Guyana Chronicle E-paper 8-04-2019

4th August, 2019

' No.105719

‘Push back against attacks on Haitians’ SEE STORY ON PAGE 03 ►

…Guyanese urged to condemn ‘racist’ attacks on Haitians …Haitians entitled to automatic six months stay in CARICOM countries …Dr Hinds, Alexander say attacks show desperation of the PPP Residents of Region 1, Barima-Waini, will soon benefit from $171M in infrastructural upgrades. These upgrades for 2019 come on the heels of two contracts spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure through Mohammed Ramzalli Khan Construction.

The ongoing transformation of the Northwest District partly entails the rehabilitation of Compound Road in Mabaruma and the reconstruction of the Kumaka Bridge. These projects are occurring in its second and third phases, following Phase 1 that reached its conclusion in 2018, after investing approximately $110M.

GECOM had agreed to house-to-house registration --Gov’t lays out case for continuation of exercise

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60-yr-old woman miner dies after pit collapses PAGE

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Over 108,000 registered thus far ...as GECOM intensifies house-to-house registration exercise 19 PAGE

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

GECOM had agreed to house-to-house registration

-- Gov’t lays out case for continuation of exercise

By Svetlana Marshall IN defence of the ongoing house-to-house registration, Attorney-General Basil Williams has put to the High Court a compelling case that the national exercise is legal.

In an Affidavit in Defence, the Attorney-General, through his Deputy, Solicitor-General Deborah Kumar, provided a long list of legislation that provides for house-to-house registration, thereby rubbishing the applicant, Christopher Ram’s contention that the process is illegal.

Kumar, in laying the basis of her argument, pointed out that the National Registration Amendment Act, Chapter 19:08 allowed for the Guyana Elections Commission to use the Official List of Electors (OLE) from the 2001 General and Regional Elections as the base to commence continuing registration.

It was noted that the amendment to the legislation in 2005 also provided for the establishment of one or more offices in each registration district to facilitate, as far as practicable, the registration of every eligible person resident at the qualifying date in a registration district.

“The amendment ceased office-based registration, that is, the electors were required to go to registration offices to be registered,” the deputy solicitor-general said.

Failure to register, according to the amended legislation,

could result in a summary conviction, if found guilty.

“That Parliament in its wisdom then introduced on the 5th of December 2007 Bill No. 27 of 2007 which was referred to as the National Registration Amendment Bill of 2007 and the explanatory memorandum of the bill clearly provided: ‘The thrust of this bill is to provide for the required house-to-house registration for the purpose of all elections, local government elections and general elections,’” the solicitor-general further pointed out. The explanatory memorandum, according to her, clearly indicated that the new direction of the Elections Commission was house-to-house registration.

It was noted that the Parliament, by the National Registration Act. No. 31 of 2007, assented to by then President Bharat Jagdeo, introduced a section 4 (a), which paved the way for registration officer to obtain, as far as practicable, the application for registration of every eligible person, by way of house-to-house registration.

Kumar stated that the language of the Amendment is mandatory in nature, however, she pointed out that the legislature left the old provision Section 4 (a), thereby maintaining the position that registration could also be office-based.

“However, the commission is nevertheless now required by the new provision to ensure that the

Attorney-General, Basil Williams

house-to-house registration process is carried out. It follows that if electors for some reason are unable to participate in the house-tohouse registration process, the opportunity for registration is still available to them through the office-based process,” the deputy solicitor-general explained.

The National Registration Act No. 31 of 2007 also introduced an amendment to Section 9 of the principal Act by substituting sub-section one with another. The substitute laid the foundation for the creation of a central register inclusive of a computerised database of information of the originals of the registration records, in addition to the originals of the registration records of all persons registered under the house-to-house registration process.

AGREEMENT The deputy solicitor general noted that it was the

Elections Commission, in accordance with the legislation, agreed that house-tohouse registration be conducted every 10 years.

Notably, by the National Registration (Residents) Order of 2008, the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) ordered persons to register under a process of house-to-house Registration between January 7, 2008 and July 4, 2008.

Kumar, in her Affidavit in Defence, was keen on pointing out that there was no challenge to the process of house-to-house registration as being unconstitutional, null, void and of no legal effect. “(The) decision was taken by the commission over 10 ( ten) years ago that house-to-house registration was necessary for ensuring compliance with the commission’s mandate under Article 162 of the Constitution, namely to issue all such instructions and take such

action as appear to it necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance…” the deputy solicitor-general pointed out.

Kumar said Christopher Ram is yet to demonstrate to the court how the process is unconstitutional, and how it will disenfranchise electors.

“There is no evidence before the court to illustrate and substantiate the assertion that persons will be disenfranchised and the applicant is put to strict proof of the averments therein,” she said while emphasising that house-to-house registration is legal.

On the issue of residency, Kumar told the court that the law clearly states that a person ‘must be resident in Guyana’ in order to qualify under the house-tohouse registration process.

The deputy solicitor general, therefore, submitted to the court that the Elections Commission is acting in accordance with Article 162 in proceeding with houseto-house registration as one which is expedient to ensure impartiality and fairness as it relates to the registration of electors.

“The decision taken by the commission is a policy decision by a constitutional body with that express remit.

The court is not competent to address issues of policy relating to the conduct of elections and the registration of electors,” Kumar said, noting that the CCJ had pronounced on this matter.

In presenting its Consequential Orders delivered on July 12, the CCJ said: “Article 106 of the Constitu-

tion invests in the President and the National Assembly (and implicitly in GECOM), responsibilities that impact on the precise timing of the elections which must be held. It would not therefore be right for the court, by the issuance of coercive orders or detailed directives, to presume to instruct these bodies on how they must act and thereby pre-empt the performance by them of their constitutional responsibilities.”

GECOM was added as a party in the consolidated no-confidence case by the CCJ. On May 1, 2019, GECOM, through an affidavit filed by the then Chairman Justice (ret’d) James Patterson, provided evidence to support its decision to conduct houseto-house registration. The unchallenged evidence revealed that a decision was taken by the commission over 10 years ago that house-to-house registration was necessary for ensuring compliance with the commission’s mandate under Article 162. On July 24, 2018, the entire commission unanimously decided that house-to-house registration should be held in 2019 in preparation for the next General and Regional elections which were not due until 2020. The National Assembly, through the 2019 National Budget, provided the necessary financial resources for the commission to facilitate national registration.

Linden to get modern vocational centre -- 11 centres to be built across Guyana

By Vanessa Braithwaite ONE of the 11 modern vocational centres that will be built across Guyana will be constructed in the mining town of Linden, so said Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon.

Harmon, who made the announcement at the recent Freedom Fest Emancipation celebrations, said the centre will cater for youths who are not academically inclined and have not completed secondary school.

"What we are doing now, is making sure that no child is left behind in the education system, that the academic level and the practical level, we cater for everybody, and so as a nation, we are spending money on education and

we will continue to spend on education," he said.

Statistics show that seven students, of the entire student population, drop out of school daily, either because of not meeting the basic requirement or other social issues. The government will be using these centres as an intervention mechanism which will enable students to get a second chance of learning. This is also in keeping with the government's desire to uphold the Constitution, which says education must be free from nursery to tertiary.

In his Emancipation address, President David Granger noted that he aims to restore the right to free education, in accordance with the Constitution.

Article 27 of the Con-

stitution of Guyana states: “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. Harmon related this does not only speak to ac-

Director-General Joseph Harmon addressing residents of Linden

ademic education but for vocational education.

With the evolution of the oil and gas industry, he stressed that government will give attention to this category of education, as the industry is pregnant with opportunities for these skill set.

"It also speaks about vocational training, the people

who are not able to catch up academically and would have actually fallen out of the education system because they cannot keep up with the requirements for the academic in the schools, we are also going to be investing in vocational training," he said. The government will be working with the relevant authorities to ensure that certificates

the youths will receive will be accredited and can allow them access to employment through the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).

In addition to the vocational centre, Linden will benefit from the construction of other educational facilities that will give the education sector a boost in the region. The Christianburg Primary School will be built to the tune of $117 M. Construction will also commence at the Bamia Nursery School shortly.

The Synthetic Track is currently being built to the tune of $179 M and a multimillion-dollar dormitory to house students of the Linden Technical Institute from far-flung communities is also being built.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

Push back against attacks on Haitians …Guyanese urged to condemn ‘racist’ attacks on Haitians

…Haitians entitled to automatic six-month stay in CARICOM countries …Dr Hinds, Alexander say attacks show PPP desperation

By Svetlana Marshall POLITICAL Scientist Dr David Hinds said Haitians like Guyanese are entitled to free movement in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), even as he called on all of Guyana to denounce the racist attacks on the French-speaking nationals by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

Though thousands of nationals from various countries travel to Guyana on a monthly basis, in recent days Haitians have been singled out. On Wednesday, the nation’s attention was drawn to the fact that more than 8,400 Haitians had travelled to Guyana over the last seven months. However, little or no focus was placed on the other 128,000 plus nationals that came to the country during the very period. The Opposition – the PPP/C – has called for an investigation into the “influx” of Haitians here, with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo saying that an urgent investigation ought to be launched into the Immigration Department and the General Registration Office (GRO).

In condemning the attacks on the Haitians, Dr Hinds stressed that Haitians under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) are entitled to travel to Guyana. “Haiti is part of CARICOM, and Haitians, therefore, have a right to free movement in the CARICOM Region,” he told the Guyana Chronicle in a recent interview.

According to the CARICOM Secretariat, free movement of people is an essential factor for the union – explaining that the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the CSME abolished discrimination on grounds of nationality in all member states. “Under the CSME, the free movement of persons across the Region entails the removal of work permits for University Graduates, Media Workers, Sports Persons, Musicians, Artists, Managers, Supervisors and other service providers. With the CSME,

these persons will be able to travel to member states with only a travel permit and, in some cases, an Inter-Caribbean Travel document complete with photograph…Workers in these categories can now move freely to another member state and enjoy the same benefits and rights as regards condition of work and employment as those given to national workers,” CARICOM stated on its website.

Last July, CARICOM Heads of Government at their 39th Summit in Jamaica, passed an Immigration Order to allow Haitians an automatic six-month stay in all CARICOM member states.

RACIAL PROFILING Dr Hinds said what is evident is that the PPP/C is racially profiling Haitians and linking them to the government and the pending elections. This, he said, is a racist attack against Haitians, and adoption of a pattern that has shown its ugly face in other parts of the Region, and the world at large. “We are seeing in other Caribbean countries, whenever Haitians show up, some sections of those societies become very vocal about Haitians in a way that they are not vocal about other nationals,” the political scientist noted. He said history would show that some countries sent back Haitians to their homeland while keeping other nationals such as Cubans. In recent years, thousands of asylum seekers from Haiti have been denied entry to the United

Political Scientist Dr David Hinds

States, and have been forced to seek refuge elsewhere.

“In The Dominican Republic, we know that Haitians born in [The] Dominican Republic have been sent back to Haiti. So what the PPP is doing is in keeping with that anti-Haitian racism that we see in parts of our Region,” Dr. Hinds reasoned.

Urging all of Guyana to denounce this attack, Hinds said an attack on Haitians, is an attack on ‘Blackness,’ and that should be condemned.

“It is also very disrespectful to Haitians who, as we know, were the first people to overthrow slavery with the

International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G) Chairman Vincent Alexander

Statistics provided by the authorities which gives a breakdown of the number of persons of various nationalities who entered Guyana between January and July of 2019 via the CJIA.

Haitian Revolution, and they have paid an enormous price for doing that, for showing the rest of the black world how to overcome slavery,” he added.

He said therefore it is very disrespectful for the PPP/C to single out Haitians.

The attacks, he further pointed out, comes at a time when the country is celebrating Emancipation, noting that it is sad that the PPP/C has resorted to anti-Haitian racism in its quest for power.

“It points to the desperation of the PPP. I think the PPP is desperate that they are likely to lose the coming elections and are now engaging in that kind of wanton racism. I think all Guyana, including East Indians, who themselves are immigrants of Guyana, all of us, except the Amerindians are immigrants, and all Guyanese, especially East Indians, should push back against those PPP attacks, because as I said it is an attack not only on Haitians, and not only on blackness, but an attack on people who are migrating from one country to the other,” Dr Hinds said.

Guyanese, he posited, have migrated to other shores, many in search of work and a better standard of living. “PPP supporters are part of the migrant population moving from Guyana to other countries, and we are very vocal when Guyanese are being profiled in other Caribbean countries, and so TURN TO PAGE

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

El Paso shooting: 'Multiple fatalities' in Texas mall attack (BBC) A shooting at a Texas shopping mall has ended in "multiple fatalities", local officials say.

The shooting happened at Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, just a few miles from the US-Mexico border.

At least 22 people have arrived at local hospitals for treatment for their injuries.

One person is in custody, and police did not believe

there were multiple gunmen, a spokesperson said, but was unable to provide casualty figures.

"We don't want to do anything prematurely until we have accurate facts for you," Sergeant Robert Gomez said, declining to provide details on the injured.

First reports of a shooting emerged at around 11:00 local time (18:00 GMT).

There were reports of gun-

fire in several locations - in both the Cielo Vista mall and the nearby Walmart, police said - but reports of further gunshots at another nearby mall, Bassett, were not true.

"Initial reports of the weapon was a rifle - I can't confirm that yet," the spokesman said.

He could not confirm any details about the suspect, except that he was male. No officers had fired their weapons in apprehending him, he said.

Police said they no longer believed there was any immediate threat to the public, but were continuing searches. A family reunification area had been set up nearby for those searching for loved ones.

What reaction has there

been?

"This is a tragedy that we never, ever would have thought would happen in El Paso," El Paso Mayor Dee Margo told CNN. "It tears me up."

US President Donald Trump said the reports coming from the area were "very bad, many killed".

In a statement, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said El Paso had been "struck by a heinous and senseless act of violence".

"Our hearts go out to the victims of this horrific shooting and to the entire community in this time of loss," the governor said.

Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke has abandoned a campaign event

SUNDAY 04 August, 2019 05:30hrs ~ 07:00hrs

Kianna Long, right, was in the freezer section of Walmart during the shooting

in Las Vegas to return to his hometown of El Paso.

Earlier, he spoke at a labour forum, telling the crowd the shooting shattered any illusion that gun reform will "come of its own accord" in the US. "We know that there's a lot of injury, a lot of suffering in El Paso right now," he said.

Other Democratic presidential candidates also responded to the shooting with calls for

gun control.

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker was among them, saying America seems to be "accepting the idea that these [shootings] are going to be a regular occurrence".

Walmart, which has a store on the site of the Cielo Vista Mall, said it was "in shock over the tragic events" and was "working closely with law enforcement".

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

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Ministers Ally, Bulkan rally Mahdia residents to get registered MINISTER of Social Protection Amna Ally on Friday encouraged residents of Campbelltown, Region Eight to ensure that they are registered and also warned them to be wary of rumours.

“You will hear all manner of things about houseto-house registration, but let me tell you, it is necessary to have the registration process.” She explained that in addition to the current list of voters being padded, the list has also expired. The Social Protection Minister said the government intends to have

a clean list. “Our president wants credible elections, and so we are calling for house-to-house registration, because it is an only way to have a clean list to host credible elections.”

She advised the Campbelltown residents to get registered as it will ensure free, fair and transparent General and Regional Elections. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) commenced its house-tohouse registration process two weeks ago. So far over 108, 000 persons have been registered. Ally was part of a high-level team of

government ministers and other officials in Mahdia on Friday for the ‘Government Comes To You’ outreach.

Meanwhile, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan also at a meeting at Brian Sucre Junction, (Konawaruk Junction) in Region Eight encouraged

House-to-house registration is currently taking place by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) enumerators across the country, and according to Minister Bulkan, the meeting was the perfect opportunity to encourage residents to get

18 by the time the elections are called to vote…

To qualify, you also need to have a birth certificate or valid passport; these are source documents.”

Minister Bulkan said it is important that persons understand that they have a responsibility to

Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally

Residents at the community meeting in Campbelltown, Region 8

Minister of Communities, the Hon Ronald Bulkan addresses residents of Mahdia during a public meeting at Konawaruk Junction, Region 8

residents to get registered.

“When the elections are held, they will not be able to go to those elections if they are not registered,” Minister Bulkan asserted.

registered.

“If you are 14 years of age by the ending of October this year, you are eligible to be registered.

However, you have to be

participate in these elections. He went on to explain that the government that is formed after elections are held and that government will have the

responsibility of addressing critical issues which are people’s livelihoods.

“Get registered! Get on that list!… When the numerators from GECOM come knocking on your door, get registered!” the Communities Minister urged. The ministers were part of a larger team to have visited the township of Mahdia for the ‘Government Comes To You’ outreach. The visit coincides with the town achieving its status one year ago.

TT exports to Curacao worth $357M

(TRINIDAD NEWSDAY) TT exports of goods and services to Curacao is estimated at $357 million and it is the hope that Caribbean Airline’s new direct flight between the countries will strengthen their ties.

So said Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell at a welcome ceremony for CAL’s inaugural fight to Curacao at the Curacao International Airport on Friday afternoon.

Mitchell told guests it was important that the two countries remained connected through air transport and closer coordination in tourism and trade. “With this new service we expect to further develop the business and leisure markets between Curacao and TT...

One of our main priorities at the Ministry of Tourism is the expansion of airlift as a means of increasing visitor arrivals to our destination.”

He said benefits included competitive ticket prices, increased availability of

direct service, and increased options for air travel. It also gave people the opportunity for a “quick escape” to either country to experience different cultures, festivals, cuisine, ecotourism, leisure, and shopping that each has to offer.

He said the introduction of the new route represented TT’s commitment to regional development by building bridges and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.

Also speaking at the event was Zita Jesus-Leito, Curacao Minister of Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning who said the route was an important step in improving productivity in her country.

Curacao always had a close relationship with Venezuela. She said the Venezuela crisis has negatively affected the number of passengers flying to and via their airport. “The number of passengers went down for a couple of years now but we are taking a turn for the better. Passenger num-

bers are increasing and it brings me great pleasure that Caribbean Airlines contributes to increasing the number of tourists and business people visiting Curacao.”

At the ceremony in TT, CAL CEO Garvin Medera noted that the direct flights on Mondays and Fridays between TT and Curacao was the airline’s twenty-first destination providing a “superior customer experience.” He said is provided 300 seats per week and there has been a “tremendous response” so far.

He also announced that soon CAL would begin weekly flights between Kingston, Jamaica and Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands as well as Kingston and Havana, Cuba.

Curacao Tourist Board CEO Paul Pennicook added that the direct flight was an opportunity to expand tourism and economic ties in the Caribbean region, and make what Curacao has to offer, including beaches, dive cites, colourful architecture, culture, and entertainment events, more accessible.

He added that the di-

rect flight “is an opportunity for Curacao to not only expand and strengthen economic ties with TT

but it will certainly help us to grow out tourism and tourism from the entire Caribbean region.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

Restoring Free Education: Take a bow, Mr. President P

RESIDENT David Granger, on Thursday, August 1, committed his Coalition to the restoration of free education from nursery to university. He made the announcement at activities to observe the 181st anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Guyana and the Anglophone Caribbean.

We commend the president for taking this bold initiative in an area of national life that has become a cause for concern. That he chose Emancipation Day to make the formal announcement is most instructive. If there is a moment in the country’s historical journey that embodies education as a form of social uplift and advance, it is Emancipation.

As the president pointed out, “Emancipation means Independence and Emancipation means education.”

The linkage of independence to education is most apt and profound. If one views freedom from bondage as a significant blow for independence, then the emancipation of the enslaved in 1838 must have been pregnant with possibilities for human advance of which education is a necessary ingredient.

Again, the president was on target when he observed that education was central to the freed people unlocking opportunities to free them from inter-generational poverty. As he argued: “Once you break that cycle through education, educated people will have educated children and the world will progress.”

In other words, education was on the minds of the formerly enslaved who were denied access to it by law. It was, therefore, no accident that one of their first collec-

tive act was to erect schools in the villages they founded and funded immediately after emancipation. Despite modernization and other forms of human progress, education has remained a central plank of progress for the least among us.

In that regard, the president’s reference to education as a constitutional right is also on the ball. The framers of the constitution were obviously cognizant of the importance of embedded liberative policies in turning back equally embedded oppressive policy. It was immoral to deny human beings the human right to education and it was moral to enshrine it in the constitution. In locating his policy announcement within the ambit of the highest law of the land, the president ensures that free education from nursery to university is not construed as a political handout, but

as a human right. Again, the president’s words tell the story: “I want us to go back to the time where every village had a school… schools must be convenient, schools must be accessible…I want to see a country with 100 per cent primary education.”

This publication wishes to reinforce the timeliness of this announcement. It is a positive and proactive response to the social unevenness that has developed as a result of uneven access to quality education. If education is a force for social uplift and advance, then access to it is necessary. Those who are old enough to remember the first implementation of free education for all by the first post-independence government could attest to its effect on the process of social mobility and equality. The sons and daughters of the poor, many of whom

are in positions of authority and influence today, can trace their social mobility to this era.

We can also trace the current decline in the educational outcomes among the majority of the population to the discontinuation of free education. The effect was most evident among the poor who could not afford the high cost of lessons and private education. President Granger is on record as bemoaning the “education apartheid” that currently is the rule rather than the exception. This announcement, then, is the actualization of a promise made by the president and his coalition. In an age when it is commonplace for political leaders and parties to ignore campaign promises upon attaining office, this announcement must be commended.

Finally, it should be not-

ed that the president tied this new initiative to the coming of the Oil and Gas economy.

While there would obviously be competition for the use of the expected wealth, he was clear that education would be at the top of the list. As he intoned: “Oil will produce profits and those profits will go first and foremost into education.” In that regard, he also announced that education would be at the peak of his “Decade of Development.” He was crystal clear about his intentions: “Decade of Development for all, which will begin in 2020 and last until 2029…will prioritise education since it is an entitlement and a right for all people.”

Take a bow, Mr. President—you deserve it.

History would be kind to you for reviving hope in a brighter future for Guyana.

Chief Justice must explain this anomaly Dear Editor:

S

OMETHING is amiss at the Office of the Chief Justice and it needs urgent intervention in order to preserve the Honourable Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire’s S.C. integrity and that of the judicial system over which she presides as a Judge.

In a press release by the Supreme Court of Judicature Protocol and Communication Unit dated 24th July, 2019, which was carried in various sections of the

media, it is stated at item 4), “The Honourable Chief Justice (ag) stated that the consequential orders of the Caribbean Court of Justice indicate that elections be held by September 18, 2019, or such longer period as the National Assembly determines.”

Eleven days later in her court, pressing over the case brought before her Kaieteur News, 3rd August 2019, in an article titled, “Election date long gone- Chief Justice,’ it is stated that, “Based on her understanding of the judgment and

consequential orders by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Chief Justice Roxane George yesterday said that the date for general and regional elections, March 21, has long gone. In fact, Justice George noted that ‘we’ are supposedly in a period of an extension for the timeframe for holding elections, but that extension has not been agreed on. We are still waiting on the National Assembly to meet,” Justice George said as she commenced hearing arguments in the application filed by Attorney-at-Law

Christopher Ram.” Evidently there are two conflicting positions as to the chief justice’s expressed understanding and statement, from the ruling and consequential orders of the CCJ, as to the minimum timeframe within which elections should be held.

This has serious implications for the society and could lead to widespread misunderstanding, confusion and judgment on matters of important national interest.

The initial take away from the society that the

election should be held by 18th September has created confusion in the system and lends justification to mistrust and open attack on GECOM by politicians, surrogates and sections of the media for acting in breach of the law by not obeying the CCJ's rulings, and the attempt to disenfranchise thousands of Guyanese.

This also says to us as a nation that we have to be vigilant, for it is information that informs beliefs, actions and in this instance, the accuracy of the CCJ’s ruling and entitlement of

all Guyanese to credible justice. The nation and all concerned deserve an explanation of this anomaly in order to allay fears of mistrust in the judiciary, upon which we depend to help us out of the current political dilemma we face.

The credibility not only of the judge, but the judicial system is important.

Regards Lincoln Lewis.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

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House-to-house registration violence: a reminder of a dark past Dear Editor

A

ND so it begins, the old political games of the past have once again reared their ugly heads.

Violence and intimidation that we expected to be confined to the dustbin of history are now, once again, part of our democracy.

This past week, reports of GECOM officials being attacked and harassed during their work in house-to-house registration has shocked the nation. There have even been instances of dogs being set upon these poor souls.

What has driven these ordinary folk to display such levels of aggression towards those who want to ensure that they have their democratic right to vote? Well it is the misrepresentation of this process by the PPP, who claim that it is “ille-

gal” and part of some broader conspiracy of electoral fraud.

They are inciting fear and mistrust among the public, making them believe that this process is somehow to their detriment.

The ongoing registration exercise has been a normal part of the democratic process. It is to ensure that those who have turned 18 since the last election are able to exercise their right to vote, and those who are not eligible, including individuals who have sadly passed away or who have emigrated, are not on the electoral roll.

The PPP wants to participate in an election with a list that is not sanitised. This exposes our elections to potentially massive voter fraud.

They have also shown a blatant disregard for young Guyanese voters. By demanding to use the current list, they are preventing thousands of

young people from voting.

Democracy is vital to a healthy society; it is important that we must guarantee that every man and woman should be able to exercise their right to choose who governs them.

At all costs, the process must move forward with a list that is both clean and credible.

The worrying attempts by Irfaan Ali and his PPP party to shut down the only route to a trustworthy election should raise concerns with the public, businesses and international observers.

But it is their use of violence that makes me question whether they are really the right people to run this nation. Their willingness to sow division and mistrust along racial lines is a cynical tactic that they’ve used before. They present a position of us versus them, a government for Indo-Guya-

Let the process continue; it is an absolute necessity

Dear Editor

B

Y now, Guyanese who understand the dishonest politics of the PPP/C would have seen through its deception and what it is all about; this is with reference to the current High Court hearing, in which the opposition party is challenging the constitutionality of house-to-house registration.

Editor, PPP/C attorney Anil Nandlall argues “… that the house-to-house registration exercise undertaken by the Guyana Elections Commission is illegal, because it is intended to scrap the now expired List of Electors, and replace it with a new one generated from the nationwide exercise. According to him, in doing that, persons would be de-registered.”It is clear that Nandlall is either “trying a thing” or is downright dishonest, since he is seeking to make illegal a national procedure that is catered for by law, supported by the National Registration Act, 19:08. In other words, it is catered for in the nation’s electoral laws. In fact, he is reminded that he is contra-

dicting a Holy Grail principle of PPP/C electoral politics, fought for by the founder of the party that he now represents in court. Just how he reconciles such a contradiction, perhaps, is best known by him.

Of course, he is correct in saying that the national registration exercise is intended to cause the scrapping of the expired list, and having it replaced with a new one, except that his reasons for saying so, is deeply flawed.Certainly, such is the purpose of a new round of national enumeration, to replace an expired list, with a sanitised one, reflecting the new status quo or realities of the statistical evidence of the current national demographics. Further, in any new exercise, which will reflect the new realities, there will be de-registration, which Nandlall claims will affect citizens. This is another piece of nonsense offered, and the reasons should be quite clear to all.

First, there has to be de-registration of persons whose names would have been on the expired list, and may have died, or migrated since, or during the life of such a list.

Second, I stand to be cor-

rected by referring to an obligation on the part of the chief immigration officer who is obligated to inform the chief election officer/commissioner of national registration, of those persons absent from Guyana for more than six months and for their names to be removed from the National Register of Registrants. Included in this category of missing persons, will also be Guyanese citizens who migrated, but who would have also died while being resident overseas. Both these categories in themselves are absurdities, particularly the latter for their names to still be on a list. So, it can be safely concluded that absent citizens, both through migration and death, were never intended to still be on a list of registrants after a period of their absence, whether through death or otherwise absent.

It is only a periodic exercise of the nature of house-tohouse registration that can/ will correct such electoral abnormalities.

Regards Carla Mendonca

nese versus a government for Afro-Guyanese (as though it is not possible for a government to be for all Guyanese), playing on the darkest emotions of fear and mistrust.

The previous PPP government used this tactic repeatedly to help benefit themselves and their cronies; playing on racial division to distract the electorate from the real issues at hand.

Under the previous 23 years of PPP government, we saw our infrastructure crumble, our education system collapse, and crime spiral out of control. The economy was stagnating and there were little opportunities for ordinary Guyanese, with tens of thousands emigrating each year.

Finally, we have a government that is not just working for itself, but working for all of Guyana. They have confronted the long-running problems

of ethnic division through innovative programmes, provided public services across the country, and continue to build a stronger economy so every Guyanese has access to well-paying and skilled jobs.

Maybe this comes with a coalition government, one that must work together across party lines, and thus collaborate in order to get things done.

To create a nation that works for us all, we must be given our opportunity to have our say. For voting is the one thing that ensures that the next government must listen to not just one group or one community, but all Guyanese.

The absence of a sanitised list would mean a return to cronyism, deceitful tactics, and back-handers that defrauded the public and the country of funds and value for more than two decades. This would not

only undermine the long-term business and investment case for Guyana, but make any argument for the creation of jobs nothing more than rhetoric.

Never before have the risks been so high, particularly as we move forward to first-oil production in Guyana. Never before has the requirement for a credible election been so pressing.

Guyana needs to move forward with a government which has demonstrated, since 2015, a capacity to provide a level of development for all Guyanese, not a government that can be born out of trickery and dishonesty.

Regards Donald Ainsworth

Anti-national behaviour impeding a legitimate exercise Dear Editor

S

INCE it is accepted that the current house-tohouse national registration exercise is underway, is sanctioned by law, and therefore is derived from such, it means that its very action carried out by those mandated to ensure its daily action is likewise legal.

It is because of this premise that one contends that law enforcement ought to have become involved in the protection of the agents of this exercise, from the very first report of hostilities and attacks directed towards their persons. The situation therefore, ought not to reach the stage of personal injuries having to be suffered by these hard-working employees of GECOM. What if a fatality had occurred?

One can only describe these actions and incidents as politically inspired, planned and orchestrated by those who have objected to this critical pre-electoral absolute of a sanitised National Register of Registrants –- the People’s Progressive Party/Civic(PPP/C). This is one act that is certain to have been derived from those notorious bottomhouse meetings, where

the PPP/C’s wicked, vile, and slanderous politics are known to be articulated.

Editor, and since in this sort of hostility that such would have had to have been ordered and sanctioned by the PPP/C leaders, then one would have expected that its leaders, irrespective as to who they are, ought to have been summoned by the law-enforcement authorities and read the riot act. There is every legitimate reason for taking such a step, given the fact that the party, as any other political party and its leaders, have every moral responsibility to both speak and caution their followers in such circumstance which are often carried out for and on behalf of their political outfits, and on cue.

These PPP/C supporters continue to be misguided in their actions by their political representatives who continue to mislead them into the abyss of political ignorance, as they did with the disaster of GuySuCo. When will these people wake up from their ignorance, begin to think for themselves, and ask questions of their party leaders for answers which they should have? It is even a further tragedy and a great contradiction

for these very supporters, who must recall, that they would have in the past supported this very procedure of house-tohouse registration for free and fair elections. Just how do they reconcile such a past principle with their current act of contradiction, is best left to their racist minds, which is what underpins their actions, apart from aiding and abetting what are clearly fraudulent attempts by their party to attempt the disenfranchisement of thousands of Guyanese--young people especially-- including their own children and grandchildren.

When will these people begin to remove themselves from their party culture of political dishonesty and become a part of the new dawn of the evolving Guyanese political culture –- independent thinking and the right to ask questions; honest governance that supports actions for the national good, and socio-economic benefits FOR ALL? Thus, one expects the relevant authorities to protect these state workers as they go about their lawful duties.

Regards Earl Hamilton

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H2H HYSTERIA AND HAITIANS

THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been registering all Guyanese citizens, 14 years and above, to create a new national database from which a list of electors could be extracted.

GECOM has chosen as a preferred mechanism to get accurate information a process of house-to-house registration. This process is well under way, and has seen an estimated 80,000 persons being registered so far.

However, the opposition has made this house-to-house registration (H2H) sound like a dreaded disease or plague.

H2H is made to look like the H1N1 virus. Opposition supporters were advised to lock out and chase away the 9,000-strong contingent of registration officers, most of whom are young, first-time, temporary employees. These agents have been victims of threats and, in some cases, objects against whom dogs ought to be let loose.

POTENTIAL ELECTORS The opposition campaign reminds me of a vignette in the epic movie, “The Ten Commandments,” when Moses said to his brother, Aaron, “close the door and let death pass,” as a pestilence crawled in the streets, killing all firstborn including, paradoxically, Pharaoh’s own son. Many of the potential electors in upcoming elections in Guyana would be first-time voters – first-born.

The opposition has resorted to deceit and mis-information to sabotage the registration process. Its broad sheet yesterday screamed

that the “PNC will support decision to scrap H2H registration” in what was a crude and vulgar distortion of what Dr. George Norton, the party’s vice-chairman, had said.

Earlier, the headline of the state-owned Guyana Chronicle welcoming the appointment of the new GECOM Chairman, Madam Justice Claudette Singh, was photo-shopped to say that the new chair would halt the H2H. Now, there are fresh legal challenges against voter registration, in what appears to be a desperate attempt to undo the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which explicitly acknowledged the constitutional role of GECOM over the preparation and conduct of elections.

JUMBIES EVERYWHERE The opposition is scared of this process as if it had seen a jumbie. In fact, it is seeing jumbies everywhere, the latest in the terrifying hordes are Haitians. The opposition leader has described the arrival of Haitians in Guyana as a “massive people-smuggling racket.”

The statistics show that between January 1, 2019 and July 30, 2019, some 135,220 persons of 11 nationalities arrived in Guyana. Of those numbers, 41,272 were Cuban nationals. No protests were made over Cuban arrivals, or departures. A full-page ad from an anonymous interest has been appearing in a section of the print media, complaining about a reduced number of Cubans coming here for shopping.

During the past seven months 45,994 American nationals arrived. No protests

have been made. Arrivals from Trinidad and Tobago numbered 11,119. No protest. But 8,476 Haitians arrived, and the leader of the opposition singled them out as being at the centre of “a massive people-smuggling racket”.

CARICOM CITIZENS The Haitians are not coming to Guyana illegally. They are citizens of a CARICOM-member state.

They have benefitted from an Immigration Order that was unanimously approved by regional Heads of Government in July, 2018 to allow them an automatic sixmonth stay in all CARICOM member states. It has been long accepted by our leaders that CARICOM should build bridges, not walls.

The opposition wants Guyana to keep out Haitians.

Their claim is that the Haitians are being encouraged to migrate to Guyana to be registered to vote in Guyana’s elections. The adage “he who alleges must prove” is conveniently ignored, which makes this mischief xenophobic, intended only to build hatred again Haitians as Blacks.

I read the other day a column by a self-annointed Indian activist, who roared lamentably that during the 2015 elections the PPP lost votes from its “traditional Indian constituency,” but since then, he added, those voters have returned “home.”

For these elements, the PPP owns Indo-Guyanese, and it is evident that the targeting of Afro-Haitians as potential vote riggers is intended to send fears and insecurity

among Indians and at the same time, to fortify the “home” against outsiders.

POLITICAL SCAPEGOATS Haitians are today being used as political scapegoats

by people who should know that Guyana had once shared the despicable faith of Haiti as the two poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.

Besides, we shared a pariah status of having, under the post-Jagan period, the most corrupt governments in the Region.

Former PPP regimes had made incestuous alliances with deadly, local drugs cartels such as the notorious “phantom squad,” which resembled Haiti’s Tonton Macoutes under the dictator Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier. They were both involved in extra-judicial killings.

Before, as well as during that period which President Granger labelled as “The Troubles,” Guyanese were voting with their feet. They became economic refugees in every other CARICOM state, and in North America, much the same as an earlier exodus from the British West Indies to the United Kingdom that became known as the “Windrush Generation.”

Today, it is unfortunate that some elements are picking on Haitians who have

Push back against attacks ...

we ought to raise our voices against what the PPP is doing, and its supporters, especially, needs to push back against their party,” he reasoned.

CREATING HYSTERIA International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G) Chairman Vincent Alexander told this newspaper that the singling out of Haitians is an attempt by the PPP/C to create hysteria among its supporters in the lead-up to elections.

“It is highly racist, and the racism is underlined by the fact of the disrespect for people of African

descent,” Alexander said. He noted that while the attacks are racist in nature, they are politically motivated. While some Haitians travel to Guyana in search of a better life, others use the country as a transit point, and this is nothing new or unique to Haitians, Alexander said.

“There are other groups that have done that. We have had people from India, who have used Guyana as a transit point; we have had high-level qualified people come to the University of Guyana, for example, but the intention really is not to stay, it is to move onto the United States. This is a phenomenon that is not Guyana-specific, this is a phenomenon that is known

internationally,” he explained.

He went a step further, and dubbed some of the recent reports as products of irresponsible journalists, nothing that reporters were not “highly investigative and objective.”

Like Dr Hinds, Alexander said Guyanese must be cognisant of the role Haiti has played in emancipation through the Haitian Revolution.

“No country in the world has paid the price Haiti has paid for its emancipation,” he posited, noting that the Region should be very sympathetic to people from Haiti.

FOR the first seven months of 2019, Cuban nationals entering Guyana have outnumbered other re-

been fleeing from their perennial and seemingly never-ending tragedies of one type or the other --- from natural disasters, diseases and dictatorship --- and who transit in Guyana.

Haitians speak French and the nearest French territory on the shoulder of South America is French Guiana.

It is possible that with the non-functioning of the M.V. Canawaima between official ports of entry in Guyana and Suriname, that more persons are using the so-called backtrack to make the crossing, and to travel onwards.

SAFE AND SMOOTH DEPARTURE While I agree that the departure of Haitians should be better monitored, it does not suggest that we should rush to judgment that they are either being trafficked to Guyana or are here to register as voters. We need solid proof, not idle speculation. At the same time, every effort ought to be made by government agencies to encourage and facilitate the safe and smooth departure of Haitian visitors

FROM PAGE 3

gional travellers, including Haitians, by several thousand. There has been much debate regarding the arrival figures of nationals of the sister Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country of Haiti in other sections of the media as members of the public have criticised the xenophobic focus placed on the French–speaking nationals by those media houses.

While emphasis is placed on Haitians, the statistics tell a different story. Stats released by the Department of Citizenship revealed that for the first seven months of this year, a total of 41,272 Cuban nationals came to Guyana via the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), outnumbering by almost

at designated ports of exit, either to Suriname or Brazil.

All peoples have a right to dream for the better life, however and wherever that could be attained. In her prize-winning novel, The Bluest Eye, Tony Morison told the poignant story of a young Black girl who dreamt about having blue eyes. She wanted to be like Mary Jane.

She could not be, yet she had a right to dream and to be.

It is also unfortunate that the people-smuggling claim has been made whilst the people of African ancestry in the Caribbean were celebrating Emancipation from slavery. C L R James in the Black Jacobins described with graphic details the agonies, the pain, the sufferings and also the resistance of Africans in Haiti. Their travail never seems to end.

For them emigration could be a form of resistance to their harsh conditions of life, and Guyanese who have experienced hardships must let our compassion, not suspicion, guide us.

33,000 the 8,476 Haitians who did.

For each of the months between March and June this year, an average of 6,338 Cubans came to Guyana via the CJIA, and according to the statistics, during that same period, the figure for Haitian nationals fluctuated, with the highest recorded being 2,008 for the month of May. Overall, during the seven-month period, 45,944 Americans travelled to Guyana in addition to 2,980 Barbadians; 5,048 Brazilians; 2,548 British; 12,259 Canadians; 1,995 Chinese; 41,272 Cubans; 8476 Haitians; 679 Indians; 2,900 Surinamese; and 11, 119 Trinidadians – a total of 135,220.

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‘Break the barriers to legal education’ – AG says region’s legal institutions stand to suffer if status quo remains

ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams said, “unless the barriers to access legal education are dismantled, the Region’s legal institutions stand to suffer.” The attorney general, at the time, was delivering an address during a public lecture on ‘Legal Education in the CARICOM Region: A review of recommendations made by the Impact Justice Legal Education Survey.’

Since taking office in May 2015, Minister Williams has been championing the cause for non-discriminatory admissions to the Regional Law Schools – a position held by President David Granger. Currently, Guyana is allowed a quota of 25 students to pursue studies at the Hugh Wooding Law School – much to the disadvantage of others who are academically qualified.

“Public legal education and information are public services which can protect persons who are victims of abuse or vulnerable to such abuse. It can provide them with the know-how on how to apply for protective orders to restrain their abusers. It can empower workers by providing information which can prevent them from being exploited on the job. It can enlighten citizens of their rights so as to avoid arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention,” the attorney general explained.

He posited too that public legal education and information strengthens public justice. Though proven to be critical, he said, legal education resources are limited, and as such, regional governments are encouraged to devote more resources.

“Caribbean justice systems have to compete with other

sectors for scarce budgetary resources and, as a result, public legal education and information is often underserved in national budgets,” he posited while noting that “much more can be done with little.”

Using Guyana as an example, he said the government with support from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international institutions has made invaluable interventions, in its quest to provide citizens with public legal information.

A series entitled ‘The Law and You’ by the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers; a Household Guide to the Domestic Violence Act produced by Red Thread; a Guide to the Juvenile Justice Act 2018 produced by the Ministry of Public Security and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); Handbook on the Sexual Offences Act produced by Help and Shelter in conjunction with international partners; and a range of other resources are presently available to citizens. However, it said greater efforts are needed to ensure widespread dissemination.

He said it is against the background of acknowledging the importance of strengthening our justice systems, that Guyana fully embraced the Impact Justice project. Legal education and information is one of the projects four components, the attorney general pointed out, while explaining that it is intended at increasing citizens’ knowledge and awareness of their rights and other areas of the law.

Under this component, persons are trained in legal research techniques and information service delivery.

Added to that, legal materi-

Her Excellency Lilian Chatterjee, High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana

Members of the audience at the public lecture

als are supplied to the library collections of the Faculties of Law, UWI, the University of Guyana, the University of Technology, Jamaica; and the University of Suriname.

The provision of training and the resources, including the digitisation of the West Indian Law Journal,

Caribbean Law Review and West Indian Legislation Indexing Project (WILIP) and expansion of the CARILAW database, strengthen the Regions system of legal education, the legal affairs minister detailed.

Commenting on the final report on the Survey of Le-

gal Education in CARICOM Member States’ prepared by the IMPACT Justice Project, the attorney general said the findings will inform national and regional policy approaches to legal education and information. Guyana, he posited, looks forward to reforms which will strengthen legal education across the Region.

“Legal education remains a priority for maintaining and improving our justice systems across the Region.

It is imperative to bolster the rule-of-law and provide citizens with the knowledge they need to become more active protagonists in defending their human rights,” he emphasised.

The public lecture was organised by the IMPACT Justice Project with funding from the Government of Canada. IMPACT Justice Consultant, Karen Tesheira and Professor Velma Newton, the Regional Project Director, IMPACT Justice Project, were among the speakers during the lecture which took place last Wednesday at the Guyana Marriott Hotel.

In her keynote address, Mrs. Tesheira, IMPACT Justice Consultant and Rapporteur to the Legal Education Survey Team, gave a succinct overview of the results and recommendations made in the Legal Education Survey as they related to, inter alia, the current system of admission to the Council of Legal Education’s Law Schools; whether regional governments should continue to fund legal education; whether the role of the Council of Legal Education should change to that of a regulatory, licensing and accreditation body for existing and any other law schools which could be established.

The event was also attended by Her Excellency Lilian Chatterjee, High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana and Ambassador to CARICOM, who gave remarks on behalf of the Government of Canada; and Professor Velma Newton, Regional Project Director of the IMPACT Justice Project who chaired the event and also delivered remarks on behalf of IMPACT Justice.

Also in attendance were the Honourable Madam Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire, Acting Chief Justice of Guyana; Honourable Madam Justice Bernie Stephenson, Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court; Professor Duke Pollard, Former Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice; members of the Magistracy; Ms. Sandra Bart, representing the CARICOM Secretariat; staff of the Ministry of Legal Affairs including the Chief and Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsels; Mr. Teni Housty, President of the Guyana Bar Association; Ms. Shellon Boyce, President of the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers; Mr. Christopher Ram, Lecturer in the Department of Law, University of Guyana; attorneys-at-law; staff of the Canada High Commission to Georgetown; the President of the Guyana Association of Law Students, law students and other interested persons.

Teen drowns in Pomeroon River

THE police are investigating the drowning of a 17-year-old labourer named Jafaun (only name given) in the Pomeroon River on Saturday.

The teen, according to reports, lived at Moruca, Region One and Grant Melville, Lower Pomeroon River.

Reports indicate that Jafaun and a 38-year-old

man of Moruca were on a farm in the Pomeroon drinking alcohol. The man reportedly left Jafaun and headed into the backlands and Jafaun then took the opportunity to go swim in the river.

Reports say the teen went into the deep water, was unable to swim and subsequently drowned.

A search has been launched to recover his body as an investigation continues.

Woman, 60, killed in Arakaka mining pit

A 60-year-old woman of One Mile, Arakaka, North West District, was killed after a mining pit caved in on her Friday at Locus Backdam, Arakaka, North West District.

Dead is Retta Samuels. Reports re-

vealed that the woman, along with others, were ‘punting’ in the Backdam in a pit owned by a 45-year-old gold miner.

During the process of washing down his four inch land dredge, the pit reportedly caved in and trapped the woman below the

mud and water.

Her lifeless body was removed and she was rushed to the Arakaka Health Centre, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body is currently at the Arakaka Health Centre Mortuary and arrangements

are being made for it to be transported to the Port Kaituma Hospital Mortuary for post-mortem.

The case was reported to the police as investigations continue.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

Understanding Energy

Farm-in agreements

LAST week, international media reported that Qatar Petroleum is planning to enter a farm-in agreement with Total for a share of exploration and production rights in the Orinduik and Kanuku blocks offshore Guyana.

Under the terms, Qatar Petroleum will acquire 40% of Total’s existing 25% participating interest in each block. In the Orinduik, Qatar Petroleum will join Total and partners Tullow Oil and Eco Atlantic. In the Kanuku, Qatar Petroleum joins Total, Tullow and Repsol.

Qatar Petroleum’s entry

comes just as exploration is kicking off in the Orinduik.

Tullow Oil recently began drilling its first exploration well, the Jethro-Lobe, and results are expected shortly. Both the Orinduik and Kanuku blocks are due for additional exploration wells later this year.

Qatar Petroleum’s entry would come in the form of a “farm-in agreement,” a common industry arrangement where the part-owner of an oil and gas lease sells a stake in their block to another company in order to reduce or dilute their own financial risks and get more capital to

invest in development.

The new party entering the lease normally has to meet certain contractual obligations, like drilling wells of a certain depth and location within an agreed timeframe.

If these conditions are met, the new party gets a share of the block. Farm-in agreements may also require that the well start commercial production for the agreement to actually take effect. This way, the company farming in only receives its share if the well actually ends up producing oil.

A key aspect of a farm-in agreement is that it is built

around the rendering of services, rather than a monetary exchange. The leaseholder contracts with the external company so that they can come in to provide technical support or services.

Farm-in agreements are especially common in upstream exploration and production work. This is due to the technical complexity and specialized capabilities required to drill wells and produce oil. Very few companies in the world have the capabilities and resources necessary to do this work on their own. Thus, they often seek support from other

companies in exchange for a stake.

Exploration operations are also extremely risky, and even a successfully executed well may yield no results and cost a company hundreds of millions of dollars. Farm-ins provide the added benefit of sharing the risk of failure amongst multiple companies. Because the associated costs are so high, individual companies are often unwilling to assume all of the risk themselves. Partners and farm-ins decrease that risk and create greater interest in exploration.

The Department of En-

ergy Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe, has made it clear that the government will be taking a long, careful look at the agreement before the farm-in is approved. But Qatar Petroleum’s interest is yet another sign of the rising tide of international interest in Guyana and is not limited to operations in the Stabroek Block alone. If the agreement is approved, Guyana can expect to see more activity in the Orinduik and Kanuku blocks in the near future.

THE EMANCIPATION ACT:

THE ULTIMATE PERFECTION OF ECONOMIC INJUSTICE DISABUSE yourself of the Eurocentric notion that the August 28th, 1833 Slavery Abolition Act passed in the British Parliament was a cause for celebration for people of African descent.

This Act was brought into force on August 1st, 1834, but there was no significant basis, in retrospect, for unprecedented celebrations for those enslaved, this Act represented the ultimate perfection of economic injustice.

First of all, the system did not come to an end in the British Caribbean on August 1st 1834; this occurred until 1838. Only slaves

under the age of 6 were freed, their older siblings and parents became unpaid Apprentices who remained slaves; I will not elect to say ‘partial freedom’ was granted.

The system endured in reality and spirit, even though the Emancipation Act sought to end the system by law and letter, this did not take full effect. The Emancipation Act was mere parliamentary pomp and high symbolism. Slave masters continued to perpetuate chattel slavery in its purest and beastly form. This is not the crux of my intervention but it is a worthy preface for what

entails hereunder.

To the central point being adumbrated, all celebratory moods would have been rightly accorded to the planters. The Emancipation Act made clear provisions for the slave owners to receive the sum of twenty million pounds sterling (16.5 billion pounds sterling today); there was zero monetary compensation for slaves who toiled for 400 years in the unforgiving Caribbean sun. This compensation constituted 40% of Britain’s annual income and 5% of Great Britain’s GDP. This was fiscal tyranny and

add insult to historical injury, the proponents of this vile legislation had the temerity to argue that this Act was economic justice. The perpetuators of centuries of evil were rewarded by this Act. In fact, it gets more egregious; the British government had to borrow fifteen million pounds sterling pound from banker, Nathan Mayer Rothschild, to finance this unjust compensation; this money was repaid in 2015. This money was recommended by Commissioners of slave compensation, the ultimate perfection of a misnomer.

As I write, not a significant

cent has been offered to Africans [for] their historical struggles; the idea of reparations has been largely rejected.

While the humanitarians and British reformers hailed the Emancipation Act as the great humane gesture, a cursory critical examination would reveal that it was the ultimate perfection of economic injustice.

Reg. 8 REO prioritising women, youth empowerment - Health and education among main areas of focus POTARO – Siparuni’s new Regional Executive Officer, Mitzy Campbell is aiming to empower women and youths in her region. Campbell posited that though the region is well known for its mining and forestry base, there are many opportunities available in the region which can be tapped into, thereby maximising skill and talent among the population.

Campbell was speaking

to the Department of Public Information (DPI) during the latest government outreach that was held in the mining town of Mahdia.

When asked what some of the target areas were that she is seeking to improve in the region, Campbell said, “I’d like to see the education system improved. I’d like to see the health system improved and also I would like to see the social services improved particularly in the area of

Regional Executive Officer, Region Eight, Mitzy Campbell

gender equality.”

Further, she noted that

collaboration with the central government in these specific

areas will aid in fulfilling the vision she has. Campbell who has been REO less than a month has already been engaging residents.

“A woman met me this morning and she said she is unemployed. So, can we empower them? They can maybe do catering or sewing since those trades are still in demand. … We can bring the trades back here because this is the interior and we can do really good work here,” the REO noted Campbell said it is important that the young people

in the region are empowered so that they can contribute to the country’s development.

She noted that is vital they be equipped with the necessary skills that will help them to make wise choices and be role models in their communities. “… I’d like to see young people grow and utilise opportunities. I’d like to see them grow and take advantage of different options in their life. I’d also like to see women empowered,” Campbell concluded.

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Improved health services for Micobie villagers MEDEX, medical transportation, doctors’ quarters, x-ray machines and available medication were amongst some of the concerns raised by the residents of Micobie Village at a meeting held following the government outreach in Mahdia earlier on Friday.

At the Micobie village meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Dr. Karen Cummings, and Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Hon. Valerie Garrido-Lowe, were well received by the villagers who were happy to have the ministers in their hometown.

The villagers were advised on what will be done moving forward in terms of drug supply for the area.

Minister Cummings further offered a piece of valuable advice to the residents that they not under-report the number of drugs needed as this could lead to a glut of unused medication. She also gave her assurance that their needs in this particular area will be addressed.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Dr. Karen Cummings addressing the villagers of Micobie

“I am going to enquire and make sure you are receiving adequate drugs,” she said.

A promise was also made to address the need for medex and doctors in the village, a task which will be handed to the Minister of Public Health. Under the same sector, the need for an X-ray machine was raised. Minister Cummings explained that the government is willing to provide the machine to aid with services needed in this area.

However, persons will have to be trained to effectively use

the machine.

Also at the meeting, Minister Garrido-Lowe pledged to have a fully equipped workshop established in the community by next year, so that students graduating from the Kuru Kuru Training College can utilise their newly-acquired skills. At the end of the meeting, she donated football gear to the village football team, encouraging them to compete and win at the upcoming Hinterland Games. (DPI)

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Hon. Valerie Garrido-Lowe addresses the villagers of Micobie

Major road rehab for Tumatumari/El Paso EL PASO, Micobie, and Tumatumari residents will soon benefit from major rehabilitative works on their access roads.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, made this announcement during a community meeting at El Paso, Region Eight. “The good news is that the regional engineer just informed me that the tender for that road goes out next week under our maintenance budget,” Minister Patterson said.

The contract for the maintenance of the fivemile stretch of road is expected to take about three weeks to go through the tender process before a contract can be officially rewarded for work to begin. The road will be extended from the Brian Sucre Junction in Mahdia for three miles and includes another two miles of re-

habilitative works from the Micobie junction to El Paso. The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) is also partnering with the ministry to carry out the rehabilitation of the road. The maintenance contract is expected to provide better access to several villages in the Potaro-Siparuni Region.

Addressing the residents, Minister Patterson also engaged them on matters relating to electricity and their water woes. He also spoke of other projects to benefit the residents, including the Tumatumari Hydropower plant.

The Tumatumari Hydropower Station was the first hydropower station to be constructed on the Potaro River. The plant was constructed in 1957 by the British Goldfields Limited and operated until 1959 when mining oper-

ations ceased. In 1969, the then government re-commissioned the station where the power was transmitted to serve the Guyana National Service camps at Tumatumari and Konawaruk. The development included an embankment dam, a concrete overflow dam, and a twounit powerhouse with an installed capacity of 1500 kw, using 2 X 750 kw Francis turbines.

The Public Infrastructure Minister assured residents that the government will be actively looking into revamping the hydro backing energy plant that will see electricity transmission throughout Tumatumari/El Paso and Mahdia. El Paso is a village in the Potaro-Siparuni Region of Guyana, to the west of Tumatumari Landing. There are approximately 40 households in this village.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, Hon. David Patterson engaging a student of the El Paso Primary School

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

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UG students welcome ‘free education’ promise

By Vishani Ragobeer

STUDENTS have indicated that free education, from nursery to tertiary, is something they would like to see implemented in Guyana since it will allow for more citizens to become educated and productive members of the country.

On Emancipation Day, President David Granger made known that his aim to restore the right to free education, in accordance with the Constitution.

Article 27 of the Constitution of Guyana states: “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.

“As a student of the University of Guyana, I have quoted Article 27 to many of my lecturers, especially when tuition fees went up recently,” current student of the University of Guyana (UG), Vanessa Fredericks told Guyana Chronicle. As a result, she said, the idea of free education is one she certainly welcomes.

Brian Peters, a new student of the University who will commence studies in the new semester, affirmed that making education free would be “a good investment.”

“With the now free education, persons who are not capable of finishing their studies can now do so.

We're not all equally privileged so those in a lower financial state can capture this with ease,” he said.

Moreover, he noted that this will result in greater human resource potential for the country, which should mean that the society will be a much better place.

Peters; however, said that introducing free education once more should be something that is done strategically. He opined that the government should also direct more focus towards the entrepreneurial sector so that more jobs can be created to cater for more qualified persons.

“I think that it is a good idea that the President wants

to make education free in accordance with the Constitution,” another incoming UG student, Ruth Manbodh said.

But even though this is a good long-term investment for Guyana, she stressed that it is one which must have support from all of the political parties.

STRATEGIC FOCUS Alongside President Granger’s commitment to free education, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo indicated that he strongly supports the idea of no tuition at the university but noted it will most likely happen if the coalition is elected to a second term in government.

Even leader of the newly-formed Liberty and Justice Party, Lenox Shuman had indicated his support for the ‘Free UG’ movement, at a walkout exercise held at UG’s Turkeyen campus in April. Then, Shuman opined that all political leaders should meet with the students and the advocates for free tertiary education in a meaningful manner and let their position on the topic be known.

This walkout was organised by an informal group of young people who banded together, earlier this year, into what is called the “Free University of Guyana Movement” in collaboration with UG’s Student Society.

Member of the movement, Elson Lowe, told this newspaper that the group is advocating that a portion of oil revenues be used to make education at the university free once again.

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.

DESERVING PRAISE “We applaud the President for upholding the rights of all Guyanese, in particular Guyana’s youth and we look forward to presenting our proposals regarding how the university can be made once more a free institution,” Lowe said in response to the President’s commitment to making tertiary education free once more.

He mentioned that the group would have already conducted some amount of polling, consultations and research regarding the best ways to remove tuition fees.

As such, when the proposals are submitted, the ‘Free UG’

President David Granger announcing his commitment to make education from nursery to tertiary free once again [MoTP photo]

Elson Lowe

Ruth Manbodh

group intends on seeing some policy changes at UG. A current Communications Studies student of UG, who wished to remain anonymous, said however that making tertiary education free once more is something that should have been made a reality years ago.

“As a current student, I view it as something that should've been considered earlier from the many revenue producing resources of Guyana, since oil is not the only potentially lucrative industry of this country.

However, it is better late than never,” he said.

He also said that the government should work to “inspire faith” in students and should not wait until the oil revenues begin amassing.

Brian Peters

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

Linden youths opening own businesses

By Vanessa Braithwaite

“DON'T wait for the opportunity to knock, build a door, a window or a chimney even, but whatever it is, it must get you out of your current circumstances,” said Milton Berle.

Youths residing in the mining town of Linden, little by little are building openings of opportunities, all in an effort to remove their names from the statistics of unemployment; a noticeable problem that has been shadowing the town for a while.

They are proving that employment is not only something that comes in overalls, hard hats, stocking and high heel shoes and only happens after an interview but is something that can be created and developed.

With scores of training programmes available through the Government of Guyana and to top it off, so many financial opportunities with grants and loans available, many youths are of the belief

Rawle Hinds working in his mechanic shop

that unemployment does not have to be the category their cohorts fall into.

Free training is available through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), the Ministry of Telecommunication’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) and even the Linden Enterprise Network, among other places. Many youths have utilised these training opportunities and can now boast of either being employed or owning their own businesses which has been made possible from funding through the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN), the

Small Business Bureau (SBB) and Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED), among other small business financial institutions.

The Ministry of Public Telecommunications has trained in total about 3,000 persons in the various areas of ICT. Minister Catherine Hughes recently said on 94.1 hot seat: "We have a very impressive 'girls can code' programme, we have trained young people in website design, in coding in a range of different gaming, in animation... we have gone to Essequibo to Linden to Ber-

Linden youths benefitting from ICT training

Linden youths benefitting from the apiculture training

bice... we have trained adults, men women in different areas."

Scores of these are from Linden and it has been paying dividends for them. Youths who participated in these various forms of training have sought meaningful employment in the various sectors. One of these persons is Joan Allicock, who is now a teacher because of the knowledge she gained in the ICT training. “This training prepared me for college and I was able to pass my IT-related subjects because many things that I did not understand in school in relation to computers, I was able to get a better knowledge of it,” she said.

Minister Hughes related that one youth, who trained in website designing, is now receiving her own contracts to design the web pages for businesses. Some youths who were a part of the first ICT batch, went a step further, established their own youth group, The Linden Youth Network, to train and empower youths within the various communities in ICT, so they too can become beneficiaries. The areas of training were communication skills; telephone ethics, interviewing tips and time management; mouse basics and keyboard references; introduction to commuters; Microsoft Office, literacy and numeracy; STEM robotics and sexual and reproductive health.

STARTING OWN BUSINESSES In July, the LEN hosted an apiculture training, which equipped youths with the skill of beekeeping. They are now on the verge of starting their own apiculture business as they were able to access start up loans, which also came with technical support throughout their journey. One of those

very ambitious young ladies who asked for her name to be withheld, related that she believes the training was a perfect opportunity to tap into a niche market, where there are currently a lot of demands.

Apiculture is not a popular choice of business, sought after by youths and it was ingenious of LEN to provide, for free, training and financing opportunities for the youths in Linden.

She applauded the government and encouraged other youths to come out of their comfort zone and get involved in similar training as these. "The training has really opened my eyes to alternative means of making money other than working cooperate. Entrepreneurship is much-needed in this country to diversify our economy and meet market demands and we as young people are the ones that need to do so. I encourage youths to take these opportunities and build on it, don't take it lightly. Everything will not come easy but as youths we need to take advantage of these resources and create jobs for ourselves and build our own future. Look out for various opportunities that may suit your vision and take full advantage of them," she said.

The Board of Industrial Training has also trained hundreds of Linden youths in several forms of vocational and soft skills. Only on Wednesday, 39 Linden youths graduated from the Early Child Hood Development Course. CEO (ag) of BIT, Richard Maughn, urged the graduates to use the certificate as a stepping stone for greater achievement at the University of Guyana.

"Having been deemed competent, there is still so much out there to learn and they are

still avenues in which you can go and learn, the certificate that you will receive, was able to help others to pursue their education at the University of Guyana. I'm encouraging you to do the same, don't just sit there – you can develop yourself further," he said.

With the nation on the cusp for great things, he said, all Guyanese need to position themselves to benefit from the large window of opportunities that will unfold shortly.

Rawle Hinds, who completed his courses in Internal Combustion Engine and Motor Vehicle Works in 2012, used his technical training to open his mechanic shop.

He opened his own mechanic operation in his yard.

This move attracted clients that he worked for before at his former place of employment, as well as new ones. He worked taxi with his car to supplement his income but said things are better now at the mechanic shop. He is hoping in the new year to establish a more permanent setting and have a registered business since it is presently in his yard at Lovers Lane, Amelia’s Ward.

The government will continue to provide training opportunities through the various agencies for youths as well as financial assistance to start up their own business. Last week, five Linden youths received grants from the SBB, to either start up or expand their businesses.

LEN's coffer is pregnant with loans for small businesses.

While the government will continue to open the doors, it is still up to the youths to enter themselves. If they enter, the unemployment statistics will surely go down.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

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Record-breaking year for gold production beckons ANOTHER record-breaking year for gold production in Guyana is on the horizon as latest reports at the end of July this year indicate that production of almost 400,000 ounces of gold had been declared.

According to a release from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), gold declarations to date for 2019 show an increase over similar declarations for the same period in 2018 and the trend points to another record-breaking year for production and declarations in 2019.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, made the disclosure on Wednesday last when he joined the Board Members and staff of the GGMC to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

Minister Trotman told the audience that recent achievements of the mining and mineral sector included the latest reports that as at

From Left - GGMC Deputy Commissioner, Ms. Dianne McDonald; GGMC Board Chairman, Mr. Stanley Ming; Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman and GGMC Commissioner, Mr. Newell Dennisson (GGMC photo)

the end of July, production of almost 400,000 ounces of gold had been declared.

The figure represents an approximate average of 55,000 ounces per month.

As regards the bauxite sector, the GGMC said that

Guyana now boasts three ongoing bauxite operations at Linden and Aroaima in Region 10, and at Bonasika in Region Three. This is as a result of First Bauxite's entry to the fold of bauxite producers alongside Bosai Minerals

and Rusal.

During the event, Trotman lauded the exemplary work of the Petroleum Division of the GGMC in preparing the nation for 'first oil' within the targeted period, and he commended GGMC's

embracing of information technology to digitise the process of applications for prospecting and mining permits and overall land management.

All these achievements, the minister opined, have

Over 108,000 registered thus far JUST over two weeks since the house-to-house registration has started over 108 000 persons have been registered as of Friday last, official figures from the Guyana Elections Commission stated.

The success thus far comes even as GECOM has reported widespread attempts to sabotage the process with opposition activists setting dogs on enumerators and also calls by their leaders for citizens to boycott the national exercise. The commission has since requested police protection for field staff.

Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield in updating the media recently disclosed that dogs have been set loose on enumerators in the fields, while others have come into contact with persons who are of the opinion that the process is illegal, and they (the enumerators) will not be paid.

“The House-to-House Registration process continues as scheduled…but we have had some challenges and we continue to face challenges, in operationalising the event. These challenges include, for example, where persons are told to register is an illegal activity…; we have incidents where dogs are let out on our enumerators in the field; we have scenarios in which enumerators are

told, that is the staff working with us, that they will not be paid, and they should not participate in the process,” Lowenfield explained.

At the time, he was speaking to reporters on the sideline of the swearing in ceremony of the newly Chairman of the Elections Commission, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, S.C, CCH. He said the contentions are erroneous, and made it clear that House-to-House Registration is legal, and all enumerators would be paid.

The national registration exercised, he reminded, was budgeted for in the 2019 National Budget.

Asked whether the Secretariat would require more time, the CEO, in response, told reporters that all decisions relative to Houseto-House Registration and Elections would be made by the duly constituted Elections Commission. “I don’t want to go pass the first meeting of the Commission…I don’t want to go ahead of myself… the Commission shall meet, the Commission shall deliberate and the Commission will make all the necessary decisions going forward,” he told reporters.

The Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, and his party – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) have called on their supporters

to boycott House-to-House Registration on the basis that it is illegal but Lowenfield has made it clear that the process is in keeping with a decision taken under the stewardship of former Chairman, Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson.

GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander said the Opposition does not understand the implications of calling on persons to boycott House-to-House Registration. “I don’t think the people who are talking about moving away from Houseto-House understand the processes which are involved. If we are to move away from House-to-House any other process itself would require a prep stage. And they seem not to know the time implications even if it is something else,” he told Guyana Chronicle.

Moving forward, Alexander expressed the hope that all Commissioners would uphold the standards of democratic organisations, and not stage walk outs as was the case in the recent past.

“There are standard procedures that any institution should follow and those standard procedures include engagement in the discussions, a determination which may come down to a vote and acceptance of that determination. That is what

democratic process requires.

People who walk out, in fact, are trying to stymie what is a democratic process by not allowing the process to proceed,” Alexander explained.

He is hoping that the Commission can get down to business as soon as the newly appointed Chair familiarises herself with the business of the Commission and its Secretariat. More than 50,000 individuals nationwide have now been registered in the house-to-

been made in the face of attempts at disruption of operations of the institution, challenges brought on by changing weather patterns that hinder effective hinterland road maintenance, and unhelpful criticism, which seek to define the GGMC as an inept and inefficient state agency.

He said the GGMC has defied its critics and continues to stand strong.

Minister Trotman reiterated the five limbs of the APNU+AFC government’s mining policy as first mentioned by President Granger in 2015. Those being to have improved infrastructure development, improved security and human safety, improved health and environmental security with a mandatory process of land reclamation and reforestation, improved law enforcement; and a modern, safe and technologically-advanced gold mining sector.

...as GECOM intensifies house-to-house registration exercise

house registration exercise and are now eligible to vote in the upcoming General and Regional Elections. These individuals are also now eligible to receive the new Identification (ID) Cards which will be distributed by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) by the October 20, 2019 deadline.

While the over 1,200 teams deployed still have more ground to cover, many have also begun the process of revisiting resi-

dences where persons may not have been home at the time or may not have been in possession of their documents. Upon conclusion of this exercise, a new National Register of Registrants Database (NRRDB), which is reflective of the current Guyanese population, will be created. Subsequently, the Official List of Electors (OLE) will be extracted for the purpose of conducting General and Regional Elections.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

Greater collaboration needed to trap sexual predators

By Vishani Ragobeer AS a young child growing up, Colleen Humphrey was sent to live with her aunt so that she would grow up in a family that was more financially stable. Moving in with family was supposed to be her chance at a “better life”.

“My aunt often travelled and at night and I slept with her husband,” Colleen said, recalling her life when she was about four years old. “At night, I remember him being that person I thought was like a father to me and an uncle; somebody I thought loved me.”

Every night, he was the one who laid her down to sleep. Her uncle, however, was not the beacon of love she thought he was.

“I was sexually abused every night,” Colleen recalled. “I didn’t know that I was being sexually abused, because I remember being on his chest and him shaking me to sleep every night.”

This continued for quite some time, and she only realised what was happening when another aunt had a “vision” that Colleen was being abused in this manner and told Colleen’s mother.

By this time, she was about eight years old.

Colleen shared that she believes that her aunt had realised eventually what was happening or she at least had some suspicion. Each night, that woman unlocked the door to the room Colleen and her uncle were resting in. “She would always walk around and open it, so today, I would say she tried to protect me,” the woman, who is now in her 40s, said.

“It is to be noted that child sexual abuse is a hidden crime and many victims, literally, do not have a voice and the ability to tell and identify their abuser,” Di-

rector of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CPA) Anne Green said recently.

The Sexual Offences Act of 2010 stated that a sexual offence is any sexual violation on an individual that includes rape, and any other form of sexual assault, such as touching or causing the complainant to touch a third party in a sexual way. When penetration has occurred, the sexual offence is deemed as “rape”; when there is no penetration, the offence is deemed “sexual activity”.

Greene related that while there were 980 reported cases of child sexual abuse in 2018 alone, those reports may very well be “just the tip of the iceberg”.

“It is believed that 90 per cent of sexual violence against children is not reported to authorities,” she said further while adding that of the amount that are reported, many ‘fall through the cracks’ because of the lack of collaboration among stakeholders and, sometimes, the slow pace of the judicial system.

In the past, every case of child sexual abuse reported to the CPA was subsequently reported to the police, where investigations into the matter should commence.

Greene, however, noted that this avenue for investigation was not always child-friendly.

“The main contributing factor to the case not making its way through to the judicial is faulty interrogation processes starting with the child not being believed,” she said.

In an effort to mitigate this, in 2014, Child Advocacy ‘One Stop’ Centres were launched. At these centres, law enforcement and other key governmental stakeholders and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) would work togeth-

er to conduct interviews and make key decisions about

Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali-Hack

investigation, treatment, management and prosecution of child-abuse cases.

APPROPRIATE INTERROGATION “The concept of the centres is to have the child victims come only once to a special room and provide the necessary evidence for an investigation team… who have the opportunity to conduct an appropriate interrogation of the child and perform psychological and forensic assessments on the spot, and follow up with the child and family,” she explained.

Sexual Offences Courts have been established in Demerara and Berbice as well, with another slated for Essequibo. According to Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag.) Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, this specialised court is equipped with the necessary measures to protect the affected person from the accused persons, or from other persons in court; it comprises a special-measures room, and even waiting room facilities

for the victim to be comfortable when giving evidence.

Both the centres and the courts aim to ensure that the child victims are dealt with in ways that are as friendly as possible, and so that ‘re-victimisation’ does not occur.

According to Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, at a recent public forum, in 2017, the sexual offence cases, on average, comprised about 55 per cent of the cases listed; in 2018, it was an average of 60 per cent of the cases listed; and in 2019, an average of 55 per cent of the cases to be heard.

These cases, according to her, ranged from persons as young as two years old to the elderly, at 65 years of age. And from the evidence garnered from these cases, Ali-Hack said it can be concluded that there are a number of economic and socio-cultural reasons underpinning the occurrences.

In Colleen’s case, that was quite evident.

Cognisant of these statistics garnered from within Guyana’s small population and factors contributing to the occurrence of the offences, the DPP posited that there is clearly a need to address this situation.

“The emerging profile is that the girl child is being sexually assaulted by both trusted and non-trusted persons in her life, both inside and outside of the home, including institutions of learning,” the DPP highlighted.

This is a very serious situation and it is very disturbing; it happens to all children regardless of race, culture, or economic background from which they are.”

Nicole Cole, who sits on the Rights of the Child Commission (ROCC), pointed out that medical practitioners are one group of stakeholders who need to understand their role against this scourge of violence and begin taking greater responsibility.

“I have fought doctors, tooth and nail, to get them to do what is right [but] there is a reluctance by the doctors,” Cole highlighted at a public forum organised recently by the University of Guyana.

She gave the example of when the ROCC visited the New Amsterdam Hospital recently, not a single doctor indicated that they would be willing to go to court to represent a child who would have suffered abuse.

Cole also related that she has found that there are doctors who are reluctant to even conduct ‘rape kit’ examinations. These kits are sexual assault forensic evidence kit, which is used in physical evidence recovery.

Medical doctors are trained how to use these.

“Why is there a reluctance by doctors? We need the medical evidence,” Cole said, almost in tears.

Regional Health Officer, Dr. Quincy Jones, acknowledged that medical doctors are often the “frontline workers” who see persons

where a teen was found not guilty of sodomising and murdering his two-year-old niece years ago at Haslington, East Coast Demerara.

The then 15-year-old had been arrested by the police after it was established that the dead toddler had been in his sole care for about an hour before her death.

The post-mortem examination found that the child died as a result of haemorrhage and shock from multiple abdominal injuries and was subjected to anal penetration. This abdominal trauma was a result of the anal penetration, which caused massive internal injuries to the spleen, liver and anus. However, the absence of the medical evidence, she said, allowed the perpetrator to ‘walk free’.

CYCLE OF TRAUMA “These must be social change to prevent the re-victimisation and non-proseColleen Humphrey cution because of faulty interrogation practices. and children affected by Child sexual assault can last sexual abuse. a lifetime and spans generaH o w e v e r , D r . J o n e s tions; this sexual assault of said, “One of the things that our children must stop at all doctors are afraid of is the costs,” the CPA said further. loss of their licence.” He After years of experiencexplained that there is the ing sexual violence, Colleen belief that if doctors go to left her aunt’s home when the court of law, they run the she was 13 years old and risk of losing their licence to returned to live with her practise medicine because of mother and father. When she the information they provide was 14 years old, however, vis-a-vis medical exam- she was raped by a friend’s ination for alleged sexual uncle after she attended a offences. school party.

Cognisant that this is an Her experiences with issue which prevents doc- sexual violence, she related, tors from ‘stepping up’, Dr. have caused her years of unJones related that the Public resolved trauma. Today, she Health Ministry is working is an alcoholic. She related to educate doctors on the that she knows this is a bad various laws on their respon- habit, but said consuming sibilities to their patients the substance is her way of and the mechanisms that are “rebelling” against the inavailable to protect when justices she faced in her life. they go into the court of law.

Petra Richmond, Chief Once doctors understand Executive Officer (CEO) of that there are systems there Critical Responses, a prito support them, the regional vate organisation that seeks health officer contended that to provide assistance to they would be more willing persons affected by abuse, to come forward. noted that better practices “The Ministry of Public must be adopted at all stagHealth and the Ministry of es of investigating sexual Social Protection, in 2016, violence and providing redevised a standard medical dress. form for the collection of She opined that there is evidence. This was some- generally a lack of psychothing even though it was logical support for victims developed, it was not really and this contributes to this implemented and now we cycle of trauma. “Proper and are in the stage of imple- deliberate” measures menting this,” he said.

Cole reminded of a case TURN TO PAGE 21 ►

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

90 per cent of child abuse cases go unreported -- director, Childcare and Protection Agency

By Navendra Seoraj CHILD abuse is a ‘hidden crime’ which is done behind closed doors and many times goes unreported.

“It is very much hidden because children are resilient, they suffer in silence,” said Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) Ann Greene, during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

Child abuse is when a parent or caregiver, whether through action or failing to act, causes injury, death, emotional harm or risk of serious harm to a child. There are many forms of child maltreatment, including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation and emotional abuse.

It is believed that 90 per cent of the cases of child abuse do not meet the authorities because many times, children who are abused, do not have a voice to tell of their ordeal.

“Some do not even know they are being abused and some of them would keep secrets rather than tell someone,” said Greene.

Most cases go unreported, yet from January to May, 2019, there have been 1,902 local cases of child abuse.

According to a breakdown of the statistics from the CPA, 1,015 of the cases were girls, while 887 were boys who have been abused.

The highest number of cases was child neglect, which totalled 865, of which 402 were girls and 463 were boys.

According to Greene, when it comes to neglect, officers have to do a balancing act to see if it is actually neglect or deprivation.

Poverty is a factor which creates vulnerability in children, so officers have to know if it is wilful neglect or deprivation.

“If people are poor we do

CPA Director Ann Greene

not criminalise poverty… if people are poor we have to carry services to the people, we do not take a child because people are poor. A lot of people are poor but still look at their children,” said Greene, adding that they try to assist those people in any way possible.

NEGLECT Neglect, however, remains a serious issue, but following behind that is sexual abuse. From January to May, there were 492 cases of sexual abuse, with 387 involving girls and 105 boys.

Greene said the figures show an increase in the number of boys who have been sexually abused. Reports show that this form of abuse is seldom reported.

“Children rather suffer in silence… these children cannot tell of abuse, it is so hard, particularly with sexual abuse… to tell that a loved one is sexually abusing you is difficult,” said Greene.

Another form of abuse which children find hard to report is physical abuse, which affected 408 children within the stated period.

Statistics show that in most of the cases, of all forms of abuse, mothers were the main perpetrator. The main

perpetrators were mothers, fathers and step-parents.

Children are often told to stay away from strangers but according to Greene, abuse from a stranger is rare. Children are abused by people whom they love and trust.

“Most of the hurt they receive is in the home… the people who are convicted are most times people who the victims trust and love,” said the CPA director, adding that children hardly ever fully recover from abuse; they have secret pains.

Greene encouraged persons to take child protection more seriously, noting that child protection is not just the mandate of the CPA. EVERYONE’S BUSINESS She believes that child protection is everyone’s business and it starts in the home.

A home should be a safe place for a child, but homes are proving not to be safe places for children, considering the perpetrators who were listed.

“Parents have to start protecting their children… schools also have a role to play, teachers are the front-runners when it comes to spotting abuse… a child’s wake hours are spent in the school system, so teachers

Greater collaboration needed ...

FROM PAGE

need to be put in place to mitigate this.

“The first question that we ask (at Critical Responses) is who are the people around you that you can lean on and trust... and we try to involve those persons in the process (of healing),” Petra said. She further opined that for victims to heal, they must

should be able to spot abuse,” said Greene.

In addition, she said persons need to work towards making communities child-friendly and caring, because persons in the community know who is who and what is happening.

The CPA director said long gone are the days when persons should go to bed knowing that there is a child next door with no one to care for them or anything to eat.

Greene deeply believes that there is a role for the community in stopping abuse.

“When you hear a noise next door people lock up their

have a support system of persons who are willing to help them.

“Victims should not be released until those structures are in place and fully operationalised,” she stressed.

As a victim of this type of violence as well, she noted that the road to recov-

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ery is not an easy one. In her case, penetration did not occur and this caused persons to become disinterested in providing help to her. It is for this reason, she said, that there also needs to be a shift in the way persons in society respond to and address sexual violence.

house tighter, but when it comes to children, you need to find out what it is,” she urged.

The CPA has been conducting a lot of sensitisation exercises and programmes to make communities more aware of abuse.

The agency sought to do partnership development by partnering with religious organisations and non-governmental organisations in certain communities.

“We are building partnership development because what we are hoping to do is with the state systems; we want to attach the state child protection systems to

be linked with community systems… we know of a child being abused here when somebody tells us, if you do not tell us we will never know,” she said.

The people who have to report cases of abuse are families, teachers and residents of the community.

Last year it was reported that there was a growing number of reported child abuse cases in Guyana and for 2018, over 4,900 such cases were recorded, an alarming number that was fuelled by neglect and other social-ills.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

Young criminologist on mission to save Sophia youths from crime

By Gabriella Chapman RECOGNISING the need for an intervention in the lives of the youths in Sophia, newly graduated Criminologist, Sherry Ann Hinds, has returned home with hopes of improving the standards of youths in her community.

The 21-year-old shared her story in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, highlighting some of her key focus in the eradication of crimes in Guyana.

Hinds said that her aspiration is to become a lawyer, but the Criminology path, however, chose her, through a scholarship she was awarded to study the programme at the University of Southern Caribbean (USC), in Trinidad.

All was not lost, she said, as criminology is closely related to law, and with the knowledge she has gained, she can still make a significant contribution to her country.

Hinds explained that Criminology is the scientific study of the criminal mind.

“It wasn’t just criminology though, it was Criminal Justice as well. We studied the various agencies like the prisons, and how they function, and we also looked at the court system,” she said.

Explaining further that “It was close to law in the sense that some of the courses included law because I did criminal law as one of the courses. But basically it focuses more on the criminal itself; like what causes a person to become a criminal, and we study the factors that would have led to that, and how we can deal with those factors, to curb it.”

Though exposed to several aspects of the law and criminals, Hinds said her most favourite component of the programme was profiling.

“We had to learn how to profile a serial killer, and that was very interesting. So I’m looking to go into criminal prosecuting, and also use my background in criminology to help me with that,” the young woman said.

Improving Sophia youths Hinds believes that with the knowledge she has gained during her four years of study at USC, she can implement strategies and solutions to decrease the crime rate in Guyana. However, her focus would be predominantly on Sophia. ”Since I live in Sophia,

Sherry Ann Hinds

and well we know about the area and how crime is very high. So I want to actually be able to use my degree to help develop the area, by looking at ways in which I can help our young people, especially those who are labelled as ‘troubled’. I can use my degree to create something that can include them, and encourage them to stay away from a life of crime,” she said.

The young woman said that she believes the major contributing factor to the high crime rate is poverty.

“I think the high crime in Sophia is based on the lack of economic opportunities that are awarded to our youths.

Looking at this you have to know exactly what causes the crime rate in the community, then you can develop a proper plan. We need to formulate plans that can help deter them from crime. So knowing that economic exclusion is a contributing factor, I will need to try and get donations for the community, and give them opportunities that can afford them to see there is another way out,” Hinds posited.

Noting further “Education is a very important way also. When you teach the youths that there is something else they can aim for, something else that they can turn to other than crime, it will help a great deal. And we need to start when they are young, so when they are older, this is something they will look at, instead of crimes.”

Noting the aforementioned, Hinds is looking to collaborate with other organisations and communities to help bring about awareness to young people that crime is not the answer.

In the meanwhile, the young woman said she can use her degree to do consultations.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

Georgetown Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Championship

Gold is Money to defend title against ominous Albouystown-B

By Michelangelo Jacobus FRIDAY night was one full of high-paced action and upsets as the Georgetown Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ quarterfinals and semifinals were played at the National Cultural Centre tarmac.

After the dust settled, the exciting Albouystown-B team had won the right to challenge defending Georgetown and National champions Gold is Money in the final.

En route to the final, Albouystown-B secured the semi-final spot by beating Back Circle 2-1 on sudden-death penalties in the first quarterfinal of the night.

Later on in the night, they faced a determined Sophia in the semifinal and some clinical finishing from Lennox ‘Tyga’ Cort ensured that they ran out 3-2 winners.

Sophia, who are known for their defence, conceded after nine minutes when Cort slammed home, after some fine passing. He added a second in the 18th minute and Marlon Nedd put Albouystown 3-0 up just three minutes later.

However, Sophia re-

fused to roll over and had the crowd on edge when they netted a late Guinness Goal (a goal scored in the final three minutes of the game counts as 2) to make things interesting at 3-2. But Albouystown held firm to book the final berth.

Earlier in the night, Sophia had needled crowd favourite Sparta Boss in the quarter-finals to create a major upset. Dwayne ‘Goofy’ Lowe’s fourth-minute goal proved to be the deciding factor but not before Sparta came close to equalising on several occasions However Sophia defended staunchly to end 1-0 winners.

Meanwhile, defending champions Gold is Money had a comfortable path to the final. First they dispatched Tiger Bay 2-0 in the quarter-final stage with Randolph Wagner netting a brace. His goals came in the 9th and 20th minutes respectively.

The Gold is Money juggernaut rolled on without any hiccup as Jermin Junor and Randolph Wagner netted a goal apiece in their 2-0 victory over Broad Street in the semi-final, Junor opened the scoring in the 17th minute

Ganguly wants to coach India in the future SOURAV Ganguly is “definitely interested” in becoming India’s coach, but not right now. The former captain said that his plate was full with current commitments, but once those were done, he would certainly put forward his candidature for the post.

“Definitely, I’m interested but not at this point of time. Let one more phase go then I will throw my name into the fray,” Ganguly told Press Trust of India. “Currently, I’m associated with too many things -- IPL, CAB (Cricket Association of Bengal, where he’s president), TV commentary. Let me com-

plete this. But I will definitely put my hat at some stage. Provided I get selected. But definitely I’m interested. Not now, but in the future.”

The BCCI has called for applications for the team’s coaching staff, with the current incumbents’ contracts set to end after India’s tour of West Indies. All of Ravi Shastri, Sanjay Bangar, B. Arun and R. Sridhar have had their names automatically entered into the selection process, which will be conducted by the reconstituted Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of Kapil Dev, Anshuman Gaekwad and Shantha Rangaswamy.

Ganguly was part of the original CAC, alongside Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, when the current coaching staff was appointed, and he felt that among the current applicants, there wasn’t any ‘heavyweight’ name. (ESPN Cricinfo)

before Wagner doubled their lead just two minutes later.

The victory meant that Gold is Money gave themselves a chance to defend their Georgetown title and a shot at the $500 000 winners’ purse.

Earlier in the night Broad Street had needed sudden-death penalties to get past Leopold Street in their opening quarter-final after regulation and extra-time ended goalless. Broad Street held their nerves to come out 2-1 winners.

The final of the Georgetown Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Championship was being played at the D’Urban Park tarmac last night and up to press time no scores were available, Fixtures - Final Night Final Gold is Money vs Albouystown-B 3rd Place Sophia vs Broad Street Plate Final Winners (1) vs Winners (2) Plate Semifinal Leopold Street vs Tiger Bay - 19:00hrs Back Circle vs Sparta Boss - 19:45hrs

English Racing Tips Chester 09:00 hrs Sermon 09:35 hrs Cognac 10:10 hrs Major Jumbo 10:40 hrs Hereby 11:15 hrs Monoski 11:50 hrs Gabrial The Tiger 12:20 hrs Scofflaw Market Rasen 08:20 HRS What Will Be 08:50 hrs Glan Y Gors 09:25 hrs Prancing Oscar 10:00 hrs Northern Beau 10:30 hrs Primal Focus 11:05 hrs Article Fifty 11:40 hrs Ulysses 12:10 hrs Elena Sue Irish Racing Tips Galway 09:15 hrs Charle Brune 09:45 hrs Spring Watch 10:20 hrs Potala Palace 10:55 hrs Magnetic North 11:30 hrs Yorkhill 12:00 hrs Lake Takapuna 12:30 hrs Linger South Africa Racing Tips Scottsville 08:40 hrs Celebration Rock 09:10 hrs Noble Joshua 09:40 hrs High Altar 10:15 hrs Miss Calypso 10:50 hrs Candy Apple

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

Arthur, Gibson, Kirsten in frame for England coach’s role PAKISTAN coach Mickey Arthur is one of the names being considered as a replacement for England coach Trevor Bayliss when he leaves at the end of the summer.

On Monday, England director of cricket Ashley Giles said he had informally sounded out candidates.

South African Arthur, who has also coached his home nation and Australia, has been spoken to.

He is known to be interested in the job, confirming as much in July.

Arthur has tasted success in the UK, having been in charge of South Africa when they won a Test series in 2008, and again when Pa-

kistan won the Champions Trophy in 2017.

Australian Bayliss has opted to leave England when his contract expires after the Ashes.

Despite the heavy workload placed on England coaches, the intention is for his successor to preside over all three formats.

That potentially narrows the list of options, with many coaches preferring short-term roles in Twenty20 leagues, rather than an intensive international schedule.

Australian Andrew McDonald has been linked to the job, but told Test Match Special on Thursday: “With the franchise game, you get

the opportunity to work with the best players in the world and spend less time away from home.

“The excitement of the franchise space outweighs the grind, taxation and time away from the family.”

When asked if he would be interested in the England job, McDonald, who will take charge of the Birmingham-based team in the new Hundred competition, said: “I’ve taken this job and declared my hand.”

Other potential candidates are South Africa coach Ottis Gibson and former India coach Gary Kirsten.

West Indian Gibson has had two spells as England

bowling coach and took charge of South Africa at the end of 2017.

With his Proteas contract due to expire, Gibson, who lives in England, said in May that he was “happy to be linked with any job”.

Kirsten, the former South Africa opener, won the World Cup with India in 2011 and is currently in charge of Indian Premier League (IPL) side Royal Challengers Bangalore.

In addition, current England assistants Chris Silverwood, Paul Collingwood and Graham Thorpe could be considered.

Giles has previously spoken of his desire to appoint an Englishman, but

Mickey Arthur was appointed Pakistan head coach in May 2016.

said that will come second to finding the “best bloke”.

And, it could be that the job has come too soon for all of Silverwood, Collingwood and Thorpe.

There is a possibility

that England will have an interim coach for the tour of New Zealand in November, but that would be less likely if they do promote from within. (BBC Sport)

West Dem Mavericks beat Everest Masters by 2 wickets BCCCC cricket AN unbroken 46-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Mark Gittens and Sham Persaud gave West Demerara Mavericks a great ‘come from behind’ victory by two wickets over Everest Masters on Emancipation Day in Georgetown.

Set a paltry target of 136 runs from 25 overs to win, the visitors were down and out at 89-8 in the 19th over when Gittens and Persaud joined forces to pull off the miracle. Gittens finished unbeaten on 21 and Persaud 32 not out when Mavericks reached 136-8 from 23.5 overs at the Everest Cricket Club (ECC) ground.

The hosts posted a below par score of 135-9 from their 25 overs but made a game of it with their

academy starts August 12

bowlers coming to the party and making West Dem work for every run in the chase.

Ucil Armstrong (2-19) and Sahadeo Hardaiow (2-16) applied the early pressure to leave West Dem in all sorts of trouble at 36-5 in the 10th over before the game took another twistm with Prahalad Singh showing grit determination with a stubborn 21. The game changed direction again when Saheed Mohamed bagged three quick wickets to finish with 3-22 from his five overs that almost sealed it for Everest Masters.

However, Everest seemed to have had a bowler short and could not deliver the knock-out blow which saw Sham Persaud and Gittens do the repair job and win the Ronald Jaisingh is on the go for Everest Masters against West Demerara Mavericks, at Everest, on Emancipation Day.

Off-spinner Sham Persaud (right) bowls to Safraz Sheriffudeen, while Ronald Jaisingh is at the non-striker’s end.

match with relative ease despite the tension.

Earlier, Mavericks opted to bowl upon winning the toss and the decision turned out to be the right one since their bowlers picked up wickets at regular intervals and eventually reduced the hosts to a decent total on a typical Everest track.

Ronald ‘Sticky’ Jaisingh got stuck in with the middle and lower order to hit the top score of 64 after the top order folded meekly.

Jaisingh found two useful partners along the way that rebuilt the damage from 48-4 and 72-7. Safraz Sheriffudeen (12) and the attacking Jaisingh put on 19 for the fifth wicket before the former was runout heading for a tight second run.

Armstrong and Anwar Rahaman followed quickly without troubling the scorers to leave Everest in a spot of bother at 72-7 in the 17th over.

It took a brisk 62-run partnership for the eighth wicket between the right-handed Jaisingh and the level-headed Ravi Narayan (18) to give the score some respectability.

Before that, opener Sahadeo Hardaiow made 26 at the top of the innings but perished after playing one shot too many.

Mavericks’ bowling was led

by Seenarine Mathura 2-17 (3), Sudesh Persaud 1-7 (4) and Sham Persaud 1-17 (5).

A rematch is proposed at the home of West Demerara Mavericks in the near future.

THE Blairmont Community Centre Cricket Club (BCCCC) will host its cricket academy August 9-25, from 14:00hrs to 17:00hrs daily.

This BCCCC academy aims to expose more youths to the intricacies of the game of cricket, with the aim of keeping its players active during the summer break.

Located on the West Bank of Berbice in Region Five, BCCCC is, moreover, looking to regroup in all categories from the Under-13 level upwards.

The club will be seeking assistance from the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) in order to provide the academy with experienced coaches.

For more information, interested individuals can contact the Academy Coordinator, Shabeer Baksh, on 628-6767.

Meanwhile, the newly formed Interim Management Committee (IMC) will meet today to discuss a number of issues, including club representative at the various boards, creation of sub-committees and plans for the remaining ‘life’ period.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

Messi banned from international football for three months ARGENTINA captain Lionel Messi has been banned from international football for three months after claiming the Copa America was "corrupt".

Barcelona forward Messi, 32, was sent off in Argentina's 2-1 third-place play-off win over Chile and later said the "cup was fixed for Brazil".

He has also been fined $50 000 (£41 121) by CONMEBOL, the South American Football Confederation.

Messi has seven days to appeal CONMEBOL's decision to suspend him.

The ban means Messi will miss Argentina's upcoming friendlies against Chile, Mexico and Germany in September and October.

Argentina's qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup begins in March 2020.

Following Argentina's 2-0 semi-final defeat by hosts Brazil, the Argentine Football Association com-

plained about "serious and gross refereeing errors".

In response, CONMEBOL said accusations questioning the integrity of the Copa America were "unfounded" and "represent a lack of respect".

Messi was shown a red card in the 37th minute against Chile, following a clash with Gary Medel, who was also dismissed.

"We don't have to be part of this corruption," Messi said. "They have showed us a lack of respect throughout

this tournament.

"Sadly, the corruption, the referees, they don't allow people to enjoy football, they

Lionel Messi and Argentina repeatedly criticised the refereeing at the Copa America and the use of VAR.

Ayden Ramcharran making waves on baseball scene

Ayden is seen in action as he swings for the stands

By Frederick Halley AT the tender age of nine, Ayden Ramcharran is already a baseball star in the making. The sticky-built Ayden, who has Guyanese roots, has been making waves with his several outstanding performances for his club Ajax Spartans of Eastern Ontario.

Although Ajax Spartans is not affiliated with the Blue Jays, Ayden has completed a few practice clinics organised by its training team.

A student of Heritage Park Public School, Ayden, who will enter Grade Four

when the new school year commences in September, was already playing baseball before his fourth birthday.

As a matter of fact, Ayden’s interest in the sport was sparked at the age of one when he was given a ball set for his first birthday and according to his mother Melissa, “It was the one toy he played with all day everyday.

At the age of two and a half years, Ayden would play on his own in the backyard pretending to run bases.”

Ayden is Ajax Spartans main first base player, but at times he’s called upon to occupy the third base and

Ayden Ramcharran poses with one of his several awards.

he also plays outfield when required.

Ayden is credited with several outstanding performances, while continuously getting Runs Batted In (RBI’s) in almost every game. He also had the unique distinction of being named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of a tournament game and leading off a double play.

Among his special skills are good scoops to catch the ball, precise aims

uined it a bit."

(BBC Sport).

when throwing and being a risk-taker when sliding bases in order to be “safe.” Ayden is also recognised for his exceptional sportsmanship when playing first base. According to his mom, “when Ayden first saw baseball, it was a field of dreams. Enamoured with the sport and inspired to be a player, he chose to dedicate all of his time and energy to learn. As Ayden grew, his passion for the game followed suit”.

With his family by his side, baseball has taught him teamwork, discipline and how to win and lose. Ayden has plans to make his mark on the game of baseball, but always placing education first.”

Ayden comes from a family who is heavily involved in sports administration. His Guyanese grandfather Albert Ramcharran is the president of both Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) and Scarborough Cricket Umpires Association (SCUA).

One of two children for Anthony and Melissa Ramcharran, Ayden’s other sibling is Aliya. His other grandparents are Nazmoon Ramcharran, Shanta Singh and the late Ramesh Singh.

England's Mark Wood ruled out of Ashes series ENGLAND fast bowler Mark Wood has been ruled out of the Ashes with side and knee injuries.

Wood, 29, injured his

low pace bowlers James Anderson and Jofra Archer.

Anderson had a scan on his right calf after bowling only four overs

Mark Wood has taken 36 wickets at an average of 37.36 in 13 Tests.

side during the World Cup final triumph on July 14 but had hoped to be fit for the fourth and fifth Tests against Australia.

He also had surgery this week on a left knee injury suffered in the World Cup. The England and Wales Cricket Board said: "As a result of these injuries, he will be unavailable for any cricket for the remainder of the season."

England already have injury concerns over fel-

on the opening day of the ongoing first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, while Archer has played one T20 Blast game for Sussex following a side problem.

Durham's Wood played the most recent of his 13 Tests against West Indies in February, taking a Test-best 5-41 in the first innings.

He also took 18 wickets during England's successful World Cup campaign, regularly bowling in excess of 90 mph. (BBC Sport)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

Failure to assess pitch cost us, says skipper Brathwaite

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (CMC) – Captain Carlos Brathwaite said yesterday West Indies’ failure to properly assess the pitch at the Central Broward County Stadium had led to their defeat in the opening Twenty20 International against India.

Sent in, West Indies slumped to 33 for five at the end of the sixth over before recovering through Kieron Pollard’s run-a-ball top score of 49 to reach 95 for nine off their 20 overs.

“I don’t think we assessed quickly enough. Obviously losing four wickets in the power-play, the odds are very low of actually winning a game,” Brathwaite said afterwards.

“I think we went from one extreme to the next. We went extremely hard at the top (before) myself and Pollard tried to rebuild.

“I could probably fault myself in being too slow as well, but had we assessed a little bit quicker, used the same intent – because as a team we want to play aggressive, positive cricket – we would have played different shots and settle for 130, 135, 140. That would have been a winning score.

“It was not a true pitch but in cricket you can’t always have a true pitch to get 200-odd. Sometimes you need to graft, show some batsmanship and struggle to 140, 150 and make a game of it.”

Batting at number four, Pollard rescued the Caribbean side’s innings in a sensible knock that included two fours and four sixes.

Importantly, he put on 34 with Brathwaite (9) for the sixth wicket to help West Indies avoid a total collapse.

“That experience is in-

West Indies T20 skipper Carlos Brathwaite

valuable, he’s been doing it in IPL at all numbers from four straight back down to eight and it just goes to show,” Brathwaite said of Pollard.

“He was able to exude batsmanship – he rebuilt in the power-play then once the spinners came on he stroked the ball up and down and got some boundaries in-between as well, so it was a fantastic knock by him.

“If the team had supported him a bit more we would’ve gotten to a bigger total and probably he would have been able to put in a better personal performance.”

Defending a small total, West Indies forced India to labour by taking wickets at key points, before the visitors eventually got home in the 18th over to win by four wickets.

Off-spinner Sunil Narine

Ponting calls for cricket to ditch neutral umpires

Aleem Dar of Pakistan and West Indian Joel Wilson (pictured) have drawn criticism after a number of their calls were overturned by the review system. (AFP photo/Lindsey Parnaby)

FORMER Australia captain Ricky Ponting yesterday called for cricket to ditch its requirement to have neutral umpires after a number of incorrect decisions in the first Test of the Ashes series in England.

Aleem Dar of Pakistan and West Indian Joel Wilson have drawn criticism after a number of their calls were overturned by the review system during the opening day at Edgbaston.

Ponting, who is part of the Marylebone Cricket Club’s (MCC) influential Cricket Committee, said he would ensure the matter is discussed at their next meeting.

“It’s already been spoken about

a lot among the players. If it’s not brought up (at that next MCC meeting), I’ll make sure it’s added to the agenda,” he told the Cricket Australia website.

“I would like to think the game has come far enough now for the game to not have neutral umpires.

“People might say that with all the technology we’ve got now, it doesn’t matter that much. But it’s not a good spectacle when pretty obviously wrong decisions are made,” he added.

“There’s been a lot of negativity about the DRS (Decision Review System) over the years, but we’re pretty lucky that we had it (at Edgbaston).”

The International Cricket Council (ICC) mandated the use of neutral umpires in 2002, meaning English and Australian officials widely considered among the best in the world -- cannot be part of the Ashes series.

Ponting pointed to England’s Richard Kettleborough as a top umpire forced to miss out.

“Surely Richard Kettleborough and the like would want to be umpiring the best series. The best umpires can end up missing out on all the big tournaments,” he said.

“It could force umpires into retirement a bit early as well when someone like (former Australian umpire) Simon Taufel is spending most of his life (overseas), which is a bit harder than spending your time in Australia.”

Former Australia spinner Shane Warne, another member of the MCC Cricket Committee, also criticised the umpiring on day one of the Edgbaston Test, calling it “horrific”.

“England are bowling very well. The umpiring has been horrific from ball 1 & so has the reviews process of the right ones from Australia,” he said on Twitter.

The MCC’s Cricket Committee, guardians of the laws of the game, is an independent body comprised of current and former players and umpires who meet twice a year to discuss issues around the sport. (AFP)

was at his best in his first outing for West Indies in nearly two years, taking two for 14 from four miserly overs while seamers Sheldon Cottrell (220) and Keemo Paul (2-23) supported with two wickets apiece.

Brathwaite said like Pollard, Narine’s experience had shown in the effort.

“Sunil’s four overs in any cricket is very important.

Today he showed his experience, he had it on a string and brought us back into the game,” the all-rounder pointed out.

“Kudos to the pacers as well, they did well to set it up so that when (Narine) came on he could have done the job he did.

“With a little bit more runs on the board, his personal performance could have looked a lot better as well but as a team I think we fought

Easwaran, Anmolpreet hand Windies-A series defeat

Abhimanyu Easwaran (left) and Anmolpreet Singh during their 100-run stand

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Abhimanyu Easwaran and Anmolpreet Singh carved out unbeaten half-centuries as India-A marched to a dominant seven-wicket victory over West Indies-A here yesterday, to capture the second four-day ‘Test’ and take a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Resuming the final day at Queen’s Park Oval on 185 for three in search of 278 for victory, the visitors reached their target about 45 minutes after lunch, without losing a wicket.

Easwaran finished on 58 not out and Anmolpreet, 51 not out, the pair sharing in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand worth exactly 100.

Fast bowler Chemar Holder failed to add to his tally, finishing with two for 51.

Starting the day on 16, Easwaran faced 134 balls in just short of 2-¾ hours at the crease and struck seven fours while Anmolpreet, resuming on four, counted eight fours in an 81-ball knock that lasted just shy of two hours.

Requiring a further 93 runs for victory at the start, Easwaran and Anmolpreet

well, we grafted well with a small score and it’s back to the drawing board.”

Brathwaite said despite the defeat, West Indies would continue to be positive and try to improve on their assessment of conditions.

“The message will continue to be ‘keep the intent’.

However, we need to assess better and be a bit smarter in our shot selection,” the Barbadian stressed.

“So it’s not trying not to get boundaries but knowing if you get a boundary early in an over on a tough pitch we can settle for six, seven, eight (runs) an over. Our power in the back end … in the last five overs … we could’ve gotten up to 150 today.”

West Indies face India in the second match of the double-header here today.

SCOREBOARD WEST INDIES-A 1st innings 318 INDIA-A 1st innings 190 WEST INDIES-A 2nd innings 149 INDIA-A 2nd innings (target: 278) (o/n 185 for three) P. Panchal b Reifer 68 M. Agarwal c J. Hamilton b Holder 81 A. Easwaran not out 62 H. Vihari c Blackwood b Holder 1 Anmolpreet Singh not out 51 Extras: (b-5, lb-3, w-4, nb-6) 18 Total: (3 wkts, 79.1 overs) 281 Fall of wickets: 1-150, 2-167, 3-178.

Bowling: Holder 21-6-51-2, Shepherd 16-4-56-0, Reifer 15-0-57-1, Cornwall 7-033-0, Warrican 15-4-55-0, Brathwaite 5.1.-1-21-0.

batting with little alarm, carrying their side safely to lunch on 245 without further loss.

Unbeaten on 47 at the break, Easwaran reached his fifty in the second over following the resumption with a couple off captain Kraigg Brathwaite’s unpractised off-spin.

Anmolpreet, on 30 not out at lunch, followed his teammate five overs later when he completed his landmark with a single to cover off left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, with four runs needed for victory.

The final four-day ‘Test’ bowls off Tuesday at the Brian Lara Stadium here.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

Smith again as Aussies hang in to leave Ashes opener intriguingly poised

By Peter Hall BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - Steve Smith’s unbeaten 46 helped Australia recover to 124-3 in their second innings before bad light stopped play with the tourists 34 runs ahead at the end of day three of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.

England’s first innings resumed on 267-4 as Rory Burns added eight to his overnight score, falling for 133.

However, England lost three wickets in 11 balls before Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes came to the rescue by adding 65 runs for the ninth wicket. England were eventually all out for 374.

The injured Jimmy Anderson was kept out of the bowling attack, with Broad opening, and he soon had his 450th Test wicket as he enticed an edge from David Warner

(8), with Cameron Bancroft next to go for seven to leave Australia 27-2.

Usman Khawaja (40) batted well before Ben Stokes had him caught behind.

But Smith, who scored a brilliant century in the first innings, once again proved immovable as he and Travis Head (21 not out) stayed at the crease until the umpires took the players off as daylight faded.

“Smithy is battling unbelievably,” James Pattinson said. “The best players stand up when it really matters, and he has done that here against England.”

England started well as Stokes passed 50 in front of a raucous crowd but nicked the ball through to Tim Paine the very next ball.

Burns’ innings then came to an end as he misjudged a Nathan Lyon delivery straight into Paine’s

With that wicket, Stuart Broad became the seventh player in history to take 450 Test scalps

hands.

Lyon struck again in the same over when Moeen Ali was out for

a five-ball duck. Australia kept up the pressure as Bairstow was dismissed in the next over for eight, with Peter Siddle claiming the wicket.

The middle-order collapse stalled England’s progress before Broad and Woakes kicked on.

Broad’s longest Test innings in six years came to an end as he was caught on the boundary for 29.

Anderson was last to go for three, but the 37-year-old paceman’s calf injury kept him out of England’s bowling attack.

“It is well poised,” Woakes said. “It has been a great match so far.

“We leaked a couple too many tonight. But if we can start early in the morning, with two quick wickets first up then the partnership with Stuart could be a big part of the game.”

SCOREBOARD AUSTRALIA 1st innings 286 ENGLAND 1st innings (overnight 267-4) R. Burns c Paine b Lyon 133 J. Roy c Smith b Pattinson 10 J. Root c & b Siddle 57 J. Denly lbw b Pattinson 18 J. Buttler c Bancroft b Cummins 5 B. Stokes c Paine b Cummins 50 J. Bairstow c Warner b Siddle 8 M. Ali b Lyon 0 C. Woakes not out 37 S. Broad c Pattinson b Cummins 29 J. Anderson c Cummins b Lyon 3 Extras: (b-10, lb-11, nb-1, w-2) 24 Total: (all out, 135.5 overs) 374 Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-154, 3-189, 4-194, 5-282, 6-296, 7-300, 8-300, 9-365.

Bowling: P. Cummins 33-9-84-3, J. Pattinson 27-3-82-2, P. Siddle 27-8-52-2 , N. Lyon 43.5-8-112-3, M. Wade 1-0-7-0, T. Head 2-1-70, S. Smith 2-0-9-0 AUSTRALIA 2nd innings C. Bancroft c Buttler b Ali 7 D. Warner c Bairstow b Broad 8 U. Khawaja c Bairstow b Stokes 40 S. Smith not out 46 T. Head not out 21 Extras: (b-1, nb-1) 2 Total: (3 wickets; 31 overs) 124 Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-27, 3-75.

Bowling: S. Broad 6-0-26-1, C. Woakes 6-120-0, M. Ali 9-0-47-1, J. Root 3-0-12-0, B. Stokes 7-2-18-1

U.S., Canada need to open eyes to Pan Am Games

By Steve Keating LIMA, Peru (Reuters) - The United States and Canada need to open their eyes to what is happening outside their own borders if the Pan American Games is to get the kind of attention it deserves, the secretary general of Panam Sports said yesterday.

Labelling the Lima

Games as the greatest ever, Panam secretary general Ivar Sisniega said the lack of interest for the two-week multi-sport event in North America was because of narrow thinking.

“If you think the American continent is just USA and Canada then you’re right there is (a lack of interest),” Sisniega told Reuters yesterday following a mid-Games

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday August 04, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL- Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel-225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)

1617 runs (98 matches)

(2)

1142 runs (66 matches)

Today’s Quiz: (1) Which Indian bowler has taken most T20 International wickets without a four-for?

(2) Which WI bowler has claimed most T20 International wickets without a four-for?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

press briefing.

“Some countries ... maybe need to open up to what happens in the world and not be so involved with what just happens (at home).”

Sisniega pointed out that considering 6 600 athletes from 41 countries are competing in Lima, the region is more than just the U.S. and Canada.

But even a quick glance at the medal table yesterday reveals how significant the U.S. (108) and Canadian (64) participation is as the two nations have won a combined total of 172 medals.

Despite being one-two on the medals table - when total number of medals won by each country is taken into account - the event is largely ignored by mainstream media in both countries.

Canadian Press has sent one reporter and a photographer to provide on-site coverage while the country’s national broadcaster CBC is live streaming the Games but has no on-air programming planned.

LOW PRIORITY Coverage by U.S. outlets is equally thin with no major newspapers accredited

Panam secretary general Ivar Sisniega

and broadcast rights holder ESPN focussing on Spanish language content.

It is not just the media but athletes themselves, who in many cases have made the Pan Ams a low priority.

Competitions have offered up a mixed bag in terms of quality.

Cuba sent an elite line-up of world and Olympic champions into the boxing ring and took eight gold medals, a silver and a bronze from 10 weight classes in the men’s competition. The only gold won by the U.S. was in the women’s competition thanks to Oshae Jones.

The U.S. will send out mostly B teams when the athletics and swimming races get underway next week but are still expected to dominate both competitions.

Over the two weeks athletes are competing in 39 sports, many of which offer qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, something Sisniega says the Panam Sports Organisation needs to do a better job in selling.

“We have spoken to NBC and major television networks and it comes down to how many of the sports are Olympic qualifiers and that is something we are going to push really aggressively over the next four years,” said Sisniega.

“We have spoken to USA and Canada about these issues; it’s a perception that they have that the Games are not of a high quality.

“These are the highest quality Games in history so we are hoping to move forward on this and the U.S. and Canadian media understand how big these Games are and the level of athletes is high with over 100 Olympic medallists.

“It is certainly a challenge we have for the future.”

Pan Am Games officials, however, have more immediate problems to deal with, particularly transportation.

The facilities built for the Games are largely firstclass but navigating through Lima’s chaotic traffic is a challenge.

The press briefing, called yesterday to discuss the first week, barely touched on any concerns and instead turned into a 90-minute self-congratulatory pat on the back that dismissed problems as “small issues”.

While Sisniega conceded there were problems, he put a positive spin on any such issues.

“Are there issues? Sure,” said Sisniega. “Any Games of this size where you are moving a village, people get sick, people even die during Games because it is like you are in a whole town and anything can happen,” he said.

“In that sense, compared to previous Games, things have been pretty normal.

“If you look at the pluses and minuses, the pluses outweigh the minuses by a lot.

“If we were caught offguard, it was that we didn’t think they (the Games) were going to be this good.”

31

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 4, 2019

Saini stars on debut as India win low-scoring T20 in Florida FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (CMC) – World champions West Indies were left to rue another dismal batting effort, as they slipped to a four-wicket defeat to India in the opening Twenty20 International of the three-match series here yesterday.

In a scrappy, low-scoring affair on a two-paced pitch at the Central Broward County Stadium, West Indies mustered a paltry 95 for nine off their 20 overs – their fifth lowest total in the shortest format – punctuated with 79 dot balls.

Veteran Kieron Pollard topscored with a run-a-ball 49 while Nicholas Pooran sparkled briefly in a 16-ball 20 but no other West Indies batsman reached double figures.

Man-of-the-Match Navdeep Saini bowled brilliantly on debut to claim three for 17 while fellow seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar supported with two for 17.

In reply, India were forced to labour, losing wickets at regular intervals before reaching their modest target in the 18th over with 16 balls remaining.

Rohit Sharma top-scored with 24 at the top of the order while captain Virat Kohli and Manish Pandey both scored 19 but failed to carry on.

Off-spinner Sunil Narine, in his first outing for West Indies in nearly two years, was superb in taking two for 14 from his four overs while seamers Sheldon Cottrell (2-20) and Keemo Paul (2-23) finished with two wickets apiece.

Not for the first time, West Indies found themselves hampered

straight boundary with Saini two balls earlier when he attempted another big leg-side shot but succeeded only in top-edging a catch to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant in the fifth over.

Left-hander Shimron Hetmyer lasted one delivery, chopping on a defensive stroke to Saini and when Rovman Powell (4) edged a drive at a wide one from left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed, West Indies were in

Kieron Pollard top-scored for West Indies with a run-a-ball 49.

by a lack of enterprise from their batsmen and eventually needed Pollard’s experience to dig them out of a hole at 33 for five in the sixth over, after Saini helped rip through the top order.

Left-hander John Campbell, playing in only his second T20 International, perished without scoring to the second ball of the contest when he picked out Krunal Pandya on the ropes at mid-wicket with off-spinner Washington Sundar.

His opening partner Evin Lewis followed in the next over also without scoring, bowled missing a heave at a slower one from seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Tottering on eight for two, Pooran counterattacked with a four and two cleanly-struck sixes, as he looked to transfer pressure back to India.

However, he had just cleared the

Man-of-the-Match Navdeep Saini bowled brilliantly on debut to claim three for 17.

strife at 33 for five.

Pollard and captain Carlos Brathwaite (9) then came together to add 34 for the sixth wicket – the best stand of the innings – but the partnership was a slow one needing 50 balls and West Indies were labouring on 45 for five at the half-way point.

In his first T20 International in nine months, Pollard played sensibly, striking two fours and four sixes. He started slowly, gathering

just four runs from his first 17 balls before getting his first boundary by edging left-arm spinner Pandya to third man.

He then hammered sixes off leftarm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, Krunal and Saini, as he attempted to raise the run rate.

Brathwaite, who faced 24 balls without hitting a single boundary, perished in the 15th over when he slapped a return catch to Pandya and Sunil Narine followed for two in the next over, pulling Jadeja into the deep where Khaleel snared a great running catch.

Keemo Paul chanced his hand and fell to the first ball of the penultimate over for three and Pollard, seemingly set for his third T20 International half-century but first in seven years, departed in the final over when he missed an ordinary thighhigh full toss and was adjudged lbw to Saini, courtesy of DRS. India were set back early in their chase when left-armer Cottrell trapped Shikhar Dhawan lbw for one in the second over with the score on four but Rohit and Kohli steadied the innings in a 28-run, second-wicket stand.

However, Narine struck twice in the seventh over, having Rohit caught at long on by Pollard then removing Pant first ball, taken at deep square by Cottrell.

Kohli and Pandey quelled the Windies’ hopes in a 32-run, fourth-wicket stand which appeared to put the visitors on the path to a comfortable victory.

But India stumbled yet again,

SCOREBOARD WEST INDIES innings J. Campbell c Pandya b Sundar 0 E. Lewis b Kumar 0 N. Pooran c wkp. Pant b Saini 20 K. Pollard lbw b Saini 49 S. Hetmyer b Saini 0 R. Powell c wkp.. Pant b Khaleel Ahmed 4 C. Brathwaite c and b Pandya 9 S. Narine c Khaleel Ahmed b Jadeja 2 K. Paul c Kohli b Kumar 3 S. Cottrell not out 0 O. Thomas not out 0 Extras: (w-8) 8 Total: (9 wkts, 20 overs) 95 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-8, 3-28, 4-28, 5-33, 6-67, 7-70, 8-88, 9-95.

Bowling: Sundar 2-0-18-1 (w-1), Kumar 4-0-19-2 (w-1), Saini 4-1-17-3 (w-2), Khaleel Ahmed 2-0-8-1, Pandya 4-1-20-1, Jadeja 4-1-13-1.

INDIA innings Rohit Sharma c Pollard b Narine 24 S. Dhawan lbw b Cottrell 1 V. Kohli c Pollard b Cottrell 19 R. Pant c Cottrell b Narine 0 M. Pandey b Paul 19 K. Pandya b Paul 12 R. Jadeja not out 10 W. Sundar not out 8 Extras (w5) 5 Total: (6 wkts, 17.2 overs) 98 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-32, 3-32, 4-64, 5-69, 6-88.

Bowling:: Thomas 4-0-29-0, Cottrell 4-020-2 (w-4), Narine 4-0-14-2, Paul 3.2-0-232 (w-1), Brathwaite 2-0-12-0.

two wickets falling in the space of 14 balls with just five runs added, to leave them struggling on 69 for five in the 14th over.

Pandey missed a heave at Paul and lost his offstump while Kohli topedged a pull at Cottrell and was taken at mid-wicket.

Again with hope ren e w e d , We s t I n d i e s pressed for more wickets but got only Pandya’s for 12 as India limped home.

Sandpipers CC to host T10 tapeball tournament TWELVE teams will be in action during the Sandpipers Cricket Club annual Soesdyke Premier League (SPL) T10 tapeball cricket tournament, billed for August 11, 12, 18, 25 and 31.

The venues for the five-day tournament are the Soesdyke Community Centre ground and the Airport Cricket Ground.

The twelve teams are: Sandpipers ‘A’, Sandpipers ‘B’, Eccles All Stars, Kuru Kururu XI, Sarah Johanna, Redbull X1, Uprisng Crick Club, Laluni Cricket Club, Village Ram, FarmTrack XI, Rising Star Cricket Club and Airport XI. This event will be played on a round-robin basis for the first round. The top eight teams will qualify for the knock-out stage; quarterfinals, semifinals and final.

The semifinals and final will be played

under floodlights. All games will begin at 09:30hrs except for semifinals and final.

Several prizes are up for grabs with a first prize of $100 000 and trophy. The losing finalists will take home $50 000 and trophy, while the team to finish third will receive $25 000 and trophy. The leading bowler and batsman will each earn $15 000 and trophy, while man-of-the-match in the final will collect $10 000 and a trophy.

This event is made possible by: Trophy Stall, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Singh’s Transportation Service and Equipment Rentals, Deokie and Sons General Contracting Services, Camille’s Academy, B&R Investment, RUBiS Gas Station (Soesdyke), Bashier & Sons and Sandpipers Cricket Club.

From left: Vinash Persaud club captain, Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall and Abhilash Deokie, president of Sandpipers Cricket Club.

Georgetown Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Championship

Gold is Money to defend title 26 against ominous Albouystown-B

Page

Leopold Street’s Omallo Williams shields the ball from Broad Street’s Akeem Sam during their quarter-final match.

National cyclist ties the knot!

Albouystown’s Lennox Cort (on the ball) on one of his many runs during his side’s semifinal against Sophia (orange bibs).

ExxonMobil U-14 Schools Football tournament

Cummimgs Lodge, East Ruimveldt win 2019 championships

NATIONAL cyclist Geron Williams has landed himself another victory, this time tying the knot with his longtime sweetheart Alicia Atwell.

The Williams were married yesterday afternoon at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Brickdam. Chronicle Sport wishes the newlyweds a happy and successful marriage and the best of luck! (Carl Croker photo)

CUMMINGS Lodge Boys and East Ruimveldt Girls were winners of the 2019 edition of the ExxonMobil U-14 Boys and Girls football competition.

Played at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue, the event was witnessed by sponsors and fans.

Cummings Lodge downed Carmel 5-4 on penalty kicks, after regulation time ended 2-2.

Before the shootout, Jitzah Martinez netted a brace for Cummings Lodge in the 30th and 50th+8 minutes.

Ian Daniels’ double in the 43rd and 50th+10 minutes ensured that the game went to penalties.

In the Girls final, East Ruimveldt bested New Campbellville 1-0. An

own goal in the 41st minute sealed the victory for East Ruimveldt.

In the 3rd Place Playoff, Dolphin Secondary edged Queenstown 1-0.

Nicholas Tappin scored in the 40th+1 minute.

In the individual section of the presentation, Martinez copped the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

He also walked away with the Highest Goalscorer accolade following 12 conversions.

Meanwhile, Sherry Rodrigues was adjudged the MVP of the Girls Division while Carlita Ross of Charlestown Secondary received the Highest Goalscorer award with six goals.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2019