Guyana Chronicle E-paper 8-24-2018

FRIDAY 24th August, 2018

Oil, Venezuela discussed No.105376

‌ as Guyana, 03 US Congressional delegation hold talks PAGE

ACDA 12 backs proposal for cash transfers PAGE

GTU salary

proposal 17 exorbitant PAGE

– say some Linden teachers; not in agreement with calls to strike

President David Granger greets US Congressmen at the Ministry of the Presidency during their wide-ranging discussions on Thursday (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

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Interdicted cadet officer for court today

INTERDICTED Cadet Police Officer, Franz Paul is expected to answer the charge of possession of a firearm and ammunition without license, today at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

‘A’ Division Commander, Assistant Commissioner Marlon Chapman, when contacted, said that the file which was with the Police Legal Advisor was returned on Thursday with the recommended charge.

In May last, Paul had a criminal charge discharged against him after he compensated his victim. He was accused of shooting a teen in the mouth and the controversial matter was settled for $2M. On Monday he was arrested after a domestic dispute. Police said that the officer’s reputed wife alleged that following

a misunderstanding between them, Paul drew a loaded handgun and threatened to shoot her.

The incident occurred at Second Street, Alexander Village and the officer in question, is currently not on active duty as the decision of his re-instatement rests solely with the Police Service Commission which was recently sworn-in.

According to the police, “…in the ensuing process, she managed to disarm him; immediately thereafter she handed over the firearm to a neighbour who promptly went to the nearby Ruimveldt Police Station, reported the matter and handed over a .32 pistol with thirteen (13) live rounds, one of which was found in its breech.”

Paul was arrested at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he went there to seek medi-

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 24, 2018

Interdicted Cadet Police Officer Franz Paul cal attention due to an injury on the right hand. Police found his hand in a plaster cast. He told investigators that during the fracas, he struck the hand to a concrete wall. He also admitted ownership of the illegal firearm with ammunition.

On May 21st of this year, Paul, who had been on trial for the April 30th, 2014 shooting of a then 15-year-old Alex Griffith, had the charge against him dismissed after an agreement to pay a total of $2 million in compensation to the youth.

Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge and Director-General, Mrs. Audrey Jardine-Waddell greet Assistant Secretary-General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Ambassador Nestor Mendez during his visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 24, 2018

Oil, Venezuela discussed … as Guyana, US Congressional delegation hold talks

DEEPER cooperation between Guyana and the US can create a dent in the trafficking of people, guns and ammunition, narcotics and contraband goods through Guyana porous borders, President David Granger said shortly after meeting

range of issues including the oil sector and the Venezuela border controversy as well as that country’s economic crises.

In an interview with the Public Information and Press Services Unit, the Head of State while describing the

assets to protect our borders and there has been some trafficking across the borders; trafficking in guns, trafficking in persons, trafficking in narcotics and trafficking in other contraband goods.”

“These are areas where there could be deeper and

nership in this area can be strengthened.

“Again, this is one area that we want to continue our collaboration with the United States because we don’t have the airlift or the technical capabilities to respond to these disasters,” President Granger

Some areas may have solar, some areas may have hydro, some areas may have wind, some areas may have natural gas so we’re looking at a mix of energy sources and we’re confident that we’ll bring the tariff rate down to below US$0.15 cents per kilowatt hour. Maybe we’ll keep moving downwards and have cheap energy and this will be

resolution of the territorial controversy with Venezuela,” the Head of State noted.

STABLE COUNTRY The final area covered Guyana’s political and governance systems.

“The [other] area I dealt with was political. I gave them the assurance, truthfully, that Guyana is a very stable

President David Granger, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge and Minister of State Joseph Harmon flanked by the U.S Congressmen and U.S Ambassador Perry Holloway with a US Congressional Delegation on Thursday at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The team, which was headed by Republican Bob Goodlatte, included Republicans Steve Cohen, John Rutherford, Scott Peters, Mark Sanford, Richard Hutson and Tod Rokita and other officials including U.S Ambassador Perry Holloway. Guyana Chronicle was told that the two sides also discussed a

meeting as a “fact-finding” mission, said the two sides discussed cooperation in the areas of security, energy and disaster response and preparedness.

“The (Guyana/Venezuela) territorial controversy has been our biggest concern but most recently, and because of our long borders we have a 1,300 kilometres with Brazil, 800 kilometres nearly with Venezuela and also with Suriname… we don’t have the

more intense cooperation between the United States and Guyana,” President Granger said.

CAN BE STRENGTHENED Guyana through the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has received much needed assistance from the United States in the area of disaster preparedness and management, and the President believes that part-

explained.

While the issues of trafficking of people, guns and ammunition, narcotics; and disaster preparedness and management were brought to the fore by the President, the Congressmen reportedly expressed particular interest in the energy sector and the possibility of access to cheap electricity for Guyanese and other stakeholders.

“We explained that we’re not wedded to one concept.

President David Granger and Minister of State Joseph Harmon meeting with the U.S Delegation led by Republican Bob Goodlatte. Republicans Steve Cohen, John Rutherford, Scott Peters, Mark Sanford, Richard Hutson and Tod Rokita, and U.S Ambassador Perry Holloway were among those present

important to manufacturers.

So some of the questions were concerned with the possibility of cheap energy,” the President explained.

Those aside, the meeting largely focused on four areas: a geographic overview of Guyana, its hemispheric affiliations and shared borders; a strategic outline, which outlined the Guyana/ Venezuela Border controversy, territorial controversy with Suriname, Guyana’s international relations and the migration of Venezuelans into Guyana; an economic overview, which dealt with the traditional sectors, the emerging oil and gas sector and Guyana’s pursuit of a ‘green’ agenda; and environmental conservation.

“I dealt with the geographic scenario and the fact that Guyana is a continental state. It is a part of the South-American continent but with Caribbean characteristics. It’s the only English-speaking State and as a result of that we have lots of advantages, but at the same time, you know, we are not only perceived as the gateway to South America for the Caribbean but we’re the gateway to the Caribbean for South America. Our geographic situation has, of course, implications for border security because of the territorial claim by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and also claims by Suriname.

So, they were interested in that and I gave them the assurance that we are on our way to the peaceful

country, law-abiding country, and our National Assembly functions, our judiciary functions independently and also the executive branch.

So, those three branches are separate and the executive does not interfere in the judiciary or the autonomous commissions, like the Guyana Elections Commission, the Judicial Service Commission and so on. So, I think from the point of view of governance, we were able to explain that Guyana is a stable, well-governed state,” he said.

The Head of State said Guyana’s ‘green’ agenda was also discussed and the team was impressed with Guyana’s commitment to protecting the environment.

“They were quite impressed with our environment [and] our commitment to the environment. We believe that climate change can have harmful effects and we’re taking measures to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. We can see that our coastal zones are being damaged partly as a result of global warming and we are committed to protecting our rivers, protecting our air quality, protecting our forests.

So, we’re able to explain and convince them of our commitment to protecting the environment even as we go more deeply into the extractive industries,” he noted.

Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon were also present in the meeting.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 24, 2018

SASOD scales up HIV awareness drive

– to advocate advantages of using PrEP

By Tamica Garnett DESPITE its 86 per cent – 90 per cent success rate with the disease, not much is being done to advocate the use of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) as a preventative measure against the spread of the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV).

That’s according to the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD)’s Public Health Consultant, Nastassia Rambarran.

PrEP, Rambarran said, is a combination of drugs used

by HIV-negative persons to prevent them from contracting the disease, particularly those in at-risk groups such as commercial sex workers, homosexuals, and serodiscordant sexually active couples.

Serodiscordant is another way of referring to those couples where one partner is HIV-positive and the other HIV-negative.

According to Rambarran, PrEP is intended to be used along with other risk-reduction strategies such as condoms, because one can still be at some risk of contracting

HIV particularly if one does not take it consistently.

In a bid to heighten awareness on the advantages of using PrEP, Rambarran recently conducted what was called an “Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and delivery preferences for HIV PrEP among key population in Guyana”.

The key population at reference were trans-gender (TG) women, and men who have sex with men (MSM), given that they have been found to be the two groups most at risk of contracting the virus.

The study looked at six focus groups, each made up of between five to 10 persons, across five of the country’s ten administrative regions, namely Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Of the 47 persons who took part in the study, Rambarran said, some 60 per cent had never heard of PrEP before, particularly in Regions Five and Six. “Even among those who

reported they had heard of it before,” she said, “when they were asked to explain what they understood by the term, it was discovered that some were confusing PrEP and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis).

“But after PrEp was explained to the participants, several persons in all the groups thought it was a good thing, and said they would use it if it was available.”

On the issue of delivery preferences, participants had a variety of suggestions for how they would like to receive information on PrEP specifically, in that there was an overwhelming inclination towards non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the utilisation of such mediums as the mass media, social media, flyers and pamphlets.

Notwithstanding its advantages, like most drugs, PrEP comes with its own share of side effects that users need to consider before taking it, like dizziness, headaches, diarrhoea and nausea. In very rare cases, Rambarran said, it can have longer-term side effects, which include; affecting liver health, changes in bone density and kidney function.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), as of September 2015, has recommended

At the SASOD discussion on Thursday were, from left, the organisation’s PRO Akola Thompson; Director of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS, Dereck Springer; SASOD Founder and Co-Chair, Joel Simpson; and SASOD Public Health Consultant, Nastassia Rambarran

No evidence of alleged threats to Region One teachers-MoE THE Ministry of Education (MoE) yesterday sought to clear the air on accusations that teachers planning to go on strike are being threatened by Ministry officials, noting that such behaviour is not in keeping with the Ministry’s policies.

Following reports by teachers that they were being threatened not to take

part in the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) upcoming planned strike action, the MoE yesterday dispensed a press release noting that it has taken the issue very seriously and launched an investigation.

It was when the GTU began meeting with teachers last Monday that it was noted that reports were coming in that teachers in Region one were being threatened by senior officials, while other teachers in Georgetown reported being targeted.

However the MoE says their investigation did not yield any findings to support the claims of the threat.

Nonetheless, they said any such threat should be reported.

The Ministry of Education has taken note of an article published in the August 21st, 2018 edition of the Kaieteur News under the headline ‘Strike-ready GTU hears of threats to some teachers,’ the missive said.

“In that article, it was stated that reports reaching the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) indicated that some teachers in Region One

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that people at substantial risk of contracting HIV infection should be offered PrEP as an additional prevention choice, as part of comprehensive prevention.

However, the global target of providing three million at-risk persons with PrEP by 2020 stands at just two per cent, according to the United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS).

It is believed that the establishment of government-regulated programmes will improve the monitoring and evaluation of PrEP’s use and its impact on the epidemic, particularly given that the cost attached to the treatment is a particular deterrent.

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were receiving threats from a senior official that they should not strike but rather report to work when the new school year begins.”

“An investigation carried out by the Department of Education in Region One did not reveal any findings that suggest such a threat was made. However, if indeed such a threat was made by an official of the Ministry of Education, it is advised that a formal complaint is made to the Ministry since this kind of behaviour does not align with the policies of the Ministry of Education.”MoE The GTU is currently on a campaign lobbying support for a planned strike action that begins next Monday and runs into the school term that was scheduled to begin September 3. The GTU wrote to MoE earlier this month indicating that the teachers would be going on strike from August 27, after they were unsatisfied with the outcome of talks over the salary increases for teachers and several other financial and none financial issues.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 24, 2018

Over 8000 households to be surveyed – as Guyana moves to track progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goals

By Svetlana Marshall A TOTAL of 8,700 households across the 10 regions of Guyana will be surveyed as the Government in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) rolls out Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 6 as it seeks to fill the data gaps and simultaneously track the country’s progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On Thursday, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan and UNICEF Country Representative for Guyana and Suriname, Sylvie Fouet signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) paving the way for the implementation of MICS Round 6 here.

MICS is a household survey programme developed in the mid-90s to assist countries in filling data gaps for monitoring the situation of children and women, and has produced statistically sound internationally comparable estimates of these indicators.

According to UNICEF, while MICS was initially developed to measure progress towards an internationally agreed set of mid-decade goals in the World Summit for Children (WSC), MICS data is robust, representative, flexible and disaggregated for diverse set of stratifies for various types of indicators that have to do with coverage, impact, atti-

Finance Minister Winston Jordan and UNICEF Country Representative for Guyana and Suriname Sylvie Fouet signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) paving the way for the implementation of MICS Round 6 (Delano Williams Photo)

tudes and behaviours.

Disclosing that the project will cost approximately US$1M through a 50/50 partnership between UNICEF and the Guyanese Government, Fouet explained that in this round, two new questionnaires have been included, one which allows for an assessment of the situation of the whole children – children ages 5-17, and water quality testing in the households for a decal contaminant Ecoli.

Fouet noted too that during this round, new and relevant modules have been infused in the questionnaires that were used in the previous rounds to garner data on children living with disabilities and victimisation. The data gathered would allow for informed decisions.

UNICEF Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Michael Gillis, in giving an overview of the MICS in Guyana, explained that in 2000 MICS Round Two was conducted here with 4,800 households, in urban, rural, coastal and interior areas, being surveyed.

In 2005, when Round Three was conducted, the sample size was increased to 5,280, and by 2013 – Round Five, it had jumped to 6,000. It was at this stage all 10 regions were included but clustered.

Gillis said this time around, the domains of estimation would be the 10 Administrative Regions, and as such, there would be no stretching of the sample to garner the required data.

“Now we are pretty sure that with an increased sample size,

Ministry concerned about mercury levels in GTT staff THE Natural Resources Ministry, on Thursday, expressed deep concerns over reports that some employees of Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) have high levels of mercury in their systems.

The affected employees reportedly work at GTT Brickdam’s Office, a short distance away from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission’s (GGMC) compound which had housed the Guyana Gold Board’s Laboratory. The Natural Resources Ministry and GTT have been communicating on the elevated levels of mercury reportedly detected in some staff members. “The ministry is deeply concerned about the health and wellbeing of all Guyanese and hopes for the improved health of those affected,” it said in a release.

However, it maintained that mercury has been in use in Guyana for decades, explaining that mercury is used by miners in the amalgamation of ‘sponge’ gold and in the burning of gold mercury vapours are released.

“The Government of Guyana is not a user of mercury, (and) every effort is made by the Guyana Gold Board and

authorised dealers to prevent the escape of vapours in the process,” the ministry assured. To eliminate the release of mercury emission in the Brickdam area, the Gold Board ceased burning gold at its Brickdam location as of April 2018.

It has since invested $18M in a plant to burn gold at its new Crown Street, Queenstown location as it takes critical steps to prevent mercury from escaping into the atmosphere as was the case at its previous Brickdam, Georgetown location.

Nonetheless, the Natural Resources Ministry said it is collaborating with the Ministries of Public Health and Social Protection to address all mercury-related matters, while pointing out that the National Steering Committee for the Minamata Convention met on August 13 to map the way forward for the reduction of the use of mercury in mining.

In June, the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), following an extensive assessment, said it found no threatening levels of mercury at the complex.

The international team of experts visited Guyana last week and, among other

things, assessed the mercury clean-up efforts at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Brickdam complex. The team comprised two industrial hygienists, two physicians and a mining engineer and was headed by Industrial Hygienist and head of the team, Catherine Beecham. The team had visited Guyana following a mercury exposure crisis within GGMC compound.

that now we can have data for every region standing independently,” he said.

The finance minister, in delivering remarks, acknowledged the sterling support given by UNICEF in providing meaningful statistical data to Guyana through MICS. “This support has enabled Governments to have access to a wide range of statistical data, primarily in the social sector to aid them in filling the data gaps that exist in the countries. More importantly in carrying out this role, UNICEF has been able to build the capacity of local staff through training and the transfer of technical knowledge in the areas of survey design, collection and analysis of data,” Minister Jordan pointed out.

He said this year UNICEF has raised the bar by employing the use of technology. In the conduct of this round, tablets would replace papers, as the survey is carried, thereby improving the delivery of the results.

“You may recall that the realisation of MICS 5 in 2014 was timely and appropriate, since it provided Guyana with much needed data to fulfill its

commitment which involved reporting on its progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in 2015. With the MDGs behind us, we are now obligated to report periodically and incrementally on our progress in meeting the international obligations of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,” Minister Jordan explained.

MICS is the largest single source of data for monitoring the SDGs. In particular, it provides data for 11 of the 17 SDGs. Also based on the findings of MICS 5, UNICEF supported the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs to conduct a study on indigenous women and children, and the Ministry of Communities to develop child-friendly profiles, for the 10 administrative regions. Notably, MICS is a source of data for the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS), Chairman of MICS Steering Committee, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud and Chief Statistician, Lennox Benjamin were among the officials present.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 24, 2018

Gender equality

THE election of Volda Lawrence and Annette Ferguson to top positions of leadership of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) was a noteworthy occurrence.

That event of August 19 gave all Guyanese – not just PNCR supporters – good reason to be proud. It underscores how far we have come, as a society, towards the goal of gender equality through the empowerment of women.

At the same time, it focusses attention on the work yet to be done to achieve the objective of gender equality. That objective is mandated by Sustainable Development Goal number 5, at the level of the United Nations General Assembly.

Gender equality is a state of equal ease of access to opportunities, resources and fairness of treatment regardless of gender.

Unfortunately, historically, women have, and continue to be, discriminated against.

In some societies, women still are not allowed to vote, drive a car, or even go outdoors alone. Fortunately, Guyana has progressed a far way from such practices.

Paraphrasing President David Granger’s publication ‘Women in Guyana’ in the last century, the status of women has improved from blatant discrimination during the colonial era, to agitation during the struggle for independence, to representation in the post-independence period, to a time of intense legislation. And, we must now move towards full realisation of

gender equality.

There is no question that we have a long way to go; the high number of domestic violence reports alone is sufficient evidence of that fact. Add to this the disproportionately low numbers of women in top positions in major companies, corporations, and state-owned agencies, and the alarmingly high number of women who are heads of poor, single-parent households, and we may get some idea of the magnitude of work still to be done.

The administration recognises that gender equality cannot be realised by only the passage of legislation; history proves this to be true. Instead, there must be a change of mindset. The gap between political and economic opportunities between men and women must be narrowed and eventually eliminated. Towards that end, President Granger has articulated a five-point policy initiative.

First, equality of women. The failure of episodic interventions towards this goal requires a new approach. A comprehensive, long-term gender policy is needed. Such a National Gender Policy will safeguard the emotional and mental integrity of women as well as their physical wellbeing, with the goal of the eradication of discrimination.

Government will continue to work with women’s organisations, law enforcement, and international organisations, among others, to achieve the goal of equality. The ultimate result should be women having

a greater say in decision-making in all spheres of life.

Second, eradication of poverty. Poverty – particularly extreme poverty – is a major obstacle to equality. Children born to extreme poverty face the greatest challenges to survival. Women are more likely than men to be the heads of destitute households. Therefore, government will consider and implement measures to lift families out of poverty. Encouragement of entrepreneurship by women, access to micro-credit, and concessionary business financing are among the measures being undertaken. Expansion of current pro-women programmes is also being pursued.

Third, employment opportunities.

The government wants more women in the workforce, but, there are challenges.

Although many women have skills and qualifications, they simply cannot find jobs.

Additionally, too many teenagers become pregnant, who, if they get a job, must spend their small income raising a child. Those children of poor, teenage mothers are more likely to do poorly at school, become delinquent, and have a high risk of disease. To address such issues, the administration will establish employment centres throughout the regions. Job-seekers will be matched with employers. Employers who establish women-friendly workplaces – such as those that include daycare centres – will be given special considerations, such as tax concessions.

Alcohol in the House Dear Editor THERE is no question or doubt that the Honourable Minister of Public Telecommunications, Ms. Cathy Hughes’ explanation about alcoholic beverages being present in the National Assembly during its sittings has completely debunked what has definitely been proven to be another piece of political mischief

by Bharrat Jagdeo, the leader of the Parliamentary Opposition.

Further, her even incisive information as to the mathematical breakdown on the spending of the $700, 000 for meals and snacks for the entire parliamentary sittings of MPs and support staff, has exposed both the corrupted mind of an opposition leader who continues on his daily diet of misleading the public as well as those sections of the media that should have sought clarification as to how such a sum is spent.

The question ought to be asked of the latter just

what is the gain from such scurrilous reports that are clearly agenda-designed and certainly adds no merit to the desired quality of print journalism.

As alluded [to], this is very high mischief, another of Jagdeo’s desperate scraping of his dirty barrel, for muck to discredit an administration that has been engaged in daily efforts to rid this country of the executive lawlessness that had characterized this country during the period of the former

People’s Progressive Party / Civic (PPP/C) government.

Editor, you must agree that it was rather surprising that the Leader of the Opposition would have waited so long into the coalition government’s tenure before bringing the allegation of imbibing alcohol among parliamentarians to the public’s attention, as well as seeking to convey the deceptive perception that such social practice appears to be prevalent only among the government’s side of the House.

Fourth, elimination of violence. Too many women are the victims of abuse.

Experts have identified the root cause of domestic violence to be retrogressive attitudes towards women. Therefore, with the aim of ending domestic abuse, government will work towards transforming attitudes through education. At the same time, enforcement of anti-violence legislation will be a priority, as will continuous training of police, social workers, and other professionals who work with victims.

Fifth, education access. All girls must have access to primary and secondary schools. The gap between boys and girls regarding access to education must be closed. Additionally, remedial programmes will be made available; women who dropped out of school, for example, will have access to such programmes.

During his remarks marking International Women’s Day 2017, the president said that Guyana has made strides. And the fact that two women now sit at the helm of one of Guyana’s largest political parties is evidence of continuing progress.

The president said, too, that Guyanese must change their attitudes in order to move the process further and faster.

His Excellency said that we must dismantle impediments and remove barriers to gender equality by eradicating geographic, occupational, political and racial differences among ourselves. His advice must be heeded.

Minister Hughes has been very clear in her account about the presence of such spirits in the House, underlining that it is present on what is understood to be special occasions, and at Christmas.

It is instructive also that her account has been supported by former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran’s Sunday column, “Food and booze in Parliament” in Stabroek News of August 19, 2018, which paragraphs supported Hughes’ account, noting that such a drink “is also served at the MP’s expense when it’s a personal occasion such as a birthday”.

For Jagdeo to convey the impression that MPs imbibe

daily during House sittings is another of his misleading birds that will not fly. For him to have been consuming the served meals and not know that other staff are catered for, or being aware of the costs entailed, and that food and snacks have to be served among the total staff per person, underlines another of his well- known acts of dishonesty.

It is time that the Leader of the Opposition considers the importance of his constitutional office and begin to properly earn his salary in honest service that gives value to the nation.

Regards Earl Hamilton

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 24, 2018

Bulkan baulks at PPP gerrymandering claims

…after activation of new local authorities …says move in keeping with rebalancing size of local councils Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan has criticised what he described as the opposition’s “baseless claims” regarding the activation of new local authority areas and the exercise of rebalancing the size of some local councils.

Minister Bulkan said since the announcement and publication of Order No.19 of 2018 which among other things listed the name and composition of the eighty (80) councils participating in this year’s historic local government elections (LGEs), there has been much noise from the political opposition with baseless allegations of “gerrymandering, tinkering, plot to undermine the PPP stakes at LGE, no consultation and even to damage local democracy”.

He went on to state that the hollowness of the latter allegation, made by Dr. Frank Anthony and others is exposed by the reality that it was the APN+AFC administration that restored local democracy after a hiatus of two decades and aims to fortify the gains with the first holding of consecutive LGEs as legally due in Guyana’s post-independent history.

Minister Bulkan added that Dr. Anthony and his colleagues should be reminded that the PPP by their every action does not believe in or subscribe to the concept of local democracy, so no one should be fooled by their pious bleating. He further stated that PPP’s representatives Mr. Zamal Hussain and Mr. Denis De Roop joined in the chorus of advancing untrue and unsubstantiated claims which continue to be parroted by members of the Parliamentary Opposition. Bulkan disclosed that it is instructive to note that the exercise of rebalancing the size of some councils was done pursuant to sections 5 and 12 of the Local Democratic Organs Act Chapter 28:09 which specifically states that the Minister may by Order provide for, among other things, the composition and constitution of each local democratic organ.

He pointed out that, this exercise and the legal provision enabling might have come as a surprise to these members of the Opposition

which may be attributable to the fact that their party did not see the importance of local government and through deliberate acts and omissions relegated the system to irrelevance. “This system has been exhumed by the David Granger led administration and we are injecting life into it,” Minister Bulkan asserted.

NO CAPRICE He added that notwithstanding the soundness of this exercise in law, it was not done capriciously. This was a decision aimed at rationalising the size of councils via their responsibilities and was duly guided by relevant considerations such as the demographics of these areas. The minister noted that there existed an anomaly where the size of some Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) is larger than some municipalities.

For instance, he pointed out that the total seats on the Aberdeen/Zorg-en-Vlygt NDC (18) is more than that of the second most populous and one of the larger geographical municipalities in the country-Linden which has 16 seats.

He pointed out that it should also be noted the size of the Linden Municipality was also reduced for the 2016 elections from 18 to where it is presently.

“Hence, the rebalancing of the size of council is clearly not novel.” Moreover, Bulkan said the composition of the established 129 NDCs was done by Ministerial Order No. 51 of 1990. This Order which delineated Guyana entirely was done on a conceptual basis and is now being refined. A number of circumstances not least among them demographics have changed in the past twenty-eight (28) years that logically necessitates on the basis of current realities these adjustments.

In Moruca/Phoenix Park, a recently activated NDC, there are approximately five hundred and twenty-four (524) electors.

Order No.51 of 1990 prescribed that this NDC have a total of fifteen (15) seats, he added. Bulkan said had the prescriptions of this Order been adhered to there would have been a 35 electors to 1 councillor ratio. “How logical? Order 19 of 2018

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan

as issued by me took this into consideration and prescribed a total of six seats (3 PR and 3 FPP). The point is that we are learning from experience.”

MIXED ELECTORAL SYSTEM The minister noted that the enactment of the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Act No. 26 of 2009 introduced a mixed Electoral System in which 50% of LDO Councillors are directly elected by their constituents (First-Pastthe-Post) and the remainder through Proportional Representation (PR). The number of constituencies as prescribed by Order No. 51 of 1990 was purely created under the PR system and with the enactment of the aforementioned legislation, the size of councils were split in half to facilitate the amendment.

This change he said should have been informed and buttressed by a process of identifying constituencies based on demographics but this was not done. “This work has started with the fifteen organs in question but is certainly not complete. “ He went to state that Mr. De Roop in his media conference suggested that residents should have been “asked if they are willing to go into local authorities” but Article 12 of our Supreme Law clearly underscores not only the importance of local government to the organisation of the State but the entitlement of each Guyanese to participate in

the management and development of their community.

RATES AND TAXES Bulkan said that the determination of whether residents in these new LAAs would be required to pay rates and taxes is not a decision of central government but one that resides within each LDO. He said once lawfully constituted, those organs enjoy autonomy under the Constitution.

Bulkan pointed out that in one instance, De Roop claims that the government is ‘imposing’ local government on residents by activating NDCs and later claimed that the government should be “increasing representation” in No. 52 -74 where the size of the council was rebalanced. “Mr. De Roop’s double standard, which is not dissimilar from the party he represents, is very unhelpful in encouraging citizens’ participation and taking hold of this Constitutional right, which was whimsically denied for two decades by the past administration, to manage their community affairs. It begs the question of their sincerity to local government development,” he said.

Turning his attention to a report in the Kaieteur News on Tuesday 21st headlined: “Government resorts to violating Constitution to secure win at upcoming LGE” Bulkan said this is not only far from the truth but is very unfair especially given the efforts of the current administration in restoring local democracy.

He said ironically, Zulficar Mustapha who alleged that the minister failed to consult with residents and in so doing contravened Article 13 of the Constitution. Bulkan added that it was through meaningful consultation that the new township of Mahdia, though the external boundaries encompasses the titled Amerindian villages of Campbelltown and Micobie, excludes these villages as is the expressed desire of their respective Village Councils.

The minister pointed out that in fact, the activation of the eight (8) new NDCs (being among the aforementioned 129 NDCs) is as a direct result of the pleas of residents in those areas for greater representation. Residents bemoaned the lack of representation by their Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on issues that affect their communities.

He disclosed that for instance, the communities in the lower Pomeroon (from Charity to its mouth) have been complaining of perennial flooding as a result of poor maintenance of drainage infrastructure and consequent deleterious impact on their livelihood but receive inadequate assistance from the RDC. Residents in these communities will now have an LDO to represent their interest. The same applies to residents on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway and on the East Bank of Berbice.

Minister Bulkan pointed out that Ms. Teixeira’s accusation, therefore, that government is increasing the local authority areas to “improve the number of votes they collect” exemplifies not only the PPP/C misguided fixation on “winning” but its unrelenting ethos of control and dominance. He stated that it was this same attitude that fuelled this Party, when in government, to replace democratically elected councils with handpicked individuals by imposing odious Interim Management Committees (IMCs).

In the press release it was noted that Mr. De Roop in ignorance claims that the government “want to go down the same line again” in terms of resolution of ties. Bulkan said, “It is surprising that his colleagues in Parliament failed to inform him of the recent passage of the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2018 which deprives the Minister of the power previously exercised in the

7

resolution of ties in the election of Mayors, Chairmen, and Vice Chairmen. This amendment provides for the resolution of ties by the use of the democratic (plurality) principle.

Again, another baseless and misplaced aspersion of mal-intent. Clearly, no opportunity for any exercise of Ministerial authority in this regard.”

The Minister of Communities pointed out that as it relates to the issue of demarcation of boundaries, this falls within the remit of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to give effect to the Ministerial Order which has not breached any law. He stated that latest to join the fray is former Local Government Minister, Mr. Ganga Persaud M.P, who in the Guyana Times August 22, 2018 edition accuses me of being “undemocratic, overstepping my boundary, conspiracy, secrecy and setting the stage for manipulation of results” all of which are equally hollow.

Bulkan explained that it is impractical to respond to each and every allegation made by the political opposition as we are otherwise engaged with our focus to consolidate the gains in the restoration of functionality to the LG system. However, one of our main focus at this juncture is increasing community engagement, involvement and electoral participation in LG via the medium of public education and awareness. Bulkan said, “Suffice it to say, the track record of this administration on local governance both in the 10th Parliament and now in government speaks volume of our unambiguous and unwavering commitment to meaningful local democracy and people’s empowerment.”

The document added that it is undeniable that the trajectory of local governance in Guyana is changing. While the arousal of suspicion and aspersions of mal-intent may be unavoidable, the government and by extension the Ministry of Communities will not be distracted in this restoration exercise.

Bulkan said, “We, therefore, urge all Guyanese to seize their constitutional right to manage and develop their community come November 12. Your Community needs you!”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 24, 2018

Gov’t will not backpedal on contract with Exxon

…Trotman assures U.S Congressmen Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, in a high-level meeting with a U.S Congressional Delegation, said though the Government of Guyana has been criticized for its relationship” with U.S oil giant ExxonMobil, it will not budge.

“This government has been criticised for this strate-

with Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited– a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, the Government has been heavily criticized over several aspects of the agreement – from the percentage of royalty to the signature bonus and on issues such as local-content provisions.

Despite a mountain of crit-

others,” he said.

Government, Minister Trotman said, welcomes the entrance and involvement of American companies in the extractives sector and ExxonMobil is just but one of the primary strategic national development partners. “American business and interests can rest assured that we will not

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman presenting one of the U.S Congressmen with a token of appreciation

Participants of the Natural Resources Ministry’s Youth in Natural Resources Programme greeting the U.S Congressmen upon their arrival at the Ministry’s Duke Street, Kingston Office on Wednesday

gic relationship, but we will not recoil or resile from our position as we are mindful not just about the income of tomorrow, but equally also, about the long term security of the state,” Minister Trotman told the U.S Congressmen, led by representative Bob Goodlatte, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee in the presence of U.S Ambassador Perry Holloway.

Since the release of the 2016 Petroleum Sharing Agreement (PSA) it signed

icisms, the Natural Resources Minister on Wednesday while at his Duke Street, Kingston Office, assured that Government’s relationship with ExxonMobil will remain intact as he lauded the relationship the country shares with the United States of America.

“We are not unaware of the high geo-strategic value that our relationship with the United States offers both our countries, and this government intends to preserve it, even as we enjoy good relations with

nationalise their interests or take actions inimical to them,” he assured.

It was noted that the US Governmen, through the Embassy here in Georgetown, provided much -needed support to the Guyanese Government by helping to lay the foundation for the country’s Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (E.I.T.I) which would allow for transparency in the utilisation of revenues that would stream from the budding Oil and Gas Industry.

“We are pleased to announce that with your support, and that of the World Bank, we qualified for membership of the body last year. And then there is the Energy Governance Capacity Initiative (EGCI), an initiative of the US Department of State, that has produced for us research papers and recommendations in the areas of Fiscal Policy and Accounting, establishing a Model Petroleum Contract, best features for a National Oil Company, and Economic Modelling and Analysis of Contracts to name a few,” Minister Trotman pointed out to the Congressmen.

Describing the visit by the U.S Congressional Delegation as a significant one, the Natural Resources Minister reminded that it was in 2016 that Guyana welcomed a group of Capstone Generals from the United States’ National Defense University’s General and Flag Officer Course. “That was significant. Today, your visit has eclipsed the visit of the Capstone General’s,” he posited.

The minister also used the opportunity to give an overview of the work of his ministry and related agencies, and was also able to address questions and concerns of a national security nature. The Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee was accompanied by Congressmen John Rutherford, Mark Sanford, John Curtis, Todd Rokita, Richard Hudson, Steve Cohen and Scott Peters. Members of the Congressional staff and senior members of the US armed forces were also in attendance.

Minister Trotman was accompanied by Board Chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Stanley Ming; National Coordinator of Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEIT), Dr. Rudy Jadoopat; and Head of Planning and Development Unit of the Guyana Forestry Commission, Pradeepa Bolonauth, among other ministry officials. Members of the ministry’s team responded to questions posed by the Congressmen on a number

of issues on forestry, the environment, agro-processing and infrastructure.

This is the first time in more than three decades that a member of the US Congress has visited Guyana and the first time for such a large delegation.

The delegation was introduced to twenty-five (25) youths participating in the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Youth in Natural Resources Programme. The programme is currently in its third week. Apart from the U.S Government, the Natural Resources Ministry receives support in varying forms from the Governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, the Commonwealth Secretariat, Conservation International and the World Wildlife Fund.

Several new faces in PNC/R Central Executive

SON-IN-LAW of the late Forbes Burnham--Dr Richard Van-West Charles-- and Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings along with two former high-ranking military men, were elected to serve on the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R) for the very first time.

The results for the elections, which took place on Sunday during the PNC/R’s

Biennial Congress at Congress Place, were officially released late Thursday night.

Van-West Charles, Dr. Cummings, Christopher Jones, Aubrey Norton, Winston Felix, Amna Ally, Mortimer Mingo, Clement Corlette, Cheryl Sampson, Thandi Mc Allister, Gary Best, Genevieve Allen, Jennifer Ferreira-Dougal, Edward Collins, and Basil Blackman are the members of the new 15-member CEC. Jones, a youth leader and

former chairman of the party’s youth arm, secured the most votes – 382 – during the highly-contested elections. He was followed by former General Secretary Aubrey Norton with 354 votes.

Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix came in third with 305 votes, followed by Van-West Charles, Managing-Director of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI). Ally, the party’s General Secretary; Mingo – Chairman of the Local

Government Commission; Clement -- former Region 4 Chairman; Allen – Region 4 Regional Chairman; Brigadier Collins; Retired Rear Admiral Best; Mc Allister; Ferreira-Dougal and Blackman will now join with the party’s leaders in charting a way forward.

When the elections were held for the leadership of the party, President David Granger was returned unopposed as party leader while Public Health Minister Volda Law-

rence was declared chairperson of the PNC/R. Lawrence, who competed against former chairman Basil Williams, SC and Minister of State Joseph Harmon, secured 346 votes, while Harmon and Williams secured 287 and 183 votes respectively. Williams served as the party’s chairman for three consecutive terms.

Ronald Bulkan, Minister of Communities, was the lone nomination for treasurer, while the vice-chairman positions were won by Ju-

nior Public Infrastructure Minister Annette Ferguson and Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton with 260 and 242 votes respectively. Among those who vied for the vice-chairman posts were former general-secretary of the PNC/R Aubrey Norton; Director of Sport, Christopher Jones; Thandi McAllister; Lawrence; Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira; Genevieve Allen; and Cosbert Robert.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 24, 2018

Detractors calling for parking meters, says King

By Lisa Hamilton

TOWN Clerk Royston King is anticipating less resistance from the public when the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) moves to re-implement the parking meter system soon.

Currently, the controversial parking meter contract is being discussed at a sub-committee of Cabinet.

Prior to this, the attempted implementation of the parking meters was met with strong protests from hundreds of public-spirited citizens and various groups.

Some contend that the fees were burdensome to the average Guyanese while other groups such as the Movement Against Park-

ing Meters (MAPM) say the M&CC did not follow due process as the parking meters should have been offered for public tender.

Still, there were some who welcomed the initiative as one which would help to reduce the chaos of vehicular parking in the congested Capital City.

Since then, the parking meter re-negotiation committee has made adjustments to several parts of the contract including price, payment for space, sanctions and how profits would be shared.

With regards to fees, following discussions with the contracted party--Smart City Solutions-- citizens would be required to pay a pro-

posed fee of $150 per hour (VAT inclusive) or $800 (VAT inclusive) for eight hours of parking in the City.

On Wednesday, King told this newspaper that he anticipates that this time around there will be less resistance from the public as several persons who opposed the project are now calling for its implementation.

“Many of the individuals who were against that project in fact have been asking us to implement that project.

This is what we’ve been having where you’re seeing a complete reversed position by some persons who were against the project; they’re now for the project. In fact, many individuals have

Linden security guards cry for salaries SECURITY guards attached to the Amazon Security Service in Linden, owned by Ewart Forrester, on Tuesday picketed in front of the office located in Constabulary Compound, Mackenzie, for wages that have not been paid for two months.

The security guards related that this is not the first time the situation has occurred and they were told by their superiors that the company is awaiting payments from clients.

Out of frustration, four security guards decided to approach this publication since it is a daily struggle to even provide one meal a day for themselves and families.

They related that there is nowhere else to seek employment in Linden; hence, they find themselves between a rock and a hard place. They believe that the company is being genuine about the situation and is indeed being short changed by clients.

The guards related that the company’s main client is the Ministry of Health since they assumed work at the Linden Hospital Complex locations.

They are calling on the powers that be to stop taking their livelihood for granted, since the company has about 60 guards and hundreds of family members depending on these guards for provisions.

“I have four children; one of my child is a special needs child and I can’t provide for her; right now is my spouse I am living with, that is fill-

ing in and it is very hard, it is very frustrating. When I tell you about not having rice, sugar and flour in your house, it is that bad,” one security guard employed with the company for over seven years said as he tried to hold back the tears.

The group related that whenever they approach the office for word on owed salaries, a definite answer can never be given. “Every day is check back tomorrow, check back weekend.

This is school time, our children have to go to school, there is no money.

Sometimes I don’t even have passage to go to work, I have to walk,” the guard related.

CHILD SUPPORT Another, in expressing his ordeal, said he has thousands of dollars outstanding in child support since he has multiple children to pay for and at any time he can be picked up by the police.

“I can be talking to you right now and the next minute, you hear I get lock up; it is that serious for me, we just want to hear the truth, we want to know what is really going on, whether is the company or the client because it is too long this is going on for; we need answers, it is not fair. We are working, my colleagues and I are covering these sites. Why are we not getting paid,” he said.

The workers noted that in times past, the boss had to seek food stuff on credit for

workers who complained of not having anything to eat in their homes.

While all four of the workers that came forward were males, they were concerned with the females, especially the single parents who are not able to provide for their children. One of the females went in to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) last week to uplift a voucher for spectacles and was told she is not qualified since the company owes NIS payments for workers.

One supervisor, speaking on behalf of Forrester, said several letters were sent by the company to the relevant authorities, discussions went a far way with clients who said they are looking into it. The supervisor said unless the clients pay, the company cannot pay the workers and the company cannot just stop providing services for the clients as well.

She said she understands the workers’ plight and that it is a bread and butter issue.

The cries of these security guards can be heard by hundreds others across Guyana, from various firms who suffer late or short payments for months. Last month, officers from the Department of Labour were in Linden investigating similar complaints brought to them by the security officers in Linden.

The matter was brought to the attention of the Regional Democratic Council and Regional Chairman Renis Morian called for an investigation.

Town Clerk Royston King is optimistic that this time around there will be less resistance to the implementation of the parking meter project approached me and have asked me ‘when are you going to bring this project?

Let us have the parking meter’,” King stated, adding: “So, yes, we anticipate less resistance from the public.”

King is optimistic that the Cabinet sub-committee will look at the project favourably.

“We’re very optimis-

tic that that committee is taking a careful look and they’re studying that new innovation. We’re very optimistic that very soon we will be able to implement that project.

It is needed; if you look at what is happening in the City on any given day, the chaos with vehicular traffic, roads are unsafe in that sense, [so] we really need that project not only because we need the revenue but there needs to be order on our roads and our roads need to be safe.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 24, 2018

Board to overlook ICT expansion in Hinterland holds first meeting THE Project Management Board appointed to overlook the execution of the ICT Access and eServices Connectivity Project for Hinterland, Poor and Remote Communities (HPRC), met for the first time on Thursday, August 23, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) to become acquainted with each other and with their responsibilities over the five-year life of the project.

The Project Board consists of representatives from the Ministries of the Presidency, Indigenous People’s Affairs, Citizenship, Public Security, Social Protection, Public Telecommunications, Communities, Public Health and Education; the Indigenous People’s Commission; Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes (R) and UNDP’s Dep. the Amerindian People’s Resident Rep. Shabnam Mallick (L) with Board Members Association; the Organization of Indigenous Peo- managed by the UNDP and the financing of national Minister Hughes told the ples; the Amerindian Action the Project Board.

Project Board that the main developmental activities and Movement of Guyana; the objective of this HPRC At the inaugural Board mechanisms that balance National Toshaos Council; meeting this morning, Pub- national sovereignty with project is to eliminate the the Pomeroon/Supenaam ( lic Telecommunications investment priorities. toughest barriers that exist Region 2); and the County Minister Cathy Hughes was between the coastland and The GRIF was estabof Demerara. remote, poor and hinterland pleased that so many arms lished in October 2010 with In a release, the Minis- of Government and organ- the World Bank as Trustee. communities. Apart from try of Public Telecommu- isations in civil society are After Guyana was branded the geographical barriers, the nications said this project represented on this major in Copenhagen as the “Lungs people living and working was conceived in 2016 by project which is estimated to of the World”, Guyana and in the identified areas have the Government of Guyana cost US$17 Million. These Norway signed an Agreelittle to no access to ICT’s -in concert with the Unit- funds originate from the ment in 2009 for Norway to to eLearning, telemedicine, ed Nations Development Kingdom of Norway and provide Guyana with funds modern security services, Fund (UNDP). It is being have been made available by valued up to US$250 miland especially to Governexecuted by the National way of the Guyana REDD+ lion. The basis for payments ment services that are now Data Management Authority Investment Fund (GRIF). was based on avoided deforavailable online. Even Guy(NDMA), formerly eGov- GRIF is a multi-contributor estation and Green Strategy anese living in the diaspora ernment Unit, and will be trust fund to be used for projects for development. now have access to government’s online services.

Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP, Shabnam Mallick, stated that this eAccess project will enhance Guyana’s push towards Green Development, marrying ICTs with gender

equality and other initiatives while building the capacity of residents to learn and earn. Over the next five years, the project will serve as a teaching tool, a learning mechanism and a job market for people in the targeted communities. “Our job is cut out for us,” the UNDP Representative told the Board, since they will be required to make quick decisions in order to move the project along the prescribed timeframe and financial allocations.

Chairman of the NDMA, Floyd Levi, said that the project was designed specifically to take Internet connectivity to: 1) Communities that are vulnerable; 2) Communities that are both geographically remote and costly to access, e.g. Free-and-Easy on the West Bank Demerara; and 3) Communities identified as ‘poor’, e.g. having little to no access to basic services like electricity and potable water, with education, health and other services unequal to what prevails on the coastland. The HPRC will also enable the government to improve its service delivery to the whole of Guyana as promised, and it will enable residents to communicate with their regional administrations and central government in real time.

He said that Wi-Fi connections will be installed shortly in the newly re-built Kato Secondary School in Region Eight which is to be re-opened this September.

Kato will then be added to the list of 153 mostly secondary schools throughout Guyana that have been connected to the national networks.

That list includes schools at Paramakatoi, Sand Creek, St.

Ignatius in Lethem, Waramadong, Karasabai, and Annai.

He stressed that the Project Board will manage and guide the project throughout its life, ensuring that the quality of materials and delivery meet the best international standards; arbitrating conflict and negotiating solutions if these arise; approve work plans, and ensure that there is fairness and transparency.

The Board’s points of reference are the findings from the Baseline Study and Needs Assessment which was completed and handed over by the German Consultancy firm, Detecon, in November 2016, and the comments and recommendations put forward by stakeholders during local consultations. Those recommendations were enshrined in the Project document that has since been approved by Norway and finally by Guyana’s Ministry of Finance. Mr. Levi also pointed out the board’s responsibility to ensure that project personnel work closely with Toshaos and indigenous people, taking care to preserve their traditions and cultures; provide technical training and jobs for residents and contractors, and establish ICT hubs in community centres and meeting halls.

Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy Framework Document emphasizes the fostering of sustainable development in the hinterland regions.

One key component towards achieving this goal is the use of Information and Communications Technologies to deliver public services and improve the flow of information to and from citizens.

Missing diamonds case delayed DIAMONDS reportedly worth $54 million belonging to Ronald Khan vanished from police custody since 1994.

This case was scheduled to commence on Thursday before Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln at the Demerara High Court, but due to the inability to produce several court documents, the trial was postponed to Wednesday, October 24.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that this trial was ordered by the judge after the State failed to offer settlement to Khan who is suing them, claiming that the police seized his diamonds after investigating a robbery that occurred in the mining community of Ekereku, located in Region Seven, since 1994. He stated that his diamonds were never returned to him.

The plaintiff, who is represent by attorney Nigel Hughes, was ordered to file a witness statement (affidavit), no later than June 22, 2018, and the State, which is being represented by Solicitor General Kim Kyte-Thomas, was given until July 06, 2018, to file submissions based on

the statement.

However, Hughes stated before the court that the witness statement was filed late on Tuesday afternoon (August 21), almost two months after the date specified by the court, and since Wednesday was a national holiday, the Solicitor General indicated to the court that she had not received a copy of the affidavit. As such, the Solicitor General requested that the trial be adjourned so as to facilitate her with time to retrieve a copy of the witness statement.

Attorney Hughes explained that his client had lost sight in one of his eyes as a result of the robbery and was ill for a period of time. Because of that illness he was unable to give his statement.

Justice Corbin-Lincoln said: “This is unfortunate. We will have to take another adjournment.”

The trial was adjourned and the State was ordered by the court to produce documents that date back to 1994, related to the case.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 24, 2018

Holder slams non-payment of farmers by Essequibo millers

AGRICULTURE Minister, Noel Holder has slammed the delay in payment to rice farmers on the Essequibo coast by millers, calling it a clear violation of the rice Factories Act and a demonstration of unfair business practices.

The minister was at the time responding to a plea for help from rice farmer and head of the Essequibo Paddy Producers’ Association, Mr. Naith Ram, during a recent outreach to Region Two. Mr. Ram, while seeking the immediate intervention of the ministry, said rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast are being held at ransom by many millers, naming rice miller, Wazir Hussain as the chief offender in this regard.

Regional Councillor, Naith Ram, Regional Agriculture Coordinator

According to Ram, rice farmers who supplied paddy to this miller in the first crop of 2018 are yet to receive payments. This has resulted in many farmers having to stop farming or scaling back significantly.

“Farmers have not been paid to date. We have a factory act but farmers will not take millers to court because of fear of victimisation by other millers. We have to devise another system; we have to take some firm action. How can a farmer who is not being paid sustain his family? We have to do something to help the situation in Region Two.” Mr. Ram said.

Ram also said that this practice by millers is negatively affecting the rice industry and the livelihood of rice farmers, who are helpless in the face of these actions on the part of errant millers. Figures released by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) confirms that millers on the Essequibo Coast owe farmers in excess of $132M for paddy supplied from the first crop, with one miller Wazir Hussain, who is one of the largest millers on the Essequibo Coast, owing 97 per cent of that figure.

Responding to the concerns raised by the farmers, Minister Holder said millers must not be allowed to

Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder, makes a point during the recent meeting held with councillors in Region Two mistreat rice farmers and explore withholding milling withhold payments. “We licenses to defiant millers. have many millers faulting Minister Holder in respondthe Board for them not being ing to Mr. Ram’s suggestion, able to pay farmers, more stated that if millers are not recently for rice shipped to treating the farmers as they Panama. The Panama deal is should, GRDB can indeed not like other arrangements explore withholding milling millers have with other buy- licenses as the rice factories ers - it is a government to act, under which all mills government arrangement. operate, identifies the Rice The GRDB approached Board as the licensing and millers explaining that the regulatory body. “However, Panama market offers 30 this has to be a Board poliper cent more for the rice, cy. Mr. Ram, as a member but like any government to of the GRDB Board of Digovernment arrangement, rectors, you can bring that funds take a little longer to suggestion to the table. The process.”

Minister cannot make that Mr. Ram, in offering decision. suggestions to assist farmers It has to be a decision with non-payment from mill- of the Board.” Minister ers, said that GRDB should Holder said.

Victory Valley land foundation collapses due to tremor THE land that was built up by a concrete structure to further give support to a two-storey house in Victory Valley, collapsed on Wednesday at around 10:00hrs after a one-minute tremor was felt following a three-minute one on Tuesday.

The house is owned by Cheryl Fung.

Her son Steve said no one was at home at the time of the incident but noted that the second tremor along with the heavy rains caused the structure to collapse.

He house is situated on an uneven land and so the bottom was built up with concrete to level its foundation. Nothing in the house was damaged and no other damages or casualties were reported to

officials in the town.

While residents were still recovering from Tuesday’s tremor that left shock waves across Guyana, another one occurred on Wednesday.

It was not as long and intense as Tuesday’s tremor.

The foundation of the house that collapsed due to the tremor on Wednesday

$158M to fund household budget survey … poverty margin to be revised

THE Bureau of Statistics in the coming months will launch a Household Budget and Living Condition Survey, Chief Statistician Lennox Benjamin disclosed on Thursday.

Benjamin, at the time, was speaking during the launch of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) Round 6 at the Ministry of Finance. He explained that a sample of the population will be surveyed to measure the consumption pattern, and level of expenditure of persons living in Guyana with the aim of revising the poverty margin.

Guyana Chronicle understands that approximately 6,000 households from across the 10 administrative will be surveyed under the project which will be funded using some $158M. “Essentially we will be generating a new level, a current level of consumption expenditure in the country and a new demarcation of the poverty line. Those who are living below poverty,’ Benjamin subsequently explained to reporters. He noted that the Household Budget and Living Condition Survey was conducted in 2006. Based on the last 36.1 per cent of the population is living in moderate poverty.

“It is also a major input, and as you know we will be doing a rebasing of our economy, rebasing meaning the base on which we measure the performance and growth of the economy, so we need to know this definitively before we start pumping oil, what we were doing before and what we are doing after,” he posited.

Currently, the country’s GDP is compiled relative to the base year 2006. The Guyana Bureau of Statistics (GBS) explains that a country compiles its GDP at current and constant prices by industry, mainly by the production method.

GDP by expenditure is compiled residually for the economy as a whole, and at current prices only. Earlier in the area, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had explained that the downfall of the sugar industry in 2017 was negatively influencing the country’s economic growth. Last year, the country fell short in achieving its projected growth rate of 3.8 per cent.

Instead, it recorded a real growth rate of 2.9 per cent.

The performance of the ailing sugar industry was in part responsible for the decline, but the Finance Ministry hopes to reduce its influence on the economy this year.

“This rebasing will see the lowering of the influence of sugar in our growth rate,” he added, noting that with sugar projected to do a mere 115,000 tonnes, its overall influence in the economy has dropped considerably.

He further explained that as a result of the GDP and the series that is in use, the sugar industry still has a major influence on the growth of the economy and “in a sense it drags down the growth.” “Hopefully with the rebasing, we can see a truer picture of the performance of the economy,” Minister Jordan posited.

According to the Bureau of Statistics, the rebasing and revising of the national accounts, which was conducted during 2007 to 2009, allowed not only the adoption of a more recent base year (previously 1988), but facilitated the use of more modern measurement techniques and a truer picture of economic structure.

It was further explained that in the rebased and revised series, the increasing contribution of services to the economy and the subsequent diminishing contribution of traditional industries are evident. Data is collected on the output of the real and services industries of the economy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 24, 2018

ACDA backs proposal for cash transfers … urges gov’t to give remaining oil blocks to local companies THE African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) has thrown its support behind the proposal for annual cash transfers to citizens from oil revenues, saying that its constituency - African Guyanese, represent a large portion of the poor and powerless in Guyana.

A few weeks ago at a forum held in Buxton, Professor Clive Thomas floated the idea, but since then there has been several comments both for and against the proposal. Government said it has not addressed the issue, but President David Granger has stated that there was no evidential basis for such an initiative.

In a statement issued on Thursday ACDA said it noted President David Granger’s recent pre-emancipation address at Beterverwagting. ACDA said the President seemed to have recognised that African Guyanese are at a disadvantage in the society when he alluded to most of our people always wanting a raise. “Our work in our communities has shown us that in most of those instances the request for a raise is to pay for a bus fare to get home or to cook a pot for a household. Things are dread in most African-Guyanese households,” ACDA said.

The group said it fully supports the recent proposal of Professor Thomas for the Government to make cash transfers from the revenues it will garner from oil and gas, to poor Guyanese households.

“This will certainly be one way that President Granger and his Government can demonstrate that an effort is being made to reverse some of the economic disadvantages that plague our communities each day.

We encourage the Government also to give effect to the idea of removing the income tax from personal incomes and lowering the corporate tax rates to competitive levels within five years of the commencement of the receipt of oil revenues as a means of encouraging work and industry.”

ACDA further calls on President Granger and his Government to consider ceasing all allocations of oil concessions to foreign companies and instead, begin to grant these concessions to local Guyanese thereby ensuring that Guyanese are given the opportunity to share in the benefits and patrimony of this emerging oil sector. “ACDA is prepared to pursue the mobilisation of resources both at home and in the diaspora for investment in the sector. ACDA claims this opportunity as a right that is just, especially since the bodies of thousands of our Ancestors lie at the bottom of the oceans of the world, a crime that has been described by the United Nations as ‘the greatest crime against humanity.’

The Atlantic Ocean is one of the Oceans in which the Guyana oil concessions

now occur.”

Thomas, a renowned economist, speaking at the forum said the government should consider annual cash transfers of $1Million (US$5000) to poor households. However, President Granger said he has not received a formal proposal from Dr. Thomas in this regard. “I have not considered that proposal, it is outside of the recommendations of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, the Natural Resources Fund and I don’t know that there is a precedent for it.”

The Head of State reminded that the quintet of ministers and the newly appointed Head of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, are advising him on matters related to the sector.

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, in weighing on the issue, told reporters that he embraced the public debate on direct cash transfers to citizens after Guyana begins oil production in March 2020. Jordan said if such an approach were to be adopted, then extreme caution must be employed, a view shared

by Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman.

He said over the years, there have been such transfers which targeted education. He pointed to the national school-feeding programmes and the uniform vouchers that students in the public school system receive. “I must admit to you, I would have a difficulty if Cabinet were to agree to it and if the implementation it wasn’t properly structured,” said the finance minister, who noted that rather than giving citizens US$5000 as hypothetically suggested by economist, Professor Clive Thomas last Sunday in Buxton, issues within critical sectors should be examined.

“Why not look at issues such as education, health, youth programmes, small businesses …teaching a man to fish and then he could do it for a lifetime, rather than giving him a fish when he could only feed himself for a short while,” Jordan suggested, while noting that the matter has not yet reached the level of Cabinet.

Trotman, for his part, said too that the public discourse on the subject is timely, as Guyana has within its reserves more than 4B barrels of oil equivalent. “For 50 years Guyanese have been told about their potential and what they are entitled to, we have seen that potential around us.

This and future governments have a duty to spread oil wealth in a responsible way to as many Guyanese as possible.

The AFC supports any initiative that spreads the wealth transparently and equally not just for some, but to ensure that every citizen in all 10 regions get an equal say in how this money is spent and they get a share of it,” Trotman said, noting that he would make such a representation to Cabinet.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 24, 2018

$65M retroactive Not enough evidence for MCC workers to convict driver

By Lisa Hamilton

SOME $65M in retroactive monies will be paid to Mayor and City Council (M&CC) workers from September, Town Clerk, Royston King said.

The sum being paid is based on salary increases which were awarded to the some 200 workers across the board from 20152018, but City Council was unable to meet this commitment after plans fell through.

“The increases we had awarded workers were based on anticipated revenues coming in from innovations and new revenue earning projects which we were unable to implement and as a result of that, unable to realise those anticipated revenues,” King told the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday.

King and a team of city officials met with the Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU) President, Carvil Duncan last week and they agreed to a payment plan.

“The approach is that we have a fivemonths plan to pay out that money to workers and we’ll begin the pay out of that retroactive money from September monthend,” King said.

When asked whether this would affect the council’s ability to execute its functions, the town clerk confirmed that it will and that the money would have to be sourced

from other areas to make the payout.

“The payout will affect the Council because, first of all, we will have to source that money because its adding an additional $11M to the Wages and Salaries Bill of City Council which as it stands right now is $112M and our average monthly intake is about $80M. So right away you see the financial challenge we’re faced with at the level of the city,” he explained.

He added that coupled with this, City Council has not had re-evaluation of properties for over 20 years.

Nonetheless, the Council recognises the importance of its workers and will make the payments even as it works to fulfill other duties to the city.

“We’re happy to do it because our workers are our greatest assets. We value them, we value their work; we appreciate what they’ve been doing. Many of our workers are doing their assignments, completing their tasks in a very harsh working environment and we’re grateful that they remain loyal and committed to the organisation.”

“But we need more financial elbow room to be able to honour our financial obligations both to our workers as well as to our contractors and as well as to provide municipal services to all the residents of local communities within the precincts of the city of Georgetown,” he said.

Con man and the vehicle scam…three years’ jail A CON artist will have the next three years behind bars to hone his skills.

He was jailed on Thursday by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, for swindling monies from three persons in a vehicle scam.

Jermain Fraser, 27, of Lamaha Street, was slapped with four counts of obtaining money by false pretense but only pleaded guilty to the first three charges.

The first charge alleged that on April 26, 2018 at Georgetown with intent to defraud, Fraser obtained the sum of $400,000 from Baldeo Puran by falsely pretending that he was in position to acquire a 212 Toyota motor car, knowing same to be false.

The court was told that on the day in question, Puran met the accused at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) which had the 212 motor cars for sale.

The victim handed over the money to process the registration for the car. The accused then went into the GRA building and never returned.

The second charge alleged that on May 4, 2018 at Laparkan, Lombard Street, with intent to defraud, Fraser obtained the sum of $300,000 from Ashmi Singh by falsely pretending that he was in position to acquire a vehicle, knowing same to be false.

According to reports, Singh met with Fraser who had claimed, via a post on Facebook, that he had imported a vehicle for sale. The victim made arrangements and met Fraser at Laparkan

on Lombard Street where he handed over $300,000 as down payment for the vehicle. Fraser then went into an office at Laparkan and came out minutes later.

He walked past the victim and out of the office. The victim give chase but the accused jumped on a waiting motorcycle and disappeared.

The third charge read that on June 29, 2018 at Charlotte Street, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, Fraser obtained the sum of $200,000 from Floyd LaFleur by falsely pretending that he was in position to acquire a mini bus, knowing same to be false.

The court was told that on the day in question LaFleur met with Fraser at the High Court and handed over $200,000 as down payment. Fraser then went into the High Court and never returned.

Fraser pleaded guilty to the three charges and did not give the court a reason for his actions. He was sentenced to three years’ jail on each count, which will run concurrently.

The unrepresented man however denied the court charge which alleged that on July 31, 2018 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, Fraser obtained the sum of $1.4 from Gewan Persaud by falsely pretending that he was in position to acquire a Toyota Primo motor car, knowing same to be false.

Fraser told the court that he only obtained $175,000 from Persaud and did not know about the $1.4M. He was remanded to prison until August 31 on that charge.

A 28-year-old driver attached to Federal Management Security Services, was on Thursday freed from a charge of causing death by dangerous driving due to insufficient evidence.

Delon Dublin of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, had the charge against him dismissed by Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. He was represented by attorney Siand Dhurjon, while the matter was prosecuted by Inspector Neville Jeffers.

Dublin was on trial for the charge which alleged that on May 6, 2018, at Land of Canaan Public Road, East Bank Demerara, he drove motor car PRR 6380 in a dangerous manner resulting in the death of Garfield McPherson, a 47-year-old Security Guard of Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara.

According to a police release, McPherson along with another individual were passengers of the vehicle which was being driven by Dublin.

The reports detailed that while the car was proceeding north on the Land of Canaan Public Road, East Bank Demerara, Dublin lost control of the vehicle and drove into a nearby trench.

Delon Dublin with his lawyer Siand Dhurjon The driver and the two occupants, were taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Center, where McPherson was pronounced dead on arrival.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 24, 2018

SEBI forum examines local content

THE University of Guyana School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI) in partnership with Ground Structures Engineering Consultants Inc (GSEC), FUGRO, Guyana Goldfields, Worley Parsons and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, recently held a local content forum titled, “Local Content: A Mechanism for Capacity-Building towards Enhanced National Development.”

The two-day forum, which was held from July 23-24, 2018 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, had over 250 participants and was intended to educate the Guyanese populace on what local content is, answer questions and queries on how local- content policies can be beneficial to the government, private sector, local communities and more so, how it can facilitate Guyana’s national development.

Presentations were made by international, regional and local speakers, who shared their knowledge, research and experience, in an effort to generate a common understanding of the potential benefits of local-content policies and the conditions that led to successful outcomes of nations around the world.

The event’s programme discussed several topics, including: Local Content and Economic Growth, Combating the Dutch Disease, Skill Development and Knowledge Transfer through Local Content Policy, Social Consequences of Oil-and-Gas discovery, Building Sustainable Businesses through Local Content, Local Content and the Environment, and Education Investment and Local Content Policy.

Concerns were highlighted on how local businesses can be affected by the local-content policy, what new business opportunities can emerge as a result of the policy and how this will affect the way in which business is done in Guyana, with particular emphasis on national development goals around the green economy.

Professor Leyland Lucas, Dean of SEBI, in his address, said, “I am concerned that there are two things happening in our nation today, a great deal of noise about what local content is and its implications for our development and the development of the future generations.”

He further noted the importance of education to understanding issues of local content. “Local content is not just about doing business with oil-and-gas entities, it’s about building competencies and ca-

pabilities needed to transform this nation into a Green Economy,” the professor said.

University of Guyana Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, opined that “Many of us are uncomfortable with the mediocrity we see in society, the cutting of professional corners, charging clients for one thing but giving them substandard products and service; we have got to practise what Aristotle recommended many years ago, when he said, ‘we are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act it is a habit.”

Charles Ceres, CEO, GSEC, noted that, “Local-content policies must provide resources to the University of Guyana to ensure an appropriate curriculum is developed to train persons to address both the current needs of the natural resources sector and transference of those skills to other sectors of the economy.” He asserted in his feature address that companies operating in the natural resources sector must be involved in development of a local-content policy.

At the forum, all stakeholders demonstrated several examples of their approach to local content. Fugro highlighted its work with local firms in helping to build industry-specific capacity, while

investing in education from the primary to the tertiary levels. These investments were seen as particularly beneficial to the broad society, as they help to enhance the opportunities for growth in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Ground Structures, in their presentations, focused significantly on the training offered to its employees through its partnerships with other firms. Much of that training was both industry-specific and general, providing knowledge that could transform their contributions to the broader society.

Guyana Goldfields highlighted their focus on growing local businesses, many of which were not directly associated with the mining industry. These examples of local content emphasised ways in which firms could build capacity and managerial skills to become vibrant within the economy. Professor Lucas charged participants with the task of becoming local-content ambassadors.

He suggested that all attendees inform their friends, neighbours and acquaintances about the importance of local content, what it means for the national agenda, how it could impact our lives, and the development of a vibrant economy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 24, 2018

Umadevi Bux appointed Guyana’s representative in CSA THE Commonwealth Students’ Association (CSA) officially announced the appointment of Umadevi Bux, as the new Guyana representative for the Caribbean and Americas Commonwealth Students’ Association working group for the period 2018-2020 .

This appointment was made since Ms Bux is also the Regional Coordinator, Policy and Advocacy for the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassador Network. As such, she brings a wide array of knowledge and skills to the focus areas for Guyana via the International Commonwealth Youth Network.

During her two-year service with the Commonwealth Students’ Association, Ms Bux will seek to advocate for better education policies in both private and state educational institutions for students across all regions in Guyana. She will also be working alongside the CSA to lobby for students’ rights; government and private sector involvement in the education sector and set up a working national student

Guyana’s representative for the Caribbean and Americas Commonwealth Students’ Association, Umadevi Bux association. This will involve stakeholders to ensure positive impacts are made within the education sector for all

parties involved.

This newspaper spoke with Umadevi, who shared that she is elated to have been

chosen, explaining that she is an activist and humanitarian and is very passionate about advocacy, especially in the area of education. “I accepted this prestigious offer because I’m an activist by nature and humanitarian at heart. I believe that youths are not just leaders of tomorrow, but also leaders of today and we need to step up and take the podium, take the lead. All issues faced in the world, whether we like it or not, will be served by this generation.

We have to take the lead in making a positive impact,” the young woman said.

She shared that the Commonwealth Students’ Association is the joining of student organisations within the Commonwealth. Their role is to be independent advocates for students and bring students’ perspectives into the policy decision-making processes of the Commonwealth.

The CSA will amplify the voice of students and seek to enhance the role of students in the Commonwealth and in policy matters that affect their lives. The CSA will be the official platform for

student associations and organisations in the Commonwealth and beyond.

Similarly, Umadevi said this is what she has envisioned on a local level: to form a council for local students from across the country to voice their concerns and share their thoughts and recommendations.

“A lot of times you have students who have something they want to speak about, something that’s bothering them or something that needs to be addressed in the education sector. And we have nowhere or no arena to get that out. So we’re hoping to create that forum, locally, to come together as a conclave where students can gather and sign up where they’ll have a medium to get their voice out there and to work out solutions for various problems being faced. And the mandate in Guyana is to reach out to all of the regions, so that we can all come under one umbrella and have a collective voice,” the activist said.

She added that education is the way out of poverty and

the stepping stone to success.

Hence, she will dedicate her service to make a positive change to foster an educated population, which will in turn foster a developed country.

Ms Bux’s social activism in Guyana also includes representing the youth of Guyana and youth around the world at several international conferences and summer programmes, including the Commonwealth Youth Forum 2018 (CHOGM 2018), Interseliger forum (August 2013) in Russian Federation School of Science and Politics, the Third (3rd) Summer School of United Nations Alliance of Civilization-Certification (UNAoC) August 2012 Portugal, Model of Organization Of American States (MOAS) March 2012, Bolivia; and held the National Directorship of an International Pageant, Miss India-Guyana 2017-2018.

She is currently pursuing a Medical Degree in General Medicine at the Texila American University in Guyana, South America.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 24, 2018

Traffic signal infrastructure being installed at 51 intersections

By Lisa Hamilton

THE Ministry of Public Infrastructure through an $87M programme, has moved to install new traffic signal infrastructure at 51 intersections in the country with several others expected by the first quarter of 2019.

Over the last few weeks, several road signs, traffic controller systems and traffic signal heads have been installed even as the entire venture will also see the installation of camera detection and pedestrian access systems.

The upgrades are being implemented through a number of projects which fall under the ‘Maintenance of Other Infrastructure’ and ‘Infrastructural Development’ programmes of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI).

The Ministry’s Traffic & Highway Lights Department informed the Guyana Chronicle that works will be focused on existing signalised intersections and seven addi-

Workers install new traffic systems on the intersection of Sandy Babb Street and Vlissengen Road (Samuel Maughn photo)

tional intersections will see upgrades in the near future.

These include Sandy Babb & Vlissengen Road/ Irving Street; East Bank Demerara Public Road and Demerara Harbour Bridge access road (Peter’s Hall); East Bank Demerara Public Road and Eccles Access Road; Main Street and Church Streets; Camp Street and Lamaha Streets; Main Street and Lamaha Streets and Vlissengen Road and Homestretch Avenue.

The upgrades are aimed at promoting safety for all categories of road users who maneuver through the signalised intersections and come along with numerous advantages compared to the previous traffic signal systems.

They offer vehicular actuation through the use of camera detection systems whereby the time allocated for vehicular movement along each corridor is determined dynamically rather than on a pre-determined basis.

Meanwhile, pedestrian access systems will make provisions for pedestrians

to safely cross the roadways based on demands rather than at a pre-determined time while also producing an audible signal to alert the differently-abled when to cross.

The designs of the new infrastructure are also more resilient with better cooling of electrical components along with enclosures built with material better suited for Guyana’s climatic conditions.

The traffic control unit itself features an open architecture modular design that makes it simpler to perform functional system upgrades, easier to source spare parts and promotes convenient maintenance at a lower cost.

With supportive telecommunications infrastructure, the ministry says that the new traffic light systems make provisions for remote system monitoring and control.

In addition, synchronisation between signalised intersections is possible through the use of reliable Global Positioning System (GPS) systems and traffic management software.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 24, 2018

GTU salary proposal exorbitant

– say some Linden teachers; not in agreement with calls to strike

By Vanessa Braithwaite AS teachers countrywide prepare to participate in strike action starting next Monday, which will run until further notice, some teachers in Linden believe that the proposals presented by the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) are exorbitant and unreasonable.

The GTU has proposed an across-the-board increase in salary of 40 per cent for 2016; 45 per cent in 2017; and 50 per cent in 2018, 2019 and 2020 be granted to all categories of teachers and teacher educators for the years 2016-2020.

The teachers who fear they will be stigmatised knowing fully well, the majority is in favour of the strike action, as was expressed at the Linden outreach last Tuesday, which saw over 300 teachers present, preferred their names to be withheld.

One Mackenzie High School (MHS) teacher described the proposals as unreasonable and said she believes the Government genuinely cannot afford to meet the proposed sums.

She said that she has been in the system since 2013 and believes that a noticeable effort was made by the Government since 2015 to increase teachers’ salaries with a 17 per cent increase over the last three years.

“I believe that the GTU is being unreasonable and I am just hearing one side of the story, everyone is focusing on GTU, no one is focusing on the teachers and how they really feel, I for one is not in agreement, in 2015, I got $50, 000 in December, I never had that before and I felt so nice about it,” the teacher noted.

Another nursery school teacher said her headteacher will be handing over the keys of the school to the Education Department as was proposed by GTU but she is not in favour of this move, since it is as if the HM will be unilaterally deciding for the rest of the staff, whether they should strike or not strike.

NOT FAIR “When the teachers hand over the keys, what will happen to the teachers who made a decision not to strike, the HM cannot decide for all, I believe that the school should be left open and teachers should decide if they want to strike or not,” she noted. Some teachers cannot strike for religious reasons and therefore, it would be discrimination

against one’s right, if they are not allowed into the building.

Many teachers continue to express their concerns about their salaries being withheld since they have monthly commitments to make. GTU President Mark Lyte said the GTU cannot promise strike relief but he will be filing an injunction against the Government for teachers’ salaries to not be withheld since it is their constitutional right to strike.

“If one month’s salary is withheld for me, the amount of back debt I will have is unimaginable, I have no one else supporting me and I cannot afford to strike, so come Monday morning early, I will be at school,” another Mackenzie High teacher noted.

Lyte believes that the demands of the GTU are not unreasonable since the two parties were at the negotiating table since 2016. He also believes that the figures presented by Government are not reasonable for teachers.

The Government allocated $700M to facilitate salary increases for teachers, in addition to $200 million to address de-bunching for the year 2018.

In an invited comment, Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira, who is also a teacher by profession, said he believes that teachers should be rewarded significantly for contributing to the development of this country and this reward should be more than the five per cent annual increase that was inked with the GTU and the previous administration. He described the Government’s stride to enhance teacher’s salaries since 2016 with the $50,000 bonus in 2015, $25,000 and the increases in 2016 and 2017 as significant compared to previous years.

EXORBITANT PROPOSALS He, however, does not agree with the exorbitant propositions of the GTU. “As a teacher for over 18 years and a former union chairman and General Council representative of the GTU, I’m perplexed and discombobulated with my union’s negotiations skills.

Even our members are questioning these proposed figures 40 per cent, 45 per cent and 50 per cent for the respective years is nothing but astonishing. In my personal view there is no reasonableness is those numbers.

Those aim for the stars and hopefully fall on the clouds type of negotiation is not for the real world,” Figueira

said. He reasoned: “One has to factor in the economic realities of the country, the other sectors with public servants, cost of living and so many other supporting elements and factors when you are negotiating. I would have been satisfied if my union played a better focus on none taxable benefits and other things that will

tangibly benefit our teachers.

Increased uniform allowances, increase for a degree, post- graduate, masters, house lots, duty-free vehicle concessions for more categories of teachers and include those who may not be in a senior position but service the nation for 10-15 years, increased risk allowances etc. I believe teachers

would happily accept a 12 to 15 per cent tomorrow if it is given alone with other non- taxable benefits.”

He said he supports better wages for teachers and better working conditions as well as the right to partake in industrial action but believes that if the percentages are granted, it will devastate the country’s economy and other sectors will feel the squeeze.

GTU President Mark Lyte

. in .. Or ‘T vit ga h e UG e R d to nise Ca ecap hos rs mp ’ o t us n

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 24, 2018

MAC Fest was the start of something positive

T

ODAY, the organisers of the Music Art and Culture festival (M.A.C Fest) which was held for the first time last Saturday at the Pan African Gardens, Merriman’s Mall, will be bringing the festival’s art and creativity to the campus of the University of Guyana following an invitation from the University of Guyana Students’ Society.

Last week’s event was a mixture of good vibes, inspiring art and conscious music which featured a day of vending from various local artists followed by an evening of musical performances. Chairman of MAC,

One of the artists during an interview with the media at the event

Some of the items on display at the Vendor market last Saturday

Sa-Ra told The Buzz that, “The #MACFest2018 was the beginning to a community initiative that developed a stronger connection and more support in providing re-

sources for creatives to aid in financial stability. Though not all things went as planned, it was well received by those in attendance and the creatives who showcased their cre-

ations for sale in our Vendor Village,” he said. “[We received] not one complaint or bad review. In fact, persons have already committed to being in attendance next year.

The highlight is growing with the creatives and making the process easier for the ones to come. We’ve further featured those who are designers/ jewellery makers on our site (www.MusicArtCultureFest. com/vendorvillage) for added annual promotion. The next will be for the artistes, who will get further distribution via the Foundation subsidiary production company, Morocco & Co. (www.MCO.Global). The proof of the progress is evident with our recent partnership with the University of Guyana to have a Recap of the M.A.C Fest on campus [today] during UGSS Orientation Week event. In less than a week and it’s going places. To say the least, MAC Fest 2019 is in motion.”

At a press conference on August 11, Sa-Ra told the media that the event was

M.A.C Fest 2018 Guests were also treated to some yoga exercises

really a means of creating a space for cultural talent to thrive, while refocusing the public’s attention on local artistes.

“The primary aim is to shed light on Guyana’s creativity… as we see the media is heavily concentrated on the promotion of outside entertainers and that is nothing wrong, but there is no infrastructure for culture in Guyana,” he said.

Now, prospective and returning students of UG will get a chance to receive those good vibes at today’s event. M.A.C Fest The Recap will have a Lifestyle Exhibition Market Day starting from 14:00hrs16:00hrs followed by ‘Lime and Vibes’ from 17:00hrs – 20:00hrs in the George Walcott Lecture Theatre (GWLT).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 24, 2018

THE STRESSES OF THE FUTURE ARE HERE

Are we culturally aware and ready?

T

HE Mamluk (soldiers requited as young slaves) were an Islamic medieval sect; ’men of the sword’; they were warriors of another age when Napoleon arrived with his army to attack the then Muslim occupied Egypt in 1798, with an army equipped with the arms and proven techniques of the day, led by the incredible general Alexander Dumas.

Pound for pound the Mamluk were a far more superior type of soldier than the French men they faced, but they were fighting an age-old proven battle methods in a changed world and they lost.

The Zulus were another ancient people that Shaka, their nation founder, had honed along improved methods, with traditional weapons, the later cost of defeating the English at Isandlwana, was

by Zulu numbers of warriors lost unbalanced, though it was described as “magnificent in its conception and execution.”

That fact is evident because the English were fighting with the most updated rifles and weaponry of the day with local allies who could not foresee that they were sealing their own fate that followed with the final defeat of the Zulus.

These examples are based on comfort zones that can be translated into our way of doing things in Guyana. We still believe that a great idea should be entertained, only if it is taken from the perceived common source and given to a certified friend to execute, who will most likely fail; because new ideas in most cases have no precedent templates until they are fulfilled, thus are viewed with scepticism and resentment that are justified eventually by personal irritation.

Isolationist thinking comes from group customs and practices that have become accepted and have created a comfort zone that resists adjustment.

The root causes for the domino effect of the comfort zone are stress and depression to all who are in direct expectation of fruitful resolving of matters engaged; matters that involve the general public. In today’s world, our earning capacity is drowned by the things we have to pay for.

I am unaware of how many schools have in-house internet cafes because children need access to the net for assignment research. I lived this experience because I didn’t always have an in-house computer and printer that were connected to the internet. The journey to the Light or Cummings Street cafe was costly because there were always printouts needed. Having a computer extended the expense to include protection equipment for GPL issues, software protection, paper and printer ink supplies. It’s all about where the world has taken us or unwillingly dragged us, but the biggest problem rests with what we get when we spend our dollars.

Lack of regulations for importers, service providers and even farm produce and culinary sales vendors and entities expose us to callous and intentional fraud, physical and mental injury. For example, people with transportation vehicles offering moving and delivery services are governed by no mandate.

They steal, mishandle and damage items because they are not working under a legal framework that insists on any particular protocol. Contractors or people proposing such services have so far killed three published cases where bathrooms have collapsed with fatal consequences. How does a bathroom collapse? It’s obvious that there was no steel framework. Who and what legal mechanism jumps into sequence to prevent after three occurrences, several more?

Are food providers required to

sign an MOU that hold them criminally culpable for food poisoning?

I’ve written before on the pesticide and forceripe risk with vegetables and fruits, but there is no guide in the public domain that this matter was ever addressed by the relevant authorities, all that is mentioned above are sources of added stress and depression; of the hopelessness of who cares at this level?

That can be alleviated by tabulating and addressing issues that can be defined as “Citizen lay functioning Laws”. The reality to bring small businesses into the tax pool is a state function.

The parallel complimentary

implementation should be mechanisms to enhance small businesses to a quality control production capacity with attention given to both local and CARICOM markets, there is no quality control bureau with knowledgeable expertise to verify and pass ‘bottom house existing potential’.

Don’t be offended by this latter term, Cadbury Chocolate started as small location selling tea, coffee, cocoa and drinking chocolate, for an example, to add, none of the produce grew in England. Technology will continue to terminate the job market as we know it; we cannot remain as consumers of imported substandard and

at lower percentage quality merchandise. We have talents here, ‘home receipts’ are the high end of the food manufacturing industry worldwide, sensitising our people who are still in a casual under self-value and vulnerable mode is essential because earning diminishes stress and Hypertension generated by hopelessness.

Let me expand on the latter, some years ago, a UNESCO representative sent me a brochure on a competition held through UNESCO with Japan. The winner would get US$ 5,000. The recipient would have to submit five designs. Okay, so my questions were what happens to the artwork if you lose

it, will they be returned?

What happens to the four if one wins? The answer was no. The A-Ws will not be returned. No consideration of copyright existed. It was a brilliant idea to amass a massive collection of artworks from hungry third world artists. I, however, declined to participate.

We have got to break the stereotype of waiting to be discovered while drowning in depression and stress and dying by those ailments. What the president said to the Toshaos applies to the nation: “We have to re-invent ourselves” and every decision maker has to understand that.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 24, 2018

a c n o d n e M n Gavi e s e n a y u G takes l a n o i t a n r e t Culture In

W

HILE there are quite a number of local creative talent daunted by Guyana’s failure to create the opportunities for success in their various fields, there are a few who are consistent, hopeful and full of drive, despite the odds.

launched a short film titled ‘How to Build a Tree House’ at the Timehri Film Festival.

This video not only showcased his exceptional talent, but also Guyana’s beauty.

This 10-minute film started out as a regular music video and ended up being an experiment, Gavin told the Buzz. “I

Gavin Mendonca performing with Keith Waithe at the launch of the University of Guyana’s UK Alumni Association in the United Kingdom

Gavin Mendonca is the epitome of commitment and dedication to his craft. This 26-year-old rock musician who has his own unique style and image has surely proven that success is dependent on the individual. Year after year, he continues to strive for greatness and stretch for greater opportunities and achievements.

Back in June, Gavin

was on a trip to the Kaieteur Falls, myself and [videographer] Ziggy Denheart, to shoot a music video for my song. We spent like two nights there capturing amazing scenes. When we came back, Ziggy and I saw that we had so much footage that we thought we could experiment and make it a short film. And as the project developed, tying into the storyline,

Gavin at ‘The top of the world’ (Kaieteur Falls)

we realized we had a chance at contributing to cultural preservation,” Gavin said.

He added that since Kaieteur Falls is synonymous with the Patamona people, they decided to include some Patamona folklore and language into the film.

In giving a synopsis of the film, Gavin explained that the

concept is “a coast lander sitting on the seawall playing his guitar with his eyes closed, and hears this voice in Patamona.

When he opens his eyes, he is no longer sitting on the seawall, but is in the jungle and has a sense of a familiar place. He begins his journey in this jungle that seems familiar but yet strange. Ideally, the story is a

journey to the top of the world, literally, the Kaieteur Falls, but also symbolically, the top of the world being the moment of

bursting with positivity with people from India, Senegal, Morocco, Spain, Uganda, Brazil, all over the world. It

accomplishing your dreams and your true potential.”

Gavin said that the man represented a coast lander since many coast landers in Guyana when they think about going on a vacation or break, they always tend to go out, rather than within. So the journey of the man in the film is symbolic to a journey within, literally within our country and a journey within ourselves to rediscover true identity of what being Guyanese is all about.

He believes that his career has taken a significant step up since its production. Given that he is the first Guyanese artiste to do a full video at Kaieteur Falls, incorporating the story of Kaieteur Falls and its environs- including the native flora and fauna, such as the sound of the famous Golden Frog which is weaved into the score of the video.

Gavin’s hope for ‘How to build a Tree House’ is to contribute to cultural awareness and reclaiming cultural identity while also promoting tourism, both international and domestic. Thus far, Gavin said that the after effects of the film are beyond his expectations. Sharing that he had the opportunity to attend the World Of Music Arts and Dance (WOMAD) festival in the United Kingdom from July 26th to 29th. His participation in the festival created several opportunities for the screening of his short film.

“My experience at WOMAD was mind-blowing. It was like I was in this bubble

made me realise how much in a box we Guyanese are. But I got the opportunity to do a few screenings in the UK and it has been selected as an official feature at this year’s Caribbean Tales International Film Festival in Toronto, so that will be my Canadian premiere. But before that, I will be doing a screening in Florida at Full Sail University for an audience of international students,” Gavin expressed.

He added that he kind of accomplished the goal of getting his film on the international stage since it would have been screened in the UK, and will in the next two weeks be screened in Florida and Canada. He hopes to have it screened at more international and Caribbean Film Festivals in the months and years to come, so people will see the Kaieteur Falls and become aware of not only his music but Guyana’s beauty.

The video of how to build a tree house was sponsored and supported by the Department of Culture, Ministry of Cohesion, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Business, Ricks and Sari and Eco Atlantic Investments.

Gavin would like to thank his sponsors who have helped make his journey to the UK a reality: Sankar’s Auto Works, Readymix Concrete Ltd., RAMPS Logistics, Ministry of Public Telecommunications, Chetson’s Ltd., Zoon Inc., DPI, The Courtyard, Oasis Cafe and Ticketmaster Travel Agency.

Sonia Noel launches cover of fifth book

L

OCAL fashion designer turned author, Dr Sonia Noel launched the cover of her new book ‘Motherhood- The Mountains and the Valleys’ as a gift to herself for her 47th birthday. The publication is her fifth book and will include stories based on the highs and lows of motherhood and valuable lessons learnt.

Sonia’s eldest daughter Mariska Jordan Fiedtkou who has a six-year-old son will be contributing a chapter to this new book. Her mother Claudia John will also be sharing her story in the book.

Sonia recently concluded a successful 14-city Motivational Mission and Book Tour in the US which in New York at the Guyana Consulate in Manhattan where all four of her books were presented.

Living with Intention, Beyond the Runway and the two anthologies Women Across

Borders –With a mission and Fulfilling Purpose.

The second stop was New Jersey, where Jacqui Phillips who is a celebrity makeup artist and one of the co-authors of WOMEN ACROSS BORDERS, hosted that leg of the event. The other cities that followed were Cambridge, Malden and Boston. Cambridge Mayor Marc C. Mc Govern spoke at the event and presented the new author with a Proclamation.

The House of Representative and State Senate also presented citations to the Guyanese Philanthropist. Connecticut and Washington followed.

Guyana’s Ambassador to Washington Dr Riyad Insanally made the embassy available for this function.

The attendees were from Bahamas, Jamaica, St Kitts, St Vincent, St Lucia, Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua, Grenada, Suriname, Dominican Republic, Africa, USA and of course Guyana.

Sonia was invited by Weslyn Kirton to make a presentation on Capitol Hill on the importance of the creative sector to the Caribbean.

Dr Desiree De Florimonte who is one of the co-authors from WOMEN ACROSS BORDERS read from her chapter. Veteran journalist Francis Quamina Farrier and businessman Gerry Gouveia delivered brief remarks and congratulated Sonia on her ability to never give up.

Ambassador Insanally commended the author on her achievements and encouraged her to keep inspiring.

The second round in New York was the Queens Literary Festival and Book Fair.

Sonia Noel not only showcased her books but also made a presentation on her literary journey. From NY to Philly, Tennessee, Mississippi, New Orleans and Atlanta.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 24, 2018

Sonia Noel launches ...

There’s a lot to do this weekend as the summer begins to wind down. So get out there and have some fun! Don’t be cooped up at home Today

The Music, Art and Culture (M.A.C) Festival is hosting The Recap on the UG Campus from 13:00hrs. If you missed it last week at the Merriman’s Mall, head up to UG to witness cool vibes, creative art and lots and lots of culture.

It’s Cocktails and Beer Happy Hour at 704 Sports Bar from 19:00hrs-20:00hrs, so head down and cash in on 50 per cent off your next drink!

Tomorrow

Get ready for the Next Epic Party! Pulse Entertainment presents “Taboo: Summer Fling” at The Strip, Giftland Mall. Discover your forbidden fun. Bottle specials all night. Music by DJ Ryan and DJ Shizzle.

Girls FREE before 21:00hrs. Admission: $2,000 (before 23:00hrs) Dragon Tours presents an Essequibo/Mazaruni River Tour. Get to visit Fort Island, Sloth Island, Bartica, the Baracara Falls and Fort Kyk-over-al, all in one day. Tickets: $12,000

Sunday

Guyana Motor Racing and Sports in collaboration with Tropical Shipping presents “King of the Strip 3” International Drag at the South Dakota Circuit. Come out to see competitors from Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname and Barbados will go head to head with the Guyanese for the bragging rights of being the King of the Strip. Admission: $1,000 (Adults), $500 (Children) Experience Guyana presents “Netflix and Chill: Date Night, Dinner and a Movie” at the Jerk Pit Restaurant and Bar at 76 Kuru Kururu on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. Showing will be “Overboard” starring Eugenio Derbez, Anna Faris, Eva Longoria. Admission: $2,500 (admits two and includes dinner, movie and wine.

POETRY AS A COPING MECHANISM

Wise words from ‘The Olive’

S

OCIETY is plagued with all forms of societal ills that are vastly affecting the youths of the country. Many may have different ways in dealing with their struggles as they travel through life, others may not be able to cope.

Twenty-year-old Grace ‘The Olive’ Hutson shared that poetry was her escape from emotional turmoil and has worked her way into using her poetic talent to impact others who may have challenges dealing with their stress.

Grace is a second-year Communications Student at the University of Guyana, model, poet, and radio personality of rebel radio.cobvfm who aspires to be an activist for change.

She describes herself as “short with a big voice”, passionate about empowering those of her generation with her talent.

‘The Olive’, as she is most commonly known, says she used poetry as a coping mechanism and that her inspirations come from her struggles and the feedback she gets from persons who would have seen or heard her pieces. “I am inspired by my struggles. Little by little I acquired the strength and motivation from the difficulties I faced and then from there I noticed the influence I have

on people with what I do. The evolution of my platform came from the young girls and guys who come up to me in person or message me on social media to say, ‘thanks I wanted to say that but didn’t know how.’ And that keeps me going,” she said.

She added that she participated in a few competitions but never liked competing with her

Grace “The Olive” Hutson

platform. “I never liked competing. I feel like there’s room for all of us so we shouldn’t have to race to see who’s better.

However, I originally started liking performing and writing when I noticed my voice being heard. It’s not about the fame or popularity and I never ask for likes and shares. I just want it to provide comfort for people who need it like it did for me,” Grace said.

In her message to young people, Grace urges them to use rejection and failure as their propeller.

“Many days I thought ‘What was the point of this?’ and I wrote about 100 pieces and stashed them away in a private account on tumbler.

But little by little, I came out the shadows and while there were and still are criticisms, the appreciation was greater.

Special thanks to Franale and Khamisi, the director of Kast Talent Management for giving me that boost when I needed it,” Grace said.

She shared that she is not where she wants to be, but is working towards not being the “last minute choice” or “standby” in case someone more important drops out. However, she is grateful for each opportunity to effect change by speaking her truth.

21 Continued from page 20 Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Orlando were the last three cities. Guyana’s Honorary Consul to Florida, Ram Alli was present and welcomed the invitees and encouraged each of them to purchase a book. He was instrumental in making the events in Florida a success.

Fashion was also a feature on the tour and the collection was shot on the beach by photographer Tamalee Lynkeechow. The positive energies permeated the air at every event on some occasions the books were sold.Persons were taken aback that she wrote four books in four months and just entered the literary arena. Sonia did a number of TV, Radio and News Paper interviews as promotion for her books.

She is now back home and jumped right back to her Mastermind and Confidence Becomes You classes.

She is living with intention and living true to the first sentence of the book. Determination, Faith, Focus, Self –Discipline and consistency can really make anything a reality.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 24, 2018

Teamwork hailed vital as Goodwill swimmers return with 32 medals GUYANA’S Goodwill swim team returned home from Barbados earlier this week preaching the importance of teamwork.

The side finished with a total of 32 medals at the developmental championships which saw them place fourth overall, behind Trinidad, hosts Barbados and Bahamas.

Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) president Ivan Persaud hailed the 36-member unit as one that did well considering its small number.

According to one of the coaches, Haresh Bhagwan, “The team did exceptionally well. We carried four members short which meant the difference between third and fourth place.”

“I think this really boosted their morale and we can look forward to great things from them in the future.

Their teamwork was excep-

tional.”

He noted that there were several commendable performances from the 15-17 Boys’ who held their own.

The journey was made possible by Dyna’s Embroidery, ExxonMobil, National School of Dance, Guyana Consulate in Barbados, Olympic Association, Guyana Lottery Company and GPL. The coaches who accompanied the team were Sean Baksh, Shyka Gonsalves, Haresh Bhagwan, Christol Thom and Shanice Mahaica.

RACING TIPS American Racing Tips Saratoga Race 1 Pipes Race 2 Samay Race 3 Sea Foam Race 4 Mensa Member Race 5 La Fuerza Race 6 Discretionary Marq Race 7 She’s Trouble Race 8 War Canoe Race 9 Split Time Canadian Racing Tips Woodbine Race 1 Brews Toonie Toss Race 2 Hush Buffy Race 3 Ishiyaya Race 4 Deep Freeze Race 5 Miss Danielle Race 6 Guestimation Race 7 Boathouse View Race 8 Take Another Shot South Africa Racing Tips Fairview 08:05 hrs Mogok’s Time 08:40 hrs Shallcross 09:15 hrs Arabian Dynasty 09:50 hrs Lunar Rush 10:25 hrs Beataboutthebush 11:05 hrs Fools Garden Irish Racing Tips Kilbeggan 12:10 hrs Koroleva 12:40 hrs Masons Daughter 13:10 hrs Shush 13:40 hrs Moonball 14:10 hrs Niven 14:40 hrs Mill Quest 15:10 hrs Solindian English Racing Tips York 8:55 hrs Erik The Red 09:25 hrs Stradivarius 10:00 hrs Space Traveller 10:35 hrs Battaash 11:15 hrs Beat Le Bon 11:50 hrs Borodin Newmarket 09:05 hrs Ice Gala 09:40 hrs Gateway 10:15 hrs Mordred 10:45 hrs Matewan 11:20 hrs Elasia 11:55 hres Highland Pass 12:25 hrs Choosey Goodwood

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 24, 2018

ISKF Guyana Karate team return with 30 medals from Pan American Championship THE 20-man ISKF-Guyana team returned with a record total of 30 medals from last weekend’s successfully concluded 13th ISKF Pan American Karate Championship. The event was hosted by ISKF-Panama at the luxurious Sheraton Bijao Beach Resort in Panama City, Panama.

This year, the event was well-attended with a total of 395 athletes who represented 14 Pan American countries.

The largest contingent came from host country Panama with 121 athletes, followed

by Mexico with 59 athletes, Argentina and Canada with 38 athletes, United States of America with 35, and Guyana, Peru, and Uruguay with 20 respectively. Barbados, Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador and Jamaica made up the remainder.

The 13th ISKF Pan-American Karate Championship was declared officially open on Friday, August 19, by Chief Instructor/Chairman of ISKF Master Hiroyoshi Okazaki (9th Dan).

During the opening ceremony, the Golden Arrowhead was on display by the 20-member ISKF-Guyana team who bore it with pride before all in attendance.

In the lead up to the competition, the Sheraton Bijao Beach Resort was energised and excitement from the spectators filled every square inch of the arena.

Of note, this year’s contest was no walkover as there were excellent showmanship, skills level, respect and camaraderie demonstrated by competitors and nations alike.

Notwithstanding this, and as hard work would have it, in the end Guyana were able to earn 14 gold, 11 silver and 5 bronze medals.

In the individual events, for the 6-7 years female kata contest Gia Ramischand won gold for Guyana, and Silvia Perozo secured silver for Guyana. Bronze went to the Panamanian.

In 6-7 years female kumite contest Silvia Perozo won gold for Guyana, and Gia Ramischand secured silver for Guyana, Bronze went to Panamanian.

In the 6-7 years male kata contest Gael McPherson won gold for Guyana, Mexico took the silver and bronze went to Panama and Peru.

In the 6-7 years male kumite contest, Gael McPherson won gold for Guyana, Aiden Persaud secured silver for Guyana and the bronze went to Panama and Argentina.

In 8-9 years male kumite 6th kyu to 4th kyu - Zadok Yehudah won bronze for Guyana from a group of 25 competitors, while in the 8-9 years female kumite

6th Kyu to 4th Kyu, Sylvie Hershberger won bronze for Guyana.

In the 8-9 years old female 3rd kyu to 1st Dan division, Bianca Campbell won gold in both kata and kumite for Guyana while Reia Lee took the silver in both events for Guyana.

In the 11-12 years male black belt kumite category Akeem Morgan competed with excellence. In a sensational and keenly contested battle in the final, the petite (in size) Morgan defeated his towering opponent from Barbados to win the gold for Guyana. In 10-11 years male kumite 6 kyu to 4th kyu, Oliver Hoke won silver for Guyana; Ecuador took the gold and Peru the bronze.

In the 15-16 years female black belt kumite contest Kristalia Chaves held her ground in a strong division to earn bronze for Guyana. The gold was won

by Argentina and Canada copped silver.

In the 18-44 years female 7th kyu to 4th kyu Kumite contest, Tamirand De Lisser won gold for Guyana, Colombia took silver and bronze went to Argentina and Panama, while in the kata contest Tamirand De Lisser copped 2nd place, winning silver for Guyana.

In the 18-44 years male 7th kyu to 4th kyu kumite contest, Abdul Hackim won silver for Guyana and in the kata contest bronze.

The other places went to Panama.

In the 18-22 years male kumite category, Alex Rodrigues fought fearlessly to earn the respect of his opponents. However, he was unable to medal.

Shaqueel Amin, on the other hand, made light work of his opponents to advance to the semi-finals. He competed against the Mexicans and was unsuccessful. In that keenly contested division, the Mexican emerged the winner of the gold medal while Argentina won silver. Amin came in third for the bronze medal.

In the team events, Team Guyana also did well commencing with the 7-10 years team Kata contest where Bianca Campbell, Aiden Persaud, and Gael McPherson won gold for Guyana, while Zadok Yehudah, Silvia Perozo and Oliver Hoke won silver for Guyana, and the bronze was won by Panamanians.

In the 11-15 years team kata contest Kristian Chaves, Kristalia Chaves and Akeem Morgan won gold for Guyana with 18.9 points. Team USA settled for silver with 18.8 points while Peru took bronze.

After the contests, the

13th ISKF Pan American Championships closed with a Grand Dinner Banquet at the Sheraton Bijao Beach Resort where the team intermingled and celebrated with all in attendance.

ISKF-Guyana committee

wholeheartedly thanked all for their support especially the dedicated instructors and head coach Sensei Christopher Chaves, along with Sempai Alex Rodrigues and Sensei Christina Chaves, who accompanied the team

to Panama.

Special thanks were extended to the Department of Sport, the Guyana Revenue Authority and the scores of parents and friends for their unwavering support.

“Thanks and recogni-

tion are also extended to Ms Danielle Myers-Hoke (of the US Embassy, Georgetown) who went beyond the call to support the team,” a release stated.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 24, 2018

Tallawahs come up short against Tridents to lose third straight FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (CMC) – Left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer produced a magnificent final over as Barbados Tridents overcame a below-par batting effort and five dropped catches to beat Jamaica Tallawahs by two runs and win their second match of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) here Wednesday night.

Defending what appeared to be an inadequate 156 at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium, Tridents seemed headed for defeat when the hosts motored to 80 without loss in the 10th over with openers Johnson Charles stroking a top score of 42 and Glenn Phillips hitting 36.

When three wickets fell for 20 runs, Ross Taylor (26 not out) and David Miller

(25 not out) combined in a half-century stand which left Tallawahs needing just nine runs from the last over.

Reifer held Taylor to a single off the first ball before Miller belted three runs to square leg to reduce the target to five from four balls.

But with the odds squarely against Tridents, Reifer kept Taylor scoreless off the third ball and allowed only a single to deep cover off the fourth.

Miller then swung and missed the penultimate delivery of the match and with four runs required from the last ball, the left-handed South African could only tug a full length ball to long-on, leaving Tallawahs agonisingly short of their target.

The defeat was the third on the trot for Tallawahs after they had won their first

All-rounder Raymon Reifer exclaims during a tense final over against Jamaica Tallawahs, Wednesday night. (Photo courtesy CPL T20)

three while Tridents captured their second in three outings, and now head to Bridgetown for five home games.

Australian star Steve Smith had earlier top-scored with a fine 63 off 44 deliver-

ies while elegant stroke-maker Shai Hope chipped in with 43 as Tridents raised 156 for six off their 20 overs after being sent in.

The pair put on 103 for the third wicket to drag Tri-

dents out of trouble at 37 for three in the sixth over after openers Dwayne Smith (18) and Hashim Amla (15), along with New Zealander Martin Guptill (0) had all perished within the space of 10 balls with three runs added.

Smith, who has been in good touch, then struck five fours and three sixes while Hope, with a half-century in Tridents’ opening game, counted two fours and three sixes off 35 deliveries.

Captain Andre Russell, who finished with two for 32, ended the stand when he forced Hope to play on in the 18th over after drying up the scoring and Smith fell in a disappointing final over for Tridents, also bowled by Russell, which yielded just four runs.

Charles and Phillips then threatened to take the game away quickly, adding 80 off 55 balls, leaving Tridents struggling for a foothold.

The right-handed Charles, who smashed five successive fours in the third over from fast bowler Jason Holder, gained a reprieve when he was put down on 29

Kohli ready to emulate Bradman in great India comeback

By Ian Chadband LONDON, England (Reuters) - Only one team in the history of Test cricket has won a five-match series from 2-0 down but India have an opportunity to emulate Don Bradman’s Australians of 1936-37 after fighting back against England.

Just don’t mention the outlandish idea to India’s coach Ravi Shastri.

“1936-37? I wasn’t even born, man!

Why are you reminding me of 36-37?” boomed Shastri in Nottingham on Wednesday after his side’s emphatic victory had reduced their series deficit to 2-1 and prompted excitable questioning.

“One match at a time, we live in the present, okay? One game at a time. We move to Southampton and start afresh.

Take a fresh guard. 2018,” added the coach, in his finest dead bat mode of old.

The man who could bore for India with the bat has another cavalier side to him, though.

A guy who also once belted six sixes in an over — and in an era long before Twenty20 bashes — can keep the lid on the hype, but Shastri knows his men must attack this once-in-a-lifetime chance with gusto.

His players were on a roll as England’s batsmen just rolled over at Trent Bridge.

He purred at watching what he felt was “by far” the best Indian pace attack he’d seen.

And, above all, he trusted in his captain marvel, Virat Kohli.

When the matchless Bradman, in his first series as Australia captain, went two down in those 1936-37 Ashes, he respond-

ed with a monumental 270 at Melbourne that set up their third Test win.

Kohli’s 200 runs at Trent Bridge - the second time in the series he had compiled a double century of runs in the match, following his defiant effort in a losing cause at Edgbaston - provided the same impetus for his side, continuing a series in which he has underlined his own greatness as a batsman.

So what happens next? In Bradman’s case, further epic captain’s innings - 212 at Adelaide and 169 back in Melbourne - laid the foundations of the 3-2 comeback win.

Yet while ‘The Don’ was always in a world of his own, Kohli has his own Bradmanesque air at the moment.

“His work ethic is second to none. I haven’t seen any cricketer - I’ll put Tendulkar in that bracket - when it comes to preparation, in the way he visualises situations, the way he goes about planning what he plans to do,” Shastri said.

“I promise you, Virat will forget these two innings now and take guard again as if he hadn’t scored a run in the series.”

GREAT TENDULKAR Being ranked alongside the great Sachin Tendulkar would not so long ago have been considered almost unthinkable in India now, though, it is accepted as a matter of routine.

Some good judges even believe Kohli is actually surpassing India’s little masters, Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar, now that he has conquered what they considered his last hurdle of thriving in English conditions.

In one area, there can be no argument.

Kohli paid tribute to Tendulkar after India’s 2011 World Cup win, saying: “He has carried the burden of our nation on his shoulders for the past 21 years. So it is time that we carried him.”

Now it is Kohli carrying the same burden and doing so beautifully. The Trent Bridge 200 took his tally for the series to 440, including two centuries, and returned him to the top of the ICC Test rankings for batsmen.

With two Tests left - the next starts at Southampton on August 30 - Kohli, who has scored more Test runs (726) than anyone in 2018, needs six more to top 6 000 in Tests and if he does so in the first innings, he will have reached the landmark in his 119th knock. Tendulkar took 120.

He could also go on to overhaul Rahul Dravid’s tally of 602 runs, the most by an Indian in a series in England.

Yet it is a measure of the way the 29-year-old has matured from tyro batsman into inspirational leader that the collective feat of India completing a cricket comeback for the ages would mean far more to him than more individual laurels.

“We definitely believe we can if we play cricket like this,” said the man who looks as if he could achieve anything if he keeps batting like this.

by off-spinner Ashley Nurse off a return catch in the sixth over.

He had faced 32 balls and struck six fours and six when he became the first of two Smith (2-19) wickets in the 10th over, caught on the ropes at mid-wicket by Guptill.

Phillips followed four balls later, caught at the wicket after striking four fours and a couple of sixes off 24 deliveries.

Kennar Lewis struck two sixes in 17 off 16 balls before nicking a heave at Mohammed Irfan behind and though Taylor and Miller came together in a 54-run, unbroken fourth-wicket stand, they never found any real acceleration as the partnership needed 43 balls.

Taylor soaked up 28 balls for his knock and Miller, 20, as Tridents strangled the innings at the back end and big hitters Russell and Rovman Powell found themselves sitting frustratingly on the sidelines with nothing to do.

Webb’s sentencing delayed for eighth time NEW YORK, USA (CMC) – For the eighth time, disgraced former CONCACAF president and FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb has had his sentencing delayed.

The 54-year-old Webb pleaded guilty back in November 2015, to racketeering, wire fraud and money-laundering conspiracies in the USled crackdown on bribery and corruption in international football, and was due to be sentenced next month.

Webb has been under house arrest in the US for most of that time and has already agreed to forfeit more than US$6.7 million.

However, he was able to secure the latest postponement through his lawyer, Ernie Gao, who asked prosecutors to push sentencing back by six months. This now means that any sentencing is now likely to take place in March 2019.

He had been named in a 47-count indictment announced by the US Department of Justice, with Trinidadian Jack Warner – a former CONCACAF chief and long-serving FIFA vice-president – also included.

Webb is also wanted by Cayman Islands authorities in connection with another matter.

Local charges are pending against him for his role in the scandal involving the CarePay swipe card contract at the Health Services Authority.

Webb and long-time friend and former CIFA treasurer, Canover Watson – who has already been convicted – are accused of pocketing millions of dollars in connection with that case.

It’s not yet clear if US authorities will extradite him to the Cayman Islands to face the court on that matter.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 24, 2018

BCB/New York Business Group U-19 Tournament

RHT Pepsi, Albion, Blairmont and Tucber Park through to semifinals DEFENDING champions Rose Hall Town Pepsi, Albion Community Centre Cricket Club, Blairmont Community Centre Cricket Club and Tucber Park Cricket Club advance to the semifinals of the New York Business Group Under-19 cricket tournament, after they recorded respective wins last Monday.

At the Area ‘H’ Ground in Rose Hall Town, Port Mourant batted first and were bowled out for 106 in 31 overs. Brandon Mangal top-scored with a polished 42 which included four boundaries. Rampertab Ramnauth was the only other batsman to reach double figures with an unbeaten 11 from 73 balls.

Fast bowler Nicholas Lawson claimed a hat-trick in the fifth over to end with 4-17, while left-arm spinner Keith Simpson and Jeremy Sandia ended with

3-15 and 2-14 respectively.

In reply, Rose Hall Town Pepsi reached 104-4, with Lucas Arthur (20), Jonathan Rampersaud) 21 not out), and Mahendra Gopilall (22 not out), being the principal scorers.

At the breezy No.73 Ground, Albion were dismissed for 194 off 28 overs.

Their efforts were spearheaded by Sarwan Chaitnarine 54, Jeetendra Outar 50 and Antonio February 37.

A. Hussain took 3-32 and K. Chatterpaul had 4-35. No.73 in reply were bowled out for 70 in 18 overs. Chatterpaul returned to score 20 with the bat. Beesham Surujnarine claimed 5-6, while Ramesh Kassinauth snared 3-15.

Blairmont destroyed a weakened Young Warriors Cricket Club by 172 runs at the Cotton Tree ground.

Blairmont scored 189 all out in 27.2 overs, with Marvin

The winning Albion Cricket team

Prashad (74), Doodnauth Persaud (64) and Seon Glasgow (17) reaching double figures.

Gevon Schultz took 4-39 and left-arm spinner Trevon Stanislaus claimed 3-40.

Young Warriors Cricket

Guyana vs Barbados CONCACAF Nations League qualifier clash shifted to September 6

By Rawle Toney PRESIDENT of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde told Chronicle Sport that Guyana’s opening CONCACAF Nations League qualifier game against Barbados will now be played on Thursday, September 6, at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora.

The move, Forde told this publication in an exclusive interview, was more than necessary, noting the Guyana Amazon Warriors will be playing the Jamaica Tallawahs on September 8 at the Guyana National Stadium - the original date for the Golden Jaguars/Barbados clash.

“There’s a CPL game on the 8th and even though we would have written and secured the venue, it is unfortunate … we can’t play the two on the same day, I think it would have been difficult

with the East Bank traffic and all that. I am hopeful that we will make some specific announcement in a few days,” Forde explained.

Forde also pointed out that Guyana’s preparation for the newly-formed Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Nations League is bearing fruit. While he did not comment on the composition of the team, the GFF boss made it clear that the team, when selected, will be one of the best in the Caribbean.

With matches being played on the FIFA dates between September 2018 and March 2019, Guyana, after their clash with Barbados on September 6, will then travel to Turks and Caicos for a meeting between the two countries on October 13, followed by an encounter against French Guiana on November 20, before hosting Belize in March, 2019.

The Nations League is a new centralised men’s national team competition which represents a new era of national team football for CONCACAF member associations (MA).

The CONCACAF Nations League begins in September with a one-off qualifying phase, while the group phase, consisting of threetiered leagues, will kick off in 2019.

The top league will end with a final to crown the Nations League champions and the competition will also serve to unify the qualifying path for the region’s national teams to the newly-expanded Gold Cup. Currently, under new head coach Michael Johnson, the Golden Jaguars are currently in Brazil on a ‘Train and Play’ camp.

Club in reply were bowled out for a meagre 18 runs.

Nigel Deodat and Seon Glasgow were the chief destroyers with 5-5 and 3-7 respectively.

In the final quarterfinal

game, Tucber Park Cricket Club easily defeated Achievers by 103 runs at the Rose Hall Canje Welfare Ground.

Tucber Park reached 210 all out with M. Mickle 22, Steve Deonarine 22,

Zeymul Ramsammy 27 and Melvin Singh 14 being the principal scorers, while extras contributed a healthy 43.

Left-arm pacer Chris Harry took 2-47, Navindra Prashad 3-23 and Boodram Lakeram 2-48 were the wicket-takers for Achievers.

In reply, Achievers were bowled out for 107. The Ramsammy brothers, Zeymul and Abdul, each claimed two wickets for 17 and 15 respectively.

The semi-finals are set for September 2 with Albion Community Centre Cricket Club taking on Blairmont Community Centre Cricket Club at Blairmont, while Rose Hall Town Pepsi would clash with Tucber Park Cricket Club at the Area ‘H’ Ground.

Kohli back at the top in Test rankings INDIA captain Virat Kohli moved back to the top of the ICC Test rankings for batsmen after his Man-of-theMatch performance in Trent Bridge. He has amassed a career-best 937 rating points and is one point shy of breaking into the top 10 batsmen in rankings history.

Donald Bradman is No. 1 having achieved a rating of 961 points in February 1948 followed

by Steven Smith (947), Len Hutton (945), Jack Hobbs and Ricky Ponting (both on 942), Peter May (941), and Garry Sobers, Clyde Walcott, Vivian Richards and Kumar Sangakkara (all on 938 points).

Kohli is placed 11th on that list after his knocks of 97 and 103 in Nottingham as India beat England by 203 runs to make the series scoreline 2-1 with two Tests to play. He had previously reached the

top of the rankings after the first Test at Edgbaston, before ceding it to Smith after low scores in the second Test at Lord’s.

Among other Indian players who made big moves in the rankings were Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah.

Pandya moved up 23 places in the bowlers’ rankings to No.51 after taking five wickets in six overs on the second day at Trent Bridge. He occupies the same spot on the batsmen’s charts after his second-innings fifty to set up India’s declaration. Those performances have placed him at No.17 on the all-rounders’ list.

Bumrah, who sat out the first two Tests with an injury, took a five-wicket haul in England’s second innings and is now at No.37 among the bowlers after just four Tests.

For England, the biggest move was made

Virat Kohli

by Jos Buttler, whose second-innings 106 took him up 22 places to be No.47 among the batsmen. (ESPN Cricinfo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 24, 2018

Basil D’Oliveira’s 158 not in was a botched job that changed history

By Matthew Engel THERE had been many strange decisions by England cricket selectors over the years. Only one of them changed the world. And it happened exactly 50 years ago.

On August 23, 1968 Basil D’Oliveira scored 158 at the Oval against Australia, an innings that won the Test, drew the series and made him, so we thought, a certainty for the South Africa tour that winter.

Four days later the panel met to choose the touring party.

The names were announced on the radio next day. The alphabetical list went straight from Cowdrey to Edrich. It took D’Oliveira a moment to grasp what that meant.

It was the lowest point of an astonishing journey.

D’Oliveira was born in South Africa, in the mixed-race ‘Cape Coloured’ community, confined under the apartheid system of racial segregation to playing only on the rutted tracks of the ghettoes.

In 1958, he wrote poignantly to the British broadcaster John Arlott asking if he might get a chance in England. It took three years and many travails but it happened. He progressed from the Lancashire League to Worcestershire to the England team.

‘Dolly’ became beloved, for his hard hitting, his golden-arm seam bowling, his geniality, his bearing. He was also a symbol. Britain was a far more homogeneous coun-

Basil D’Oliveira was called into the 1968 squad after Tom Cartwright withdrew, but South Africa PM John Vorster banned him from the country, so the MCC cancelled the tour. (Photograph: Getty Images)

try then: the England cricket team was a hierarchical alliance between the classes, not different races. But his arrival was not a problem – he was a testament to our inclusivity – until, two years after his debut, South Africa loomed.

To the apartheid regime, he was a problem. If D’Oliveira toured, he would be an instant hero to the entire non-white population, and for the white minority government under John Vorster, that would never do.

To South Africa’s cricket authorities he exposed the lie behind their all-whiteness: “Aagh man, you know the non-whites never play and, hey, when they do, they’re hopeless.” Since the South Africans faced only white opposition, they nev-

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er faced the brilliant 1960s West Indians.

At Lord’s opinion was ambivalent. Cricket was still run by men with the old English virtues, and vices. They believed in fair play. But they also loved South Africa as the place to tour: amazing hospitality, without Australia’s combative edge.

To generalise, they hated the brutality of apartheid but empathised with their friends out there. It is surprising how few seemed to notice that, in the packed pens where black spectators were confined, the cheers were for the away team.

There was an obvious risk that, if chosen, D’Oliveira would be barred. In which case the tour would have to be cancelled – no question – and England would lose an important opponent. So through the summer of 1968 there were manoeuvrings, anguished meetings, furtive discussions, crackpot ideas: “Basil, couldn’t you play for South Africa instead?” A mysterious businessman tried and failed to bribe Dolly to rule himself out.

The problem, it seemed, might resolve itself: D’Oliveira was out of the team. Then Roger Prideaux got ill before the Oval Test. Dolly replaced him. Then came the 158. It is impossible to know what happened in that selection meeting; everyone in the room is now dead. torturous Was the chairman, Doug Insole, being honest when he said torturously: “I think we have got better play-

Basil D’Oliveira scored 158 at The Oval to help England draw the 1968 Ashes series – but days later he was left out of the squad for a tour of South Africa. (Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images)

ers”? Some cricket writers thought so. But Arlott, by now the Guardian correspondent, snorted: “No one of open mind will believe that he was left out for valid cricket reasons.”

Was it then all a massive conspiracy involving the MCC, Afrikaaner fanatics and maybe the Bilderberg Group, the Masons and the pope? No, there is another explanation, rarely spoken out loud. The clue lay in another omission from that squad: the rumbustious opening bat, Colin ‘Ollie’ Milburn. In the fallout that followed D’Oliveira’s omission, hardly anyone noticed that Milburn had been displaced by the far less gifted

Prideaux.

Only a few months earlier, England had been in West Indies, another alcoholic tour. Ollie was master of the revels. Dolly – a teetotaller until he came to England – was a regular accomplice. This was noted in managerial reports. Perhaps the selectors feared him being sloshed in South Africa, where government agents would have lurked, offering not honey-traps but beer-traps. A drunken Dolly in the cells would have made Vorster’s year.

“I am confident events in the Caribbean were at the heart of the secret. One selector confirmed this to me many

years later. He may have been lying, to cover up something worse, but I don’t think so.

Lord’s could and should have responded differently. But I believe they sort-of meant well.

They certainly never foresaw the extent of the furore. Or what would happen next. Two weeks later Tom Cartwright withdrew from the tour. And guess who was chosen instead. Insole’s explanation was again tortured: Cartwright, a bowler who batted, being replaced

by D’Oliveira, a batter who bowled? Hmmm. (Cartwright’s “injury” may have been diplomatic: he was unusually radical for a cricketer and hated South Africa.)

The politics would have been much harder for Vorster had D’Oliveira been in the original squad. But now he seized the ball, making a vicious speech banning him from entry (he was reputedly rat-arsed himself at the time).

The MCC cancelled the tour.

In the short run Vorster won.

In the very long run he sealed South Africa’s fate. England did not play them again until 1994 and in the meantime the sporting boycott proved a major factor in throttling white rule.

Next month, seven years after his death, D’Oliveira will be made a Freeman of Worcester. Vorster is a posthumous pariah. Justice is done. (The Guardian)

NSC, Enterprise Busta Sports Club cricket camp aims at identifying talents A NUMBER of aspiring cricketers from in and around the village of Enterprise on the East Coast of Demerara are a part of the National Sports Commission, Enterprise Busta Sports Club and Yadram Coaching Programme cricket camp, which will continue tomorrow.

The main aim at the camp is to identify young talented cricketers and at the same time provide these young cricketers with the opportunity to learn more about the game.

The camp will be held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, until September 8, under coach Latchman Yadram.

The camp is open to two age groups, 10-14 and 15-19.

Wednesday’s session will commence at 14:30hrs and conclude at 17:30hrs while Saturday’s session runs from 09:00hrs to 12:00hrs.

In an invited comment yesterday, Yadram pointed out that apart from the onfield sessions, a number of classroom-style lectures are in the pipeline by a variety of expert presenters.

Yardam urged the youngsters during the first session to take full advantage of the opportunities being offered to them, adding that the camp aims to provide intensive cricket training to players

Some of the participants go through their paces at the start of the NSC, Enterprise Busta Sports Club and Yadram Coaching Programme cricket camp.

who strive to discover new techniques, improve their mental, physical skills and better their overall cricketing skills.

Some 21 aspiring cricketers participated on the first day.

The Enterprise Busta

Sports Club over the years has produced a number of players at the national level with Rajendra Chandrika, who was the first person from that village and the 49th from Guyana to play Test cricket. (Rajiv Bisnauth)

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday August 24, 2018

KFC title sponsors for Petra Goodwill tournament FAST food giant, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), has thrown its support behind the Petra organisation for a fourteam Goodwill football tournament this year end.

Launched yesterday at the company’s Vlissengen Road office, the tournament will see three Guyanese teams take on Trinidad’s Shiva Hindu College Boys’ team.

Petra co-director Troy Mendonca confirmed that the Trinidadian side will play three Guyanese teams. One game will be against the Region Nine side Annai.

“We believe that the tournament should have a good spread,” said Mendonca, adding that, “the team has proved itself as one of the better hinterland units.”

He noted that the other two teams that will participate will be named shortly.

GFF president Wayne Forde congratulated the Petra organisation and also pledged the federation’s support.

Forde continued by adding that the, collaboration between the fast food company and the football organisers augurs well for the development of the sport.

He singled out its investment in youth development.

Restaurant manager for the Hincks Street Branch, Madonna Nelson, reminded persons of exactly what Forde was talking about.

The U-18 tournament is set for December.

From left: Wendy Fernandes and GFF president Wayne Forde watches as Madonna Nelson hands over the sponsorship cheque to Petra co-director Troy Mendonca. Petra’s Jacquline Boodie and Mark Alleyne look on.

Golden Jaguars fall to America Football Club 2-1 but coach Johnson impressed DESPITE Guyana falling to America Football Club (AFC) 2-1 in Brazil, head coach Michael Johnson said that he was impressed with the team’s performance, as the Golden Jaguars ‘Train and Play’ Camp in Rio de Janeiro climaxes.

“We didn’t want it to end, we were saying another five, ten minutes; such was our performance, we were in the ascendency, we were pushing forward and pressing. The lads have really taken on board what we’ve been doing over the last eight days against the best team we’ve played to date,” Johnson said following Guyana’s performance at the Estádio Giulite Coutinho.

AFC is located in Mesquita in the state of Rio de Janeiro and was founded on September 18, 1904. It has been a regular in the Campeonato Brasileiro ‘Série A’ competition and have won the state championship seven times.

The host team took the lead towards the end of the first half but the energetic Guyanese team, who had been matching the AFC team play-for-play and pressuring them also, got the equaliser minutes later, when a cross from Kelsey Benjamin into their area was put into the back of the net by one of the home team defenders.

The goal came at the end of a good 10-minute period of domination by the mainly young squad in Rio, with a few senior

Barbados, Guyana notch third consecutive win …, Canada still winless

Daniel Wilson in action for Guyana against Brazil’s America Football Club in Rio

players, including captain Samuel Cox and Vurlon Mills.

“It’s not about the results, it just shows how we are improving, how the information is going in and how they are taking it on board and applying it,” the former Jamaican international defender said, adding, “I think today (Monday) we saw lots of performances where they were actually grabbing hold of some of the key nuggets that I and senior coach Taffazul Islam Rehman have been teaching them about in the week.”

While acknowledging that this is just the beginning of exciting times for Guyana’s football, Johnson pointed out that lots more work have to be done defensively and offensively.

The Guyana-based coaches have been integrally involved in running the sessions during the initial days of the camp as it allowed

the new tacticians the opportunity to assess and learn the players. The subsequent sessions, led by head coach and other members of the technical staff, have been tough but the players have been gradually adapting to the style of play, which was aptly exhibited against America FC. “We had a really long, good look at certain players we felt had done really good over the course of the week, but the second period when the other players came on, they stepped up; and that’s great, because what you don’t want to see is people moaning or groaning or not showing that passion.”

They responded in the right and proper way and it gave another headache going into the final game last night, played against Bangu Atletico Clube.

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) – Front runners Barbados and Guyana maintained their unbeaten run in the Regional Under-19 50-over Championships, while Canada remained winless following the completion of the fourth round of matches here yesterday.

Barbados and Guyana notched their third consecutive victory with wins over Canada and the Leeward Islands respectively.

After finishing second in the four-day competition, Barbados continued their push for the title with a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Canada.

Canada could muster only 175 in 45.3 overs, with Barbados making light work of the target as they ended on 176 for two in 34.4 overs.

At one stage, Canada had looked set to post a competitive total, thanks to an 89-run second-wicket partnership between opener Benjamin Calitz and Randhir Sandhu that saw them coast to 99-1 early on.

But once Camarie Boyce removed Calitz for 36 and Sandhu followed four runs later for 42, Canada’s middle and lower orders collapsed.

That collapse was led by spinner Joshua Bishop, who took three quick wickets as Canada crumbled to 144 for seven.

Boyce (4-28) was ably

supported by Boyce who grabbed three wickets and Nyeem Young (2-23), as Canada eventually folded meekly.

A third-wicket partnership between Antonio Morris, who stroked an unbeaten 54 and Nico Reifer who finished on 35 not out, comfortably carried Barbados to victory after they had been given a decent start.

Shian Brathwaite (17) and Mekhail Marshall who made 58, put on 45 runs in an opening stand, before Marshall and Reifer added another 45 runs for the second wicket.

Guyana comfortably defeated the Leeward Islands by 114 runs to stay on track with Barbados and set up a key clash tomorrow.

After posting 215 for eight in their 50 overs, they then restricted the Leewards to 101.

Guyana owed their eventual total to a 78-run sixth-wicket partnership between Javid Karim (39) and Junior Sinclair (36), who rescued them from the precarious position of 107 for five.

Qumar Torrington and Joshua Jones then tore through the Leewards top order to leave them with little chance of reaching their target.

Torrington accounted for the wickets of Elroy Francis and Uri Smith, while Jones snared Joshua Grant and Paul

Miller to leave them stuttering on 20 for four.

Kevin Sinclair then joined the act, claiming three scalps as no batsman other than Zawandi White, who scored 53, showed any resistance.

There was also a win for the Windward Islands, who coincidentally also won by 114 runs over Trinidad and Tobago.

The Windwards posted the day’s highest total of 219 and then routed T&T for just 105.

Nathaniel McDavid (44), Avinash Mahabirsingh (39) and Justyn Gangoo, who made 24, mounted a serious lower-order fightback for the Windwards after they had slumped to 84 for five.

Then in a sensational bowling performance, the Windwards’ opening pair of Jayden Seales and Joshua James dismissed T&T’s first four batsmen for ducks to practically seal the contest.

James finished with figures of 4-34, and with help from Justyn Gangoo who claimed 3 for 16, and Seales (2-16), they wrapped up T&T’s innings.

ISKF Guyana Karate team return with 30 medals from Pan American Championship PAGE

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The successful ISKF Guyana Karate team upon return from the 13th ISKF Pan American Karate Championship in Panama

Teamwork hailed vital as Goodwill swimmers back home with 32 medals

Webb’s sentencing delayed for eighth time GFF president Wayne Forde

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26 Team Guyana who attended the Goodwill Swim meet in Barbados

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Guyana vs Barbados CONCACAF Nations League qualifier clash shifted to September 6 29 PAGE

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018