Guyana Chronicle E-paper 9-14-2019

SATURDAY 14th September, 2019

No.105760

No compromise …GECOM reiterates on the law no timeline set PAGE

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… insists data from house-to-house registration will be used in the coming elections

Mayor Narine empowered to ‘police’ decisions of Council 12 PAGE

PNCR accuses Opposition of 10 abusing Judiciary PAGE

Facial recognition cameras only for official ports 14 PAGE

–– Public Telecommunications Ministry

NA Secondary gets $1M 02 for STEM PAGE

–– President Granger reiterates education is vital to transforming Guyana

President David Granger engages students of the New Amsterdam Multilateral School as he toured the Information and Communication Technology laboratory. Also photographed are Minister of Education, Ms. Nicolette Henry (behind the President), Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson (right) and Head Teacher, Ms. Vanessa Jacobs (second right).

(Ministry of the Presidency photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 14, 2019

NA Secondary gets $1M for STEM –– President Granger reiterates education is vital to transforming Guyana PRESIDENT David Granger, on Friday, presented a cheque valued $1M as part of the National Endowment for Science and Technology’s (NEST) contribution, to the New Amsterdam Secondary (Multilateral) School to boost the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

In presenting the cheque to Head-teacher, Ms. Vanes-

sa Jacobs, the President told the students that regional education is an investment in children’s future. He said it will equip them with the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes necessary to secure employment and to provide for their families. The Head of State reminded that education, from nursery to university, was provided free of cost from 1976, adding that the right to free education

is entrenched as an entitlement in the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, the country’s supreme law.

“Education will be provided free of cost in the Decade of Development… [It] will be accorded the highest priority during the decade,” President Granger said, while noting that the East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six) is an educational pace-setter.

Additionally, the President said the revenues earned from the country’s petroleum production will not be squandered but will be deployed, primarily, to provide a firstclass education for children.

“Free education is an entitlement…Free university education will be restored during the Decade of Development.

No Guyanese child will have to pay for education at the University of Guyana,” he

His Excellency, President David Granger hands over the cheque to Head-teacher of New Amsterdam Multilateral School, Vanessa Jacobs assured. The President also 10); New Amsterdam Mulnoted that, “education is not tilateral School, in the East just a job for the govern- Berbice-Corentyne (Region ment”, but is the obligation Six) and the North Ruimof the family, the school and veldt Multilateral School in the community or village. Georgetown.

“I want to see the day when Additionally, the Presievery village has a school,” dent said regional education he said, adding that efforts will generate the human will be made during the skills needed to revive and Decade of Development to drive village industries, esachieve this. “The Decade pecially ‘micro’, small- and of Development will ensure medium-sized enterprises that every child is enrolled in which create jobs and proschool; every child attends vide household incomes. school regularly, every child “Regional education is graduates from school and an investment in our regions’ every child is supported in future. It can produce a corps his or her education,” the of scientists: agronomists, President said. architects, biologists, botFurther, he said, the De- anists, chemists, doctors, cade of Development will epidemiologists, engineers, promote STEM education in environmentalists, genetiorder to better equip students cists, geologists, hydrolofor the knowledge-based gists, physicists, software societies of the future. In this developers and zoologists light, he added, there must which are needed to enbe a corps of teachers com- sure economically-strong mitted to providing quality regions,” President Granger education to children. Presi- said. dent Granger said education Regional education has is a most important public been benefitting from public service, noting that it is a educational expenditure. public good that is essential Government has spent more to the development of the than $170B on education country’s regions. He noted since taking office. too that Guyana’s regions Moreover, public edumust be strong if the country cation is being improved is to provide a ‘good life’ to through overarching educaits citizens. tional policy of Every Child “Education will provide in School (ECIS). This polithe skills necessary for em- cy is aimed at producing ‘A’ ployment and economic de- students – ‘A’ for access, ‘A’ velopment,” he said, while for attendance and ‘A’ for atnoting that the foundation tainment. “Every child must for strengthening regional have access to education, education was laid soon including the visually-and after independence. He said physically challenged,” the six multilateral schools were President said, while adding established across five ad- that regions must ensure that ministrative regions: Anna every child attends school Regina Multilateral school and stays in school. in the Pomeroon-Supenaam The Public Education (Region Two); Bladen Hall Transport Service (PETS), Multilateral School and the which was started four Bygeval Multilateral School, years ago, has been assistboth in the Demerara-Ma- ing in this regard. To date, haica (Region Five); Chris- 29 buses, 10 boats and tianburg-Wismar Multilat- more than 4000 bicycles eral School, in the Upper have been distributed Demerara-Berbice (Region See page 9

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 14, 2019

No compromise on the law … GECOM reiterates no timeline set … insists data from house-to-house registration will be used in the coming elections

By Lisa Hamilton THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has assured that it will not in any way shorten the processes laid out in the law for the holding of elections but will assess how its administrative processes can be sped up to facilitate credible elections within the shortest possible time.

Added to this, GECOM has assured that the data from the recent house-to-house registration exercise will be used in the coming elections and that additional funding to facilitate its new timeline, when approved, will come from the government.

This and more were relayed by People’s National Congress /Reform (PNC/R)

several ministers of coalition government.

The ministers who attended are part of the government’s Parliamentary Committee and came seeking clarification on the current efforts of the Commission as well as to present their case for “free, fair and credible elections”.

Also representing the PNC/R were General Secretary and Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams. Representing the Alliance For Change (AFC) were Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson and Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes. Present too were representative of the Guyana

Guyana and will therefore ensure that all in the government’s power is done to assist the Commission to facilitate the same.

A CREDIBLE LIST Just last Tuesday, the Commission met with Leader of the Opposition, See page 9

The Government’s Parliamentary Committee speak with the media following their meeting with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Present from left to right in the photo are: Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma; Minister of Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley; Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes; People’s National Congress /Reform (PNC/R) Chair and Minister of Health, Volda Lawrence and PNC/R General Secretary and Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally (DPI photo)

The Parliamentary Committee meets with GECOM (Samuel Maughn photo) Chairman and Minister of Health, Volda Lawrence, on Friday, after a meeting between the Commission and

Action Party (GAP), Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Sydney Allicock; Representative of the National

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson and representative of the National Front Alliance (NFA), Junior Minister of Social Protection, Keith Scott head into meeting with the Commission (Samuel Maughn photo)

Front Alliance (NFA), Junior Minister of Social Protection, Keith Scott; Representative of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Minister of Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley and representative of the Justice For All (JFA), Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma.

“Today we were assured by the Chair and Commissioners that no timeline has [been] set and that they are working to see whether they will be able to hold election this year given the timetable which we have and the statutory requirements which they will ensure that they abide by,” Lawrence stated.

“They did indicate that they will not, in any way, be shortening any process as laid out in the statute but that they are looking at Administrative aspect to see how they can work with that in terms of the deadlines and timelines.”

There are approximately 35 statutory guidelines that the Elections Commission must abide by as outlined in the Representation of the People Act. According to Section 9 of the Representation of the People Act, the notice of the date for submission of the list of Candidates [Nominations Day] cannot be done later than 32 days before Elections.

Added to this, the act states that candidates must be informed of defects in the list of candidates not later than 30 days before the election, and by the 29th day before the election is held, corrections must be submitted.

Those are just three of the 35 statutory guidelines established under the act.

“Apart from that, we have been assured that the information from the house-to-house registration process will be used in the up-coming general and regional elections. We also asked whether they had enough finances and other resources at their disposal given the time factor that is now placed upon them and they have assured us that they’re presently looking at that given the changes that they are requesting of their many service providers--- of course the cost will go up,” Lawrence said.

The media was informed that, while the Commission has not yet stated the figure needed, she is certain that they will communicate same

with the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan and President David Granger at a near date.

Lawrence said that the President regards elections as a very crucial process towards democracy in

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 14, 2019

Dirty secrets gas boos climate warning

It’s the most powerful greenhouse gas known to humanity, and emissions have risen rapidly in recent years, the BBC has learned.

Sulphur hexafluoride, or SF6, is widely used in the electrical industry to prevent short circuits and accidents.

But leaks of the little-known gas in the UK and the rest

The turbines at East Anglia One are taller than the Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament which houses Big Ben (BBC photo)

of the EU in 2017 were the equivalent of putting an

extra 1.3 million cars on the road. Levels are rising as an unintended consequence of the green energy boom. Cheap and non-flammable, SF6 is a colourless, odourless, synthetic gas. It makes a hugely effective insulating material for medium and high-voltage electrical installations. It is widely used across the industry, from large power stations to wind turbines to electrical sub-stations in

Electrical switchgear the world over often uses SF6 to prevent fires(BBC photo)

towns and cities. It prevents electrical accidents and fires.

However, the significant downside to using the gas is that it has the highest global warming potential of any known substance. It is 23,500 times more warming than carbon dioxide (CO2). Just one kilogram of SF6 warms the Earth to the same extent as 24 people flying London to New York return. It also persists

14 September, 2019 - 05:30hrs ~ 07:00hrs

in the atmosphere for a long time, warming the Earth for at least 1,000 years. The way we make electricity around the world is changing rapidly.

Where once large coalfired power stations brought energy to millions, the drive to combat climate change means they are now being replaced by mixed sources of power including wind, solar and gas. This has resulted in many more connections to the electricity grid, and a rise in the number of electrical switches and circuit breakers that are needed to prevent serious accidents. Collectively, these

safety devices are called switchgear. The vast majority use SF6 gas to quench arcs and stop short circuits. “As renewable projects are getting bigger and bigger, we have had to use it within wind turbines specifically,” said Costa Pirgousis, an engineer with Scottish Power Renewables on its new East Anglia wind farm, which doesn’t use SF6 in turbines. “As we are putting in more and more turbines, we need more and more switchgear and, as a result, more SF6 is being introduced into big turbines off shore. “It’s been proven for years and we know how it works, and as a result it is very reliable and very low maintenance for us offshore.” Across the entire UK network of power lines and substations, there are around one million kilograms of SF6 installed. A study from the University of Cardiff found that across all transmission and distribution networks, the amount used was increasing by 30-40 tonnes per year.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 14, 2019

US, Brazil agree to Amazon development The US and Brazil have agreed to promote privatesector development in the Amazon, during a meeting in Washington on Friday. They also pledged a $100m (£80m) biodiversity conservation fund for the Amazon led by the private sector.

Brazil’s foreign minister said opening the rainforest to economic development was the only way to protect it. Ernesto Araujo also hit back at criticism of Brazil’s handling of the forest fires. He told reporters in

Washington that claims the country is “not able to cope with the challenges” were false. On Friday, Finland urged EU countries to consider stopping importing beef and soybeans from Brazil in order to put pressure on Brazil to tackle the fires. More than 80,000 fires have broken out in the Amazon rainforest this year.

Mr Araujo said: “We want to be together in the endeavour to create development for the Amazon region which we are convinced is the only way to protect the forest.

Brazil Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo (L) and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met on Friday (BBC photo)

“So we need new initiatives, new productive initiatives,

Reo hospital fire kills 11 A fire in a Brazilian hospital has killed at least 11 people. Patients from the private Badim Hospital in northern Rio de Janeiro were evacuated, as thick smoke spread through the building on Thursday night. People on stretchers filled the pavements of the surrounding streets, before being moved to an alternative location.

Some of the patients had been in the intensive care unit. One woman told Globo news site that her 77-year-

old father made his own way out of his room, but had to leave medical equipment a neurostimulator - behind.

“It’s a device he depends on for a living ... We asked a firefighter to go get it without this device he won’t live. If I could get in there, I’d get it myself,” she told Globo news site. A witness, Fatima Chavier, told Reuters it was a panicked scene as the patients waited for fire crews. “Lots of people wanted to jump [out of

the hospital building]...

There was a lot of smoke, lots of people screaming.”

Firefighters arrived on the scene just before 18:00 local time (21:00 GMT) and the blaze was under control two hours later, according to local media. An investigation is under way. The hospital’s management said they believe it was caused by a short circuit in a generator.

(BBC News)

that create jobs, that create revenue for people in the

Amazon and that’s where our partnership with the United States will be very important for us.” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the biodiversity investment fund would support businesses in hard to reach areas of the Amazon. He added: “The Brazilians and the American teams will follow through on our commitment that our presidents made in March.

We’re getting off the ground a 100 million dollar, 11-year Impact Investment Fund for Amazon biodiversity

conservation and that project will be led by the private sector.” Last week seven South American countries agreed on measures to protect the Amazon River basin.

Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Suriname signed a pact, setting up a disaster response network and satellite monitoring. At a summit in Colombia, they also agreed to work on reforestation. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 14, 2019

Education makes a nation THE truism that education makes a nation still holds sway and has relevance today. Several hundred graduated recently from both the University of Guyana and the Cyril Potter College of Education.

These figures come at a time when the state of our education system is undergoing reform, given its importance to empowerment of citizens, nation-building, and development.

Congratulations to the students who have started their studies, who will no doubt make great sacrifice in pursuit of more and/or higher learning. The society must also devise a way to retain these new skills, since the development of every nation is hinged

on its human capital.

Education is community/ communal driven, and according to the African proverb, “It takes a whole village to raise a child.”

The success of education depends on the involvement of all. The government conceptualises, develops, and implements policies, programmes and laws by which the private and public school systems are bound.

Teachers/ educators play their role in the classroom setting.

Parents/relatives partner with the school in ensuring that the needs of students are met and that students honour their obligations.

Neighbours look out and over the children’s conduct.

Civil society also plays a role through workshops, seminars, donations and other forms of action. This

nation came from a past in which the education policy was driven by a colonial outlook of moulding and nurturing citizens to be in service to the values set by the Crown. With independence came the shift, preparing citizens for an indigenous approach consistent with our needs, growth and development.

Guyana transitioned to a country in which reality was shaped and skills and abilities were developed on a local identity; events and requirements for nationbuilding, inclusive of awareness/knowledge of external events, likewise informed our education system. As the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was established, with Guyana being a member and later with the institutionalisation of the

Caribbean Examinations Council, there was standardisation of an education model suited to the developmental foci of the Region. It would not be remiss to say that, in a standardised environment where Caribbean English is built off the British system, inclusive of spelling, the jostling of American English and British Caribbean English has been challenging for our children. For example, where other Caribbean countries still retain the “s” in spelling the word organisation, in Guyana, the USA “z” is used instead in public documents and media.

As simple as it may seem to some, this undermines standardisation, since it poses a challenge for students to identify right

spelling from wrong spelling; acceptable usage from unacceptable usage.

As the education system is revisited, the importance of diverse training and education of citizens to play their role in personal development and nationbuilding should be factored in. The education of academics, professionals, technically skilled, semiskilled and unskilled are all important and deserve equal attention and respect for their labour and contributions to development. Each has a role to play, and each ought to be given the opportunity to be the best in whatever field is pursued. Discipline is also an important element in education and development. And while conversations continue on the merits or demerits

of corporal punishment in schools, it cannot be lost sight of that discipline plays an important role in human development; a disciplined person is a productive person.

Outside of corporal punishment, school sports play a role in instilling discipline, respect for authority, team-spiritedness, determination, and focus to achieve goals. These influences help students to be responsible and to lead productive lives.

Fixing the education system requires a holistic approach and each must be prepared to play his/ her part.

Local content policy distortion on full display Dear Editor, A FULL-PAGE advertisement in one local newspaper compared the cost, duties and taxes of a foreign and local company supplying a “pipeline” to ExxonMobil.

The advertisement showed the foreign company not paying duties and taxes; however, duties and taxes were paid by the local company. If both companies are subcontractors of Exxon, Hess and CNOOC, then neither foreign nor local company will be required to pay duties and taxes per the Production Sharing Contract (PSC)

agreed by ExxonMobil, Hess, CNOOC and the Guyana Government; the advertisement is misleading.

Article 21 of the (PSC) addresses exemptions from duties, taxes, etc. for the contractor and subcontractors.

Article 21 states that Exxon, Hess & CNOOC as well as their subcontractors are exempt from duties and taxes for services and equipment provided in oil production. Article 21 does not say foreign subcontractors are exempt from duties and taxes. Clearly, ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC local contractors

are exempt from duties and taxes. How do critics read Article 21 and conclude local sub-contractors are required to pay duties and taxes?

The advertisement is not grounded in any reality. Let’s consider the advertisement’s example of supplying a “pipeline” to ExxonMobil.

A new installation or maintenance pipe spool repair on the FPSO or subsea structure would be handled by sub-contractors SBM Offshore (FPSO owner) and a subsea installer(example TechnipFMC).

The subcontractors would procure the pipe and fittings, not

ExxonMobil as premised in the advertisement. With global business volume leverage, the supply chain management of these subcontractors can negotiate better pricing and delivery than any local company.

The cost to secure the pipe and fittings would be higher for the local company, this is not reflected in the advertisement.

This will be the reality for procuring process-piping components & equipment, rotating equipment & parts, instrumentation & controls, water treatment and injection chemicals needed to produce crude oil offshore Guyana.

All Guyanese benefit when cost is minimized, and profit oil is maximized.

A practical local content policy must also focus on maximising Guyana’s oil share from the production and not written to make a select few wealthy like Russian Oligarchs.

The select few want the local content policy to mandate foreign companies partner with a local company if their operations are in Guyana.

Should there be such a requirement, Trinidad & Tobago and Paramaribo would be the winners that’s where these businesses would be located. The losers will be the Guyanese men

and women who could have (or currently have) jobs as dock workers, drivers, welders, fitters, machinists, chemists, engineers, future millwrights, future mechanics, NDE technicians, future valve-repair technicians and future instrument technicians. Workers do not care if the businesses are foreign or local, they wish to have jobs so they can support their families.

Regards, D.C. Daly

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 14, 2019

OP-ED

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Holding PPP accountable for Indigenous lands issue

By Mervyn Williams, M.P, Ministerial Adviser IN recent times, the opposition and the Guyana Times newspaper have teamed up to sell their lie about the very important and sacred issue of Indigenous Peoples’ Land titling.

“Gov’t creating barriers to allocation of Indigenous lands – Yvonne Pearson” Guyana Times September 5, 2019 and “After heavy criticism gov’t buckles to pressure: approves titles, extensions for 8 Indigenous communities” Guyana Times September 7, 2019 are among articles which attempt to advance the wicked, mischievous argument that this APNU+AFC government takes lightly this most sacred matter of Indigenous Peoples’ land rights.

In the process of advancing this most disingenuous position, the PPP is guilty of the grave sin of trivialising a very sacred, deep and far-reaching national and universal issue which touches the very soul of every Indigenous Person – land rights. The citizens of this country must call upon the PPP to account for its stewardship specific to the Indigenous Land issue. The presidential candidate of that party must tell the people of Guyana why his party blatantly violated the Indigenous Peoples’ land rights and their right to Free Prior and Informed Consent in the establishment of: 1. The Shell Beach Protected Area 2. The Kaieteur National Park Protected Area 3. The Kanuku Mountains Protected Area 4. Chinese Landing Santa Rosa was duped into believing that the PPP government of yesteryear would first determine its application for extension to its titled lands before establishing the Shell Beach Protected Area. Alas! The PPP passed legislation for the establishment of the Shell Beach Protected Area totally disregarding Santa Rosa’s extension application. Before the people of Santa Rosa knew what had happened, the lands applied for (as extension) were all swallowed up by Shell Beach. The Protected area even took in the homes of some of the citizens who always knew that

fall inside the protected area and that nothing will interfere with their traditional occupation and use of the lands. Like in the case of the other two protected areas, the villages are locked out of those areas by legislation. Their extension applications have never been determined by a heartless, sick PPP government.

Kangaruma and Tasserene in 2012 were handed pieces of paper by PPP Prime Minister Hinds at a grand event in the full glare of the cameras. Immediately after the cameras stopped flashing their papers were taken back.

These were papers purported to be land titles.

They had all the features of a land title except that they were NOT SIGNED. The PPP never intended to give those Villages legal ownership over those lands.

Was it because they wanted to issue over one hundred gold mining blocks on those same lands? Many in the Villages of Kangaruma and Tasserene believe it was.

Mervyn Williams they were living on traditional lands.

The people of Chinapau were made to believe that their land extension application would be determined in a manner favourable to the entire village. Sadly, however, the opposite is true. Chinapau believed that their extended boundary would fall inside of the protected area and that they would continue to enjoy the full traditional use and occupation of those lands even after Protected Area status came. They were made to believe that they would be joined in the management of the Protected Area to the benefit of their Village and in the best interest of its people. Kaieteur National Park was established and the Village of Chinapau has lost the lands for which they had applied as extension to their Village lands. Those lands were traditionally used and occupied by the Indigenous Peoples for centuries and they have proven this as a fact.

The Kanuku Mountains Protected Area, just like the Kaieteur National Park, shuts out Nappi, Sand Creek, Yupakari and several other Indigenous Villages from having access to lands for extension to their existing village lands. This is even though they were told by the PPP that their extended boundaries will

CHINESE LANDING: Chinese Landing (Tasiwini) was titled in 1976 by Prime Minister Forbes Burnham.

Some 19 years later the PPP issued gold mining claims to a miner for lands within the titled Village lands.

There was no Free Prior and Informed Consent then.

There was no consultative engagement involving village and government. Back then PPP Prime Minister, Hinds, was responsible for mining and the late Vibert De Souza was minister of Amerindian Affairs.

The matter of mining rights later engaged the attention of the High Court and the Court of Appeal in Georgetown and the Caribbean Court of Justice in Trinidad. At no point in any of these proceedings did the PPP government indicate to the Village that their titled village lands were the subject of court proceedings.

They presented no opportunity or advice to the village to have themselves as a ‘Body Corporate” and land owner joined in any of those proceedings to assert their right to their lands.

The village today continues to be uncertain, even as they endure difficult times thanks entirely to the ruthless PPP.

POLICY OF CONFUSION FOR POLITICAL GAIN The PPP Indigenous Peoples’ land policy has, at its core, the element of confusion for political gain.

The Amerindian Land Titling Project was being implemented in a manner which has resulted in the disaffection and alienation of our Indigenous Peoples.

The transition from absolute grants to certificates of title has survey and demarcation as two prerequisites. In the survey process, villages were TOLD what their boundaries were.

They held understandings which were different to what they were told. Their understanding was always rooted in their interpretation of the description contained in their absolute grant documents. Those in turn were rooted in their ancestral understanding of what their traditional lands were and that was communicated to the 1969 Lands Commission and included in their grant document.

The ALT (under the PPP) went ahead anyway with the incorrect boundary markings and insisted that after the Certificates of Title were granted, villages can apply for extensions. So the PPP engineered a way to generate more extension applications to provide them with a stage upon which to grand stand on the Indigenous land issue. This is a most disrespectful and unforgivable position to take. This is the basis upon which they designed and implemented the Amerindian Land Titling Project.

The David Granger Administration temporarily halted the project, reviewed the manner in which it was managed by the PPP and is moving forward with ensuring that the goals of the project are achieved within the framework of the law, respect for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, reasonableness and with a grievance redress mechanism (GRM) for addressing disagreements. This GRM involves the full participation of all stake holders – Indigenous Peoples’, Indigenous NGO’s, rights commissions and State agencies included.

The Indigenous Peoples of Guyana and indeed all Guyanese must judge the PPP on their dismal, failed record, the above being but a sample as it relates to the Indigenous Land issue.

PPP ‘Because we care’ was a political scheme

Dear Editor,

PLEASE permit me space in your newspaper to respond to a statement that was made by PPP/C Chief Whip and MP Ms Gail Teixeira on the television programme, “Matters of Public Importance” on September 12, 2019 on CNS Channel 6. There, she stated that, “President Granger removed the cash grant from schoolchildren.” Ms Teixeira should be ashamed to remind the nation that the APNU+AFC government has halted the $10,000 per child grant. The “Because we care” school grant

which was an initiative under the previous PPP/C administration was a one-off political gimmick with the intention of enhancing the PPP/C's electoral chances in the 2015 elections. However, the initiative was badly implemented and it was “fiscally unsustainable.” The APNU+AFC Government has delivered significantly to Guyana’s education sector much more than the PPP/C did. Investing billions in the sector since taking office in 2015, the government has increased its annual contributions to various areas of education, which is clearly shown in the yearly budgetary

allocation beginning from 2016. In that year, a sum of $40.3B was given to the Ministry of Education. In 2017, another $43.1B was allocated. A total of $44.1B and $52.3B was pumped into the same sector, in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

The move by the current administration has benefited thousands, providing them with better opportunities for achieving a brighter future.

This is a commitment by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and by extension the government. President David Granger’s Five Bs Initiative providing boats, buses, bicycles, breakfast and books to students

across Guyana also aided in many successes. Under this programme, children in hinterland, riverine and targeted communities are now benefiting from the provision of buses, boats, bicycles, books and breakfasts, all free of charge.

The Five Bs Programme has improved students’ access to schools and lowered the rate of school dropouts.

Editor, the president’s Five Bs Programme has had a positive impact on education, much more than what the PPP/C-offered $10,000 to Guyanese children, since primary school dropouts fell by 58% and secondary school dropouts fell by

25%. Through this Five Bs Programme these schoolchildren can now enjoy having breakfast every morning in schools if their parents are unable to provide them with breakfast.

Through this programme we can clearly see that the government is improving the lives of school- children 10 times more than the PPP/C did with the $10,000 cash grant because these are not one-off initiatives.

The PPP/C by now should take several seats when it comes to the coalition government and education since Guyana has recorded a 73% overall pass rate in grades one to three at this

year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. This is the best performance the country has seen with 11,467 students who wrote the exams. In closing, education is the vehicle to success and the children are our future. Without doubt, the APNU+AFC is committed to ensuring that education will continue to be placed as first priority under the David Granger administration.

Yours sincerely Ceion Rollox

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 14, 2019

Implications of political madness Dear Editor IT is evident that Jagdeo is continuing to push his dubious and unmerited case for GECOM not to produce a sanitised voters’s list for the holding of national and regional elections. Also, it is evident that since he realises that his case of objecting to the merging of data from the recently concluded house-to-house exercise, with the National Register of Registrants, finds no willing ear, he will be offering all

kinds of nebulous reasons to prove his non-existent case. Therefore, his visit to GECOM was done solely for the reason of telling GECOM that its entire post-registration processes now underway is all wrong, beginning with the expected attack on the houseto-house registration, deeming such as unverified. This is yet another attempt to argue for a scuttling of what the latter exercise would have produced.

Such a line of behaviour is everything of attempts at bullying an important constitutional process

through fraudulent excuses/ presentations, designed to take the place of the proper, transparent mechanisms, designed for credible elections.

Of course, Commissioner Vincent Alexander is right in describing Bharrat Jagdeo’s claim of registration data as unverified, as ‘contrived.’ In fact, it is both disrespectful and dishonest for the latter to appear before the commission, levelling such an accusation, knowing only too well that the process of house-to-house registration is of itself a verification process for final

Life beyond this world

Dear Editor,

IT is awe-inspiring to see that the world has been given a gift of another planet beyond our solar system that has water. Per the Economist's recent article titled "Exoplanets,the first planet beyond the solar system confirmed to have water." This is a very humbling discovery and brings hope for the future of humanity as our technology, capabilities and population continues to blossom. Every achievement and goal we have should be placed in the perspective that

there is another planet beyond our solar system that is twice our size that we may be able to inhabit. One hundred and ten (110) light Years away sits K2-18b, a planet which should help humanity remember their fragility and insignificance in the scope of our Galaxy.

Which would we prefer, to have to leave our earth to start over in another one which is unknown where we may be prey, or to take care of what is ours and embrace our place in the galaxy with humble regard? It's a beautiful and very mind-clearing experience to know that we are, but a small part in the large beautiful

work of existence. K2-18b! It makes me think of how happy and content one should be with what is our own and how beautiful one can make it so that it endures beyond the time when man steps upon K2-18b to taste that water from another planet, and while men dream of this I will enjoy the taste of clean, accessible water in my own home. Let's make and keep our homeland beautiful and useable for generations to come.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

authenticity.

Editor, it is simply a case, where Jagdeo’s expectation of having the court rule in favour of his blinkered, politically expedient, and fraudulent claim of the house-to-house registration being unconstitutional has been exposed for what it is – wholly asinine, and without merit. This caught him with his crooked political trousers down, since in advance of the court’s ruling he began the devious call for his party supporters to boycott a preelection procedure that had always been a part of national

elections, unquestioningly adhered to by PPP/C followers.

Of course, he now bears heavy moral responsibility for the non-registration of those of his constituents, who blindly followed his call. So rather than advise them to get ready for the extensive Claims and Objections period whenever that commences, he is crying “unverified” in the absence of his party’s scrutineers who also boycotted the exercise. But this seems to be preparations for crying foul at the end of the electoral process. Editor, I shall continue to contend

that the PPP/C's continuous, unquestioning adherence to the dictates of Jagdeo,is what is responsible for the latter’s megalomaniacal behaviour, which continues to void him of any sense of proper reasoning and rational conclusions as to the implications of his political madness.

Regards Earl Hamilton

Situation at Reg. 2 RDC very disappointing DearEditor, THE Kaieteur News of Wednesday, 11th September, 2019 on page 16,carried an article under the caption, ‘Friction in Region Two reaches boiling point, REO accused of assaulting Vice Chairman.’ Well, I like many others would not be surprised, I was not there, the animosity that has long existed between the two parties, although I am not certain about the reason or reasons, but I know for sure that the relationship between

the Regional Executive Officer (REO) and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) or part of the council was not in the interest of the people of this region. I attended three consecutive meetings of the R.D.C. as a member of the public and what I saw and heard was disappointing to say the least;consequently, I stopped going to those meetings because it was a waste of time. The question is, why the situation had to meet boiling point. I had written at least two letters to the editors of the major daily newspapers; I am not sure what was done

or if anything was done, but by and large the situation has worsened to a point where it is now. I am not pronouncing on who is innocent or guilty, but the system as it is currently has failed us big time. I served as a regional councillor for seven consecutive years during the tenure of two regional chairmen and about four REOs I am grossly disappointed at what we are witnessing now.

Regards Archie W. Cordis.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 14, 2019

Company run by Guyanese gets high ranking in Canada CMC – GUYANA-BORN business executive, Anthony Whyte, says the decision by Canadian Business and Maclean to rank his company, GO Logistics Inc. in the top 500 fastest growing companies here “reflects the vote of confidence our customers have given us”.

The company has been ranked 277 on the 30th Annual Growth 500, after making the 2019 Growth 500 list in the special print issue of Canadian Business published with Maclean’s magazine, after having a five-year revenue growth of 304 per cent.

“The companies on the 2019 Growth 500 are truly remarkable. Demonstrating foresight, innovation and smart management, their stories serve as a primer for how to build a successful entrepreneurial business today,” said Beth Fraser, Growth 500 programme manager.

Whyte said that GO Logistics Inc. built its operations centred on “the final mile of home delivery”, a space where the big players are restrictive when it comes to package dimensions they cater to.

“That’s where we come in. We work to understand their inventory, seamlessly moving packages from mid-mile to final mile. Our processes encompass sortation, next day, and same day delivery services, trimming home delivery to within a few hours,” he said.

“We have the partnership of warehouse and cross-dock locations across Canada, ensuring national coverage. In 2017, we collaborated with the country’s biggest e-commerce player to launch their first third party Canadian sortation centre, consistently rating among their top performing North American sortation centres.” added Whyte.

He said being a smaller player compared to others in the home delivery space has opened a number of opportunities that would otherwise not have presented themselves.

“We remain committed to growing in stride with our customers, preparing them to face the new decade – bigger, better and more confident in their home delivery offering.

The Growth 500 selection is a testament to the trust they have put in us.” GO Logistics Inc. was registered in April 2005 and the company has grown to over 1,000 employees offering services across Canada.

No compromise ...

9

From page 3

Bharrat Jagdeo and his team where a series of shortened timelines for activities to facilitate elections by November were proposed.

Although the sentiments have been in the public, prior to his submission to the Commission the GECOM Secretariat, on September 6, had made a proposal that credible elections can be facilitated by March 2020.

The proposal was made given the list of activities required to facilitate a credible process which include both statutory and administrative activities.

Meanwhile, this proposal did not sit well with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/Civic) which is not in favor of aspects such as the merging of the house-to-house registration data with the existing National Register of Registrants (NRR).

Over 340,000 persons had already been registered when the exercise came to a halt on Saturday, August 31, 2019 --- ordered by GECOM Chair, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh --- as compromise to allow elections within the shortest possible time.

However, the reports on Friday have shut down the calls to squash the house-to-house registration data as the Commission assured that the information will be used.

This is even as the government, through the Attorney General’s Chambers, is moving to the courts to ask for a stay GECOM’s decision for a merger as several complications could arise in contrast with the Law. The PNC/R Chair said that while a stay has not yet been granted, the Commission assured the visiting Committee that it would be complying with the Law. Overall, the Committee is pleased that the Parliamentary Committee was able to put forward its case for credible elections which come from a credible list; one which includes the names of all Guyanese eligible to vote. “…as we have always posited, these elections must come out of a credible List and we would like to have credible elections,” Lawrence told the media.

“We’ve also pressed upon GECOM to ensure that during that Claims period that they take into

consideration the number of persons who are still to be registered.”

She stated that the coalition has noted the Opposition Leader, for many months now, has been “trying to set the time table for GECOM” but he must accept that the independent body must do its work.

Regarding this Party’s accusation that the coalition is working to delay elections, she stated: “It’s just another talk by the Leader of the Opposition. We have shown throughout the process from December 31, 2019 to today that we have complied with the Law; that we have worked with all the agencies which have matters pertaining to us having a credible General and Regional Elections; we have abided by the ruling of the court and we will continue to do so.”

The PNC/R Chair stated that the coalition has faith in GECOM’s leadership and will continue to work with the Commission in ways that are necessary.

And, whenever the date is decided for credible elections in Guyana, Lawrence stated that the coalition will be ready.

NA Secondary gets $1M ...

From page 2

through the programme.

The East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six) has benefitted from five buses which provide free transportation to children.

“I long for the day when every child passes the National Grade Six Assessment; no failures. Every child who enters school must pass… I am interested in equality,” the President said. “Children are being supported to improve their performance. Internet access is being expanded to schools across all our regions.

Science and Information

Communications Technology (ICT) laboratories are being improved, including through initiatives such as the NEST. Meanwhile, President Granger said the New Amsterdam Secondary (Multilateral) School is an exemplar of the extension of secondary school. He described it as one of the region’s premier schools. The President said the school performed commendably at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) 2019 examinations and earned an overall pass rate of 93.1 per cent

with 100 per cent pass rates in Agricultural Science, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, Family and Resource Management, Food Nutrition and Health, Industrial Technology, Office Administration, Physical Education and Sport, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business, Social Studies, Spanish, Technical Drawing and Theatre Arts.

The President said excellence in secondary education has been exemplified, historically, by the group of schools he refers to as the ‘six sisters’

Students of the New Amsterdam Multilateral School

His Excellency, President David Granger along with the staff of the New Amsterdam Multilateral School namely, the Berbice High encouraged and excellence ment’s vision for education School, the Bishops’ High, emulated. is aligned to the aspirations Queens College, St. Joseph President Granger, ac- and needs of all those on the High, St. Rose’s High, and knowledging that transfor- frontline, in the struggle for St. Stanislaus College, all mation takes time, said public quality education,” Minister over one hundred years old. education is on the right path Henry said.

“There is no reason why and he is confident that the The minister reminded we must only have six top investment government is that it takes a village to secondary schools,” he said, making “will enable us to raise a child and called on noting that with the right sup- bequeath to future genera- all stakeholders to work port from parents and com- tions a richer legacy than we together to ensure that all munities, schools in the East inherited”. children can benefit. EdBerbice-Corentyne can equal Similarly, Minister of Ed- ucation month is being obor surpass the performance of ucation, Ms. Nicolette Henry, served under the theme, the country’s top secondary said education plays a central “Education, the key to naschools. President Granger role in the growth of any tional development”. Chief said he looks forward to the country’s development as it Education Officer (CEO) transformation in regional provides the opportunities for Dr. Marcel Hutson; Mayor education which will result in individuals to improve their of New Amsterdam, Her schools of excellence across lives and become successful Worship Winifred Heythe country. “This is not a members of society. “Build- wood; Regional Executive dream; this is a plan,” he ing this beautiful country Officer (REO) Ms. Kim asserted, adding that efforts of ours is the responsibility Williams-Stephen; Regionare being made to build a of all of us and so we in the al Education Officer, Ms. better and brighter future by Ministry of Education are in Bhagmatie La Cruz and establishing an education the habit of listening to and Ms. Barbara Pilgrim were system where talent would dialoguing with our constit- also present at the school. be allowed to emerge, effort uencies to ensure the govern- (Ministry of the Presidency)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 14, 2019

PNC/R accuses opposition of abusing Judiciary THE People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) has condemned the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) for what they call abuse of the judicial system in an attempt to obtain political power.

Speaking at the part’s weekly press briefing at Congress Place, Sophia, Minister of State and PNC/R member, Dawn Hastings-Williams, said her party has restored law, order and the independence of the judiciary.

“It is a clear abuse of the judicial system to be returning to court for a decision on matters that the highest court – the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has already ruled on. While the PNC/R knows the megalomaniac behind the abuse of the judicial system, we wish to point out that his interest is not in serving the Guyanese people and urge him to manifest some modicum of decency and end the abuse of the ju-

dicial system,” the minister of state said.

She noted that the use of the judicial system to get power is not new and it would not succeed.

“The people of Guyana are aware that under the PPP, the Executive abused its power. The then Head of State assented to a Bill to ensure that a person can only serve two terms as President.

He then orchestrated for someone who worked with him to challenge it in court.

It succeeded in Guyana while the Judiciary operated based on fear. It was over turned at the CCJ. Not satisfied, the PPP continues its quest for power at all cost,” Hastings-Williams said.

She said Guyanese are well aware of the control that the PPP exercised over the Judiciary while they were in power, noting that citizens cherish the independence of the Judiciary and will not forget the PPP’s reign of fear

and will vote to return President David Granger and the APNU+AFC to government.

The PNC/R member further said the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition government honours decisions of the courts and gone are the days when the court ruled in favour of a citizen and the State refused to honour the court’s decision, as was the practice under the PPP. “Guyanese are assured that this coalition government respects the ruling of our courts and will ensure justice is done. The PNC/R wishes to applaud President Granger and the APNU+AFC for upholding the Constitution and governing Guyana based on the ruleof-law,” she said.

Additionally, Minister Hastings-Williams said the PNCR supports the APNU+AFC Government decision to appoint more

Minister of State and PNC/R member, Dawn Hastings-Williams judges to ensure that the judicial system is equipped to deliver justice.

REDUCTION IN CASE BACKLOG In this regard, she said it should be noted that the appointment of additional judges and other measures taken by the government, especially the Civil Procedures Rules 2016, have resulted in a reduction of the backlog of cases.

This, the minister said, coupled with the establishment of many courts in the

hinterland and other rural communities, guarantees that people can access the judicial system, and do so at a lower cost.

“These decisions by the APNU+AFC government are a clear manifestation that it cares for the people of Guyana and that it is bent on delivering both access to the justice system and justice.

The PNC/R supports the APNU+AFC policy of developing specialised courts to deal with the many cases in the justice system. To this end, the PNC/R welcomes the decision to establish the Sexual Offences and Family courts. This will go a far way in ensuring that sexual offences and family matters will be dealt with expeditiously. The PNC/R looks forward to the establishment of more specialised courts as the need arises,” the minister explained.

Meanwhile, the minister said the PNC/R believes that lawyers who are performing at a high level should be rewarded.

“It is apposite, therefore, to commend President Granger and the AP-

NU+AFC for rewarding those who deserve to be appointed senior counsel, ending years of PPP disregard for the services of our lawyers who have distinguished themselves. Lawyers can now look forward to obtaining their due. This should restore hope in all lawyers and those students pursuing legal studies,” she said.

She continued: “The PNC/R wishes to thank the government for restoring scholarships to students who want to study law. This decision brings to an end the discrimination against poor, brilliant young people who, because of their economic circumstances, were deprived of the right to realise their academic and professional goals. The PPP’s policy to deprive the children of the poor from becoming lawyers has been rightly brought to an end.”

The minister of state said it is part of the PNC/ R’s core ideology that people, especially the poor, must have access to State resources to realise their legitimate ambitions.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 14, 2019

Guyana to showcase agriculture-tourism potential –– in first-ever agri-tourism expo

By Navendra Seoraj

GUYANA’s lucrative and enterprising agriculture sector combined with its attractive and impressive tourism industry could be a recipe for success, something which the government is exploring through the first-ever Agri-Tourism Expo.

The expo, which is set to be held from October 31 to November 2 at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, will be a catalyst for consistent cooperation between two

of Guyana’s major export earners: tourism and agriculture.

Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder, said the launch of the Agri-Tourism Expo and business forum is an offspring of the 2016 cooperative agreement between the two ministries. The aim of the agreement is to enhance the agri-tourism sector.

“Agri-tourism offers farmers the possibility of diversifying and generating additional income through on-farm tourism activities… this will supplement on-farm

income and maintain the viability of farms in rural communities,” said Minister Holder during the launch of the expo at Herdmanston Lodge on Friday.

The minister said the nexus between agriculture and tourism is not new since it is something which Guyanese have practiced and continue to practice throughout their lives.

“By simply going to pick fruits, swim in the conservancy or preparing a bush cook, you are participating in agri-tourism,” said Holder.

Court rules dismissal of Royston King unlawful

THE Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the operations of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has been deemed unlawful and void by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the Demerara High Court.

Former Town Clerk, Royston King, had challenged the Local Government Commission (LGC) on his ‘wrongful dismissal’.

In January 2019, King was served with a dismissal letter by the LGC after “he did not respond verbally, or in writing, to the charges laid against him”, having appeared before the body on Wednesday, January 23, 2019.

He was dismissed by the LGC following recommendations by the CoI. Based on the inquiry’s recommendations, King was charged with gross misconduct, abuse of office, recklessness, dishonesty, conspiracy, and misappropriation of funds at the municipality.

However, in February 2019, King moved to the High Court to challenge his dismissal.

On Friday, Justice Morris-Ramlall, during her ruling, said the LGC unlawfully delegated its investigatory powers to the CoI, which was not part of the LGC or attached to it.

Additionally, the LGC disinvested itself from the CoI when it transferred the investigation and unlawful delegated its powers.

By doing this, the LCG committed an error of law and the decisions made by the CoI must be squashed.

Thus, the setting up of the CoI, the investigation, find-

Former Town Clerk, Royston King

ing and recommendation is void and unlawful.

“The respondent acted blindly upon the recommendation of the CoI,” the judge said since the LGC did not do any further investigation into the findings of the CoI. In concluding, the decision made by the LGC cannot stand, especially sending King on administrative leave in September 2018 and then his dismissal in January 2019.

King was represented by Attorneys Maxwell Edwards and Patrice Henry while the State was represented

by Solicitor General, Nigel Hawke, and Deputy Solicitor General, Deborah Diane Kumar.

According to King’s attorney, Patrice Henry, his client is not reinstated, but will remain on administrative leave and has to be paid his money.

The judge awarded King $200,000, which is to be paid by the State.

Speaking to reporters outside of court, King explained that he is pleased with the court’s decision.

“I have been vindicated, I give thanks to God and my

lawyer,” King said.

In his application, King has asked for the LGC to reinstate him to his previous post immediately and/or to pay him all his superannuation benefits, inclusive of pension, gratuity, payment in lieu of annual leave, up until he attains the age of retirement, on January 29, 2020. This was granted to him.

He was also claiming for cost and aggregative damages for his benefits while on administrative leave and compensation for public embarrassment and humiliation.

The former Town Clerk had called for interest calculated at four per cent per annum from the date of filing of the application, until the judgment and at six per cent per annum from the date of judgment up until full payment, excluding court cost, is made.

The grounds of the application state that the ‘indecent’ haste by the LGC in summarily dismissing King without a hearing and on the recommendations of the CoI whose terms of reference did not relate to the recommendations, and the inadmissible hearsay evidence being accepted and admitted, render the dismissal irrelevant.

“I have never acted unlawfully, illegally or criminally during my tenure as a serving member of the municipality of Georgetown, irrespective of my appointments to attract the attention of the police or any disciplinary authority,” King said in his court document.

During his employment as Town Clerk, King was paid $408,560 monthly, inclusive of house and entertainment allowances

Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder Although it has been prominent in the traditional Guyanese sense, agri-tourism is still a category which needs to be exploited and branded as a unique product.

The minister believes that agri-tourism should not only be aimed at attaining foreign arrival targets, but should be a money-maker for farmers and the nation.

He said agri-tourism is a sustainable tourism product that promises a win-win outcome. There have already been recorded successes in

the annual festival and even the coconut festival.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has also placed some attention on tourism. The corporation recently launched its cultural and heritage tourism product which allows persons to get a first-hand experience of the operations of sugar estates.

There are also plans for a sugar museum and heritage park.

Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar also spoke about some of the advancements in agri-tourism, noting that the upcoming expo can be used as a tool to sensitise people and further show the potential of the sectors. “ We have long rec ognised that agri-tourism could be a thriving sub-sector because agriculture contributes 30 per cent of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and tourism has been making a significant contribution to the economy,” said Rajkumar.

In that regard, he expects the expo to spur the greatness in agri-tourism and even show that the sub-sector is

aligned with government’s Green State Development Strategy.

Public Telecommunications Minister, Catherine Hughes has high expectations for the expo. Hughes, who was a signatory to the 2016 cooperation agreement as then Minister of Tourism, said the combination of tourism and agriculture was long overdue.

“Tourism cuts across all economic sectors... Guyana is different from other tourism destinations and with a rich agricultural history, there are opportunities that exist for expanding agri-tourism and delivering a high quality to travellers,” said Minister Hughes.

Tourists and even locals will have an opportunity to see the wonders of the combined agri-tourism sector during the expo.

There will be a grand display of Guyana’s tourism and agricultural products. Among the things which will be featured are farmers’ markets, fashion displays, farm tours and a lot more.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 14, 2019

Mayor Narine empowered to ‘police’ council’s decisions

By Telesha Ramnarine

A MOTION seeking to have Mayor Ubraj Narine present at all administrative meetings to ‘police’ decisions of the City Council was approved by councillors last Monday when they met for their fortnightly statutory meeting.

A serious disconnect between the City Council and the administrative arm of the municipality has long been the cry with the latter constantly accused of not carrying out the decisions of the former.

As such, Chairman of the Finance Committee Councillor Oscar Clarke told the Guyana Chronicle on Friday that the motion “compels” the administration, now

headed by Town Clerk (Ag) Sherry Jerrick, to invite the mayor to attend all of the weekly meetings that she conducts with her staff.

Councillor Clarke moved the motion, which received the support of 19 councillors. Two voted against it, and three abstained.

Councillor Clarke observed that Council decisions handed down were not being implemented in a way that indicated the administration’s willingness to carry them out and hence the motion.

The motion noted that the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is ultimately responsible to the citizens of Georgetown for conducting the affairs of the city, and that monitoring

Chairman of the Finance Committee, Oscar Clarke, moved the motion the work of the administration is one mechanism by which the M&CC can undertake its responsibility.

It resolved to have Mayor Narine present at the weekly meeting of heads of departments; the motion noted how his

AFC Councillor Michael Leonard presence will provide him an opportunity to request reports and information that would allow him to carry out the monitoring responsibilities of the council. These include rendering advice pertaining to council’s decisions and

Councillor Gregory Fraser called for the appointment of an executive mayor effecting those decisions between meetings of the council.

Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis reported Councillor Gregory Fraser, who was in full support of the motion, offered that it

is time for the council to have an executive mayor.

The responsibilities of an executive mayor include managing and monitoring the work of the city administration and overseeing the implementation of services provided to citizens.

“The mover of the motion, Oscar Clarke, said that motion allows someone to police the implementation of council’s decisions between meetings,” Lewis said in a statement.

She noted Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor Michael Leonard’s suggestion that the council should look at the use of an action sheet that would address decisions that are taken and implemented.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 14, 2019

Successful literacy symposium for 2019 Education Month

STUDENTS are the most valuable resources of the country.

The Ministry of Education continues to encourage students and teachers to develop literacy and technology skills for the development of Guyana.

On Friday, an education symposium was held at Queen’s College. It was another activity on the 2019 Education Month calendar.

Several secondary schools and the Cyril Potter College of Education were represented.

In attendance were Dr Marcel Hutson, Chief Education Officer; Ms Samantha Williams, Assistant Chief Education Officer and Head of the Literacy Department; Miss Viola Rowe, Principal of Cyril Potter College of Education; and Mr Floyd Scott, Director of the Council for Technical Vocational Education and Training (CTVET).

Ms. Williams, one of the speakers at the symposium,

quoted the words of Kofi Anan ‘Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope.’

She added that “In the past everyone associated literacy with just being able to read and write. Literate persons must be able to use the skills of thinking, listening, speaking, reading and writing in ways that can contribute to socio economic development and developing the capacity for social awareness and critical reflection as a basis for personal and social change. In this light, therefore, literacy is the catalyst for learning and should not be treated as an isolated construct but as an integrated idea, upon which the foundation and sustenance of knowledge acquisition is built, thereby making literacy a key pillar, upon which all citizens must be educated.

In other words, literacy is the main thing.”

In simpler terms, she noted that literacy was important for the development of one’s self, family, com-

munity and country. It is the fundamental skill that, once acquired, can lead to a better quality of life.

Miss Viola Rowe, the Principal of CPCE, who also spoke at the symposium emphasised the importance of students and teachers in the community.

“Students are the most valuable resources we have in our country, along with our teachers. schools exist because of our students.

Teachers go to work every day because they know that students need them.

That is why the Cyril Potter College of Education is looking to provide schools 100% trained teachers by the year 2030,” she explained.

Floyd Scott the director of CTVET, who also spoke at the symposium, noted that technology plays a vital role in educating the youths of Guyana.

He also noted that, the times have changed from Stone Age to now

Students at the symposium held at Queen’s College Auditorium

Dr Marcel Hutson, Chief Education Officer; Ms Samantha Williams, Assistant Chief Education Officer and Head of the Literacy Department; Miss Viola Rowe, Principal of Cyril Potter College of Education, and Mr Floyd Scott, Director of the Council for Technical Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) Floyd Scott. and it is important and relevant that the youths are

equipped and educated to further develop themselves

and the economy of the country.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 14, 2019

Facial recognition cameras only for official ports –– Public Telecommunications Ministry

CITIZENS need not worry, as the Public Telecommunications Ministry’s Safe City Project is not designed to infringe on people’s right to privacy but only for safety of all.

While some have raised concerns over possible facial recognition and tracking technologies being used by the cameras, the govern-

ment assures that is has no plan to implement the same in the city streets anytime in the foreseeable future.

In a release to the media on Friday, the ministry cleared up speculations which came to its attention, making it clear that it is only the Cheddi Jagan International Airport; the Eugene F. Correia Internation-

al Airport and the Molesen Creek Ferry Crossing that facial recognition technology will be deployed.

“The specialised cameras at the official ports are very different from the CCTV cameras erected in public spaces. These cameras are the only ones capable of comparing images generated from au-

Some of the surveillance cameras being accessed in the command centre tomatic facial recognition software against databases administered by the Guyana Police Force, and by recognised international security agencies that Guyana has bilateral relationships with. While the cameras installed on the streets are of extremely high quality, they are not equipped for automatic facial recognition,” the ministry stated.

Back in July 2019, the Safe City Project was launched through the mounting of 104 poles with four cameras each attached across the City, with more expected.

The cameras are currently being installed as part of the Safe City Component of Guyana’s National Broadband Project and function by recording activities on the City streets monitored through a Command Centre in the compound of the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara The cameras are helping to cramp down on crime by observing the movement of vehicles and actions in strategic public locations and hotspots for criminal activities in Georgetown such as the downtown Stabroek Market.

VERY POPULAR The Safe City Programme is very popular in some developed countries, including the US and England.

“The Ministry of Public Telecommunications welcomes this opportunity to further explain the Safe City Initiative and its importance to ensuring safer communities for the benefit of everyone in Guyana,” the release stated.

“We now reiterate that the new system is designed solely for everyone’s safety and security, and is not intended to infringe on an individual’s right to privacy,” the release added.

Guyanese operators of the Command Centre are currently being trained by a consulting team of British security experts who are developing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to guide the operations of the centre.

According to the Ministry, access to the CCTV network of cameras is only possible by authorised security personnel who are stringently vetted before they are assigned to the National Emergency Response Command Centre (NERCC).

The NERCC can ensure the efficient deployment of law enforcement staff; better multi-agency response to

incidents and emergencies; increased success and efficiency in bringing criminals to justice; enhanced security coordination for major public events; efficient disaster management; increased awareness of threats to public security; establishing integrity of data and information for the criminal justice system; presentation of ‘hard’ evidence in court cases and more.

Their operations will be guided by the standard SOPs being developed by the consulting team of UK security experts.

Meanwhile, the Safe City programme operates on an independent government-owned fibre-optic network managed by the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), an agency of the Ministry of Public Telecommunications.

The ministry added: “We also wish to assure the public that personal data stored by agencies such as the Central Immigration and Passport Office, Guyana Elections Commission and Guyana Revenue Authority, have not been and will not be shared under this project.

In fact, the laws and regulations that govern these agencies prevent unauthorised sharing of such data.”

One of the Safe City CCTV Systems installed on South Road, Georgetown

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 14, 2019

Father of four killed in Pearl crash A FATHER of four was killed in the wee hours of Friday morning when his motorbike CD7536 crashed head-on into a motor lorry on the Pearl Public Road, East Bank Demerara.

Dead is Devon Atkinson, 33, a mechanic by profession commonly called “Wild Buck”.

He used to reside at Lot 31 Railway Line Kitty, Georgetown.

Police said the lor-

ry with trailer and the motorbike were both proceeding north along the western carriageway when the lorry turned east into a lumberyard but Atkinson allegedly failed to stop.

Teen stabbed to death during argument

Dead: Derril Wong

DERRIL Wong, 15, a resident of Lot 42 Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, was stabbed to death during an argument with another man in a yard at Graham Street Plaisance, on Thursday.

Wong was found with stab wounds about the body and was subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The suspect is in police custody assisting with investigations.

Atkinson, who had a pillion rider, collided with the front of the lorry.

Police said Atkinson was taken to Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The pillion rider was treated and discharged.

Police said the 36-year-old driver of the lorry was found to be way above the legal limit of alcohol consumption.

The driver, who resides at Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke/Linden Highway is in custody, assisting with the investigation.

Atkinson’s reputed wife, Lisa Kellman, said she last spoke to her hus-

band hours before the accident, since he had left to visit a relative’s house at Timehri, EBD. The accident occurred while Atkinson was returning home.

On July 17 this year, Atkinson was charged with possession of a high-powered rifle at Soesdyke/Linden Highway, when he was not a licensed firearm holder.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charge. According to reports, on the day in question, he was at an event at a creek outside of the Splashmin’s Resort when he was observed by a police officer pulling out the weapon

Devon Atkinson called ‘Wild Buck’ from his backpack.

Police alleged that he discharged several rounds in the air.

Atkinson has been remanded to prison for the illegal possession of the Bushmaster Carbon AR 15 Pistol.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 14, 2019

Man sentenced for malicious wounding

SEON Bobb called ‘Banks’ was on Friday, September 13, 2019, sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment

by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly, for wounding a man.

Bobb appeared at

the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to the offense.

Particulars of the charge stated that, on September 9, 2019, at Werk-en-Rust, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Anthony

Allen.

Police prosecutor, Christopher Morris, told the court that Bobb and Allen were known to each other. On the day in question, around 09:30 hours, Bobb and Allen were working on

the same minibus, after which Allen refused to give Bobb any money for the job.

Bobb went home and returned armed with a cutlass. He approached Allen from the back and dealt him a blow to the

left side of his shoulder.

Bobb then began to run Allen around the said minibus.

Allen was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and Bobb was subsequently arrested.

Bobb, while being cautioned, admitted to the offense and was later charged.

“he told me when we done wok he gon give me the money, and when we finish he in want give me the money” were the words of the unrepresented man.

Magistrate Daly, after listening to the prosecutor, sentenced Bobb to serve 18 months’ imprisonment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 14, 2019

Man found guilty of trafficking in drugs fined and imprisoned

DENISH Nunes, of Durban Street, Lodge, was, on Friday, September 13, 2019, sentenced to three years nine months’ imprisonment and fined $2.1 Million, after he was found guilty of trafficking 3.65 kilograms of cannabis.

Nunes was on trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The 39-year-old man denied that, on June 7, 2019, at Durban Street, he had 3.65 kilograms of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Magistrate McLennan told the court that she found sufficient evidence against Nunes and sentenced him.

According to reports, on the day in question, a party of police officers

Threatening language and wounding accused granted bail

Denish Nunes went to Nunes’ Durban Street, Lodge apartment and conducted a search.

Consequently, the cannabis was found in a barrel.

SENIOR Magistrate Leron Daly on Friday, September 13, 2019, granted $35,000 bail to a 25-year-old man who was accused of using threatening language and wounding a man.

Keron Williams appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the two charges.

Particulars of the first charge stated that, on September 11, 2019, at Calendar Street, Albouystown, he unlawfully

and maliciously wounded Kurt Ford.

The second charge stated that, on the same day and at the same place, he used threatening language towards Kurt Ford.

Magistrate Daly granted Williams $10,000 bail on the threatening language charge and $25,000 bail on the unlawful wounding charge.

The matter was adjourned until October 14, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 14, 2019

Six-wicket Archer gives England advantage over Aussies at the Oval

By Hugh Lawson LONDON, England (Reuters) - Jofra Archer took six wickets as England’s bowlers gave their side a handy lead on the second day of the final Ashes Test, reducing Australia to 225 all out in reply to their own firstinnings score of 294 at the Oval yesterday.

England openers Rory Burns and Joe Denly added nine runs in the fading light to extend the lead to 78 runs by the close of play for the day.

“If we can get a big lead, we can put some pressure on in the second innings,” England’s Sam Curran told Sky Sports after the match.

Archer took his tally for the series to 22 wickets, becoming the first England bowler to take two sixwicket hauls in an Ashes series since Ian Botham in 1981.

Left-armer Curran took two wickets in two balls on his way to a three-wicket haul and Chris Woakes claimed the prized scalp of Australian batting machine Steve Smith, who scored 80.

Australia are bidding to secure a 3-1 series victory after retaining the Ashes by winning the fourth Test at Old Trafford, meaning England can at best only level the series 2-2.

Batsman Marnus Labuschagne said Australia wanted to win the series outright despite their relatively poor performance yesterday.

“The intensity definitely has not dropped. It’s hard to say that when our play on the field maybe reflects that. But we came to win the Ashes and we really want to do that,” he told BBC radio.

“We don’t want to just retain

the Ashes. We have to come out tomorrow 100% on and ready to take any chance.”

England added just 23 runs to their overnight score of 271 before losing their last two wickets within half an hour in the morning. Australia’s Mitchell Marsh claimed his first fivewicket haul in Test cricket to end the innings.

Smith, who has scored more than twice as many runs as any other batsman in the series, underpinned the visitors’ reply with more than four hours at the crease before being trapped lbw by Woakes to record his lowest score of the series.

He built his innings cautiously, scoring nine fours and just one six, which came when he lofted a Jack Leach ball far over long-on to bring up his half-century.

It was Smith’s 10th consecutive 50 against England in Tests, the most in a row by any batsmen against any other nation in the longest format of the game.

Smith has now scored 751 runs in six innings, more than twice as many as any other batsman in the series.

ARCHER BREAKTHROUGH Australia’s openers David Warner and Marcus Harris both fell early in the day to the fast bowling of Archer for single-digit scores.

Warner’s miserable series with the bat continued when, after picking up five runs, he got the slightest of touches on an Archer delivery as it flew through to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.

Warner is the first opening batsmen in Test cricket to get out for eight single-digit scores in a series, with only one innings left to play to get his Ashes average into double figures.

Archer claimed his second wicket soon after when Harris, on three, edged a ball to Ben Stokes at second slip.

England then struggled to break the combination of Smith and Labuschagne for almost an hour after lunch before Archer made the breakthrough, catching Labuschagne out lbw on 48 with an inswinging ball.

Curran then claimed the wicket of Matthew Wade, out lbw for 19 runs.

Marsh was out soon after tea, hooking an Archer bouncer all the way down to deep fine leg, where Leach crouched down in front of the boundary rope to take a low catch. Curran stole Archer’s limelight when he bagged the wickets of Australia captain Tim Paine (1) and Pat Cummins (0) with consecutive balls to leave the visitors on 166 for 7.

Archer then seized it back, claiming his fifth and sixth wickets of the day, those of Nathan Lyon (25) and Peter Siddle (18) - caught brilliantly by a diving Burns in the slips to end the innings.

Amazon Warriors aim to maintain momentum … clash with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots tonight

By Rajiv Bisnauth THE camaraderie and work ethic have driven Guyana Amazon Warriors to a perfect start in this year’s Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), as they finished their first set of home games undefeated.

However, Warriors, last year’s runners-up, will play their first game away from home when they clash with hosts, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots this evening from 20:00hrs at Basseterre.

Maintaining momentum will be the order of the day for the Warriors, who have secured wins over St Lucia Stars, Patriots and Barbados Tridents so far in the tournament.

The local franchise have been excellent with everyone contributing at crucial times, and with enough matchwinners and momentum on the side, Amazon Warriors seem to be the favourite going into this match.

Captain Shoaib Malik is yet to bring his A-game to the table but the young batting sensations, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran, and Brandon King, have all shared the limelight at the top of the order so far.

Their contributions have allowed the likes of Sherfane Rutherford, Chris Green and Keemo Paul the luxury to play their natural game towards the back end of the first three games.

In the bowling department, Warriors will be without Shadab Khan, the Pakistan international leg-spinner, who was only available for the first three games of the season due to domestic commitments. He will

be replaced by South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir.

Tahir played for Amazon Warriors in 2018 when he claimed 16 wickets at 17.75 as the team made it to the final but were beaten by the Trinbago Knight Riders. Amazon Warriors have also announced a replacement for USA player Saurabh Netravalkar who will be unavailable due to international commitments.

Netravalkar was replaced by Afghan leg-spinner Qais Ahmad who played for the St Lucia franchise in the 2018 Hero CPL. Qais has 35 wickets in T20 cricket at the very impressive average of 18 from his 27 matches in the format.

The predictable nature of offspinner Green has also given their attack a different dimension while pacers Romario Shepherd and Paul, are expected to play their part.

With no injury concerns at present, the Warriors are expected to go in with the same team that beat Barbados Tridents in their last game.

On the other hand, Patriots have concerns, winning only one game out of four they have played so far.

The Patriots, were left to rue their inability to build on promising positions as they were defeated

by Trinbago Knight Riders in their opening game, then to the Warriors by eight wickets before rebounding in a record-run chase against the Jamaica Tallawahs, winning by four wickets.

However, they lost their last game to the Tridents by 18 runs.

International and domestic commitments have forced Patriots into some late changes ahead of the tournament and these have somewhat affected their performance.

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1st innings R. Burns c Marsh b Hazlewood 47 J. Denly c Smith b Cummins 14 J. Root b Cummins 57 B. Stokes c Lyon b Marsh 20 J. Bairstow lbw b Marsh 22 J. Buttler b Cummins 70 S. Curran c Smith b Marsh 15 C. Woakes lbw b Marsh 2 J. Archer c Paine b Hazlewood 9 M. Leach b Marsh 21 S. Broad not out 0 Extras: (b-3, lb-7, nb-2, w-5) 17 Total: (all out, 87.1 overs) 294 Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-103, 3-130, 4-170, 5-176, 6-199, 7-205, 8-226, 9-294.

Bowling: P. Cummins 25.5-6-84-3, J. Hazlewood 217-76-2, P. Siddle 17-1-61-0, M. Marsh 18.2-4-46-5, N. Lyon 4-0-12-0, M. Labuschagne 1-0-5-0.

AUSTRALIA 1st innings D. Warner c Bairstow b Archer 5 M. Harris c Stokes b Archer 3 M. Labuschagne lbw b Archer 48 S. Smith lbw b Woakes 80 M. Wade lbw b Curran 19 M. Marsh c Leach b Archer 17 T. Paine c Bairstow b Curran 1 P. Cummins lbw b Curran 0 P. Siddle c Burns b Archer 18 N. Lyon b Archer 25 J. Hazlewood not out 1 Extras: (b-1, lb-2, w-5) 8 Total: (all out, 68.5 overs) 225 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-14, 3-83, 4-118, 5-160, 6-166, 7-166, 8-187, 9-224.

Bowling: S. Broad 12-3-45-0, J. Archer 23.5-9-62-6, S. Curran 17-6-46-3, C. Woakes 10-2-51-1, M. Leach 6-1-18-0 ENGLAND 2nd innings R. Burns not out 4 J. Denly not out 1 Extras: (lb-4) 4 Total: (4 overs) 9/0 Bowling: P. Cummins 2-2-0-0, J. Hazlewood 2-1-5-0.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 14, 2019

Sarfaraz retained as Pakistan Bacchus Bulls, Tuschen Southside

(REUTERS) - Sarfaraz Ahmed has been retained as the captain of the Pakistan cricket team for the upcoming limitedovers series against Sri Lanka, the country’s cricket board (PCB) said yesterday.

Sarfaraz took charge of Pakistan across all formats in April 2017 and led the team to the Champions Trophy victory two months later.

The decision to continue with Sarfaraz comes a week after former captain Misbahul-Haq was confirmed as the head coach and chief selector of the national team.

“I feel humble and honoured to have been awarded extension to my captaincy term,” Sarfaraz said in a statement.

“I have enjoyed captaining the Pakistan cricket team and look forward to

Sarfaraz Ahmed

improving my leadership qualities under the new setup of Misbah-ul-Haq who also has a proven record as captain.

“I have played most of my cricket under Misbah and we know each other pretty well. I think we will make a good combination, which will contribute to improved performances of the side

across all formats.”

Under Sarfaraz’s captaincy, Pakistan failed to reach the semi-finals of this year’s World Cup, which led to the PCB’s decision to not renew head coach Mickey Arthur’s contract.

Top order batsman Babar Azam, who has previously captained Pakistan in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup in 2012, will join the leadership group as the new vice-captain after an impressive run across all formats.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan are scheduled to play three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches between September 27 and October 9.

to clash in Under-17 fixture today

CRICKET action will resume on the Essequibo Coast after a prolonged rainy period, with a specially arranged Under-17 40-overs match between hosts Bacchus Bulls and Tuschen Southside from Region 3.

The game will be played today at the Imam Bacchus ground in Affiance and will commence at 09:30hrs. The sponsors are Harrischan Ramballi Construction Services and Imam Bacchus Group of Companies.

Meanwhile Tuschen Southside

have already released their squad and will be led by Jason Holder (captain) with the others being Trevon Daniels, Mark Mohabir, Ronoldo Scouten, Sarwan Bishram, Navindra Kaso, Daniel Ward, Aaron Mohabir, Nicholas Persaud, Mahesh Sookdeo, Sheldon Browne, Nicholas Lovell, Nicholai Jacobus and Anil Jacobs.

The coach is Terry Newton.

Bacchus Bulls on the other hand will be spearheaded by all-rounder Rajindra

Ramballi, who was recently the recipient of the coveted National Youth Award, with support from Shazif Mohamed, Naseer Mohamed, Aryan Doodnauth and Govindra Toolsie among others. They will be guided by former National Under-19 player Yogeshwar Lall as coach.

At the conclusion of the match, trophies will be presented to the winners as well as to the best bowler and best batsman.

(Elroy Stephney)

NSC donates gear to Mahaicony Flames Circle Tennis Club THE National Sports Commission (NSC) through the direction of its head, Christopher Jones, made a timely donation to the Mahaicony Flames Circle Tennis Club, whose members will compete in a circle tennis competition later this month.

Although Director of Sport Jones was not present, he sent his best wishes to the side.

In an invited comment from one of the club’s members,

May Bourne, it was stated that the equipment came at the right time and would help the club to fully prepare for the event.

Minister of Social Cohesion Dr George Norton, with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport as well as Jones is attempting to revive the homegrown sport right across Guyana.

Both government officials are hoping that the game can be used as a tool to foster village

camaraderie and for physical activity by both male and female players.

A number of teams are set to compete in the revival of our National Game of Circle Tennis

in

Guyana

tournament, scheduled for this month end in Linden.

NSC staff Rickey Nunes makes the presentation to May Bourne on behalf of Director of Sport, Jones.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 14, 2019

Paul & Sons 15-over final

Mercenary edge Rems in thriller, Carr Tec whip Enmore

By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada - After their disappointment of not reaching the 10/10 final, Mercenary rebounded in emphatic fashion to capture the Paul & Sons-sponsored Division One 15-over final, inflicting a three-wicket loss on Rems when the curtain came down on the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) tournament at the Ashtonbee playing field last Saturday.

While Mercenary were basking in glory on pitch number two, Carr Tec were also being crowned Division Two champions after recording a convincing 17run win over Enmore on pitch number one, thereby reversing the 10/10 result when the latter had emerged victorious.

In what was certainly one of the best knockout finals in recent times, the result of the Mercenary/ Rems encounter was in doubt until the final delivery of the pulsating game.

Needing to get 13 off the final over, bowled by Anil Mahadeo, the odds were in favour of Rems to add the 15-over title to their collection after their triumph over the GT Bannas in the 10over final.

However, two fielding mishaps, the first by Krishna Deosaran and the other by Yoodhanlall ‘Squashie’ Sukhlall proved extremely costly, both resulting in boundaries, one coming off the final delivery of the innings with four needed for victory and Andy Persaud being the hero as his flick

challenging 131 for four in their allotted 15 overs.

Bowling for Enmore, another former Guyana youth player Steve Ramdas took two for 15, Abdool Azeez one for 17 and Zakir Mohamed one for 27.

Enmore also started well with skipper Shiv Persaud and Imtiaz Badshaw sharing an opening stand of 48. They were, however, behind the required rate throughout the innings, MVP Persaud hit a defiant 58 with two fours and four sixes but his effort proved in vain after being dismissed in the final over with his team on 114 for six, still 18 runs away from achieving the

The victorious Division One Mercenary side sped past a helpless Sukhlall at deep backward square-leg.

Consisting mostly of the players who represented Softball Cricket Canada in the recentlyconcluded Toronto Cup, Mercenary were kept in tight reins for the greater part of their reply to Rems’ 104 for five in their allotted 15 overs, needing 35 in the last three overs.

Aftab Shamsudeen, who was later named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the winning team however made a vital 18 (1x4, 1x6) towards the backend of the innings following a strategic move by Mercenary to let opener Munniram Karran retire out on a painstaking, yet useful 25.

Important knocks also came from Avinash ‘Shines’ Sookdeo 19 (1x6) and Jeetendra Beharry 18 (1x4, 1x6) as Sukhlall ended with two for 17.

Earlier, the consistent Chien

Gittens, who was later named Rems MVP, with an unbeaten 28 (2x4, 1x6) led Rems to a competitive 104 for five in their 15 overs with supporting knocks of 16 each coming from Khemraj Harrinarine and Ian ‘Russian’ Baldeo and 15 from skipper Richard Dias.

Satrohan ‘Blade’ Balkarran, who sent ripples through the Rems players and fans with a first ball dismissal of Surujpaul Deosaran, claimed one for 19 while there was also one wicket each for Rabindra Diaram, Amit Rukhram, Shamsudeen and Avinash Sookdeo.

Seeking revenge, after their loss in the 10/10 final, Carr Tec were given a rollicking start of 59 from openers Anil Veerasammy (32) and Avinash Singh (21) with the ultra-aggressive Veerasammy clearing the ropes on four occasions while Singh’s knock

the main wicket-takers, At the presentation ceremony, OSCL president Albert Ramcharran expressed sincere thanks to Paul & Sons for the sponsorship of the tournament while congratulating all the participating teams. Sponsor Dharam Paul Singh was on hand to present the trophies.

Veteran softball player Terry Mathura, who plays for Carr Tec, has already been a part of three winning championship teams in 2019. Mathura is a member of the Toronto Blizzards who captured the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) Over-

Carr Tec players and supporters celebrate their victory in Division Two. contained two fours. Former Guyana youth player Rovendra Mandolall spanked two fours and a six in 30 as Carr Tec reached a

knockout ‘double;.

Avinash Singh (2-14), Shazam Baksh (2-14), MVP Mandolall (119) and Rakesh Dyal (1-21) were

50 crown. Toronto Blizzards also came out victorious in the same category in the Toronto Cup.

Yadram focussed on getting fitter Sir Andrew Strauss returns to ECB as cricket committee chair

By Rajiv Bisnauth

WHILE the ongoing Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 tournament, has gripped the attention of most of the Guyanese cricket fans, it has not been so for former West Indies Under-19 and Guyana Jaguars batsman Bhaskar Yadram, who said his focus is on his fitness, as he aims to excel in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) 2019-20 Professional Cricket League (PCL).

The 19-year-old was drafted by Windward Islands Volcanoes and was one of two overseas players selected at the draft that was held in April at the Corporate Headquarters in Antigua.

The attractive stroke player, who played two first-class matches for Jaguars in the 2017-18 season, is currently in Grenada with the Volcanoes squad, as they continue their pre-season training.

“Since I am here in Grenada I have been focussing heavily on my fitness regime since I want to set the bar when it comes to

Bhaskar Yadram fitness,” Yadram said.

The right-handed batsman added, “I have been training with the team Mondays to Fridays at the Grenada National Stadium as well as pushing in some serious gym work ... yea, so definitely one of my main focuses here to become fitter.”

Yadram, who also has played

eight List A games, and former Test batsman Assad Fudadin, who was retained by the Jamaica Scorpions, are the two players plying their trade outside their home territory.

Meanwhile, Vincentian cricketers Desron Maloney and Dillon Douglas are set to make their first-class debut, after they were drafted in the Volcanoes’ 15-member squad.

The two were among the five draft picks, joining the other ten “protected players” who make up the squad.

Maloney and Douglas earned their picks following creditable performances in the Windward Islands two-day tournament, which was staged here in St Vincent and the Grenadines earlier in the year.

They, along with fellow Vincentian Kenneth Dember, St Lucian Larry Edward and Yadram, make up the five drafted players.

The ten protected players of the Windward Islands Volcanoes are Sunil Ambris, Obed McCoy and Ryan Jordan; Josh Thomas, Roland Cato, Sherman Lewis and Devon Smith – Grenada; Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge – Dominica, and Barbadian Kirk Edwards.

The Windward Islands Volcanoes finished last in the six-team table in the 2018-2019 PCL. The Guyana Jaguars won the 2018-2019 PCL title for the fifth straight time. It is understood that the Super50 tournament will be played this November, followed by the Four-Day Championship commencing a month later.

FORMER England captain Sir Andrew Strauss has been appointed chair of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s cricket committee.

The 42-year-old, who was knighted on Tuesday, was previously director of England cricket from 2015 to 2018.

Strauss stepped down from the role to care for his wife, Ruth, who died of a rare form of lung cancer in December.

“The ECB have been a vital source of support over an extremely difficult year,” Strauss said.

“It is a real pleasure to return in this new capacity.”

Andrew Strauss led England to two Ashes wins, as well as the number one Test ranking, in his 50 Tests as captain.

As part of his role, Strauss will monitor all levels of cricket in England and Wales to ensure a “thriving professional game at the heart of the sport”.

As director of cricket, Strauss named Trevor Bayliss as head coach and helped overhaul

England’s white-ball strategy, which saw them win their first men’s World Cup in July.

He established the Ruth Strauss Foundation to raise money and awareness about cancer after his wife’s death.

“I’m extremely passionate about developing and growing cricket in England and Wales,” Strauss added.

“I’ve seen first-hand how this summer of cricket has inspired more people to fall in love with the sport and I can’t wait to help build on its success.”

(BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 14, 2019

Superb Cornwall stuns winless Tallawahs with second fastest CPL 50

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – The irrepressible Rahkeem Cornwall blasted the second fastest fifty in Caribbean Premier League (CPL) history as St Lucia Zouks won their first match of their campaign with a commanding five-wicket victory over beleaguered Jamaica Tallawahs here Thursday night.

In pursuit of a tricky 171 for victory at Sabina Park, the visitors stormed to their target with 20 balls to spare, to break their two-game losing skid, and also keep star-studded Tallawahs winless from three matches this season.

The run chase belonged to Cornwall who carved out a breathtaking 75 off 30 deliveries, counting four fours

and eight sixes in an entertaining innings.

His half-century required a mere 19 balls and it was that momentum, in a sizzling opening stand of 111 off 52 deliveries with Andre Fletcher who made 47 not out, which erased any hope of a Tallawahs win.

Colin de Grandhomme chipped in with 25 from 20 balls and even when West Indies fast bowler Oshane Thomas produced a late burst to claim three for 26 as three wickets tumbled for 11 runs in the space of 15 deliveries, Zouks cantered home with the damage already done.

Opener Glenn Phillips had earlier top-scored with a fluent 58 off 34 deliveries as Tallawahs reached 170 for

Rahkeem Cornwall goes on the attack during his top score of 75 against Jamaica Tallawahs on Thursday night. five off their 20 overs after being sent in.

Rovman Powell chipped in with a swift 44 off 22 balls but his departure then an unfortunate injury, which forced star allrounder Andre Russell out

of the game, saw Tallawahs decline badly.

Left-arm seamer Obed McCoy (2-32) provided key strikes with the new ball, removing veteran opener Chris Gayle for a firstball ‘duck’ off one that bounced

and shaped away, before having Chadwick Walton (8) holing out to deep square off a short ball at 28 for two in the fourth over.

Phillips, who counted eight fours and a six and Powell, who struck a four and five sixes, then came together in a scintillating third-wicket stand, adding 87 just 43 deliveries, to reclaim the momentum.

They were in complete control when Powell forced leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed (2-28) down to de Grandhomme at long off, prompting a slide that saw three wickets fall for 23 runs.

In-between, Russell ducked into a short one from South Africa seamer Hardus Viljoen and had to be stretchered off before he had scored.

In reply, Man-of-the-Match Cornwall took the game away

from Tallawahs in a savage assault. Dropped on 18 and again on 36, the right-hander rode his luck with back-to-back sixes off former Test pacer Jerome Taylor in the third over which cost 21 runs before twice clearing the ropes in the sixth over off left-arm spinner George Worker.

He took a turn in pacer Derval Green, clobbering the rightarmer for two sixes and a four in the seventh over which leaked 18 runs, before finally missing a heave at pacer Shamar Springer and being bowled in the seventh over.

Fletcher, who notched two fours and three sixes, kept Zouks on track by adding 34 with de Grandhomme for the third wicket, and was there at the end for the visitors.

Andre Russell’s scans clear him of serious injury ANDRE Russell was stretchered off the ground by medical staff after a blow to his helmet in the first innings of Jamaica Tallawahs’ clash against St Lucia Zouks at Sabina Park on Thursday night.

Following the incident, he was taken to hospital for a CT scan.

A medical update from the franchise confirmed that Russell was later cleared of serious injury. Having been advised rest, he returned to the hotel and didn’t play any further part in

the game.

The incident took place in the 14th over, after Russell, batting on zero, failed to connect with a pull. Zouks pacer Hardus Viljoen had bowled it short and at the body, and the ball struck Russell’s helmet near the right ear.

Russell had backed away before Viljoen had delivered the ball, and so the bowler followed the batsman, cramping him for space. Russell immediately dropped to the ground and the

Zouks fielders then removed his helmet. When the medical team rushed in to check on Russell, the batsman looked dazed but stood up on his feet.

Russell was beginning to walk off, retired hurt, when he was made to stop. A stretcher was brought in, and Russell - with a neck brace on - was taken off.

At first look, it appeared that Russell’s helmet did not have a neck guard.

Three overs after the incident, Tallawahs head coach Donovan Miller told the broadcasters that

“there was no update on Russell

just yet”, but at the innings break,

the

commentators

informed that Russell had been taken to the hospital for further checks.

Tallawahs

finished

their

innings on 170 for 5, adding only 38 runs in the last six overs. They eventually lost by

five

wickets,

suffering

their third straight loss of the campaign. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Andre Russell is dazed after a blow to the helmet.

(CPL via Getty Images)

Taylor expects Smith to lead Australia again FORMER skipper Mark Taylor has backed Steve Smith to captain Australia again after his incredible

Ashes exploits, as support mounts for the 30-year-old to be given a second chance.

Smith was banned for 12

months over a brazen attempt to alter the ball with sandpaper under his captaincy in a Cape Town Test, and slapped with a

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday September 14, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL- Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)

29 matches

(2)

Colin Munro-567 runs (TKR, 2018) Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who has taken most wickets in a single CPL season to date?

(2) Who are the players that have captained Barbados Tridents to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Steve Smith further year’s suspension from any leadership role which runs out at the end of March next year.

While wicketkeeper Tim Paine assumed the job in Tests and won praise for the way he

helped the side retain the Ashes at Old Trafford. last weekend, he will be 35 in December.

Taylor, who helped determine Smith’s ball-tampering penalty, along with the bans handed to David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, said he was the natural choice to take over.

“I believe Smith will captain Australia again,” he said in a column for the Sydney Morning Herald.

“I was on the Cricket Australia board that determined the penalties for Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, over the events of Cape Town and have no doubt he will be a better leader next time around because of the very harsh lessons he learnt.”

Paine was widely criticised for his decision-making in the third Test at Headingley that Australia lost, but he bounced

back admirably at Old Trafford and Taylor said he should retain the armband for the upcoming home summer series against Pakistan and New Zealand.

But Smith would be waiting in the wings.

“To me it’s not a matter of whether he (Smith) becomes captain again on April 1. It doesn’t have to happen that quickly,” he said.

“But I’d like to think when Paine is finished as Test captain - whether that’s in six months’ time or two or three years - he would be a candidate to lead the side again.”

England captain Joe Root is more concerned with the more pressing issue of how to dismiss Smith during the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval.

Smith has compiled a mountain of 671 runs at 134.2 this series,

and needs 99 runs in the final Test to make it the most prolific series of his life.

Root is desperate to stop that happening in the clash that begins on Thursday.

“We’ll keep looking at different ways to get him out and trying different things,” Root said.

“He’s played extremely well, not given many chances and we feel like in his first 20 balls we’ve beaten the bat a lot and it could have been very different.

“But he’s managed to ride that out well and when he’s got in, he’s made it really count.

“Little things like that noball (that cost Jack Leach the wicket of Smith in Manchester) could have made a big difference but you can’t look at ifs and buts, you got to look forward at this next Test.

“Make sure when we do create that chance we take it.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 14, 2019

Defensive commitment lacking, changes needed: T&T head coach PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago head coach Dennis Lawrence has pointed to a lack of commitment defensively, after his side blew a two-goal advantage and were held to a 2-2 draw by Martinique in the CONCACAF Nations League on Monday.

The hosts led 2-0 early in the second half at the Ato Boldon Stadium before conceding twice through set pieces, to register their second successive draw against the French Caribbean side, following their 1-1 stalemate in Fort-de-France last Friday.

“We (couldn’t) defend set pieces. It’s a problem we identified in the first game.

We didn’t have enough people in the box ready to put their head on it and take a cut. It’s that simple,” Lawrence told a media conference here.

“We had it in the palm of our hands, and we gave it away all because we couldn’t defend set pieces the way we were meant to defend set pieces. We didn’t have people in the box ready to put their head on it and take a cut to defend the corners.”

The result left T&T second in the three-team group on two points, and they will next face Honduras twice in the space in the space of four days starting October 10 here.

Without a win in 12 outings, Lawrence said there was a possibility new players could come in for the upcoming fixtures.

“Before you talk about changes, you need to have options.

We need to find the options first then start thinking about changes. There are a couple that we’re working on, to bring in to represent T&T,” he said.

“I’m hoping that between now and October, their documents would come into play so we can put some more pressure on the boys that are in the squad. I think we need competition.”

He added: “We, in the past, would select squads based on performances for your football club. We have got to a stage now where we are selecting squads based on players just playing football.

“The past is the past and you have to work on the future but when you look on what

for Trinidad and Tobago and I hope he continues,” the former national defender said.

“And I hope the boys can learn from his example because he has been pristine

Trinidad and Tobago head coach Dennis Lawrence we used to call on before, it’s not on the same. We are calling on a different level of players.

“So now the target for a lot of these players is you need to be selected based on your

performance and not just playing.”

However, Lawrence reserved praise for Ryan Telfer, the 25-year-old Canada-born winger who made his debut in the first fixture against

Martinique then scored his first goal in the second game on Monday.

“I have to give credit to Ryan Telfer because when you look at him, he is performing for his club and he comes and performs

as a professional since he has been with us. I hope it can rub off on some of the players for them to understand what professionalism is all about.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 14, 2019

Six-wicket Archer gives England advantage over Aussies at the Oval Jofra Archer took his tally for the series to 22 wickets. (Getty)

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Steve Smith hit a 10th successive Ashes fifty. (Getty)

Pacer Romario Shepherd has taken seven wickets to date. (CPL T20 Ltd. 2019)

Amazon Warriors aim to maintain momentum

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Chandrapaul Hemraj has been in fine form so far. (CPL T20 Ltd. 2019)

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2019