka netted in the 3rd minute after the game began. This time it was Ronny Sanchez who put them in the lead.

Knowing that they were in trouble, Eagles, like the champions they are, rebounded to level things in the 30th minute as Shavin Seaforth found the back of the net. This game saw an even score when the first half ended.

Then the game winner was scored in the 58th minute when Colwyn Drakes took the slot kick from beyond the 18 yards box after a foul was committed. (Joe Chapman)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 26, 2019

Nightwatchman Leach makes 92 before England collapse in Lord’s Test ENGLAND’S Test against Ireland hangs in the balance despite nightwatchman Jack Leach’s 92 at Lord’s.

His second-wicket stand of 145 with Jason Roy, who hit 72, looked to have nullified the damage of England being 85 all out in their first innings.

But Leach, missing out on becoming the first England nightwatchman to make a Test century, was part of a collapse of 4-23 and 7-77.

At 248-8, England were just 126 ahead, only for Sam Curran to launch an audacious counterattack of 37 from 21 balls.

With Stuart Broad also battling to 21 not out, England had reached 303-9 - a lead of 181 - when the threat of lightning then rain ended the second day’s play.

It sets up an intriguing finale, when Ireland - playing in only their third Test - will have the opportunity to pull off one of the greatest shocks of all-time.

Even if England do not add any further runs this morning, the chase on a slow pitch and in conditions offering movement will be a tricky one.

Still, should England’s bowlers save them once more, it will not mask the disappointment of such a substandard performance, just a week before the Ashes starts.

The last three days at Lord’s have been extraordinary.

First was that heart-stopping World Cup final, then England being bowled out before lunch on day one of this match, then, perhaps most unlikely of all, the runs made by Leach.

His comfort at the crease made a mockery of the struggles of England’s recognised batsmen and the fact remains that, without him, England may have already lost this match.

While England again contributed to their own problems, credit must be given to Ireland, who toiled in 37C heat when Leach and Roy were together.

Although catches went down and batting was being made to look comfortable, Ireland stuck to their task with tenacity to avoid being batted out of the game.

Regardless of the result today - either England being bowled to victory or Ireland pulling off the most famous of wins - another memorable day is in prospect.

ENGLAND’S UNLIKELY HERO Left-hander Leach, playing in his first home Test, batted at number 11 in the first innings yet found himself opening when England had to survive one over on Wednesday evening.

Bespectacled, a sufferer of Crohn’s disease and with a previous highest score this season of nine, he was an unlikely batting hero but compiled an innings of patience, sound judgement and touches of class.

When play began, Leach looked much more assured than the scratchy Rory Burns, who needlessly pushed at a wide ball to be caught behind off Boyd Rankin for only six.

Leach enjoyed some fortune - on 64 he survived a very tough chance to leg slip and on 72 a much more straightforward catch was put down by wicketkeeper Gary Wilson, both off pace bowler Rankin.

He played cuts and drives in the company of debutant Roy, who overcame a skittish start to time the ball sweetly and recapture his form of the World Cup. It was Roy who began the collapse, bowled playing a loose drive at Stuart Thompson, leaving Leach to inch towards history.

Pan American Championships 2019

Khalil, Fung-A-Fat lose singles openers; doubles match on today

MARY Fung-A-Fat and Ashley Khalil both got off to rocky starts for Guyana’s Squash team at the Pan American Championships in Peru yesterday.

Khalil lost 3-1 (8-11, 12-14, 11-7, 2-11) to Giselle Delgado of Chile with Fung-A-Fat also going down to Chilean Ana Pinto 3-1 (11-7, 11-14, 7-11, 12-10).

Khalil spoke to the media after, saying, “The courts are a lot different from at home. These are cold courts; the ball does not bounce at all. Your drops are 10 times more effective here but

you have to make sure you get your player out first, before you can take them into the drop.”

“These are world class players so am grateful for this experience. I can only learn from this and there is nothing negative that I could say but I can only go up from here,” she added.

Based on the results, should Guyana dedicate resources to going professional then medals would come easily Khalil and Taylor Fernandes play the Chilean pair tomorrow at 09:00hrs Peru time (10:00hrs Guyana Time)

Squash Association president David Fernandes said, “Ashley and Taylor should do well again. It’s a best-of-three match and you have to come out gunning.”

Recapping yesterday, he said, “Today (Yesterday) I think the girls were nervous and it’s a big stage so there are some butterflies in the stomach but I think tomorrow we have a chance to do something special. I’m proud of both of them.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday, July 26, 2019)

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) 11 times (2) Evin Lewis-125* (Kingston, 2017) (1)

(2)

Today’s Quiz:

Who has taken most wickets in WI/India T20 Internationals to date?

What are the best bowling figures in WI/India T20 Internationals to date

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

Ashley Khalil (left) and Giselle Delgado (Chile)

He was dropped at second slip by Mark Adair off Tim Murtagh, only to be held by the same man later the same over and depart to a rousing ovation.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER ENGLAND COLLAPSE Leach had laid England a platform, one from which they failed to build, thanks to a repeat of some of Wednesday’s awful batting, Ireland’s persistence and a calamitous run-out.

It was Joe Denly who fell victim when Joe Root sent him back, a gift to Ireland that was matched by the loose drives of Root and Chris Woakes, both caught behind off debutant Adair.

By the time they fell, Jonny Bairstow was lbw to Adair to complete a pair and Moeen Ali poked Rankin behind. Both look horribly out of form before the Ashes.

With England in danger of subsiding, Curran countered, flaying the ball through the off side and swatting a six over fine leg and one over long-off.

He eventually played a shot too many and was caught at deep square leg off Thompson, leaving Broad to eke out more runs with last man Olly Stone until the weather intervened.

Nightwatchman Jack Leach fell eight runs short of a maiden Test century (Credit: Action Images)

SCORECARD

ENGLAND 1st innings 85; Ireland 1st innings 207 ENGLAND 2nd innings Jack Leach c Mark Adair b Tim Murtagh

92 Rory Burns c Gary Wilson b Boyd Rankin 6 Jason Royb Stuart Thompson

72 Joe Denly run-out Kevin O’Brien

10 Joe Root c Gary Wilson b Mark Adair 31 Jonny Bairstow lbw Mark Adair

0 Moeen Ali c Gary Wilson b Boyd Rankin 9 Chris Woakes c Andrew Balbirnie b Mark Adair

13 Sam Curran c James McCollum b Stuart Thompson 37 Stuart Broad not out 21 Olly Stone not out 0 Extras: (b-1, lb-7, nb-4)

12 Total: (9 wkts, 77.4 overs)

303 Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-171, 3-182, 4-194, 5-194, 6-219, 7-239, 8-248, 9-293.

Bowling: Tim Murtagh 18-3-52-1, Mark Adair 20-7-66-3 (nb-1), Boyd Rankin 17-1-86-2 (nb-1), Stuart Thompson 12.4-0-44-2 (nb-2), Andy McBrine 10-1-47-0.

Trinidad and Tobago ‘interested’ in International Drag race meet

TRINIDAD and Tobago has expressed an interest in participating in the upcoming International Drag race event of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC).

According to the president Rameez Mohamed, the Twin-Island Republic has reached out to ascertain the likelihood of attending the event.

“There are about five or six Trinidadian cars that have confirmed their interest in participating in our International Drag race event.

We are currently working with our Trinidadian counterparts to get these guys and their cars in here for the event,” Rameez Mohamed confirmed.

“We are also trying to get other cars from other parts of the region, once it is logistically and financially possible. This includes Suriname as well because we know there are some guys there who were expressing interest in our local events.”

While the club has not released its list of sponsors just yet, Mohamed confirmed that there are already

companies calling to sign on to the event because of the sheer magnitude expected.

curtailed a few classes on race day.

This time, the club is

FLASHBACK! Andy Bissessar’s rail car takes on the Team Mohamed’s Enterprise Goliath GTR during last year’s International Drag race. (GTRidez photo)

“We will announce the people who are making this event possible shortly. We are in talks with a lot of people who can assist us both logistically and financially for this event because of how large we expect it to be.”

The last local drag racing event was deemed a success especially considering the weather had plagued the previous day and also

expecting more cooperation from the weather and even more cars. Mohamed said several competitors have been building for this event.

“Some of the guys opted to take their time, skip our local drag meet just over a month ago and build towards this event, because they know the competition here will be stiff. I can definitely say we will see far more cars.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 26, 2019

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Cummins, Holder halt India A after Dube, Saha fifties

NORTH SOUND, Antigua, (CMC) – Test pacer Miguel Cummins struck twice in the day’s final over as West Indies A clawed their way back into the opening fourday “Test” after India A had taken the upper hand on day two of the contest here Thursday.

The right-armer removed Gowtham Krishnappa lbw for six to the second ball and then had Shahbaz Nadeem adjudged caught behind down the leg-side off the day’s final delivery, forcing India A to limp to the finish on 299 for eight on a rainhit day.

Cummins’s strikes followed that of fellow Barbadian fast bowler Chemar Holder in the previous over which accounted for top-scorer Shivam Dube for 71, as the visitors lost three wickets for seven runs in the day’s last 10 balls.

Dube had combined with Test wicketkeeper Wriddihiman Saha, who made an

unbeaten 61, to help fortify the India A innings after they resumed from their overnight 70 for one at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall (2-51) and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican (2-69) claimed two wickets apiece.

Test pacer Miguel Cummins

Priyank Panchal, resuming on 31, made 49 while Shubman Gill chipped in with 40 and captain Hanuma Vihari, 31.

Cummins, who played his last Test a year ago, was the best home side bowler with three for 36 while

Panchal and Gill, who resumed on nine, extended their second wicket stand to 43 before being separated, when the right-handed Panchal missed a paddle sweep at Warrican and was plumb lbw.

He faced 115 balls and

Vancouver Knights make winning start in Global T20 Canada title defence

TORONTO, Canada – It was billed as the Chris Gayle versus Yuvraj Singh showdown, as they skippered their respective sides, but both “superstars” failed to sparkle on the opening day of the second edition of the Global T20 Canada which bowled off at the picturesque CAA Centre, Brampton Ontario yesterday.

to upstage his opposing number, being dismissed for 12, having his offstump knocked back by Guyana-born fast medium bowler Mark Monfort, as he attempted a big heave.

It took the heroics of Russie van der Dussen (65 not out) and Chadwick Walton, unbeaten of 59 to ensure defending champions Vancouver Knights start their

Man-of-theMatch Chadwick Walton smacked four sixes and four fours in his unbeaten 59.

Watched by a fair-sized crowd, Singh, huffed and puffed his way to a disappointing 14 off 27 balls as newcomers Toronto Nationals reached a respectable 159 for five in their allotted 20 overs after being asked to take first strike.

Gayle, the self-styled ‘Universe Boss’ just off a somewhat unhappy World Cup performance, failed

campaign on a winning note, the two sharing a third-wicket partnership of 126 in 12.5 overs as their team reached 162 for two in 17.2 overs.

Walton and van der Dussen came together with Vancouver Knights in a spot of bother at 30 for two in the fourth over following the dismissal of Gayle.

Walton, who smote four sixes and a similar number

of fours, was adjudged the man-of-the-match. van der Dussen’s knock contained four fours and three sixes.

Montfort took one for 33 from his four overs while former Guyana Under-19 fast bowler Jeremy Gordon got rid of Tobias Visee, while conceding 39 runs.

Earlier, Toronto Nationals suffered an early blow with opener Brendon McCullum (4), caught by van der Dussen off Andile Phehlukayo while Calum MacLeod (17) and Yuvraj failed to get going.

Canadian opener Rodrigo Thomas played enterprisingly for 41 off 31 balls, smashing three fours and three sixes while Henrick Klassen shored up the middle-order with a swashbuckling 20-ball 41 which was decorated with two fours and four sixes.

Recently recalled West Indies middle-order batsman Kieron Pollard chipped in with a quickfire 30 (two fours and three sixes) off 13 balls towards the end but the 159 on a fast outfield proved difficult to defend once Walton and van der Dussen got into their strides.

Today’s day/night game features Montreal Tigers and Winnipeg Hawks and starts at 16:30hrs.

(Frederick Halley)

struck five fours.

Gill, who counted three fours and a six in an 87-ball innings, put on 30 for the third wicket with Vihari to lift India A to 134 for two but the tourists surrendered their advantage, losing a wicket on either side of lunch without a run added.

In the last over before the break, Gill lost his concentration and heaved at Cornwall, managing only to sky a simple catch to Jermaine Blackwood running around from slip to short point.

And off the first ball after lunch, Srikar Kona inexplicably holed out to long off the first ball he faced, to give Cornwall his second wicket of the over.

Vihari, who faced 80 balls and notched two fours, anchored a 34-run, fifth wicket stand to steady the innings but his promising knock was cut short when he hooked at Cummins for Holder to take a brilliant low catch long leg.

Tottering on 168 for five and still 60 runs adrift of West Indies A’s target, India A were rescued by Dube and Saha who posted 124 for the sixth wicket.

Dube was bold in approach, striking seven fours and four sixes off 108 balls in a shade over two hours while

Saha has so far faced 146 balls in just over three hours at the crease, and struck six fours.

Recalled for a spell with the new ball, Holder bowled Dube with a full length delivery to end the stand before Cummins sliced through the tail.

SCORECARD

WEST INDIES A 1st Innings 228 India A 1st Innings (overnight 70 for one) P Panchal lbw b Warrican 49 E Abhimanyu c Cornwall b Warrican 28 S Gill c Blackwood b Cornwall 40 *H Vihari c Holder b Cummins 31 S Kona c Holder b Cornwall 0 +W Saha not out 61 S Dube b Holder 71 G Krishnappa lbw b Cummins 6 S Nadeem c wkp Hamilton b Cummins 0 Extras: (b4, lb5, w1, nb3) 13 TOTAL: (8 wkts, 99 overs) 299 To bat: M Markande, Siraj Mohammed.

Fall of wickets: 1-61, 2-104, 3-134, 4-134, 5-168, 6-292, 7-299, 8-299.

Bowling: Cummins 20-6-36-3, Lewis 10-2-33-0, Holder 16-158-1, Warrican 30-9-69-2, Cornwall 13-3-51-2, Chase 10-0-43-0.

Position: India A lead by 71 runs with two wickets intact.

England’s collapse against minnows Ireland ‘embarrassing’, says Vaughan LONDON, England (Reuters) - Former England captain Michael Vaughan branded England’s astonishing battling collapse against minnows Ireland at Lord’s as “embarrassing” after the hosts were skittled out for 85 on the first day of the four-day Test on Wednesday.

In their first Test match in a summer dominated by the one-day World Cup, England could not even muster three figures against a nation playing their third Test match ever.

A week before Joe Root’s side take on Australia in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, Ireland’s London-born seamer Tim Murtagh exposed the fragility of England’s batting, taking five for 13 in nine superb overs on a pitch that, while offering some movement, should not have held terrors for a top nation.

England lasted 23.4 overs as they were bowled out before lunch on the first morning of a Lord’s Test, for the first time.

To make matters worse Ireland were playing just their third match since being given Test status in 2017 - the previous two against Pakistan and Afghanistan ending in defeats.

While Murtagh bowled a superb line and length, England’s batsmen were guilty of loose strokes as they ended the day 122 runs behind as Ireland made 207.

“When the ball does anything you shut your eyes and hope England get through it,” Vaughan t o l d t h e B B C ’s Te s t Match Special.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan

“There were some good balls but there was also some timid play as well as poor strokes.

“Let’s be honest, it’s an embarrassment - you’re at the home of cricket, in a Test against Ireland and you’re all out for 85, there is no other word to describe it.”

England’s batting coach Graham Thorpe said the euphoria of winning the World Cup in a dramatic conclusion against New

Zealand 10 days ago had played a role, although only four players who played in the final - Root, opener Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes - were on duty on Wednesday.

“I would say the players have to show an enormous amount of character and mental strength as well to be able to come back down from last weekend and to be playing this week,” Thorpe told reporters after an extraordinary day.

“We can’t run away from today’s performance, can’t make excuses - it’s been a bad day.”

It was England’s lowest Test innings score at home since they were dismissed for 77 by Australia in 1997 and Thorpe said it could work as a wake-up call before the Ashes.

“Hopefully the bump in the road puts some of the players back in a better place and we will be ready for Australia next week,” he said. “But the first task is to try and stand up over the next two to three days and put Ireland on the back foot.

“They had a great day today and it is up to us to counterattack tomorrow and get ourselves back into the Test match.”

Historic donation of equipment by UCI a boost for Guyana Cycling Federation ... Members of Guyana’s Team for JCCC to benefit

EIGHT road bikes, along with other equipment, were received by the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), compliments of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

The items, which were cleared by president of the GCF, Horace Burrowes, this week will be a huge boost to the sport according to the head of the body, now preparing to host the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships from August 10 to 11 next in Bartica.

Burrowes was in high praise of the UCI for the timely donation of equipment, noting that this is the first time that Guyana has received such a donation from the world body and would go towards boosting youth and female development.

“This positive development is huge for this nation and our young cyclists. I have been attending conferences and events of the UCI since being elected back in 2015 and it was my duty to lobby the UCI to assist us.

“I am very grateful to them for this donation which has come at the perfect time as we’ll be hosting for the first time in our history, the Junior Caribbean Championships, next month.”

The overall value of the items runs into millions and apart from the cycles, vests, socks, polos, jackets, t-shirts, gloves, helmets, shoes, handlebars and forks have been received.

Burrowes stated that some of the riders selected to represent Guyana next month would be recipients of UCI’s goodwill to the nation and some of the equipment (including cycles) would remain the property of GCF. “This is a really positive development for the federation which has never owned a single cycle but we now have eight, which is a good start. A lot of the items would be given to our young riders, including females, but we would be focussing on our Junior team for now.

“The UCI has promised to build on this support and very shortly, I would be informing all of another positive and historic development for members and Guyana. If we as a body pedal as one team, there’s no telling of what can be achieved.”

GCF president Horace Burrowes (centre) displays the donated equipment.

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to celebrate 100th anniversary

Colin Elcock and his son Darren at the head table during the press briefing for the PMTC 100th anniversary horse race meet

Guyana’s National U-19 team departs for St Vincent

PMTC

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The U-19 squad prior to departure

Cummins, Holder halt India A after Dube, Saha fifties Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

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FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2019