Guyana Chronicle E-paper 8-18-2019

18th AUGUST, 2019

No.105733

GECOM ups elections preparation

…to train 11,500 staff for polling day

SEE STORY ON PAGE 03 ►

The ‘Black Clothes Squad’ and the Mandela Trio …18 years after mother of Antoine Houston’s still searches for answers PAGE

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Virgin Atlantic

eyes Guyana as 2020 destination PAGE

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‘Exercise Greenheart’ serves intended purpose --proves troops ready to engage the enemy

PAGE

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...over 2000 commence training in Georgetown

Guyana showcases rich culture at CARIFESTA PAGE

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Members of the Guyana delegation performing at the opening of CARIFESTA XIV Friday evening (DPI photo)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 18, 2019

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

GECOM commences training for polling day staff - over 2,200 undergoing training in Georgetown - a total of 11,500 to be trained ahead of elections GECOM PRO Yolanda Warde

By Svetlana Marshall IN preparation of the imminent General and Regional Elections, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), on Saturday, commenced the process of training polling day staff.

This includes the training of presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, ballot clerks, poll clerks and information clerks among others.

The training exercise was rolled out in 20 locations across Georgetown, and over the next six to eight weeks will be conducted in other communities across Guyana.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle at Lodge Secondary School, one of the 20 training centres, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Warde disclosed that the elections commission received approximately 23,000 applications from persons interested in becoming polling day staff, and based on the number required to operationalise polling stations in Georgetown, approximately 2,200 persons were shortlisted. Those persons began training on Saturday, and will continue today.

However, Warde explained that, more persons would be shortlisted as the elections commission takes its training exercise to other parts of the country. Approx-

Potential polling day staff being trained at Lodge Secondary School in Georgetown.

Training at the 20 locations in the city continues today (Photos by Adrian Narine)

imately 11,500 polling day staff are needed to facilitate General and Regional Elections.

“We have just about 2,300 polling stations, so if you multiply that 2,300 by five, that will give you the average of how many polling day staff,” the GECOM PRO said. That multiplication would lead to a figure of 11,500.

Once trained, the potential polling day staff would be evaluated, and those successful would be signed onto GECOM as temporary staff.

According to Warde, the training exercise is expected to be completed by the end of September or early October. “Training is the longest component, we are talking here 10 administrative regions, we are talking here approximately six to

eight weekends,” she told this newspaper, while explaining that if the elections commission fails to secure the required quota of staff at the end of the exercise, another round of training would have to be conducted but on a smaller scale.

Even as GECOM initiates its training exercise for Election Day staff, its enumerators are conducting houseto-house registration, and according to statistics coming out of the commission, more than 230,000 Guyanese have been registered to date.

The PRO noted that other activities are running concurrently as the elections commission gears up for the highly-anticipated General and Regional Elections, which were triggered after the opposition – the People’s Progressive Party/Civ-

ic (PPP/C) – successfully moved a no-confidence motion against the government last December.

However, Warde explained that the elections commission is being guided by statutory guidelines that are embedded in the Elections Laws (Amendment) Act, and as such, it would have to await certain acts, such as the naming of a date for elections, before other steps could be taken. “Considering all that is happening we know that General and Regional Elections are inevitable so this aspect (training of staff) we can clear out, but in terms of the other statutory timelines, an election date would become very, very important,” she said.

At this stage, GECOM’s operations team, the PRO disclosed, is discussing the

procurement of non-sensitive materials that are necessary for the conduct of elections.

“As it relates to the sensitive materials, particularly as it relates to ballots, we can only move to the procurement of ballots after Nominations Day because it is after Nominations Day when all the parties would have submitted their list of candidates….and those lists have been accepted, that we can move to the procurement of ballots,” Warde explained.

She noted that unlike other countries within the Caribbean Region, Guyana’s ballot papers are procured from external sources. “We do not procure ballots in Guyana, so all of our ballot printing and so is done out of Guyana. So we also have to leave time for the procurement of the ballots overseas,” the PRO further explained. It was also noted that once the ballot papers have been secured by GECOM, provisions would have to be made for the country’s non-resident ambassadors. “So when those ballots arrive in Guyana, we still have another critical subset, where we have to ship ballots to those non-resident ambassadors to ensure they vote and get it back to us.

So it is important for us to really work on that curve in terms of a statutory timeline.

So there are some things that we can do and there are some

things we cannot do until that date kicks in,” the PRO explained.

President David Granger has long indicated that he will name a date for General and Regional Elections when the elections commission informs him that it is in a position to facilitate credible, free and fair elections. The elections commission, under the stewardship of Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, during a recent meeting with President Granger, indicated that it will soon communicate its position to him. It was anticipated that the position would have been communicated to the President following the Thursday August 15 meeting of the commission but during that meeting, it was agreed that the High Court’s August 14 judgment on the ongoing houseto-house Registration must be first analysed before any decision is taken. The elections commission is now awaiting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire’s written judgment.

Bartica girls tied for top spot in Region Seven THE Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations(CSEC) results are finally tallied for CuyuniMazaruni (Region Seven), and it was confirmed by the Regional Education Officer, Akbar Chindu, that Renee Amjad and Oureanna Lake tied for the top position.

Both girls emerged from the business class of Three Miles Secondary School, in Bartica. When this newspaper made contact, both of them expressed excitement.

Lake said that it came as a total surprise to her because she did not expect to cop the top spot due to the fact that

she was going through some emotional battles during her time of studies.

“My parents separated during the time I was preparing to sit my exams and I found it extremely hard to focus. I didn’t expect to fail, but I didn’t expect to top the region, but I did it anyway and I feel really proud,” the young woman said.

Lake wrote 12 subjects and attained four Grade ones and eight Grade twos.

Her next step, she said, is to start reading for a Degree in Economics at the University of Guyana, later this month. An economist

Oureanna Lake

attached to the Ministry of Finance is what Lake aspires to be.

Renee Amjad said that she too did not expect to top

Renee Amjad

the region, but she did sacrifice a lot of time to focus on her studies. The young woman said she even had to

sacrifice a few friends so that she’d stay focused.

Amjad said she had to adjust her life and stick to a strict schedule that included mostly study time.

“I had lessons every day, and that finished as late as 9 o’ clock, and when I go home, I still would study before going to bed. My schedule curtailed my sleep because sometimes I would only get a few hours rest, and then back to studying again.

But it all paid off and I’m so overwhelmed. I feel very excited,” she said.

She wrote 13 subjects and attained five Grade ones, five

Grade twos, and three Grade threes.

Her next step is yet to be decided, but Amjad said it will either be Sixth Form or University of Guyana, since her aim is to become a lawyer.

Every year, Three Miles Secondary School would usually produce the region’s top students, and this year it was no different.

However, Chindu noted that good performances also came out of the Waramadong Secondary School.

All of their scores, however, have not yet been tallied.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 18, 2019

Afghanistan: Bomb rips through wedding in Kabul

(BBC) An explosion has ripped through a wedding hall in the Afghan capital, Kabul, and many casualties are feared.

Eye witnesses told the BBC a suicide bomber detonated explosives during a wedding ceremony. Witnesses said they had seen bodies.

The explosion happened at around 22:40 local time (18.10

GMT) in an area mostly populated

by Shia Muslims.

No group said it carried out the attack, which happened in the west of the city.

Sunni Muslim militants, including the Taliban and the Islamic State group, have repeatedly targeted Shia Hazara minorities in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The latest blast comes just 10

days after a huge bomb outside a Kabul police station killed at least 14 people and injured nearly 150.

The Taliban said it carried out that attack.

Tensions in the country have been high even though the Taliban and the US, which has thousands of troops stationed in Afghanistan, are reportedly close to announcing a peace deal.

Portland braced for far-right rally and antifa counter-demo (BBC) Far-right groups are rallying in the north-western US city of Portland, Oregon, amid fears of clashes with left-wing counter-protesters.

Police are mounting a major operation to keep the two sides apart. The stated aim of the far-right gathering is to urge that the antifa (anti-fascist) movement be declared a domestic terror organisation.

Portland, one of the most liberal cities in the US, is re-

garded as an antifa stronghold.

Who's attending the rallies?

The rally has mainly been promoted by Joe Biggs, a member of the far-right Proud Boys group and former employee of Alex Jones's Infowars.

Proud Boys - which The Southern Poverty Law Center, a major US civil rights organisation, has classified as a hate group - have been involved in previous far-right rallies, and violent street clashes, in

Portland.

Proud Boys says incidents of violence allegedly involving members of the loosely organised antifa movement, an international coalition of militant activists and protesters opposed to the far right - justifies a ban.

Members of the local Rose City Antifa group are mounting a counter-demonstration in the city. A statement on its website accuses far-right groups of planning "to bring their brand-

ed political violence to our streets" and encourages people "to defend Portland against far-right attack". As well as Proud Boys, a number of other far-right groups have said they will be there - for example the American Guard, which the Anti-Defamation League has called "hardcore white supremacist", and the militia group Three Percenters.

What's the background?

It follows two years of in-

creasingly violent rallies in Portland, many of which were organised by Joey Gibson, the leader of far-right group Patriot Prayer, who is currently facing criminal charges connected to a right-wing riot outside a bar in May. But organisers claim this particular rally is a response to an incident said to have taken place at the last far-right rally held in the city, in June. Then, the right-wing writer Andy

Ngo had milkshakes thrown at him and was punched by counter-protesters.

President Donald Trump has said the Portland situation is being closely watched by his administration, and indicated that naming antifa "an organisation of terror" was being considered.

Mr Trump has previously mentioned white supremacists, as well as antifa as being a major issue.

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I’M NEVER SATISFIED (TRINIDAD NEWSDAY) ONE year after he was appointed Commissioner of Police, Gary Griffith says he is not satisfied with what has been achieved and, as a perfectionist, he is aiming to achieve more.

At his first ceremonial address last year, Griffith promised the nation that, this year, the police service would be better than before.

Asked about this at his oneyear-review media conference yesterday, Griffith said: “I am never satisfied. I aim for perfection. As much as I have done all that is possible.

I intend to do much more I plan to do much more.

This is not the Gary Griffith show.” Although he said he was dissatisfied, during his review of the past 12 months, Griffith highlighted a reduction in serious crimes for the period when compared to the previous 12 months.

He said: “I am not here to judge myself, the public can judge me, positive or negative. My aim is to do the best I can do and I did everything that I could have done.

My main concern is that the TTPS did all that they could have done. My officers was going above and beyond their

duty.”

Griffith added that his officers had a rejuvenated spirit and were encouraged to do more and wanted now for the public to have hope, trust and faith in them and one of his main jobs now was to “bring back hope in the country.”

When told that the difference between the rejuvenated officers and the police 12 months ago was himself and, therefore, he should take the credit, Griffith smiled and said nothing. He added that he would take no credit for the transformation for the police. “I can’t force someone to be a good officer, that came from in here,” he said poking his abdomen.

He said, though, owing to financial constraints, there were areas he wanted to work on but could not. Griffith said in the coming year he would better utilise his financial resources.

This year will be Griffith’s first budget request.

He did not say how much he would request of the Government saying only he would make use of what he got by limiting wastage, particularly the overtime bill.

Gangs, the major issue The major thorn in his

18 August, 2019 - 05:30hrs ~ 07:00hrs

Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith shows the new police identification badge as he addresses the media at the Police Administration Building, Port of Spain, yesterday. PHOTO BY ANGELO MARCELLE

side is the gang-related activities from murders to gun possession. He said his job was to not only to reduce crime but also the perception of it and based on a survey conducted by his officers, the perception of crime had reduced. “We don’t have a youth problem we have an adult problem,” Griffith added, saying that it was adults that benefited mostly from

the criminality of children.

He called on communities to support his officers and turn away from gangsters calling them “scum” and not the Robin Hoods that some saw them as. He thanked politicians for three pieces of legislation that he said would help him in tackling gang activities. He added that the collaboration with the Strategic Services Agency

(SSA) and the unification of several elite units in the police service would assist the police in dismantling gangs with results coming soon.

Going Forward In the coming year, the police will see the armoured vehicles Griffith first mentioned when he was national security minister in 2014.

A coastal patrol unit is also expected to be launched in the second year along with an $8 million upgrade of the police with new badges and uniforms. Officers will also be trained to facilitate the Gender Based Violence Unit.

Griffith added that he would be restructuring the Mounted and Canine Branch to better deal with drugs at the country's ports of entry.

He plans to maintain and improve the operation centres and equipping vehicles with the necessary technology to better assist officers to fight crime which will include access to not only the police database but licensing and where applicable the court records. The recently concluded Commissioner's Cup is the first of his community police initiative with "Street Talk" coming soon to help tackle gang activity. To

ensure he has the manpower to staff the new units, Griffith will increase the number of recruits from 200 annually to 220. Police Survey According to the online satisfaction survey where 1225 citizens were polled, 59.3 per cent rated the police as good and above. The survey was in five categories from poor to excellent. A total of 22.2 per cent of those polled said they were poorly satisfied with the police with just 7.9 per cent rating them as excellent. There was an overall increase in confidence in the police with 55 per cent agreeing.

Griffith seemed pleased to hear that based on the survey, 76 per cent of those polled had confidence in Griffith compared to 49 per cent in his predecessor Stephen Williams. Women were more likely to rate him as excellent compared to men. According to 723 people telephoned for the survey, 65 per cent rated him as either excellent of very good. Of those who were telephoned, 95 per cent supported the police initiatives and only 14 per cent had no confidence in the police.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

Coalition Politics: Challenges and Successes ONE of the things that distinguishes the current government from its main competitor for office is its plural identity. The government is a Coalition of six political parties with each bringing to the partnership its particular and peculiar strengths.

We feel that our diverse society deserves a government that reflects that ethnic and political reality. Such a political force is better able to appeal to a wider cross section of the country than a one-party government that is grounded in a single demographic.

From the 1960s to the present, political parties, scholars and commentators have contended that the best form of government for Guyana must be one that is grounded in a power-sharing arrangement. However, despite rhetoric to that effect, there was no actual concrete manifestation of power-sharing or shared governance until the birth of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) which contested the 2011 elections. When the APNU joined with the Alliance for Change (AFC) to topple the PPP from the presidency

in 2015, it became the first truly multi-party government in Guyana’s history.

Although the APNU+AFC government is not a full-fledged national government, it comes closest to that ideal. The constituent parties have been forced to contain their partisan interests to ensure the survival of the collective. Given the differing political orientation of the three main parties in the government, the Coalition should be commended for surviving the inherent challenges.

It is not that there have not been difficulties, but in the final analysis, they managed to stay together even in the face of a defection from one of the parties that caused the passage of a No-Confidence Vote. It is obvious that the ministers have developed a healthy working relationship which is key to an effective partnership.

There can be no doubt that managing a coalition is a complex undertaking, especially when in addition to their differing orientations, the parties’ electoral strengths are uneven. Larger parties tend to logically look

to exert the most influence on the process and smaller parties seek to increase their clout. In the case of the current coalition, one of the smaller parties was able to strike an accord that guaranteed it a substantial portion of parliamentary and cabinet seats. In the end, leadership of the collective was pivotal to its survival. In that regard, President Granger should be applauded for his astute leadership.

Now that they have decided to again face the polls as a Coalition, the parties are in the process of hammering out a new pact in the form of a revised Cummingsburg Accord between the APNU and the AFC. There is also talk of upgrading the APNU Charter that governs relations among the APNU parties.

According to reports, all the parties have already signed on to the coalition’s “Core Principles.” That is indeed good news for those who support coalition politics.

But the more difficult task lies ahead as the parties negotiate how power, both tangible and intangible, would be distributed after the polls. Will there be any substantial

change in the Cummingsburg Accord? Will the AFC manage to hold the APNU to the 60-40 formulae enshrined in the previous accord?. Besides, the issue of the Prime Minster slot and whether the smaller parties in the APNU, particularly the WPA, seek more representation in the National Assembly and the Cabinet as mentioned by the latter at a news conference on Friday?

The answer to these and other related questions would be made known in the not too distant future. Supporters of the Coalition would be hoping that the leaders approach the negotiations with the same maturity that informed their conduct during the first term in office. There is perhaps more need for more give and take than was needed in 2015. Whatever the outcome, we wish them well. As the country approaches the new dispensation as a ‘Petrostate’, we feel that it would be better served by a government grounded in compromise and consensus than one grounded in acrimony and domination.

Black family had a structured, successful and well-organised life Dear Editor GREATNESS lies within each of us. Some are called to be teachers, religious leaders, lawyers, parents, politicians, gravediggers, labourers and so forth. It matters not what you are called to be, but the quality of service you deliver on the task you are called to perform. Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr said it best in reminding us: “If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause and say, here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well.” We must proceed to do what we have to do by first reach-

ing deep within us and bringing to the fore the needed confidence to propel us into action.

Though slavery was brutal to our ancestors, they overcame, as is evident from our presence today and what they bequeathed us. With less they did more, and persevered in spite of the roadblocks. Their success did not happen by fluke.

Success came because our ancestors’ conviction never to doubt their ability and capability to beat the odds kept them going even at times when the road seemed rough and rugged.

The acquisition of villages which was purchased through the cooperative economic model is a source of pride for and in the African community. When former enslavers thought Africans could not survive outside their control,

direction, spitefulness and domination, they were proven liars.

Africans have built and maintained infrastructure, beautiful homes, gardens and surroundings.

They have tilled the soil, sold produce, pursued education and maintained family on the principle of the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child.” The extended family structure was central to the cohesiveness and success of the African child and the community.

Our elders held their pride of place.

Religion and education were key pillars in establishing the sense of community, brotherhood and sisterhood. Religion instilled in us faith and the moral compass to discern right from wrong. Education empowered us to open new doors into the world of knowledge as we

acquired and honed skills, secured work and provided for the economic needs of self and family. An educated people is an empowered people because they possess the skills to think for themselves, ask the right questions and not settle for less.

Earlier political affairs in the villages were handled through elders, then later the Village Councils/ Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and at the national level. Sports, both competitive and non-competitive, were the hallmark of all ages, be they indoors or outdoors, lending to community spirit, putting the mind and body to work in a relaxed and fun-filled environment.

Entertainment was the showcasing of cultural and dancing skills and recognising the best-dressed.

What is being pointed out here

is that the Black family had a structured, successful and well-organised life. This is not to say there were no social ills, but a structured and organised environment was central to the confidence that drove the innate desire for self-determination and economic accumulation.

In this month of August, as special attention is being paid to the struggles against and freedom from chattel slavery, our greatness in other endeavours must come to the fore to ensure upward mobility. A good starting point would be examining practical solutions and the problem-solving used by our ancestors in their struggles to overcome.

Yours faithfully, Sharma Solomon

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

OP-ED Repositioning Guyana for sustainable development Rawle Lucas

By Rawle Lucas This writer wishes to make it clear from the outset that this article is not intended to denigrate anyone. The objective is to provide readers and other Guyanese with a context in which to judge the performance of those leading the country or wishing to lead it. Where opportunities to compare performance exist, this article does so since talk is cheap and hard cold facts expose the truth.

Like the Mighty Chalkdust would say, “I am just the umpire”.

At some point in the near future, Guyana will have national and regional elections and it is being said that the upcoming elections in Guyana is about the future of the country. Indeed, with oil and gas set to become an integral part of the production structure of the economy, the country will become different. It will become larger. It will become richer and it will become more populous and diverse. Within these changes will be the expectant people of Guyana whose wellbeing must remain the foremost interest of any future government.

These changes will have to be managed responsibly. The United Nations Committee for Development Policy observed that a good development governance system must place emphasis on its human and productive assets if future growth and improved human wellbeing are to be achieved. Embedded in the concept of a good governance system articulated by the Committee for Development Policy is the need for a trusted leader who has integrity and humility among the leadership traits.

BEHAVIOUR OF PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY The wellbeing of Guyanese is therefore connected to the behaviour of the productive capacity of this country.

The productive capacity of a country refers to the amount of a country’s resources that is available to produce more goods and services each year.

It includes the resources used

by both the private sector and the public sector to produce goods and services. If one thinks of his or her own business or even that of a company, one would realize that the productive assets are among the most important things needed to increase the income of the business and to help it expand. The productive capacity includes physical assets like land, equipment, factories, warehouses, trucks, tools and money and services such as transportation, telecommunication services and energy services that are used in a business.

In a country, the productive assets also include the houses that people build for residential purposes. It is no different for a government.

The productive capacity refers to the same set of items mentioned above, including office space that it builds for its staff and taxpayers and infrastructure that it puts in place to facilitate production of goods and services and payment of higher salaries.

Many who comment on the performance of the PPP/C when it was in power often refer to how it destroyed the sugar industry and kept hiding the naked truth from sugar workers about the dim future of sugar in Guyana. To keep the charade going, it went so far as to use the money of Guyanese taxpayers to subsidize the consumption of sugar by foreign countries. People became aware of that when they realized that GUYSUCO was producing sugar at a cost higher than it could export it. What people were unaware of was the massive damage the PPP/C had done to the productive capacity of not only GUYSUCO, but the entire country during 1998 and 2015. The graph displayed below captures the evidence of why GUYSUCO and other entities struggled in this country. From the evidence below, it has nothing to do with the Granger administration as the leader of the opposition is trying to make Guyanese believe.

The graph was taken from a 2018 World Bank report and it shows the productive capacity of Guyana

from 1990 to 2017. It expresses in percentage terms the amount of the country’s resources that was available to produce more goods and services annually. What the graph above also reveals is the combined effect of the incompetence and corruption of those who managed the economy after the late President Hugh Desmond Hoyte had left office. The available data in the graph shows that from 1990 to 1992 President Hoyte built a skyscraper of productive capacity and put Guyana in a position where 51 percent of its income could be used to produce goods and services, increase investments, grow the incomes of workers and create additional employment. In other words, both the public and private sectors had regained the ability to expand business operations and grow the economy for the benefit of the people.

It was a hopeful time for Guyana.

LOST GROUND The elections came towards the end of 1992 and people opted to let the PPP/C form a government to lead the country. As a result of the productive capacity inherited from President Hoyte, the Guyana economy grew in the range of 6.18 to 8.53 percent per annum in real terms until 1997. The late President Dr. Cheddie Jagan understood the importance of having a strong productive capacity and was making efforts to rebuild it when he met his demise. After President Cheddie Jagan was gone, Guyana never regained a productive capacity above 31 percent where he left it until President Granger came along. In contrast, the economy lost ground in 1998 when it contracted 1.68 percent.

The most telling part of the graph though is the long and continuous decline in productive capacity of the country between 1997 and 2006. During his long tenure of 12 years, the leader of the opposition could not get the productive capacity to where Dr. Jagan left it and to where President Granger has already taken it in less than three years. The graph shows that at 31.09 percent of GDP that things are getting better and the full impact of the oil and gas industry has not even kicked in as yet.

A contributing factor to the failure of the PPP/C is the new Skeldon Sugar Factory which is a millstone around the neck of GUYSUCO. Even though money was spent building the factory, it could not be used effectively and so the productive capacity of the country fell.

People retain painful memories of the collapse of CLICO and the collapse of the bridge over the Rupununi River.

No one knows today where the ”Technology Park” that was to be built since 2009 went even though money

the road to Amaila Falls that was never built to satisfaction or completion by the original contractor. As people’s memories are jolted, they remember the fiasco surrounding the fibre optic cable and the loss of money from the

government to the Granger administration, the productive capacity of the economy was in natural decline by 2015. The productive capacity has now been increased to over 31 percent.

It is this laudable effort at

was allocated in the budget for it. People remember the incomplete accounting of monies connected to Cricket World Cup. People recall

unbuilt Specialty Hospital.

repositioning Guyana for future strong and fast economic growth at this hopeful time that the PPP/C has no confidence in Guyana.

LAUDABLE EFFORT And so, when the PPP/C handed over the reins of

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

SEDITIOUS AND SCARECROW POLITICS

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ACED with bigger and better positive news about progress in Guyana, elements in the opposition camp are resorting to seditious and scarecrow politics. Apart from wrongly dubbing the Coalition Government “illegal”, the Opposition engineered the racist “Haitian Takeover” to frighten its claimed “Indian base” and, now, it is driving a new hysteria over “Trini Carpetbaggers”.

No one should anymore be in doubt as to why Guyana has become the preferred destination for investors and visitors alike. The lead articles in the credible media over the past few days, say it all: “Tullow Strikes Oil”; “Guyana 12th in Oil Reserves League” - an appetizing story by Bloomberg that sees our country as the newest and potentially richest “petro-state”; “Private Sector credit pegged at $238.8 billion”; Economic “growth at 4.5%” in 2019 but could reach double digits next year - an up-beat report by Finance Minister Hon. Winston Jordan; and a revolution in the education sector with Guyanese students getting an unprecedented 73% pass in Caribbean secondary school examinations.

Our disciplined forces have also demonstrated that they are prepared to defend our country and to secure her citizens when they emerged with distinction from “Exercise Greenheart”. On Friday, ranks of the Guyana Defence Force, the People’s Militia and the Police Force repelled a simulated enemy attack at the Colonel John Clarke Military School at Tacama.

The GDF and other sections of the disciplined forces have seen noteworthy transformations from what they used to be just four years ago. They have been provided with a new fleet of vehicles, aircraft, weapons and munitions, communication and medical equipment, and an improvised menu of local ration for field operations. Our grateful nation is full of high praises for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Brigadier

David Granger, on behalf of the military/police high command and all patriotic ranks, for showing preparedness to defend our country’s sovereignty.

FIFTH COLUMNISTS But it is unfortunate that the fifth columnists would receive every indication of progress and achievements with a malicious and criminal response. The opposition’s mouthpiece, Guyana Times, yesterday declared that Guyana is being “held hostage by the bullyism of the PNC’s David Granger” who it accused with playing “fast and loose with the Constitution”. Guyana Times then asked: “Will none of his supporters rid us of their renegade leader – to even save themselves??”

(Eyewitness, page 8, August 17, 2019).

On the face of it, this is seditious libel, the publication of which though sparingly used, constitutes an offense in our existing laws.

The published words are inflammatory, and are calculated to foment and incite violence against a democratically-elected Head-ofState.

This incitement is coming from an opposition political rag, which is sheltering under the protection of freedom of the press. As a professional journalist and as the Minister with portfolio responsibility for media in the David Granger Coalition Government, freedom of the press has been guaranteed and fully protected.

SEDITIOUS LIBEL However, I suspect that this seditious libel from the opposition ideologues is a deliberate provocation in order to attract a response from the state, in which case I want to place on alert organisations such as Reporters Without Borders and the Association of Caribbean Media Workers that malicious, criminal and reckless writings are not protected as freedom of speech. What Guyana Times is advocating is political terrorism.

I expect that the usually vocal Private Sector Commission would not see this criminal instigation as just another “Tom and Jerry” show!

I have before written about the totalitarian impulse within the opposition ranks, elements of which have been stoking race-hate and, during last year, were urging an “uprising” by Indo-Guyanese against the State. Already, a self-styled “Indian activist” has been talking about “The Next War”.

Coincidentally, while Times was hurling salvoes at the Executive, Stabroek News, in a different context, yesterday carried an editorial under the caption “Hateful rhetoric and its consequences” as it referred to “divisive, racist and xenophobic attitudes” in another country.

But those “attitudes” would apply to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo when he falsely and maliciously screamed that Haitians were at the centre of a massive people-smuggling or trafficking conspiracy.

SCARECROW POLITICS This is scarecrow politics to drive fear into Indo-Guyanese that Haitians are coming here and are being registered to vote in upcoming elections. In a sense, that too was seditious libel, aimed at targeting the hapless Haitians and putting their lives in danger. This was his version of Jim Crowism, the once hated policy in the United States that was imposed to suppress Blacks, and to keep them in segregation.

The Minister of Citizenship has released figures that show that between January and July this year, close to 7,000 Haitians crossed over from Guyana to Brazil. That nailed the lie that the Haitians were under the beds of the Coalition!

Not learning from its racist offensive against Haitians, the PPP has now turned its hate towards Trinidadians, just as it had done against potential Indian investors. When I last

visited India, I was told by investors how they were discouraged by “the Indian party” from investing in the Guyana sugar sector.

I was part of the Investors’ Outreach in Trinidad, and I could testify to the genuine interest shown in Guyana by investors there.

While we are open for business, Jagdeo sees the Trini “carpetbaggers” giving bribes to get their sleazy hands on Guyana’s lands. Again, like Jim Crowism, Jagdeo has imputed an American pejorative term, carpetbaggers or scalawags, once used by southerners to label and libel northerners, to describe Trinidadian investors.

WORDS HAVE POWER As journalists, we have always been reminded that words have power. We have learned about the halocaust against Jews, genocides against Kampucheans, and Serbs and Rwandans, which were fomented by hate speeches and writings. During the PPP’s term in office, an ex-soldier, Oliver Hinckson, was charged in 2009. Then Mark Benschop was slapped with treason indictment in 2010, followed with incarceration of a couple-- Major Bruce and Carol Monroe. They were all arraigned on charges that stemmed from words that they had allegedly uttered.

They were all eventually acquitted, but the point I wish to make here, and now, is that the opposition knew the power of words, and understood that the State had a duty to protect itself.

It is apparent that faced with a series of setbacks, the latest being the validation of house-to-house registration and denial of a September 18 elections date, the opposition camp is engulfed in deep division and sheer confusion. The extremist elements, within and without, may see this as an opportunity to act.

This is why the reckless advocacy by Guyana Times should be condemned roundly, even by the PPP, before any harm is done in Guyana.

Airport efficiency suggestions Dear Editor, IT is nice to see the upgrades that have been done to the CJIA airport. The new facilities will provide a comfortable, modernized experience for travellers.

To complement these improvements, I would like to make a few suggestions to improve the ease of transit experience for passengers.

1. Simplify the process for filling out departure and arrival records – An online system to check in and complete the forms necessary for departure and arrival records should be implemented to ease the burden on families travelling with small children. The current process of filling out individual forms for each traveller is fatiguing and time consuming for per-

sons (like myself) who travel with 2-3 small children in tow. Let’s have a secure form accessible by passengers online and authenticated by a security code generated by the system and sent to the passenger. Also, have the option for one form to be used to cover a family of two parents and three small children, filled out by one of the adults.

2. Make scanning luggage easier and more convenient – Instead of having to load your luggage up on a trolley then taking it to a special scanner for use by multiple passengers, why not have multiple scanners located at each customs aisle.

This way, the airport can scan multiple passengers’ luggage simultaneously and significantly decrease time

spent going through customs.

This will benefit both arriving and departing travellers and can allow the airport to serve more flights daily.

Development should not be limited to facilities and aesthetics only but should incorporate the policies, procedures and training provided to airport personnel to handle flights. There has been an uptick in the number of

foreigners/visitors passing through Guyana, and as oil comes to the barrel, there will be more. Having an efficient, functioning system for travellers will be critical to ensuring they have a good experience entering or exiting the country.

Sincerely, Shazaam Ally The Citizenship Initiative

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 18, 2019

9

The ‘Black Clothes Squad’ and the Mandela Trio …18 years after mother of Antoine Houston’s still searches for answers

By Svetlana Marshall With his hands projecting into the air, as if to say, ‘Hands up, don’t shoot,’ 29-year-old Antoine Houston pleaded with the police to take him to the station but instead he was gunned down in a hail of bullets, even as his body was convulsing on the ground one of the executioners stood over him and delivered the final bullet in his head at point blank range in full view of the public.

A victim of extra-judicial killing, Houston, along with two of his friends – John Bruce and Steve Grant, was shot 11 times by the Target Special Squad at the junction of Mandela Avenue and the Industrial Estate Road on the morning of July 26, 2001.

“I was praying when I heard the gunshots, and didn’t even know it was my son being killed at the time,” Claudette Schultz said as she painfully recollected that fateful day and the events that followed.

At around 5:30hrs on July 26, 2001, she had asked him to purchase fish, and without any hesitation, Houston left his mom’s James Street, Albouystown residence with a promise to return shortly. His ‘friend’ had offered him a ‘drop’ to the Meadow Bank wharf to buy fish but little did he know that he was going to be killed.

According to reports from the police, Houston, Grant and Bruce were killed during a confrontation with the Anti-Crime Task Force aka the Target Special Squad, after they opened fire on the lawmen. But

Houston’s mother, on Saturday, told Guyana Chronicle that her son was murdered by the Target Special Squad because of his political association with the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), and labeled a criminal wanted for murder, though his slate was clean – a position she has held for 18-years.

“He was respectful, very disciplined,” Schultz said while adding that Houston was a member of the Kitty Vision Football Team. “He was well loved, not spoiled, loved,” Schultz said as tears settled in her eyes. Houston was Guyanese by birth but because his father Lawrence Houston was a Foreign Service Officer, he spent most of life outside of Guyana, mainly in Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America (USA). Due to his father’s status, he had a diplomatic passport. It was only until 2000 that he returned to Guyana to live with his mother. “He was a mama’s boy,” she fondly remembered.

Jogging her memory to the day of the shooting, Schultz said when her son did not return by 9:00hrs that Thursday, she thought to herself that it was unlike him but nonetheless waited his return.

“Like about 12’o clock, one of his friends came and said he just heard the police killed Antoine and two other persons on Mandela Avenue,” Schultz recalled. At the mortuary, she confirmed her worse fear – her son 29-year-old Antoine Houston was killed.

“His body had 11 bullet

wounds, 11, six across his upraised arms, three across his stomach, one in his back and one in his right temple which existed through the left temple,” Schultz’s sister interjected.

Singling out now retired Police Superintendent Steve Merai, a member of the Target Special Squad at the time, Schultz told Guyana Chronicle that the police under the stewardship of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) killed her son, an innocent man, and then staged the scene. The police, at the time, alleged that Houston and the two other men had guns in their possession but Schultz vehemently refuted this allegation. “They said it was a shootout; they said they found guns in a bag; but only one set of gunshots were heard, and from our home at Albouystown where we lived, I heard clearly, and I am army trained, so I would know a shootout when I hear one,” the grieving mother said.

At the morgue, Schultz said her son was not wearing the shirt he left home with. “My son left home with a yellow and white shirt, and when I saw him lying there, he didn’t have on that shirt. He had on an old army jersey, like a thick United States Army jersey,” she recalled while stating that the army jersey was not his.

In May 2002 during a Coroner's Inquest into the death of the trio, Merai, according to a Stabroek News report, told the court that the confrontation began after the four persons in the car were observed to be acting suspiciously while approaching

Mandela Avenue.

Based on Merai’s account of the events, while the driver of the car complied with the police instructions to stop, the three other men jumped out of the car, and one of them opened fire. Merai told the court, he and his colleagues shot back at the “armed” men as a form of self defence.

But Schultz told Guyana Chronicle that eye witnesses, residents of the community, told a different story. “One of my cousins, who was walking out her baby that morning, said, she overheard Antoine saying my mother sent me out, take me to the station,” Schultz said.

Another witness reportedly told Houston’s family that after he was shot several times about his body, a member of the squad placed a gun to Houston’s temple and shot him.

“I took the statements from all those who were there. They took the young men out of the car, it was a set up, they sent him (the driver) away, he was absent in all of this, and they killed the three others including my nephew. My nephew had his hands up in the air, because his arm and chest were riddled with bullets- 11 bullets in total,” his aunt told this newspaper.

“When he was lying on the ground and his body was convulsing, a police put the gun to his temple and shot him, close because they went and cut off the burn mark after at the mortuary,” she said on the basis of that when his mother went to identify him, there was the burn mark where the bullet entered his right temple by the timewe were allow to have the body

LBN to soon go solo --airing their own local content

LINDENERS will soon have the opportunity of seeing themselves on television as part of their very own television station’s programming, with the transition from the National Communication Network (NCN) to the Linden Broadcasting Network (LBN) nearing completion.

According to Secretary of the LBN Trust, Jermaine Figueira, both the legal process as well as a complete overhaul of the building which will house the station should be completed by mid-September. Presently, the building is undergoing extensive repairs so as to transform it into a modern broadcasting facility. He said that in addition to the repairs, state-of-the-art equipment have already been purchased to ensure that both the quality and the quantity of the news and other broadcasting programmes will significantly improve.

Currently, Lindeners are limited to a weekly newscast, due to limited resources. Figueira said that while a Trust is in place, the community will be the true owners of the station, which will afford them the opportunity of having better accessibility to promote local

talent and local businesses.

“We are expecting that local artistes and local drama groups amongst others will be able to negotiate for air time to promote what is local and what is ours,” he said.

The station will, however, have to sustain itself, and to be managed as a business to stay ahead of its competitors. What this means, he said, is that the entire Linden community will have to contribute to the economic success of the station, and as such he is hoping that Linden residents will show their support for the plans that have been outlined to them for keeping the station it viable. "At the end of the day, it is still a business that has to pay for itself,” Figueira said, adding: “No matter how big or small, it has to contribute towards the local economy, and will be used as a tool to showcase what is ours.

So residents will have greater access to the station in ensuring this process is successful.”

The NCN staff currently employed at the Linden branch will be automatically transferred to LBN. The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority

(GNBA) has issued a broadcasting licence to the trustees of LBN. Those trustees are: Regional Chairman, Renis Morian, who is the Board’s chairman; Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira, who is secretary; and the Mayor of Linden Waneka Arrindell, who is director.

LBN will have three frequencies, namely: The Learning Channel; a local channel; and NCN. These frequencies are expected to be relayed to neighbouring communities such as Ituni and Kwakwani.

The application for an independent television station in Linden was made after residents complained about the limited and biased content that they were subjected to during the PPP regime. This was one of the requests made in 2012, following the deadly protest which resulted in the death of three Lindeners. The government of the day had signed an agreement to grant the community a licence on August 21, 2012.

Claudette Schultz (Photo

by Adrian Narine)

the burn mark was cut out in a round circle which left red circle where the bullet entered.

According to her, the police then sought criminalise him linking Houston to a murder. “They claimed that he was wanted for murder committed in 1992 but how could he have murdered someone in Guyana in 1992 when he was not even here,” the woman pointing out.

“So to criminalise him they finger printed a dead man, to put him at a place of some crime,” she added.

In their quest for justice, the family sought the assistance of another Coroner and a photographer to photograph the scene and his remains but the photos mysteriously disap-

Antoine Houston was among three men who were killed on July 26, 2001 on Mandela Avenue by the Anti-Crime Task Force aka the Target Special Squad

peared. In addition to the legal battle in which they fought passionately, the family had written the United Nations, the UN Human Rights Council and the Canadian Government after Merai had migrated to Canada.

He was subsequently forced to return to Guyana.

Though years have elapsed, Schultz and her sister said it is not too late for justice to be served, pointing out that Merai and the members of his “death squad,’ many of whom are still alive, should now be held account-

Funnel cloud spotted over East Bank Demerara THE sight of an unusual weather phenomenon on Friday teased the curiosity of Guyanese, many of whom saw a funnel cloud twirling over the East Bank of Demerara in the vicinity of Providence.

Funnel clouds usually form during a thunderstorm or heavy shower from a cumulonimbus cloud or a large cumulus cloud when the atmosphere is unstable. The cloud formation was spotted during the morning hours on Friday.

Funnel clouds consist of condensed water droplets and is associated with a column of air that rotates as it is drawn into the cloud.

They look like cone-shaped or thin rope-like protuberances which hang down from the cloud base, and often do not last very long.

According to a BBC report, if a funnel cloud touches the ground it is generally regarded as a tornado and could lift debris and even cause some minor damage.

If a funnel cloud touches down at sea we get what is known as a waterspout.

In August 2011, a waterspout was spotted outside the West Coast of Demerara over the Atlantic Ocean. The phenomenon lasted several minutes before dissipating.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

‘Exercise Greenheart’ serves intended purpose --proves troops ready to engage the enemy

Ranks of the Guyana People’s Militia at the recently-concluded ‘Exercise Greenheart’

G

UNSHOTS rang out just off the Tacama Airstrip, immediately followed by the sound of grenades being lobbed every which way, and billows of smoke.

At that ungodly hour of the morning; just after dawn, it was enough to send any civilian in its immediate environs cowering in fear, and wondering whether we were being invaded.

Thankfully, it was just a tactical manoeuvre, what in military parlance is called a Field Tactical Exercise (FTX), and entailed soldiers launching a ‘mock’ attack on enemy positions in the vicinity of the Tacama Airstrip, at Tacama, in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

It happened just this Friday, and marked the conclusion of ten-day operation, codenamed ‘Exercise Greenheart’, designed to test the preparedness of our troops in the face of adversity, and saw the participation of a total of some 951 ranks drawn from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana People’s Militia (GPM) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

In the end, the exercise did serve the purpose for which it was intended, as our troops succeeded in vanquishing the enemy after 10 days of rigorous training in the dense jungles.

According to the Army, ‘Exercise Greenheart’ is the second operation of its kind since 2015, and “is aimed at testing the preparedness of the troops to conduct operations in a close-country or jungle environment. It is also aimed at identifying deficiencies which could be corrected to ensure optimal competency.”

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President David Granger in his address to the troops at the end of the exercise on Friday, said the GDF has been restructuring and rebuilding its strength over the last four years, and that he was pleased that ranks of both the GPF and the GPM were able to be a part of it.

Contending that the GDF is now in an even better position to protect Guyana’s territorial integrity, President Granger is quoted as telling the men and women under his

forward to your Ironweed or Greenheart.”

President David Granger addressing troops at the recently-concluded ‘Exercise Greenheart’ at the Colonel John Clarke Military School at Tacama, in Region Ten

command, “The rebuilding is continuing; the re-equipping is continuing. You have a wider range of vehicles now, additional aircraft.”

He said, too, that with the restructuring of the GDF, several aspects of it have been strengthened. “We are also reforming the Force, so it is not only about a rebuilding or re-equipping or restructuring… In addition to the training you are receiving here, you’d be training in values and standards. And I was happy to see in ‘Exercise Greenheart’, elements of the GDF paying attention to the civilians in this East Berbice-Corentyne Region by meeting and engaging with civilians who live in this Region.”

BACKGROUND Giving a background as to how it all started, President Granger said that every year, since 2015, members of the GDF have been participating in Field Tactical Exercises and a number of other training programmes.

Addressing the troops directly after witnessing the mock assault on the enemy, he said, “Soldiers, this is an important part of your

military experience and military service.

This year, we have included members of the Guyana Police Force, because, in accordance with the requirements of Operation Armadillo, soldiers and police have to operate in the border and hinterland regions together. But you the members of the GDF, in particular, are very important to this country. The people of Guyana look to you to defend this country.

They look to you to deter aggression against this country. This annual Field Tactical Exercise is a very important part of your career, and you can look forward year after year to being here.”

Reminding them of the importance of their being familiar with the country’s topography, as they have to be able to operate in all forms of terrain, President Granger said: “Without training you would never be able to perform your functions; you’d become flabby as an army; you’d become incompetent. What you do here today is essential and normal, and should in no way be regarded as something extraordinary.

“Every year you should be able to look

CONCURRENCE The Commander-in-Chief’s position is agreed upon and accepted not only by the hierarchy of the GDF and the GPF, but also the ranks who participated in the exercise.

Police Commissioner, Leslie James explained that though ‘Exercise Greenheart’ is a military operation, yet one police officer and 30 “other ranks’ were able to participate in it.

He described the exercise as an opportunity for persons within the Guyana Police Force to enhance their training and skills, especially since, from time to time, the army and police are required to work together when responding to cases of disturbances in the country.

This being the case, he is of the opinion that the Joint Services, of which the Police Force is a part, must be physically and mentally ready to defend Guyana at all times.

He said it was not the first time that the GPF has participated in the FTX; that it has been doing so since the 1970s, and it is only prudent that “the Joint Services ranks work together, because there are times when they are in the fields, they are expected to work shoulder to shoulder.”

As he went on to say, “The training would allow them to formalise the requisite camaraderie, and motivate them. It is very beneficial, because it speaks to readiness, resilience and preparation. And in an overall view, it allows for that joint approach where, as I said, the ranks would be fully ready in case the need arises for them to work together.”

Noting that the GPF’s participants were drawn from the Tactical Services and SWAT Units because of their specialised training, Commissioner James said the GPF is more than happy to engage in military exercises to better enhance not only the training but skills of its ranks.

Major Althea Daniels-Stuart, who is a reservist in the GPM, said the agency, which TURN TO PAGE 11 ►

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

Celicia on mission to make Mabaruma proud AS a child , young Celicia Campbell always tried to find a way to help in the development of her hometown of Mabaruma and when she found out she was selected to be a quarterfinalist in the Miss World Guyana 2020 pageant, she knew immediately where to take her campaign for the crown.

At 19, Campbell is competing with several other young women in the national pageant and like her colleagues, she is working on a community project which she noted was on her bucket-list.

She decided to launch her Beauty with a Purpose Campaign at Mabaruma and over the next few weeks, Campbell said she will be making several trips to the area to undertake several projects as part of her campaign.

“I am giving myself the opportunity to grow, to be confident, to raise my voice for those who are unheard and be a better version of myself,” she said of her ef-

forts.

With her plans set in motion, Campbell, who moved to the city from Mabaruma a year ago to undergo studies

the town to assist others.

She said she is focusing on assisting the needy in the town and neighbouring villages. A back-to-school

Celicia Campbell

in tertiary education, has managed to raise funds from the business community in

drive, as well as discussions with youths in the area, is among the feats she has ac-

complished thus far.

When she arrived at Mabaruma last week, she said she observed the influx of Venezuelan nationals at the town and it touched her heart.

“They come with nothing, no money, they have shelter,” she said, adding that she has been encouraging residents to help the Spanish-speaking nationals in whatever way they can because, according to her, they too deserve a better life.

Campbell, who was born and raised in Mabaruma, said she is confident about doing well in the pageant. She said although it is a competition, she believes the platform provides her with the ability to think beyond pageantry.

“It all begins with your mind, how you think on the inside is what manifests itself on the outside," the young woman noted.

Born and raised at Mabaruma, Campbell said that growing up in the town was challenging since she was

Celicia greets Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Karen Cummings on her recent visit to Mabaruma

raised in a single-parent family.

“My mother was always away working so my siblings and I had to learn to fend for ourselves at an early age,” she said.

Although the challenges were against her, she said she was determined to bring

‘Exercise Greenheart’ ...

Lieutenant Hubern Collins of the Guyana People’s Militia

has a strength of approximately 1700 persons country-wide, explained that since its re-establishment in 2015, the GPM has been actively involved in all sorts of military training exercises.

A teacher by profession, Major Daniels-Stuart explained that as part of the GPM’s contingent, there were medics, doctors and teachers, as well as persons who are unemployed.

‘GEL AS A UNIT’ “Participation this year is

as a result of consistent and continuous training,” she said, adding: “We train so the doctrines that are taught by the Force in general are also done by the reservists, so that when we come as a team, we can gel as a unit.”

She also explained that the ranks of the GPM voluntarily participate in training exercises such as ‘Exercise Greenheart’, because they understand the importance of continuous training, and believe deeply in being prepared to protect Guyana’s integrity.

“It helps you to build your confidence; it helps you to improve your discipline, and you also get to learn military skills,” which she believes are critical to the protection of the State.

Major Daniels-Stuart noted that everyone who participates in the FTX are also given an opportunity not only to see Guyana, but to understand the differences in landmass. She explained that knowing and understanding your domain is critical to being able to protect the country when called upon.

“It is a great learning experience. You become more aware; you are more vigilant; you also get to see areas you would not have been otherwise able to see,” Major Daniels-Stuart, who

joined the GPM 19 years ago, said. “I have no regrets; it is a life-changing experience,” she said while encouraging others to join the GPM.

Commissioner of Police, Leslie James

“This is the first national exercise I’ve participated in; it was quite interesting.

I anticipated the exercise, and I really wanted to get the experience,” she said, while explaining that ‘Exercise Greenheart’ is about building both physical and mental capabilities.

“It really wasn’t a challenge for me; it was all about adapting to a new environment. Most of the activities were outdoors, and you basically had to survive for ten days. Service is my motto,” she said.

Sergeant Livan said, too, that being a part of the GPM is not only about learning military skills to protect Guyana’s sovereignty and integrity, but ranks are taught the importance of discipline and values.

“I would encourage persons to join the GPM; it gives you a sense of identity. It really is not all about drills and exercises; there is more to learn. You learn so much here. It is an invaluable experience,” she said.

Similarly, Sergeant Carol Livan, a 32-year-old teacher from Bartica, explained that she joined the GPM because she saw it as an opportunity to learn new skills and be able to make a meaningful contribution to her country.

TREMENDOUS BENEFITS President David Granger has said repeatedly that training offers tremendous benefits to both soldiers and civilians, as it keeps them physically fit, and affords

A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

Sergeant Carol Livan of the Guyana People’s Militia

them valuable life skills, which they’d be able to put into practice.

The Commander-in-Chief has said that reservists and soldiers alike must be familiar with the core values of the organisation to which they belong; that all soldiers must be exemplars of high standards.

Lieutenant Hubern Collins explained that ‘Exercise Greenheart’ has had its fair share of challenges, but also

about a change, not only in her community but the region and further afield.

“The youths in our community need to take education and opportunities offered seriously if they want to better themselves and our community,” Campbell said.

FROM PAGE 10

proved a worthwhile and interesting experience. “It was challenging because the exercise was conducted in an otherwise unexplored jungle. That is, this is the first time the GDF conducted the exercise there. The challenge posed by the jungle not only included the dense vegetation, but also swamps, bees and snakes,” he said.

Lieutenant Collins said too, “The distance covered over the period tested every faculty. Physically, I had never walked so far before with a 50-plus-pound pack on my back through the jungle. Mentally, you had to keep convincing yourself that it will end in ten days.

It was not easy, but, as the Commander-in-Chief would continuously say, we must be able to go into every part of Guyana.”

‘Exercise Greenheart’ was not Collins’ first FTX. Last year, he participated in ‘Exercise Ironweed’. The People’s Militia was established over 260 years ago.

In 1976, it was re-established as the GPM, but was demobilised in 1997. Upon taking office in 2015, President Granger reinstated it.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

Understanding Energy

Decommissioning

While all observers are focused on coming first oil, offshore production is a long-term activity that will stretch decades. Though it is still early days, there are always longer-term activities that are important to consider.

One such activity is “decommissioning” — the careful process of dismantling oil production equipment, capping wells and other key steps in returning a drilling and production site to its previous natural state. This is the final step of the oil production cycle and happens when oil wells are depleted from years of production. This will likely be two to four decades down the road for Guyana.

The goal of decommis-

sioning is to safely take tools and infrastructure used in oil production offline. That covers a lot of activity depending on how and where the oil is produced. In Guyana’s case it could include everything from sealing off subsea wells to cleaning up any equipment left over at shorebases.

Given Guyana’s track record of 13 successful discoveries so far, the overall production in the Guyana Basin will long outlast individual wells. In regions like the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico that have long histories of production this is already the norm. Wells are capped once individual deposits are depleted and the rigs and production equipment are simply moved to a

new site.

Decommissioning and exploration even happen side by side, since an oilfield can contain many separate deposits of hydrocarbons at different depths and in different spots nearby. Oil wells are also normally drilled years apart so each one will reach peak production and eventually be depleted on its own timeline.

The fact that Guyana’s oil deposits are in extremely deep water far offshore has implications for the decommissioning process. On one hand, it makes the process more technically challenging from an engineering standpoint. However, capping wells in deep water is a common industry practice and

major companies and their contractors have long histories of doing safely.

On the other hand, the depth of Guyana’s reserves does come with some advantages. It is not directly near fragile onshore ecology, and the wells’ placement in deep waters also reduces any threat to reefs or other shallow water ecosystems.

In Guyana’s case, there will also be no rigs to remove. The oil will be produced by floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels rather than the kind of permanent oil platforms used in shallow water. FPSOs have the ability to sail away when the field is depleted. The subsea system of pipes and control systems

the FPSOs attach can be removed and taken away by surface vessels.

It should also be noted that this kind of decommissioning work often brings a new surge of economic activity, since many of the same skill sets are needed for both decommissioning and construction.

An example of this is in the North Sea, where production is declining after decades of successful deep-water oil extraction. A new industry is emerging around dismantling, scrapping and repurposing rigs and other equipment.

That drives demand for welders, construction workers, and other types of skilled workers.

Sites left behind onshore, such as supply depots, hangars and shore bases, can often be repurposed for use long after the industry leaves.

It’s common for companies to negotiate with local governments to provide a repurposing plan to convert old sites into a new form that can serve an economic or social purpose, like a new park, arts space, or an industrial facility for local small businesses.

Although this kind of work won’t be taking place here for many years, it’s worth understanding the full life cycle of oil production, now that Guyana is on its way to becoming a major producer.

grown accustomed to life on the coast, the higher ground might not be urban or modern enough for them. Added to this, the culture of reacting to a crisis prevails, proacting is not our forte.

Be all of this as they may, it begs the questions: So what do we do? Wait for the crisis? I am of the view that the development of the regions and hinterland areas to make them more conducive to modern existence is a good start. This approach will entice the coastlanders who have con-

sistently argued that they are prepared to move if other areas can offer basic services. President Granger’s vision of developing the regions is a good step.

The creation of numerous towns under the coalition government is commendable but at some point, we may have to be more robust in dealing with this issue.

Climate change is real and a disruption of life to save lives has to be our next big national sacrifice. I think it is time we re-start this serious national conversation.

MOVING THE CAPITAL: IS IT TIME TO RE-START THIS SERIOUS NATIONAL CONVERSATION?

EVERY time there is excessive rain, there is a slow journey east by traffic on the Rupert Craig Highway. Any deluge of meteorological consequence produces a scary sight of a quasi-tsunami crisis. This development induces fears of Georgetown, the Atlantic Coast, in the middle of an evacuation due to flooding. It never ceases to make me reflect on the question captioned above.

Growing up, I have been part of conversations about Burnham’s plans to move the capital of Guyana to the Region One area or to build this great city at Matthew’s Ridge. I am informed, some dismissed this plan as madness but it seems the great Guyanese visionary was way ahead of his time. I was also advised about Burnham’s Materkai plan. My research suggests the Guyana National Service was identified as the agency to execute the mobilization of this plan but funding and other technical issues prevented its fruition. Thereafter, I am not aware of any subsequent government making any significant moves to consider this, not in rhetoric, let alone policy or plans. Today, we are

smack down in the middle of a heated climate change global phenomenon and as a low-lying country with a seawall defence, I am flummoxed as to why a serious national conversation has not re-started about moving the capital of Guyana to higher ground. National Geographic noted 2018 as record-setting for Ocean heating. Added to this, every year the sea rises .13 (3.2mm).

Jay R. Mandle gave a frightening warning in his paper, ‘Petroleum and Climate Change in Guyana’s Future’ prepared for the inaugural C.Y Thomas Distinguished Lecture, Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown, Guyana, October 27, 2016: ‘The seawall will be breached, the flow from the Interior will increase beyond the capacity of the drainage canals, rivers will rise above their banks, and the resulting damage will undermine the water control infrastructure itself.

Not even the mangrove forests that have protected the Coast against the sea will be spared. As the ocean rises, the trees will be crushed between the encroaching sea and the settlements on the plain. In short, global climate change means that the Guyanese Coast will be invaded

by both salt and freshwater flooding’.

The Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Global Climate Change Project (CPACC) cautioned: ‘“the entire fabric of Guyanese society – population, agriculture, industry and infrastructure – are vulnerable to even slight increases in sea level rises, rainfall intensities, saltwater intrusion and droughts....”.

This writer is not naïve. Any plan to relocate the bulk of the population will be subject to numerous challenges. Firstly, politically, no sitting government would propose the mass movement of the largest voting block from their homes for fear of electoral consequences. Also, sadly, some have argued that this may require magnanimous dictatorship, democracy might be hard-pressed to achieve this gargantuan task. Any such plan may die on the altar of the 5-year electoral cycle. Physically, Guyana’s infrastructure was conceived by the Dutch who were interested only in the coast for sugar cane production.

The physical landscape is daunting and relocating a large section of the population in these areas is a logistical [nightmare]. Culturally, Guyanese have

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 18, 2019

13

East Berbice, Corentyne scores big at CSEC – several schools in top spot producing students with 8 Grade Ones or more

THE East Berbice-Corentyne Region (Region Six) secured several top spots at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).

Emerging in the 10th in the county and top performer for the Region Six, is 17-year-old Jhashodra “Jennifer” Ramnarain, a student of the JC Chandisingh Secondary School. With 17 subjects under her belt, Jennifer attained 16 grade ones and one grade two.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Jennifer could not contain her excitement. She said hard work, sacrifices and her commitment to her studies ensured her achievement.

The humble teen also credits her success to her faith in God and the support of her parents, sister and teachers.

“I was speechless when I heard the announcement of the results and as it resonated with me, I could not contain my excitement. I am happy that my hard work paid off. I could not have done it without the encouragement, support and assistance I received from everyone around me,” a beaming Jennifer said.

In 2016, her sister Vanessa Ramnarain was placed 13th in the country when she attained 15 grade ones and one grade two, at CSEC. Challenging herself, Jennifer planned to sit one subject more than her sister and emerged triumphantly.

The teen proudly related, she has a zeal for the sciences, especially chemistry, since it is interesting as it

is challenging. She noted it helps to understand how precious life is, how unique human beings are and be able to provide new solutions or insights to problems. However, even though she shares an interest in chemistry, she prefers to have a career in the legal field. “I hope to become a lawyer as such I will be furthering my studies in law at CAPE for the next two years and will continue from there”.

Her mother, Ramrattee Ramsarup, said she is extremely proud of her daughter’s success. She noted that while she was confident that her youngest daughter would excel at the examinations, she never imagined it would be among the top 10 in the country.

“Every day her father took her school, from nursery to primary, and we instilled in them education is the foundation to excellence.

When we realised she had the ability… we just supported her throughout.”

Ramrattee spoke of the importance of parental support and encouragement in a child’s education. She also underscored; an early start helps students to succeed academically.

“Parents need to spend time with their children.

Teachers alone cannot do it alone; you have to help out to see results. When everyone works together to support learning, children tend to do better. I have seen it work and if we continue along that path, we will produce students who will excel.”

Arifa Ashidally, one of the top students of JC Chandisingh Secondary School who gained 12 grade ones and seven grade twos.

Jhashodra Ramnarain of the JC Chandisingh Secondary, and her proud parents.

Deputy Headmistress of JC Chandisingh Secondary, Shoundel Bourne, stated they were “ecstatic” with the results. She said the school promotes encouragement and teamwork as a value of utmost importance. Over the years, the school has consistently produced a number of top performers and boasts an overall high percentage pass rate.

“We have strategic plans.

We make optimum use of resources and place them where they are most needed.

The physical arrangements of classrooms are set up so that the senior student’s block is closer to the administrative division so we can monitor and supervise”.

Bourne added, “Collaboration among all stakeholders; teachers, parents, sister schools, the Department of Education, is key to success.

Our teachers go the extra mile, they are willing to be there on holidays and weekends. We expect to do well again next year.”

Also, from JC Chandis-

ingh, is Arifa Ashidally, 16, who gained 12 grade ones and seven grade twos. The aspiring ambassador said she worked hard and maintained a balance between leisure and studying as both are equally important.

Further up the Corentyne, the Tagore Memorial School, located at Number 63 Village, produced four students gaining passes in over eight subjects or more with grade ones. Among those are 17-year-old Gavendra Mohabir, who obtained 13 grade ones and one grade two. The future architect plans to attend the University of Guyana to first, pursue studies in computer science after which he hopes to receive a scholarship to further his studies in architecture at the institution.

Additionally, schools such as the Skeldon Line Path Secondary continue to deliver as well. Student, Yogeshwari Balram wrote 17 subjects and gained 14 grade ones and three grade twos. She told the DPI, that

Yogeshwari Balram, the top student of Skeldon Line Path Secondary School wrote 17 subjects and gained 14 grade ones and three grade twos.

Gavendra Mohabir, the top student of Tagore Memorial Secondary School who obtained 13 grade ones and one grade two.

while she has not yet chosen a career path, her love for mathematics and physics will allow her to a take up a career in that field since she loves to find solutions to problems.

Students from the New Amsterdam Secondary and Berbice High School also

Region 6 top CSEC performer, Jhashodra Ramnarain, of the JC Chandisingh Secondary School, who wrote 17 subjects and attained 16 grade ones and one grade two.

performed exceptionally at this year’s examination.

Guyana recorded a 73 per cent overall pass rate at the 2019 sitting of CSEC. (DPI)

CH&PA transforming Sophia through IDB-funded project THE cries of flooding and bad roads from the people of Sophia will soon be a thing of the past as they are currently benefitting from a multi-million-dollar project, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Development projects to the tune of $867M will be rolled out across the community by the end of the year. The entire operation falls under the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme, through the Central Housing & Planning Authority.

This programme will see Sophia benefitting from road upgrades in asphaltic and concrete, proper drainage system, bridges and walkways.

Additionally, this project includes providing housing and subsidies for home improvements for the residents as well.

Deputy Director of Com-

developmental works in Sophia (Photo by Samuel Maughn)

munity Development at CH&PA, Donnel Bess-Bascom said that over 2000 residents will benefit from home improvement subsidy, and in addition core houses will be built. However, in 2019, only 50 will be processed to commence construction.

Bess-Bascom explained the criteria and the process, “In Sophia, we will be having 50 core homes and 300 home improvements will commence in 2019. To date, we have completed 456 house-to-house verification visits for home improvements, and 87 house

to house visits for core houses.

These are the persons who would have been deemed eligible after the application period.

Currently, we are in the process of selecting. By the end of August/ mid-September we will be able to complete the beneficiary selection process

and have persons notified of the outcome. So everything is moving according to plan.”

She also highlighted that the community leaders played a great role in ensuring that the people of Sophia get maximum benefits. In fact, she said that the leaders have influenced what was outlined, and ensured that 30 per cent of labour must come from Sophia.

“We’re also implementing the livelihood reparation plan under this programme.

We are ensuring that persons whose livelihoods are being affected, will be planned for and compensated for setbacks from construction works,” she pointed out.

Director of projects, Omar Narine said that the original run-time for the project is March 2020. However, four of the six projects are scheduled to be completed by Novem-

ber. One community facility, he said, is also expected to commence within the next two weeks.

A member of the community said that this project has the people of Sophia singing the Hallelujah chorus.

“The impact has been felt by the people in this area. The drainage problem is now to a minimum, and several other improvements. And I know when all this is completed, all they will be singing is the Hallelujah chorus,” he told the media.

The projects have six contractors for the construction of 10 access bridges. $867M worth in contracts are currently being executed. The original contract time for this project is March 2020, but four of the six projects are scheduled to be completed this November.

14

SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

CSEC top student receives Acer tablet MINISTER within the Agriculture Ministry, Valarie Adams-Yearwood, on Friday presented Riana Toney with an Acer tablet in recognition of her outstanding performance at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

Toney, of the Anna Regina Multilateral School, topped Guyana at the recent CSEC exams. The presentation was done at the Indigenous settlement-- Capoey.

According to Minister Adams-Yearwood, she was visiting the Pomeroon-Supenaam region and she saw it as an opportunity to present Toney with a gift.

She said Toney made Guyana proud with her achievements and the Ministry of Agriculture has recognised her potential by presenting her with the Acer tablet.

Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Valarie Adams-Yearwood presenting national CSEC top student, Riana Toney, with a gift in recognition of her outstanding academic performance

Toney secured 19 grade ones, including in agriculture science at CSEC. In receiving her present,

Toney thanked the minister for the gift and pledged to continue to make Guyana proud.

Glasgow Community feels recognised

-Development moving apace DURING a community meeting held at Glasgow, East Bank of Berbice on Friday, it was highlighted that the area has benefitted from several improvements. The more than 500 residents at the community engagement commended the recent developments witnessed under the Coalition Government.

They pointed to the newly-commissioned nursery and primary schools. There was also praises for the installation of more than 300 streetlights, remedial works carried out on the drainage

and irrigation systems, and an ICT Hub commissioned at the Glasgow Multipurpose Centre.

The recently-installed ICT hub has been a tremendous boost to students in the community. It has aided with their research for various assignments and particularly for those that sat this year’s Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC), the residents said.

Sixty-nine-year old, David Frank who has lived in the community all his life, noted that the residents of Glasgow Community can

finally say they “are getting a piece of the pie” under this government.

“We don’t get flooding as before. That was our struggle which interfered with our farming crops. Pregnant mothers don’t have to travel great distances because now they have easy access to healthcare service at the Edinburg Health Centre which is a neighbouring village,” he remarked. “All we need right now in this community is a Police Outpost since the closest Police Station is four miles away, and I am sure our government will deliver on that.”

Frank also mentioned the

construction of new roads in the Glasgow, which will allow for easier egress and ingress to the community.

Strong and positive support was evident from the Glasgow residents. They assured that efforts will be made to have everyone in the community, especially young persons who are eligible, registered.

Member of Parliament (MP), Hon. Barbara Pilgrim, who was a part of the meeting, told the residents that the government will continue to ensure everyone has the necessary provisions to have a better life.

(DPI)

Business Minister plugs moneymaking potential of agritourism –at launch of annual Berbice ‘Expo’ MINISTER of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar is of the opinion that there is tons of money to be made from the merger of the agriculture and tourism sectors, and said as much at the lunch Wednesday of the annual Berbice Expo and Trade Fair, the 15th to date.

He started off by saying that the despite the prospects in oil, Guyana needs to focus more on two important sectors, these being and agriculture and tourism, and that that is what the government will be doing in future.

“We will continue to promote these two sectors; tourism and agriculture. So in October, we will be having an agri-tourism drive, where we will be sensitising persons on how they can use agri-tourism to develop themselves,” Minister Rajkumar said.

“Region Six has the potential, and has been contributing in the agricultural sector. All we have to do now is bridge the two sectors and make one big product: Agritourism,” he added.

He said that the goal of the proposed agritourism ‘expo’ is to develop a ‘green’ tourism sector.

“With this coming on stream,” Minister Rajkumar said, “the private sector will play an integral role in tourism and in agriculture; they will have to come together to plan and plot a way forward, so that all the players will be

able to have a product that persons in Guyana and those abroad can benefit from.”

The theme of this year’s Berbice Expo and Trade Fair is ‘Promoting a favourable business and investment climate’.

The four-day event, which is being promoted by the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, will be held at the Albion Sports Complex from September 27 to 30, and was officially launched by Minister Rajkumar.

CCCC President, Mohamed Raffik has reported that the Chambers has spent over $2M of its proceeds from the last ‘Expo’ on development projects in the district.

He said that since the ‘Expo’ started 19 years ago, 14 schools will have benefited from projects undertaken by the Chamber.

“The money that we get from the ‘Expo’ is spent on quite a lot of community projects,” he said, adding: “Recently we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rose Hall Town Council to develop a playfield, which is situated not far from our Chambers office, so that children in the area could have a recreational time.”

It is anticipated that some 25,000 persons will visit the ‘Expo’ this year.

Mackenzie High girl does Reg. 10 proud --scoring 12 subjects at CSEC MACKENZIE High School (MHS) literally came out swinging at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) examinations, with several of its students among the top ten performers in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Doing the Region particularly proud are top student Gabrielle Prudence, who secured a total of 12 subjects, nine of them Grade Ones, two Grade Twos, and one Grade Three, and Tonesia Jacobis, also of MHS, who came a close second with 11 passes, nine of them Grade Ones and two Grade Twos as well.

But whereas Jacobis secured the second highest spot for MHS, Prudence secured the overall top spot for the entire Region, as she wrote an extra subject, Theatre Arts, at the Christianburg-Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) and secured another Grade

One, as the subject was not offered at MHS. When contacted by the Guyana Chronicle to find out how she felt about her outstanding performance, Prudence could scarcely contain herself.

"I am speechless! Flabbergasted! I am extremely proud of myself," she said, as she reflected on the many sacrifices: The long nights of studying, and the daily battle to get up early in the mornings, not to mention the pressure to stay ahead of the game, which at the time seemed never ending.

“Waking up early in the mornings really affected me throughout the day,” she readily admitted, adding: “My mother put a lot of pressure on me; it was quite a difficult task, but I’m happy it all paid off.”

The aspiring Corporate Lawyer, who will be pursuing Advanced Law at the Bishops' High School in

Georgetown, said that one of the stress relievers for her throughout her studies was her pursuit of Theatre Arts, even though it was not offered at her school, as it gave her the opportunity to be qualified in something she loved dearly. The young achiever, who desires to take up theatre as a supplementary job, would like to advise other students to ensure they balance their time and not compromise what was set out for studying and school assignments. She said that while it may be challenging, she would encourage them to stay focused, as success will be right ahead.

Business student, Tonesia Jacobis' aim was not only to do well, but to be among the top performers in the region, since her older siblings did the same. In 2017, her brother was the top student at MHS, and her sister also acquired a top position a few years prior. Some of the subjects

Top Student, Gabrielle Prudence

Tonecia Jacobis

Shanea Ross

she got Grade Ones in are Economics, Integrated Science, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business, English Language and Office Administration. The aspiring Economist, who is still in shock at her performance, will be pursuing CAPE at MHS. She also described the preparation process as challenging. "I was determined to do well,” she said, “so I had to give up a lot of recreation and push in the work.” She would like to thank her family, especially her mother, Rayann Jacobis, who she said stood by her throughout the

entire journey.

Acquiring seven Grade Ones was Shanea Ross, also of MHS. She gained 11 subjects in all. An overwhelmed Ross said she felt it in her spirit that she would have gotten seven Ones, and while she didn’t expect any Grade Threes, she said, “I am still thankful, and to God be the glory.” She thanked her MHS teachers for the integral role they played in ensuring she was successful, as well as her family and friends. Like Prudence, she, too, aspires to become a lawyer, and will be pursuing CAPE Law

at MHS. She said that the preparation process was not as stressful for her as it was for her other colleagues, because she took it one step at a time. And that’s her advice to students now preparing to write CSEC. Other students who performed well in Region Ten include Tahj Bascom, who secured six Grade Ones; Te-Nu-Sal Headley of CWSS, who also acquired six Grade Ones; and Dexter Pellew of MHS, who acquired five Grade Ones.

15

SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

WPA to contest elections as part of the APNU+AFC - to push for a more ‘forceful role’ in the coalition

By Navendra Seoraj THE Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has formally announced that it will contest the upcoming General and Regional Elections as a member of the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition.

The WPA, which is a junior partner in APNU, is convinced that a multiparty government is a superior option for the management of the budding oil and gas economy.

According to the party, the coalition is in theory, if not practice, one step closer to the desired government of national unity.

“Towards this end, WPA views the coalition as a political force that offers the better chance for the realisation of our party’s vision for Guy-

ana’s development and true liberation from the clutches of underdevelopment,” said WPA member, Ali Majeed, during a press conference on Friday.

Majeed said WPA has already signed onto the coalition’s core principles, but given its experience in the first term, it has decided to make alterations to its formal engagement with the coalition government.

The WPA intends to be more proactive, in and out of government should the coalition win. The party intends to continue to balance its independence and traditional political values with its responsibility as part of a plural government.

“We have already begun to play an active role…we have held 10 public meetings and we were surprised when we got into the communities,

the level of support…they would make fun of us and say we have five members but we have hundreds now,” said WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds.

In 2015, because of the “euphoria” that was there when the APNU+AFC won the elections, WPA decided to hold back from critiquing the government because the party believed that it would have disappointed supporters.

“This time around, some supporters have expressed disappointment in what has happened and we want to give those supporters a voice,” said Dr. Hinds, adding that the WPA will push for a more forceful role in the coalition.

Amending the Cummingsburg Accord, the February 14 agreement that brought the APNU+AFC together ahead of the 2015

Executive Member of the WPA, Dr. David Hinds

elections, is one way of promoting greater inclusivity, Dr. Hinds posited.

Although Dr. Hinds said the WPA has not given much

thought to the accord, he feels that there should be more participation by all parties within the coalition.

“For instance, some supporters are saying AFC got more than they deserved and the WPA got less…so we imagine that they would come to conclusions that would be fair to all parties,” said the WPA executive.

He believes that the last agreement created a “lopsided” kind of arrangement within the coalition, so the second round of the accord should promote inclusivity.

Dr. Hinds also called for a reassessment of the APNU Charter, which binds the five parties together, because the stakeholders have not looked at that charter since the 2015 elections.

With the aim of being

forceful and active, the WPA did an evaluation of the coalition government and concluded that the performance has been mixed.

The enormous challenges it inherited and the fact that it has not been in office long enough were among factors taken into consideration during the assessment of the coalition’s tenure.

According to Dr. Hinds, among the topics, which could have been made a priority, are constitutional reform and the punishment of elements associated with the past government for corruption.

“We felt there should have been more movement in those areas…but we take our fair share of responsibility for what has gone wrong TURN TO PAGE 21 ►

Haag Bosch and UG roads to be repaired works to commence once weather is favourable THE Haag Bosch road along with the street just east of the University of Guyana (UG) which extends past the Guyana Forensic Laboratory will soon be rehabilitated.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, Hon. David Patterson made this known during an interview with the Voice of Guyana (VOG) on Saturday.

Minister Patterson disclosed that the decision was made during a meeting on Thursday, August 15, with the relevant officials within the Public Infrastructure Ministry.

Referencing the Haag Bosch road, the minister said, “we are going to do some work to repair it very shortly… In the short term we are going to fix it. It is about two or three bad patches. We are going to fix those… immediately as soon as the weather allows us.”

While admitting the changing weather pattern has resulted in a prolonged rainy season that has so far hindered the roadworks, Minister Patterson pointed to another challenge.

“We have to have a discussion with the communities concerning the type of vehicles that are using the road. It was never built

for the heavier traffic and the volume of traffic that is there at the moment,” Minister Patterson stated.

According to the minister, it is not feasible for rehabilitative roadwork to be done during unsuitable conditions.

Regarding the road east of UG, Minister Patterson explained the road, “is sandwiched between two canals… the shoulders are not stable enough and then of course trucks are coming down [the road].”

In an appeal to safeguard the use of the road, Minister Patterson urged the public to play their role in calling out operators of heavy-duty trucks that may tend to use the road.

Staff at the ministry informed Minister Patterson during last Thursday’s meeting that the road will need frequent repairs should trucks continue to traverse its surface. As such, Minister Patterson made known his request for only cars, buses and other light to medium weight vehicles be allowed to travel on the road. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure will be installing barriers along to road to serve as a deterrent for truck drivers on the UG road. (DPI)

16

SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

Guyana showcases rich culture at CARIFESTA

By Vishani Ragobeer

T

HE 100-strong Guyanese delegation currently in Trinidad for CARIFESTA XIV is showcasing the country’s rich and diverse culture, Social Cohesion Minister, Dr. George Norton said.

CARIFESTA XIV got underway on Friday, August 16 with a massive 'Parade of Nations' where each of the participating countries marched down the road.

Guyana left an indelible impression on the spectators and other participants through its unique show of the various ethnic groups and while being where all the "hype" was.

"We're taking this opportunity to show to the Caribbean and the rest of the world who we actually are," Dr. Norton underscored.

Over the 10 days of CARIFESTA, the social cohesion minister opined that the Guyana delegation will definitely be illustrating innovation to the rest of the Caribbean. This will be done through every aspect the country is engaging in, from drama and dance, to art and craft.

"Culture is a dynamic something, it keeps constantly changing and we hope that we'll be able to show the new changes that we have," he said. This will capitalise on the diverse plural society it encompasses, by having smaller delegations representing each indigenous group.

Cognisant that the host country, Trinidad is noted for hosting many international activities and large events, the minister noted that the Guyanese will also be paying keen attention to Trinidad's way of 'doing things' while learning from the country's shortcomings.

"We are not too far behind in terms of getting our act together," he affirmed, adding that: "I hope we will learn from the mistakes of Trinidad."

On Saturday, the CARIFESTA 'Grand Market' opened at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain.

Here, Guyana showcased its food, fashion, arts and craft, among others through the festival.

Moreover, the 'market' encompassed various sections including food area and the fashion square. These sections have been designed replicas of landmarks and monuments across the Caribbean. Guyana's Stabroek Market stands tall along the Avenue of the Caribbean and houses all of the craft and art merchandise.

Guyana has already started to leave an indelible impression on spectators and participants at CARIFESTA XIV, with its performance at the Parade of Nations which was held on Friday at the Queen's Park Savannah (Vishani Ragobeer photo)

A replica of Guyana's Stabroek Market towers over the Avenue of the Caribbean at the Grand Market at the Queen's Park Savannah. This edifice houses the craft and art merchandise brought by the participating countries (Vishani Ragobeer photo)

Trinidadian masqueraders delighted the crowd on the opening day of the Grand Market of CARIFESTA XIV at the Queen's Park Savannah on Saturday (Vishani Ragobeer photo)

Indigenous people celebrate, showcase their culture

By Vishani Ragobeer INDIGENOUS people from across the Caribbean were able to celebrate and showcase their culture at CARIFESTA's Indigenous Community Festival.

This Indigenous Community Festival was part of a string of community festivals being held in various places across Trinidad and Tobago as part of activities for CARIFESTA XIV. Kicking off the string of festivals was this Indigenous Festival, held in Arima.

Representing Guyana's first people was a group of Indigenous folk from the Indigenous communities of Orealla and Ciparutu. The small group performed an Arawak song and dance at the Arima velodrome on

Social Cohesion Minister, Dr. George Norton stopped by the festival to show his support (Vishani Ragobeer photo)

Saturday afternoon.

This group was formed because of CARIFESTA but in the short while it has been in existence, it has been seeking to promote the Arawakan

language, according to member, Ingrid Devair.

"We're hoping that through this group, we can learn the songs (in Arawak) and learn the meanings so

The small group of Indigenous folk from Guyana at the Indigenous People's Community Festival in Arima (Vishani Ragobeer photo)

through that we can be able to teach the younger generation," she told this newspaper.

Added to that, she noted that the group would have

drawn inspiration from the other Indigenous peoples from other parts of the Caribbean. In fact, in Arima, there was a unique mix of Indigenous cultures from a

handful of countries.

"It is a nice experience to know that they're other (Indigenous) people around the TURN TO PAGE 17 â–ş

17

SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

Unstable electricity supply Cassava processing facility certified by Food will be a thing of the past and Drug Department

-- even as gov’t to intensify ‘come back home’ campaign for Guyanese in the diaspora

A CASSAVA flour processing facility at Kwebanna Village in the Moruca sub-district has been certified by the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD).

According to a release from the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, subject Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe recently led a team to Kwebanna Village, which included Ms. Donnette Babb, an inspector from the GA-FDD who conducted a thorough inspection of the facility.

Following the inspection, the official told residents at a general village meeting that “what you have here is a beautiful building. However, the Food and Drug Department looks at your labelling, the process, we test your product from farm to table or from raw materials down to distribution. So we are here along with the environmental officer in Region One to assist you.”

According to the ministry , the project is the realisation of a commitment made by Minister Garrido-Lowe towards helping the Indigenous

The cassava processing facility at Kwebanna in the North West District

thirty acres of cassava.

Minister Garrido-Lowe told residents that “in a couple of years your cassava processing facility will evolve into a huge enterprise, because as a country, a rich one too, we have to prepare for the influx of investors who will come. So we don’t want to stop progress.”

Over the years, farmers have been lamenting the limited market opportunities for their produce and with the establishment of this facility, along with three other massive economic projects across the Hinterland, the APNU+AFC Government has responded to their pleas.

Last year, Minister Garrido-Lowe was instrumental in providing technical support to farmers in partnership with the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute NAREI and Brazils Stem Integrated Production in Agribusiness, SIPA. The team visited 17 farms in the area Minister of Amerindian Peoples’ Affairs, over the two-day period and was able to Valerie Garrido-Lowe engages officials share with farmers improved planting techat the processing facility niques and pest control methods to vastly improve yields.

Minister Garrido-Lowe at the time spoke Peoples raise their standard of living which according to her “makes me enjoy working with about the agriculture and tourism potential of them and our President believes that every Guya- the Hinterland as she noted that her function nese deserves to live a good life no matter where is to put systems in motion to nurture such potential. Kwebanna, which is located along they live.”

The project which is in line with the govern- the Waini River, is home to approximately ment’s ‘Green State Development Strategy’ and six hundred and fifty residents with its main the Sustainable Development Goals has been economic activity being lumbering, farming, receiving tremendous support particularly from traditional fishing and hunting. With the estabvillagers who are eager to see operations com- lishment of the Processing Facility, the livelimence. They have since cultivated more than hoods of residents will improve tremendously, the ministry said.

FROM PAGE 16

Indigenous people ...

Caribbean and they're proud of their Indigenous identity and are bringing it and showcasing same in different forms," Devair highlighted.

The group is not only hoping to revel in the rich Indigenous culture presented, but will be seeking to bring back some of the culture and techniques seen to add to the "flavour" of Guyana's Indigenous Heritage Month celebrations, which will be held in September.

MINISTER of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson said that instability of electricity supply would be a thing of the past with the entry of oil and gas into Guyana’s economy. This, he disclosed in an interview on the Voice of Guyana Friday, while sharing some of the ongoing developmental works of the Ministry of Infrastructure, and some of the future plans.

Citing a particular example, Patterson referred to the Guyana Power and Light, and the many complaints that people air about inconsistent power supply.

He pointed out that while persons complain about poor services, he can attest to the fact that the workers have been working assiduously to ensure that quality work is done in 14 agencies catered for under his ministry.

To this end, the minister noted that the difficulty sat with the availability of fuel and the ability of the generators to pump electricity throughout the country. However, he highlighted that within the next 12 months, instability of the generators would be a thing of the past.

“We have the backbone now. We have oil and gas and that’s one of the fuels that power generators – the cheapest and cleanest of the non-renewable sources. We have the gas, so what we’re doing now is building out the architecture where it comes in by 2021. In one go, we’ll have more than enough power for the county, and cheaper,” he said.

Patterson also said that this will provide for boosting in several other aspects of the economy. Because Guyana will be producing its own fuel for GPL, there will be no importing cost.

“Take out cost for importing fuel for GPL, cars, vehicles and those things, the money saved is now another earner; another amount of money saved. Now you can put that back into the economy, maybe to wages, salaries, roads, and the education sector. That’s a big junk of money; we’re talking hundreds of millions of US dollars spent on importing fuel. All that will be saved,” he posited.

Additionally, the inflow of fuel will aid in Guyana being transformed into a completely sustainable country.

This will be done by investing in re-

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson

newable energy that can fuel solar farms, minister noted.

“And by 2040, we expect to be 100 per cent sustainable. Every single power in the country will be renewable or by our own source,” he pointed out.

In the meanwhile, Patterson said that through funds from Norway and other countries that would have made investments, provisions are being made to invest in building the reserve energy in Guyana that will carry consistent power through to 2021 when the change is expected to come.

Additionally, the minister emphasised that the government has to intensify the ‘come back home’ campaign because more human resources will definitely be needed for what is expected. The government of Guyana will soon be emphasising a ‘come back home’ campaign for Guyanese in the diaspora, as Guyana is soon to be developed beyond its available human resources.

It is reported that we have about two million Guyanese in the diaspora. And they are highly trained. We’ve had interactions with those in US and Canada, they have become accustomed to certain standards, like proper healthcare, and we have been working on improving our standards in these various sectors. We have invested tremendously in the health sector, and the services are being decentralised,” he explained.

Adding that “What’s going to happen for Guyana, it’s for Guyanese primarily.” Hence the reason for the campaign.

Virgin Atlantic eyes Guyana as 2020 destination UNITED Kingdom-based carrier Virgin Atlantic has set its eyes on Guyana as a travel destination and if all goes well, the airliner could be landing on these shores as early as 2020.

According to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, the authorities have made initial engagements with Virgin officials on the venture.

Minister Patterson, who was addressing a gathering at the sod-turning ceremony for the construction of

the new headquarters of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on Friday at Providence on the East Bank of Demerara, said that the aviation sector here is expanding and he tied the development to the country’s dozen plus oil discoveries thus far.

“They were on a Skype call to myself and Minister of Finance (Winston Jordan) on them coming here…

This is head of the Directors of the airline who deals with routes.

He’s going into a meeting and he would like to know what Guyana’s position is, saying (he) would like to put Guyana on (their) routes for 2020,” Minister Patterson said.

Patterson said two other

international carriers are expected to operate into Guyana in the coming months.

Several months ago, officials of American carrier JetBlue informed its staff that the carrier has plans to expand its flight schedule to include Guyana, with plans carded for operations as early as the first quarter of 2020. As per process, the airline would first have to apply to the GCAA for an air operators certificate (AOC) in order to acquire permission to operate here.

Earlier this year, Virgin Atlantic announced that it was expanding its flights to South America with flights to Brazil. Virgin said that in 2020 it will fly to Sao Paulo in Brazil from London’s Heathrow airport; a journey which last a little under 12 hours . The service will operate on a daily basis as of an unspecified date next year, with the Boeing 787-9 model aircraft.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

Minister Yearwood delivers on promise to Capoey farmers

By Indrawattie Natram

BRIGHT smiles were seen on the faces of residents of Capoey, Region Two, when Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Valerie Adams-Yearwood reached out to the community on Friday.

Minister Yearwood, who has responsibilities for rural affairs, said her visit was to deliver a promise she made to the people of Capoey during the recent government outreach in Region Two. Speaking to residents under a benab on the mission top, the minister said during her last meeting with the residents, several of them requested farming tools and she is happy to supply them.

She said after the meeting, Toshoa Ralph Hendricks followed up with a request letter, identifying the farming tools the community needed.

The Minister said several forks, files, cutlass, axes, and other farming tools were donated by the Ministry of Agriculture while a tillage machine, spray cans, water

Farmers with their tools

Farmers in Capoey with Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Valarie Yearwood

pump and long booths were donated by Food for the Poor.

The minister said the government is striving to meet the needs of every Guyanese by providing the necessary resources needed to improve their lives.

Toshoa of the community, Ralph Hendricks was overjoyed having received the farming tools for the community. He said it was the first time a minister made a promise and fulfilled it within months. The Amerindian settlement is predominantly a farming community and the tools will be of great help for the residents.

Farmers who received the tools praised the minister for delivering a promise she made during the government outreach. One farmer, Levis Jacobs, said he will be cultivating more acres of farm land now that he has the necessary resources to do so. Another farmer, Alex De Younge, said he will now be farming in confidence.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

PNC/R proud of government’s youth programmes and policies CITING the drafting of the National Youth Policy, the ending of extra judicial killing of youths, the increase of scholarships and allround improvement of the public education system, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) says that it is very much pleased with the trajectory of many youth-focused programmes implemented by the APNU+AFC government.

PNC/R executive member, Aubrey Norton, said that since the APNU+AFC coalition government took over in 2015, much has been put in place to reverse the adversities faced by youths all across the country under the rule of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) “The government designed policies, programmes and projects that have restored hope. A mere four years ago, the youth were hopeless, they lived in fear of the police even if they were law abiding, the school dropout rate was very high, the illiteracy and innumeracy rate was extremely high, there was little or no training available to them,” Norton said as he read from the party’s weekly press statement.

“Under the PPP, Guyana’s youth were forced into

enjoying the crumbs that fell from the drug lords’ tables.

Serious crime was the order of the day, people committed crimes while the Guyana Police Force lacked the capacity to bring criminals to justice and our youth were living in a country in which the rich and powerful aligned to the criminal state, did as they pleased, making Guyana a lawless and dangerous place.

Our youth existed in a state of hopelessness.”

Norton emphasised that one of biggest areas that government has invested in to address issues faced by youths, is in the education system, and has seen much favourable results.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Education (MoE), in declaring the results of the 2019 Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), noted that Guyana recorded pass rates of 77 per cent and 93 per cent, respectively.

The CSEC pass rate represented an over 10 per cent increase since 2014, when the pass rate was 60.21 per cent. Guyana earlier this year also saw marked improvements at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA),

where for the first time in six years, public schools returned to producing the best performing students at the exam, which tested students in the areas of Mathematics, English, Science and Social Studies.

Results from the assessment showed that there was across the board improvements in Mathematics, which was recorded in all 11 educational districts in the country.

This was a result of robust programmes that were developed to focus on this subject area.

In 2016, President David Granger mandated an Emergency Math Intervention Programme in grade schools.

Though the pass rate in 2019 was 42 per cent it marked a significant 28.15 per cent increase since 2016 when the pass percentage stood at 13.85 per cent.

“The APNU+AFC government continues to invest heavily in the education sector since, and as President Granger stated “young people will succeed only if the performance of the public education is improved”. We have seen marked improvement of students at the CXC and generally throughout the system,” Norton pointed out.

He pointed out that inter-

ventions are not only focused on students in school but also on giving school drop outs a second opportunity.

“For many youths who dropped out of school or failed to obtain the required number of subjects to work or pursue higher education, there has been the establishment of free night schools.

The PNC/R wants to assure all Guyanese, especially our youth, when the APNU+AFC returns to power, the night schools will be increased across the country to ensure all youths have access to a second chance at obtaining the education they need to enjoy the good life,” Norton said.

He further pointed out that the considerations go beyond academics, with much focus also placed on promoting vocational education opportunities and leadership skills as well.

“APNU+AFC recognises that our youth is a human resource to develop, and not all youths are academically

inclined and that there is need for other forms of training. Programmes such as the Patient Care Programme enabled young people to enter the health sector and develop themselves into professional healthcare workers,” Norton noted “The government has and will continue to develop programmes to give school dropouts a second chance.

The PNC/R is convinced that this is the one way we can develop these youths who had no hope under the PPP. We are restoring dignity in labour and training the youth so that we shift them away from the PPP induced culture of getting rich quick at all means, and ensuring that our youth live law-abiding productive lives, in a society based on law and order.”

Aside from educating youths, government has also put in place measures to give resources to youths to support their ideas and plans.

In 2019 the government set aside $70M for the Youth

Innovation Project (YIP), which is in addition to the $50M that was plugged into the initiative in 2018.

YIP offers grants to entrepreneurial youths aware of issues, challenges or difficulties in their community and wish to propose solutions.

“Thousands of young people have been employed and continue to benefit from the Youth Innovation Project in the form of start-up financing and financial literacy and small business management training. More than one thousand young people have been able to start their own business,” Norton related.

“We are aware that there is need to rectify the youth leadership deficit that existed under the previous government. The government therefore trained thousands of young people in leadership, and provided them with the tools they need to work among their peers and place their communities on the course to sustainable development.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

Teachers’ efforts lauded … priority will be afforded for their professional development -CEO

AS the Guyanese students continue to produce outstanding performances at the regional examinations, the efforts of teachers who “defy the odds” have been recognised and Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson says priority will be given to teachers to en-

hance their abilities. ”We believe that this noble group must be vested with desire to contribute to creating visions for teaching, learning and systemic thinking,” Hutson said , adding that priority will be given for them to make “continuous professional

development.”

Hutson was addressing gathering , which included Minister of Education , Dr. Nicolette Henry, at the National Centre for Education and Research Development (NCERD) where the this years’ results of the Caribbean Secondary Education

Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) were announced by the Education Ministry.

According to Hutson, teachers’ educators are strategically positioned to serve as catalysts for the change in education delivery the

Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry (left) shares a moment with Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson, during the announcement of the 2019 CSEC /CAPE results on Wednesday (Adrian Narine photo)

ministry pursues. He said the ministry will concentrate on producing great teachers. “I believe this is the essence of where we will go,” he said.

He said the results being recorded in recent years at regional and national examinations “are not due to magic” but rather as a result of hard work by a group of persons who toil day and night as they commit to the transformation of the education sector.

To this end, Hutson extended gratitude to teachers who defy the odds and produce students of quality and substance.

“We honor you,” he said of the teachers as he also recognised the contributions of education officers and other officials in the system.

He said that a team effort is needed for the future of the nation’s children to realise their potential.

According to the top education official, this year’s results testify to the “enormous benefits that can be had” if all stakeholders embrace an approach of collaboration and cooperation.

“The results point to signs of hope,” he said, as he noted that education is on a developmental trajectory.

“We are in a good place and we must never sway from the cooperation and collaboration that has brought us this far for the sake of the development of our young people,” he said.

This year, Guyana recorded improved performances in 21 subject areas with standout grades in 13 subject areas at the CSEC

examinations.

The education minister deemed Guyana’s performance the best ever. At the same time, there was an increase in Grades One and Two passes recorded for Guyanese students who sat the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) as the overall performances were deemed satisfactory. This year, a total of 11,467 candidates wrote the CSEC regional examinations.

On Wednesday, during her announcement of the 2019 results of the two regional examinations set by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), for the CSEC subjects, Minister Henry noted improved performances were recorded in several subject areas including the sciences, English A, the business subjects and the modern languages.

In terms of the performances at the CAPE examination, candidates obtained 100 per cent pass rates in 31 units including Agricultural Science Unit Two, Environmental Science Unit One, Sociology Unit One and Physics Unit Two among others.

A total of 880 Guyanese students wrote the CAPE examinations and Minister Henry said that this year, Mathematics remained consistent with 83.85 per cent grades one to five passes. Of note, was the performance of students from the Christianburg/Wismar Secondary School which offered four units for CAPE for the first time with a pass rate of 92 per cent.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

Filthy lucre drawing some WPA to contest ... to the PPP – Aubrey Norton

FROM PAGE 15

EXECUTIVE member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Aubrey Norton, says that there is nothing that the party can do to stop the “weak” and “vacillating” members from defecting when such members are concerned with self-gratification and are drawn by what is offered by other political parties.

Norton was at the time addressing the issue of former PNC/R Youth Executive, Dave Danny junior, and his father, Dave Danny senior, leaving the party and joining the opposition People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C). Dave Danny Jnr early this month officially announced that he had left the party via a social media video.

“They [the PPP/C] have filthy lucre that they can share and give out and cause the weak and cause the vacillating, to move. So to us it’s not surprising. They (PPP) are a

PNC/R Executive, Aubrey Norton (Adrian Narine photo)

party with a lot of illegal wealth at their disposal, that was a party that was linked to a criminalised state in which they accessed drug resources, back tracking resources,” Norton noted of the situation.

“One young lady who was PNC/R walked and boasted across the country that the PPP bought a

car for her, a house for her sister, and they are comfortable with that.

If persons opt for a good life because of immediate self-gratification then we can do nothing about that. What I can say however is that two might have left we don’t advertise how many came, including from the PPP, but many have.”

Norton noted that the PNC/R’s focus is on the wider society, and not just appeasing a few individual members. “The problem with that is that it doesn’t address the problems of the wider society.

What we are seeking to do as a government is to address people’s concerns across the board and ensure they get a good life,” Norton said.

with the government…we are a junior partner, we have one minister in the only council of government that makes decisions and our representative was there when these decisions were made…We take full responsibility for the shortcomings,” said the WPA executive.

Despite the shortcomings, the WPA feels that the government has done enough to warrant a second term, since there are some important areas of democratic governance and management of the political economy that are comforting and have led to a strengthening of the country as a whole.

Above and beyond the shortcomings, there are “very big things” which government has succeeded in doing, he said.

In support of his position, Dr. Hinds said this is the first government in the history of Guyana that has not gunned down political opponents. He believes that the APNU+AFC government has toned down political fear and by extension fear in society.

He noted too that President David Granger, though not perfect, has brought back dignity to the office of

the presidency.

“The fact that you have a leader that exudes dignity is important,” Dr. Hinds said while adding that the government has shown ethnic fairness, something which previous governments had a difficulty doing.

He said there is no doubt that the government has expended a lot of resources in Indigenous communities, while observing that the Portuguese and Chinese business class has not complained about discrimination.

In addition, he said government was careful not to throw Indian Guyanese under the bus and ensured that African Guyanese benefitted in some ways from government policy.

“We would argue that if any group should complain that government has not put particular attention to them, is African Guyanese… but it has shown that government does not have ethnic preference,” Dr. Hinds asserted, noting that those are big things which transformed society.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

80 gov’t buildings to be outfitted with solar panels

-- $4.7B already expended in energy sector AS of the end of June 2019, the sum of $4.7 billion was expended in the energy sector, of which $2.4B was invested in reducing overall loss of electricity nationwide, under the Power Utility Upgrade Programme.

This is according to the Finance Ministry’s 2019 Mid-Year Report where it was noted that government’s commitment to a ‘green economy’ continues to guide its energy vision as was reflected in the $8.9B budgeted for 2019.

These funds also include several initiatives to increase renewable energy generation and improve energy efficiency.

Under this programme, a total of 361.1 kilometres of the low and medium voltage distribution network in Re-

gions Three, Four, Five and Six were rehabilitated.

According to the Finance Ministry’s report, additional efforts, in the first half, to reduce electricity losses included the installation of 21,735 smart meters across the country.

Turning to renewable energy, the report stated that in the first half of 2019, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems were rehabilitated at La Parfaite Harmonie and Long Creek primary schools, while solar PV systems were installed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Parliament Buildings.

A further 80 government buildings will be outfitted with solar PV panels by the end of 2019.

To undertake this exercise, the report noted that the

80 buildings were grouped into 10 lots, of which eight lots were awarded in the second quarter of 2019.

Presently, the contractors will be mobilising and works will commence in the second half of the year.

Meanwhile, with regard to hydropower, the mid-year report stated that the construction of the 20 kilowatt plant at Hosororo, Region One, was completed in the first half of 2019, and is now awaiting the end of the dry spell to commence final testing, with commissioning expected by the end of 2019.

Further, the Mabaruma 400 kilo-volt-ampere solar PV farm is still experiencing several technical challenges, resulting from defective installation.

It was noted that while

the contractor has responsibility for rectifying these faults, government is considering alternative options to ensure that the farm is operationalised before the end of the year.

Under the Hinterland Electrification Programme, the Finance Ministry report stated that the contracts for the extension of the electricity network at Orealla/ Siparuta and Lethem were recently awarded, with works expected to commence in the

second half of 2019.

“Delays in the procurement process have caused setbacks for the extension of electricity supply in Port Kaituma, Oronoque and Moco Moco but these activities are expected to be completed by the end of 2019. With respect to reducing Guyana’s carbon footprint, a contract for the installation of 400 standalone solar powered street lamps was awarded in the first half of 2019,” the report stated.

These lamps will be installed, in the second half of 2019, across the 10 administrative regions in areas including White Water Village, Region One; Cotton Field, Lima, Queenstown, Region Two; Wakenaam and Leguan Islands, Region Three; St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Kuru Kururu, Region Four; Moraikobai Village, Little Biabau, Mora Point, Region Five; Nos. 65 and 66 Villages, Region Six; Karrau Village, Region Seven; Paramakatoi Village, Central Mahdia, Region Eight; Aishalton and Moco Moco villages, Region Nine and Ituni and Kwakwani, Region 10.

These installations, in addition to the 100 LED street lamps to be installed in various housing areas, will also improve security and night-time visibility.

Ethiopian seeking asylum, employment in Guyana THERE are 19.5 million refugees in the world with 14.4 million under the mandate of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), many of whom have experienced unbelievable hardship.

Many were forced to flee their homes, often leaving family members behind in their search of a better life.

This is the case of 38-yearold Ethiopian, Tesfaye Mekuria Tsegaw, who is seeking asylum in Guyana after escaping political persecution in his homeland.

In an interview with Guyana Chronicle, Tsegaw said he is from a family of farmers from Kutaber Dessie, Ethiopia, and a former youth organiser of the Amhara National Movement, an Opposition party fighting for protection of human rights.

“It was because of a government crackdown on dissident voices that cause me to run; I am now here in Guyana and I registered with the UNHCR because I am seeking asylum in Guyana,” he said.

He explained that he left Ethiopia on a flight to Brazil just to escape his persecutors, but when he reached Brazil, he realised how hard life was since he was unable to speak Portuguese or Spanish.

“I inquired from persons about English-speaking countries that I can go to, and I was told that neighbouring Guyana was English-speaking and I decided to find my way here because I can speak English,” he explained.

Tsegaw said he has since applied to the authorities here seeking asylum and a work permit since his arrival in early July, 2019. He was never married or fathered any children back in Ethiopia.

“I cannot return to Ethiopia until there is a change of government because they will

kill me,” he said. “I am staying at a church on Princess Street, Georgetown and on August 9th, I was robbed while I was asleep and beaten. I am just looking for employment so I can do better for myself.”

Tsegaw said he reported the robbery at the Alberttown Police Station and was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he received treatment.

“Life here in Guyana as an asylum seeker is really, really tough, I need work to survive,

Asylum seeker, Ethiopian Tesfaye Mekuria Tsegaw

it has been very hard for me,” he said. “I am still staying at Lot 26 Princess Street, the place where I was robbed, because I cannot do better and have nowhere to go.”

In giving an idea of the work he did while in Ethiopia, Tsegaw said he grew up in an orthodox Christian family and he was a sociologist back home.

He explained that he was also trained to set up solar panels and solar powered pumps since these were essential in

the farming communities of Ethiopia.

“As a human being, I am willing to work, I don’t need anything free, I am want to be useful and to take care of myself,” he said.

The Ethiopian said that many of his colleagues who represent the political party known as Amhara National Movement were arrested and prosecuted for arranging peaceful protests.

He explained that political parties in Ethiopia are worried

that the government postponing the 2020 national elections could amplify ethnic tensions and trigger political unrest in the East African country.

He added that Ethiopia’s 100 million citizens are seeing unprecedented political change.

Managing to secure a cell phone, Tesfaye Mekuria Tsegaw said he is willing to work and can be contacted on 685-7101.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

The dream to go to law school …law students urge action for local law school

…lament high cost, prohibitive intake at HWLS

By Gabriella Chapman THE need for a law school in Guyana has long been the cry of many law students, who are not privileged to read for their Legal Education Certificate (LEC) to practice.

The current system at the University of Guyana (UG) only provides for law students to certify in the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme. And as of September 2016, following an agreement with UG, University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Council of Legal Education (CLE), after the LLB, the top 25 Guyanese graduates, are allotted automatic entry into the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad, to get their LEC. Prior to 2016, students were admitted on an ad hoc basis.

While this may seem like progress, it still is an unfortunate circumstance for many, since the student population in the law programme at UG every year, is just under 100.

With only 25 being secured, this still leaves 50 plus graduates in the cold.

Not only is the limited amount an unfortunate circumstance, but the students also spoke to not being able to afford the cost to go to Hugh Wooding.

Speaking with some of these graduates, they all expressed how helpful it would be to the development of their careers, if Guyana has its own law school.

Akeeta Kingston completed her LLB at UG in 2016, and placed seventh in the top 25. However, the young woman said that she could not afford to go to Hugh Wooding, because in addition to an over $3M tuition fee, there is still accommodation cost, food, books and more.

So Kingston worked for two years, then the opportunity came in the form of a scholarship, for her to go to India to read for a Master of Laws (LLM) in Public Law and Legal theory.

Though this was a major accomplishment, the young woman said that she still cannot practise because she is not in receipt of her LEC. Additionally, Kingston said "I want to be a Parliamentary Counsel because I want to play a role in drafting of legislations. I think they can do so much better in that

area, and I want my input to be recognised. I'd need my LEC for that. So if Guyana has its own law school, it would be good."

Kingston also said that she believes the performance as well, will improve in students at the LLM level. Because when some of them go to Trinidad, it’s hard to adjust. And sometimes the burden of having to find so much money to get by, hinders academic performance.

However, Past President of the Law Society UG Turkeyen Campus, Chevy Devonish, said that “I think that we should be mindful that a local law school may not mean cheaper tuition, as that cost will be driven by the costs to run the school, salaries, which the CLE will likely have to be comparable to that paid at other law schools, and costs to establish and maintain an up-to-date library. As such, unless told otherwise, I do not yet see a reason to expect tuition to fall substantially below the near six million currently charged by the Hugh Wooding Law School. The largest benefit is likely to be the cost to live.”

Notwithstanding the above sentiment, Devonish said that there is definitely still a need for a law school in Guyana in a way which ensures Guyana's compliance with its obligations under the Agreement Establishing the CLE, and which is in compliance with quality assurance requirements.

Guyana was said to be in the process of submitting its shareholders agreement, feasibility study and revised business plan to the CLE, sometime last year.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, SC, had said that following a meeting with the Jamaican joint venture partners – the Law School of the Americas (LCA) and the University College of the Caribbean (UCC) – it was decided that all relevant documentation will be submitted to the CLE for review.

“We have reached agreement on the shareholders’ agreement and feasibility study and business plan, so those documents will be sent to the CLE for their appraisal,” said Williams. He told reporters that with Guyana having its own law school, the pressure of finding in excess of $3M for tuition,

housing, food and transportation by Guyanese students would be significantly minimised.

The attorney general had assured that fees will be much lower.

“Our people are paying nearly $3M over there and they still have to travel, eat…so anything would be better,” he stated.

Additionally, Williams said efforts were being made to have TURN TO PAGE 24 ►

An artist’s impression of the proposed US$6M Joseph Haynes Law School

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 2019

Fallen Heroes Foundation continues to aid families of slain officers

RELATIVES of ranks, who died in the line of duty, have received monetary assistance from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Fallen Heroes Foundation Inc. The donation is made four times yearly by the foundation to assist in the educational development of the children of the recipients.

Over a dozen persons ben-

efitted.

Deputy Commissioner, Intelligence/Special Branch, Nigel Hoppie assisted chairman of the Foundation, Reverend Dr. Murtland Raphael Massiah, and others in handing over the cheques at the Police Officers’ Mess.

These funds are to assist with necessities which may be needed for the children

to attend school regularly.

It also caters for school uniforms, payment of school fees, transportation, textbooks and School-Based Assignments, among other items.

The contributions to the families would continue until the child reaches the age of 18.

The GPF’s Fallen He-

roes Foundation was officially founded on October 28, 2015, after former Commissioner, Seelall Persaud, attended the funeral of one of the slain officers and realised that the family would be financially constrained, particularly in view of the fact that the officer left behind school-aged children.

Deputy Commissioner Nigel Hoppie hands over a cheque to one of the recipients in the presence of Chairman of the Foundation, Reverend Dr Murtland Raphael Massiah

FROM PAGE 23

The dream to go ... significant progress made

by September 2019. He said while there are hopes for the school to begin operations then, “we want our campus to be built.” Some 10 acres of land within the compound of Turkeyen Campus has been allocated for the construction of the US$6M law school.

Williams said that the law school, which is to be named after outstanding jurist, Joseph Oscar Fitzclarence (JOF) Haynes Law School will be under the aegis of the CLE, though governance of the school will reside with the partners.

He also emphasised that the establishment of a law school is essential now that the nation is at the cusp of transformation.

President of the Bar Association of Guyana, Teni Housty, told this newspaper that he cannot comment on the issue, but he knows that it is one that is burning. Housty however shared, that the issue is still engaging the CLE. Without CLE’s approval, the graduates of a Guyana school would not be recognised in the rest of the Caribbean.

At the opening ceremony of the 50th Meeting of the CLE at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, late last year, President David Granger had said in his feature address that Guyana is in dire need of the permission to establish its own law school.

“Guyana’s need for a greater number of legal prac-

titioners cannot be satisfied by the present quotas imposed on our students at regional law schools. Guyana looks forward to the Council of Legal Education to facilitate the education of more specialised legal practitioners in the Caribbean and in Guyana itself,” President Granger had said.

Granger told those that were present at the meeting, that given the council’s undisputed contributions to the development of Caribbean jurisprudence, it needs to find new ways of improving access to, and the delivery of, affordable legal education to “all corners of our Caribbean.”

“So, there is much work to do, for the council to improve access to all corners of the Caribbean. These measures should include, if necessary, embracing new technologies which support their objectives. They should ensure, also, that non-discriminatory admissions to the regional law schools are made available,” he stressed.

At the moment there are three law schools in the region – Hugh Wooding, which is located in Trinidad; Norman Manley, which is in Jamaica and Eugene Dupuch in The Bahamas. Due to zoning, Guyanese students are accommodated at the Trinidad institution.

Meanwhile, scores of graduates are still trying to obtain their LEC.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 18, 2019

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 18, 2019

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 18, 2019

Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Boxing Tournament

Gold for Guyana, T&T on opening night of international battle

By Faizool Deo GUYANA and Trinidad & Tobago won a gold medal each on Friday night to punch off the international bouts of the Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Boxing Tournament, which is currently underway at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Local boxers were involved in all six of the opening night’s fights, but the home team split their wins in the final two bouts, which were against pugilists from Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago.

Against Barbados, Guyana’s Mark Crawford registered a comprehensive victory in the Light Welterweight (60-63kg) battle to win gold against Tyree Taitt, while in the Light Flyweight (46-48kg) Schoolboys’ bout Trinidadian Al Jaleel Jokhu won a split decision against Guyanese Wayne Castello.

Although Crawford was the winner on all five of the judges’ scorecards, he almost undermined his efforts with a plethora of shots in the first round, which initially spent his energy. Fortunately, he recomposed himself in the second round and delivered some good combination punches.

Castello looked to give Guyana a clean sweep of wins in the feature clash of the evening but although he put together a good first round, his opponent was able to weather the storm and bounce back with some good counterpunches and a few nice combinations, which eventually earned

him the fight.

His coach, former Olympian Kurt Sinette told Chronicle Sport that the 14-year-old boxer from South Trinidad delivered in his bout.

“I personally believe that he dug deep and scored cleaner shots.”

Prior to the international bouts, Guyanese boxers were involved in four fights against each other.

The night started off with a win for southpaw Sean Graham over Malachi Jones. The shorter Graham used his speed, determination and footwork to undermine his opponent. He gained valuable points with several body shots in the bout.

In the second clash, a solid first round from Jaqwan Milo resulted in a dominant performance against Jeron McKenzie. Milo, who threw a barrage of shots, connected with a hard straight right in round one, which resulted in a standing eight-count.

Although McKenzie started the second round aggressively, he could not keep up the pace and eventually the punching power of the 14-yearold East Ruimveldt boxer Milo derailed his attempts.

After Milo’s victory, 12-year-old Joshua Thombarran got past Thierry Moore and in a more calculated bout, Sherlon Stephen got the better of Shemar Morrison.

The tournament, which includes boxers from seven nations including Guyana, was expected to continue last evening before concluding tonight.

Guyana win seven medals, including three gold, on opening night

GUYANA stormed to seven medals including three gold, on the opening night of the 25th Goodwill Swim Meet on Friday evening in Paramaribo, Suriname.

The 11-12 age-group proved unstoppable in the water for the Guyana side. All three gold medals were won in this age division.

Athalcy Hunte led the attack with gold and bronze.

The 12-year-old finished with a gold medal in the 100m backstroke in a time of 1:15.79 ahead of teammate in second place, Monique Watson, who finished in 1:18.29.

Hunte claimed her bronze medal in the 100m freestyle in a blink ahead of Watson.

She finished in 1:07.36, while Watson clocked 1:07.39.

Vladimir Woodroffe and Jaleel Anderson won the other two gold medals. The 12-yearold swimmers won the 100m backstroke and the 100m freestyle respectively.

In the 100m freestyle,

Woodroffe clocked first place in a time of 1:13.81 and Anderson stormed to his gold in 1:02.19. Elliott Gonsalves (1:17.30) won a bronze behind Woodroffe in the 100m backstroke.

Outside of the 11-12 age group, Guyana also gained a medal through nine-year-old Shareefah Lewis in the 9-10 100m backstroke in a time of 1:26.09s.

Coach of the national side, Shyka Gonsalves, told Chronicle Sport that she was pleased with the opening day’s performance and commended the Guyanese swimmers, who not only won medals but also reduced their times.

Thirty-nine swimmers are representing Guyana at the meet, which is scheduled to conclude tonight.

Along with Guyana, swimmers from Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Bahamas, Grenada, Jamaica, French Guiana and Curacao travelled for the meet.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 18, 2019

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Lanka openers make strong start in victory push in Galle (REUTERS) - Sri Lanka got off to a strong start in their chase for a 268-run victory target after skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne frustrated New Zealand with a 133-run opening stand on the penultimate

day of the opening Test yesterday.

After New Zealand made 285 all out, to leave the hosts with a tricky fourth-innings target, Karunaratne and Thirimanne batted sensibly through the last two sessions, to swing

SCOREBOARD NEW ZEALAND 1st innings 249 SRI LANKA 1st innings 267 NEW ZEALAND 2nd innings Jeet Raval c Dimuth Karunaratne b Dhananjaya de Silva 4 Tom Latham c Lahiru Thirimanne b Akila Dananjaya 45 Kane Williamson c Kusal Perera b Lasith Embuldeniya 4 Ross Taylor c Dhananjaya de Silva b Lasith Embuldeniya 3 Henry Nicholls c Kusal Mendis b Dhananjaya de Silva 26 BJ Watling c Niroshan Dickwella b Lahiru Kumara 77 Mitchell Santner c Suranga Lakmal b Lasith Embuldeniya 12 Tim Southee stp. Niroshan Dickwella b Lasith Embuldeniya 23 William Somerville not out 40 Trent Boult c Dhananjaya de Silva b Lahiru Kumara 26 Ajaz Patel lbw Dhananjaya de Silva 14 Extras: (b-4, lb-5, nb-2) 11 Total: (all out, 106.0 overs) 285 Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-20, 3-25, 4-81, 5-98, 6-124, 7-178, 8-224, 9-260.

Bowling: Suranga Lakmal 15-2-37-0 (nb-2), Akila Dananjaya 32-484-1, Dhananjaya de Silva 12-3-25-3, Lasith Embuldeniya 37-4-99-4, Lahiru Kumara 10-0-31-2.

SRI LANKA 2nd innings Dimuth Karunaratne not out 71 Lahiru Thirimanne not out 57 Extras: (b-4, lb-1) 5 Total: (no wkt, 50.0 overs) 133 Bowling: Trent Boult 6-1-21-0, Tim Southee 5- 1- 8-0, William Somerville 20-5-36-0, Ajaz Patel 10-0-0-0.

Promoter Bristol supports national female boxers

BOXING promoter Seon Bristol made a timely presentation to sisters Abiola and Alesha Jackman, who are both members of Team Guyana for the Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors boxing tournament, which is currently underway at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Bristol of Briso Promotions said that the sisters were two of the leading am-

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ateur female boxers in the country and that he was happy to help.

Along with cash incentives, the New York-based Guyanese presented two pairs of boxing boots to the sisters on Friday evening.

Abiola is scheduled to represent Guyana in the 15-16 Juniors category, while her younger sister Alesha is also carded to battle in the 13-14 age category.

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momentum their way.

Karunaratne hit only two boundaries in his patient 71, while Thirimanne stroked four of them in his sedate 57 before bad light stopped play with the hosts needing 135 to go 1-0 up in the two-Test series.

The home captain needed luck to reach the 50-mark, which he did when BJ Watling, who had an outstanding match with the bat, could not hold on to a catch after Karunaratne had edged spinner William Somerville.

Earlier, Watling and Somerville batted resolutely to

frustrate Sri Lanka after New Zealand resumed on 195-7 at the Galle International Stadium.

Watling, who had completed his fifty on Friday, fell for 77 which is the highest Test score by a New Zealand wicketkeeper in Sri Lanka.

Trent Boult chipped in with 26 useful runs while Somerville remained not out on 40 after facing 118 balls.

For the hosts, spinners Lasith Embuldeniya (4-99) and Dhananjaya de Silva (3-25) shared seven wickets between them.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 18, 2019

Lord's Ashes Test in the balance after gripping day

By Ed Osmond LONDON, England (Reuters) - England battled to 96 for four in their second innings by the end of a dramatic fourth day at Lord’s to lead Australia

by 104 runs and leave the second Ashes Test on a knife-edge yesterday.

England had bowled out Australia for 250, Steve Smith making 92 after retiring hurt when he was struck on the neck by a venomous

Jofra Archer bouncer.

Smith left the field for treatment and returned 40 minutes later, adding 12 runs before he was trapped lbw

by Chris Woakes.

England, 1-0 down in the series, led by eight runs

Steve Smith goes down after being struck by pacer Jofra Archer. (Getty)

on first innings but they quickly slumped to 9-2 on a gloomy evening as Pat Cummins dismissed Jason Roy and Joe Root with successive deliveries.

The fast bowler caught and bowled Roy for two and produced a superb out-swinger which captain Root nicked to wicketkeeper Tim Paine.

Rory Burns and Joe Denly scrambled 55 runs for the third wicket, Denly making 26 before he was caught and bowled by Peter Siddle.

Burns’ battling knock of 29 ended when he edged a lifting delivery from Siddle to Paine but Ben Stokes, dropped by David Warner at slip off Nathan Lyon, survived to reach 16 not out at the close, with Jos Buttler on 10 to give England hope of setting the touring side a testing target on the final day.

The first day and much of the third were washed out by rain. Australia had resumed on 80-4 in reply to England’s 258, losing only one wicket on a sunny morning when Matthew Wade, on six, edged Stuart Broad to Burns at third slip.

Archer, on his Test debut, and Woakes beat the bat on several occasions but Smith, who made 144 and 142 in Australia’s emphatic first Test victory, again proved to be an immovable object.

Archer removed Paine for 23 after lunch, caught at short leg by Buttler. He hit Smith on the arm, before another rapid delivery in a hostile spell from the

Barbados-born fast bowler struck the prolific righthander’s neck.

Smith fell to the ground and lay prone for several minutes, receiving treatment before getting to his feet and leaving the field to a standing ovation.

Siddle made nine before he edged Woakes to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, bringing Smith back to the crease.

He immediately went on the attack, hitting Woakes for successive boundaries before misjudging a straight

delivery. Smith reviewed the decision but replays showed the ball would have hit the stumps and he trudged off to another warm reception.

The former Australia captain did not field in England’s second innings as he went to hospital for a precautionary X-ray on his forearm.

England quickly wrapped up the tail, spinner Jack Leach dismissing Lyon and Broad snaring Cummins for 20.

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1st innings 258 AUSTRALIA 1st innings C. Bancroft not out 5 D. Warner b Broad 3 U. Khawaja c (wkpr) Bairstow b Woakes 36 S. Smith lbw b Woakes 92 T. Head lbw b Broad 7 M. Wade c Burns b Broad 6 T. Paine c Butler b Archer 23 P. Cummins c (wkpr) Bairstow b Broad 20 P. Siddle c (wkpr) Bairstow b Woakes 9 N. Lyon lbw b Leach 6 Extras: (b-17, lb-12, nb-1, w-2) 32 Total: (all out 94.3 overs) 250 Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-60, 3-60, 4-71, 5-102, 6-162, 7-218 8-234, 9-246.

Bowling: S. Broad 27.3-7-65-4 (w-1), J. Archer 28-11- 59-2 (w-1, nb-1), C.Woakes 19-6-61-3, B. Stoakes 8-1-17-0, M. Leach 11-3-19-1.

ENGLAND 2nd innings R. Burns c (wkpr) Paine b Siddle 29 J. Roy c & b Cummins 2 J. Root c (wkpr) Paine b Cummins 0 J. Denly c & b Siddle 26 B. Stokes not out 16 J. Butler not out 10 Extras: (b-4, lb-8, nb-1) 13 Total: (four wkts, 32.2 overs) 96 Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-9, 3-64, 4-71.

Bowling: P. Cummins 8.2-2-16-2, J. Hazlewood 7-1-15-0, P. Siddle 8-2-10-2, Lyon 9-2-34-0.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 18, 2019

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Liverpool gain advantage as City fume over Spurs stalemate

By Simon Evans

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Manchester City were held to a controversial 2-2 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur yesterday, allowing Premier League title rivals Liverpool, who won 2-1 at Southampton, to gain an early two-point advantage.

Only a point separated the two sides at the end of last season, with City winning their final nine home games, but their first outing of this campaign at the Etihad ended in a draw after a VAR review rubbed out Gabriel Jesus’s injury-time effort.

The Brazilian drove in what looked like the winner but, as City celebrated, VAR officials spotted a handball by City defender Aymeric Laporte before Jesus struck home.

The incident had echoes of City’s Champions League exit to Spurs in April, when they also had what would have been a decisive late goal ruled out by VAR. “It was deja vu, deja vu,” said City manager Pep Guardi-

ola, unhappy at what he saw as inconsistency in the use of the video system.

City took the lead in the 20th minute through a Raheem Sterling header but three minutes later Erik Lamela brought Spurs back level.

Sergio Aguero restored City’s lead 10 minutes before the break, with the excellent Kevin De Bruyne once again the provider with a low ball.

Mauricio Pochettino made an inspired Spurs substitution when he sent on Lucas Moura in the second half and the Brazilian scored with his first touch, beating Kyle Walker to head in a Lamela corner.

But despite an outstanding contest, the game will inevitably be remembered for the late overturning of Jesus’s goal.

A nervy Liverpool, meanwhile, made it two wins from two as Sadio Mane scored against his former club.

Juergen Klopp’s side, who had been in action in Istanbul on Wednesday when they beat Chelsea in UEFA’s Super Cup, struggled to get going at St

now,” said Mane.

Liverpool's Sadio Mane in action with Southampton's Jannik Vestergaard. (REUTERS/Hannah McKay)

Mary’s but produced a moment of quality at just the right time, Mane brilliantly giving them the lead on the stroke of halftime.

Mane’s 20th goal in all competitions in 2019 settled Liverpool who were vastly improved after the break, with Roberto Firmino making it two, after capitalising on a defensive mistake from Saints.

BCB hosts successful Ordinary

General Meeting

Danny Ings’s late goal against his former club was mere consolation for Southampton as Liverpool made it 11 consecutive Premier League wins, equalling their best winning streak in the competition.

“Once we scored the first goal it was easier for us. I’m sorry it is against my old team and sorry I have to score but I’m wearing a Liverpool shirt

HARD WORK FOR ARSENAL Earlier, Arsenal also kept up a 100 percent record but made hard work of getting the better of a determined Burnley side at the Emirates, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s seventh goal in four appearances against Burnley earning Arsenal a 2-1 win.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery gave first starts to new signings David Luiz and Dani Ceballos, with the latter involved immediately, setting up Alexandre Lacazette for Arsenal’s opener.

Burnley, though, were level before half time through Ashley Barnes, who scored his third goal of the season from close range.

After the break, Ceballos continued to stand out, setting up Aubameyang for his superb winner in a match which saw Burnley have more shots at goal.

“In a lot of moments we couldn’t impose our gameplan

because they pushed and their gameplan was a struggle for us,” Emery said.

Last season’s Championship top goalscorer Teemu Pukki took his Premier League tally to four with a hat-trick to earn Premier League new boys Norwich a 3-1 win over Newcastle United.

Everton were far from their best against manager Marco Silva’s former side Watford, but Brazilian Bernard’s first home Premier League goal was enough for the hosts to secure the 1-0 victory.

A penalty conceded inside 40 seconds set Aston Villa on the back foot against Bournemouth, Josh King converting, before Harry Wilson put the visitors 2-0 in front.

Villa, who also lost their opening match, piled on the pressure in the second half but Douglas Luiz’s 30-yard stunner was all they could muster in reply.

Zouks resurrected for upcoming CPL campaign

… unveils plans for 80th Anniversary; 2018 audited Financial Report approved THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) last Sunday hosted a highly successful Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) 2019 at its Dr Cheddi Jagan Street, New Amsterdam head office.

Ten clubs and one sub-association attended the meeting.

Present were representatives of Rose Hall Canje, Albion Community Centre, Port Mourant, Chesney, Guymine, Mental Hospital, Mt Sinai, Whim, RHTY&SC, Young Warriors and Upper Corentyne Cricket Association.

Members discussed a comprehensive Presidential Report for the period January to July, 2019 from president Hilbert Foster, who stated that 30 tournaments would be hosted in 2019 as the BCB was forced to cut back, due to the current lengthy rainy season.

Foster also informed members that the Board was on the verge of obtaining sponsorship for a much needed Two-Day First Division Tournament.

Great effort is also being made to obtain a similar tournament at the Inter-zone level for Under-19 players.

Foster proudly stated that his administration has raised close to $18M in cash and kind over the last 19 months after taking over a bank account of $42 935 from the D.

BCB president Hilbert Foster

Somwaru-led administration.

He expressed disappointment that the former treasurer of the BCB has to date failed to submit a Financial Report on how over $2M was used for the period 2017 to early 2018.

The hardworking and dedicated BCB president informed representatives of the clubs that his administration was working beyond the call of duty to make a positive difference and that clubs across Berbice in 2019 will benefit from over $5M worth of cricket balls, stumps, scorebooks, cricket gear, bicycles, school bags, trophies, medals, special prizes, water pitchers, white cricket shirts and raincoats, among others.

The BCB is also currently assisting several clubs to host cricket academies while a much-needed upgrading of the Board Office will also be done as part of an effort to improve

service to the general public.

The BCB would also be seeking to obtain all necessary items needed to fulfil its mandate and to reduce overhead operating cost.

Plans for the hosting of a month-long celebration of the BCB’s 80th Anniversary was also unveiled for September, 2019. Foster pledged to spearhead the construction of an outdoor cricket practice facility and to fight for Berbice to have its own cricket hostel.

Delegates at the Ordinary General Meeting passed a motion from the floor, asking Cricket West Indies (CWI) to return first-class cricket to Berbice.

Members also approved the Audited Financial Report for the period February to November, 2018. The Audited Report was unanimously approved with the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association and Chesney Cricket Club representatives moving and seconding the motion respectively.

The audited report for 2019 will be tabled at the BCB Annual General Meeting scheduled for December. Representatives of clubs congratulated the president and his executives on the outstanding work they are doing to develop the game in Berbice.

St Lucia Zouks pictured here in their last year of operation in 2016.

GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) – Caribbean Premier League (CPL) organisers have resurrected the St Lucia Zouks franchise for this year’s campaign starting next month.

The move comes following last week’s decision by organisers to dump St Lucia Stars from the September 4 to October 12 tournament.

Stars replaced the Zouks brand in 2017 after Jay Pandya’s Philadelphia-based Royal Sports Club purchased the operations at the end of the 2016 season.

In a sudden announcement last week, CPL announced it had “terminated the participation agreement between it and Royal Sports Club” and as a result, the company had no “right to operate a team to compete in the CPL tournament”.

At the time, CPL also said it was in the “process of establishing and operating a new franchise to be based in St Lucia” but have instead resorted to the Zouks brand.

Zouks was one of six franchises which

competed in the inaugural CPL campaign back in 2013, along with Barbados Tridents, Jamaica Tallawahs, Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel (now Trinbago Knight Riders), Guyana Amazon Warriors and the-now defunct Antigua Hawksbills.

They missed out on the playoffs for the first three years of the tournament before finally qualifying in 2016.

Following the name change to Stars, the franchise endured its worst-ever run in 2017, failing to win a single game in the competition.

And last year, they slumped once again to miss out on the playoffs, even after acquiring Kieron Pollard from Barbados Tridents as captain.

Zouks will open their campaign against Amazon Warriors on September 5 at the Guyana National Stadium before travelling to Port of Spain three days later to clash with two-time reigning champions TKR at Queen’s Park Oval.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 18, 2019

GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power U-17 League - EBFA leg Grove’s Garnett slams five past Soesdyke; Samatta Point, Timehri-A also win

GROVE Hi Tech FC’s Samuel Garnett blasted the nets on five occasions to lead his team past Soesdyke Falcons (7-0) in latest action in the GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power U-17 League, played at the GFF Facility, Providence, EBD. Also securing wins last weekend were Samatta Point/ Kaneville who upstaged Agricola Red Triangle in a humdinger 4-3, the biggest win of their still fledgling career in the EBFA. Timehri Panthers-A led by hat-tricks from Tyrel Khan, Tyrone Burnette and captain Shanon Samnauth romped to a huge 11-0 win over Swan FC, while Mocha Champs and Timehri Panthers-B battled to a 2-2 draw.

Garnett, just back from duties with the national Under-15 team, who competed in the 2019 CONCACAF Boys’ Under-15 Championship at the IMG Academy, Bradenton, Florida, USA, wasted little time in stamping his authority, as he rocked the nets in the

22nd, 38th, 39th, 48th and 52nd minutes.

Teammate and fellow national player, Devon Padmore had opened the scoring in the 13th minute while Nikosey Gordon closed out the goal spree with a strike of his own in the 63rd minute.

Samatta Point/Kaneville put in a sterling show against seasoned campaigners, Agricola Red Triangle, winning the match 4-3. The Samatta Point lads erased a two-goal deficit to snatch full points, leaving their opponents stunned.

Agricola had taken the lead through goals from Brian Lambert in the 16th and Jamal Fyffe in the 21st minutes. Jadon Forte netted the first of his double in the 30th minute while two minutes later, his teammate Kareem Richmond tucked one past the Agricola goalie to even things up.

Agricola snatched back the lead in the 56th minute but Forte netted again in the 60th minute to knot the score before Denzel Garraway sealed the deal for Samatta Point when

he scored in the 65th minute to take a memorable win.

Like Samatta Point, Mocha Champs battled back from being two goals down, to earn an equal share of the points in their match with Timehri Panthers-B, who ran away with a two-goal advantage, thanks to a brace off the boot of Orin Solomon in the 22nd and 33rd minutes.

But Mocha Champs’ Warren Williams emulated his rival, Solomon when he fired in a double of his own in the 40th and 62nd minutes to bring parity to the score and match.

Timehri Panthers-A were in devastating form as they waltzed to an 11-0 whipping of Swan, thanks to hat-tricks from Khan (8th, 34th, 60th), Burnette (21st, 39th, 41st) and Samnauth in the 23rd, 58th and 62nd minutes.

Complementing the efforts of the trio were Ishmael Pulsaram with one in the 24th minute and Kevon Scott in the 59th minute.

Samuel Garnett (centre) of Grove Hi Tech

Ishmael Pulsaran (right) Shanon Samnauth, Tyrel Khan, Tyrone Burnette and Kevin Scott-Timehri Panthers

Sri Lanka mull playing Pujara tunes up for WindiesTest with cemtury Test cricket in Pakistan TEST cricket might just return to Pakistan later this year. Sri Lanka could be open to playing at least one Test in the country, after a security delegation visited Lahore and Karachi, and gave SLC "very positive feedback".

If everything goes to plan, Pakistan could host its first Test match since the Lahore attack on Sri Lanka's team bus in March 2009.

The series against Sri Lanka, Pakistan's first of the World Test Championship, was originally supposed to be played at a neutral venue, but the PCB made SLC an offer to play in Pakistan.

With the offer in mind, SLC sent a security delegation headed by Mohan de Silva to assess security arrangements.

The security report, ESPNcricinfo understands, was tabled on Friday in Colombo. "The feedback we got from the security team was very positive," SLC CEO Ashley de Silva said.

"We'll be talking to the PCB about some alternatives before we arrive at a decision. The government will be consulted as well."

The biggest concern is understood to be obtaining the players' consent to tour Pakistan. A Sri Lanka team played one T20I in Lahore in October 2017, but did so without a number of its prominent names. Sri Lanka's then T20I captain, Upul Tharanga, pulled out, along with Lasith Malinga, Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal and Akila Dananjaya.

The team was captained by Thisara Perera, and the-then SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala and sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekara accompanied the side to Lahore. The brief tour was successful, and was a major stepping stone that paved the way for PCB to convince teams to play more international cricket in Pakistan.

If Sri Lanka do play Test cricket in Pakistan, it will be a reciprocal gesture of sorts. The PCB was the first board to send a team to Sri Lanka following the April 21 bombings in Sri Lanka this year, a Pakistan Under-19 team touring the island a month after the attacks.

There was no top-rung international cricket in Pakistan for six years, following the 2009 Lahore attack, but since 2015, the country has hosted limited-overs games featuring Zimbabwe (2015), World XI (2017), Sri Lanka (2017) and West Indies (2018) apart from a number of Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches.

A number of high-profile players have been part of these tours; the World XI side, for instance, was coached by Andy Flower and included five players from South Africa - including Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla - three from Australia, two from West Indies and one player each from England, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. (ESPN Cricinfo)

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Cheteshwar Pujara tuned up for next week’s first Test with a compact hundred on the opening day of India’s three-day tour match against West Indies A here yesterday.

The right-hander, who averages 51 in 68 Tests, struck exactly 100 as India enjoyed a good warm-up, ending on 297 for six at Coolidge Cricket Ground.

Rohit Sharma chipped in with 68, Hanuma Vihari finished 37 not out, while Lokesh Rahul (36) and Rishabh Pant (33) both also got starts but failed to carry on.

Part-time seamer Jonathan Carter was the home side’s best bowler with three for 39.

India started soundly with Rahul and Mayank Agarwal (12) posting 36 for the first wicket before Carter struck twice as the visitors lost three wickets for 17 runs in the space of 29 balls.

Agarwal missed a full-length delivery from Carter and was bowled, Rahul hooked at fast bowler Keon Harding and taken at long leg by Romario Shepherd while Ajinkya Rahane lasted just six balls before falling to a catch at the wicket after flirting at one from Carter which swung.

Pujara then combined with Rohit to resist West Indies-A in a 132-run fourth-wicket stand after India went to lunch at 89 for three.

Unbeaten on 16 at the break, Pujara went on to face 187 balls in a shade under 3¾ hours while striking eight fours and a six. Rohit, meanwhile, also counted eight fours and a six in 115-ball knock which lasted just under 2½ hours before holing out to long-on where Harding took an excellent running catch on the

ropes off off-spinner Akim Fraser.

Pujara, not out on 89 at tea with India on 219 for four, added a further 58 for the fifth wicket with Vihari both retiring after reaching three figures.

Pant put on 53 for the sixth wicket with Vihari before playing back to Carter and falling lbw.

Cheteshwar Pujara hits century on opening day.

SCOREBOARD INDIA 1st innings L. Rahul c Shepherd b Harding 36 M. Agarwal b Carter 12 C. Pujara ret. out 100 A. Rahane c wkp. Hamilton b Carter 1 Rohit Sharma c Harding b Fraser 68 H. Vihari not out 37 R. Pant lbw b Carter 33 R. Jadeja not out 1 Extras: (b-2, lb-3, nb-4) 9 Total: (6 wkts, 88.5 overs) 297 Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-52, 3-53, 4-185, 5-243, 6-296.

Bowling: Shepherd 11-5-35-0, Mindley 12-4-26-0, Harding 15-2-57-1, Carter 13.5-6-39-3, Pierre 14-244-0, Fraser 17-1-63-1, Hodge 6-1-28-0.

WEST INDIES A – Jahmar Hamilton (captain), Darren Bravo, John Campbell, Jonathan Carter, Akim Fraser, Keon Harding, Kavem Hodge, Brandon King, Jason Mohammed, Marquino Mindley, Khary Pierre, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Jeremy Solozano.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 18, 2019

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CWI leadership, CARICOM Governments meet on strengthening Schools Cricket KINGSTOWN, St Vincent And The Grenadines Cricket West Indies (CWI), under the current leadership of president Ricky Skerritt and vice-president Dr Kishore Shallow, reiterates its campaign commitment to strengthen ties with CARICOM, following a courtesy call on Thursday morning with St Vincent and The Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Hon. Ralph Gonsalves.

Accompanying CWI president Skerritt and vicepresident Shallow at the meeting was former West Indies wicketkeeper and recently appointed CWI Independent Director, Ambassador Michael Findlay.

The more than three-hour

From left: CWI president Ricky Skerritt, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, vice-president Dr Kishore Shallow and CWI director, Ambassador Michael Findlay.

meeting, conducted in a serious but very cordial atmosphere, addressed not just the urgent need to strengthen schools cricket, but also concerns and plans for governance reform, a financial review, modernisation of the team selection system and the need to introduce a fitness culture at the youth level.

“West Indies cricket success and growth are crucial to our regional psychological well-being. A regional good cannot be operated like a private club,” said Prime Minister Gonsalves who is also CARICOM’s cricket sub-committee chairman.

President Skerritt assured the Honourable Prime Minister that after just four months of the new administration, hard work was well underway on all fronts to strengthen stakeholder relations, and to bring improvement and success both off and on the field.

Skerritt also thanked and commended Prime Minister Gonsalves for St Vincent having done such a good job of hosting the just concluded Rising Stars Under-19 tournament and trial matches.

Dr Gonsalves, one of the better known cricket-loving Prime Ministers of the region, reflect-

ed on his own pleasant memories of the glory days of West Indies cricket, and said he is hopeful for some of the talent he is seeing now.

He urged the visiting CWI trio to do whatever is necessary to mould that talent and improve the onfield results, as the “Caribbean people are hungry for a return to the victory days”. The Prime Minister pledged the full support of his Government and committed to help rebuild the CARICOM and CWI relations going forward.

CPL tickets for Amazon Warriors home matches go on sale from Monday TICKET sales for Guyana Amazon Warriors home matches of the 2019 Hero CPL will commence on Monday, August 19, 2019 at the CPL OPCO (Guyana) Office, located at Lot 238 Camp and Quamina Streets, Georgetown.

Tickets can be purchased

from 08:00hrs to 17:00hrs on weekdays, 09:00hrs to 17:00hrs on Saturdays and 08:00hrs to 14:00hrs on Sundays.

The Green and Red Stands will cost $5 000 with the Orange Stand set for $3 000 and the Grass Mound $2 000.

There have been numerous enquiries regarding the sale of tickets and with this in mind, fans and cricket enthusiasts are advised to make early purchases so as to avoid the rush as we get closer to match days.

Initially, tickets will be sold for the first three home

games.

The first is set for Thursday September 5 (Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St. Lucia Zouks at 18:00hrs), Saturday September 7 (Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Kitts Patriots at 20:00hrs and Sunday September 8 (Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Barba-

dos Tridents at 17:00hrs) Sale of tickets for the second set of home games will commence on Monday September 9.

Those games are Thursday October 3 (Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Jamaica Tallawahs at 18:00hrs) and Friday October 4 (Guyana

Amazon Warriors vs Trinbago Knight Riders at 20:00hrs) For further information on ticketing please feel free to contact the CPL OPCO (Guyana) office on 2315344, 502-0448 or 502-0454.

Powerlifter Runita White –National record-holder in 84+ kg category

RUNITA WHITE

THE Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) will be sending nine athletes to compete at this year’s South American Powerlifting and Bench Press Equipped and Classic Championships, set for September 17–22, in Uruguay.

Runita White, Nadina Taharally, Natoya Robinson, Lisa Oudit, Bjorn Williams, Franklin Brisport, Frank Tucker, Noel Cummings and Nairanjan Singh are the athletes who are set to depart Guyana on September 15 for the Spanish-speaking South American country.

In a lead-up to the team’s departure, Chronicle Sport will feature every week those medal hopefuls.

Today we start with 23-year-old Runita White, the country’s National record-holder in 84+ kg category.

She’s also the first woman to squat 400+ lb Unequipped at the Senior Nationals Championship 2018.

She started competing in 2018, doing so in both Junior and Open categories.

Name: Runita White Gym: Buddy’s Gym Trainer: Martin Webster Age: 23 Weight Category:

84+ kg First Competition: Novices/Juniors National Championship 2018 Squat: 145kg Bench: 62.5kg Deadlift: 175kg Total: 382.5kg Second Competition: Intermediates/ Masters National Championship 2018 Squat: 165kg Bench: 67.5kg Deadlift: 195kg Total: 427.5kg Third Competition: Senior Nationals Championship 2018 Squat: 182.5kg Bench: 75kg Deadlift: 196kg Total: 453.5kg

FLASHBACK! Runita White competes in GAPF Intermediates/Masters National Championship 2018.

Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Boxing Tournament

Gold for Guyana, T&T on opening night of international battle PAGE

30 Guyana’s Mark Crawford connects with a crushing left against Barbados boxer Tyree Taitt.

Guyana win seven medals, including three gold, on opening night Some of the medal winners: From left, Athalcy Hunte, Monique Watson, Jaleel Anderson and Vladimir Woodroffe.

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Promoter Bristol supports national female boxers PAGE

31 CPL tickets for Amazon Warriors home matches go on sale from Monday 35 30

From left, Abiola Jackman, Seon Bristol and Alesha Jackman

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FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018