Guyana Chronicle E-paper 8-1-2019

THURSDAY 1st August, 2019

' No.105716

Police rebuke Irfaan Ali …debunk claims of political interference, favouritism 09 …urge ranks to remain apolitical, resist direct appeals from politicians PAGE

After 50 years Mount Sinai residents become landowners

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More than 6 billion barrels of oil at Stabroek Block PAGE

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‘No change in position’ 03 PAGE

…gov't-nominated commissioners stick to house-to-house registration

President David Granger and First Lady, Mrs Sandra Granger, extend Happy Emancipation greetings to all Guyanese (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

President holds talks with Western diplomats President David Granger on Wednesday met with top Western diplomats here during which they discussed the current political situation with the ambassadors commending the Guyanese leader on his appointment of a new chairperson for the Guyana Elections Commission.

At the meeting were United States Ambassador to Guyana, Ms. Sarah-Ann Lynch; British High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr. Greg Quinn; Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Ms. Lilian Chatterjee and European Union's Ambassador to Guyana Mr. Jernej Videti?.

President Granger explained that at all times he has complied with the rulings of the Courts and most particularly, the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The Head of State was accompanied by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, SC; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummungs; and Director

General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Audrey Waddell.

Last week the United States, United Kingdom and

of stalemate between the key political leaders. In a terse message on its Facebook page, the US Embassy said, “We commend Guyana’s

continued collaboration toward free and fair elections.”

UK High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, in a statement said, “I welcome

President David Granger and his team met with the diplomats at State House on Wednesday

Canada all hailed the appointment of Justice (rtd) Claudette Singh as the new chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, ending months

leadership for agreement on an Elections Commission Chairperson, in compliance with the Caribbean Court of Justice ruling. We encourage

this extremely positive development. I look forward to meeting the new GECOM chair. All relevant actors are to be congratulated on this

agreement.” For her part, Canada High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee, on her Twitter account said: “Progress for the citizens of Guyana!”

Following the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) rulings, the Western diplomatic community had called on all sides of the political divide to respect the ruling of the regional court. United States Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch; United Kingdom High Commissioner, Greg Quinn; Canada High Commissioner, Lilian Chattergee and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, Jernej Videtic, noted in a joint statement, that “it is important that all sides respect the ruling,” adding that “we also encourage all to come to an agreement on the way forward.”

President Granger, last Thursday, had met with members of the diplomatic community to personally explain Guyana’s current political, the legal actions taken by the government thus far and its intention to usher Guyana into fair, free and credible elections as early as possible.

At the meeting held at the Baridi Benab at State House on Thursday, Pres-

ident Granger committed to upholding the Constitution; respecting the National Assembly and the courts; ensuring the rule-of-law; safeguarding human and civil rights and preserving democracy. He gave a detailed review of the legal processes which began with the challenging of the passage of the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018 and ended with the ruling of Guyana’s highest appellate court, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

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

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

Such intervals highlighted were: meeting the Leader of the Opposition in January 2019; meeting the Elections Commission in March 2019; accepting the resignation of four Cabinet ministers on April 25, 2019 who were dual citizens. Regarding the latter, TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

‘No change in position’

…gov’t-nominated commissioners stick with house-to-house registration …during meeting with new GECOM chair; opposition says discussion was cordial

By Svetlana Marshall GENERAL and Regional Elections, house-to-house registration, and the court cases challenging the voter registration exercise were reportedly among the critical issues discussed when the newly-appointed Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, S.C, CCH met with government and opposition-nominated commissioners in separate meetings on Wednesday.

The first meeting with the opposition-nominated commissioners – Robeson Benn, Bibi Shadick and Sase Gunraj – was held at the commission’s High Street Office from 10:30hrs and lasted for approximately one hour and 45 minutes.

The government-nominated commissioners – Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman – met with Justice Singh at 14:00hrs on Wednesday for approximately three hours. At the end of those meetings, commissioners on both sides were tightlipped on their discussions with the chair. The usually vocal Robeson Benn, when approached by the media, would only say: “Well we have had a very cordial meeting – very informative,” The meetings, according to him, will continue, and the opposition-nominated commissioners look forward to positive engagements with Justice Singh.

Commissioner Gunraj, however, gave a brief summary of the meeting; he

Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Justice Claudette Singh, S.C, CCH (centre) flanked by Commissioners of the Elections Commission during her swearing- in ceremony at the Ministry of the Presidency last Monday. From left to right, they are: Robeson Benn, Bibi Shadick, Charles Corbin, Sase Gunraj, Vincent Alexander and Desmond Trotman. (Adrian Narine Photo)

noted that it was intended to familiarise the newly appointed chairperson with the operations of the elections commission and to hear the commissioners’ views.

“Obviously, some of the issues that were discussed were all matters that are in the public domain, in relation to the conduct of elections that are constitutionally due, the issue of house-to-house registration was raised, the alternative to house-to-house registration, not the alternative but what should be happening --- the claims and objections, etc, those were all issues that were discussed,” Commissioner Gunraj told reporters outside of GECOM’s High Street Office.

According to Gunraj, he was satisfied that he was able to raise critical issues on the ongoing house-to-house registration exercise and the pending elections. “I believe

that it is my duty, as I have said before, to convince her of my view on it, and I have presented that view as best as I think I could as part of a team that met with her,” Commissioner Gunraj said.

He noted that the meeting was very cordial and allowed for the free flow of information in a respectful manner.

“The chairman appeared very receptive and respectful to the views that we presented to her and I believe that is in keeping with her long judicial service and as a consequence we look forward to having meaningful deliberations with all sides present when that time comes,” he added.

After the approximately three-hour long meeting with Justice Singh, the government- nominated commissioners also described the meeting as cordial, but declined to disclose what was discussed. “Now what we

President holds talks with ...

FROM PAGE

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

He stated that free, fair and credible elections are essential to a democracy but can only be achieved if

there is an independent and functional Elections Commission; an acceptable and credible Official List of Electors (OLE) and an efficient and competent secretariat to manage these elections.

“The credibility of elections is dependent in part on the integrity of the Official List of Electors. A corrupted or contaminated list can undermine the electoral process, encourage mischief and malpractice and result in elections being vitiated,” he stated.

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On the issue of the selection of a GECOM chair, he reminded the diplomats that the CCJ had interpreted the provisions of the Constitution as ascribing a role for the President in identifying persons for consideration as Chair. “The President is not a passive bystander in the process,” he affirmed.

“He is an active participant in ‘hammering out’ the list of persons not unacceptable to him.”

Added to this, President

will indicate to you is that we met with the chairman and we had discussion where we responded to questions that she asked, and we expressed our views to her, and any further comments could only be made by the chairman herself,” Commissioner Corbin told reporters.

Pressed for greater details, Commissioner Alexander in response said “everything was discussed.

Everything was discussed.

Everything possible was discussed,” adding that the meeting was cordial and included an exchange of information and views on the current issues facing the commission. In search of more answers, journalists turned their attention to house-to-house registration, and the commissioners’ current position on it.

Asked if he still supports the call for house-to-house registration, Alexander said

yes. Asked if this is likely to change, the veteran GECOM commissioner said: “My view is that there should be sanitisation of the list, sanitisation of the national register of registrants for the provision of a list that can provide credible elections – that is not likely to change.”

Weighing in on the matter, Commissioner Corbin said that house-to-house registration is the most efficient method to generate a credible list for election, emphasising that the commission had unanimously approved this national exercise. “The view that is being expressed that this was some persons’ view and not others is incorrect.

The commission unanimously determined some time ago, after a whole series of discussions on matters that we are privy to us as members of the commission, that it was necessary to sanitise the list, and the best method to do

Granger reminded that the CCJ did not issue a date, deadlines or timelines of the holding of new elections. He stated: “It is for the Elections Commission

to advise the President on its readiness to conduct free, fair and credible elections. It would be reckless and irresponsible, on my part, to name a date for

that was by house to house,” he explained.

He added: “So in 2016, 2017 and 2018, the commission unanimously requested funds to execute that houseto-house in accordance with the deliberations which we have had for the sanitisation of the list. So this is not something new.”

Commissioner Corbin said, now, the issue is whether the commission should proceed with the national registration exercise in light of the successful no-confidence motion against the government last December that triggered the need for early elections. However, he said because the conduct of elections was protracted, the commission thought it fitting to proceed with its programme until the external factors kick in. However, he maintained that the decision to facilitate house-to-house registration was a unanimous one.

“The decision to do house-to-house for the sanitisation of the list was a unanimous decision which was made prior to now, prior to the previous chairman. It was made since the chairmanship of Chairman (Dr. Steve) Surujbally,” Commissioner Corbin noted.

On Tuesday, Justice Singh met with the senior managers of the commission and is expected to continue her familiarisation exercise throughout the week. It is unclear at the moment when she will meet with the commissioners together; however, that meeting is likely to take place shortly. elections without the commission’s assurance and advice that it would be ready to conduct elections on such a date.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

U.S. imposes sanctions U.S. expected to make announcement about Bin on Iran's foreign minister: Treasury statement Laden's son Hamza soon

A photograph circulated by the U.S. State Department’s Twitter account to announce a $1 million USD reward for al Qaeda key leader Hamza bin Laden, son of Osama bin Laden, is seen March 1, 2019. State Department/Handout via REUTERS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government is expected to make an announcement shortly about Hamza bin Laden, the son of slain al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, a U.S. official said on Wednesday after NBC News reported the United States has intelligence the son is dead.

The U.S. official provided no further details. Earlier, NBC News cited three U.S. officials as saying that the United

States had obtained intelligence that Hamza bin Laden is dead, saying that they would not provide details of where or when he died, or whether the United States played a role in his death. Asked earlier if he had intelligence that bin Laden’s son had been killed, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters: “I don’t want to comment on it.” Separately, the White House declined comment on whether any an

announcement was imminent.

Hamza, believed to be about 30 years old, was at his father’s side in Afghanistan before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and spent time with him in Pakistan after the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan pushed much of al Qaeda’s senior leadership there, according to the Brookings Institution. Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. special forces who raided his compound in Pakistan in 2011. Hamza was thought to be under house arrest in Iran at the time, and documents recovered from the compound indicated that aides had been trying to reunite him with his father.

W A S H I N G T O N ( R e uters) - The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said on its website.

The Treasury Department said it was imposing sanctions on Zarif for acting on behalf of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “Javad Zarif implements the reckless agenda of Iran’s Supreme Leader, and is the regime’s primary spokesperson around the world,” Treasury Secretary

Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. Tensions have risen between the United States and Iran following U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal last year from a 2015 international nuclear accord with Tehran. Fears of a direct U.S.-Iranian conflict have risen since May with several attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf, Iran’s downing of a U.S. surveillance drone, and a plan for U.S. air strikes on Iran last month that Trump called off at the last minute.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif

Hong Kong charges 44 protesters with rioting, grants bail HONG KONG (Reuters) - More than 40 people appeared in a Hong Kong court on Wednesday charged with rioting for their role in a recent protest that turned violent when thousands of activists clashed with police near Beijing’s main representative office in the city.

A wave of protests that began in late April have plunged the former British colony into its biggest political crisis since its return to Chinese rule in 1997, but this is the first time that the authorities in the financial

hub have resorted to using the rioting charge.

The 44 charged had been arrested after a peaceful gathering on Sunday in a park in the city’s central business district rapidly morphed into running battles between thousands of black-clad demonstrators and police, who fired rubber bullets and tear gas.

The use of the anti-riot law could infuriate activists who have been demanding that the government avoid using the term “riot” to refer to the demonstrations. Under Hong Kong law, rioting is defined as an unlawful assembly of three or more people where any person “commits a breach of the peace”, and a conviction can carry a 10-year prison sentence. Most of the defendants were released on bail of HK$1,000 (US$128).

The court also imposed a curfew from midnight to 6 am on most of them, and many were ordered to remain in Hong Kong.

Those charged included 13 students, seven clerks, a

pilot from the city’s main airline, Cathay Pacific, teachers, nurses, workers and salesmen.

All were released on bail and are due back in court on Sept. 25. “The Chinese government just wants to scare people not to go out and protest again,” another supporter named Syrus, 19, said outside the court. “It will deter some of us.”

Hundreds of people surrounded a police station late on Tuesday after the 44 activists were charged, and on Wednesday morning, hundreds gathered outside the court house, chanting “revolution of our time” and “liberate Hong Kong”. Even with a typhoon approaching the city and rain lashing down, many of them, huddled beneath umbrellas, stayed on to show solidarity. “I’m not scared to protest. This whole thing today is just making me more angry,” said Gartner, a 21-year-old protester outside the court who declined to give his full name.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

Jamaica police seize billions in cocaine and marijuana Police Wednesday seized cocaine worth more than J$1.5 billion (One Jamaica dollar=US$0.08 cents) in Morant Point in St Thomas on the easternmost point of mainland Jamaica.

Police said that 1, 200kgs of cocaine had been seized during the operation but have so far not given any further details.

Meanwhile, law enforcement officials say they have seized an estimated 1,300

Cocaine seized by police (Jamaica Police photo)

Haiti Parliament to debate motion to indict President Moise for treason

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, Jul 31, CMC – The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Gary Bodeau, says a motion to indict President Jovenel Mpoise for treason will be placed on the agenda ahead of the presentation of the general policy statement of the new Prime Minister Fritz William Michel.

Political observers in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, say they don’t expect the motion, which had been submitted by 21 legislators last month, to find support in the lower house given the majority position enjoyed by legislators linked to President Moise’s party.

In a letter to Bodeau, the 21 deputies had accused President Moïse of high treason, claiming that he had

violated the Constitution and was leading the country to “the edge of the social explosion”. They called for “a special sitting, from the opening of the next ordinary session, in order to fix the date of the session of indictment” of Moise, saying also that they were prepared to “oppose the holding of any other session”.

According to the Haitian Constitution “the Chamber of Deputies, by a two-thirds majority of its members pronounces the indictment…for the crime of high treason or any other crime or offense committed in the exercise of his functions”. Political observers say that the debate is aimed at prolonging the ratification of the new government, which would also delay the implementation of emergency measures to

overcome the economic crisis that the country is facing.

Opposition legislators have been calling for the removal of Moise in the wake of allegations of embezzlement related to the PetroCaribe oil initiative with Venezuela and call fresh elections. Earlier this week, Moise called on Parliament to approve the nomination and government of Michel, describing him as a “a brilliant civil servant who has devoted his entire career to serving the people of Haiti”.

Michel, a former executive in the Ministry of Economy and Finance, became the fourth prime minister of this French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country, since President Moise became the head of state in 2017.

impede access” to the Sarstoon by a civilian vessel, with the Ministry of National Security describing the latest incident as “very disappointing and demonstrates bad faith at a time when both countries have made significant progress in moving towards a permanent solution to the long-standing unfounded territorial claim”.

In his first comment on the incident, Elrington said Belize is going to the ICJ “specifically because the area is disputed and whenever there are disputes in border areas you tend to have conflicts of varying intensity.

“The one that occurred last week was, in my view, the kind of thing that we have been

experiencing with the Guatemalans for the last maybe year or two. It was not my belief that by going to the ICJ that that would have stopped. “ The Foreign Minister said that it was still his hope and prayer nonetheless that ‘the frequency is going to be decreased and that ultimately we’ll be able to live in peace with them, in peace and harmony like the manner in which we live in peace and harmony with Mexico.

“But between now and the rest of my life…I think it would be overly naïve for us to believe that there won’t be difficulties on the border, for one reason or the other. That tends to be the

them in an exchange of gunfire. The driver reportedly used the truck to attempt to mow down the cops. But the lawmen said that the truck subsequently crashed into another vehicle driven by a police officer.

The police said that the identity of the driver and the three occupants of the truck were being withheld as they continue their investigations.

CCJ to hear matter involving CARICOM countries in October

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Jul 31, CMC – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will sit in October to hear a request for an advisory opinion by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

The CCJ, which was established in 2003, replacing the London-based Privy Council as the region’s final court, also acts as an international tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs the 15-member regional integration grouping.

President of the Court, Justice Adrian Saunders in the case management of the matter in which attorneys representing Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis and Jamaica as well as the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat, made appearances, said that the matter will be heard on October 22-23.

Belize Foreign Minister predicts more disputes despite border issue going before ICJ

BELMOPAN, Belize, Jul 31, CMC –Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington says it would be “naïve’ to believe that because Belize and Guatemala have agreed to take their decades old border dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that there would be no more conflicts as had occurred last week.

The Belize government has said it has lodged “a strong protest” to the Guatemala government following an incident on the disputed Sarstoon River between the Belize Defence Force (BDF) and the Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF).

The government said that last Tuesday the GAF “tried to

pounds of compressed marijuana during an anti-narcotics operation along the Water Wheel main road, Cave district in Westmoreland, south of here on Tuesday.

The police said that a freightliner truck, which was suspected to have been carrying the illicit drug, was signalled to stop, but the driver disobeyed, sped off and was pursued. He was stopped at a roadblock and the police said the occupants engaged

history of border disputes; they don’t disappear just like that,” he added.

Elrington said that there should have been provisional measures put in place as a result of both countries agreeing to go to the ICJ on the border dispute. “Yeah, that’s a little misunderstanding really. My understanding of it is that if in fact we experience or we experienced great difficulties with the Guatemalans which would have caused us tremendous problems, then we would have had recourse to the ICJ immediately to sort of get some kind of restraining act on them.

The CCJ is hearing a request for an advisory opinion by CARICOM pursuant to Article 212 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas which states “the Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to deliver advisory opinions concerning the interpretation and application of the Treaty” and that “advisory opinions shall be delivered only at the request of the Member States parties to a dispute or the Community”.

In its submissions, Grenada said it would like to know when a state has in the past opted out of a decision, nationals of that state nevertheless enjoyed the benefits of the decision adopted by CARICOM. During the case management hearing on Tuesday, Antigua and Barbuda indicated it was not in a position ‘;at this stage” to provide the Court with information on whether nationals from

that island had also benefited from a similar situation.

“What we will do is to ask all of the parties having such information to share that information by filing the same within the next three weeks,” Justice Saunders said. He said all all states which have not filed written submissions but are desirous of doing so must submit them by August 20, with reply submissions being received by September 10.

“The date for the hearing of oral submissions would be Tuesday 22nd October and Wednesday 23rd October…and each member state representative will speak for no more than 45 minutes,” Justice Saunders said adding that the orders of the court will be served on all CARICOM member states. The CARICOM Secretariat will also be allowed 45 minutes.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

Emancipation and healing the scars of the past

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oday Guyanese join with the African Guyanese community to celebrate the 181st Anniversary of Emancipation. While African Guyanese were directly affected by the period of enslavement which necessitated the moment of emancipation, its significance is important to all ethnic groups in the country. Emancipation meant the formal defeat of chattel slavery as the overarching political and socio-economic order that paved the way for freedom for all other ethnic groups.

The Indentureship system that followed, harsh though it was, could not be based on the formal-legal system whereby human beings were deemed as property.

So, as we celebrate Emancipation, it is worth reflecting on the profound intervention

of the system of slavery and its role in shaping developments then and now. The role of slavery in aiding the accumulation of European wealth is key to understanding development and underdevelopment on both the local and global scales. It was our own Dr. Walter Rodney’s seminal book, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa that highlights the causal relationship between development and underdevelopment within the context of chattel slavery. The underdevelopment of post-plantation countries such as Guyana is directly the result of the exploitation of African labour and Amerindian lands. This dynamic characterised socio-economic and political relations even in post-emancipation Guyana.

Consequently, the defeat of slavery and the emancipation of the enslaved opened

up new possibilities for independence and freedom for all. The African Guyanese Village Movement of the immediate post-emancipation period was both an act of resistance and blow for social advance. Here were people who had not only survived the most vicious system of human organization but displayed the capacity to exist in a state of freedom. The Village Moment humanized the Guyanese landscape and planted the seeds of the modern Guyanese political economy. It is a feat whose significance is yet to be fully analyzed. Perhaps this Emancipation anniversary is a good time to point young scholars in that direction so that that story could be transported into the consciousness of the contemporary society.

Of course, the emancipation of 1838 did not translate

into true freedom for the victims of enslavement. The colonial system that followed ensured that Africans were kept as second-class subjects. As Bob Marley reminded us—” No chains around my feet/But I am not free.”

Marley would also echo the words of Marcus Garvey in song when he urged the survivors of enslavement to “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.” These lyrical interventions underscore the relationship between enslavement and the current condition of African Guyanese and Africans in other parts the diaspora.

Leaders, advocates and scholars of the African Guyanese community have constantly referred to Emancipation as an ongoing process that must include the need for structural repairs. The assumption is that the struc-

tural socio-economic problems evident in the African Guyanese community and Guyana at large cannot be overcome in isolation from a proper understanding of the lasting destruction wrought by slavery and its aftermath.

This is an important theory as it clashes with a view in some quarters that these structural problems have been the work of a flawed people and can only be solved by a teaching of new values.

We reject the latter view and urge the opening up of new opportunities aimed at a lasting emancipation.

Some have already correctly identified the expected Oil and Gas wealth as a potential source of repair not only for African Guyanese but for all groups afflicted by the scars of structural bondage. The challenging question in this regard is whether the concept

of reparations is embraced by decision makers. There can be no doubt that social justice must be premised on social equality. In this regard, the embrace of the reparations movement by regional governments, including our own, is an encouraging sign.

Despite the challenges alluded to, African Guyanese can still celebrate on this 181st Anniversary of Emancipation. They have survived and are still an integral part of Guyana’s beautiful national tapestry. Many African Guyanese have distinguished themselves nationally and internationally. Others in the ranks of the poor and the working poor continue to grasp the limited opportunities that come their way and, in the process, continue the legacy of Black Uplift.

Happy Emancipation

Government must address privacy concerns in its country-wide camera surveillance system N Dear Editor,

O doubt, the use of technology can radically improve public security. The launch last week by the government of the Smart City surveillance cameras system in Georgetown is, therefore, a progressive step. The system can indeed help with crime fighting by recognising and tracing criminal suspects and vehicles and by deterring unlawful behaviour.

Government surveillance of citizens, however, even if well-intentioned, raises serious privacy concerns.

These concerns take on added significance where the surveillance is continuous, ubiquitous and backed up by technology to cross-reference and store data. Indeed, we are told that the project in Georgetown (even as a pilot)

involves 104 mounted poles with four cameras each, that the system includes face-recognition technology, and that the project will be unveiled countrywide.

Potentially, therefore, the surveillance system over time can, through the storage, cross-referencing, and aggregation of data, create a detailed record of a person’s life. Modern surveillance technology can, to borrow the words of a 2012 US Supreme Court case (in relation to GPS tracking of vehicles by police), reveal not only one’s particular movements, but also one’s “familial, political, professional, religious, and sexual associations.”

From a legal standpoint, when persons venture out in the open (say, in going to work) and are therefore viewable by other citizens, they can claim no legitimate

expectation of privacy. Such persons cannot successfully make the legal case that others have invaded their privacy by watching or staring at them (or at their bags, necklaces, cellphones, or body shapes). This low expectation of privacy in our physical locations and movements makes police surveillance of us generally defensible. We accept it.

Modern technology has, however, overturned this established agreement. For it has transformed and boosted the capacity of the government to potentially erode our privacy and other rights. For one, technology can make surveillance far more sweeping (that is, continuous and ubiquitous). So, while we may not mind if random persons could observe us intermittently when in public, we become uneasy or fearful

should a particular person gaze at us all the time and everywhere we go.

Second, the capability of the technology to cross-reference data on any individual (across cameras across the country) introduces another means to erode privacy, that of aggregation of that data.

To explain: less is known of us if our numerous traffic tickets over the years are scattered and unconnected in logbooks in police stations across the country. We are far more exposed, however, if that traffic data could be readily aggregated in one computer printout. Likewise, a high-tech public surveillance system, such as that envisaged under the Smart City program, is capable of stitching together pieces of our life from when we were in Linden, NA, and GT, or in banks, bars, and brothels.

Data aggregation makes us more vulnerable.

I did not see these and other issues raised by the speakers at the launch. They were all correct, however, in touting the necessity and potential effectiveness of the system.

How then should government surveillance of the public strike a balance between respecting the privacy of law-abiding citizens and fighting crime? The government must first conduct a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) of the project.

Key questions to answer in a PIA are: (1) What are the implicated laws and human rights principles? (2) If the system is meant to track criminal suspects, who is a criminal suspect in Guyana?

Too much potential for police abuse exists here. (4) Apart from fighting serious crimes,

what are the other clear purposes of data collection? Do these extend to detecting traffic violations and misdemeanors, such as littering?

(5) Who should have access to the data? (6) What are the security controls throughout the system? (7) What is the after-use data disposal schedule? (8) How would independent oversight be exercised?

In closing, I would also recommend Privacy Impact Assessments for several of the country’s new legislation where personal information is collected, processed, and disseminated, such as our laws on anti-money laundering, tax evasion, and credit history.

Regards Yours Faithfully Sherwood Lowe

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

Stop this Haitian xenophobia Dear Editor,

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S we commemorate this Emancipation season, I would like to vehemently condemn the xenophobic and racist attack against Haitian migrants, who for the most part are simply transiting Guyana.

Haiti is one of the 15 full member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), of which Guyana is

a founding member. Historically, Haiti has played one of the most important roles for emancipation in the western hemisphere, being second to the United States to free itself from colonial rule.

As a descendant of the involuntary African displacement and the slave trade, I call on the Ethnic Relations Committee (ERC) to investigate and sanction those who persist in the unsubstantiated allegations and unwarranted

alarms against Haitians in Guyana. The weekly attacks by certain political pundits, media outfits, and individuals on social media against the hapless transiting Haitians is past obnoxious.

The xenophobia launched against our Haitian brothers and sisters is even more disheartening since we are already constrained from effectively bonding because of an evident language barrier and their limited time

here. They invariably leave Guyana within days of their arrival to join their kin and compatriots in other neighboring countries, particularly to the East.

The transiting of Haitians is not dissimilar to that of Guyanese through Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Panama as they wind their way to other global destinations.

Based on available secondary statistics, the Haitian

arrivals to Guyana constitute less than eight per cent of all arrivals, with Cubans leading the data at approximately 28 per cent.

This inhospitable, unparalleled singling-out of Haitians is suspected to be primarily because of their ethnicity, as there is no other plausible supposition. Such acts must be condemned in the strongest possible terms by all Guyanese and addressed by our competent

authorities.

We cannot continue to disregard such sinister and unacceptable xenophobic behavior in our fledgling and developing democracy.

May our emancipation manifest itself in thoughts, words and deeds!

Yours faithfully, Orette Cutting (Mr.)

GCCI continues push for local content legislation Dear Editor,

T

HE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has noted, with concern, comments recently made by members of the government regarding local content legislation and foreign direct investment (FDI).

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, recently made comments regarding the long-awaited local content legislation, noting that while it is important, the Guyanese private sector, “should not make it the be-all and end-all.”

Minister Jordan went on to say that companies that are coming to Guyana to invest and conduct business in the oil and gas sector are not waiting for local content and other legislation.

Contrary to the minister’s statements, the GCCI remains

adamant in its belief that local content legislation is important and necessary as it gives local companies a footing from which to engage with regional and international companies coming to Guyana to operate in the oil and gas sector.

While competition is encouraged, the importance of having the right framework in place to leverage and encourage local initiative must remain at the forefront. Local content legislation functions primarily to protect and promote the development of indigenous companies by facilitating a level playing field. Delays in the process of legislative enactment do not bode well for local firms and their ability to participate in the supply chain of the oil and gas sector.

Guyanese businesses are being told to ‘fight’ and be competitive while still waiting

on legislation that, by design, should function to enable competitiveness in a disadvantaged environment. It is the role of government to strategically address obstacles that hinder private sector development including, but not limited to, access to financial capital and attaining technical expertise.

Local content policies are not only limited to regulating the number of locals employed by foreign companies, but more importantly, they provide a pathway to ensuring capacity development through the transfer of technology, skills transfer and training.

During a recent Guyana investment outreach to Trinidad, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo made reference to Guyana’s need for technical expertise in the oil and gas industry, noting that Trinidad is well positioned to lend as-

sistance due to its history as an oil-producing nation. While it is true that Trinidad has the capacity to assist Guyana, it is unreasonable to expect a skills and knowledge transfer to occur out of charitable means or through an organic process.

The only way to create a system for continuous knowledge transfers and improvements on both sides is to ensure that the appropriate legislative and policy framework are in place.

In keeping with the prime minister’s sentiments, investors and international companies should be able to operate in an efficient and cost-effective manner through investment incentives. However, local content legislation is also necessary to guard against shell companies that are registered in Guyana. These are locally registered companies which barely own assets,

perform services, and export profits. Ultimately, the call for local content legislation is tantamount to a request to share the benefits of the oil and gas industry with the local population – Guyanese must benefit from their own natural resources and national patrimony.

Government must be mindful of its rhetoric regarding local content legislation and note that while indigenous Guyanese businesses are being forced to navigate an entirely new industry without policies and legislation in place to guide and protect them, foreigners are readily receiving benefits such as US Dollar accounts, tax holidays and tariff holidays.

The chamber is calling on the government to provide incentives for local businesses to reinvest their funds,

starting with a local content legislation. The chamber supports the promotion of foreign direct investment, and also, local reinvestment.

To this end, we look forward to working with the various government agencies and ministries to recommend policy and legislations that will help to achieve growth in both areas and earnestly anticipate the finalisation of the local content policy as a first step on the road to local content legislation.

Yours Sincerely, Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer President Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Editor’s note

Earlier this week Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, said that the final draft of the Local Content Policy has been completed and will be presented to the Private Sector and other stakeholders in about two weeks’ time. The energy director made this announcement, during a press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency on Monday. Dr. Bynoe said in order to ensure that Guyana’s hydrocarbon resources continue to be managed in an effective and transparent manner, the department is also currently setting up a local content compliance unit that will be mandated not only to validate the information is that is being provided by the companies within the industry, but to receive any potential concerns Guyanese contractors or supplies may have.

“The department continues to seek to ensure that… the sector is managed in an effective and efficient manner and will spare no effort in ensuring that Guyanese are able to optimise the value from these resources,” Dr. Bynoe said. The energy director noted that while reporting from companies is dynamic, the department is taking steps to ensure that more comprehensive frequent reports are provided so that a thorough analysis can be made to ensure that persons across all the regions are benefiting. While there are no immediate plans to publicise these reports, he said, once there are no legal barriers preventing same, the department would have no difficulty in releasing the reports.

President Granger does not have to present false credentials Dear Editor,

N

OW that the process to appoint a GECOM chairperson has come to an end with the President and the Leader of the Opposition having found consensus on the choice of the chairperson – Justice Claudette Singh S.C., CCH – this will pave the way forward for the holding of early, fair, transparent and credible elections in Guyana.

However, the political commentators still continue to disseminate false information

about issues in the public sphere and about President David Granger.

Editor, I was listening to Freedom Radio 91.1 FM on July 29, 2019, where the programme host was demeaning President Granger. I listened in disgust at the host who stated that, “Granger was never the Chief of staff of the Guyana Defence Force”.

As a young man under 25 years, I find it hard to believe that the discourse at this critical juncture of Guyana’s future can be so disrespectful of a

sitting president and leader of one of the largest mass-based political parties in this country.

We the youths of Guyana can benefit from discussions about policies or projects and positive reasoning about the wellbeing of Guyanese.

It is disturbing to know that many Guyanese are not utilising the internet to carry out research about an issue before arguing or putting it out in the public. We should desist from making false statements about someone who is holding a public office unless it is fact-

checked and stop assassinating people’s character.

If you may allow me to present, some FACTS to the Guyanese and especially those who are spreading false information; about the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana: President David Granger after leaving Queen’s College, where he was a member of the Queen’s College Cadet Corps, joined the Guyana Defence Force as an officer cadet in 1965 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1966.

He received his professional military training at the Army Command and Staff College in Nigeria; the Jungle Warfare Instruction Centre in Brazil; and the School of Infantry and the Mons Officer Cadet School, respectively, in the United Kingdom.

He became commander of the Guyana Defence Force in 1979 and was promoted to the rank of brigadier. In 1990, Granger was appointed as National Security Adviser to the President. After all, said and done Mr. Granger is the first

Executive President who has military background and he is the only Brigadier to become President of Guyana.

President Granger does not have to present false credentials to Guyanese in order to build his credibility/support, all that is presented by him is accurate and can be verified.

Sincerely yours, Ceion Rollox

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

Influence of improved infrastructure on tourism Dear Editor

E

XPANSION of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) carried a cost of some $31.2Billion (US$150Million), for which the APNU+AFC coalition government has successfully completed to some extent. There is still some work to be done since the project is not yet fully completed.

However, with the addition of more space and facilities, the APNU+AFC coalition has successfully included international air carriers such as American Airlines; the Caribbean Airlines, Suriname Airways and Copa Airlines. Added to these are at least four other local airlines, some of which are both international and local carriers.

In addition to the creation of hundreds of new jobs so far, tourism and the air transport services do work hand in hand with each other. In fact, air transport and tourism are directly connected and can hardly work without each other.

It is for this reason that a top priority of the APNU+AFC coalition, even before coming into office in 2015, has stated on their platform the intent to have a good and growing tourism sector. Part of their plan was also to ensure that the air transport sector of Guyana been much improved so as to facilitate such a plan. This was

indeed accomplished.

Aside from air transport tourism sometimes require long-distance transport by roads, rivers and even up mountains. These all demand the necessary mode of transportation, proper roads, boat houses and the like. The APNU+AFC coalition have been wasting no time in making these available – one step at a time, or even simultaneously. Added to these are attractive tourist packages, competitive airfare with choices of air transport, as well as easier ways of getting around. In 2013 visitors recorded by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), who came on pleasure trips to Guyana numbered 124,618. The following year (2014) 123,434 came for the same reason. By 2015 there was a turn, though slight in 2015, however by 2018 the country received over 286,000 persons as visitors.

Jobs and a boosted economy The numbers speak for themselves – indicating a clear growth in tourism activities under the APNU+AFC coalition.

And, the rise in the number of visitors coming to Guyana, there has been a simultaneous increase in spending, stated to be roughly $222,000 per person per trip by GTA’s Director, Brian Mullis. Clearly, tourism does pay for it added some $62.6Billion directly into Guyana’s economy in 2018.

As a matter of fact, accord-

ing to the Director of the Guyana tourism Authority (GTA) tourism has become the second-largest export sector in the country after gold and ahead of rice. Mullis noted that approximately 7.8 percent of Guyana’s overall GDP is realized due to the travel and tourism sector.

This he noted, “…drives directly, an approximate 8,500 jobs, that’s direct employment, and in terms of indirect and induced employment it’s a total of 22,000 jobs as estimated by the world travel and tourism council.”

It was further disclosed by the Hon. Haimraj Rajkumar, Minister of Business in Guyana that even though tourism is a new experience for this country, it offers an encouraging signal. This, he revealed was primarily by the efforts of the government, as well as the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA). “Interestingly, more people are becoming interested in coming here, and as alluded by the Director, we received over 286,000 persons visiting us in 2018, and this represents a 15.9 percent increase from 2017, and from January to May this year there was a 9.2 percent increase in visitation over the corresponding period of 2018,” Minister Rajkumar disclosed.

Some satisfaction Now the coalition government can boast of their achievements in relation to tourism over the last four years, espe-

cially with the latter year standing out as exemplary. However, the government would be the first to agree that they have not realized as much as they would have wanted to, but with time more would be achieved. The fact is that the APNU+AFC coalition sees tourism as one of the most thriving economic activity, with tremendous potential to create employment at all levels. Young people, entrepreneurs, art and craft creators, artistes, hoteliers and many other businesses are benefitting and will continue to benefit as the industry grow.

Top ranking among countries Just a few months ago Guyana was awarded the number one place as the “Best of Ecotourism” destination in the world. This was a newly created category, which was only added in this year. The ceremony was hosted by the Global Travel Fair, held on March 7, 2019. It was the Sustainable Top 100 Destinations Awards fair, which was held in Berlin, Germany. Ecotourism is referred to as travel to natural sceneries within communities where effort is made to protect the environment, as well as the people and their culture who live there. In Guyana there are many such communities, which are now being preserved for sustainable travel.

Wednesday the GTA in a release stated, “Tourism is the

Second Largest Export Sector in Guyana.” It stated that the top 10 reasons the sector is a Force For Good in Guyana because it has long been regarded as one of the fastest growing sectors in the world. It confirms the view of the APNU+AFC that tourism contributes towards jobs, the creation of wealth, economic growth, environmental protection, poverty alleviation and a general improved life for everyone within the country.

Also recently, at the celebration of the Ninth Annual Awards of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), the then Minister of Tourism, Mr. Dominic Gaskin stated that though the sector has had their fair share of challenges there is much hope for the future. He expressed confidence that the development of tourism will become a widespread and long-lasting feature in all 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana. Guyana Country Representative to the IDB’s Country Representative, Sophie Makonnen, in 2016 said that this country has the potential to become a major eco-tourism destination, and that there is always room for growth. She also highlighted the public/private partnership as very crucial to the tourism industry, if it is to become a viable one. By 2017, in an address to members of the GTA in 2017, Economist of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Dr. Mark Wenner, also expressed

supporting views, stating that Guyana is well-positioned to have Sustainable Tourism as a developmental tool. He noted that the country, while addressing the needs of visitors and host communities, also pay keen attention to the impact of social and economic on the environment.

Capacity-building Way back in their plans for the APNU+AFC coalition, they had also documented training as part of their tourism plan and in collaboration with the GTA, this is being implemented. Just recently the GTA conducted a Quality Service Training Immigration of officers and hotel staff, among others. Additionally, the GTA, in collaboration with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), also recently concluded a ‘Delivering Quality Service’ training for staff at the Ramada Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara. Other staff working in the tourism industry have also continue to receive the necessary relevant training, since the coalition government desire to see this industry grow and the economy expand for the benefit of all Guyanese.

in investing oil revenues: The agricultural and the energy [renewables] sectors. I would say that a fundamental determinant of any comprehensive strategy dealing with oil revenues must be an intentional and a deliberate decision on the part of the authorities to investment in our agricultural sector, which, by its very nature, has clear and strong linkages to rural development. I will distil only two of the many reasons why this is important: Poverty alleviation and the security of the integrity of the environment.

First, like many other developing countries, poverty is a major concern in our local communities and our society as a whole. This is linked to a number of factors, including poor education, poor health, unemployment and poor environmental conditions.

Unemployment [about 12% in Guyana] is a notable one, because it contributes in various ways to the other factors related to poverty. At the moment, there is much excitement among young Guyanese about working in oil and gas. However, over the last few weeks, ExxonMobil’s Country Manager has provided information on the amount of money spent to date by the corporation, and the increasing number of Guyanese Exxon continues to employ.

Still, there will be a large number of employable local people who will remain unemployed, because not everyone in that category (employable) has the education, training, technical and other skills to be employed in the oil-and-gas sector. And again, that sector cannot employ all who can and wish to be employed, even if it wanted to. Therefore, unemployment will continue to be a major source of concern in many neighbourhoods. This presents a good opportunity for the authorities to contemplate investing in a sector; the agricultural sector, that can provide employment to snatch those who are affected out of the tight clasping hands of relative and absolute poverty.

For Guyana, agriculture is the heartbeat of our economy.

Understanding this, our leaders took certain decisions, including: Establishing the Guyana School of Agriculture in 1963; the Department of Agriculture at the University of Guyana in 1977, with specialised and technical programmes added in 1996, 2015 and 2017. This knowledge also shaped the Feed, Clothe and House the Nation Plan (FCH) in 1972; the National Strategy for Agriculture in Guyana 2013 – 2020, and a number of other initiatives and programmes. In par-

ticular, the architecture of the FCH plan was designed to use the enormous potentials from this sector to do two critical things: Economically empower every Guyanese, and make Guyana self-reliant.

Available information seems to suggest that this plan engendered an increased awareness and collective action to make the best use of our agricultural resources abundant throughout Guyana. Here, the word abundant should not be associated with irresponsible consumerism, waste or reckless plundering of resources. Its reference is to the repository of all organic materials within our natural resources portfolio that can sustain our nation without degrading the environment.

Nevertheless, at this time, decades later, the agricultural sector has remained essentially underdeveloped in production, both for the local and overseas markets. It is therefore not unreasonable to conclude that what is urgently needed is a renewed focus and emphasis on it at the national level. The approach must be to revitalise this important sector through recapitalization; investing more heavily in the sector, and in programmes and activities to develop rural economies and social infrastructure. Oil revenues should be directed particularly

towards promoting research and development in agricultural projects and extension, improving access to financial services, providing diverse investment incentives, and increasing direct access of the poor farmers to support services and productive facilities and services.

Also, revenues from the production of oil and gas should be used to: Improve human capital in rural areas through health, education and other social services; put in place systems that improve access to markets, ensure the sharing of relevant information and technologies, and provide legal and regulatory measures that promote social, environmental and economic interests; upgrade markets and marketing arrangements, roads, bridges and dams, and communication infrastructure. I would note too that modernised infrastructural and communications facilities are really important, because they would collapse space and time between urban and rural areas, and allow for more sustained development of rural economies, food security, improved standard of living and better quality of life for citizens in those far- flung regions, and even a more cohesive society.

Second, environmental integrity could be sustained by investing substantially in

agriculture to encourage and facilitate best practices. For example: Soil care and management. A main aspect of this is maintaining or even increasing soil-organic matter.

Soil-organic matter functions as a crucial source and place for nutrients, as a substrate for microbial activity, and as a safeguard against fluctuations in acidity, water content, and contaminants.

Again, the improvement of soil-organic matter can assist in mitigating the increase of atmospheric CO2; this helps with climate change. Another important function of soil- organic matter is that it provides better soil structure, which enables improved water penetration, less runoff, better drainage, increased stability, and reduced wind and water erosion.

Then there is the question of environmental integrity. This is crucial in the struggle against climate change. This is why Guyana is part of the Guiana Shield Project, a carbon cover of about 270 million hectares.

A significant amount, about 16%, of the world’s fresh water is part of this project, along with vast amounts of biodiversity.

Therefore, revenues could be used to invest in appropriate technologies, including data

Regards Margaret Burke

Oil production and our environment Dear Sir,

T

HE NEWS about Liza Destiny uniquely sets the context for a paradigm shift in our thinking, interactions and relationships with our society, the natural environment and economics. (Liza Destiny sets sail to Guyana/ Guyana Chronicle Newspaper/19/7/2019). Indeed, this is a new and exciting time for Guyana, and with anticipated oil money and wealth, an extremely bright future for all Guyanese.

But how do we, as a nation, make optimum use of the expected substantial flow of money to our treasury? Whilst much has been said about how the Central Government should use revenues from the production of oil and gas, not a lot has been said about the drivers and the determinants that should inform a National Comprehensive Strategy on the use of oil revenues. Yet, this strategy is vital to shaping the government’s approach and designing a module to utilising oil money in a way that would sustainably benefit all Guyanese.

That notwithstanding, I would like to make a few comments on two important sectors that should be considered for special attention and treatment

Turn to PAGE 12

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

Police rebuke Irfaan Ali

9

…debunk claims of political interference, favouritism …urge ranks to remain apolitical, resist direct appeals from politicians

THE Guyana Police Force, on Wednesday, denounced statements made by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali, in his attempt to outline plans for ‘men and women in uniform.’

The Police Force said a newspaper article titled ‘Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali details plans for ‘men and women in uniform,’ implies among other things that ranks were experiencing political interference, favoritism in career path and advancement.

The article suggests too that policemen and women are being made to use obsolete equipment to execute their duties while operating under poor conditions, and are provided with limited support for their families and community among others.

“It is apposite to note that the Guyana Police Force has embarked on a reform programme and is currently engaged in the implementation of a Three-Year Strategic Management Plan 2019/2021, which is a continuation of a previous Five-Year Strategic Management Plan,” it said in a statement on Wednesday.

It noted too that the implementation of the Strategic

monitoring and evaluation,” it further outlined.

The Guyana Police Force has also established the Strategic Planning Unit, the Occupational Health and Safety Unit, and the Divisional Complaints Units, among others effectiveness. Added to that, it said that a number of police stations have been refurbished and others are being refurbished at present. The police stations, it stressed, are equipped with the requisite resources to execute

PPP Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali

Management Plan is guided by five (5) pillars – operational priorities, human development, partnerships, performance and infrastructure.

These pillars, it explained, are designed and intended to ensure the realisation of a professional, accountable and modern Police Force.

“As regards, Operational Priorities, the Force received a number of vehicles and other operational modernized equipment to bolster operational capacity and to

Commissioner of Police, Leslie James

delivery. Further, the recently highlighted CCTV Camera System which is a part of the SAFE CITY PROJECT will contribute immensely activities. Additionally, the Mounted Branch of the Force crime,” the Police Force said.

The Force said it now has Human Resource Departments in each Police Division, and capacity building of ranks is continuous through professional, technical, specialist and tertiary levels of training.

More than 6 billion barrels of oil at Stabroek Block There are now more than six billion barrels of oil equivalent in the Stabroek Block, Hess Corporation, a partner with ExxonMobil Guyana, disclosed on Wednesday.

In reporting estimated results for the second quarter of 2019, Hess Chief Execuequivalent estimate has been increased. “In Guyana, we have just increased the estimate of gross discovered recoverable resources for the Stabroek Block to more than 6 billion barrels of oil equivalent and continue to see multibillion barrels of additional exploration potential,” Hess said. Earlier in the year, ExxonMobil had indicated that there were approximately 5.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent recoverable resources in the Stabroek Block.

He noted that the company’s portfolio is on track to generate industry leading cash holders. In its report, Hess also took note of the fact that in the Stabroek Block, for which it owns 30 percent, the second phase of development at the Liza Field was sanctioned by the partners following regulatory approval from the government of Guyana.

“Liza Phase 2 will utilise the Liza Unity FPSO, which will have the capacity

to produce up to 220,000 gross bopd. Six drill centers are planned with a total of 30 wells, including 15 production wells, nine water injection wells and six gas injection wells. First oil is expected by mid-2022.

The development is expected to have a gross capital cost of approximately $6 billion, including a lease capitalization cost of approximately $1.6 billion for the FPSO, and will develop approximately 600 million barrels of oil,” Hess explained.

Excluding pre-sanction and lease costs, Hess’ net share of development costs is forecast to be approximately $1.6 billion, of which $210 million is included in its 2019 capital and exploratory budget. Importantly, the oil company noted that Liza Phase 1 remains on track to 2020. “It will produce up to 120,000 gross bopd at peak rates utilising the Liza Destiny FPSO, which is expected to arrive offshore Guyana in September 2019,” Hess said while noting that planning is underway for a third phase of development at the Payara Field, which is expected to produce between 180,000 early as 2023.

It pointed out that between the periods 2014-2019, hundreds of ranks obtained higher education from the Certificate to the Masters Level from the University of Guyana and other institutions of higher learning.

The Police Force disclosed too that it has an active Group Health Insurance and a Mortgage Relief Pro“The Force has a Human Resource Development Plan, and policies have been formulated to address critical human resource issues such as promotion and appraisal.

Further, a Human Resource Strategy has been developed to ensure requisite training for ranks, delivery of professional services, review of terms and conditions of work, and accurate measurement of performance, including

effectively.

“The Electronic Data Management System (EDMS) ly store and manage crime data. Recently, the police data management capabilities were further enhanced with the introduction of the Police Records Management Information System (PRMIS) that serves as a criminal records database,” it stated. At present, the Guyana Police Force is realigning its Divisional Boundaries with the existing Administrative Regions where additional Divisional Headquarters are being constructed. In addition, the construction of a new Training Facility at Dora, Soesdyke, Linden Highway is also underway.

“The Force has several Community Action Councils and Social Crime Prevention Projects with Community Police Divisions. These are intended to foster direct rela-

tionships with the citizenry, agencies and other formal bodies. At present, the Force engages communities through ‘Face the Community Meetings’, the facilitating of JobSkills Training for At-Risk and Under-privileged Youths, and conducting Medical Outreach within Police Divisions across the country,” it outlined.

In its defense, the Police Force said it has a Performance Assessment Plan in place which was introduced to boost and to assess its performance to ensure accountability and professionalism. To this end, it said all Divisional and Branch Commanders and other key Department Heads meet fortnightly, where strategies are examined for operresults-based management.

These are all in keeping with international best practices.

“In addition to the foregoing issues and guided by the Police Act Chapter 16:01, ranks of the Guyana Police Force are reminded of the critical role they play in society. They are also encouraged to embrace professionalism at all times during the execution of their duties. Further, they are also reminded of the importance of remaining apolitical so that their decision-making capabilities are not blurred. Moreover, any direct appeals as highlighted in the press statements are to be resisted,” Police Force said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

After 50 years Mount Sinai residents become landowners

Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Joseph Harmon, presents a land title to Mr. Simon Joseph, a resident of Mount Sinai

DIRECTOR General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Joseph Harmon, and Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Ms. Annette Ferguson, on Wednesday morning, distributed 209 land titles to residents of Mount Sinai, New Amsterdam, at a ceremony hosted at the Berbice Educational Institute, Vryheid, New Amsterdam, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six).

“This morning (Wednesday) you will see that the distribution of these titles has nothing to do with which political party you represent, this is a distribution of titles to deserving Guyanese…

We’re on the right path… this is not the end because 209 out of 1010 [land titles] is still a far way to go,” Mr. Harmon said.

The distribution exercise is part of an overall government programme to regularise the community and enhance residents’ quality of life. The government has already provided infrastructure such as electricity and access to potable water and with the land title distribution, aims to ensure that safe, ‘green’ spaces are provided for children.

“I would like to see, when I go back into that area again, the children are not playing football on the street; that the little boys are not liming at the sides of the street; that we can provide facilities that will help them to live and to play in safe spaces that a developed country like ours can provide… So the introduction of street lights and lights in the homes, the introduction of water, the development of

roads in the community and the fact that we will have to have some other open spaces, parks where your children can play, becomes more important,” Mr. Harmon said.

Meanwhile, Minister Ferguson said the distribution exercise is the realisation of President David Granger’s vision to provide housing for all. “The President has posited that his vision for housing will see a Guyana … where every citizen enjoys the right to housing … he speaks to the issue of re-orientation, resources, regularisation and regionalisation… We see the first coming together in this undertaking,” she said.

Contrary to the misinformation being published in some sections of the media, Minister Ferguson said the government never abandoned the issuing of house lots.

“What we have embarked on is to provide a mixed housing solution … We are working to provide both house lots and housing units,” she said.

In an invited comment, Ms. Deborah Leitch said she has resided in the area for over 25 years and is grateful to finally have possession of her land title. “Today I must say thank God. I would like to say thanks to the housing minister and members of the government and other persons who would have made it possible, who would have helped me to acquire this title,” she said. Another resident, Ms. Yvonne Mourant, said there have been many developments in the community over the past four years. “We have a lot of development because we got the water first, and then

Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Joseph Harmon, addresses new land-title holders at the Berbice Educational Institute, New Amsterdam. Also photographed are [from left to right]: Deputy Mayor of New Amsterdam, Mr. Wainwright McIntosh; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Mr. Lelon Saul; Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Ms. Annette Ferguson and Regional Executive Officer, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six), Ms. Kim Williams-Stephen

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Ms. Annette Ferguson, presents Ms. Deborah Leitch with her land

Residents of Mount Sinai, New Amsterdam, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six) registering to uplift their land titles at the Berbice Educational Institute, Vryheid, New Amsterdam

This Mount Sinai resident quietly expressed her gratitude to Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Ms. Annette Ferguson, when she received her title

This gentleman had a light exchange with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Mr. Lelon Saul, when he presented him with his land title

we got the lights and we are very much proud of it. We’re looking forward now to have drainage and the road,” she said.

Member of Parliament,

East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six), Ms. Barbra Pilgrim; Deputy Mayor of New Amsterdam, Mr. Wainwright McIntosh; Member of Parliament,

Ms. Donna Mattoo; Regional Executive Officer, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six), Ms. Kim Williams-Stephen and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Mr. Lelon Saul also attended the ceremony. (Ministry of the Presidency)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

Guard your freedom

--PM urges

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo, in his Emancipation message, said the preamble to Guyana’s 1980 Constitution affirmed that slavery, indentureship and the concomitant resistance to the colonial plantocracy formed the historic backdrop of the evolution of our nation-state.

Our Constitution pays homage to the “indomitable spirit and unconquerable will” of our African forefathers who, “by their sacrifices, their blood and their labour” bequeathed to us this dear land of Guyana.

It salutes those “immortal

leaders who, in the vanguard of battle, kept aloft the banner of freedom by the example of their courage, their fortitude and their martyrdom”.

The Prime Minister said what is not captured in those lofty words were the sufferings and sacrifices of Africans under slavery. “So, today, as always, “Emancipation” should be a sweet word on the lips of every Guyanese of African ancestry, and I congratulate you most heartily as you cherish and celebrate this day.” “I ask that our people of African origin continue to forge, with all other Guyanese, a common identity and, whatever our ancestral roots, we must recommit ourselves to

building a strong and united Guyana. “ He said as we celebrate, we must remember that the price for freedom is unity and vigilance. “I exhort you to guard our freedom, to protect the gains of our historic and contemporary struggles, to keep alive the dreams of our ancestors for the good life. I ask you that, together with all other sections of the Guyanese society, to ensure that our Nation remains in safe hands by reposing full confidence in and support for David Arthur Granger as President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Emancipation is also about the right to vote-WPA The Working Peoples Alliance (WPA) has joined the rest of Guyana in saluting the African Guyanese community as it observes the 181st anniversary of the end of chattel slavery in Guyana and the wider Anglophone Caribbean.

In a statement, the WPA said Emancipation Day is one of the most important days on the national calendar. “On that day, our African Guyanese sisters and brothers triumphed over forced bondage and set Guyana on a freedom trajectory which should be cherished by all Guyanese regardless of ethnicity. In many regards, Emancipation meant freedom for all Guyana-- August 1, 1838, was indeed the birth of the Guyanese nation.”

According to the WPA, as the country celebrates this pivotal historical moment, it is urging African Guyanese to reflect on the very meaning of Emancipation. “Such reflection must zero in on the story of bondage, of triumph over bondage and of survival of the most heinous form of socio-economic and political system mankind has known.

It must also focus on the scars of bondage that still haunt the collective soul. Finally, Emancipation means the convergence of the Middle Passage, chattel slavery, colonial servitude and post-colonial socio-economic inequality.”

The WPA said it has noted that it has become commonplace in some circles to downplay or ignore the importance of history and historical memory.

“WPA frowns on that tendency and urges African Guyanese and the country at large to look to their history as a source of inspiration and for insights into the root causes of their current condition. In that regard, WPA calls on the Ministry of Education to make history, particularly Guyanese and Caribbean history, a compulsory subject on our schools’ curriculum, from nursery to university.

We also call on African Guyanese organisations to make the teaching of Black and African Guyanese history a central aspect of their mission.”

The party said it is aware of the sense of despair, alienation and drift among sections of the African Guyanese community and urges a sustained,

multi-faceted campaign of Renewal and Restoration. “There must be an internal effort that includes roles for the individual, the family, the community and organisations. But WPA is of the firm conviction that ultimately African Guyanese would not overcome the current challenges without targeted government policies that attack the particular challenges of the community. The elongated arm of enslavement must be severed from the throat of the community before African Guyanese can truly see their way to true emancipation. WPA pledges to use its voice and influence to help this effort.”

It is against this backdrop that WPA has called on African Guyanese organisations to become more pro-active in advocating for big, overarching policies, especially in the socio-economic sphere. Such advocacy, the WPA said, must be motivated by the need for renewal and for ethnic equality.

As Guyana prepares for the era of Oil and Gas, African Guyanese must position themselves to benefit from the expected collective wealth.

“Towards this end, we call

on the organisations to organise African Guyanese community conversations culminating with a National Summit to mobilise a wide cross-section of opinions and expertise. In this regard, WPA notes the excellent work being undertaken by IDPAD-G in setting the stage for a sustained intervention.

The WPA also supports the continued advocacy for reparations, both external and internal, as a necessary and proper form of compensation for the ravages of enslavement. It is a just campaign that should be supported by all ethnic groups.”

Finally, as a political party, WPA said it would be remiss if it did not urge the African Guyanese community to participate fully in the electoral process that is upon us. “While elections and political parties have not been mediums of transformative change, they should not be ignored. We, therefore, call on African Guyanese to register in preparation for voting and to use that vote in the most constructive manner. Emancipation was/is also about the right to vote.

ERC: The struggles of our African ancestors redound to the benefit of all Guyanese

The Chairman, Commissioners and Staff of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) join with all Guyanese to celebrate the 185th Commemoration on the declaration of the abolition of slavery and the undue sacrifice of apprenticeship that lasted to 1838.

The ERC sees this commemoration as a historical landmark that has changed the landscape of our nation forever, initiating the genesis of modern Guyana with the subsequent era of indentureship.

Emancipation then herald-

ed the coming of indentureship, enriching the landscape and compelling the need for answers from a new depth of clarification and fortitude towards an inevitable collective destiny beyond contentions, fears and fragmenting dogmas.

Emancipation is the stage that challenges all Guyana to evolve continuously.

The years of slavery were the eternal twilight that slipped into the darkest night of struggle, sacrifice and consuming hopelessness, to awake from that long blood-stained night to

the promise of a new dawn with Emancipation.

The struggles and efforts of our African ancestors redound to the benefit of all Guyanese.

As a diverse nation of five peoples, we must collectively build on these triumphs, persevere and resolutely aspire to greater heights and a deepening of the spirit of social cohesion.

We must continue to unite, mobilize and together lift our nation to higher heights socially, economically and culturally.

We must elevate our mindset, eschew mediocrity and believe

in a culture of excellence.

Through the eyes of the ERC, Emancipation is our human movement. A process of cultural and mental awakening that must envelope us all, as we contemplate ground covered, acknowledge causes and errors made, and finally, truly emancipate ourselves collectively and commit a most significant positive posterity to the present and future Guyana.

The ERC takes this opportunity to extend best wishes to all Guyanese on the occasion of Emancipation.

PNCR: Emancipation commences the process of providing the 'good life to all Guyanese' The People's National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) joins the Guyanese people in celebrating the 181stAnniversary of the Emancipation of enslaved Africans. The Party regards this event as the most significant in the foundation of our nation and the formation of our society. It was the first step in our country’s long march towards social equality, economic independence and political freedom.

Africans in the united Guiana colonies of Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo regained their freedom on the 1st August 1838, after two hundred years of enslavement.

Emancipation on that day commemorates not only the bloody sacrifices of the Africans who struggled, suffered and were slaughtered for the sake of the freedom we all enjoy today, but also the birth of the nation itself. The entire Guyanese nation should participate in this public celebration.

Emancipation is Guyana’s most important national celebration. It marks the start of the most significant demographic change through the coming of the Portuguese, East Indians, West Africans and Chinese and the transformation of the coastal landscape through the creation of free villages and the diversification of the economy into the production of food crops, gold-mining and logging. It led, also, to the liberation of society through the popular movements for educational development, labour organisation and political mobilisation.

Emancipation celebrations in 2019 also commemorate the 256th anniversary of the Berbice Revolt of 1763 led by Kofi and the 196th anniversary of the Demerara Revolt of 1823 inspired by Kwamina.

Guyanese of all races are the beneficiaries and heirs of the sacrifices of our nation’s first freedom fighters.

Emancipation, after all, was not a finite event that occurred 181 years ago. It was the commencement of a continuing process which must aim at providing a "good life to all Guyanese."

PPP recalls torture, brutal killing of Afro-Guyanese during slavery The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has extended warmest greetings to every Guyanese, especially our Afro-Guyanese brothers and sisters on the occasion of the 185th Anniversary of Emancipation.

In a message to mark the occasion, the PPP said slavery remains the most cruel and inhumane system of subjugation and discrimination known to human history. The celebration of its abolition is the right and duty of every single human being. “This occasion once again provides another opportunity for all to reflect on the tremendous

sacrifices made by our Afro-Guyanese ancestors who were brought inhumanely to this land in chains to provide free labour for the sugar plantations.”

According to the PPP, they were stripped of their humanity and dignity and forced to toil long hours.

Many were tortured and brutally killed for simply standing up for their rights. In their long and unyielding march for freedom, many battles were fought, including the Berbice Slave rebellion, led by our nation’s National Hero, Cuffy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

Sussex Street pump provides relief to Albouystown Residents of the Albouystown and surrounding communities are benefitting from the installation of a drainage pump aimed at reducing the risk of flooding in the community.

This was highlighted during a tour of the area by the Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine and a team, on Wednesday afternoon.

“We (Mayor and City Council) collaborated with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to get the drainage system in order which under the past government had been in chaos… we have asked for the slabs to be raised so we can have an excavator come to clean the main canal,” he explained to the Department of Public Information(DPI).

Going forward, plans are in place to ensure the pump is monitored and maintained daily; a necessary step for the council as it will ensure that areas like Charlestown, West and South Ruimveldt among others will be protected from flooding.

Mayor Narine is also encouraging other stakeholders to come on board and help with the installation of grills to pre-

vent solid waste from passing through and possibly damaging the pump.

Echoing the Mayor’s sentiments, Pump Operator Clifford Judea said that the grills will help in the council’s effort, noting that the current pump is much stronger and gets the job done effectively.

“Our previous pump would suck up almost every bit of debris that passed, and with the propellors being located at the bottom, these items would get caught in the blades and eventually damaged the pump.

With this new pump, we are getting good work from it,” Judea explained.

It was also highlighted by Mayor Narine that a much larger pump has also been installed at the Munshewar Wharf.

In 2017, Minister of Finance Hon. Winston Jordan signed an $833.2 Million ($US4M) Line of Credit (LOC) with the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India to acquire 14 mobile and fixed water pumps.

In addition to procuring and installing the pumps, the signed agreement also caters for the provision of associated spares and institutional strengthening related to the use and maintenance of the equipment.

Pump Operator Clifford Judea Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, and his team inspecting the pump at Sussex Street

The contract was subsequently awarded to India-based Apollo International Limited (AIL) which had submitted a $750B (US$3.6M) bid for the project. The project, which falls under NDIA, includes the design, supply, installation and commissioning of nine fixed

and five mobile high-capacity pumps and associated structures and equipment.

The five mobile pumps will provide drainage to Georgetown and its environs including La Penitence South, Cummings Canal, Church Street, Sussex Street and South Ruimveldt.

These mobile drainage pumps will be assigned to various sites close to existing sluices within the city and their surrounding areas. It will also be deployed to other areas to alleviate flooding whenever necessary.

The acquisition of the pumps will not only bring

relief to residents but farmers whose economic activities are usually disrupted by flooding caused by intensive rainfall and overtopping of the sea defence. They will provide flood relief to approximately 25,000 acres of agricultural and residential lands. (DPI)

USAID, GTI support training, job preparation of at-risk youth SOME 79 students graduated from the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Community, Family and Youth Resilience programme. The programme was a collaboration between the USAID and the Government Technical Institute (GTI).

The training session which ran from October 1, 2018 to July 19, 2019 focused on workforce development and saw the students being trained in the areas of data operations level one, electrical installation level one and motor vehicle repairs for cars and light trucks level one.

The programme, which was aimed towards 80 at-risk youths between the ages of 16-29 years old, was launched in an effort to reduce risk factors associated with crime and violence, by increasing em-

ployment opportunities. The programme’s participants came mainly from the following areas: East Ruimveldt, East La Penitence, Sophia, Lodge and Corriverton.

Throughout the programme, along with the chosen course of study, the students received employability training, leadership and team-work building exercises and employment readiness assessments.

The best graduating students of the programme for the respective courses were Jafanata Trimm and Michael George in the course of data operations; Rihanna Smith in the course of electrical installation; and Roydon Johnson in the course motor vehicle repairs.

The Government Technical Institute hosted and facilitated the training of the students during the training period. The

Some members of the graduating class

graduates excelled far beyond the expectation of the teaching curriculum as they successfully grasped and completed an additional three units in each individual course.

Principal of the Govern-

ment Technical Institute, Renita Duncan, expressed to the students the importance of skilled labour saying, “Skill is wealth.” Duncan reminded the students that everything in their immediate surroundings was

From Left: Renita Duncan, Principal of the Government Technical Institute; Dr. Vishnu Doerga, Chairman ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc.; Mark Cullinane, Deputy chief of Mission United States Embassy

made by someone who saw the importance of developing a skill.

She explained that during

her time with the students, she saw the drive in them, the pride Turn to PAGE 19

Oil production and our... processing and analytical systems that would allow the authorities to accurately

track, monitor, record and report what is happening with our forests. Our trees are the lungs of the earth; a living ocean, live trees are approximately 50% of water by weight. Imagine the amount of water flowing in our rainforest, its importance to nature and the catastrophic damage that would be done to the ecosystems if this indispensable carbon-cover is degraded or destroyed. I remain

strong on this point that there could be no higher priority or more sensible and noble investment than to secure the integrity of the natural environment.

Unless we protect it, then we and all the world would cease to exist in our present physical state. Also, our oceans, rivers, lakes and other watercourses need to be aggressively protected. Even now, mining activities are contaminating some of our rivers, used by generations of local residents, in those areas, for farming and doing daily chores such as cooking and washing. No

amount of money can repair the damage done to waterways vital to farming communities.

We must invest to prevent pollution of our rivers. On the up side, the authorities should seriously think about processing water for export; there is a ready massive market. As I write this letter, Chennai the first city of India is faced with a water crisis. In fact, report from concerned international organizations suggest that about 844 million people are experiencing social, health, environment and economic challenges for lack of clean portable water supplies in

those parts of the world.

Finally, there is the energy sector [renewable and green energy]. Solar, geothermal energy and hydropower could almost free Guyana from fossil fuels.

I have long held the view and still do hold it that the social, public health, environmental and economic benefits of renewables could easily outstrip those of fossil fuels. For example, the use of fossils emits CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Solar energy decreases air pollution and reduces related public health issues, including certain respiratory and cardio-

vascular illnesses facilitated by pollution. This not only translates into savings, in the national treasury, in the public health sector but also allows for a clean and safe environment, a healthier nation and a strong national economy. Therefore, while the production of oil and gas exacts a heavy cost on the environment renewables provide a benefit to the ecosystems and to mankind.

It is clear then that there is wisdom in government substantially investing oil revenues in the appropriate technologies for renewable and green ener-

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gy projects. Vital to this is the formulation of a sustainable energy roadmap that would help with a long- term vision, approaches and models, policies, smart goals, and effective governance systems. In this era of climate change and global warming, green energy is the energy of the future.

And therefore we must invest now in it.

Regards, Royston King

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

‘A breath of fresh air’ -- GTUC expresses full confidence in new GECOM chair

THE Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has welcomed retired Justice Claudette Singh, S.C to the post of chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and expressed confidence that previous acts under the Commission which “left a stain” on the office will not be repeated.

The GTUC, in a release on Wednesday, hailed Justice Singh’s appointment as a “breath of fresh air" which should “enhance confidence” in the Commission.

This confidence, it noted, has diminished over the years as the Commission has repeatedly been involved in several forms of controversy.

It highlighted the acts of former GECOM Chairman, Doodnauth Singh S.C., who the union stated, flagrantly participated in encouraging the disregard for the Court Order in the 1997 Elections, leading to the swearing in of Janet Jagan as President and her throwing the writ over her shoulder.

The union said the election was found to be fraudulent and subsequently vitiated.

It also highlighted the 2006 incident whereby Chief

Elections Officer (CEO), Gocool Boodhoo, declared the 2006 Elections while fully aware that the Alliance For Change’s (AFCs) Region 10 geographic seat was wrongly declared for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

This, the GTUC indicated, is coupled with the reported attempt to wrongly declare the 2011 elections to give the PPP a parliamentary majority which they say have “left a stain on the Commission” and sought only to benefit one political force.

“Despite these incidents, Guyana must have trust in this most significant constitutional office. We must have people who must operate above the political fray. Let us not be naive to the perception that persons don’t have a political horse in the race.

What we want is notwithstanding the political horse in the race, their integrity, professionalism and commitment to good stewardship of GECOM must see them operating at a level above partisanship. They must recognise that they are entrusted in a position of power to steer the ship of Guyana and trust is important,” the union cautioned.

Retired Justice, Claudette Singh

Moving forward under new leadership, the union stated that the Commission must now work to ensure that the ‘small man’ has confidence that his/her vote counts in equal measure.

It also anticipated that with the decision being a consensual one, both sides of the political divide will give the new chairperson the necessary cooperation.

It highlighted that the staged walkouts of the Opposition-nominated commissioners, which were done consecutively over an extended period in the past, should have no place in the coming meetings of the Commission.

TRUST “GTUC today places that trust and confidence in Justice Claudette Singh S.C. There should be more positive engagement that will not result in walkout but will see both sides hammering out differences at the level of the commissioners. Any attempt to bully or usurp Justice Singh’s role and authority, to denigrate and vilify or unjustly seek to undermine her integrity and the office of GECOM will not be tolerated. All parties concerned should be encouraged by her statement of commitment to free, fair and transparent elections. These are critical to ensuring an election that is

not only free and fair, but free from fear and respecting the rights of every eligible citizen to register, to uninhibitedly cast his/her vote in the correct district, and for all votes to be duly counted and accurately declared,” the GTUC said.

The union reminded that a voter’s integrity is not limited to what goes into the ballot box or what is counted, but from the initial process of registration to the final process of declaration.

This is even as the Opposition seeks to influence a halt to the ongoing houseto-house registration activity which has already registered over 70,000 Guyanese who will now be eligible to vote.

The GTUC stated “Now that the chair has been duly appointed, GTUC calls on all politicians and those with vested interest in interfering in the operations of this institution to leave this constitutional body to function independent of their interference.”

Meanwhile, the union used the opportunity to also encourage President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, to further engage on issues relating to day-to-day gov-

ernance.

The Trades Union Congress, in the release, also welcomed Justice Singh’s appointment as a plus for inclusion, gender equity and another achievement for women in leadership role.

“Justice Singh’s appointment comes at a very crucial time when we are rapidly losing the ability to come together as a united people bound by common interest to move Guyana forward; when forces stoke political and ethnic distrust, confidence in our judicial and government systems, constitutional offices, each other, and even rank and file workers who are placed at risk for their safety in the daily execution of their duty,” the release stated.

The union added: “We are in a period where persons are being made afraid to trust where the lines between right and wrong, good and bad are becoming blurred and dependent on who is doing to, or saying what about whom. Justice Claudette Singh is a breath of fresh air in a highly toxic environment. Her role at GECOM is expected to enhance the confidence reposed in this Office.”

PAHO urges legislative support for mothers …wants paid maternity leave, sufficient breastfeeding breaks upon return to work The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recommends that countries in Latin America and the Caribbean implement laws to ensure that working women are given the time and support they need to breastfeed.

This includes adequate paid maternity leave and sufficient breastfeeding breaks upon return to work.

The call comes on the occasion of International Breastfeeding Week, commemorated each year on 1-7 August. PAHO’s theme this year is “Protect breastfeeding in the workplace”, which aims to raise awareness of the need to support parents and create an enabling environment where mothers can breastfeed optimally.

In order to ensure that working mothers are adequately protected, PAHO is calling for countries to implement the Internation-

al Labour Organization’s (ILO) Convention No. 183 and the Maternity Protection Recommendation, 2000 (R191) and to enshrine this in national law. This states that women should be given at least 14 weeks paid maternity leave, and that governments should endeavor to extend this leave to at least 18 weeks. It also stipulates that working mothers should be provided with two 30-minute nursing breaks each day upon her return to work, as well as facilities for breastfeeding at or near the workplace.

“Maternity is a particularly vulnerable time for working women and their families,” said Dr. Anselm Hennis, Director of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at PAHO. “It is vital that expectant and nursing mothers are protected by law so that they have

adequate time to give birth, recover, and nurse their children.”

Dr. Hennis highlighted that paid maternity leave leads to increased duration of breastfeeding and improved health and wellbeing for both mother and child.

Women who only receive short maternity leave (six weeks or less) are four times more likely to not establish breastfeeding or to stop breastfeeding early.

In the Americas, just three countries provide women with paid maternity leave of 18 weeks or longer, and another eight countries provide women with at least 14 weeks. When it comes to the recommendations regarding breastfeeding breaks, 18 countries in the Region provide these breaks to mothers when they return to the workplace.

“Many countries in the

Americas include provisions for maternity and breastfeeding for working mothers in their labor laws, but few of these provisions go far enough to ensure that women and children are properly supported,” said Dr. Ruben Grajeda, Regional Advisor for Nutrition and Social Determinants of Health at PAHO. “This is a fundamental issue of equality, where women who are not protected are faced with a stark choice between economic stability and the health of their child.”

As well as calling on governments to implement maternity protection in the workplace, PAHO also recommends a variety of other measures to protect, promote and support the right to breastfeeding. These include the adoption and monitoring of the International Code of Marketing

of Breast-milk Substitutes and the implementation of the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI).

BREASTFEEDING IN THE AMERICAS In the Americas, 54% of children are breastfed within the first hour of life and 38% are breastfed exclusively until 6 months of age as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

However, data varies significantly from country to country, with early-onset breastfeeding (within the first hour or life) ranging from 38.1% in the Dominican Republic to 76.5% in Uruguay. Exclusive breastfeeding for six months ranges from 2.8% in Suriname to 68.4% in Peru.

Benefits of breastfeeding for children and mothers Breastfeeding has a variety of benefits for both mother and child.

For young children, it is designed to meet all of their nutritional and immunological needs. It protects against disease and death from diarrhea and respiratory infections, and reduces the risk of dental malocclusion, obesity and diabetes. Breastfeeding also contributes to cognitive development: breastfed children have an average intelligence quotient (I.Q.) 2.6 points higher than children that are not breastfed. Women that breastfeed their babies also have a number of benefits, including a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer, improved birth spacing, and lower risk of diabetes and obesity. It is estimated that universal breastfeeding could prevent 823,000 deaths in children aged less than 5 and 20,000 deaths in women from breast cancer, annually.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

Presidential pardons for four ‘small ganja users’ President David Granger, pursuant to Articles 188, 189 and 190 of the Constitution of Guyana, granted full and free Presidential pardon to four men who are currently serving sentences in the Guyana prisons for charges related to the possession of marijuana.

The Presidential pardon takes effect from August 1, 2019. Pardoned are Mr. Robert Bhagnauth, who is serving a three-year sentence in the Mazaruni Prison for the offence of Possession of Cannabis; Mr. Michael Gouveia, who is serving a threeyear sentence at the Timehri Prison for the offence of Possession of Cannabis; Mr. Andy Roberts, who is serving a sentence of two years at the Lusignan Prison for the offence of Smoked Cannabis and Mr. Joseph Yaw, who is serving a sentence of two years and ten months in the Georgetown Prison ‘B’ for the Possession of Cannabis.

The conditions outlined in the Constitution of Guyana were met.

The President pardoning of the men comes weeks after government announced its intention to remove mandatory custodial sentence for possession of small amounts of Marijuana. In early July, Cabinet approved a proposal for the removal of custodial sentences for persons found with up to 30 grammes of marijuana in their possession, in keeping with a commitment made by President David Granger. The quantity, which constitutes a trafficking in cannabis offence, has been increased to one thousand grammes in the proposal – a move which the Rastafarian Community is pleased with.

According to the Ministry of the Presidency, the decision to approve the proposal was arrived at after extensive discussions and reviews. It stated that while possession remains an offence, persons will not be sentenced to terms of imprisonment as obtained in the past. “This is the first of several steps that government intends to take as it considers the recently

submitted Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Report on the usages of marijuana, and in particular, usages by our Rastafarian brothers and sisters who require it for use in their worship and sacrament,” the Ministry of the Presidency said.

Over the years, several persons have been placed behind bars for having small amounts of marijuana in their possession– a move which has been frowned upon, given the overcrowding of the country’s prisons. Once found in possession of more than five grams of cannabis, a person can be sentenced to three years in jail. Now that Cabinet has granted its approval, it is likely that Government will fast track its efforts at amending the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Control Act, in the National Assembly, to remove custodial sentences for possession of up to 30 grammes of marijuana.

In an invited comment, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had said the decision by the government had its

genesis in the overcrowded prison the coalition Government inherited and its subsequent efforts to reduce it. He noted that this issue became starker following the 2017 Prison riot. He said President David Granger had appointed him to lead a delegation which included Attorney General, Basil Williams and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan to meet with the then Chancellor, Carl Singh to explore ways of addressing the prison overcrowding.

Mr. Nagamootoo stated that during their discussions, it became known that many of the young people who were incarcerated were caught with small amounts of Marijuana, but, because of the law, mandatory custodial sentence was imposed on them. “It was under those circumstances our administration sought to find a way to deal with this issue and we felt that a first step would be to remove custodial sentences for 30 grammes or less of marijuana.”

Alliance for Change (AFC) Member of Parliament, Michael Carrington, since 2015, had tabled a bill in the National Assembly for debate but it has been languishing on the order paper, being deferred time and time

again.

In a letter to the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, on May 28, 2019, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, said Cabinet had approved the draft Narcotics Drug and Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill 2015. However, as is customary, Trotman asked the Attorney-General to review the amendments. In that letter, Trotman disclosed that the draft Amendments were presented to Cabinet Meeting in Linden on April 30, 2019.

According to the proposed bill seen by Guyana Chronicle, Section 4 (A) (i) and Section 4 (B) (ii) of the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances Control Act 1988 are being amended to remove the requirements for imprisonment for anyone found in possession of cannabis.

Section 5 (2) (e), which addresses the issue of quantity, is being amended to increase the quantity of cannabis that attracts jail time.

In the Explanatory Memorandum signed by MP Carrington, it was explained that the bill is in direct response to the experience faced by many young Guyanese who have been incarcerated for small quantities of cannabis

resin. “This experience has further revealed that many of the young persons who have been remanded and incarcerated as a result of being charged with offences which involved relatively small quantities of cannabis or cannabis resin, have been exposed to persons who have been accused of and have been involved in much more serious violent offences. The social intercourse afforded by the incarceration has resulted in regrettable contamination and education of many young persons in criminal behavior and anti-social tendencies,” MP Carrington explained.

He noted that as a result of the current statutory provision, persons found with 15 or more grammes of marijuana for personal or medical use, have been jailed for three or more years. “The proposed amendments will remove the mandatory imprisonment of persons who have been accused of having in their possession relatively small amounts of cannabis and cannabis resin. The amendment will also increase the quantity which will constitute a trafficking in cannabis or cannabis resin to one thousand grammes” the Member of Parliament noted.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

Ministry of Agriculture joins Emancipation celebration for the first time

Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder

FOR the first time in history, the Ministry of Agriculture hosted a cultural celebration on Wednesday, called “Sankofa,” as it joined the rest of Guyana in celebrating its 181 years of emancipation from slavery.

The event saw entertainment from African drumming, dancing, poetry and Afro-beat music. A showcase of African fashion was also highlighted at the celebration

ceremony.

Speaking at the event which was held in the Ministry of Agriculture’s compound, Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, stated that the abolition of slavery placed the nation in a new direction and led it to a greater cultural diversity.

“This diversity has helped Guyana to adapt to its national motto, ‘One people, One nation, One destiny’,” he

pointed out.

The Minister said that Emancipation not only celebrates the anniversary of freedom, but also the outcome of the struggle, resistance and sacrifices made by our forefathers.

Holder noted that over the years, the celebration of emancipation exemplifies and reflects the hopes, dreams and successes of freedom, equality and justice.

He added that emancipation from slavery has created opportunities for the development of the village movements, communities’ and village structure in modern day Guyana, within which the agricultural sector is built.

Also speaking at the event was Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture with responsibility for rural affairs, Valerie Adams-Yearwood, who said that as the country marks Emancipation

Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture with responsibility for rural affairs, Valerie Adams-Yearwood

A dancer performs an African dance on Wednesday

Day 2019, the citizens must reflect on the courage, heroism, indomitable will of our forefathers and mothers, as well as the legacy they have restored upon them.

“We must remember those who were insistent in demanding their dignity and their resoluteness in struggling against their dehumanisation. They did so because they had a vision to find

a new life for themselves and their families. Today we must draw on the rich reservoir of our history to drive our actions forward,” Yearwood stated.

She noted that although the citizens of Guyana have been freed from the shackles of chattel slavery, the people of the country still possess chains which TURN TO PAGE 17 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

Group pushes hemp legislation but Berbice pulls back

By Vishani Ragobeer THE Guyana Hemp Industries (GHI), through four mega concerts, is hoping to raise awareness of the employment benefits hemp can provide if it is legalised here.

“What we are doing for Guyana is that the hemp industry is creating awareness for hemp and helping the farmers to be employed,” chairman of the GHI, Verman Bedessee, said.

He further explained that a driving force behind the promotion of the hemp industry is to provide an alternative industry to the rice or sugar industries so that persons can align themselves and become employed.

Some of the uses of hemp, according to Bedessee, include bio-degradable hemp plastic bags; hemp paper; bio-composite hempcrete for building; bio-diesel fuel; hemp flour for 50 per cent more protein than regular flour and more.

Cognisant of this, he said the body is hosting a mega concert across four regions, including Georgetown and Berbice, so that persons can understand how hemp can become a thriving local industry with a host of employment opportunities.

“GHI is here to educate persons, bring in the seeds, help with the planting and also buy back the products when the farmers grow it,” he said.

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Ministry of Agriculture ...

are “holding them back.”

“We must rid ourselves of them and break free and the chains I referred to. The chain of racism and the chin of un-forgiveness – these are root causes of division in our nation,” the minister pointed out.

She urged the audience to use freedom to foster healthy families which are at the foundation of building a strong and flourishing society. She pleaded for the citizens of Guyana to, in practical tribute to those who fought so hard to end slavery, honour them through building strong families.

Yearwood noted, “Slave society was built on division and conflict.

Today, in meaningfully celebrating emancipation, let

A drummer of 10 years as he entertains the audience

us recommit to the fight of racism and all parts of division among our people. Let us also strive to emphasise our unity. Let us reaffirm that unity is right.”

GHI Chairman, Verman Bedessee

Bedessee, however, related that he believes that there are some in Berbice who are opposed to the introduction of hemp, due to a number of misconceptions.

Some persons in the ancient county, according to him, have been destroying the advertisement banners that GHI erected for the concert.

“Hemp and marijuana are two different things,” he said, explaining: “Although it’s from the same species of plant (Cannabis Sativa), hemp is a plant that cannot get you high but the marijuana is the one which has larger amounts of the cannabinoids called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) substance that will get you ‘high’.” Hemp contains about 0.3 per cent or less THC.

Bedessee had said that this common misconception between marijuana and hemp continues to contribute to there being no legislation for organisations such as the GHI to make use of the product. Even so, he noted that the GHI remains hopeful that this will change, even if supporters must settle for just a farming permit.

Aside from that belief, he shared that persons may just be in opposition to the hosting of the show and are maliciously removing the promotional items.

“Most people in Guyana have about three or four

artistes but we’re bringing about a dozen artistes,” he said, sharing his belief that some person could also be feeling threatened by this.

He, however, clarified that the GHI has no intention of garnering massive profits from the venture.

Instead, he indicated that the concerts are being organised using his own money so that farmers can be supported and that more persons can learn about hemp.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

Sophia residents employed under IDB project

By Leson Jones SOME 142 Sophia residents are currently benefitting from employment opportunities under the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Project.

The project, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank to the tune of US$27M, is being executed by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

Under the project, infrastructural and other development works are being undertaken in several communities, namely Section A-Block X, Liliendaal; Section B, Pattensen; Section C, Turkeyen; Section D, Turkeyen; and Cummings Park.

Scores of semi-skilled workers and labourers have secured employment bending steel, digging drains, mixing cement, building form boards for culverts and casting con-

crete bridges.

The project is aimed at resolving frequent problems that plague the community which include blockage of drains, damage roads and flooding.

At the conclusion of the project, Sophia will have climate-ready drainage, street lighting, a playground, a skills training centre, upgraded roads and sidewalks.

According to project engineer, Kevin Deonarine,

despite the current weather condition, the project is moving according to plan.

“The project started two months ago and construction of the infrastructures is developing smoothly, the only challenge is highly imbalanced weather conditions so far.”

Meanwhile, the residents of the sections where the works are being done praised the project even though it has caused them some minor

disruptions.

“I feel comfortable because I have two kids to maintain and very much thankful we are getting jobs in Sophia and I’m thankful for an everyday job to upkeep myself,” said Sherwin McDonald, who has been living in Section C, Turkeyen, for the past six years.

The project, aside from fulfilling housing and basic infrastructural needs, will reduce frequent flooding and improve road access throughout the community, especially to public institutions.

Shawn Millington, another resident and father of six who has been working on the project for the past two months, is overjoyed to be employed.

“This project is long overdue and I am happy that it’s actually happening because better road and bridges is necessary for the residents.

It has also helped me develop my skills when working and also because of this project it will help to stop flooding … in our community,” Millington told Guyana Chronicle.

Several of the leaders in the community have applauded the effort and commitment of both the IDB and the CH&PA in executing the project.

“This is one of the better projects that have happened to Sophia over a long period of time. The people here made the roads in the past, but I’m very happy to see the upgrade and the infrastructures that are being put in place. Everyone in the community is happy for the project because it returns livelihood restoration to everyone from Sophia,” Clayton Hinds, a councillor and community leader of Section A, Block X, Liliendaal, said.

According to Hinds, as the project continues, he, CH&PA officials and other community leaders are meeting with residents every second Thursday of every month to iron out any issue with the residents.

The Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme will also be extended to La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara; Diamond and Golden Grove , East Bank Demerara (EBD); and La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.

These areas will benefit from upgrade and infrastructural enhancement and residents therein will also receive employment opportunities.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

54 graduate from patient care programme in Linden The programme, a Ministry of Public Health initiative, is aimed at creating meaningful employment for youths in Region 10. It is also aimed at bridging the gap between qualified nursing personnel and patients, thus positioning the region as a pilot region in the provision of healthcare.

Speaking at the graduation, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, urged the graduates to see this simple but significant PCA post as a stepping stone for greater things. She encouraged them to remain humble and take in all the knowledge and experiences that will be passed on by the senior health practitioners that they will be surrounded by. "Care is a small word, but it is pregnant with meaning... it involves much more than lip service, it encompasses empathy, understanding, sympathy, sensitivity and I can add to this many many more...of which I am going to hold you accountable,"

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, along with other executive members of the Linden Hospital Complex and the graduates

she said.

It was a well thought out decision, Lawrence said, to allow the first batch of PCAs, to be trained in Linden. She expressed joy, that these 54 graduates, six of whom are from Kwakwani, have secured a job, which will enable them to build their self-esteem and create a better standard of living for themselves. "Today with

confidence, you can look forward to receiving that paycheck, but don't let it get to your head, because they are many more paychecks and larger paychecks that you can receive, if you humble yourselves and show commitment," she said in encouraging the students.

The PCAs were reminded to bring to the profession, humility, patience and pro-

fessionalism as they hold a simple but significant post in the healthcare system. Their duty is to ensure the patients are comfortable and their basic needs are met. “The Ministry of Public Health, and by extension the Government of Guyana, will continue to enact policies that will ensure healthcare in Guyana continues to soar in all districts, including the hinter-

land. We view our hinterland region as very important. We know that it is imperative that trained healthcare workers function in all communities, hence the relevance of the PCA training programme and thus this will be happening in every region," Lawrence revealed.

Chief Executive Officer of the Linden Hospital Complex, Dr. Mohammed Riya-

sat, congratulated the ministry for rolling out yet another successful programme in Linden and expressed optimism that the three hospitals in the region will benefit tremendously. "The training you have gained at the Charles Rosa School will continue, so it is for you to ask the questions, research your patients, always remember patient confidentiality must be respected at all times, please follow the standard operating procedure," he said.

The six months PCA programme, commenced in February and provided both clinical and theoretical training as well as the acquisition of soft skills. Lectures included anatomy and physiology, infection control, nutrition, vital signs, performing physical care.

Guidance and counselling were provided throughout the programme. There were two course examination and one final examination. The pass rate was recorded at 100 per cent.

USAID, GTI support training, job preparation ... they had in their work and their ability to continuously use their initiative to ensure they completed every task and went above and beyond to ensure they were successful.

Chairman ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc., Dr. Vishnu Doerga, during the simple ceremony encouraged the students telling them that he had been a participant some 10 years ago in a similar programme by the USAID. He advised the students that if they focus on what they want in the future anything is achievable. He told them not

to waste the opportunities they receive, but that they should always try to make the best of them.

“The grass is always greener where you water it,” was what he left with the graduates.

The United States Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Mark Cullinane, expressed that the United States Embassy has proudly worked handin-hand with Guyana in an effort to sustain youth development and support economic growth throughout the country. He spoke to the part the USAID

Convicted child rapist appeals ‘severe’ sentence ATTORNEY-at-LAW Glen Hanoman has filed an appeal on behalf of his client, 63-year-old Gregory Ramkissoon, who was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for raping a four-year-old girl in 2016.

Ramkissoon, called “Skeage,” threw himself at the mercy of Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the High Court two weeks ago and admitted that on January 4, 2016, in the County of Demerara, he engaged in sexual activity with a four-year-old child.

Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall sentenced Ramkissoon to 20 years’ jail with the possibility of parole after serving 15 years.

Gregory Ramkissoon called ‘Skeage’

Ramkissoon’s attorney filed the appeal on the grounds that Justice Singh failed to explore the possibility of a probation report and to take other relevant factors into consideration. Another basis for the appeal is that Ramkissoon’s original attorney failed to have the sentence adequately mitigated; the sentence was severe, especially since the appellant had pleaded guilty.

plays in assisting to provide Guyana’s youths with multiple channels for growth, through its programs.

“I am happy to say that 385 youths were trained and 93 placed in employment, our hope is that graduates can now take advantage of the opportunity available under the CYFR programme and access sustainable and meaningful employment,” said Cullinane.

The country manager of CFRY, Courtney Brown, stated that the purpose of the programme is not to just simply teach the students or equip

them with skills, but to also to link them with the necessary persons and organisations to ensure they could use the skills they have received to sustain themselves financially. He stated that there are life coaches attached to the CFRY to ensure the persons who have come through the programme are placed in jobs. Brown stated that the CFRY provides grant support for programmes such as after-school programmes, which are also offered in all five of the target communities.

Goldie Smith, CEO of the Vol-

Woman sentenced to 9 months for destruction of property PRINCIPAL Magistrate Faith McGusty, on Tuesday July 31, 2019, sentenced a forty-five-year-old woman to prison for destruction of property.

Vanessa Schroeder, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that, on July 31, 2019, at Hadfield Street, Georgetown, she unlawfully and maliciously damaged a car’s front windscreen, valued at $69,500, the property of Jason Price.

Attorney Kizzy Williams told the court that she was of the view that the accused should be institutionalized, due to her behaviour.

“I in going to no prison because I will bore up everybody” were the words of the angry woman.

After listening to all she had to say, Magistrate Faith McGusty sentenced Schroeder to serve nine months in prison.

FROM PAGE 12

unteer Youth Corp, expressed that the programme does not end with the graduation, but that matching students with the relevant jobs to the training they have received will be the second phase of the operation.

“Be courageous, imagine where you want your future to take you, then make baby steps to make it happen,” were the sentiments expressed by Smith.

Sargeant wanted by police bers 226-6978, 225-8196, 226-2870, 226-7065, 2271149, 226-7065, 911 or the nearest police station.

Sargeant’s last known addresses are Lot 3458 Postal Housing Scheme, North Ruimveldt, and LH Stevedore Scheme, Tucville Squatting Wanted: Joseph “Joey” Sargeant

THE Guyana Police Force has issued a wanted bulletin for Joseph “Joey” Sargeant in connection with the murder of Terry Ault.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Sargeant is asked to contact the police on telephone num-

Area, Georgetown. All information will be treated with the strictest confidence, the police said in a release.

Ault, a miner of Lot 63, Block A, South Sophia, was reportedly shot once to his neck at a pool party in the community in the wee hours of July 21, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

ECLAC predicts 4.6% growth for Guyana …amid slowing down of regional economy

THE Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has predicted a 4.6 per cent growth for Guyana this year, even amid projections of continued decline in the regional economy due to an international context of greater uncertainty and complexity, and weak performance by investment, exports and consumption.

This is the outlook of the annual Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2019, announced on Wednesday by Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the United Nations regional organisation, at a press conference in Santiago, Chile.

With a lucrative oil and gas industry on the horizon for Guyana, the country has been listed as the fastest growing economy in the world, with a projected growth rate of 16.3 per cent from 2018-2021.

Guyana’s economy, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $3.63 billion, a

growth rate of 4.1 per cent in 2018 and 4.6 per cent in 2019, is expected to further grow by 33.5 per cent and 22.9 per cent in 2020 and 2021 respectively. This is according to the NASDAQ Stock Market, which is an American stock exchange.

It is the second-largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalisation, behind only the New York Stock Exchange located in the same city.

NASDAQ said, with a per-capita income of $5,194, Guyana is a middle-income country and is covered by dense forest. It is home to fertile agricultural lands and abundant natural resources.

Gold, bauxite, sugar, rice, timber and shrimp are among its leading exports. Back in 2000, the U.S. Geological Survey identified the Guyana-Suriname Basin as the second highest resource potential among unexplored oil basins in the world.

According to the report,

the Region will grow this year by just 0.5 per cent, a lower figure than the 0.9 per cent registered in 2018.

This performance is attributed to the effects of a slowdown in sync with the global economy, which has meant an unfavorable international scenario for the Region.

Likewise, the low growth internally is due to the lack of momentum exhibited by investments, exports and a fall in public spending and private consumption.

Compared to previous years, the slowdown in 2019 will be generalised and affect 21 of the 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. On average, South America is expected to grow by 0.2 per cent, Central America 2.9 per cent and the Caribbean 2.1 per cent. “The Region is facing an external context of greater uncertainty and growing complexity: less momentum from world economic activity and global trade; greater volatility and financial fragility; questioning of the multilateral system and an increase in geopolitical tensions,” indicated Alicia Bárcena.

According to the Economic Survey 2019, fiscal space has been restricted by insufficient income levels to cover spending, which translates into deficits and an increase in debt in recent years. Moreover, the effects of the growing foreign exchange volatility and greater depreciation will limit the ability of central banks in the Region to deepen policies to stimulate aggregate demand, in addition to the fact that the structural conditions accentuate external vulnerability and do not help to spur growth (export structure focused mainly on primary goods and falling trend in productivity).

According to ECLAC, policy space needs to be expanded to tackle the slowdown and contribute to economic growth, with measures in the fiscal and monetary areas, as well as in investment and productivity. In the fiscal arena, the survey cites the need to reduce tax evasion and illicit financial flows; promote the adoption of taxes related to the digital economy, environment and public health; and reassess tax expenditures to align them toward productive investment.

In terms of monetary policy, the report calls for promoting economic growth without compromising foreign exchange and pricing stability; while on investment matters and productivity, it is imperative to increase participation by knowledge-intensive sectors in the productive

structure through a more active role by public and private investment; reorient investments toward sectors with greater momentum; and adopt stimulus policies that have an impact in terms of innovation, learning and quality jobs.

The second part of the Economic Survey 2019 analyses the structural changes that have occurred in the international financial system in terms of instruments and agents, subsequent to the global crisis of 2007-2008 from a regional perspective. The report posits that the bond market has gained relative importance with respect to the banking system. It also shows that levels of concentration, interconnectivity and pro-cyclicality have intensified. In addition, the level of global debt is generalised and registers record levels (320 per cent of GDP), in a context of low growth. In order to tackle these challenges, the report recommends expanding and standardising the spectrum of vulnerability indicators. The document likewise advocates advancing toward broader and more homogeneous macro-prudential regulation to encompass not only the formal banking sector but also all financial agents – including the shadow banking system – as well as different instruments.

Correction

THE Guyana Chronicle wishes to correct a section of its article ‘Exxon relinquishes portion of Canje Block’, published on July 31, 2019, which indicated that the said relinquishment is contingent to the work programme of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

This is not so as EEPGL’s work programme has been fully completed. It had submitted a Canje Block licence renewal

application, including an area to be relinquished, in accordance with the Canje Petroleum Agreement and all applicable laws and regulations.

Under Article 4 of the agreement, the contractor shall elect either to relinquish the entire contract area or relinquish 20 percent and renew the Petroleum Prospecting Licence for a period of up to three years.

The newspaper apologises for the mistake in its previous article.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

CJIA procures new baggage trolleys billion-dollar capital programme being implemented

Travel 300 trolleys in the baggage claim area

THE Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Thursday announced that it has procured and put into service 75 galvanised steel

baggage carts for free use by passengers in the new Arrivals Terminal.

The carts, Travel 300, were procured at the cost of

Passengers at CJIA using the Travel 300 trolley

GYD$6,500,000 from one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of airport luggage carts, Wanzl, a release from CJIA said.

Chief Executive Officer of

CJIA, Mr. Ramesh Ghir, stated “We are pleased to introduce this new convenient service to our passengers. These trolleys will make the arrival process a

lot smoother, which will add to an overall improved and comfortable experience at the airport.”

This new acquisition is

part of a billion-dollar 2019 capital programme aimed at improving customer service and enhancing airport operation efficiencies.

Child-killer mom appeals 20-year sentence

THIRTY-ONE-YEAROLD Sonya King, who was recently sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for killing her eight-year-old son Emmanuel King, has filed an appeal to challenge the severity of her sentence.

The sentence was imposed by Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court after she pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. King had confessed to killing her son Emmanuel on Sunday, February 21, 2016 at the family’s home at La Parfaite Harmonie, Onderneeming, West Bank Demerara.

King’s attorney Mark Conway filed the appeal on the grounds that Justice Singh failed and/or neglected to consider the appellant’s mental state when she committed the crime. The attorney is also

ara. It is alleged that King and Emmanuel were in bed at their home when the woman placed a bed sheet over the child’s face and suffocated

Sonya King

contending that, given the circumstances, the sentence was severe.

According to reports, the child lived with his mother and step-father, Robert at Parfaite Harmonie, Onderneeming, West Bank Demer-

Emmanuel King

him.

The woman had confessed to the police and said, “Ah just hold him down, meh son was kicking up with his

Brothel operator granted bail ON Tuesday July 31, 2019, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, a thirty three- year-old man was granted $100,000 bail, having been charged with operating a brothel.

Seon Dawson of First Avenue, Bartica, denied the charge which stated that, between June 21 and June 28, in the Upper Mazaruni River,

at red man shop, he operated a brothel.

Acting on information received, a rank from the Trafficking in Person (TIP) unit, and persons from the Ministry of Social Protection, went to the said location and found several under-aged girls and foreigners.

Dawson was arrested, taken to the Criminal In-

vestigation Department, and subsequently charged.

The police prosecutor did not object to Dawson being granted bail.

Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty granted Dawson $100,000 bail, and transferred the matter to court 1 on August 5, 2019.

foot. Ah hold down the sheet there until he stop moving and then I go and call Robert and tell he I kill Emmanuel.”

According to results from the post-mortem, Emmanuel

died as a result of suffocation.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that when King was arrested in 2017, she told the police that her son succumbed after falling

from a tree earlier that day.

She however, later gave a formal statement to investigators at Den Amstel Police Station reportedly confessing to suffocating the child.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

‘E’ Division honours outstanding cops - Best Cop hails from Kwakwani

Best Cop, Lance Corporal Carl Franklin, receiving his award from Commander of 'E' Division, Linden Lord

THE Guyana Police Force ‘E’ Division, at its first award ceremony on Wednesday, awarded 28 ranks for their bravery, mannerism, and dedicated service over the years.

The ranks received trophies and cash incentives at the colourful ceremony which saw in attendance senior ranks from the Guyana Police Force and regional

officials including Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell.

Ranks who were awarded not only operated at police stations in Linden, but at police stations across the division. In fact, receiving the ‘Best Cop’ award for the division was Lance Corporal Carl Franklin, who hails from the Kwakwani Police Station.

Best Cop runner-up was detective Tyrone Vanhersel and

Best Cop second runner-up was Woman Corporal, Rehanna Williams.

Deputy Commander for the Division, Jermaine Harper, congratulated the ranks for their hard work and dedication while urging those who were not awarded, to keep their eyes on the prize and take a page out of the books of those who were.

Commander of ‘E’ Di-

The 28 ranks who were awarded. In the front row is Commander Linden Lord, other senior ranks from E Division and regional officials

vision Linden Lord, who was the brainchild behind the ceremony, said he hopes it is a regular feature at the division, as it will prove to be a source of motivation for the ranks, especially the young ones, to keep putting their best foot forward. He said that if he is still in the division in December, another awards ceremony will be held.

Men charged with a series of offences released on bail PRINCIPAL Magistrate Faith McGusty on Tuesday July 31, 2019, granted $35,000 bail to each of two men who were charged with a series of offences.

Twenty nine-year-old, driver, Kevin Lynch of

Sisters Village, East Coast Demerara and twenty-fouryear-old conductor, Rawle Bruce, of Agricola, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and denied the charges when they were read to them.

It is alleged that, on July 27, 2019, at Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, they resisted arrest by a police officer who was on duty.

The second charge stated that, on the same day and place, they used threatening

language towards the same officer.

The last charge stated that both men behaved in a disorderly manner.

Police Prosecutor, Seon Blackman, told the court that, on the day in question, Marlon Azore, who is a traffic officer, while on duty at the Avenue of the Republic, noticed that a bus was not adhering to the traffic rules.

The officer then stopped the bus and told the driver to drive to Brickdam Police Station.

The officer entered the bus and, as the bus was heading towards the station, the conductor told the driver not to go to the Brickdam Station. The driver stopped the bus and both the conductor and driver assaulted the police officer. They then left the scene.

Blackman objected to bail being granted to the men on the grounds of the seriousness of the offences.

Magistrate Faith McGusty granted bail and adjourned the matter to August 14.

Lord said that he believes his ranks are very hard working and this was more evident at the national award ceremony which was recently held where 4/5 of the ranks that were awarded came from ‘E’ Division.

He urged those who were not awarded not to look at it as a discouragement but as an eye-opener. "I think this is an opportunity for them

to change gear so that in the other awards ceremony they will be called forth," he urged. The ranks were presented with cash in total of $190,000. Before the awards ceremony, a parade was held and outstanding ranks at the parade were also presented with cash.

The events were part of the Guyana Police Force 180 Anniversary celebration.

Suriname hands over ‘notorious’ 2011 prison escapee KEVIN Narine called ‘Long hair’, who escaped from the New Amsterdam Prison in June 2011, was on Wednesday handed over to the Guyana Police Force at Moleson Creek.

After his escape he had fled to Suriname but was apprehended by the Dutch authorities a short time after. While information pertaining to his release/ handing over is sketchy, this newspaper understands he served time for several piracy-related incidents in Suriname.

In June 2011, Narine also called ‘Ram Sookdial’ and ‘Ayodhiaram’ of Number 7 Village, along with three others namely Rickford La Fleur, Vijay Seenarine of Little India Skeldon and Vinod Gopaul of Yakasari, Black Bush Polder, escaped from the New Amsterdam Penitentiary. Narine had, days before

Kevin Narine called ‘Long Hair’

his escape, been sentenced to nine years imprisonment for robbery under arms.

During 2006-2011 Narine was said to be involved in a series a piracy attacks both in Guyana and Suriname. Days after the prison escape, Seenarine, who was on remand for a carnal knowledge offence, was recaptured after he was found walking along the JC Chandisingh Secondary School Road.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

GECOM requests police protection for field staff

IN the light of reports of attacks, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has called on the Guyana Police Force to protect workers of the commission who are in the field conducting house-tohouse registration.

The commission in a press statement said it has engaged the police force to provide surveillance in communities and to assist with security of the field staff.

Over the last few days, a number of enumerators were attacked and injured by dogs which were intentionally loosed by their owners.

“They received dog bites which were instigated by residents who are allegedly not in agreement with the registration exercise,” said GECOM. It was also reported that some persons are using threatening language, instilling fear and providing misinformation that the staff will not be paid for their service. The commission therefore urged citizens to

immediately desist from such “unlawful and obscene” acts, as they will be arrested and prosecuted.Additionally, the commission reminded citizens that registration ia a legal requirement and they have a responsibility to ensure that they are registered.

Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, who

had urged supporters of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to not participate in the registration exercise, has called on persons not to target enumerators.

“They are doing a job and they are professionals… treat them politely, if you do not want to participate, you can say I’m not registering,” said

Jagdeo during a press briefing at his Church Street office on Wednesday.

GECOM had said that the countrywide house-to-house exercise is in keeping with a decision of the commission on February 19, 2019 and in accordance with Order No. 25 of 2019, dated June 11, 2019.

“Registration is a legal requirement according to the National Registration Act, Chapter 19:08, therefore, all eligible persons are mandated to register,” GECOM said.

House-to-house registration is a new registration exercise and all eligible persons must register, even if they were previously reg-

istered, the elections management body stated. 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.

Guyanese citizens by birth, descent, naturalisation or registration, 14 years and older by October 31, 2019, or a citizen of a Commonwealth country living in Guyana for a period of no less than one year, preceding the qualifying date, are all eligible for registration.

Residents are urged to have ready the relevant documents required for registration and to be on the lookout for GECOM’s registration officials in their areas.

GWI delivers new well in Moco Moco A 600-foot well has been drilled in the village of Moco Moco, Region 9, just one week following the announcement by the Guyana Water Inc. Managing Director of GWI, Dr. Richard VanWest Charles told the residents of Moco Moco on Tuesday, July 30 that this intervention forms part of the corporation’s commitment to ensure equity countrywide. “Following assessments in the Region, we’ve found a number of non-functional systems, but with new technology at our disposal, we can now make better provisions for improved water access”, Dr. Van- West Charles posited.

The newly-drilled well will be complemented by a pump, photovoltaic system and four-inch transmission mains that will be laid close to residents’ homes so that they can connect to same.

Additionally, GWI will be sending an excavator to assist the community with

GWI officials in conversation with contractor, Mr. Franklin, whose company drilled the well in Moco Moco Dr. Van-West Charles points to a map which was designed by Moco Moco Villager & printed through GWI, as he highlights that it will help in the laying of pipelines

digging for the laying of pipelines as well as to dig the extension of the community pool, at the request of the Toshao. He noted that the pool serves as a facility to encourage practice and competition in swimming.

Upon completion of the distribution system, water will be pumped from the well directly to the transmission lines. A trestle and storage tank will be constructed in the future as a backup system.

The community will assist with the laying of the lines and the provision of timber for the construction of fencing around the well.

Executive Director of Hinterland Services, Mr. Ramchand Jailal, called on Moco Moco’s Toshao, Mr. James George to identify persons within the community who can be trained as servicemen, while Dr. Charles committed to working with the Region 9 Democratic Council to repair the non-functional sanitary

blocks that exist in the nursery and primary schools.

He further explained that even as works continue, additional communities will be added and catered for under the utility’s 2020 budget.

The Toshao and residents expressed their gratitude to the team for its timely interventions.

Meanwhile, water improvement works are ongoing in Yupukari and Kaicumbay and follow up visits were made by Dr. Charles and a

technical team on Monday, July 29, to assess the progress to date.

In Yupukari, the photovoltaic system was installed and connected to the wells in the community. While pipelines have been laid to install 25 service connections in the western part of the community, more lengths of pipe are being laid to serve the rest of the community.

Contact was also made with the Regional office to ensure the sanitary blocks at the school and the health centre are functional.

Meanwhile, assessments at the health centre have revealed that there is need for two trestles to be further elevated in order to ensure water is available in the shower at the facility.

GWI has also committed to providing four additional tanks to the school's sanitary block and two at the health centre, in addition to a water heating system.

In Kaicumbay, GWI is to build a well head, install a discharge, photovoltaic system and connect the water distribution network.

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O

Relics of the past

NE can well understand Madhia for instance, or even Mahaicony, if the game-plan is to stay alphabetical. But Morawhanna! Now that’s taking it a bit too far, don’t you think! All the way up in Region One (in the Barima-Waini) at that!

Turns out, there’s a whole lot of history behind this place, as according to the African Cultural & Development Association (ACDA), which pretty much dictates the course Emancipation Day celebrations will take each year, Morawhanna is one of the first Afro-Guyanese communities to have been established in that part of the country.

It also previously boasted a population of some 200, and rated among the best in music, fashion, art and craft, and cuisine.

Among the area’s most prominent families are said to be: The Nobles, the Estwick-Gurricks; the Scotlands; the Franks; the Nelsons; the Greenidges; the Belgraves; the Kings and the Gills; all of whom would have been among the pioneers who took up residence there somewhere in the late 1940s.

Unfortunately, circumstance did not permit us at the Guyana Chronicle to explore this development fully as we’ve usually done in the past.

What we’ve done, however, is put together a few stories on ‘one-one’ of those villages that have still managed to retain some of their African roots and influences; and a few traditions that are still going strong to this day, like the ‘box-hand’.

And, since Malawi is the African country of choice this year, we’ve also managed to do a little ‘something’ on it, which we hope you will enjoy.

GUIYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 1, 2019

GUIYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 1, 2019

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Union ready to ‘roll out de red carpet’ today ―as the new Emancipation Mecca

FOR the first time ever in recent memory, the government will be hosting a national event to mark Emancipation, and the venue of choice is the Number 53 Sports Complex Ground in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Unlike last year, when the village successfully hosted the regional celebrations, this year the organisers are catering for in excess of 9000 people, with over 60 booths, and have much more activities planned to showcase to the entire country their rich heritage.

tional Emancipation activity in the country.

“What happens at the National Park with ACDA is not the national Emancipation activity. So the President decided to support us, and instead of having just a small village host this ‘mega’ event, he decide to have the national Emancipation celebrations being held at ‘53’.”

Apparently, President David Granger first came up with the idea, after he and a few Cabinet members attended last year’s celebration, which, reportedly, was

Clean up mode activated

Tents being erected

The entrance to Union Number 53 Village

The road that leads to the Number 53 Complex

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Chairman of the Berbice African Association, Linden Murray said the event is being organised in collaboration with 13 other groups that are related to the organisation.

“Over the years,” Murray said, “we used to have a ‘mega’ event, where we go to the different villages and keep our Emancipation. However, since last year, Number 53 has been designated as the place to be come August 1 every year for Emancipation. The President decided that, since it was a former slave community, and there was no na-

a huge success, with its rich cultural programme that included drumming, dramatic poetry, dance, songs, skits, food, fashion and historical information that left those in attendance in awe and wanting more.

Now the organisers are pulling out all the stops, and promising to make last year’s celebration pale into insignificance.

Murray explained that this year, there will be lots more booths, which means that there will be more cultural items, more food; more fashion, more educational materials as well as much more drumming, dancing

and music while making the event one that also showcases national cohesion. In addition, a highly-anticipated met-em-gee competition is among the day’s event.

“We are also trying to have this cohesion not only because we have Africans, but through the revolution we had, all the races can say we are free. So we want to include the tassa drumming and the Amerindians.

What we want to have that day is a drum fusion with the Afro-Indigenous

and Indian beat. People from as far as Baracara and Orealla will be participating.”

He further noted that apart from craft and fashion, there will be several local entrepreneurs showcasing their products and services, such as joinery and furniture. In addition there will be lots of fresh produce from farmers in the community.

Of course, to pull off such a mega event requires lots of planning and infra-

structural works, and the team has been busy since last year, putting the pieces together to make this possible. When this publication visited the village on Tuesday, the final touches were being put in place for today’s grand event.

Residents also seized the opportunity to express their excitement at the prospect of such an important event being held in their community once more. They said they are eagerly anticipating the coming of the President

to what is now regarded as “The Community of Unity”.

This year will mark 185 years since the Abolition of Slavery Act came into effect on August 1, 1834.

Guyanese of all walks of life celebrate the event by dressing in African attire and participating in the many programmes held across the country. This year, however, for the first time, all roads will lead to the Corentyne to a small village that was purchased by freed slaves: Union.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 1, 2019

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B

ORN under the Zodiac sign of Aries, Vera Venture-Hinds, 95, is currently the second oldest female residing in the village of Queenstown on the Essequibo Coast. She is originally from Zorg, another village on the Coast, but moved to Queenstown after marrying John Venture, a villager, in 1949.

Vera recalls that the Queenstown of old was one of those village s Karen Nurse, another villager

GUIYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 1, 2019

The box hand

that was teeming with activity and lots of entertainment, especially during occasions like Emancipation, Easter and Christmas.

Leading up to Emancipation, or Freedom Day as August 1 was called back then, Vera, who does not look a day older than 60 or 70 the most, fondly remembers one Elder Samuels, who belonged to the Jordanite faith, would ride around the village, bell in hand, announcing the various activities that were going to be held for the occasion.

Hinds in her verandah as she reminisces on the olden days

Those activities would include a Libation Ceremony, loads of traditional African foods, and lots of merriment, all of which were held at the Community Centre Ground in the village.

She also remembers Frances Drakes, one of the villagers who used to organise the ‘Freedom Day’ activities, and her late husband, John, an ardent long-distance runner, representing the village successfully at races on the Essequibo Coast and further afield. To this day, she still has the numerous trophies he won over the years at those events.

She also spoke of almost all of the villagers being involved in the throwing of the popular “box-hand”, also

by the contributors. The number of participants are usually small; either six or 12, to correspond with the number of months in the year. A stipulated amount of money is decided upon, and each contributor, called “box-holders”, hands over the same amount every month, and took turns each month in getting back their total yearly contribution, when their turn comes around.

There are instances where some persons throw more than one hand, depending on their financial status.

Sometimes the “box-holders” would keep “a smallpiece” for themselves.

Where such a situation exists at the church, it is known as a “Penny-bank”, where

Vera Venture Hinds; Karen Nurse; long-distance runner; Vera on her b’day

famously known as “sou-sou” in Caribbean countries such as Trinidad and Barbados.

The “Box-hand” is said to have been started by slaves, and it was this money that they pooled together and bought villages like Queenstown, Darthmouth and Danielstown on the Essequibo Coast.

The money saved privately by adults was usually held by ‘box-holders’, normally a neighbour or close friend, who was trusted completely

church members, on a weekly basis, would hand over monies according to how much they can afford, to a trusted churchwoman and a record is made. The savings is usually handed back at Christmastime each year. The “Box-hand”, “Sou-sou” or “Penny-bank”, is an excellent way of saving for a special occasion, such as a wedding or a celebration.

Vera, a staunch Seventh Turn to page 39

GUIYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 1, 2019

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Flambeaux and folk for Emancipation Day Signage at Dartmouth Village

By Michel Outridge

B

OASTING about its rich history, residents of Dartmouth, on the Essequibo Coast say their village is a blessed one, even in the olden days, and today it is no different.

During a visit to the community, the Guyana Chronicle met Keith Beldfield, 58, who talked about the people the village produced and the historical sites they erected in honour of those people who are no longer with us.

Beldfield said that although he was born in Henrietta Village, also on the Essequibo Coast, he grew up in Dartmouth.

that were planned especially for that occasion.

According to village leader, Edmond Prince, come Emancipation Day, they will be having a grand fair in the village, as well as a dominoes competition and a number of educational sessions among other activities.

Prince stated that they have a Dartmouth People’s National Congress (PNC) group and a Co-op group with more than 200 members, and they are in charge of planning and executing all activities within the village.

He noted that Dartmouth has about 4,000 residents, most of whom are mixedrace and were born and

The men, mostly the elders of the village, were on that day when the Guyana Chronicle visited, were ironically seated under a large flamboyant tree, eight of which line the roadside.

Those trees, Prince said, were planted by the residents to signify the nine ex-slaves who pooled their money to buy the village of Dartmouth.

“These trees are aged,” he said, “and have been here for many years, and will remain as a landmark to our people who struggled for freedom so we can celebrate Emancipation today as a people.”

from the sun and engage in dialogues.

He also talked about the historical sites in the village such as the monument in honour of the slain cop; the bust of the late teacher and former Prime Minister Dr Ptolemy Reid and others who struggled for freedom and were stalwarts of that village, which produced good hunters.

“This village is blessed; it was the slaves that used to seek refuge in Dartmouth.

They were fed and had a place to stay, and back then, people used to meet under tamarind trees to worship,

EMANCIPATION PLANS Their plans as a village for Emancipation Day involves a series of activities

raised there.

On Emancipation Day, also, he said, the village will come alive with a ‘Flambeaux Parade’, where all residents will come out with their candles and flambeax and walk through every street in the community, while lustily rendering folk songs to the beat of the masquerade drum.

He added that they will also have a church service, and activities will begin at the seawalls, where they will have the pouring of libation in honour of those of their loved ones who died while crossing the Atlantic in search of a better life in the New World.

Prince said all activities will be held in the village at a particular empty lot which has been identified and will be cleaned and prepared for Emancipation Day. FLAMBOYANT TREES

and would have cricket and football competitions.

BACKGROUND Dartmouth Village is located in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), between Anna Regina and Charity.

It was the birthplace of former Prime Minister Dr. Ptolemy Reid, Mr. Kenneth Hopkinson, the first Regional Chairman, as well as the Annamunthodoos, one of the village’s many outstanding families.

The image of this village from the late 80s has changed significantly with new buildings; mud dams have become

A church with a whole lot of history behind it in Dartmouth Village (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

The elders of Dartmouth under the flamboyant tree

“Growing up here in those days, it was good, because we worked hard to build a life for our families.

And today, we are still blackeye-and-red-beans farmers.

Plus, we have our own poultry and cattle. You can say we are self-reliant due to the struggles of our foreparents,” he said.

Beldfield said that being around the elders of yesteryear, he and his peers learnt a lot as youths back then, as they were taught at an early age to be independent, and to work together to build the village.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that because of the teaching in their time, they have a bond of togetherness; a pattern the young people of today desperately need to know their roots and culture.

he replicated slavery where he had some residents pretending to be chained, and marched them to Charity. He also pretended to whip them, in an effort to show what slavery was like then, so the young people could have an understanding of what their ancestors went through to gain freedom,” the 79-yearold said.

John stated that at his age, he still participates in ‘village work’. He said that they have an active programme, where some elders would go around the village and hold educational sessions with the youths.

He related that the programme is to stimulate inter-

Monument in memory of the late Sergeant Walton K. Brumell, who was killed in the line of duty on February 22, 2002

Prince explained that the flamboyant tree under which they were seated on a large wooden bench serves as a ‘meeting place’ for villagers, especially the elders, where they discuss things of interest and importance to the community.

When the Guyana Chronicle caught up with the group of men, they were in discussion about the upcoming Emancipation Day celebrations.

Prince noted that on weekends, they would at times put on a pot under the tree, which is the perfect place for meeting, since it provides adequate shade

because they didn’t have any churches to worship,” Prince said.

The Guyana Chronicle also met Wyclef Abraham John, who reflected on his boyhood days in Dartmouth, when young people participated in self-help work like cleaning the trenches and so on.

He stated that he was once a heavy-duty operator, and from then to now, a lot of things have changed within the community; a community where young people are not willing to learn about their heritage and history.

“Back in the days, we had a man name “Rado”;

est in the young people, and ensure they participate in all village activities.

Meanwhile, Atiba John, another villager and redbeans farmer told the Guyana Chronicle that he has grown accustomed to life at Dartmouth, because he has a job, and things are beginning to fall into place.

John is a porter at the Charity Hospital and is one of those grassroots people who believes in working the backlands.

“I have a two-acre plot in the backlands, and I use that to cultivate red beans, a tradition handed down by our foreparents. And I continued in that stead to make a living,” he said.

John noted that the youths of Dartmouth are very active in sports, and they have teamed up with the neighbouring community of Westbury, where they have a community centre ground

bitumen streets; and where before there were wooden bridges there are now concrete ones.

In this four-mile Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), there are three large rice-milling complexes, two fuel stations, four metalworks shops, and a fish port.

There are also two monuments, one in memory of the late Dr. Reid, and the other in memory of a fallen cop.

In the late 1860s, Dartmouth, which was a triangular-shaped village due to the Dutch surveyor’s propensity for things triangular, was known by Indentured Indians as ‘Ludge Jaa’, a Hindi word meaning ‘turn back’. As there was nowhere in particular for the indentured labourers to turn when their indentureship was over, Dartmouth became a rescue raft for many of them.

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GUIYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 1, 2019

Where Guyana stands ―on the global push for reparations

Cultural and African rights activist, Dr. David Hinds

By Lisa Hamilton

T

HE push for reparations; an apology and repayment to the descendants of Africans forced into the slave trade will not diminish anytime soon. In fact, efforts are steadily increasing towards the cause all over the world.

Even in Guyana, much is being done to create awareness about reparations in the face of some in the current generation who feel that it is a ‘push of the past’.

However, Cultural and African rights activist, Dr. David Hinds and President of the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) in Guyana, Eric Phillips have put this notion to rest.

“Reparation is important for African communities because the institution of slavery destroyed African-Guyanese; destroyed their culture; challenged their humanity.

Slavery said that they were not human beings and therefore there are consequences for the African Guyanese after slavery ended,” Dr. David Hinds explained.

Because slavery was an economic system of the exploitation of African labour, countries such as England, France, the United States of America (US), Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain and others became rich.

Using the Caribbean region as an example, Dr. Hinds reminded that Haiti, now one of the poorest countries in the world, was once the richest sugar colony in the Western Hemisphere and France’s wealth was built on this.

Likewise, Spain’s wealth was built on the labour of Afro-Cubans, while British wealth was built on the exploitation of African labour in countries like Guyana, Jamaica and Barbados.

Today, there are “glaring consequences” such as gaps in economic development between these and other countries; gaps in prosperity among ethnicities and gaps in social well-being.

“If the development of Europe and the United States of America was built on the underdevelopment of enslaved Africans, then it means, therefore, that if Africans are going to catch up with other ethnic and racial groups in the world, then there has to be some form of affirmative action; some injection of capital into those economies,” Dr. Hinds reckoned.

THE EFFORTS OF CARICOM Pushing for this in the Caribbean region is the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC).

Back in July 2013, at the 34th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, Heads of Government expressed unanimous support for the initiative that the United Kingdom (UK) and other former colonial European nations be engaged on the matter.

A Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee (PMSC) on

Reparations was established, followed by the establishment of the CRC which has the mandate to establish the moral, ethical and legal case for the payment of reparations by the Governments of all the former colonial powers and their relevant institutions.

Representing Guyana as a Chairman on the Commission is Phillips.

He stated that the “endgame” is to go to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to file a law suit under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) signed by most countries.

There are plans for leading legal experts in the Region to meet soon to develop a common strategy on reparatory justice moving forward.

“At the Guyana level, the Guyana Reparations Committee is more busy than everyone else. We meet every Thursday, whereas other groups may meet every two months. We meet at the Museum of African Heritage; we have about 60 people, and it consists of the Commissioners of the Guyana Reparations Committee and the public, and, oftentimes we have visitors from overseas,” Phillips stated.

REPARATION STORY Guyana is the only country to have published its reparation story: The Guyana Reparations Story, while the CRC is working towards the publication of the local reparation stories of other CARICOM countries.

The Guyana Reparations Committee (GRC) is also the only group of its kind in the Caribbean, which has not one, but two television programmes.

In the push for reparations in-house, the GRC has proposed an African Ancestral Rights Bill in which it claims that 15,000 square miles of the country, or 18 per cent of Guyana, belongs to Africans who helped to build it.

They argue that under the 2006 Amerindian Act, Amerindians were give n

ACDA President in Guyana, Eric Phillips

13.8 per cent of Guyana when they were protected by the British and the Dutch by law in comparison to Africans who were enslaved; 473,000 of whom died.

Phillips stated: “Reparations for Guyana is very critical, because it acknowledges the crimes against African-Guyanese that built this country. African-Guyanese not only built this country, but without African-Guyanese, there would be no Guyana because, without emancipation, which followed slavery, there’d be no indentureship. So, everybody in Guyana is here ---except the indigenous people--because Africans died and sacrificed.”

To guide its mandate, the CRC has developed a 10-point Reparations Plan for the region’s indigenous and African descendant communities who are the victims of Crimes against Humanity (CAH).

It caters for a full formal apology; repatriation; an

Indigenous Peoples Development Program; cultural Institutions; public health crisis; illiteracy eradication; an African Knowledge Program; psychological rehabilitation; technology transfer and debt Cancellation.

Meanwhile, the CRC is also working to rename monuments, streets and buildings in CARICOM countries from their colonial or slavery names similarly to how Murray Street in Guyana, named after former colony-owner John Murray, was renamed Quamina Street, in honour of Quamina Gladstone’s fight in the 1823 Demerara Rebellion.

Later in the year, Phillips said that the Commission expects a visit from the Council of Kings and Queens of West Africa to several CARICOM countries, including Guyana.

‘SINS OF THEIR FOREFATHERS’ Despite the plight of enslaved Africans, some in the current generation believe that slavery was the “sins of their forefathers”.

However, Dr. Hinds said that they, too, have a responsibility to give reparations because they continue to benefit from the wealth of their forefathers.

“Wealth is old money that has accumulated over centuries; over generations it has been passed down. So, the white person who owns these companies in Europe and the United States, those companies benefitted from the exploitation of African labour during slavery and so what the descendants are enjoying today are the benefits that were accrued by their fore-parents,” he said.

Meanwhile, Phillips explained the reluctance as: “In apologising they believe that they open themselves to legal charges and that may be an issue because once you say you are complacent then you can be forced to pay.”

He nonetheless commended the London Missionary Society, a missionary society formed in England in 1795, for being the very first church group to acknowledge complacently and a willingness to do something.

Although many governments around the world are still reluctant to apologise for slavery or admit that they owe reparations to Africans, Dr. Hinds believes that the reparation movement is growing.

“Here in the Caribbean, we’ve gotten our governments to sign on to reparations and I think that was a big move.

Once the governments sign on to reparations it means then that we now have representation within the formal system for formal demands for reparations; it’s no longer little groups and individuals that are calling for reparation but countries,” he said.

He added that some countries in the world, which benefitted from slavery, have begun to give back to Africans in the area of education through scholarships.

Yet, he believes that each individual country or Region with Africans affected by slavery can determine what form their reparations should take to help address the gaps aforementioned.

Some of the areas he highlighted as priority were education, health and better infrastructure.

“It’s a question of justice. Why should the people who died to build something get the least out of it?” Phillips questioned.

“Reparatory justice is necessary for a peaceful and stable Guyana otherwise Africans will always be at the bottom of the economic ladder because every other race has been empowered.”

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GUIYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 1, 2019

Dartmouth: Birthplace of ‘Teacher Tollo’

By Michel Outridge

R

EGARDED at one time as an oasis in the wilderness, Dartmouth has the unique distinction of being a refuge for slaves when they had nowhere else to go.

Dartmouth was also at one time a cul-de-sac of sorts, as there were no real roads leading to Charity, and the area beyond was just dense jungle.

The East Indians in the community at the time referred to the village as “Ludgejaa”, an Urdu word meaning “turn back”, since the area beyond the village was at the time inaccessible.

Dartmouth Village has produced a number of outstanding Guyanese, among them the Annamunthadoos (Indians of Madrassi descent), who were primarily doctors; the Brummels; and the Pitmans and Clays, who were community leaders.

The first Chairman of Region Two, Mr. Kenneth Hopkinson, hails from Dartmouth. His son, Rupert, would follow him into local government, and later became the region’s Regional Executive Officer.

But of them all, perhaps the most famous Dartmouth resident was the late Dr. Ptolemy Reid, a one-time Minister of Agriculture and Prime Minister of Guyana, whose statue adorns the village’s nursery school.

Revered as benevolent

man, Dartmouth residents recall that before Dr. Reid became a government minister, he had been a schoolteacher and a vibrant community leader.

To this day, he is fondly referred to as “Teacher

with ‘all the obstacles’ to go with it.

Back then, Pitman said, the adults used to beat drums and walk around the village, street-by-street and sing folk songs and dance to the rhythm of the drums.

―and a few other legends of the Cinderella County

for a friendly conversation.

The Guyana Chronicle also met a lively, able-bodied 70-year-old, who was armed with a cutlass and was on her way home from a ‘weeding job’.

10 years, she has been a weeder in the community, and it is a job for which she is well paid.

“The young people don’t want to go after cows, so I do my own chores every day, because I like to work,” Grant said.

Back in the olden days, she said, Emanci-

Inez Grant, an elder in the community

Deon Pitman

Tollo” by the older villagers of Dartmouth, most of whom he would have taught at school.

Following Emancipation, freed slaves bought the village from the British planters, and in time transformed it from a virtual swamp into the thriving, bustling community it is today.

The Guyana Chronicle, during a recent visit to Dartmouth, met residents, one of whom recalled that as a youngster, she used to go out with her parents to watch the Emancipation celebrations.

Deon Pitman said that as a young girl, her parents were village leaders, especially her father, who was a cook, and that every Emancipation Day, he would prepare ground provisions

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Lorraine MacGarrell, called ‘Daisy’.

She remembers back then, too, they the elders carried flambeaux, and things would culminate around a church service.

Pitman, whose house is not far from a dunks tree, which is considered the ‘meeting place’ for villagers, as they would gather at any given time

ACCUSTOMED TO HARD WORK Inez Grant said that despite her age, she is accustomed to the daily hard work, as besides being a rice farmer, she also tends to her crops and takes care of her cows.

Grant told the Guyana Chronicle that for the past

pation was a holiday she looked forward to, because back then the event had deep meaning, and the elders would “go all out” to celebrate it.

Another resident, Lorraine MacGarrell, better known as ‘Daisy’, said her father, one Mr. Lucius Pitman, was a village leader and was from Dartmouth.

Her mother, she said, was from the North West District, but having settled in Dartmouth there, all her siblings were born and raised in that community.

MacGarrell told the Guyana Chronicle that back then, Emancipation celebrations were very big, and her father made the flambeaux lamps from old milk tins, and partook

Where Guyana stands ...

A presentation of Africans at the 1763 Monument in pieces from Makeda’s ‘Dashiki’, ‘Kente’ and ‘Ankara Fantabulous’ lines (‘Makeda’ photo)

in all the village activities.

He was also an avid masquerade drummer, and even represented the village in Georgetown and won many competitions.

“I does be here sometimes,” she said, “because my husband is from Eastville, East Coast Demerara, and I does go there as well. But life in Dartmouth is quiet, and you don’t have to worry about thieves and so on, and can leave your doors open.”

THE OLDEST LANDMARK She said that the Anglican Church is probably the village’s oldest landmark, because as a girl, she attended there, and was christened there as well.

“I also got married there, and my eight siblings, too. Even the son my mother had before meeting my father,” she said. “And the place is well preserved, but they did some renovations to upkeep the building.”

MacGarrell told the Guyana Chronicle that she will be in Dartmouth to celebrate Emancipation this year, so she could partake in the foods that will be available that day.

She disclosed that after she finished school, she joined the National Service, then the Guyana Police Force.

This Dartmouth resident can knit, and used to sew for the Guyana Prison Service, and has since retired form those things and is looking after grandchildren today.

From page 30

The Demerara Slave Rebellion depiction (Photo by the Guyana Gallery)

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GUIYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 1, 2019

Garvey Bush: ‘Breadbasket of the

S

Essequibo Coast’

OME half-a-mile inland of the village of Queenstown, and bounded on the south-west by the scenic Lake Capoey, lies a community known as ‘Garvey Bush’, or ‘Garvey Town’ as it is also called.

The village was reportedly named after the renowned Jamaican political activist, businessman and Pan-Africanist, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, who happened to pay a visit to the then British Guiana in October 1937, by which time his reputation as the champion of black causes the world over had so preceded him that he had a huge following here among the Afro-Guyanese and was greatly admired.

Following Garvey’s visit, a group of Essequibians subsequently banded themselves into an organisation called the Marcus Garvey Association (MGA), and then sought and got permission from the colonial authorities to establish both a residential and farming community on the tract of land on which the village now stands.

But to access the area in question, members of the Association first had to upgrade a sideline dam, on which they would later begin planting ground provisions, including bitter cassava; cash crops; pineapples and other fruits on a commercial scale, and to rear livestock as well as process charcoal.

The initiative would soon become so economically viable, that in time, large quantities of ground provisions, vegetables, fruits, and products such as cassava bread, cassareep, starch, and charcoal, were regularly transported out of Garvey Bush to supply areas along the Essequibo Coast, and as far away as Zorg.

Across the coast, the produce were sold by way of donkey

carts, the then popular mode of transportation. A great portion was sent to Hampton Court, where there was a market as well as a sugar factory, and at Zorg, both villages along the coast.

Significantly, during the Second World War, when it was difficult for goods such as flour and peas to be easily gotten in Guyana, the MGA ably provided critical institutions like the Georgetown and Suddie Public Hospitals and the prisons with cassava bread.

It was as a result of this that Garvey Bush was named “the breadbasket of the Essequibo Coast”.

The idea was for the budding settlement to be made into a small town, but the plan would unfortunately fall through, as some of the leading farmers and charcoal producers ventured into mining so as to earn “a faster buck”.

And, as many of the older heads who minted the idea of developing the community are, as is the old saying, “no longer ‘in the land of the living”, so too did the zeal fade away, with the younger generation seemingly having no interest in continuing the trend.

Currently, the occupiers of the area consist of the descen-

dants of the original settlers and some other persons who have no link to the Association but are interested in having somewhere to farm and earn a livelihood.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Chronicle has learnt that a new association has been formed, and three committee members, namely: Fitzroy Fredericks, Cornel Mentis, and Wesley Jacobs, have been making every effort to resuscitate the settlement. Essentially, they are seeking to have lots in the housing area properly allocated, and farming done on a commercial scale restarted.

The Queenstown Masjid

T

HE first-ever masjid to be built in Guyana was done at Queenstown in 1930 by members of the Fulani tribe who were of African descent.

The Fulani-Hausa tribe, originally from Senegambia, in West Africa, were tradi-

tionally pastoral and nomadic cattle herders. Upon arrival aboard a slave ship, they settled on the three cotton plantations on the Essequibo Coast, namely: Dageraad, West Tuid and Mocha.

The masjid they built was a simple structure made of wattle and straw, with

Haji Imam Abdool Farouk Semple (right), with from left: Deputy Imam, Edris Yacoob Jacobs, and Brother Touseek Fredericks, an executive member (Photos courtesy Haji Imam Semple)

mud as its flooring.

In those days, many of the slaves were Muslims, while others who had their own belief, had to hide and pray to practise their religion. The Imams were, however, later allowed in the masjid and given permission to preach (Jummah namaaz, the congregational prayer) to the slaves, but only on Fridays.

The Muslim slaves were called “fullahman” because of their religion and the common ‘fula’ language they spoke. By the time slavery was abolished in 1834, the practice of Islam among the slaves had waned.

A number of Africans from Queenstown Village, though, still bore their Islamic names and reverted to their original religion, Islam.

Construction of the new concrete structure which now serves as the Queenstown Masjid began on September 9, 2011, the same day of the Twin Towers tragedy, according to Haji Imam Abdool Farouk Semple, who has been at the helm ever since.

The structure was completed nine months later.

He said there are 16

The Darul Haq Masjid, at Queenstown, Essequibo. (A Website photo)

mosques, or masjids, across the Essequibo Coast, with each having its own Imam.

At the Darul Haq Masjid at Queenstown, the membership is about 40, and according to Haji Imam Semple, they follow the teaching in the Quran.

Every morning they gather for prayers and mashura (a discussion on topical issues in the community and further afield).The executive meets once every month, while there is a general meeting twice yearly.

The first ever Masjid to have been built on the Essequibo Coast

GUIYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 1, 2019

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Ursula Corbin: Village Matriarch

A

T 98, Ursula Corbin is the oldest resident of the village of Queenstown, where she was born on June 11, 1921.

Other than losing her sight, and having a few aches and pains here and there, this village matriarch whose vocals are very much intact, proudly remarked that though people say that she has a disability, she begs to differ.

“I am not disabled!” she said. “I can move around in this house, and I also wash my own undergarments.”

As a matter of fact, when the Guyana Chronicle called recently on Ms. Corbin, who is considered a ‘shut-in’, she was in her bedroom, but when told that she was to be interviewed, donned a beautiful caftan and red headwear and emerged singing melodiously, “Praise my soul the King of Heaven”.

During the interview, she proved she has a fairly good memory, as she was able to recall that she was born at Queenstown and christened at the famous St Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, which her parents attended.

According to Ursula, due to an unfortunate incident,

her father was forced to relocate the entire family to Georgetown, as she remembered living on Laing Avenue in West Ruimveldt, and attending the St Phillip’s Anglican School on Smyth Street.

She also recalled being about six years old when one day, while at school, “a wicked little girl” took away the hat her mother had painstakingly made from lavender straw for her to wear to school and threw it into a latrine pit.

She said that her mother, while they were living in the village of Queenstown, had learnt to make hats using the awara straw, and in the absence of that commodity, she would substitute it with the lavender straw.

At age seven, Ursula said her life was again uprooted, this time by her mother who sent her to live with an elderly cousin, one Mrs. McPherson, who lived at Lot 81, Robb Street, and was foster mother to several mixed-race children.

Not long after, she was again removed, this time by her father, and taken to live at Tuschen, on the East Bank Essequibo.

It was while living at Tuschen, Ursula said, that she enrolled at the Philadelphia Scott’s School, where she would remain until she turned 14, when she wrote ‘school-leaving’.

Ursula, who recalled being the only one of the six students who wrote the examination to have been successful, said that in those days, the only jobs she could have gotten after leaving school was either as a teacher, a nurse or a seamstress.

Back then, if you wanted to become a seamstress, you could have gone to the then Singer’s company with six dollars and gotten a “pedal machine” and learnt to sew.

MARRIAGE AND MOTHERHOOD As she recalled, a popular way of doing embroidery back then was using a hook.

Ursula said she would become quite successful as a seamstress. “I put out five brides, including my own daughter,” she said. Then, at age 21, she got married to Victor Theophilus Hinds, an engineer at the Uitvlugt Estate, whom she met while working briefly at the Uit-

vlugt Hospital.

Ursula said she gave birth to five boys and one girl, with the two eldest being born on the West Coast of Demerara.

something “country people” call “quinches”, a sort of cake with sweetened coconut in the centre.

She said too, that at the

Ursula Corbin, 98, the oldest resident in Queenstown Village (Photo by Samuel Maughn)

She remembers that when she returned to Queenstown, the villagers used to plant bitter cassava, and that people used to come from as far away as Dartmouth to purchase the cassava, which, after it had gone through a particular process, was used to make cassava bread and

time, there were no wells to access potable water so the villagers used to get water for drinking purposes from a place called “Cow Dam”, where there was a trench with “black water”.

For household purposes such as washing and watering plants, water was usu-

ally sourced from either the trench, which most times happened to be in front of one’s yard, or from a pond, which just about every household had in their backyard.

When asked to reminisce on Emancipation celebrations back then, Ursula readily obliged by singing the ever-popular folksong, “Sitira Gyal”.

She remembered while living at Tuschen the village being decorated with flags and schoolchildren being treated to refreshments. She also recalled the scene in Queenstown being quite different, in that it was usually abuzz with activity at that time of year, particularly on the evening of July t 31, when young and old would head to the pavilion where there would be the singing of `queh queh’ songs, drumming and story-telling followed by a libation ceremony. There would of course be lots to eat and drink, following which the jollification would go on well into August 1, when family would put on their best African wear, some of which were especially sewn for the occasion.

The day ‘Tinseltown’ came a-calling S

―bringing to humble Malawi a bit of fame and fortune

HE may not amount to much, sandwiched as she is between Zambia on the northwest, Tanzania on the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west.

And neither does she have the ‘pull’ of her more affluent ‘buddies’ on the continent like Nigeria or Ghana.

So when award-winning British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor chose the 2009 best-seller, ‘The Boy who Harnessed the Wind’ to make his directorial debut, his colleagues rightly suggested that he shoot in tried-and-tested locations like South Africa or Kenya.

But Chiwetel would not hear of it; after all, the story was about this 13-year-old Malawian boy named William Kamkwamba who builds a windmill to save his village from famine.

As Variety’s Christopher Vourlias tells it, Ejiofor demurred, saying: “It just didn’t seem plausible to me; there was no way that we could shoot the film anywhere else.

For me, it was really a question of diving in, feet first and just seeing what happens.”

Andrea Calderwood, who’d worked before with

Ejiofor on the adaptation of Chima-manda Ngozi Adichie’s critically acclaimed novel, “Half of a Yellow Sun”, couldn’t agree more, Vourlias said, as she would concur that while investors once questioned whether it made sense to risk filming off the beaten path in Africa, many have since come around to acknowledging that there’s value and integrity in shooting in the country where a film is set.

“We shot right next door to the house that William grew up in,” Vourlias quoted Calderwood as saying. “That gave it all an incredible authenticity and atmosphere and texture, which you can’t buy.”

STORYLINE ‘The Boy who Harnessed the Wind’ tells the true story of William Kamkwamba, the young Malawian genius who built a windmill entirely via DIY methods in the early 2000s to save his family and village from drought and famine.

Born in Kasungu, Malawi, William Kamkwamba is a young schoolboy who comes from a family of farmers who

live in the nearby village of Wimbe. William also dabbles with fixing radios for his friends and neighbours, and spends his free time looking through the local junkyard for salvageable electronic components. Although he is soon barred from attending school due to his parents’ inability to pay his tuition fees, William blackmails his science teacher (who is in a secret relationship with William’s sister) into letting

him

continue attending his class and have access to the school’s library where he learns about electrical engineering and energy production.

By the mid-2000s, failing crops due to drought and the resulting famine has devastated William’s village, leading to riots over gov-

ernment rationing and William’s family being robbed of their already meager grain stores. People soon begin abandoning the A scene from the movie

village, and William’s sister elopes with his former teacher in order to leave her family “one less mouth to feed”.

Seeking to save his village from the drought, William devises a plan to build a windmill to power an electric water pump that he had scavenged e a r l i e r.

William builds a

small proof of concept prototype which works successfully, but to build a larger windmill, William requires his father, Trywell, to give permission to dismantle the family bicycle for parts, which is the only bicycle in the village and the family’s last major asset.

His father believes the exercise futile and destroys the prototype. However, after intervention from William’s mother, William and his father reconcile, and with the help of his friends and the remaining members of the village, they build a full-size wind turbine which leads to a successful crop being sown.

ON LOCATION For the six-week shoot, cast and crew holed up in a hotel in Kasungu, a two-hour drive from the Malawian capital, Lilongwe. “Nobody was going anywhere,” Ejiofor said, adding: “Nobody had anything else to do.” Impromptu rehearsals were scheduled on the run.

Even the Malawians are said to have pitched in, offering their optimism, friendship and encouragement. “As soon as we got there and established that we were going to make this film there,” Ejiofor said, “you just felt the wind at your back.”

‘The Boy who Harnessed the Wind’ had its world premiere at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival on January 25. It was later released on Netflix on 1 March 1.

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GUIYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 1, 2019

IDPADA-G: Looking to 2024 and beyond

O

N July 6, 2019 the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana (IDPADA-G) saw an overwhelming turnout of Afro-Guyanese at the Critchlow Labour College from as early as 07:00hrs to register for a credit union being set up by organisation.

The response was indicative of what the Assembly has been seeing over the past year or so since it started up operations and has been going across the country conducting events.

The credit union is one of many initiatives the IDPADA-G is putting in place as the Assembly looks towards enterprises that could continue indefinitely, even after the Assembly comes to an end.

“The credit union is not about the Decade; that’s beyond the Decade,” noted IDPADA-G Chairman, Vincent Alexander. “It’s about now and about the future.

We’re seeking to strengthen permanent institutional framework; we’re hoping that that is a major outcome of this Decade,” Alexander said, adding: “A major thing to do is work with organisations so that beyond the Decade, we have strong African organisations and strong African Guyanese, and that there are policies that impact the life of African Guyanese.

“We want to do things that will make a difference in a big area; we hope to make a difference.”

Officially launched in December 2017, IDPADA-G was created as a result of Resolution 68/237, which was adopted on December 23, 2013 by the United Nations to dedicate the period 2015 – 2024 as the “International Decade of People of African Descent”, with the aim of confronting problems facing people of African descent across the globe in places where they are most oppressed and marginalised.

At the national level, UN signatories are expected to take active steps to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance faced by people of African descent in their nations.

Though the Decade started in 2015, here in Guyana, the ball didn’t get rolling until 2016, when President Granger threw out the challenge to the African community to put together a unit to carry out the dictates of the initiative.

A core group was quickly put together, and research began to decide just what areas they needed to work on the most, and just how they would go about it.

“We had a core group of

about 16 Guyanese organisations trying to come up with structure, constitution and a work programme,” Alexander said, adding: “We did a lot of research to identify what we thought were key issues that needed

Programmes Coordinator, Myriam Levi; Policy Coordinator, Dr. Simpson Da Silva; Special Projects Coordinator, Dr. Norman Ng-A-qui; and three committee members, namely, Lance Carberry,

IDPADA-G Chairman, Vincent Alexander

to be addressed to enhance the wellbeing of the African Guyanese community.

500-PAGE REPORT

By August 2017, we presented a report of over 500 pages, and based on that report, we came up with the first work programme for 2018.”

Rosemary Terborg, and Dr. Mark Kirton.

The organisation carries out initiatives under four operational areas of focus, namely: Education, employment, equality, and economy.

Each operational area has a projects, policies, and programmes sub-committee, for 12 subcommittees. In addition to the 12 sub-committees

Budget, IDPADA-G was given a $68M subvention.

With a work programme in place, and funding to back activities, they hit the ground running for 2018 to get the word out of their existence

IDPADA-G’s Olive Sampson

and purpose.

“We started off 2018 by having a number of outreaches, conferences, and business conferences intended to be bring information and services to the African Guyanese communities. It was a large across-the-country awareness; we went to Essequibo, East and West Berbice, West Demerara, Linden, George-

Some of the information booths at an IDPADA-G outreach at the Dolphin Secondary School earlier this year

The Assembly is now comprised of some 44 African organisations which meet quarterly to discuss how they are progressing and what new plans they may have. The Assembly is currently in the process of crafting its 2020 – 2024 strategic plan.

The Assembly has since established a secretariat on Regent Street, and Olive Sampson was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Assembly. The Assembly has in place an executive coordinating council made up of Vincent Alexander as Chairman; Royston Peters as Projects Coordinator;

there is also a special projects subcommittee. More recently, a youth sub-committee was also formed, and is headed by Matthew Gaul.

“If you are talking about the Decade and beyond the Decade, you have to focus on the persons most affected, and those who have to take the struggle forward. So the youth section is how we apply that to the youth population. They’re the future; they are also the present,” Alexander noted.

With the government being a UN signatory, they were committed to providing assistance, and in the 2018

6700 people turn up, and our initial conferences always had well in the hundreds. We have just completed an oil-and-gas conference focused on getting the African Guyanese com-

town, both North and South Georgetown,” Alexander explained.

OVERWHELMING RESPONSE

From the inception, the organisation saw an overwhelming response from the African Guyanese community.

“We’ve had significant response; they seemed hungry for a place to go to,” Alexander said, adding: “When we had the first outreach at Critchlow Labour College, we had over

munity aware of opportunities available in oil and gas, and we had approximately 200 people.”

Many of the outreaches around the country saw the Assembly taking several government services to the people, including the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Lands and Survey, and the New Guyana Marketing Corporation, among others.

They also did medical outreaches conducting health services.

But while bringing services to these communities were part of the programme, Alexander says the real focus of the Assembly remains leaving a lasting impression, and doing so requires the right framework and treating the right issues.

A big issue facing African Guyanese, he said, is the way that they see themselves and the things that they can achieve. He believes the “Post-Slavery Syndrome” is still very much an issue in Guyana.

“It is the way in which the experiences of slavery and the experiences after slavery have affected the psyche of African people, so that they themselves suffer from lack of recognition.

In one regard it’s a kind of lack of self-esteem, and accepting other people’s views of themselves,” he said.

He thinks this change in mentality can happen with a stronger curriculum in schools; one that is focused on history.

“One of our advocacy is for the readmission of history into the curriculum.

When we talk policies, that is the kind of policies we

advocate for. That would allow African Guyanese to be more aware of who they are, and allow for other Guyanese to have more respect for African Guyanese; understanding their role in development of Guyana,” Alexander says.

“On the occasion of Emancipation last year, we brought in Professor Verin Shepherd of the Caribbean Emancipation Reparation Commissioners to do a workshop with secondary teachers in relation to the history of African Guyanese as part of the curriculum.”

Another big focus of the organisation is helping entrepreneurs to develop their businesses.

“We became active in creating a linkage between the African Guyanese community and funding agencies. We were able to get some private donors and link them with funds; we have been screening organisations and having them make submissions to the Basic Needs Trust Fund.

At our own level, we have put aside a small pocket of money to give assistance to groups as they come in; provide them with little grants to do their work,” Alexander said.

HELP SECURE GRANTS

The Assembly has helped, thus far, to secure grants for two community development business projects, including the establishment of a fish processing plant in Victoria, and a mechanical training workshop. The workshop is collaborating with the Guyana Technical Institute (GTI) to have training done at the workshop be certified.

The Assembly is also advocating for the return of village councils.

Also in the area of policy, IDPADA-G is looking towards legislation that would also address discretion in employment.

“We advocate for equal opportunity employment; equal opportunity legislation, so there could be no discrimination in employment, because there are sectors in this country where, historically, there has been that type of discrimination,” he noted.

Alexander says that while affirmative action could be in the future, it is not something the orgaisation has yet considered advocating for.

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Lloyd Randolph Layne ―Queenstown’s oldest male resident he left school and began working as a blacksmith. He remembers driving donkey and horse carts, which were then a popular mode of transportation.

After a while, he landed a lucrative job with the British Guiana Consolidated Goldfield at Tumatumari, a community in the hinterland region of the country, some miles upstream of the Potaro

Randolph Layne and his wife Shirley (Photos by Karen Nurse)

By Wendella Davidson

B

ORN at a place in the village of Queenstown called Sand Park, Lloyd Randolph Layne, known to everyone as Randolph Layne, is, at 89, the oldest male resident alive.

Born to Ulric and Lucille Layne, a porknocker and housewife respectively, Randolph said that he, like many of the older ones in the village, attended the St. Bartholomew’s Anglican School.

The school was affiliated to the St Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, which has a history that dates back to the dark days of slavery.

That history, said Mr. Layne, records that the church was originally a coffee storage house, and the building is believed to have first been constructed by slave labour in the 16th Century.

And, following the abolition of slavery, it was converted into a church by a White planter named Mr. Carberry, who once owned the property

The box Day Adventist, who was married twice but has lost both her husbands, has mothered 11 children. Three of those children, whom she adopted when she got married the first time, were her first husband’s. Unfortunately, Vera lost her eldest daughter, Patricia Branche, two days before her birthday on April 25.

Patricia, who would’ve been 71 last Monday, died in the USA, where most of Vera’s children, great-grands and greatgreat grands now reside. Vera herself spends most of her time between Guyana and the USA. Karen Nurse, 51, another villager, says she enjoys living in Queenstown, a village where people enjoy rearing poultry and having a flourishing kitchen garden.

Ground provisions, vegetables, coconut biscuits (a delicacy back in the olden days), cassava bread and black pudding, could have been had at any street corner.

And, according to her, the village is known for having the sweetest awaras and breadfruit.

She also remembers weekends as being special and the busiest time of the week, especially on Saturday nights, when persons will be out doing their shopping.

on which the church now sits.

The building, which is said to be the first of its kind to have been be constructed in Queenstown, has a quite a unique shape, as it looks like the early ships, or ‘slavers’ as they were called, that brought slaves to the West Indies from the African Coast. And although it has been renovated several times over the years, the architecture has not changed one bit.

According to Mr. Layne, after writing the then popular ‘school leaving examination’,

hand ...

From page 28

Vera Venture-Hinds being escorted to a function in honour of her birthday recently

and Essequibo Rivers.

He worked there for some years as a driller, and rose to the position of a foreman before returning to work with the ‘Region’ as a Clerk of Works.

Married to Shirley Layne, 84, whom he spoke of fondly but said does not enjoy the best of health now, Layne said the union bore them five children, but only four

are alive (two boys and two girls).

He, too, recalls ‘Freedom Day’ as being a hive of activity, but said that while he does not move around much these days, as he, too, does not enjoy the best of health now, he is aware that the hype is no longer there, since the older folks who used to be the driving force have all passed away.

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From page 47 Mumbai Indians enlist ...

Markande who made his IPL debut in 2018, played a crucial role in the Rohit Sharma-led side’s performance that season, picking up 15 wickets in 14 matches. Markande’s impressive show in the

2018 season of IPL had also earned him a place in the Indian T20 side.

The 20 year-old, however failed to replicate his inaugural season’s performance in the next season and was replaced by another leggie Rahul Chahar in the MI playing XI. Markande played only 3 matches in IPL 2019 picking up just 1 wicket.

Sherfane Rutherford, on the other hand, made his IPL debut last season and played 7 matches for Delhi Capitals. He scored 73 runs and picked up 1 wicket.

About adding Rutherford to their side, Ambani said, his all-round skills will benefit MI a lot. “I am excited to welcome the talented Sherfane into our family.

He has impressed us with his all-round skills and match-winning attitude. His exploits across the world at such an early stage of his career have been impressive and we believe he finds his home at MI.” (Excerpts taken from Hindustan Times)

American Racing Tips Saratoga Race 1 Dan The Man Can Race 2 Lady’s Island Race 3 Rejected Again Race 4 Ideational Race 5 Avocado Toast Race 6 I Love Jaxson Race 7 Broken Border Race 8 Empressof The Nile Race 9 Curlin Road South Africa Racing Tips Vaal 08:30 hrs Flying High 09:05 hrs Folk Dance 09:40 hrs Samarra 10:15 hrs Fitzwilliam 10:50 hrs El Sereno English Racing Tips Stratford 08:30 hrs YCCS Portocervo 09:05 hrs Topofthecotswolds 09:40 hrs Doubly Clever 10:15 hrs Quinto 10:50 hrs Simply Loveleh 11:25 hrs Code Of Law 12:00 hrs North Star Oscar Goodwood 08:50 hrs Korcho 09:25 hrs Threat 10:00 hrs Jalmoud 10:35 hrs Mehdaayih 11:10 hrs Full Verse 11:45 hrs Craylands 12:20 hrs Amplify Epsom 12:45 hrs The Lords Walk 13:20 hrs Sidrid Nansen 13:55 hrs Mass Media 14:30 hrs Ascended 15:00 hrs City Wanderer 15:30 hrs Quirky Gertie Irish Racing Tips Galway 09:00 hrs Early Doors 09:35 hrs Zero Ten 10:10 hrs Yuften 10:45 hrs Surrounding 11:20 hrs Doctor Duffy 11:55 hrs Shanning 12:30 hrs Lusis Naturea 12:59 hrs Ballylig

GUIYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 1, 2019

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More support for Kennard’s Memorial Ketley Primary win first major windball title Post-Emancipation horse race meet

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Ketley Primary are the 2019 female champions of the 22nd Annual End of School Year Edward Cobenna Memorial Windball Cricket Champions Trophy

KETLEY Primary defeated rivals Sophia Primary to win their first major title in the championship clash of the Allister Munroe-organised AL Sport & Tour Promotions/National Sports Commission 22nd Annual End of School Year Edward Cobenna Memorial Windball Cricket Champions Trophy.

In what was a keenly contested female final on Sunday evening at the National Gymnasium, played with pink balls, defending champs Sophia lost the toss and were sent in to bat.

The eventual second-place finishers chalked up 63-2 from their allotted overs with Kiazianna Thompson leading the attack with 20. Latifa Sanford added 14 and Annessa Hussain 10 not out.

Tia Fowler (1-9) and N.

Fraser (1-18) were the pick of the bowlers.

Ketley Primary did not disappoint the screaming parents, teachers and players in the stands as they reached their target (64-0) with five balls to spare.

Player-of-the-tournament Fowler smashed four sixes in a top score of 36, while Ommianna Vanderhyden added 23 (4x4).

Meanwhile, Enterprise Primary finished third and St Pius placed fourth.

Ketley also won the Best Team Uniform award. Gemacy Gittens of Enterprise received the Most Promising Player prize donated by ASTP – David Wren.

According to Munroe, this school year’s programme had 66 schools from Regions 3, 4,

and Georgetown.

“We would like to thank our special guests, NSC board member Ryan Belgrave Region 4 Education Office; former Asst DoS Brian Smith; Head Teacher of Winfer Gardens, Clanise Cobenna; Hutton Mars; Kwabenna Wright; Head Teacher of Ketley, Francina Nichols also all the parents and children present.”

Munroe also extended special thanks to persons who supported the event including: Mayor of Bartica Gifford Marshall, C A Jones - DoS NSC, Marlyn Amanda Hope, AL Sport & Tour Promotions.

The organiser commended staff members at National Gymnasium who were also instrumental in the programme’s success.

BCB on the move again OVERSEAS-based Guyanese Dr Tulsi Dyal and Dr Puran Singh were recipients of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) highest Award ‘The Rohan Kanhai/ Basil Butcher Tribute to Heroes Award’.

Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, who is based in Texas, USA has already, for 2019, donated close to $2M of his own funds to the BCB. Last year he contributed over $1M to host a Countywide Coaching Programme and a Cricket Academy for 70 young cricketers.

Singh, this year, is set to continue the sponsorship of the Countywide Coaching Programme. He also hosted a one-week Cricket Academy and assisted clubs with water coolers.

Dr Puran Singh, the younger brother of Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, came on board this year with a $300 000 sponsorship of the National Players Financial Stipend Scheme. Under this historic programme BCB provides $10 000 for a Berbice player selected to represent Guyana at Under-15, U-17, U-19 and U-19 female and senior female levels. Since 2018, the BCB has shared out over $600 000 under the scheme.

BCB president stated that the BCB is unmatched in terms of the work it does on

and off the cricket field. The Board, Foster stated, is investing heavily in its players with the main objective of making sure that the rich tradition of Berbice Cricket can continue in the future.

Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, in accepting the BCB’s highest award, said that he felt humble to be recognised by the Cricket Board.

Singh stated that he was very impressed with the work of the current ex-

ecutives and its financial accountability of his funds.

He also announced the renewal of his sponsorship for 2020.

The two medical doctors also received Certificates of Appreciation and a special gift each from the BCB. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS (RHTY&SC) also presented its highest award ‘The Dolphin Award of Excellence’ to Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh.

THE Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club yesterday received tangible support from two business entities for its upcoming Post-Emancipation Day horse race meet, which is scheduled for Sunday at the club’s Bush Lot, Corentyne facility.

At separate functions, representatives of the two entities - Ganesh’s Parts & General Store under the BKT Tyres of Robb Street and KSM Investments Inc. of Good Hope on the East Coast of Demerara - finalised the partnership with Justice Cecil Kennard, the honorary president of the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club.

Ron Mohammed sales representative of Ganesh’s Parts & General Store handed over the complete package for the E and Lower race.

In a brief comment, proprietor Roop Persaud said what a pleasure it was to be associated with the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club again.

He said that this time the company is sponsoring under the BKT Tyres, which, according to him, is a qual-

ity agricultural and off-road product.

Meanwhile, Khaimwattie Panchu, Director of KSM Investments Inc., moments before presenting the first prizes and winner’s trophy for the L Non-winners, said that the company is pleased to be on board, adding that this is not the first time the company has supported the turf club.

She, however, confirmed the company’s future support towards the promotion of horse racing locally.

Kennard said he is pleased with the support he has received from the business entities over the years, since sponsorship is absolutely necessary for the successful promotion of any sporting event.

Those of us who are involved in the administration of sport, whether it be cricket, horse racing or what’s not, we need sponsorship to ensure our events are successful,” Kennard explained. He thanked both businesses for their support.

Kennard confirmed that over 60 horses have been entered for the grand one-day meet, and that the track at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne,

Berbice is in fine condition, despite some rain over the past few days.

The activity has attracted some of the country’s top thoroughbreds to compete for millions in cash and trophies from 12:00hrs.

The annual event has been one of the country’s traditions over the years and this year’s meet is being considered as one of the biggest in recent times.

In excess of $4M in prizes will be up for grabs on the seven-race card with the feature E and Lower one-mile event having a $700 000 prize for the winner.

In the co-feature H and Lower race, West Indies-bred non-winners and Guyana-bred Open, the winning steed will take home $240 000 for its owner.

Other races carded on the provisional programme are: L Class non-winners ($120 000), J and K Lower ($180 000), L non-winners for 2018-2019 ($140 000), Two-year-old Guyana-bred ($200 000), and L Open ($160 000).

The races will be run under the Rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority.

Warner takes TTFA to court for US$2.4m Former CONCACAF president Jack Warner has launched legal proceedings against the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) in relation to loans incurred during the period he served as advisor to the association.

According to reports, Warner is suing the football body with the hope of recovering a sum somewhere in the region of US$2.4m. Based on filings, Warner claims the sum was accrued over the course of 15 years.

The loans are believed

to be directly related to the TTFA’s expenses during a period that spanned the national team’s successful qualification to the 2006 World Cup. Warner’s legal claim states that the TTFA has always acknowledged the debts but never repaid them.

“These accounts were published after the date of both letters from president Raymond Tim Kee, who had on two separate occasions acknowledged the debt to the claimant…At no time did the claimant inform the

defendant that they were no longer under an obligation to repay the debt.”

Warner is seeking repayment of the aforementioned US$2.4m plus interest.

The former FIFA official was recently at the centre of a lawsuit filed in New York court on behalf of regional football body CONCACAF. On that occasion, the judge ruled that the former official pay a US$79 million penalty stemming from the FIFA bribery scandal.

(Sportsmax)

Mumbai Indians enlist Guyanese Sherfane Rutherford for IPL 2020

BCB vice-president Albert Smith presents Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh with the Butcher/Kanhai Tribute to Hero Award

MUMBAI Indians have completed their first player transfer for IPL 2020 on Wednesday. The fourtime IPL champions Mumbai Indians decided to release leg-spinner Mayank Markande and inducted Guyana and West Indies hard-hitting all-rounder

Sherfane Rutherford from the Delhi Capitals for the next season of IPL. “We wish Mayank the very best for his future. He is a brilliant talent and we were fortunate to have spotted and nurtured him early. It is a difficult decision for us, but we are releasing him for bet-

ter cricketing prospects and know that he is on the cusp of emerging as yet another shining star of Indian cricket.

He will always be a part of the Mumbai Indians family,” said Mumbai Indians owner Akash Ambani.

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GUIYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 1, 2019

Albion Cricket Club to host second annual 10/10 tournament on Sunday

Mathews leads Sri Lanka’s rout of Bangladesh Angelo Mathews

Ms Deodat presents the sponsorship cheque to vice-president of Albion Cricket Club, Imtiaz Baccus, while team representatives look on. (Colin Bynoe Jr photo)

THE historic Albion Community Centre, home of Albion Cricket Club, will host its second annual 10/10 cricket tournament on Sunday, August 4, for eight second division teams.

This was announced by Public Relations Officer of the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club (ACCCC), David Brigbhukan, on Tuesday afternoon during a press conference held at the Albion Community Centre.

Present were: West Indies cricketer Devendra Bishoo, president of the ACCCC Vemen Walters, vice-president Imtiaz Baccus and other executives of the club, representatives of sponsors along with representatives of the eight participating teams.

The eight teams include Fyrish Cricket Club, Chesney Cricket Club, Jai Hind Cricket Club, Tamarind Root Cricket Club, Belvedere United Cricket Club, Hamid X1, hosts ACCCC and Kendals Union Sports Club.

Action is expected to commence at 09:00hrs and the final will be played under floodlights. The first round of action will see Tamarind Root going up against Kendal’s

Union while round two will engage a keen rivalry between Chesney and Albion Cricket Club. The intensity will heat up in round three as Fyrish do battle with Belvedere United and the final round will have Hamid X1 versus Jai Hind.

It was mentioned at the launch that the winning team will pocket $50 000 and a beautiful trophy while runners-up will receive $30 000 and a trophy.

In addition, the batsman scoring the most runs in the final will take home a trophy for his efforts. The bowler with the most wickets, along with the player-of-the-match in the final, will all receive their spoils.

The official water for this event is Crystal Water, imported from Trinidad by Permaul’s Trading and Distribution. Other sponsors are Sueria Manufacturing Inc., Spready’s Bakery, Trophy Stall and National Sports Commission.

Patrons will be in for a day filled with keen rivalry. Side attractions include Trampoline for the kids.

Proceeds from this event will go towards further development of ACCCC.

ANGELO Mathews guided Sri Lanka to a commanding 122-run win over Bangladesh in Colombo to complete a 3-0 ODI series whitewash.

The experienced all-rounder anchored the hosts’ innings masterfully, making 87 out of 294 for eight - a target that always looked likely to be well beyond the tourists on a slowing pitch.

Seamer Kasun Rajitha, playing his first match of the series, staked a convincing claim in the early days of Sri Lanka’s post-Lasith Malinga era in the 50-over format by ripping out Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal and fellow opener Anamul Haque early in the chase.

Rajitha finished with 2-17 from his five overs, while fellow seamer Dasun Shanaka reduced the middle order to rubble and was the pick of the Sri Lanka attack with 3-27 from six, as Bangladesh were dismissed for 172.

Sri Lanka were made to work for their imposing total after Avishka Fernando was trapped lbw by Shafiul Islam (3-68) in the fifth over.

Captain Dimuth Karunarate and wicketkeeper Kusal Perera steadied matters with 46 and 42 respectively but each fell caught at the wicket in quick succession.

That brought Mathews together with fellow half-centurion Kusal Mendis, who hit 54 from 58 deliveries despite a watchful start to their 101-run partnership.

Soumya Sarkar removed Mendis on his way to career-best figures of 3-56, but that brought Dasun Shanaka to the crease for an explosive 30 off 14 balls.

Mathews rode his luck as he was dropped on 32 and 63 before eventually falling to Soumya in the final over.

It was a fine all-round performance from the pick of Bangladesh’s attack, but Soumya was powerless at the other end as Shanaka capitalised on Rajitha’s early breakthroughs by removing Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun and Mahmudullah cheaply.

Soumya was the eighth man to go for 69, bowled by spinner Akila Dananjaya. The only other resistance of note came from Taijul Islam, who was left on 39 not out after last-man Rubel Hossain was run-out.

Everest Masters to begin new season against West Dem Mavericks THE prolonged May/June rainy season seems to be behind us which means that the new cricket season in Georgetown will soon bowl off.

The Everest Cricket Club (ECC) arguably has the best draining outfield in the city and is ready to host its first match of the second half of the year with Everest Masters hosting West Demerara Mavericks today.

After mixed fortunes in the first half of the year, the hosts are prepared to begin the new season on a winning note with the inclusion of Guyana and West Indies cricket legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who is expected to shoulder the batting like he did most of his career.

Everest Masters will

also look to the likes of Azeemul Haniff, Sahadeo Hardaiow, Safraz Sheriffudeen, Hemraj Garbarran and Saheed Mohamed to support Chanderpaul for a good total against the Mavericks. Ucil Armstrong, Basil Persaud, Anwar Rahaman and Ronald Jaisingh are expected to hold their own with the ball.

Meanwhile, the visitors will rely on their experienced Sham Persaud, Sudesh Persaud and Mark Gittens to get them over the line.

The 25 overs-per-side match is set to begin at 12:00hrs and will be played with the pink ball. All players will be in full coloured uniforms.

West Demerara Mavericks; Sham Persaud, Mark Gittens, Sudesh Persaud,

Balram Aron, Prahalad Singh, Eon Williams, Ganesh Persaud, Deoram Persaud, Abid Haniff, Seenarine Mathura, Rajendra Tulsie, Richard Sookdeo and Dereck Mangar.

Everest Masters; Rajesh Singh, Sahadeo Hardaiow, Saheed Mohamed, Hemraj Garbarran, Shiv Chanderpaul, Basil Persaud, Azeemul Hanif, Ronald Jaisingh, Imtiaz Sadik, Anwar Rahaman, Robin Bharat, Ucil Armstrong, Safraz Sheriffudeen, John Ramsingh, Satyendra Khemraj, Nadir Baksh and Ravi Narayan.

The winners’ trophy is sponsored by the Rockaway Group of Companies from Queens New York while Trophy Stall of Bourda Market has sponsored the Man-of-the-Match trophy.

Preparation is underway at the ECC ground ahead of the new cricket season

GUIYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 1, 2019

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Liverpool trio, U.S. World Cup winners head FIFA award shortlists (REUTERS) - Liverpool’s Champions League winning trio of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mane joined regulars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on the shortlist for The Best FIFA Men’s player award, world soccer’s governing body announced yesterday.

Salah and Mane shared the Premier League Golden Boot with Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - for the league’s top scorer with 22 goals each while Messi was the leading scorer in both La Liga (36 goals) and the Champions League (12 goals) last season.

Centre back van Dijk was voted both the Premier League Player-of-the-Season and the Players’ Player-ofthe-Year and was instrumental in the Merseyside club’s sixth European Cup triumph.

Ronaldo won Italy’s Serie A title in his debut season with Juventus and was also voted the league’s most valuable player. He also led Portugal to the inaugural UEFA Nations League title last month.

U.S. World Cup winners’ Megan Rapinoe won the top scorer’s Golden Boot and Golden Ball for the best play-

er at the tournament. Alex Morgan and Julie Ertz were nominated for the best women’s player award along with last year’s Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg.

Hegerberg’s treble-win-

ning Olympique Lyonnais teammates Lucy Bronze, Amandine Henry and Wendie Renard also made the cut.

Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp and domestic treble

winner Pep Guardiola of Manchester City head the nominees for the men’s Coach-ofthe-Year award.

Other nominees include Portugal coach Fernando Santos, Brazil coach Tite, who led

File Photo: Newcastle United v Liverpool - St James’ Park, Newcastle, Britain - May 4, 2019 Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk celebrates scoring their first goal with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and team mates (Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith)

his side to the Copa America title, and Africa Cup of Nations winner Djamel Belmadi of Algeria.

U.S. women’s national team coach Jill Ellis, who led her side to their fourth World Cup title earlier this month, heads the list of nominees for the best women’s team coach.

She is joined by Lyon’s treble-winning coach Reynald Pedros, Sarina Wiegman, who led the Netherlands to their first ever World Cup final and Joe Montemurro who led Arsenal to the FA Women’s Super League title.

The three finalists for each award will be revealed at a later date, with the winners to be announced in a ceremony in Milan on September 23.

Full list of nominees: The Best FIFA Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus), Frenkie De Jong and Matthijs de Ligt (both Netherlands/Ajax Amsterdam), Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea), Harry Kane (England/Tottenham Hotspur), Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool), Kylian Mbappe (France/Paris St Germain), Lionel Messi (Argentina/ Barcelona), Mohamed Salah

(Egypt/Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands/Liverpool).

The Best FIFA Women’s Player: Lucy Bronze (England/Olympique Lyon), Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Olympique Lyon), Julie Ertz (U.S./ Chicago Red Stars), Sam Kerr (Australia/Perth Glory and Chicago Red Stars), Rose Lavelle (U.S./Washington Spirit), Caroline Hansen (Norway/Barcelona), Amandine Henry (France/Olympique Lyon), Alex Morgan (U.S./ Orlando Pride), Megan Rapinoe (U.S./Reign FC), Wendie Renard (France/Olympique Lyon), Ellen White (England/ Manchester City).

The Best FIFA Women’s Coach: Milena Bertolini (Italy/Italian national team), Jill Ellis (U.S./U.S. national team), Peter Gerhardsson (Sweden/Swedish national team), Futoshi Ikeda (Japan/ Japan Under-20 women’s team), Antonia Is (Spain/ Spanish Under-17 team), Joe Montemurro (Australia/Arsenal women), Phil Neville (England/England), Reynald Pedros (France/Olympique Lyon), Paul Riley (England/ North Carolina Courage), Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands/Dutch national team).

Bowler Sobers hit for six RHTY&SC launches Youth Information Booklet Rose Hall Town Youth of the club and targets about et Board (BCB) stated that the over $2M worth of bicysixes in an over dies at 74 THE & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) 70 000 youths in Region Six. main objective of the booklet cles, school bags, educational

LONDON, England (CMC) – West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers has paid tribute to Malcolm Nash, a former Glamorgan bowler, whom he once famously hit for six sixes in an over, saying they remained good friends, despite the battering.

Former Glamorgan left-rm bowler Malcolm Nash dead at 74

All-rounder Nash, a leftarm bowler who played for Glamorgan, died yesterday at age 74.

He received the punishment from Sobers, then with Nottinghamshire, in a county match at Swansea in 1968.

It was an iconic moment in world sport because it was the first time a bowler had been hit for 36 in an over in first-class cricket.

Paying tribute to Nash, Sobers, 83, said: “He was a good friend of mine and we always kept that friendship. He was a nice man.

“We played against each other and I was fortunate to hit six sixes against him, but things never changed. As far as we were concerned we were always friends in spite of what happened on the cricket field.”

Sobers said Nash had kept his sense of humour despite being hit for six sixes.

“When we were asked to go up to be interviewed afterwards I looked back over my shoulder and saw him smiling,” said Sobers.

“I said, ‘Mally, what are you smiling at?’ And he said, ‘I want you to know you could not have achieved this without me’!”

Sobers said he recalled Nash driving from Wales to London last year when he was there.

“He (Nash) was writing his new book and he asked him me to look at his book and sign it. I am very shocked and it is sad to hear (of his passing).”

Nash took 993 first-class wickets between 1966 and 1983 and was Glamorgan’s leading wicket-taker when they won the County Championship in 1969.

and one of its sponsors, Panthera Solution, last Friday officially launched the latest edition of the Club’s Youth Information Booklet.

The booklet was launched at a simple ceremony at the Providence, East Bank, Demerara-based head office of Farfan & Mendes Ltd. Panthera Solution is a joint-venture company of Farfan & Mendes Ltd and Canadian-owned Crosbie Group Ltd. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster hailed the booklet launching as another red letter day in the remarkable history of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation.

The 40-page booklet was published at F&H Printery in Georgetown and forms part of an expanded Say No/Say Yes Campaign. The highly successful campaign is organised by the 10 cricket teams

Foster disclosed that the booklets would be distributed free of cost across Berbice to students, sports organisations, teachers, University of Guyana, churches, libraries, NGOs and schools.

Foster, who is also the president of the Berbice Crick-

RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO and Editor of the booklet, Hilbert Foster, hands over a copy to Panthera General Manager, Andrew Dinsdale

Ambrose remains opposed to Gayle farewell WEST Indies bowling legend Curtly Ambrose has maintained the belief that the regional team should have looked past star batsman Chris Gayle for the regional team’s tour against India.

The 39-year-old opening batsman had initially announced plans to retire from international cricket, following the recently concluded ICC World Cup. Gayle, however, changed his stance just ahead of the

tournament and indicated he would stay on for the upcoming tour of India as a potential farewell.

Ambrose and a few others, however, believe the World Cup was the perfect time for the veteran to step aside. The left-hander was, however, included in an ODI squad to face India.

Despite struggling to make an impact at the World Cup, Gayle was the playerof-the-series in an impressive performance again England

is to get youths to follow the narrow path to success.

The 2019 Medal of Service Awardee stated that RHTY&SC during the course of 2019 has expanded the programme to target more youths. Over the last month, the club has donated

Chris Gayle

materials and sports gear under the Say No/Say Yes Campaign with funding from the RHTY&SC MS Patron Fund.

The club would also shortly be distributing thousands of Anti-Suicide Posters, Youth Information Booklets and more bicycles, cricket balls and gear across Berbice.

Foster expressed gratitude to the Management and Staff of Panthera Solution, Mr Andrew Dinsdale, Onai Vasconcellos and Andrew Mendes for making the booklet a success.

Dinsdale stated that his company was delighted to be associated with the booklet and Guyana’s leading youth organisation.

Persons interested in obtaining a copy can call 337 4562, email the club at foster_hilbert@yahoo.com or visit the RHTYSC Area ‘H’ Ground.

…Windies selectors should have opted for new blood in the Caribbean earlier this year. While lauding Gayle for his contribution to regional cricket, Ambrose insisted it was time for fresh blood.

“You need them to get better in terms of Hetmyer and Pooran and so forth, and Evin Lewis; so, what are you going to do? Let Chris Gayle play for a next four years and then four years later you bring them.

“Chris Gayle has played for many years and has done extremely well

and I have a lot of respect for him but what I am saying is that it is time to move on.

People talking about give him a farewell Test match. He hasn’t played Test for five years so what you are telling me is that one of your opening batsmen, whoever he may be, you’re going to tell him to sit this game out and let’s give Chris Gayle a farewell, but that doesn’t make sense.” (Sportsmax)

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GUIYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 1, 2019

England begin bid to reclaim Ashes from Australia … Jofra Archer left out of first Test

ENGLAND’S bid to regain the Ashes from Australia begins with the first Test at Edgbaston today.

The home side won the World Cup just over two weeks ago but were beaten 4-0, on their tour Down Under in 2017-18.

England have not lost a home Ashes series since 2001 and have not lost at Edgbaston to any side in 11 years.

They have opted against handing a debut to pace bowler Jofra Archer, instead preferring Chris Woakes on his home ground.

Australia are yet to confirm their team, but batsmen Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft are in line to play Test cricket for the first time since being banned for their part in the ball-tampering scandal on the tour of South Africa in 2018.

The series, the latest start to an Ashes in the UK, will move on to Lord’s, Headingley and Old Trafford before the urn is lifted at The Oval after a fifth Test that begins on September 12.

England captain Joe Root was on his first tour in charge 18 months ago, when England were outplayed on the field and dogged by problems off it.

Ben Stokes, this week

restored as Test vice-captain, missed the tour after an incident outside a Bristol nightclub, and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow was accused of ‘headbutting’ Bancroft in the same Perth bar where England Lions batsman Ben Duckett later poured a drink over James Anderson.

“You look back at an experience like that and take as much out of it as you can,” said 28-year-old Root.

“I felt absolutely gutted and raw at the end of it.

“I never want to lose a big series like the Ashes, but it does make you more steely and desperate to turn things around this time.”

Until 2005, England went 20 years without lifting the urn on home soil. Since then, each captain - Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook twice has got his hands on the tiny trophy at The Oval.

Although Root admitted he had “dreamt” about joining them, he said his team must focus on playing “strong cricket”.

“It’s easy to get carried away in a dream world and it is something growing up as a kid you want to be a part of,” he told BBC Sport.

“It’s an opportunity for this team to put themselves in the bracket with some famous

FIFA expands Women’s World Cup 2023 tournament to 32 teams

FIFA says it has made the decision following the “astounding success” of this summer’s World Cup in France.

Nine countries are expected to submit bids to host the tournament when the process opens on October 4 this year.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says the aim is to “keep the momentum going and take concrete steps to foster the growth of women’s football”.

“The expansion reaches far beyond the eight additional participating teams: it means that, from now on, dozens more member associations will organise their women’s football programme knowing they have a realistic chance of qualifying,” he added.

“The Women’s World Cup is the most powerful trigger for the professionalisation of the women’s game, but it comes just once every four years and is only the top of a much greater pyramid.

“In the meantime, we all have a duty to do the groundwork and strengthen women’s football development infrastructure across all confederations.”

(BBC Sport)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday, August 1, 2019)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL- Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) (1) (2) (1) (2)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

IND vs SA, Johannesburg, 2006 Graeme Smith & Virender Sehwag

Today’s Quiz:

How many T20 internationals India has played to date? How many have they won?

How many T20 Internationals the WI have contested to date? How many have they won?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

teams, but we have to earn that right. We have to play some good cricket to get there and we’re more than capable of doing so.”

For Australia, today sees them return to the ground where they were heavily defeated by England in the World Cup semi-final this month.

“The guys are looking forward to that. It’s part and parcel of coming here and it can sometimes bind the group and make them even better.

“We’ve spoken about making sure we’re driving our own energy, building our own atmosphere out on the ground. If we can do that we know that our own circle is

Joe Root (left) oversaw England’s 4-0 defeat in Australia in 2017-18, while this series will be Tim Paine’s first as Australia captain

Edgbaston is famous for its partisan support of the home team, but Paine claimed he could name 15 more intimidating venues in world cricket.

“It’s great to be out on the ground. It’s not as great if you’re the person copping the songs, but it’s one of those things,” he said.

unbreakable.”

Paine took over as captain following the sandpaper scandal that saw then-captain Smith and deputy Warner banned for a year and opening batsman Bancroft for nine months.

Smith and Warner were booed throughout the World Cup, and wicketkeeper Paine

said: “We spoke about the fact we think it’s going to go up a notch.

“It’s got the potential to unsettle anyone,” he said.

“They’re human beings.

They’ve got feelings. They’re no different to anyone else.”

WHERE WILL THE ASHES BE WON AND LOST? Curiously, there is a similar look to the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.

Whereas each team is stacked with fast-bowling options, their batting looks vulnerable, especially in English conditions that usually favour the seamers.

England have Archer, all-rounder Sam Curran and Mark Wood, who is currently nursing a side injury, waiting in the wings, while Australia have only three places for Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Josh Hazlewood.

However, the hosts were bowled out for only 85 in their win over Ireland at Lord’s last week, with Root now opting to promote himself from number four to three in a bid to stiffen the top order.

With Australia similarly fragile, it is a huge boost for the tourists to be able to call on Warner and Smith, who

was man-of-the-series in the last Ashes thanks to his 687 runs at an average of 137.

On a wet Wednesday at Edgbaston, Root was asked if it will be a pattern of the series for the batsmen to struggle.

“It will play a massive hand, especially if conditions are how they are today,” he said. “It’s not like sides have been consistently banging out 500 around the world, never mind in England or Australia. That has been the rhythm of cricket globally in this format.

“There is a lot of talk about bowlers, but with that comes the opportunity for batters to prove a point.”

As interesting as the action with bat and ball will be the interaction between the two sides.

The last series down under was occasionally bad-tempered, but since then both teams have looked at their conduct - England in the wake of the Stokes incident, Australia after the ball-tampering affair.

Not only that, but also that England and Australia players have featured in global Twenty20 leagues together. Bairstow and Warner, for example, have opened together with great success in the Indian Premier League. (BBC Sport)

U.S. head coach to step down after Yates to head up Coolidge back-to-back World Cup titles after Muirhead steps down JILL Ellis is to step down moment.” as head coach of the U.S. women’s football team after guiding the team to back-to-back World Cup titles.

The 52-year-old, who was born in Portsmouth but moved to the U.S. as a teenager, was appointed in 2014 and led the team to their first World Cup victory in 16 years in 2015.

The U.S. retained their title last month with a 2-0 win over the Netherlands.

“The timing is right to move on,” she told the U.S. Soccer website.

“When I accepted the head coaching position, this was the timeframe I envisioned.

“The programme is positioned to remain at the pinnacle of women’s soccer. Change is something I have always embraced in my life and for me and my family, this is the right

Ellis’s time in charge will officially end in October upon completion of the world champions’ fivegame ‘Victory Tour’. She currently has a record of 102 wins, seven draws and 18 defeats.

U.S. soccer president Carlos Cordeiro said: “Jill was always extremely passionate about this team, analytical, tremendously focused and not afraid to make tough decisions while giving her players the freedom to play to their strengths.”

Ellis, the first manager to win two Women’s World Cup titles, was named both FIFA and CONCACAF women’s Coachof-the-Year in 2015. ( B B C Sport)

Jill Ellis led the United States to consecutive Women’s World Cup titles. (Getty Images)

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Jamaican Michael Muirhead has quit as general manager of the Coolidge Cricket Ground and will be replaced by former Cricket West Indies commercial manager, Nelecia Yates.

Former CWI chief executive, Michael Muirhead

The 62-year-old Muirhead is a former CWI chief executive, a post he held from September 2012 until October 2016, when he was succeeded

by Englishman Johnny Grave.

Muirhead was responsible for overseeing the purchase and development of Coolidge as a joint project with the Antigua government.

“Michael has played a key role in the acquisition

of the CCG and its establishment as the new training base for West Indies cricket and also a valuable match venue,” CWI president Ricky Skerritt said.

“But we must not forget that he came to the West Indies Cricket Board, now CWI, at a difficult time and managed to bring a measure of stability to its operations for which the organization is indebted and we wish him the very best for the future.”

Coolidge, formerly the Stanford Cricket Ground, has become the CWI’s principal asset, and has hosted international matches involving West Indies Women, West Indies A and the domestic Super50 Cup. Skerritt, elected CWI president last March, said he expected Yates to continue the work started by Muirhead.

“We expect Nelly to bring her vast knowledge and matchless vigour to this new role, and continue the work that Michael started to transform CCG into a vibrant and sustainable world-class training and match venue for West Indies cricket,” Skerritt said.

GUIYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 1, 2019

Hodge, Brooks hit fifties as Windies A frustrate tourists PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Shamarh Brooks continued to press his claim for a place in the upcoming Test series against India, with a second consecutive half-century on the opening day of the second four-day “ Te s t ” against India A h e re Wednesday.

T h e righthander hit 53 as West Indies A, opting to Shamarh Brooks bat first at Queen’s Park Oval, reached the close on 243 for five.

Opener Montcin Hodge top-scored with 65, Test vice-captain Kraigg Brathwaite hit 36 while all-rounder Raymon Reifer finished unbeaten on 27 and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, 24 not out.

The hosts controlled the opening session courtesy of 87-run opening stand between Hodge and Brathwaite, who

took their side to the interval at 71 without loss.

Both batsmen were ultra cautious and eschewed aggression in favour of occupation of the crease. It meant Hodge batted 190 balls and a shade over four hours, counting eight fours and six while Brathwaite struck three fours and six off 119 deliveries in just under 2-½ hours.

Brathwaite perished after the lunch break, bowled by seamer Sandeep Warrier but Brooks joined Hodge to add a further 62 for the second wicket to take West Indies A to tea on 135 without further loss.

Brooks, who was included in the West Indies squad earlier this year for the England series without making his debut, once again played well in an innings lasting 98 deliveries, 146 minutes and including seven fours.

The 30-year-old also hit a half-century in the opening “Test” in Antigua last week.

However, Windies A suffered a slide following the resumption, losing four wickets for 47 runs to slump to 196 for five.

Hodge perished in the

John set to defend Ricks & Sari/Reagan Rodrigues Cycling title on Sunday

Flashback! The family of Reagan Rodrigues, founder of Ricks and Sari, officials and winners of the 14th annual Reagan Rodrigues Memorial Road Race

COME Sunday, the 15th annual Ricks and Sari/Reagan Rodrigues Memorial cycling road race will pedal off on the roadways of West Demerara, and defending champion, Team Coco’s cyclist Jamual John, will have his hands full with Guyana’s leading cyclists gunning for his title.

The event, which is organised by National cycling coach Hassan Mohamed, will begin at Schoonord, head to Bushy Park and back to the point of origin for the finish, a route that spans 46 miles.

John, who is now getting into his stride, won last year’s senior category in a time of one hour 41 minutes 38 seconds. Adealie Hodge is the defending

Junior champion and Paul Cho-Wee-Nam will also be looking to retain his title in the veteran category. Julio Melville was last year’s Mountain Bike category winner.

Prizes to be distributed include 8 prime (sprint) prizes while the top six riders in the senior category and the top three in the Junior, Veteran, Mountain Bike and Female categories will receive prizes. There will also be a prize for the oldest rider.

The late Rodrigues was born on February 21, 1948 and passed away on August 4, 2004. During his lifetime he served as the president of Carlton Wheelers Cycling Club and was also a champion race car driver.

fifth over after the interval, bowled by seamer Mohammed Siraj offering no stroke while Sunil Ambris played back to off-spinner Krishnappa Gowtham and was plumb lbw for 12.

Brooks finally departed, driving a firm return catch to seamer Shivam Dube and Jermaine Blackwood made a

breezy 20 with two fours and a six before edging a defensive prod at leg-spinner Mayank Markande to Hanuma Vihari at first slip.

In dire need of a partnership, West Indies A got it courtesy of Reifer and Dowrich who counter-attacked in an unbroken 47-run, sixth wicket stand.

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SCORECARD WEST INDIES A 1st Innings *K Brathwaite b Warrier 36 M Hodge b Mohammed Siraj 65 S Brooks c & b Dube 53 S Ambris lbw b Gowtham 12 J Blackwood c Vihari b Markande 20 +S Dowrich not out 24 R Reifer not out 27 Extras: (b5, nb1) 6 TOTAL: (5 wkts, 90 overs) 243 To bat: R Cornwall, C Holder, J Warrican, R Shepherd.

Fall of wickets: 1-87, 2-149, 3-166, 4-188, 5-196.

Bowling: Siraj 21-7-47-1, Warrier 16-3-48-1, Dube 17-7-35-1, Gowtham 19-3-49-1, Panchal 4-1-5-0, Markande 13-1-54-1.

INDIA A – Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Panchal, Abhimanyu Esawaran, *Hanuma Vihari, Anmolpreet Singh, +KS Bharat, Shivam Dube, Krishnappa Gowtham, Mayank Markande, Sandeep Warrier, Mohammed Siraj.

More support for Kennard’s Memorial Post-Emancipation horse race meet

Mumbai Indians enlist Guyanese Sherfane Rutherford for

IPL 2020

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Sherfane Rutherford

Justice Cecil Kennard, the honorary president of Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club, collects the winning trophy from sales representative of Ganesh Parts and General Store, Ron Mohammed. Proprietor Roop Persaud (second left) and other staff members also share the moment

Director Khaimwattie Panchu hands over the cheque and trophy to Justice Cecil Kennard

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Warner takes TTFA to court for US$2.4m

Former CONCACAF president Jack Warner

England begin bid to reclaim Ashes from Australia

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2019