Guyana Chronicle E-paper 8-02-2019

FRIDAY 2nd August, 2019

' No.105717

Oil $$ to ensure free education SEE STORY ON PAGE 03 ►

-- President commits to restoring free education from nursery to university Emancipation an ‘authentic’ tourism product -- says GTA director

Emancipation ignited 02 economic freedom PAGE

--- President Granger tells Berbice Emancipation celebrants

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Gov't committed to 'good-life' promise -- DG Harmon tells Buxtonians

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Opposition MP accused of 13 attempting to rape minor PAGE

President David Granger is greeted by residents as he arrived for the National Emancipation celebration at Union, Number 53 Village, East Berbice, Corentyne on Thursday (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

Emancipation ignited economic freedom --- President Granger tells Berbice Emancipation celebrants

President David Granger, First Lady Sandra Granger, Social Cohesion Minister George Norton and other Cabinet members at the Emancipation celebrations at Union, Number 53 Village, Berbice

Speaking to a magnitude of Guyanese who tuned up to celebrate Emancipation at Union, Number 53 Village, Berbice, President David Granger said the occasion represents the single most important day in Guyanese history .

It is a culmination of an experience that was the greatest crime against hu-

manity, he told the garthering.

“The enslaved Africans in Berbice and Demerara and Essequibo never accepted their enslavement, they rebel constantly, they fought against enslavements and in so doing Berbice hold a proud place – Berbice holds an unsurpassable place in the achievement

of Emancipation. As we celebrate Emancipation we pay homage to those people

injunction is committed to safeguard the legacy of Africans and in particular to en-

President David Granger speaks at the 181st Emancipation celebrations at Union, Number 53 Village

Kofi, Quamina and Damon who led revolts to make us free but Emancipation is not only about revolts but the determination of the people who won their freedom.”

The President related that Emancipation was not all about rebellion nor revolts but was also about the necessity for ensuring there was economic freedom, freedom from the plantation system and freedom from enslavement.

“All hone their talents in their villages making Guyana a richer more diverse economy so it was Emancipation that lit the spark to economic freedom; it was the most important development of freed Africans in the western hemisphere.

Economic Emancipation was very important ,every society, every community has the best of an economic foundation and our forefathers were right in seeking economic emancipation but the greatest gift of Emancipation in my view was the gift of education,” he said.

EDUCATION President Granger stressed that under the United Nations resolution to address the challenges facing people of African descent globally, Guyana, which is a signatory to the UN declaration of International Decade of People of African Descent (IDPAD), called on all nations to come together to overcome the prejudicial discrimination which still exist to this day.

He further related that among the programme of activities for IDPAD, strong attention is paid to education.

“Your government in accordance with the UN

suring that the objective of the International Decade and for that reason for the next 10 years when we return to office 2020-2029, it will be a national decade of development for Guyanese and we are going to place emphasis on education. We don’t have to be told this by the UN, we will do this ourselves,” President Granger said.

He said profits from the petroleum industry will be used to further develop education as well as to offer free education from nursery to university since every citizen has a right to education.

“Our expected petroleum profits apart from what will be devoted to our Sovereign Wealth Fund, our expected petroleum revenue will help us to restore free education in accordance with our Constitution. Petroleum is not to enrich a few; it is to educate the many. Let that be understood that those resources belong the future generations and the future generations will benefit from the profit,” the President told the gathering.

EMANCIPATION, HE SAID, MEANS EDUCATION. “If we want to pay homage to them let us imitate their drifts and their intelligence by ensuring that every village has a school, every family has a home. The first Emancipation covenant as I like to call it of 1838 gave everyone a right to live in a society free from enslavement,” the President said, adding that the new covenant today should be that every Guyanese must live in country free from ignorance.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

Oil $$ to ensure free education

-- President commits to restoring free education from nursery to university

By Vishani Ragobeer PRESIDENT David Granger has underscored that education is an integral component of emancipation and independence, while pointing out that greater access must continue to be facilitated as it is a key component of national development.

“Emancipation means independence [and] emancipation means education," President Granger said at the Glory Light Tabernacle's Sunrise Prayer Breakfast, on Thursday morning. The occasion was in observance of the 181st anniversary since the abolishment of slavery.

Explaining his statement, the President reminded that the enslaved Africans, who once toiled on the plantations, were denied access to educational opportunities that would provide avenues for social mobility. Even so, however, they pooled their money together to purchase villages and create their own livelihoods.

And according to him, it was education that “unlocked opportunities” to free them from the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

“Once you break that cycle through education, educated people will have educated children and the world will progress,” he posited.

Moreover, he noted that education does not only refer to knowledge in academia but also the inculcation of morals and values. To this end, he said the villages established by Africans were the crucibles of education of good conduct and of religious conduct.

The President urged that each church must either have a school nearby or “adopt” a school so that children would garner those values.

“I want us to go back to the time where every village had a school... schools must be convenient, schools must be accessible,” the President said, adding: “I want to see a country with 100 per cent primary education.”

DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT The International De-

President David Granger makes his way into the Glory Light Tabernacle, Plaisance, East Coast of Demerara (ECD) for the Sunrise Prayer Breakfast in observance of Emancipation Day 2019. Alongside him is his daughter, Afuwa Granger (Vishani Ragobeer photo)

to go to school,” he said.

President Granger pays keen attention to the sunrise programme (Vishani Ragobeer photo)

cade for People of African Descent, 2015 to 2024, was proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in a Resolution adopted on 23 December, 2013. The theme of this International Decade is: "People of African descent: recognition, justice and development."

President Granger, however, said that Guyana will have its own “Decade of Development for all”, which will begin in 2020 and last until 2029. This decade, he said, will prioritise education

since it is an entitlement and a right for all people.

In crafting this decade, the head of state disclosed that "Oil will produce profits and those profits will go first and foremost into education."

He further noted that instead of having those profits benefit only a select few, he intends on ensuring that it will be used to foster educational opportunities for the population.

“Every child must be in school, every village must have a school. This decade

of development means that in every single village, every child must have access

FREE EDUCATION Added to this, President Granger also noted that it is his aim to restore the right to free education, in accordance to the Constitution.

According to Article 27 of the Constitution of Guyana: “Every citizen has the right to a free education from nursery to university, as well as at non-formal places where opportunities are provided for education and training.”

This article falls in Chapter II, which connotes the principles and basis of the political, economic and social system. Also detailed in this section is every person’s right to sovereignty, the right to own personal property, the right to free health and social

care, inter alia.

Guyana, under the People’s National Congress (PNC) Government, offered free education from nursery to university. However, today, only education offered from nursery to secondary is free.

In light of this, an informal group of young people have banded together, earlier this year, into what is called the “Free University of Guyana Movement”.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, a member of the movement and advocate for ‘Free UG’, Elson Lowe, related that the group is advocating that a portion of oil revenues be used to make education at the university free once again.

Already, the incumbent government has been attempting to foster greater access to educational opportunities. President Granger, through a programme started in observance of his birthday a few years ago, crafted the Public Education Transport System (which was formerly known as the 5Bs Programme).

On Thursday, he shared that through this initiative about 30 buses are taking children to school for free and dozens of boats doing the same. This, he said, is in an attempt to bridge disparities in the education system.

“When I say every child in school, I mean every child in school,” the President stressed.

He also noted that education today is as important to provide opportunities for a better life as it was 18 decades ago when enslaved Africans were emancipated.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

Emancipation festival delivers for some --makes a believer of first-time exhibitor, Pam Fox

By Naomi Marshall EVERY year, the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) hosts its

grand Emancipation Festival at the National Park, with the aim of exhibiting, reflecting and restoring African culture. However, it also gives

local entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their wares and create and grow markets for their businesses.

This year, the Guyana Chronicle seized the opportunity to visit the various enterprises on exhibition there, and three in particular caught our attention, so much so that we decided to sit down and have a chat with their owners.

Tazmein Coates is the founder of Lionel’s Extra Virgin Scented Coconut oil, and she said that the event afforded her what she called “direct marketing”, as well as the opportunity to expose her product to hundreds of people.

She said she first came up with the idea of investing in coconut oil when she saw how beneficial it was for the skin.

“The brand was birthed when my son was born and we started using coconut oil on his skin. And after seeing the amazing results, I decided to basically venture out into doing it as a product, as a contingency plan to have something to depend on financially,” the TV personality reflected.

But after realising how competitive the coconut industry is, Coates said she decided to concentrate more on packaging, since presentation is one of the essentials of having a prosperous business.

She also took a decision to help give her market advantage by producing her coconut oil in five different fragrances, with catchy names like ‘Ms. Irresistible’, ‘Mr. Ambitiuos’, ‘Sassy Taz’, ‘Baby powder’ and ‘Original’. She also has them in different sizes of packaging.

Lionel’s Extra Virgin Scented Coconut oil can be found in supermarkets across Turn to PAGE 5

Wednesday July 31, 2019

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July 26, 2019

10, 25, 12, 12, 20

2, 6, 7

8, 9, 9

03, 04, 07, 10, 17

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

Emancipation festival delivers...

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From PAGE 4

the country, particularly the major ones like Survival and Bounty.

While out and about at the National Park, taking in the Emancipation Day scenes, the Guyana Chronicle also caught up with Kennard Brown, proprietor of Martin Arts and Craft, who specialises in leather art, and does pretty much anything in the form of art, such as leather slippers, bags, wallets and art pieces.

A teacher by profession, Brown just does leathercraft

as a part-time job, an activity he said he was very enthusiastic about ever since he was a child.

“As a child growing up,” he said, “I would usually go to the craftsman and tell him exactly what I wanted. But as I got older, I realised I can be creative and create my own style.”

He soon found out, however, that being a teacher and an entrepreneur can have its own challenges, but he doesn’t let that faze him; he still tries to

produce on a large scale, he said. The holder of a degree in ‘Fine Art’, Brown, who teaches at Diamond Secondary, said that Emancipation is one of several national events that

touch with him either on Facebook @Kennard Brown, or by phone on 651-6886 or 6830160. We also ran into veteran designer, Pamela Fox, of Pamela Fox Classics, and funny

far. Though she’s a designer, Pam is also into jewellery of all types, be it leather or fish-scale.

She also does a bit of painting on occasion, it seems, and her

Tazmein Coates of Lionel’s Extra Virgin Scented Coconut oil with some of her hair and skin products at the Festival

Pamela Fox and her assistant at her booth on Thursday

Kennard Brown of Martin Arts and Craft, with one of his pieces

afford him the opportunity to advertise his business or showcase his work.

“I come out here, lime, showcase my leathercraft,” he said, adding: “Most likely, I will sell, and I would get more customers. If I leave here with one-or-two new customers, it is still building blocks for my business.”

Persons interested in Brown’s products can get in

enough, she said it was her first time trying her hand at the ACDA event at the National Park. But for a first-timer, she found that she was doing pretty well, in that she was satisfied with the sales she’d made thus

leathercraft is not just limited to jewellery, as she also makes other wearable art, like belts and the like.

Most of her major clients, she said, are overseas-based Guyanese, and although she

does not have a wide local market, she’s so enthused by what she experienced on Thursday, she said she will definitely be back come next year.

Fox is encouraging young and upcoming entrepreneurs to never give up. “Better times are ahead for us, especially after 2020 when the oil would be in full swing,” she predicted.

Pamela Fox Classics is located at 73 Brickdam, Stabroek. She can also be reached at on: 2261908 or 6854805.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

Free education

P

RESIDENT David Granger on Thursday announced that his administration intends to reintroduce free education from nursery to university from next year.

This is a welcomed announcement coming at a time when groups had been agitating quietly for this intervention. Free education is enshrined in our Constitution and though the law has not been amended, the PPP administration introduced fees for the University of Guyana on entering office in 1992.

With the expected windfall from oil revenues, Guyana can more than afford to provide this good to all citizens.

Speaking at an event at the Glory Light Tabernacle in Plaisance, President Granger said he wants to see a country with 100 per cent primary education.

"We grow in a culture of education and education today is as important as it was 18 decades ago to provide opportunities for a better life.

And it is our obligation to ensure that every child is given that opportunity to a good education," the President said, adding: "Oil will produce profits and those profits

will go first and foremost into education, free education. It is my mission to restore that right to free education in accordance with the injunction of our Constitution.

"I have plans for the profits which will come from oil and gas. It is not going to enrich a few; it is going to educate many. Every child must be in school. Every village must have a school. This decade of development means that in every single village, every child must have access to go to school... I want this church, Glory Light Tabernacle, to ensure there are no more street children."

In1976 when free education was introduced from nursery to university, it was against the backdrop of a national vision to create an educated and literate society, built on historical experiences of the people as told from their perspective, and creating the requisite knowledge and skills needed for development. When the Government of Guyana decided to extend universal education all the way to the tertiary level and made same tuition-free, it registered and embarked on a policy to improve the intellectual prowess of citizens.

The year 1976 also car-

ries historical significance in that it marked a century of compulsory primary education introduced by the colonial authorities.

As time changes, so do society and recognising that development has now become an integral part of an independent government’s responsibility, there existed a number of challenges.

Among these challenges are economic and socio-political issues.

Prior to 1976, in the school system, the church/religious community held major influence in determining who taught in their schools, who attended and what would be taught. This in itself not only created a dual education system but was also discriminatory where attendance and employment were determined by religion and not universal factors required for entry and access. Universal education undermined elitism in the education system and disrupted the status quo. When it was put in place it was not without protest. Heads in what were considered elite secondary schools in Georgetown were transferred to other schools with a view to improving the performance of the education programme; but this act was

not without protests by some students who felt affected by the transfers.

In the absence of tuition, free university education, to some extent, placed financial burdens on families. There existed instances where when a member of the family went off to university and another desired to pursue same immediately after, he/she could , given that additional fee-paying for the family presented a burden, thereby closing the door of opportunity to other siblings.

Removing the financial barrier gave opportunities to others, including those employed in state entities who could have been released to attend with full pay. Furthermore, they had the opportunity to attend based on ability and desire, free from the constraint of finances.

Free education also allowed untrained teachers to become trained with a view to making them professionals with an eye to improving the quality of education delivery.

At the social level, free education created a more literate and informed society since equal opportunity served to unleash and enhance academic or technical ability. Economically, the

society and workers benefited from an increasing pool of proficient artisans, researchers and health-care practitioners, to name some.

Education has been one of this nation’s greatest equalisers. It was removed from being the remit of the elite or whom among the lower economic spectrum could have paid for it, to making it accessible to all. State-sponsored scholarships were no longer confined to what was considered elite schools, but to individuals who attended schools across the country.

During the Desmond Hoyte-administration when the country was experiencing an economic downturn, a study of the economy was commissioned and among its recommendations was to institute Cost Recovery in education. The Cheddi Jagan and subsequent administrations used this study to justify fee-paying at the university of Guyana. It should be said that when fee-paying was introduced, this act was in conflict with the Guyana Constitution that had, at the time, enshrined free education from nursery to university. The issue of cost recovery continues today, where, in addition to persons

who allegedly have not paid their fees are currently being pursued, the university is also speaking out about increasing tuition fees and introducing graduation fees. Guyana is still relatively a poor society, unemployment is high, and real wages are not being paid.

At the same time, many in the society see education as an investment in their future and an escape from poverty.

Looking at cost recovery would have to factor in the above and it may be necessary to look at a form of national service whereby persons will give of their labour in reward for reduction in tuition fees. On the issue of graduation fees, it will not help to examine same in isolation to the economic performance of the university vis-a-vis the economy and the state’s responsibility to its citizenry.

An educated society augurs well for development and a system must be maintained and/or put in place to ensure access to education is not hindered and is only the purview of a few, lest the society returns to the period where opportunities are closed, not because of ability or desire, but because of finance.

Shuman’s claims are purely opportunistic Dear Editor

R

EFERENCE is made to Earl Hamilton’s” “Shuman’s concern a figment of his ‘fertile imagination’, in Guyana Chronicle of July 29, 2019 He is right in challenging LPG leader, Lennox Shuman’s dubious contention of Indigenous people’s current geographic location, because of employment in the mining

and logging sectors, will not be served by the current house-to-house registration, and that such makes it unconstitutional.

Absolute nonsense! In fact, most Amerindians can be found either in locations that are proximal to their communities, or working within the latter locations, especially with regards mining activities.

Shuman’s claims are

purely opportunistic, because since entering the political scene, particularly with the launching of his party, truthfully a proxy, as Hamilton has stated in his letter, he has not given an outline on any single issue of national import, as well as playing that old card that alleges the “marginalization” of Amerindians. Since such a claim was well rebutted by Hamilton, it will not detain here, except

to say that our Indigenous peoples should beware of the likes of charlatans, such as Shuman, who brings nothing to the national table except seeking to make himself a political rock star, but without band or audience.

I agree that Shuman is “arrogant”, a trait displayed at the National Toshao Council in 2017, when he publicly threatened the President about “withholding Amerin-

dian votes if “Amerindians did not get what they should have.” One wonders why he never aimed such a threat towards the PPP/C who treated Indigenous people as “another set of Guyanese.”

Of course, Indigenous peoples are progressing gradually; but, most of all, respected as genuine stakeholders and participants in the socio-economic-political affairs of their country, in

which they have a rightful place at its table as their other Guyanese citizens.

Oh, and while we are on this contention of house-tohouse registration, would Schuman care to reveal his financial backers… or is he an arm of another party to split votes?

Regards Carla Mendonca

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

Ms Teixeira accused of spreading misinformation

Dear Editor

I

REFER to Ceon Rollox’s ‘Teixeira’s inflammatory statement”, Guyana Chronicle of July 30.

I have read Rollox’s letter which is a response to one of the senior PPP/C propaganda mandarins, as per her “Matters of Public Interest”, telecast via CNS Ch. 6; and although he did not elaborate on Gail Teixeira’s, the main thrust which said that: “’’ President Granger wants a GECOM chairman that he can instruct what to do” - I do believe that she had mouthed such slander, if not libel.

Editor, it is part of this PPP/C spokesperson bag of political putridity which ever so often she seeks to unload on viewers from the confines of a privately-owned channel, which her party, while in governance, caused to be closed down in retaliation for telecasts which the then regime claimed had offended the government. In fact, the well- known television station which had been instrumental in exposing the duplicity of PPP/C governance, exposing the two extremes of daily liv-

ing in Guyana, proved a daily thorn in the side of the PPP/ C’s dishonest government. It was punished for having dared to do so.

Immediately, one should recall the daily, nasty attacks levelled against the former GECOM Chairperson, Dr. Steve Surujbally, whom the PPP/C caused to resign, because he stuck to his professional remit by casting the deciding vote that dismissed Gocool Boodhoo for his dishonest act of attempting to rig the 2011 national elections in favour of the PPP/C. Teixeira cannot claim ignorance of such a despicable act, on the part of Boodhoo. She should now be asked to explain her party’s unfair and ugly actions against Surujbally. No need to, really.

Her party expected the latter to always be their man, following its dictates.

But back to the point in her accusatory and libellous statement against the President, which can be interpreted to mean that GECOM lost its autonomy since this coalition government entered office in 2015, and that it has since continued to be controlled/dictated to, by the President.

Teixeira ought to be

ashamed for such a misleading claim, because President Granger, from the onset of office, is on record, ad nauseum, of emphasizing not only the constitutional autonomy of the national electoral institution, but its right to function as such, detailing its abiding exclusivity of being the organ, the only one, that has the sole authority to decide on its readiness for national elections as well as advising him of such a readiness. One only has to look back at the shameful attacks that both Commissioners, Bibi Shadick and Robeson Benn, led against the former chairperson, purely of a racist nature, to understand that Ms. Teixeira’s party never wanted an African Guyanese to lead the electoral body. So who is Teixeira trying to hoodwink with her disgusting lies and misinformation?

Further, in President Granger’s numerous explanations prior to his appointment of the former retired Justice James Patterson as Chairman, he had again stressed a choice that is “fit and proper”, meaning someone who will be independent of mind and act in the constitutional interest of the nation. And of course,

GECOM Chairperson now enjoys the nation’s full confidence

Dear Editor,

A

FTER months of hiatus, uncertainty, political fencing and judicial drama, we all can breathe sighs of relief as the way is now clearer for the inevitable premature General and Regional Elections to be held in Guyana.

The recent consentaneous appointment of a new GECOM Chairperson has made this possible.

Retired Justice Claudette Singh, the newly-appointed GECOM Chairperson now enjoys the nation’s full confidence in her ability to effi-

ciently fulfil this unenviable mandate.

Justice Singh has been fondly referred to as the “Iron Lady”, an alias derived from her tenacious jurisprudence over the years. With her new hat, at the helm of GECOM, a more befitting epithet would be the “Pendulum Lady”, for she must ensure that Guyana’s clock ticks symmetrically.

My privileged encounters with Justice Singh, on at least three occasions, were in the line of duty. Justice Singh left an indelible impression with me, primarily through her unassuming articulation

and legal insight. As Justice Singh adjusts in the oncoming days to her new, critical, and demanding portfolio, best wishes are extended to her. May God grant her the requisite wisdom in determining how the pendulum swings; determinations with consequences similar to those that LEFT the Biblical Pharaoh’s army drowning in the Red Sea and led the children of Israel RIGHT into the chartreuse promised land.

Yours faithfully, Orette Cutting

when Justice Patterson delivered a credible, free and fair Local Government Elections in November 2018, there were no comments from the PPP/C. Ms. Teixeira must be reminded that those initial lists were flooded with wellknown PPP/C sympathisers, cronies, friends, vested interest type, and a well-known supremacist – all Indo Guyanese, with a smattering of African Guyanese as tokenisms. They were an insult to the President, and deliberate in the broader plot against the coalition to create social strains. At best, they were meant to be provocative, while denying him much scope for choice.

It was the same pathway her party boss took with the second, recent attempt which, initial submissions, betrayed a PPP/C mindset of wanting an indo Guyanese as chairperson rather than a GUYANESE WHO WAS ABOVE ETHNIC PARTISANSHIP; A CANDIDATE IN WHOM FULL CONFIDENCE COULD BE REPOSED, AND ACCEPTABLE TO ALL GUYANESE. The Stabroek News cartoon of July 30, 2019, is instructive in its interpretations and lessons for what it says of the fossilized mindset of a party whose undying appeal to race epitomizes the current state of our national

politics and this is inclusive of Ms. Teixeira’s mindset.

In the final choice of Madame Justice Claudette Singh as chairperson of GECOM, President David Granger, a proven democrat, has once against demonstrated his unyielding commitment towards a Guyanese who will serve in the best interests of Guyana, and not for reasons of partisanship. One wonders how sincere were the publicized comments of Jagdeo that he “was very, very happy.” Such a statement will sure[ly] be put to the test.

Regards Earl Hamilton

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Reclaim entrepreneurial DNA

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

– Eric Phillips urges Afro-Guyanese

WITH oil production on the horizon, African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) Executive, Eric Phillips, said the time is ripe for African Guyanese to reclaim their entrepreneurial DNA, as he reflected on the advances made by freed Africans in the development before and after Emancipation.

For Africans, he said, entrepreneurship is natural and innate. “Africa is and was the cradle of civilisation. This fact is undeniable.

Africans were the first entrepreneurs in the world.

Entrepreneurial feats such as the pyramid still leave the world in awe. Africans were the first businessmen and women, first doctors, teachers, agriculturalists, traders and creators,” Phillips said in a statement on Thursday as Guyana celebrated its 181st Emancipation Anniversary.

Here in Guyana, he said captured Africans lent their immense skills and labour to the clearing and commercial development of 15,000 square miles of British Guiana (Guyana) under conditions now deemed to be “the greatest crime on Earth”.

After Emancipation, Phillips noted that the natural entrepreneurial flair and skills of freed Africans resulted in the purchase of plantations which they converted into Villages.

“On 7 November 1839, 78 freed men and five freed women, from five plantations – Ann’s Grove, Dochfour, Enmore, Hope and Paradise – on the East Coast of Demerara, British Guiana, walked 29 kilometers to Georgetown with a wheel barrow of coins worth 10,000 guilders which they had saved and had buried in the ground. Within 15 days, they paid and additional 20,000 guilders , based on a promissory note they had signed, to purchase plantation Northbrook, a former cotton plantation of 500 acres for 30,000 guilders, which they renamed Victoria,” Phillips said as he flipped back the pages of history.

He said the purchase of Northbrook was the birth of the Village Movement in Guyana and remains the greatest entrepreneurial activity in any post-slavery society after Emancipation.

own food, created and implemented their own governance systems and worked together to create a village economy.

ACDA Executive, Eric Phillips

“Nowhere, nowhere else in the world, except Guyana was such a village movement ever successfully implemented on such a very largescale,” he said.

Quoting Rawle Farley, Phillips said the village movement was “the most spectacular and aggressive land settlement movement in the history of the people of the British Caribbean and a movement which seemed to one planter in British Guiana to be certainly without parallel in the history of the world!” Subsequent to the purchase of Northbrook, the 42,000 freed Africans invested US$2.5M, over a 12-year period. They owned their own homes, grew their

REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT “This US$2.5 million investment, equivalent to almost US$2 billion dollars today was a remarkable achievement for a people whom had been enslaved for over 200 years and who became free only 12 years prior,” Phillips noted.

He was keen on pointing out that the village movement was an entrepreneurial venture with several facets.

“It wasn’t just about buying land. It was far more and consisted of 10 separate but integrated goals: (1) real estate development; (2) agricultural crop production; (3) self-governance; (4) community development; (5) a sustainable life in a now new Guyanese environment; (6) the creation of a new identity after enslavement; (7) freedom and economic independence; (8) schools and churches of their own; (9) food security; and (10) gold production and other economic activities,” he ex-

plained.

The ACDA executive said the movement involved a combination of social and commercial entrepreneurship. “A village meant freedom. Living off the plantation was a qualitative aspect of freedom. Not only were they out of the plantation but in the villages they also began to exercise what was totally impossible before: some political power.

“The villages were self-governing units. The villages were collectives, communal arrangements that had a total aspect to them.

They were not merely units of production. In fact, their function was only marginally to produce. Primarily, their function was to guarantee that life could be reproduced within the physical space called a village, and that the Africans themselves had the power to decide how that space was to be policed, and how the rates and taxes that were produced were going to be spent to maintain sanitation and so on within the village,” Walter Rodney wrote in his book “From Niggeryard to Village.”

Emphasising that entre-

preneurship is in the genes of Afro Guyanese, Phillips said it is time that they reclaim their legacy and create generational wealth but they must know their history. “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots," he said while quoting Marcus Garvey.

Guyana was developed by two incredible events that involved people of African descent. The first event was the physical creation of Guyana during 200 years of brutal enslavement in a system now defined by the United Nations as “the greatest crime against humanity”.

It was noted that before Emancipation (1621-1838), Africans played a critical role in the development of Guyana. Africans, he recalled, “had driven back the sea and had cleared, drained and reclaimed 15,000 square miles of forest and swamps,” noting that all the plantations now turned villages and cities were built by unpaid African labour.

18 soldiers on skill training course EIGHTEEN Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks are currently pursuing

training on the Skill-atArms Instructor Course 2019-01.

The six-week course is designed to empower the participants to plan, conduct

and supervise live firing and live grenade throwing in accordance with the GDF

Shooting Policy and Pamphlet No. 21 Regulation for Planning, and to su-

pervise training with the Infantry Weapons Systems and Pyrotechnics.

Warrant Officer, Class Two, Christopher Harmon (centre seated) flanked by other senior officers (seated) and the 18 ranks on the training programme

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

Gov't committed to 'good-life' promise -- Harmon tells Buxtonians

Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, addresses residents of Buxton and neighbouring communities

Two students from the village being presented with new electronic tablets from the Telecommunications Ministry

Cultural presentations at the Emancipation celebrations (Samuel Maughn Photos)

By Lisa Hamilton HUNDREDS of Buxtonians and neighbouring villagers who attended the First of August Movement Emancipation celebration on Wednesday, were assured that the government is committed to their development.

This assurance came from Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, who spoke at Buxton Market Square on the African Guyanese Emancipation agenda and Guyana’s emerging oil and gas economy.

Also in attendance were Education Minister, Dr. Nicolette Henry and Cultural and African rights activist, Dr. David Hinds.

Harmon said the African Guyanese who gave their lives to build Guyana made a sacrifice that all Guyanese can be proud of.

He reminded, however, that the removal of slavery did not come easily and the barbaric system was only abolished because it became uneconomical due to the resistance of the enslaved.

On that score, Harmon told the gathering that while it is important to celebrate freedom from the physical shackles of slavery, Guyanese must be equally vested in freeing themselves from mental slavery.

“Emancipation is not only a physical process where the shackles are removed from one’s feet; the shackles must also be removed from one’s mind. True emancipation is a process that begins in the mind… in spite of the intense programme of de-humanisation of our ancestors by the colonial masters they never succeeded in removing the spark of freedom and economic enterprise from their minds. This spark will, with the garnering of oil and gas resources, now burst into flames of economic prosperity and social security,” he

stated.

The director-general said the coalition government has and will continue to create enabling environments for the development of all Guyanese through funds from the oil sector.

He added that similarly to the way freed slaves pooled their resources to build schools, churches and communities, modern-day Guyanese must be ready and willing to do the same despite ethnic differences.

“No more should there be stretches of highways where the provision of street lights is determined by the people who live in the communities where those highways pass. No more should there be proper drainage and irrigation and farm-to-market roads, or the lack thereof, all based on the people occupying those areas. There is overwhelming evidence that these instances were all prevalent during the 23 years prior to 2015,” he said.

However, to prepare Guyanese to benefit from oil and gas, Harmon said the education sector must be upgraded to cater for curriculum reform and citizens must continue to tap into the advantages of information and communications technology (ICT).

“In this regard, the government has devoted the largest slice of its budget to education. This has allowed us to build new schools with smart classrooms and to provide Internet connectivity in our schools. We aim to do more in all of our schools.

The work has started and will continue. I hope that you will allow us to continue that work when the next elections come around,” he said.

Giving examples close to home, he named the rehabilitation of the Buxton Secondary School and in the inclusion of a new Science Laboratory as improvements towards this end.

Buxton will also receive

group training in ICT and website designing from the Ministry of Public Telecommunications and Harmon encouraged residents to take advantage of this opportunity.

Meanwhile, two students from the village were presented with new electronic tablets from the Public Telecommunications Ministry.

Harmon also informed the gathering that the second largest allocation in the 2019 budget went to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and this is proof that the government wants all of Guyana to benefit from improved infrastructure.

DEVELOPMENTAL WORKS He also announced that Ministry of Public Infrastructure has approved contracts for the development of Company Path Road at $32M and for the rehabilitation of Middle Walk Road at $41M. At the same time, an additional set of street lights will be donated to the First of August Movement to be placed in needed areas in the village.

He also indicated that the improvement of the state of farm-to-market roads and canals in the village, as requested, will be looked into by the government.

“It is in the interest of the Guyanese African communities to ensure that there is no return to the rampant corruption, nepotism and racial discrimination that existed between the years 1992 and 2015, all of which perpetrated a system that resulted in the marginalisation and oppression of large sections our country, especially the African Guyanese communities,” Harmon said.

He added: “The Government of President, David Granger, is particularly committed to providing the enabling environment for the development of our villages and communities; to do

Hundreds turn out to the First of August Movement’s Emancipation eve celebration

whatever it takes, when the resources become available, to ensure that our villages and our rural communities across Guyana are given every assistance, every opportunity for economic and social development.”

Leading up to the main cultural presentation at the Square, a libation ceremony was held at the Emancipation Monument nearby.

It was spearheaded by the First of August Movement in collaboration with several

spiritual churches.

“Every year, for 50 years, we have been celebrating the first of August,” Chair of the Movement, Yvette Herod told this newspaper.

Noting that the monument signifies the abolition of slavery, she added: “Tonight, what we’re doing is celebrating the eve of Emancipation. It means that we have our libation here with these churches and then we go on the line top [at the Market Square] and we have cultural

presentations.”

Over at the square, prior to Harmon’s arrival, the audience was entertained by poems, songs and dancing to popular folk songs such as ‘Timber Heavy Load’, ‘Brown Skin Girl’, ‘Sancho Lick He Lover Pon De Dam’, ‘Jane Engaged’ and more.

Music came from the beats of steel pans and drums. There were also calypso performances and the telling of ‘Anancy stories’.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

141 to enhance capacity of police force

FTO Assistant Commissioner, Clifton Hicken (third from left) flanked by other senior officers and the graduates

UNDER the theme “Improving Police Professionalism through Effective Training and Mentorship”, the Guyana Police Force successfully trained 141 ranks in their bid to enhance the capacity of the force.

The ranks have successfully completed the Station Management, Newly Promoted, Special Constabulary and Drilling Instructor courses.

These courses are designed to improve efficiency, encourage best practices and improve leadership among subordinate officers.

The closing ceremony was recently held at the Police Officers’ Training Centre, Camp Road, Georgetown.

Delivering the course

overview, Sergeant Owen Lagnah, on June 3, 2019, said the Station Management, the Newly Promoted, Drill Instructor and Special Constabulary courses commenced and lasted for a period of seven weeks.

He said ranks were trained and lectured to in various subject areas such as English Language, human rights, first aid, anger management, domestic violence, the force continuum, foot drills and traffic and crime, among others.

In brief remarks, the Force Training Officer (FTO), Assistant Commissioner Clifton Hicken, said with the skills and knowledge received by the ranks from the various courses, the focus will be on building bridges

with members of the public.

“For us to achieve our objective as an organisation, these courses will have to be continuous. We are anticipating that by the end of the year, we will see evidence of the training in other divisions and branches resulting in positive interactions between members of the public and officers of the force, stemming from this type of training,” the FTO noted.

Ranks from the Drill Instructor Course who were outstanding received trophies. The best graduating student was Constable, Selwain David, while the runner up went to Lance Corporal, Akeem Bacchus.

Constable Eon Rodrigues copped the top prize for drill and fitness.

Woman at centre of Seeta’s Bar murder questioned

POLICE are reportedly trying to ascertain whether the woman at the centre of a murder at Seeta’s Bar in Station Street, Kitty, Georgetown, is a friend of the former policeman who fatally shot a father of six on Monday last.

Kurt Anthony Duncan, 32, of Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was killed when he tried to part a fight at the bar and was shot dead in the vicinity of the washroom, allegedly by 32-year-old Keon David of Sophia, who is wanted by the police.

The perpetrator was seen gun-butting Duncan before shooting him in the chest.

Police have since questioned the woman as investigations continue.

Reports indicate that the bar was in the process of closing after 2:00hrs when a scuffle ensued with a female

Wanted: Keon David

and a male who was washing the floor of the premises.

CCTV footage showed the woman arguing with a male cleaner at the night club after he accidentally spilt some water on her.

Duncan, who tried to be a peacemaker, intervened and was shot. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His body is at the George-

Dead: Kurt Anthony Duncan

town Public Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Relatives of Duncan said he was a hardworking man and will be dearly missed by his family.

“He was a very hardworking person who loved his family; we want justice for what happened; this is not easy for us,” one relative said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

Youths bat for more support for the creative arts

By Vishani Ragobeer YOUNG people whose work were selected to be published in the 2019 edition of the Guyana Annual Magazine believe that such initiative should be enhanced as it will enable continuous development of the creative sector.

The artwork of Kasy Sookram, a young artist from Berbice, appeared on the cover of the magazine this year. Her piece was a tribute to the late writer and poet, Miss Sheila King.

Kasy’s piece is a portrait of the Guyanese woman surrounded by phrases taken from the published works of King.

Another layer of this piece was that King’s portrait was complimented by a rainbow aura, which attributed to King’s “colourful mind” which brought her prize-winning children’s stories to life.

The young girl’s creation is plastered on every copy of this year’s edition of the magazine, which has been around for more than 100 years. In fact, she was “astonished” when she found out that the magazine has been around for so long, and that her work has now become etched in a prestigious publication.

“I think that they [the Editorial Board of the magazine] are doing an exceptional job at trying to keep art alive,” Kasy said, adding: “What they’re doing is what Guyanese people need; especially local artists

and hopefully next year it can be even bigger.”

The young artist said the interactions she had with the magazine’s editor, Danielle Swain, encouraged her to continue contributing to the magazine for many years to come.

Siddharth Ramessar, 11, attracted much attention at the launch of the magazine, on Saturday, as he stepped up to receive his prize. The young boy was awarded for a cartoon he drew, which was premised on the topical ‘no-confidence motion’. “At first, I wasn’t really sure what it (the no-confidence motion) was about but everybody was talking about it and it was on the news and in the newspapers,” he said, adding: “So I decided to do my little research on that and then I decided it would be a good opportunity for me to depict it in a literal sense.”

ELATED The young boy, like Kasy, expressed his elation that something that he created was published in a magazine for all to see. More than that, his piece in this year’s magazine serves as a reminder of Guyana’s more contemporary history.

While the Guyana annual has survived for more than a century, only last year was the competition aspect of the magazine was reintroduced. With this, Guyanese would submit their art and literary works to be judged and published in the magazine. It is the aim of

story writing or visual arts,” Gopie said.

Similarly, in the George Simon Prize for Junior Visual Arts, both the winners: Dhaniram Beepat and Ameena Mohamed sought to illustrate their love for Guyana and its beauty, albeit in their own ways. They too were appreciative of having

Kasy Sookram’s artwork decorating the cover of the 2019 edition of the Guyana Annual Magazine

the magazine to be an avenue where authentic Guyanese works would be kept alive.

A poem written by 16-year-old Brianna Gopie was chosen as the best piece in the Junior Poetry category.

The young girl highlighted that she wanted to depict Guyana as a great land of six people and she wanted others to see Guyana the way she sees Guyana.

For her, the arts are important because they provide an opportunity to celebrate culture, and as such, should be supported.

“I feel like the arts are an important part of our culture and all our youths should do what we can to keep this culture alive whether it be poetry,

Three of the winners of this year’s Guyana Annual Magazine. From left: Brianna Gopie, Dhaniram Beepat and Ameena Mohamed

a platform to showcase their work.

Editor of the Guyana Annual Magazine, Danielle Swain, noted that the editorial board is seeking to do even more when it comes to ‘pushing’ these local creatives. In future, it will host workshops to help all participants de-

velop their creative abilities; host a radio programme, which will be made into an audiobook; and eventually, collaborate with the creative enterprises in Guyana to host a ‘Guyana Literature and Art Festival’. These plans are largely dependent upon sponsorship.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

Smuggling contributed to chicken shortage in Guyana -- supplies should return to normalcy by mid-August THE Guyana Poultry Producers Association suspects that the current chicken shortage in Guyana is

ed the chicken smuggling business.

The enforcement department of the Guyana Revenue

The association assured Guyanese that chicken supplies would return to normalcy by mid-August.

caused by the smuggling of chicken from Suriname which started in large quantities early 2018.

According to the association in a press statement, Suriname at that time only had five per cent duty on imported chicken, and as a result, large quantities of American and Brazilian chicken were legally imported into Suriname and some of that chicken was then smuggled into Guyana.

This contributed to a surplus of chicken in Guyana because the local poultry farmers could not estimate the amount of smuggled chicken entering the country and continued producing as per normal.

The glut lasted from the end of May 2018 to March 2019, the largest glut of chickens Guyana had ever experienced.

In June 2019, the Suriname authorities increased their duty on imported chicken from five per cent to 40 per cent which negatively affect-

Authority (GRA) also stepped up their campaign against the smuggled chicken and it appeared that their efforts resulted in large seizures of chicken, brought in illegally from across the border.

In March of this year, the Guyana poultry farmers were found to have excess chicken in their pens that were between 12 and 15 weeks old when the normal grow out period was six weeks.

The delayed time for this excess chicken to be sold resulted in long delays before farmers could start a new crop of chicks, since new crops required the pens to be empty.

“Presently, hatching egg imports have increased and local farmers have placed adequate supplies of chicken on their farms that will reach processing age in another week or two which is expected to bring an end to the shortage of local chicken. Since the problem has been rectified; this problem is unlikely to re-occur,” said the association.

Some consumers told this publication that the price for chicken has been raised from about $340 per pound to over $400 per pound.

The Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), in a recent Facebook post, had said that records show that there has been a reduction in the number of cases of hatching eggs being imported when compared to 2018.

Some farmers have also been complaining of reduced growth rates and higher mortality, which may also be attributed to the reduction of poultry meat on the market. The major players in the sector were consulted and assured that the situation would be rectified during the week.

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

“They have also assured that they are able to maintain supply to their major customers,” the GLDA said.

Cevons mulls construction of wastewater treatment plant CEVONS Waste Management plans to construct and operate a Wastewater/ Sewage Treatment Plant at Tract “A” Plantation Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara.

The company applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for environmental authorisation to construct the facility which will be obliquely opposite the Haags Bosch Landfill Site.

This project is intended to see the design, building and operation of a Wastewater/ Sewage Treatment Plant in keeping with the development goals of Guyana.

According to a notice from the EPA, the Wastewater Treatment Plant will include seven major components which include the receiving chamber, screening chamber, grit removal chamber, skimming tank, sedimentation tank, clarifier

active sludge tank and sludge drying beds.

The plant is expected to collect an estimated average volume of 16,000 gallons (73m3) of sewage/wastewater per day from Georgetown and its immediate environs for 20 to 30 years.

Wastewater treatment is a process used to remove contaminants from wastewater or sewage and convert it into an effluent that can be returned to the water cycle with minimum impact on the environment.

The latter is called water reclamation because treated wastewater can then be used for other purposes.

The treatment process takes place in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), often referred to as a Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) or a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). Pollutants in municipal wastewater are

removed or broken down.

The treatment of wastewater is part of the overarching field of sanitation.

Sanitation also includes the management of human waste and solid waste as well as storm water (drainage) management.

By-products from wastewater treatment plants, such as screenings, grit and sewage sludge may also be treated in a wastewater treatment plant.

Before the project starts, in keeping with the Environmental Protection Act, Cap. 20:05, Laws of Guyana, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required before any decision to approve or reject this proposed project is taken, since this development may have significant impacts on the environment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

Opposition MP accused of attempting to rape minor -- but denies allegation, police force launches investigation THE Guyana Police Force has launched an investigation into an alleged case of attempted rape of a minor by an Opposition Member of Parliament. The accused has since denied the allegation levelled against him.

It is alleged that People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament, Alister Charlie, on Wednesday, attempted to rape a 16-year-old boy in Lethem, Region Nine. The incident came to the fore through a Facebook post made by the mother of the boy.

“I’m disturbed by the video that I saw this morning of my son being taken advantage,” the distraught mother wrote on her social media page on Thursday, and proceeded to name the accused.

The incident reportedly occurred in Lethem.

According to reports, the teenager, after attending a children’s party at Charlie’s residence on Wednesday, was lured to a nearby bar and was given alcohol laced with ecstasy. He was reportedly videoed with his pants and underwear down and genitals exposed. The accused reportedly had his genitals out at the time, not only in the presence of the minor, but other persons, who were seen laughing.

A man, known the family of the minor, was passing the bar at the time, and reportedly intervened, and started recording the incident, after he was shun by those present.

The victim was subsequently taken to his grandmother’s residence.

The Guyana Chronicle spoke to the mother of the victim but to safeguard the victim’s identity her name would not be disclosed. The woman, who resides in Georgetown, said she learnt of the incident on Thursday morning, when she received a phone call from her mother, who lives in Lethem with her son. Her mother, the victim’s grandmother, was shown the video by the man who intervened when the incident was unfolding. That video was reportedly sent to the mother of the victim.

The woman said from all indications, her son was unwell when he returned home on Wednesday night.

He vomited several times and opted to sleep in a hammock.

give that child alcohol, and I would never indulge in giving a minor alcohol to drink, no,” Charlie maintained.

According to Charlie, the victim’s mother is pursuing the matter because of a “joke” told to the family about what happened the night of the party. The Guyana Chronicle understands that after showing the minor’s relatives

PPP/C MP Alister Charlie

On Thursday when he and his grandmother were confronted with the video, the victim said after drinking from a cup given to him by the opposition MP, he blanked out, and has no recollection of what transpired thereafter.

The matter was reported to the Lethem Police Station, and the school’s welfare officer was called in, in addition to the accused. The minor was also asked to give a statement.

In the statement given to the police, the victim reportedly said that while at the party, the PPP/C MP made sexual offers to him. It is alleged that at the party, the MP was sexually grooming the minor, and offered him oral sex, among other things.

ALLEGATIONS NOT TRUE MP Charlie pleaded his innocence on Thursday. Even as he sat in police custody to give his statement, the opposition MP told the Guyana Chronicle that the allegation has no merit, and there is no evidence to show that he made sexual advancements towards the minor. He also denied giving the minor alcohol to consume.

“It is a blatant lie,” Charlie told this newspaper. However, Charlie admitted that he was at the bar after the party but said he did not come into contact with the victim.

“I am giving my statement here (at the police station) but it was nothing of the sort.

It was nothing of the sort, and I will have to take legal action against them because this is not true,” he told this newspaper.

Stating that he is from a Christian background, the opposition MP said he would never encourage a minor to consume alcohol. “I didn’t

the video, the man that intervened deleted the video, and later told the police that it was a “joke”. He too was required to give a statement.

This reported incident comes approximately four months after the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) launched an investigation into an alleged case of rape of a 22-year-old young

man by a high-ranking regional official from Region One (Barima-Waini), who is aligned with the PPP/C. In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, a 22-year-old man, despite his speech impediment, detailed how he was allegedly taken to Georgetown from Mabaruma and lured to a hotel, bullied into sex and left stranded, allegedly by the Region One Regional Chairman, Brentnol Ashley.

These reported incidents

are being made at a time when the Childcare and Protection Agency continues to express grave concern about the number of sexual abuse cases involving minors.

Already for this year (January-May 2019), there are 105 reported cases of sexual abuse against boys while 387 cases of sexual abuse involving girls have been registered, the Childcare and Protection Agency has disclosed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

Emancipation an ‘authentic’ tourism product –– says GTA director

Drummers gave patrons a feel of the African culture at the National Park

By Vishani Ragobeer EMANCIPATION Day celebrations offers an “authentic” tourism product for both regional and international travellers, Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director, Brian Mullis, said.

The director visited the Emancipation Day celebrations organised by the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) at the National Park. This was his second time attending the festivities since he moved to Guyana and assumed leadership of the GTA. “At the GTA, I recognised that it is truly Guyana’s wealth of cultural heritage as well as its natural

heritage that makes it such an extraordinary destination,” Mullis said.

Even though Guyana is widely recognised for its ecotourism sector, the GTA head noted that these cultural events are what give the country that extra bit of attraction for visitors. Furthermore, he noted that most travellers, in more recent times, opt for destinations which have rich cultural experiences to offer as well.

“In this day and age, people are looking for authenticity,” he contended, adding: “They’re looking to immerse themselves and get to know local culture and heritage and get to know local people and it is events like this that are easy to attend, because there

is a set date every year.”

Even local Guyanese love to be immersed in the culture, particularly at Emancipation time. Ebony Alleyne has been going to the National Park ever year, without fail, since she was a little girl.

“I’m always excited to come out on Emancipation Day and I think it is a wonderful sight to see everyone dressed in their different cultural wears and so,” the young lady said.

Now that she is a grown woman, this is a tradition she is trying to keep within her own family. She hopes that they too would grow up to appreciate the struggle their African ancestors faced before they got their freedom.

John Fernandes agrees to halt works on Chemical warehouse at Houston AMID objections from residents and City Hall, John Fernandes Limited has agreed to cease all works on its Chemical Warehouse at Houston Gardens until approvals are garnered from the City Council and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

On Wednesday, representatives from John Fernandes Limited met with City Mayor, Ubraj Narine and the Councillors of the City of Georgetown, among other local officials.

John Fernandes was proceeding with the construction of its warehouse at Houston Gardens, although the Council, EPA and the City Engineer’s Office served the company with orders to cease operations, and on Tuesday, the City threatened to take legal action.

One day after that public warning was issued, the company, in acknowledging the violation, agreed it would stop working on the warehouse. It noted, however, that several documents would be submitted including a proposal for the Petro-Chemical Bond, inclusive of a Feasibility Study and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The company is also required to submit a building plan for the construction of a shed to facilitate the transfer of Petro-Chemicals

by Nalco Champion. A registered Surveyor’s Plan for the construction of the roadway that

links John Fernandes Container Terminal to Area K, Houston is also expected to be submitted by the company.

City Council, on Wednesday, also used the opportunity to advise all citizens to comply with the building by-laws and all regulatory framework for construction works within the City.

The chemical warehouse is intended to be used by Nalco Champion Guyana. Nalco, in the past, had said that the chemicals that will be stored at the proposed warehouse at Industrial Site, Ruimveldt will be similar to common household items such as rubbing alcohol, paint thinner, gasoline and diesel.

The company, an international oil and gas company, has applied for ‘Environmental Authorisation,’ from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for the operation of a chemical warehouse facility at John Fernandes Ltd. Inland Terminal at Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and for the transportation of chemicals from the Inland Terminal to John Fernandes Water Street Port. The chemicals would thereafter be transferred to the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels offshore Guyana. That authorisation is still pending.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

Emancipation 2019 deemed bigger than previous years THE annual Emancipation Festival held on August 1 at the National Park, did not fail to deliver yesterday. Thousands of families flocked the venue decked out in their immaculate African wear, to participate in the day of exciting activities.

After a long day, one would think that the crowd for the cultural extravaganza later in the evening would have filtered down. However, the crowd got even bigger as the stage started to ‘kick off’ with the items.

People of all ages and ethnicities rushed to the tarmac and assembled at the front of the stage to witness the performances. With a packed programme of a total of 38 items, the crowd could not complain about being bored or tired.

Several persons in the crowd expressed sentiments of satisfaction with the performances on the show.

“I very impressed this year, ACDA delivered. The items so far are well coordinated and I’m impressed with the talent shortlisted this year.

The delays and the unnecessary talking would usually get to us, but this year, well so far, I haven’t seen any of that.

So I’m just having a good time here with my children, enjoying the cultural vibes,” one mother in the crowd said.

Another one said “When August 1st comes, I does be so proud to be black. Just look at this turn out. Everyone out here just showing great appreciation for our people, and this makes me so very happy. The show is very very nice, it’s good to see so many young people on it, show us and at the same time showing personal appreciation of our history.”

A young girl, aged 14,

said that it was her first time coming to the National Park and she enjoyed the entire day with her family. She said that she is inspired to return next year, but to take part in the show with her poetry talent.

cipation is a full day, a tiring day, but we have a lot of activities that happened today.

And I saw a lot of children came out with their families, a lot of elderly people, and people of all ages, nationali-

Guyanese singer, Mark Batson doing his thing

“I have my own pieces that I write, and today I was inspired to take part in these kind of activities, so I hope that next year I can get to be a part to share my work and show appreciation for the people of African descent,” she said From a stage view, all that were visible were smiling faces, waving hands, and children in the air. The audience ‘turn out’ spoke volumes, of how appreciative people are of the African culture in Guyana. The diversity exemplified Guyana’s motto ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’.

Giving a wrap comment on the day’s activities, Emancipation coordinator from the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA), Aisha Haynes said that she was happy with the support that was received this year.

“I’m very happy with the turn out, as you can see we had a lot of support. Eman-

ties and ethnicities coming to the park. We really had a lot of support today. On that note I must say thank you to all our supporters. A lot of people are saying that this year was bigger than last year, a lot more people are here this year…

Over the years we’ve been seeing more people interested from all walks of life, to actually see the cultural activities.

Some people wanna see the que-que and drumming. You are seeing the diversity being reflected, coming out to support the culture,” Haynes said.

After being entertained by several young performers, and some of Guyana’s leading artistes such as Carlvin Burnette, Mark Batson, Big Red and more, later in the evening the crowd was set ablaze with an electrifying cultural performance from Ky-mani Marley, son of the Jamaican reggae legend, Bob Marley.

A section of the crowd in front of the stage at the National Park

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 2, 2019

Emancipation Celebration

African craft on display for hundreds to admire and purchase

Rastafarians came out to stand with their African brothers and sisters

Young drummers tirelessly kept the mamm

These young girls show off their ‘matched up’ outfits

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 2, 2019

ns at the National Park

Patrons were treated to a wide selection of authentic African dishes

moth crowd energised throughout the day

These siblings and family members showing off their outfits

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Photos by Samuel Maughn

This family made the National Park their own personal runway on Emancipation Day

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 2, 2019

Emancipation celebrations at Union, Number 53 Vil age, Berbice President David Granger receives a plaque as he was inducted as an official patron of the Emancipation Festival in Guyana

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo along with his wife, Sita Nagamootoo, Social Cohesion Minister, Dr. George Norton and Region Six’s Regional Executive Officer (REO), Kim Williams-Stephen arriving at No. 53 Union village Cultural and Sports Complex, Corentyne, Berbice for the 181st Anniversary of Emancipation (DPI photo)

Members of the Benn’s family of Tucber Park, New Amsterdam relax as they enjoy the packed cultural programme

This little lad and his mother did not want to miss the activities at Union

President David Granger greets these youths at the Emancipation celebrations at Union

Children perform a cultural dance at the Emancipation celebration

Members of the Hogstye/Lancaster promoting the “Green Agenda”

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo receives a warm at the No. 53 Union village Cultural and Sports Complex (DPI photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

Courts, ERC, National Library join celebration of freedom

Members of Staff of Courts gather at the Emancipation celebration

By Naomi Marshall COURTS Guyana Inc, the Ethnic Relations Commission and other entities joined Emancipation celebrations 2019 with cultural observances.

On Wednesday, Courts partnered with the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA) to host its annual Emancipation Celebration and Cultural Display Ceremony at its Main Street, Georgetown branch.

At the event, the main activity was a “Best Dressed” competition which was keenly contested by COURTS employees. Customers present at the event were also entertained by local poets and drummers.

The event is one way in which Courts encourages employee engagement and camaraderie.

“It’s important that we at Courts encourage this because this leads to a better understanding of each other’s culture as we celebrate together,” Finance Director of Courts Guyana Inc, Neil Boucher, said.

At the event, Courts also donated $200,000 to ACDA. Also joining the celebration was Guyana’s National Library with its ‘Library Link Programme,’ which targeted

Directors of Courts, on Emancipation Eve, as they dance to the sounds of African drumming

Staff of Guyana’s National Library dressed in their African attire on Wednesday Dancers of the ‘Black Royalty Dance Group’ entertain the attendees at the Ethnic Relations Commission cultural event on Wednesday

senior citizens from seven elderly homes. Over 70 senior citizens were entertained at a concert featuring local artistes.

There was also an African fashion showcase.

According to Nadine Moore, Deputy Chief Liberian, the National Library’s aim is to create literacy throughout Guyana, and as such, it felt the need to not only cater to young

people, but to the elderly as well.

“This is an opportunity for them to come out and to interact with persons and to share their experiences,” Moore said.

In addition, the Ethnic Relation Commission also hosted an Emancipation celebration, showcasing local talents which

brought together persons of different races, beliefs and religions.

In addition, on the eve of Emancipation 2019, the ERC also celebrated the rich heritage brought to Guyana by the Africans with a cultural presentation at its Queenstown Office.

The event was attended by commissioners, staff and other representatives from sister organisations.

It featured African culture in poetry, drumming, songs and dances and brought together persons of different races, beliefs and religions.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

Ansa McAl 'Cook Up' Competition creates stir

THERE’s a lot about the African culture that draws people out of their homes year after year to head down to the National Park for the Emancipation celebrations, and the food is a huge part of it.

And for the past three years the ‘Chief Seasoning Cook Up Competition’, has been creating quite the buzz, and bringing about new interests in patrons, many of whom flocked the competition last Thursday to see how it was all going to go down, and to sample the mouthwatering varieties of cook up that were available.

For the third year in a row Linden’s Waveney Doris’ vegetarian cook up proved to be unbeatable, and she prevailed over nine other competitors in the vegetarian category. Taste aside, Doris’ delicious dish had one of the best presentations of the day, and her win came as no surprise.

Doris, who lost her husband just two months ago, said it is her love for cooking that helped her push through and return to defend her title.

This year she was assisted by her 35-year-old son.

“I love cooking vegetarian food, I can cook meat but I really love cooking vegetarian,” commented the mother of six.

Second place for this category was shared by Alecia Charles and Brittny Grant, while third place went to Rajdai Doris.

The other category of the competition, the ‘Obstacle’ Cook up category, where participants can add any meat they desire to their pots, was won by Nicola Davis.

Last year’s winner in this category, Elvis Shepherd, did not enter this year to defend his title.

It was another shared second place, which went to Pinky Kerr and Tabitha Singh. Third place in the category was Joan Hill.

Sponsored by Ansa McAl under its Chief Seasoning brand, the competition has been growing immensely despite only being three years old. When the competition first began in 2013 it started with 13 entries, this year there were 36 participants, the organizers closed off entries over concerns of the venue to accommodate all of the participants.

Nonetheless, the company is looking forward to see the competition grow even

more next year, as are the patrons. Many commended the nice addition that it has been to the annual Emancipation Celebrations. Patrons could not stop praising the food and the atmosphere that the event created.

“The atmosphere is immaculate, the outfits, the ambience, it’s peaceful and friendly,” commented Raphael Douglas, who was at the competition for the first time, and promises he’s going to keep coming back for as long as they keep having it.

“The cook up is an emblem of how tasty our culture is. Obviously I’m coming back next year, definitely inviting all my friends,” he quipped.

Once the judging of the competition is over, patrons can judge the participants for themselves, as the cook up is then shared to patrons free of cost. The cook up was prepared on site, with participants given some 2 hours to get their pots together.

Each participant was provided with the rice, peas and Chief cook up Seasonings but they were responsible for bringing their own variety meats and other ingredients.

One young lady suggested other companies come on board to sponsor even more African food competitions.

“I’ve always loved African food it’s just naturally amazing. Maybe they extended the menu to metem, or white pudding or souse,” commented 21 year old Noelle Gibson, who was out at the celebration with friends and spent the day sampling food from all across the Park.

The contestants were judged on a 20-point system based on the food’s aroma, its presentation, and of course, the taste. This year Media personality Gordon Moseley, comedian Odessa Primus returned as judges and were joined by Principal of Carnegie School of Home Economics, Myrna Lee. The Cook Up Competition was just one section where people were all abuzz about just how much they enjoy coming out at Emancipation to enjoy the traditional Afro-Guyanese dishes. All across the circuit of the National Park, persons could purchase just about any traditional food that they could think off.

And many of them did.

A booth selling food at the Emancipation celebrations at the National Park on Thursday

Some of the young patrons pose with the Chief Seasoning mascot at the Chief Cook Up Competition on Thursday at the Natiional Park (Samuel Maughn photo)

Raphael Douglas, (left), with his wife, at the Chief Cook Up Competition (Samuel Maughn photo)

Chief Cook Up Competition vegetarian category winner, Waveney Dorris (right) along with her son, who was her assistant during the cooking

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

Region 5 budget spending moving apace NOTWITHSTANDING resistance by some Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) leadership to cooperate with the Regional Administration in Mahaica Berbice, Region Five, Regional Executive Officer (REO), Ovid Morrison, says works are still moving apace, with more than half of the Region’s $3.7 billion already spent on works.

Morrison noted that having NDCs installed in respective communities has facilitated appropriate action in the region, since, instead of having to go into each community to find out about issues, the chairmen can instead take over this aspect, and simply report to the Regional administration whenever there is an issue to be dealt with.

“As a result of the restructuring of the local government system, and reintroduction of NDCs, I don’t have to wait for some time down the road for someone from the national level to give information on issues affecting the respective communities, or for something that is needed, I get some information from the local people,” Morrison noted.

“You get that there is a greater consciousness by the people, who demonstrate from their behavior that they understand that they own and are responsible for what goes on in their area. So it helps me now to provide the kind of services that the villages need. Drainage, for example, I don’t have to walk the entire village or send out officers to find out where needs clearing.

The community would inform me by submitting list of drains and canals that they perceive need to be cleared and I would then go to see in the particular NDC whether your drain or canal should take priority over another NDC so I have that ability to make a comparison because the respective NDC bring it to my attention.”

However, Morrison says, it’s not all smooth sailing.

There are cases whereby NDC heads know there is an issue in a community, but do not report it to the Regional administration. He says the reasons for this are usually due to the political bias of the NDC heads.

He says however the issue is not widespread.

“You have that but it’s not a challenge that you can say is general,” Morrison noted “That exists because in some of the NDCs heads allow their political persuasion to control their responsibility to the community. So in as much as the resident may bring it to the NDC leadership, that leadership, because of its per-

suasion, may not communicate that to me. But I would still have a line of communication because sometimes the residents would bring it to my attention directly, but that delays the timeframe.”

There are 10 NDCs across Region 5. Morrison said in his capacity as REO he always tries to ensure that development is taking place across all the NDCs, regardless of political affiliation.

“The Bath Woodley Park NDC, for example, that’s a community that seems to say that government isn’t doing anything for that community.

But in 2017, I spent some $45 million in that area, then $40 million in 2018 and right now I am spending money in that community, to show that the government is not looking at whether you voted for me or you’re criticizing me, it’s that your community needed services and our duty is to provide it,” Morrison noted.

“If you visit Mahaica Berbice you would hear the people praising how many roads have been constructed in the area. Take for example the Hopetown community Coop Society got lands and the Food for the Poor build houses. Last year, persons were walking on mud because is only last year the community was established. You go now and you would see we were able to put in ‘crush and run’ roads so that people would be walking and we would be pushing that further because come the end of 2020 we have set our self a target that there must be no earthen road existing in Mahaica Berbice region.”

Morrison proudly announced that as it pertains to his Regions 2019 spending, like years prior, the Region is on track to spend 100 percent of the money allocated in the national budget.

When savings are realized the region would look for other projects that they could finance, and request for permission from central government to utilize the savings.

“Our track record from 2016 – 2018 has shown that we have completed 100 plus percent of our budget. One may ask how we complete 100 plus percent, but that is because when we get savings, we would then look at areas on the budget that we submitted but did not get funding for and we would then write and ask for an inclusion and they would grant it and then we would proceed. So that is the reason I would say 100 plus.

From 2016 to date we have been completing our budget on time and 100 percent plus,”

Mahaica Berbice Regional Executive Officer, Ovid Morrison

Morrison informed.

“For 2019 where we are now? Well as of July 23, we are standing at 59.1 percent of our budget already spent and I can assure you that we would be completing by December 31, and I could say even before December.”

In December 2018, during the 2019 National budget presentations, Region 5 Regional Member of Parliament Jennifer Wade had called the Region’s budget a “blessed budget”, commending the funds invested in all 10 of the

NDCs. Projects budgeted for in 2019 included a new state-ofthe art abattoir to be built at Onverwagt; $96 million is set aside for the upgrading of 14 access roads between farms and markets, with another $93 million in the budget for drainage and irrigation works.

Much of the budget went to the rehabilitation and maintenance of drains and channels, as well as rehabilitation of structures and sluices and construction of roads and bridges.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 2, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 2, 2019

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SCORECARD

Smith superb 144 rescues Australia despite Broad’s 5-86

By Peter Hall BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - Australia’s Steve Smith struck a superb 144 on his return to the side as they recovered from 122-8 to reach 284 all out against England in the first innings of the first Ashes Test before the hosts saw out two overs unscathed at Edgbaston yesterday.

David Warner, who was banned along with Smith and Cameron Bancroft following a ball-tampering scandal, was out for two before Bancroft (8) fell, and Chris Woakes dismissed Usman Khawaja (13) as Australia went into the lunch break at 83-3.

England’s Jimmy Anderson did not return after lunch due to injury but the wickets continued to fall, leaving Australia struggling at 122-8, but Smith, who had earlier survived one of several incorrect on-field decisions, led the recovery.

He completed an emotional century - his 24th Test 100 - before being bowled by Stuart Broad, who finished with 5-86, before England’s Rory Burns and Jason Roy survived a brief spell at the crease, with the home side at 10-0 at the close of play.

“There were times throughout the last 15 months where I didn’t know if I was going to play cricket again,” said Smith, who was

frequently booed by the England fans.

“It has got to be one of my best 100s. I am lost for words.”

Smith and Warner were handed 12-month suspensions

by Cricket Australia (CA) for planning to alter the condition of the ball in a Test against South Africa in March last year.

Bancroft, who was caught on camera attempting to change the condition of the ball using sandpaper, received a nine-month ban for his role in the incident.

BOISTEROUS CROWD Buoyed by the boisterous crowd at ‘fortress Edgbaston’, England’s pacemen put Australia on the back foot straightaway.

Villain of the piece Warner survived an early scare before Broad got his man, with the jubilant England fans waving pieces of sandpaper in the batsman’s direction as he departed.

Soon after Joe Root caught Bancroft in the slips off Broad’s bowling before Woakes, fresh from career-best Test figures against Ireland, enticed an edge from Khawaja.

In Anderson’s absence, Travis Head and Smith put on 64 for the fourth wicket before Woakes struck again to dismiss Head.

The umpires’ poor af-

Another learning curve, says Rutherford

By Rajiv Bisnauth DEFENDING champions Mumbai Indians have made a significant piece of business ahead of the new India Premier League (IPL) season by trading spinner Mayank Markande to Delhi Capitals for Guyana and West Indies all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford.

It’s a move that confirmed the 20-year-old’s second stint at the most lucrative T20 tournament around the world.

“I am happy for the opportunity and I am just looking forward to it, since it will be another learning curve” Rutherford said during an exclusive interview.

He added, “Being picked for Mumbai Indians is already a boost for me ... a lot of confidence for me, since it’s a team with a lot of great players so I just want to grab with both hands”.

Rutherford, who hails from the East Coast village of Enmore, played only seven games for the Capitals scoring 73 runs while picking up a solitary wicket in his first IPL appearance, but despite his limited showing, the defending champions have made a shrewd piece of business looking at the new season and are hopeful

the new recruit will help them achieve their goals next year.

Mumbai Indians owner Aakash Ambani admitted that Rutherford’s impressive allround skills have caught the eyes of the Mumbai scouts.

“I am excited to welcome the talented Sherfane into our family. Sherfane has impressed us with his all-round skills and match-winning attitude. His exploits across the world at such an early stage of his career have been impressive and we believe he will find his home at Mumbai Indians,” he said.

Mumbai Indians bagged their fourth IPL crown this year after defeating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a thrilling final which was decided on the last ball. With their fourth title triumph, Mumbai became the most successful franchise in the league.

The defending champions seem to have already started identifying the major areas to strengthen in the squad for the next season and are working towards it. Rutherford’s arrival will add to the all-round options in Mumbai’s squad.

Rutherford was roped in by Delhi Capitals for Rs 2 crore (US$280 000) in the auctions last year.

ternoon continued as Aleem Dar gave Smith out leg-before-wicket, only for the Decision Review System to again overturn the call, before another overturned decision saw Matthew Wade (1) dismissed lbw.

Captain Tim Paine (5) was next to go, before James Pattinson became Broad’s second wicket in three balls when he went for a duck.

Peter Siddle and Smith steered Australia to tea, before

a super catch from Jos Buttler at short leg brought an end to Siddle’s resistance on 44.

But the day belonged to Smith as he moved past 100 with a fine drive through the covers before Broad’s 100th Ashes wicket ended the batsman’s brilliant innings.

“We don’t know how good the score will be until we bat on it,” Broad said.

“The way that Smith played showed there are runs to be had on the pitch.”

AUSTRALIA 1st innings Cameron Bancroft c Joe Root b Stuart Broad 8 David Warner lbw Stuart Broad 2 Usman Khawaja c Jonny Bairstow b Chris Woakes 13 Steven Smith b Stuart Broad 144 Travis Head lbw Chris Woakes 35 Matthew Wade lbw Chris Woakes 1 Tim Paine c Rory Burns b Stuart Broad 5 James Pattinson lbw Stuart Broad 0 Pat Cummins lbw Ben Stokes 5 Peter Siddle c Jos Buttler b Moeen Ali 44 Nathan Lyon not out 12 Extras: (lb-13, w-2) 15 Total: (all out, 80.4 overs) 284 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-17, 3-35, 4-99, 5-105, 6-112, 7-112, 8-122, 9-210.

Bowling: James Anderson 4-3-1-0, Stuart Broad 22.4-4-86- 5, Chris Woakes 21-2-58-3, Ben Stokes 18-1-77-1 (w-2), Moeen Ali 13-3-42-1, Joe Denly 2-1-7-0..

ENGLAND 1st innings Rory Burns not out 4 Jason Roy not out 6 Extras: 0 Total: (no wkts, 2.0 overs) 10 Bowling: Pat Cummins 1-0-3-0, James Pattinson 1-0-7-0.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 2, 2019

Interim Committee to run Blairmont Cricket Club affairs

By Rajiv Bisnauth

AN Interim Management Committee (IMC), was formed to govern the affairs of the embattled Blairmont Cricket Club (BCC).

The decision came after the club was not properly managed due to the resignation of its president Shabeer Baksh since September last year.

Shabeer Baksh

Chronicle Sport was reliably informed that the IMC is a short-term plan until elections are held later this year.

The IMC will be headed by president Mohamed Hussain; vice-president Shabeer Baksh; secretary Bibi Ishak; treasurer Anil Sukra; assistant treasurer Omesh Prashad; assistant secretary Ameer Rahim and PRO Amir Khan.

The council members are: Shazid Ali, Radesha Dookharan, Mohamed Samad, Jerry Karim, Vejai Shazeela Farhad, Govindaraj Khan and Estate representative CDO Adrian Singh.

executive members as well as member of the West Berbice Selection Committee.

Baksh, who was the club’s president for over eight years, had said after his resignation that his decision was based on personal

resigning from the positions with immediate effect,” Baksh wrote in a letter which was forwarded for publication back then.

He is known as a proactive person, who always has a positive attitude, but his

The Interim Management Committee (IMC)

Baksh had resigned from his position at the club with immediate effect on September 1 last year.

Baksh, a businessman, and who was a former president of the Region Five Chamber of Industry and Commerce, had also quit his Berbice Cricket Board’s posts, where he was appointed as one of the seven

reasons.

“I have tried to do my best and have tried to be fair and impartial in deciding matters in the functioning of the club and in matters related to the BCB. “However, for personal reasons it is not possible for me to continue in those positions and, hence, I am

decision hasn’t shocked some club members or even some at the board level.

At least three club officials, who had spoken on condition of anonymity after Baksh’s resignation, said that while Baksh was a go-getter, his self-importance was always questionable.

England win final Ashes T20 by 17 runs at Bristol ENGLAND salvaged some pride with a 17-run victory over Australia in the final Twenty20 match of the Women’s Ashes at Bristol yesterday.

Australia had already secured the Ashes, going into yesterday’s match unbeaten in the points-based series with a 12-2 margin.

Heather Knight’s side, though, came out on top at the County Ground, having made 139 for five after being put in to bat.

Opener Tammy Beaumont managed only five while Danni Wyatt scored 20 from 19 balls, with Knight then run-out for 23 and Natalie Sciver (five) also falling cheaply when she was caught at third man off a top edge.

However, Lauren Winfield hit a rapid 26 and Yorkshire’s Katherine Brunt also ended the innings unbeaten on 25 to add 43 from the last four overs and help set a

competitive total.

Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone – who took two in as many balls – then claimed three wickets each to restrict Australia’s run chase, with an unbeaten 60 from Ellyse Perry not enough.

Australia opener Alyssa Healy had made 28 before she was the first of two wickets for debutant off-spinner Mady Villiers, who also had Ashleigh Gardner stumped for a golden duck in the same over.

Captain Meg Lanning was trapped lbw

by Ecclestone for just two and the tourists always looked up against it after slumping to 45 for four inside 10 overs.

Brunt finished with three for 21 while Ecclestone, England’s leading wicket-taker in the series, had figures of three for 22 from her four overs. (PA Sport)

13th Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships

Guyana add Jonathan Ramsuchit; Barbados, Bermuda, St Martin confirm teams

Jonathan Ramshchit

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Cycling Federation, Horace Burrows, has confirmed that Jonathan Ramsuchit of Berbice, a member of Trojan Cycle Club, has been added to the Guyana team for the 13th edition of the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships to be held in Bartica next weekend, August 10-11.

Ramsuchit, who represented Guyana as a juvenile back in 2017 at the same championships in Barbados, will be hoping like his fellow countrymen and women to do themselves and country proud.

Meanwhile, countries have begun to submit the names of their riders for the championships Barbados’ lone competitor would be Adam Marshall. Bermuda has confirmed Nicholas Narraway, Alexander Miller, Liam Flannery and Nazarai Fox. St Martin would be represented by Noel Kianny, Aracin Kayl, Carty Kenny, Sanon Wilson and Thomas Roderick.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 2, 2019

Lanka’s bench strength makes Karunaratne hopeful of fresh start (REUTERS) - Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne is impressed with the bench strength displayed during their one-day international series win over Bangladesh, saying the next generation of players represents a fresh start for the island nation.

A solid all-round team performance led by Angelo Mathews’ 87 helped Sri Lanka secure a 122-run victory in the third ODI against Bangladesh on Wednesday, completing a 3-0 whitewash and a first home series win since November 2015.

There were several encouraging performances from relatively young players, who were not part of Sri Lanka’s dis-

mal World Cup campaign.

Karunaratne feels this further reinforces the core group of talent and plan for the 2023 World Cup. “I think after the World Cup we had to start again,

Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne

and this time, we have to find some new talents,” he told reporters.

“The young players grabbed their chances really well ... players whom we put in the team today put up their hands and did a great job.”

In the third ODI, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga came good with bat and ball, while seamer Kasun Rajith removed both Bangladesh openers in a blistering opening spell.

“This is the time we have to bring some youngsters for the next couple of years,” Karunaratne added.

“We’ve had an issue recently, where we didn’t have that strong bench. But players are now ready, and

they’ll grab the chances that come their way.”

Karunaratne also pointed to players who have spent the last few months on the sidelines.

“Beyond this team, there are others around as well, who are unable to break into this side at the moment - players like Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka,” Karunaratne added.

“You need a lot of players to build up that competition within a team, so that players are constantly putting pressure on one another to perform.”

Sri Lanka next host New Zealand for two Tests and three Twenty20 internationals. The first Test begins in Galle on August 14.

CWI to honour cricket commentator Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) is set to honour renowned cricket commentator Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira for his work in broadcasting the game for close to six decades.

The upcoming second MyTeam11 Test between West Indies and India – which is co-sponsored by Skoda and Fena – starting on Friday, August 30, at Sabina Park in Jamaica will be ‘Reds’ 150th Test Match that he has attended. It will also be the 250th Test Match that the West Indies have played on home soil.

Cornwall, Holder shine but Windies A in shambles PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Raheem Cornwall pressed his case with a half-century while fast bowler Chemar Holder impressed with a stunning five-wicket haul but West Indies A lay in shambles after 19 wickets fell on a turbulent second day of the second four-day “Test” here Thursday.

Resuming from their overnight 243 for five at Queen’s Park Oval, the hosts rallied to 318 all out in their first innings with Cornwall lashing a robust unbeaten 56 from 66 balls.

In reply, India A were undermined by Holder whose five for 54 sent the tourists tumbling to 190 all out. They were slumping at 20 for five at one stage before Shivam Dube, batting at number seven, top-scored with 79 and opener Priyank Panchal chipped in with 58, to rescue the innings.

Armed with a lead of 128, West Indies A were quickly blown away by seamer Sandeep Warrier who ripped through their second innings to leave them tottering on 12 for four at the close.

Captain and Test opener Brathwaite flirted with a wide ball from Warrier and edged behind for 10 with the score on 12 in the fourth over and three balls later in the same over with no addition to the score, Shamarh Brooks’s attempted flick ended up in the hands of Panchal at third slip.

Off the first ball of the next over, Montcin Hodge edged a drive at seamer Mohammed Siraj low to Panchal at gully without scoring before nightwatchman Jomel Warrican was taken at third slip in Warrier’s next over, also without scoring.

The day had started in a similar vein for West Indies A when they lost Raymon Reifer without adding to his overnight 27, lbw playing around a straight one from Siraj (3-63) with four runs added to the overnight total.

Wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, unbeaten overnight on 24,

made 36 before he was bowled playing back to a googly from Mayank Markande (3-79), and Romario Shepherd (2) added 32 for the eighth wicket with Cornwall before going caught at first slip by Mayank Agarwal off Warrier (2-77).

Cornwall, batting at number eight, ensured the tail wagged, slamming six fours and three sixes to push West Indies A’s total past the 300-run mark.

Pacer Chemar Holder clipped five for 54

India then lost Agarwal without scoring to the fifth ball of the only over before lunch, caught behind off a superb delivery from Holder which bounced and seamed away.

In the second over following the resumption, Holder had Abhimanyu Esawaran caught at point off the first ball he faced with the score on 11 and the next two wickets then fell with no addition to the score.

Captain Hanuma Vihari was trapped lbw on the crease

by Holder by one that nipped back while Anmolpreet Singh was caught low down at the second of two gullies by Warrican.

And West Indies A were truly on top when KS Bharat (7) edged left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer (2-42) to Jermaine Blackwood at second slip with the score on 20.

However, Dube and Pan-

chal staged a recovery courtesy of a 124-run sixth wicket stand which lifted India A out of their mire.

While Dube counter-attacked striking 11 fours and a pair of sixes off 85 deliveries, Panchal was content with the anchor role, notching eight fours off 125 balls in 2-¾ hours

at the crease.

Reifer eventually broke the stand when he had Panchal caught at first slip by Cornwall, and his dismissal triggered the final slide where five wickets fell for 46 runs.

Fast bowler Romario Shepherd supported with three for 29.

SCORECARD WEST INDIES A 1st Innings (overnight 243 for five) *K Brathwaite b Warrier 36 M Hodge b Mohammed Siraj 65 S Brooks c & b Dube 53 S Ambris lbw b Gowtham 12 J Blackwood c Vihari b Markande 20 +S Dowrich b Markande 36 R Reifer lbw b Mohammed Siraj 27 R Cornwall not out 56 R Shepherd c Agarwal b Warrier 2 J Warrican lbw b Markande 0 C Holder b Mohammed Siraj 0 Extras: (b5, w2, nb4) 11 TOTAL: (all out, 113 overs) 318 Fall of wickets: 1-87, 2-149, 3-166, 4-188, 5-196, 6-247, 7-268, 8-300, 9-301, 10-318.

Bowling: Mohammed Siraj 27-8-63-3, Warrier 24-4-77-2, Dube 19-7-40-1, Gowtham 19-3-49-1, Panchal 4-1-5-0, Markande 20-2-79-3.

INDIA A 1st Innings P Panchal c Cornwall b Reifer 58 M Agarwal c wkp Dowrich b Holder 4 A Esawaran c Warrican b Holder 0 *H Vihari lbw b Holder 0 Anmolpreet Singh c Warrican b Holder 0 +KS Bharat c Blackwood b Reifer 7 S Dube c Holder b Shepherd 79 K Gowtham c Hodge b Shepherd 18 M Markande c wkp Dowrich b Shepherd 7 Mohammed Siraj c Cornwall b Holder 9 S Warrier not out 0 Extras: (lb4, w4) 8 TOTAL: (all out, 46.5 overs) 190 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-11, 3-11, 4-11, 5-20, 6-144, 7-172, 8-180, 9-185, 10-190.

Bowling: Holder 13-4-54-5, Shepherd 10-4-29-3, Reifer 12-3-422, Blackwood 2-0-10-0, Warrican 5-1-27-0, Cornwall 5-0-24-0.

WEST INDIES A 2nd Innings *K Brathwaite c wkp Bharat b Warrier 10 M Hodge c Panchal b Mohammed Siraj 0 S Brooks c Panchal b Warrier 0 J Warrican c Esawaran b Warrier 0 S Ambris not out 0 J Blackwood not out 0 Extras: (lb1, nb1) 2 TOTAL: (4 wkts, 7 overs) 12 Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-12, 3-12, 4-12.

Bowling: Siraj 4-2-8-1, Warrier 3-1-3-3.

Position: West Indies A lead by 140 runs with six second innings wickets intact.

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Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira will be honoured by CWI during the second Test between West Indies and India at Sabina Park

“We would like to congratulate ‘Reds’ for his outstanding commentary over the last 60 years,” said CWI president Ricky Skerritt. “He has been an exemplary broadcaster on both regional and international levels for many years and is deserving of this recognition as one of

the most notable voices of West Indies cricket.”

Perreira’s first live cricket broadcast took place in 1961 in a first-class match between his native Guyana and long-standing rivals Trinidad & Tobago at Rose Hall. Ten years later, he covered his first Test between West Indies and India at GCC ground, Bourda.

Perreira has also worked on 250 One-day Internationals, including attending half of the dozen ICC Cricket World Cups to be staged – 1975, 1979, 1983, 1992, 2003, 2007.

“One of the enduring legacies of ‘Reds’ is his tenacity, coming from humble beginnings to rise to the top of broadcasting on the game from the far-flung arenas around the world,” said Skerritt.

“He has set an example of professional excellence and determination that should inspire many young broadcasters around the Caribbean to vigorously pursue the highest standards in their craft.”

Skerritt added: “I, like many West Indians of a past era, can well remember all hours of the day and night being glued to our radios, which were the only way to follow the game for many years. The game was brought to life, as we listened to ‘Reds’ and the late, great Tony Cozier fly the flag of West Indian excellence in the commentary booths around the world.”

A special presentation will be made to Perreira during the tea interval on the third day of the Second Test on Sunday, September 1 at Sabina Park, Jamaica.

One million pound buy-in poker tournament starts in London

By Marissa Davison

LONDON (Reuters) - A poker tournament featuring a 1 million pound buy-in - a record according to organisers - started in London on Thursday, with 54 players from around the world competing for the 19 million pound first prize.

Eleven players will walk away with winnings and the remaining 43 will lose their buy-in during the three-day Triton Million event, which is part of the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series held at the London Hilton hotel.

The players will pay an additional 50,000 pounds entry fee that will go to charity, organiser Triton said.

Triton Poker Series touring director Luca Vivaldi said the tournament had been designed to have a balance of recreational poker enthusiasts and top professionals.

Some of the world’s best-known recreational players had been invited to take part, he said, and they could register a guest, who was likely to be a top professional, to play too.

Professional player Jason Koon from the United States said he would try to exploit some of the recreational players for any mistakes they made.

“But against the tougher competition, poker players play more of a defensive strategy where we just try not to be exploited,” he said.

“I’m not feeling the pressure whatsoever,” he said.

“I’ve played stakes this big for a very long time.”

But for Wai Kin from Malaysia it was a different story - his first time playing such a big event. “I hope the pressure doesn’t get to me,” he said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 2, 2019

Lanka’s bench strength makes Karunaratne hopeful of fresh start (REUTERS) - Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne is impressed with the bench strength displayed during their one-day international series win over Bangladesh, saying the next generation of players represents a fresh start for the island nation.

A solid all-round team performance led by Angelo Mathews’ 87 helped Sri Lanka secure a 122-run victory in the third ODI against Bangladesh on Wednesday, completing a 3-0 whitewash and a first home series win since November 2015.

There were several encouraging performances from relatively young players, who were not part of Sri Lanka’s dis-

mal World Cup campaign.

Karunaratne feels this further reinforces the core group of talent and plan for the 2023 World Cup. “I think after the World Cup we had to start again,

Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne

and this time, we have to find some new talents,” he told reporters.

“The young players grabbed their chances really well ... players whom we put in the team today put up their hands and did a great job.”

In the third ODI, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga came good with bat and ball, while seamer Kasun Rajith removed both Bangladesh openers in a blistering opening spell.

“This is the time we have to bring some youngsters for the next couple of years,” Karunaratne added.

“We’ve had an issue recently, where we didn’t have that strong bench. But players are now ready, and

they’ll grab the chances that come their way.”

Karunaratne also pointed to players who have spent the last few months on the sidelines.

“Beyond this team, there are others around as well, who are unable to break into this side at the moment - players like Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka,” Karunaratne added.

“You need a lot of players to build up that competition within a team, so that players are constantly putting pressure on one another to perform.”

Sri Lanka next host New Zealand for two Tests and three Twenty20 internationals. The first Test begins in Galle on August 14.

CWI to honour cricket commentator Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) is set to honour renowned cricket commentator Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira for his work in broadcasting the game for close to six decades.

The upcoming second MyTeam11 Test between West Indies and India – which is co-sponsored by Skoda and Fena – starting on Friday, August 30, at Sabina Park in Jamaica will be ‘Reds’ 150th Test Match that he has attended. It will also be the 250th Test Match that the West Indies have played on home soil.

Cornwall, Holder shine but Windies A in shambles PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Raheem Cornwall pressed his case with a half-century while fast bowler Chemar Holder impressed with a stunning five-wicket haul but West Indies A lay in shambles after 19 wickets fell on a turbulent second day of the second four-day “Test” here Thursday.

Resuming from their overnight 243 for five at Queen’s Park Oval, the hosts rallied to 318 all out in their first innings with Cornwall lashing a robust unbeaten 56 from 66 balls.

In reply, India A were undermined by Holder whose five for 54 sent the tourists tumbling to 190 all out. They were slumping at 20 for five at one stage before Shivam Dube, batting at number seven, top-scored with 79 and opener Priyank Panchal chipped in with 58, to rescue the innings.

Armed with a lead of 128, West Indies A were quickly blown away by seamer Sandeep Warrier who ripped through their second innings to leave them tottering on 12 for four at the close.

Captain and Test opener Brathwaite flirted with a wide ball from Warrier and edged behind for 10 with the score on 12 in the fourth over and three balls later in the same over with no addition to the score, Shamarh Brooks’s attempted flick ended up in the hands of Panchal at third slip.

Off the first ball of the next over, Montcin Hodge edged a drive at seamer Mohammed Siraj low to Panchal at gully without scoring before nightwatchman Jomel Warrican was taken at third slip in Warrier’s next over, also without scoring.

The day had started in a similar vein for West Indies A when they lost Raymon Reifer without adding to his overnight 27, lbw playing around a straight one from Siraj (3-63) with four runs added to the overnight total.

Wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, unbeaten overnight on 24,

made 36 before he was bowled playing back to a googly from Mayank Markande (3-79), and Romario Shepherd (2) added 32 for the eighth wicket with Cornwall before going caught at first slip by Mayank Agarwal off Warrier (2-77).

Cornwall, batting at number eight, ensured the tail wagged, slamming six fours and three sixes to push West Indies A’s total past the 300-run mark.

Pacer Chemar Holder clipped five for 54

India then lost Agarwal without scoring to the fifth ball of the only over before lunch, caught behind off a superb delivery from Holder which bounced and seamed away.

In the second over following the resumption, Holder had Abhimanyu Esawaran caught at point off the first ball he faced with the score on 11 and the next two wickets then fell with no addition to the score.

Captain Hanuma Vihari was trapped lbw on the crease

by Holder by one that nipped back while Anmolpreet Singh was caught low down at the second of two gullies by Warrican.

And West Indies A were truly on top when KS Bharat (7) edged left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer (2-42) to Jermaine Blackwood at second slip with the score on 20.

However, Dube and Pan-

chal staged a recovery courtesy of a 124-run sixth wicket stand which lifted India A out of their mire.

While Dube counter-attacked striking 11 fours and a pair of sixes off 85 deliveries, Panchal was content with the anchor role, notching eight fours off 125 balls in 2-¾ hours

at the crease.

Reifer eventually broke the stand when he had Panchal caught at first slip by Cornwall, and his dismissal triggered the final slide where five wickets fell for 46 runs.

Fast bowler Romario Shepherd supported with three for 29.

SCORECARD WEST INDIES A 1st Innings (overnight 243 for five) *K Brathwaite b Warrier 36 M Hodge b Mohammed Siraj 65 S Brooks c & b Dube 53 S Ambris lbw b Gowtham 12 J Blackwood c Vihari b Markande 20 +S Dowrich b Markande 36 R Reifer lbw b Mohammed Siraj 27 R Cornwall not out 56 R Shepherd c Agarwal b Warrier 2 J Warrican lbw b Markande 0 C Holder b Mohammed Siraj 0 Extras: (b5, w2, nb4) 11 TOTAL: (all out, 113 overs) 318 Fall of wickets: 1-87, 2-149, 3-166, 4-188, 5-196, 6-247, 7-268, 8-300, 9-301, 10-318.

Bowling: Mohammed Siraj 27-8-63-3, Warrier 24-4-77-2, Dube 19-7-40-1, Gowtham 19-3-49-1, Panchal 4-1-5-0, Markande 20-2-79-3.

INDIA A 1st Innings P Panchal c Cornwall b Reifer 58 M Agarwal c wkp Dowrich b Holder 4 A Esawaran c Warrican b Holder 0 *H Vihari lbw b Holder 0 Anmolpreet Singh c Warrican b Holder 0 +KS Bharat c Blackwood b Reifer 7 S Dube c Holder b Shepherd 79 K Gowtham c Hodge b Shepherd 18 M Markande c wkp Dowrich b Shepherd 7 Mohammed Siraj c Cornwall b Holder 9 S Warrier not out 0 Extras: (lb4, w4) 8 TOTAL: (all out, 46.5 overs) 190 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-11, 3-11, 4-11, 5-20, 6-144, 7-172, 8-180, 9-185, 10-190.

Bowling: Holder 13-4-54-5, Shepherd 10-4-29-3, Reifer 12-3-422, Blackwood 2-0-10-0, Warrican 5-1-27-0, Cornwall 5-0-24-0.

WEST INDIES A 2nd Innings *K Brathwaite c wkp Bharat b Warrier 10 M Hodge c Panchal b Mohammed Siraj 0 S Brooks c Panchal b Warrier 0 J Warrican c Esawaran b Warrier 0 S Ambris not out 0 J Blackwood not out 0 Extras: (lb1, nb1) 2 TOTAL: (4 wkts, 7 overs) 12 Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-12, 3-12, 4-12.

Bowling: Siraj 4-2-8-1, Warrier 3-1-3-3.

Position: West Indies A lead by 140 runs with six second innings wickets intact.

29

Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira will be honoured by CWI during the second Test between West Indies and India at Sabina Park

“We would like to congratulate ‘Reds’ for his outstanding commentary over the last 60 years,” said CWI president Ricky Skerritt. “He has been an exemplary broadcaster on both regional and international levels for many years and is deserving of this recognition as one of

the most notable voices of West Indies cricket.”

Perreira’s first live cricket broadcast took place in 1961 in a first-class match between his native Guyana and long-standing rivals Trinidad & Tobago at Rose Hall. Ten years later, he covered his first Test between West Indies and India at GCC ground, Bourda.

Perreira has also worked on 250 One-day Internationals, including attending half of the dozen ICC Cricket World Cups to be staged – 1975, 1979, 1983, 1992, 2003, 2007.

“One of the enduring legacies of ‘Reds’ is his tenacity, coming from humble beginnings to rise to the top of broadcasting on the game from the far-flung arenas around the world,” said Skerritt.

“He has set an example of professional excellence and determination that should inspire many young broadcasters around the Caribbean to vigorously pursue the highest standards in their craft.”

Skerritt added: “I, like many West Indians of a past era, can well remember all hours of the day and night being glued to our radios, which were the only way to follow the game for many years. The game was brought to life, as we listened to ‘Reds’ and the late, great Tony Cozier fly the flag of West Indian excellence in the commentary booths around the world.”

A special presentation will be made to Perreira during the tea interval on the third day of the Second Test on Sunday, September 1 at Sabina Park, Jamaica.

One million pound buy-in poker tournament starts in London

By Marissa Davison

LONDON (Reuters) - A poker tournament featuring a 1 million pound buy-in - a record according to organisers - started in London on Thursday, with 54 players from around the world competing for the 19 million pound first prize.

Eleven players will walk away with winnings and the remaining 43 will lose their buy-in during the three-day Triton Million event, which is part of the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series held at the London Hilton hotel.

The players will pay an additional 50,000 pounds entry fee that will go to charity, organiser Triton said.

Triton Poker Series touring director Luca Vivaldi said the tournament had been designed to have a balance of recreational poker enthusiasts and top professionals.

Some of the world’s best-known recreational players had been invited to take part, he said, and they could register a guest, who was likely to be a top professional, to play too.

Professional player Jason Koon from the United States said he would try to exploit some of the recreational players for any mistakes they made.

“But against the tougher competition, poker players play more of a defensive strategy where we just try not to be exploited,” he said.

“I’m not feeling the pressure whatsoever,” he said.

“I’ve played stakes this big for a very long time.”

But for Wai Kin from Malaysia it was a different story - his first time playing such a big event. “I hope the pressure doesn’t get to me,” he said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 2, 2019

31

G/town Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Championship quarter-finals on tonight … Gold is Money vs Tiger Bay in feature matchup

THE National Cultural Centre tarmac will be the battleground tonight when the quarter-final and semi-final stages in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Georgetown Championship kick off.

Sophia at 20:30hrs, with defending champions Gold is Money matching skills with Tiger Bay from 21:45hrs.

The respective winners of the aforesaid matches will advance to the semi-fi-

tion and the hope is that the weather remains favourable - which will aid in producing quality football for both the players and fans. A large crowd is expected at the venue due to the quality of teams who

the most coveted title in the land. As a Sparta Boss talisman emphatically said, ‘Guinness is the World Cup of local football’.

This cements the legacy and overall impact that the tournament has had

collect $300 000, $200 000 and $100 000 respectively and the corresponding trophy.

Meanwhile, the National Championship starts on August 9 at the Jubilee Park tarmac. The two-day

United (West Demerara/East Bank Demerara winners), Trafalgar (Berbice champions) and High Rollers (Linden champions).

Quarter-final Matchups (1) Broad Street vs Leopold St - 19:00hrs

are competing.”

The release further stated, “The Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Championship is a benchmark for local football and everyone wants to carve his name on the proverbial trophy. Each year the quality improves as teams vie for what has become

on the footballing culture especially among the communities.”

Winner of the event will collect $500 000 and the championship trophy, as well as an automatic place in the National Championship.

The second-, third- and fourth-place finishers will

event, which features 15 teams, will end on August 10 at the same venue.

The teams that have sealed automatic berths to the event are: Gold is Money (National champions), Beacons (Bartica champions), Melanie-B (East Coast Demerara winners), Brothers

(2) Albouystown-B vs Back Circle - 19:45hrs (3) Sparta Boss vs Sophia - 20:30hrs (4) Gold is Money vs Tiger Bay - 21:15hrs Semi-final Matchups Winner (1) vs Winner (4) Winner (2) vs Winner (3)

Action in the Georgetown Guinness Greatest of the Streets Championship Group Stage last week

The opening quarter-final match will be a clash of former champions: Broad Street oppose Leopold Street at 19:00hrs while Albouystown-B takes aim Back Circle from 19:45hrs.

In the third match, tournament giant Sparta Boss lock horns with

nal round. The grand finale is scheduled for the Jubilee Park tarmac tomorrow night (August 3).

According to an official correspondence from tournament coordinator Three Peat Promotions, “All systems are in place for a thrilling night of ac-

Umpiring howlers dominate Day 1 of Ashes Test … 7 wrong decisions, 5 overturned by DRS in first innings EVER since the World Cup, the debate regarding the umpiring decisions has been raging on. The standard of umpiring in the international cricket has become a hot topic among the fans and the World Cup final continued to add to that debate.

One of the most experienced umpires in the world, Kumar Dharmasena recently admitted that his decision to award England six runs in the World Cup final against New Zealand was an error.

It was a crucial decision, as England went on to win the tournament on the basis of more boundaries when the match ended in a tie.

The umpiring howlers haven’t stopped over there as it has continued in the longest format of the game.

The first Test in the Ashes series between England and Australia is currently going on at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham.

However, the first innings

itself was full of wrong umpiring decisions as England and Australia relied heavily on the Decision Review System (DRS).

There were a total of 7 wrong umpiring decisions with 5 being overturned by DRS. However, there were some unlucky ones as David Warner and James Pattinson were given out and they opted not to take the DRS despite being not out.

Warner could have been dismissed in the second over itself when the umpire failed to spot a bottom edge on the bowling of Stuart Broad.

But Australia were lucky as England opted not to take the DRS. Warner departed soon as this time Australia failed to take advantage of the DRS. The ball was missing the stumps but the umpire deemed it to be a clear dismissal.

Then likes of Usman Khwaja, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Pattinson and Peter Siddle were affected

as the umpiring decisions continued to be wrong. Khawaja was given not out by

the umpires but England took the review and it showed that the batsman had edged the

delivery.

Matthew Wade, making his comeback into the

Umpire Aleem Dar talks to Australia’s David Warner in the first Ashes Test

(Action Images via Reuters)

side, was on the wrong end of the DRS. Despite being struck plumb in front of the stumps, the umpire did not deem it to be out. But England took the review and Wade was soon walking back to the pavilion.

It was Smith’s turn to be affected by the poor umpiring decisions. Umpire signalled out on Broad’s delivery but Smith was quick to take the review and HawkEye showed that it was missing the stumps.

The umpiring howlers continued as Peter Siddle was also given out but he quickly took the review and it showed that there was a big inside edge onto the pads.

The on-field umpires for the first Ashes Test are Joel Wilson and Aleem Dar. Australia legend Shane Warne and former England skipper Nasser Hussain were also critical of the on-field umpires as they tweeted their frustrations. (hindustantimes)

Smith superb 144 rescues Australia despite Broad’s 5-86 Page

27

Steve Smith reaches his ton with No.10 Nathan Lyon (Getty Images) Stuart Broad captured 5-86 on day one of the 2019 Ashes in Edgbaston. (AFP)

Sherfane Rutherford

E-Networks on board for GMRSC International Drag race

Team Mohamed’s GTR Goliath takes on Shawn Persaud during a recent drag race meet (GTRidez photo)

CABLE provider E-Networks is on board for the second edition of Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s International Drag race set for August 25.

A statement from the club released yesterday, indicated that the company has joined the sponsorship list in a major way for the event.

“We are pleased to be associated with E-Networks for our International Drag race event on August 25. The company has been a longstanding supporter of motorsport locally and we are more than grateful to have them on board with us.”

The statement continued, “Their reach via their cable channels E1, E2 and E3 will ensure that fans across Guyana can be informed about the event in the days leading up.”

Meanwhile, the August 25 event is already gaining traction with competitors from Suriname and Trinidad indicating their interest in being a part of the quarter-mile run.

Page

31

As many as six car owners are in talks with the GMR&SC over shipping logistics for the event while Suriname has not indicated how many cars would be willing to make the voyage.

Admission fee to the event for spectators has not been set with the club expected to release more details in the coming week.

However, several local giants are expected to take the strip including the team Mohamed’s Enterprise GTRs Godzilla and Goliath, Sean Persaud’s Toyota Caldina and the Transpacific Toyota Alteeza and Peter Daby’s Mazda RX7 (second generation).

Other sponsors include R. Kissoon Contracting, Deryck Jaisingh Trucking Service and Machinery Rentals, Mohamed’s Enterprise, BM Soat, Prem Electrical, E-Networks, Trans-Pacific Auto Sales, Cyril’s Taxi, Blue Spring Water, Choke Gas Station, Miracle Optical, Tropical Shipping, DEL ICE CO and Hand-in-Hand.

Page

27

Another learning curve, says Rutherford

Umpiring howlers dominate Day 1 of Ashes Test

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019