Guyana Chronicle E-paper 9-16-2019

MONDAY 16th September, 2019

No.105762

‘Home at last’

Joey Jagan slams communist PPP 08 ... family of five returns home from hurricane-ravaged Bahamas PAGE

... says Jagdeo, gang of eight want control of the country

... gov’t pledges continued support to Guyanese, Bahamians 03 PAGE

PPP flip-flops on free 09 education PAGE

New sexual offences court a big plus for Essequibo 02 PAGE

–– could possibly reduce cases of sexual assault says social activist

Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams; CDC Director-General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig; and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings greeting 35-year-old Orin Grimmond and his family upon their arrival at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) from the hurricane-ravaged Bahamas.(Photo by Samuel Maughn)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

New sexual offences court a big plus for Essequibo –– could possibly reduce cases of sexual assault says social activist

By Navendra Seoraj A NEW Sexual Offences Court will be opened today by the Judiciary at the Essequibo High Court, and persons believe that the new addition will be a “big plus” for the Cinderella county of Essequibo.

“There will definitely be more prosecutions because the court is more victim-friendly, so it is a big move,” Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), Ann Greene, told Guyana Chronicle on Sunday.

According to the provisions under the Sexual Offences Act 2010, sexual assault is ranked as a severe offence which carries a penalty of imprisonment.

Chapter 8:03 of the Sexual Offences Act specifically states that a person commits the offence of sexual assault if he/she touches another

person (the complainant) in a sexual way; causes the complainant to touch him/ her in a sexual way; causes the complainant to touch a third party in a sexual way; or otherwise indecently assaults the complainant within the meaning of any other law.

The court will be significant in dealing with those cases, said Greene, adding that there will be more cases and more convictions because the Sexual Offences Court will be victim-friendly.

“In those courts witnesses are protected…there is a screen so the victim does not have to see the perpetrator… so that way you will get more prosecutions because it is a victim-friendly court,” she said.

When asked about cases of abuse in Essequibo, Greene said a lot of times the act of sexual abuse is hidden because people do not speak out. But CPA will be moving

to sensitise people about the need to speak up against sexual abuse.

Greene also hopes that, with the addition of the Sexual Offences Court, more persons will speak out about sexual abuse.

A social activist, who lives in Essequibo, Beatrice Parks-Mittelholzer, also hopes for the same result, since, according to her, sexual abuse is prevalent in Essequibo, particularly in the Pomeroon area.

“The court will be significant because more people will be prosecuted…we should have had a court like that a long time ago…sexual abuse is prevalent in the Pomeroon River and in Charity,” said Parks-Mittelholzer.

She said too that the court will be a big plus for Essequibo because more persons will be encouraged to come forward and open up about their experience.

While stressing the importance of the court, the activist said there is also need for a welfare office at Charity because it is a main port.

“You need a professional there with an office because it is very important… the person should be a social worker who understands and knows how to deal with matters of sexual offences,” said Parks-Mittelholzer.

Early this year it was reported by this newspaper that Guyana recorded, at March, 400 cases of sexual abuse against children in just three months, a figure which Resident UNICEF Representative, Sylvie Fouet said was alarming.

The number of cases last year was over 1000. The UNICEF representative signalled the need for more to be done in order to address the scourge which has been plaguing society for years.

She believes that building

capacity will help Guyana to find solutions, which will result in the reduction of those numbers and even the prevention of such cases.

As part of its contribution, UNICEF has assisted in the launching of several sexual offences courts locally.

The Judiciary in partnership with UNICEF Guyana had opened the Sexual Offences Court in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

The launch of the court in Berbice followed the opening of the Sexual Offences Court in Georgetown back in November 2017 and the commitment to decentralise specialised court services.

The courts follow the model guidelines to ensure that their operations are in line with the Sexual Offences Act and meet best practices.

The work of the court is complemented by the support services offered by the Ministry of Social Protection and

Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ann Greene other partners. This includes the one-stop centres or Child Advocacy Centres for the reporting of abuse.

Meanwhile, months after the Sexual Offences Court was opened in Georgetown, over 14 cases have been heard by the court, with over 10 persons being found guilty.

‘Home at last’

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

… family of five returns home from hurricane-ravaged Bahamas

… gov’t pledges continued support to Guyanese, Bahamians

By Lisa Hamilton A GUYANESE family of five arrived in Guyana on Sunday night from the hurricane-ravaged Abaco Islands in The Bahamas.

The family touched down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) around 21:30hrs and were warmly welcomed by Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix; Minster of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings; Minister State, Dawn Hastings-Williams; and Civil Defence Commission (CDC) Director-General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig.

rifying; it was traumatizing to begin with. As husband and father, I looked at my family and there was nothing that I could have done to save my family,” he began.

“We were in the ceiling and the water was rising; it was terrifying because there was no way to escape this water. What we did was we kicked the door out and there was still no help; still no way I could save my family. The only thing I can say, and I can’t exclude God out of it, because it was a miracle that happened that day.”

The Grimmond family is Seventh-Day Adventist

enged for food to eat.

He added that the family does not plan to return to the Bahamas to work as it will be very difficult to re-live the experience.

However, they do plan to visit the islands in the future as they left family and friends behind.

Grimmond said: “It’s a wonderful experience coming back home. Why? Because there are so many people out here that are looking out for us that were there and we just can’t wait to meet all of them,” he said.

Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix addressing the media in the presence of Orin Grimmond and his family Returning to Guyana were 35-year-old Orin Grimmond and his wife 35-yearold Sholme Grimmond who came with their children, seven-year-old Seraphine, two-year-old Angeline and two-month-old Kemuel.

The returning Guyanese adults are both teachers who, with the help of the government and the private sector, will seek to reintegrate into their home-town, Lethem.

They have been away from Guyana for seven years.

IT WAS TERRIFYING Speaking with the media, Orin Grimmond said that it wasn’t easy during the violent storm which left his family no choice but to seek refuge on the roof of their home.

“The experience was hor-

and firmly believe that it was God watching over their lives that saw them through the hurricane as their home was located exactly where the storm passed.

“It was indeed a miracle because we prayed and so many people here in Guyana were praying because they were watching the storm and there was no way that we could have gotten out of it alive without divine intervention. The island has been devastated by this [hurricane].

We could have been victims and so it really pains our hearts to know that there are people out there who died.

There are parents out there who put their children in trees just to save them; it wasn’t easy,” Grimmond stated.

Following the hurricane, he stated that looting was island-wide as people scav-

HERE TO HELP On September 1, 2019 Hurricane Dorian struck The Bahamas, decimating Abaco Islands and severely devastating Grand Bahama, the northernmost island of the Bahamas, as well.

Since then, the Guyana Consulate in The Bahamas has been working feverishly to ensure that all Guyanese on the islands are accounted for and provided with the best possible care.

While the record shows that approximately 80 Guyanese families had registered as residents in Grand Bahama, the Guyana Consulate believes that it is likely that the number is greater.

Through a Whatsapp contact, more than 100 Guyanese living in The Bahamas have directly and indirectly

Orin Grimmond, while holding one of his daughters, shares his experience with reporters shortly after arriving at CJIA from the Bahamas. reached out to the CDC for nese in distress who are out- izenship has committed to assistance. side of Guyana; we do not do replacing those documents As such, the CDC has that. We showed up in 2017 and they have all their inforjoined its Regional partners and it continues now…I think mation and contact informathrough the Caribbean Disas- there are about 28 persons tion,” he said. ter Emergency Management who we understand would Meanwhile, it was last Agency (CDEMA) to provide like to return but those ar- reported that Bahamian Edrelief and support. rangements have to be prop- ucation Ministry is doing Minister Felix told the erly organised.” its best to accommodate the media that plans are in place Speaking on the sidelines, affected Guyanese teachers to assist other Guyanese in- Director-General of the CDC, at schools on other islands terested in returning to their Lieutenant Colonel Kester within The Bahamas. country.

Craig stated that some conThe Grimmond family “We dealt with this first cerns have arisen whereby will initially be staying at the five; this family and we an- Guyanese wishing to return Marriott Hotel and will later ticipate that there are others,” have lost all their national travel to Lethem where they Felix said. identification documents. will settle down.

“We do not leave Guya“The Department of Cit“The Marriott donated rooms and will also be providing meals for them. Trans Guyana will be transporting them free of cost to Lethem because they’re from Lethem…we worked closely with the private sector for their support and I must thank the private sector for the work they’ve been doing,” Craig stated.

Being the first Guyanese family affected by hurricane Dorian to return to Guyana, Grimmond was asked what gave his wife and him the courage to return home with the little they now have.

Smiling warmly in response, he said: “It’s my Sholme Grimmond making her way out of the air- country after all. I know port with her youngest child two-month-old Kemuel that despite where ever we in the company of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr go, Guyana will not refuse Karen Cummings. Minister of Citizenship, Winston its citizens out there; it Felix and CDC Director-General, Lieutenant Colonel doesn’t matter what hapKester Craig can also be seen in the photo. (Photos pens, our families are there for us.”

by Samuel Maughn)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

Saudi oil attacks: Will fuel prices go up?

(BBC) Saudi Arabia’s state-owned company Aramco is the world’s biggest oil producer, generating 10% of the world’s oil, but it is also one of the world’s most profitable businesses.

For a drone attack to have knocked half of its and 5% of the world’s - oil supply offline, speaks to the vulnerability of their plants and in turn to the vulnera-

bility of a vital part of the global energy infrastructure.

The Khurais oilfield produces about 1% of the world’s oil, and Abqaiq is the company’s largest facility - with the capacity to process 7% of the global supply.

Questions being asked centre on why this attack could not have been prevented by a company with such deep pockets and

whether it can happen again.

MARKET REACTION A barrel of crude oil cost $60 (£48) on Friday and some analysts believe that could spike up to $80 (£64) or more - a knee-jerk response from traders to the shock attacks and to the many unknowns still surrounding the scale of the damage.

Even if this were to happen, prices at the petrol pump wouldn’t be guaranteed to rise by the same rate, however.

When oil trading starts in Asia later on Monday (00:00 GMT), we’ll get our first indication of how markets have digested the scale of the damage and how prices have been affected. Almost

three quarters of Aramco’s oil goes to Asia.

Previous events of a similar nature in recent times, however, have not had a long-term effect on the oil price.

As international energy policy expert Professor Nick Butler explains, “the direct impact of the attacks could be short-lived.

The market has adjusted without blinking over the last two years to the loss for political reasons of over two millions barrels a day of production from Venezuela and Iran”.

REGIONAL RISK The worry is, if the attacks stoke broader tensions in the region, then these price rises could be more long-term.

Professor Butler believes “if retaliation becomes a reality, any spike could be sustained feeding the risk of an economic recession”.

For Helima Croft, global head of commodity strategy at the Royal Bank of Canada, these drone attacks are “a game changer in the escalating Iranian regional stand-off”.

CONSUMER IMPACT It is far too early to tell whether consumers will see any financial impact from a rising oil price.

In the short term, much depends on how long a spike lasts - and any rise would take weeks to feed through into petrol prices.

For now, investors are closely watching for more statements from Aramco and

for any political reaction to events.

In the UK, 40% of the price of a litre of petrol is made up of oil, fuel production and profit. The rest is tax. Analysts say they do not expect to see a significant rise in prices at the pumps for drivers.

“There are currently savings in the wholesale price that have only just started to be passed on to drivers by retailers,” says industry expert Simon Williams from automotive services company RAC Limited.

“Many retailers cut their prices by three pence on Friday and we believe that average prices were six pence too high before that, so the impact of these fires may not be too great.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

PPP councillor in Linden accused of collecting signatures under false pretense –– falsifying others in letter to Indigenous Minister

By Vanessa Braithwaite A People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Region 10 councillor has been accused of collecting a total of 176 signatures from residents of Speightland, Linden, under false pretense, as well as falsifying the signatures of some.

The signatures were reportedly attached to a correspondence berating the conduct of Kevon Lorrimer, the Community Development Officer (CDO) attached to the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.

The letter, along with the attached signatures, dated September 3, 2019, was sent to the Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock, and was signed by Gem Narine, PPP Regional Councillor and Chairperson of the Speightland Community Development Council (CDC).

It was copied to the Regional Chairman, Renis Morian; Commander of ‘E’ Division, Ramesh Ashram; and CDC Officer, Denise Belgrave.

In the letter, Narine reportedly asked Minister Allicock, on behalf of the residents of Speightland, to intervene in a conflict that stemmed from the

PPP Councillor Gem Narine community’s heritage celebration that was held on September 8. Narine said the event, which was hosted by the Speightland Logging and Agriculture Cooperative Society (SLAC), is usually held by the CDC; however, this is the second year it has been hijacked by the SLAC. The letter focused heavily on Lorrimer, who is also the secretary of SLAC. According to Narine, Lorrimer has been abusive and disrespectful to the residents of Speightland and the CDC. She alleged that during a meeting on September 1, CDC Officers Byron Kendell and Denise Belgrave encouraged the CDC and SLAC to settle all issues relative to heritage celebration. But, instead of attempting to resolve the issues, Lorrimer attacked

the council and its chairperson, the PPP councillor further contended. She has asked the minister to sanction Lorrimer and report the matter to the police.

But when Guyana Chronicle contacted Belgrave on the allegations, she said that Lorrimer said nothing in her presence. “During the time we were there, he didn’t say anything, while we were there,” she said.

Attached to the letter were a total of 176 signatures. However, when shown the letter, some of the residents, who had signed onto the document, said Narine, in acquiring their signatures, made no mention of any dispute.

They were reportedly told that their signatures were needed for the establishment of a heritage committee.

Deomatie Singh was shocked when she saw the content of the letter her signature was attached to. “They said they want it concerning forming a heritage group, not anything about this,” she said.

Another resident Britney Nelson said she was also fooled, explaining that Narine had informed her that the letter was intended to get residents involved in the heritage celebration.

“They said it was to form

Two dead in separate Hinterland stabbings A 16-year old Venezuelan teen was fatally wounded during a fight at Lethem in the Rupununi on Sunday morning.

Dead is Alberto Imina, who lived in the border town with his sister.

Reports are that around 04:00hrs on Sunday, the young man and two other men were involved in an argument which escalated into a fight close to the Tabatinga Creek.

Two of the teen’s friends related that the assailant grabbed a cutlass and ran after the teenager who fell down near the creek. The assailant and another man then allegedly inflicted a severe beating on the teen whose body was later thrown into

the creek.

One of the eyewitnesses ran from the scene and encountered a mob near a drug yard adjoining Marlon’s nightclub. He was also beaten.Police are on the hunt for the suspects.

Meanwhile, at Waramadong in Region Seven, another man was stabbed to death during a fight involving three men on Sunday night.

While information is sketchy, the Guyana Chronicle was told that one of the injured men is in a critical condition at the Kamarang hospital where they were taken for treatment.

The deceased died on the spot at Waramadong.

a heritage group, last week Tuesday they came and I’m feeling really bad that my name is here because I didn’t agree to this,” she said. Asked whether Lorrimer had been abusive and disrespectful to the residents of the community, Nelson responded in the negative. “I have known him years now and he is very helpful,” she said.

Geneva Persaud on the other hand, whose name was on the list, said she never signed onto the document. Her relative, Jim Persaud’s signature was also reportedly falsified.

She is considering legal action against Narine.

In perusing the list, this publication observed several names recorded more than once and written with the same handwriting.

Residents also alleged that the names of children below the age of 17 were also placed on the list. They opined that the entire operation was politically motivated, since Lorrimer and Narine are affiliated with different political parties.

Residents also related that the CDC is null and

void and representation for development in the community is not being done.

When this publication contacted Councillor Narine, she rubbished the allegations and said that she never misrepresented the purpose for collecting the signatures and never falsified any signature.

“There is no body that could come and stand up in front of me and say we force them and say that is what we are doing. That for me is an allegation, I don’t agree with it. That is a total lie,” she told this newspaper.

Lorrimer explained that the heritage celebration was organised by a sub-committee of SLAC, because the CDC has been dysfunctional. According to him, the allegations are politically driven due to the fact that he is a former PPP Region 10 Executive.

Lorrimer resigned from the party earlier this year citing personal discrimination and marginalisation against Linden. He is now the Chairman of the Region 10 Guyana Action Party (GAP) – a partner within the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

Community Development Officer Kevon Lorrimer The Speightland Heritage Celebration 2019 drew one of the largest crowds compared to previous years. Present were Minister Allicock and Minister of State Dawn Hastings- Williams. A one-year permit was handed over SLAC to utilise a plot of land near the waterfront as a playground.

This newspaper was reliably informed that days after, Opposition Parliamentarian, Bishop Juan Edghill, visited the community and told the residents that the permit was not legal since the government is operating in an interim mode.

He reportedly encouraged residents to protest against such moves made by the APNU+AFC in their community.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

The modernisation of Guyana THERE is a creole saying in Guyana: “never see come fuh see.” It applies to situation where something that did not happen before, suddenly happens. It is like the passenger bridges at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), which did not exist until a few months ago.

No longer would passengers be subjected to the weather on either boarding or disembarking international flights. But when the APNU +AFC coalition embarked on modernisation of the CJIA, there was a hue and a cry that much money was being spent on the project. A certain section of the media described the works at the airport as a “repair” or “renovation” job, costing US $150 million.

Now that the use of the brand new air

bridges has been suspended to do reinforced concreted foundation for the heavy structures, there is another hue and a cry that the service has been interrupted!

This has been the negative response from a section of political fringe elements to everything good that has happened under this new government. And there are many good things happening simultaneously all over Guyana.

When the new government started to build a huge roundabout at Kitty, there was a hue and a cry that the roundabout would be a “slaughter house”; that there would be tragic accidents as Guyanese did not know how to use the new arrangement for traffic in multi-lanes. No accident has happened there since.

When the coalition started to build

the independence arches at Agricola and at Industry, and pedestrian crossings, the negativists complained about traffic inconvenience. The same complaint was raised when bridges were renovated along the Railway Embankment road, and the new four-lane roads on the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara were under construction.

You get the feeling that nothing new is appreciated.

But this is not the view of most Guyanese who welcome with gratitude and enthusiasm every street and road lamp, solar energy at work places and offices, new traffic lights and cameras at intersections, and the many improvements in every village, in all the country’s 10 regions!

Guyanese who have never seen progress in fast internet connections, radio broad-

casting in the hinterland and flights to some 60 renovated interior aerodromes, have now come to see these. No longer are they shrouded in disbelief to see the many essential services they could have never accessed in the past, coming to their communities.

For communities that now enjoy potable water supplies for the first time they are not ruffled if the service is cut off for a few hours, or even for a day. The same could be said about those who enjoy electricity, the supply of which is not yet what it should be, but is now more reliable.

We are a grateful nation, and in spite of the prophets of doom, most Guyanese do appreciate good and new services and are not discouraged when certain services are temporarily down. It is a small price to pay for progress!

Bipartisan approach needed to decriminalise suicide Dear Editor, DIRECTOR of the Mental Health Institute, Dr Util Richmond-Thomas, was recently quoted in the media as being “in full support of the decriminalisation of suicide and self-harm in Guyana.”

The director is the latest in a long line of government officials who have made this call over the years. Non-Guyanese who have also made this call include British High Commissioner Greg Quinn and PAHO/WHO representative, Dr William Adu-Krow.

However, a bill to decriminalise suicide and selfharm was moved in parlia-

ment by the political opposition in 2016. Piloted by Dr Vindhya Persaud, the bill came about partly through the work of The Caribbean Voice, more specifically Dr Frank Anthony, a member of our Board of Directors.

Although the government spoke in support of the bill, they argued that the manner in which the legislation was framed both politicised and trivialised the issue, but no explanation was ever provided to indicate how this was so.

In 2015, Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had called for the decriminalisation of suicide when he spoke at the launch of the Suicide

Helpline. According to the minister, the decriminalisation could help to solve the whole issue of suicide in a more holistic manner and give persons an opportunity to reform themselves through counselling. Yet he was most vociferous in declaring that government would not support the motion in parliament in 2016.

In 2015, Minister Ramjattan also called for national consultations on the issue, but nothing was ever done.

However a 2016 poll commissioned by The Caribbean Voice found that most Guyanese agreed that suicide should be decriminalised.

The following were the ques-

tions and responses obtained: Should attempted suicide be decriminalised? Yes (74) No (8) Not Sure/No (18) Suicide is punishable under Chapter 801 Section 96 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, which states, “Everyone who attempts to commit suicide shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and liable to imprisonment for two years.”

Also, Section 95 of the Criminal Law Offences Act Cap. 8:01, states, “Everyone who aids or abets any person in the commission of suicide shall be guilty of a felony and liable to imprisonment for life.”

According to Dr William Adu-Krow, “If such a

person escapes prosecution, this person is encouraged to commit suicide.” In addition to calling for the decriminalisation of suicide, he lamented that the existing legislation makes no provision for psychological assistance to survivors.

In October last year, Attorney General Basil Williams was quoted in the local media as stating that plans were afoot to decriminalise suicide. Almost a year later no move has been made towards this end.

In 2016, after the government voted against the bill, TCV called for a bipartisan committee to prepare and take another bill to parlia-

ment, but there was absolutely no response from the politicians. While we are aware that until elections are held no bills can be passed in parliament, we do repeat our call for a bipartisan committee to be set up to craft another bill so as to eliminate ‘Politicising and trivialising’ and ensure that next time around the bill becomes law.

We also urge that this new legislation make provision for psychological assistance for suicide survivors’.

Surely, this is something our politicians can agree on?

Sincerely, The Caribbean Voice

DNC nudges GECOM to bar Jagdeo from participating in upcoming elections Dear Editor, THE Democratic National Congress is concerned that a potential outcome at the upcoming national elections is the return of Mr Bharrat Jagdeo and his acolytes to our government offices.

This will no doubt signify a return of his brand of institutionalised corruption, along with the re-engagement of Roger Khan in the administration of our nation’s affairs

(we cannot ignore the fact that Roger Khan will never be prosecuted by Jagdeo, and that he will very likely be called upon once again by Jagdeo).

There is now no question that Jagdeo as Guyana’s president had sponsored Roger Khan’s killing spree, since during the trial of Khan’s lawyer, an executive of Smith Myers, the UK company which manufactured the computer, had admitted

that his company received a Government of Guyana letter signed by Dr Leslie Ramsammy for the computer and cellphone-tracking device found in Khan’s possession in 2002. Jagdeo authorised the purchase of that computer for Roger Khan (he even admitted to its existence, lying barefacedly about its whereabouts in 2009; see below), and is responsible for all the deaths perpetrated by Khan up until his capture in 2006. It

also confirmed that Jagdeo’s government paid US$90,000 to train Khan in its use.

Jagdeo and his acolytes gave this country a beating between 1999 and 2015.

From murdering citizens (including the murder and covering up of one of his own ministers, Satyadeow Sawh), to robbing this country through his institutionalised government corruption, to bullying businesses and running down media

organisations exposing his abuses. This is the kind of man we have running for public office, and also whom the chairperson of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, with all her legal wisdom, can find no fault with, based on the request of the Democratic National Congress that he be barred from participating the in the upcoming elections.

Guyanese have to demand justice and that

GECOM operates to ensure that such individuals are barred from holding public office. We also have to demand a new government that will change our constitution, so that it serves the people of Guyana, and not our politicians and our political establishment.

Yours Faithfully, Craig Sylvester, Party Leader, Democratic National Congress.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

Chef found dead in city apartment

THE body of a 52-yearold chef, Andre Gordon called ‘Blackie,’ was discovered motionless in a pool of blood on Sunday morning at Station Street, Kitty, Georgetown.

Gordon was found naked in the kitchen of an apartment he was renting at Lot 52 Station Street.

He was Guyanese but lived in the United States (U.S.), having returned to his homeland only on September 9, 2019.

At the scene, the Guyana Chronicle was informed that Gordon’s long-time friend Nicholas Pompey made the discovery around 09:30hrs after several attempts to contact the chef were unsuccessful.

“We can’t get the man for a day and we decide fuh

The body of 52-year-old chef Andre Gordon being transported from the scene on Sunday by workers of the Lyken Funeral Home. (Samuel Maughn photo)

go and check pon he this morning and when we pull the sliding door, the sliding door open; the grill door open; the padlocks all. When I stepped in the house and go to the passageway, the man

lie down in the kitchen with a streak of blood running from he head area, straight down to he foot,” Pompey told the media.

Prior to speaking with the police, Pompey was of

the opinion that Gordon’s throat had been slit; however, he later told the media that the police found that the blood came from Gordon’s nose and that there were no marks of

violence.

“The blood had to come from he nose, but we ain’t know how it come from he nose,” he stated.

The feed from a security camera from a house adjacent to Gordon’s apartment may reveal what took place.

Residents at the adjacent lot told this newspaper that the camera has the ability to collect footage up to the gate of the Lot 52 residence.

Pompey stated: “We check a camera just now from over the road [that shows] that when we left he, he left and go out pon the road and had to come in with somebody, but the people with the camera ain’t reach up to there yet.”

The friend of the deceased told media operatives that Gordon’s visit to the country was after a

Andre Gordon

12-year hiatus.

“He’s a chef in America and he come down here to train some chefs.

He was supposed to leave on Tuesday,” he related.

The Gordon’s body was taken away by the Lyken Funeral Home.

Access to education in Indigenous communities His Excellency PRESIDENT David Granger visited the village of River’s View to launch Indigenous Heritage Month (2019).

This special village is located in the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice, Region 10. It is described as overlapping the two richest regions for mining and logging in the country.

The President’s visit could be seen as two-fold.

It was and still is a time of celebration since the month is not over – showing off many of the skilfully made handicraft items done mostly from some of the natural materials that can be found in the village and extended communities. It was also at a time when some of the most tantalising foods and drinks would have been prepared and served.

And the use of some of the fresh fish, ‘wild’ meat, naturally made sauces and many more would have been done to the delight of community members, but

especially visitors to the occasion.

EDUCATION AND HERITAGE Nonetheless, it was also the merging of Indigenous Heritage Month and Education Month, which both fall within the month of September.

Therefore, President Granger used the opportunity to once again address the matter of education, to show the relevance of it in River’s View, as well as in all other communities in Guyana.

In his address to the people of the River’s View community, he highlighted the fact that it was education that set the tone for his first visit to River’s View, when he handed over two boats for the children to use to go to school. President Granger promised that the government would continue to assist in this manner.

He noted that the Public Education and Transportation Service is designed

to get children to school; “attendance is priority” and that it will help them to stay in school, where there will be ‘no more skulking, no more dropouts.’

He added that some families in the community have been paying more than $20,000 per month to transport their children to secondary school and promised that this will not continue to happen as long as he is President of Guyana.

EDUCATION MONTH President Granger, in his usual style, obviously delighted at speaking on the topic of education, stated, “This Education Month a very significant month for all of us, because it is the pathway to development; it is the pathway to giving your children a better opportunity to succeed.

“Everything in life nowadays – mining, logging, Information Technology,

ophthalmology, everything you can think about is based on knowledge. And without going to school and acquiring that knowledge we will be left behind – as a family, as a community, as a region and as a country,” he asserted.

There is no doubt that the President walks and talks education; that he is a leader who is ever so convinced that it is only by way of education this nation will be developed and will see true prosperity. At the same time what one may admire about the man is the fact that he also puts his money, time and energy where his mouth is. The 5Bs plan is continually being implemented and it is bringing positive results. The figures are there to show. Additionally, it was reported that more than G$170B has been expended on education over the past four years. Furthermore, expenditure on the public education sector moved from 14.8 per cent of the national

budget in 2014 to 17.0 per cent in 2017.

Mr Granger is fast becoming known for coining some of the most appropriate phrases on education – phrases that not only attract attention, but are also very motivational for the young people and others of this country.

He said, “Educational development is the pathway to indigenous people’s development. Everyone has a better chance in the modern economy with its emphasis on knowledge-based industries, if he has a good education.” He went on, “We want every child to have access to education, to attend school regularly and to graduate from school with the knowledge, skills and values to be able to provide for his or her family.” There is hardly any family, any parent, and any child who would not desire this.

The President then explained that it is the coalition government’s intended plan

to make sure that there is “greater equality” across the divide. He spoke of education being used as the equaliser between the indigenous people of the hinterland, as well as people on the coastland, especially with regard to poverty reduction and better economic opportunities.

Minister of Education, the Hon Dr Nicolette Henry, told a gathering at the launch of Education Month just recently, “If education fails, the nation fails.” In support of her declaration, she further quoted President Granger, “His excellency believes that education is the key to national development. In 2019 $52.2 billion would’ve been allocated to the education sector, an over 15 per cent increase from 2018.

This investment in education is critical and crucial to the development of this nation.”

Regards Margaret Burke

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

Joey Jagan slams communist PPP ... says Jagdeo, gang of eight want control of the country

By Navendra Seoraj FORMER President and Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo is a communist who should not be trusted, son of the late People’s Progressive Party (PPP) founder, Cheddi Joey Jagan has said.

Dr. Jagan labelled Jagdeo as a communist with a “gang of eight,” who has full control over the PPP and wants control of the country.

“Check the constitution of the PPP and how they run the party, you will find that they believe in democratic centralism, they exalt the leader and he (Jagdeo ) is the leader so he sets the tone… all sense in one place, communism,” said Dr. Jagan during a recent interview on Benschop Radio.

According to Dr. Jagan, Jagdeo does not have full control of the PPP, but he instead has a “gang of eight.”

He explained that the PPP has a central committee of 35 people, but that is controlled by the central executive, some-

thing which Dr. Jagan said is synonymous to the Politburo of the Soviet Union.

“The central executive comprises 15 people and if you have eight, you have the majority and then democratic centralism works in, so there is no voice, you got to keep quiet and support the majority,” said Dr. Jagan.

He said all communist leaders had full control of their parties and all of them had dictator powers in their party.

“Well I view it that Jagdeo is not a fool, but he should read the bible a little more instead of reading the communist manifesto,” he said.

Dr. Jagan even roped in PPP Presidential Candidate, Irfan Ali, whom, he said is among the gang of communists who are running the PPP. He believes that the PPP holds Russian President, Vladimir Putin and Castro as their heroes so it was no surprise that they hold former Alliance For Change (AFC) Member and Parliamentari-

an, Charrandass Persaud as a hero.

Persaud voted in favour of the no-confidence motion which was tabled by the opposition to bring down his own Government.

“Charrandass Persaud is a fly-by-night politician who tried to get what he could from the system,” said Dr. Jagan.

He considered Persaud as a traitor to Guyana, noting that what he (Persaud) did was “ridiculous,” and it shows the weakness of the constitutional system.

Dr. Jagan believes that the no-confidence motion should not have been passed because the coalition – A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) – Government acquired more than just a one seat majority in the National Assembly.

“It should have never been a one seat majority… a lot of things happened in Guyana that people trying to lie about…I would have never accepted the results because a lot of people were gravitating

Flashback- Dr. Joey Jagan (centre) sharing a moment with President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to the coalition pre 2015,” he lamented.

Despite what has happened, he believes that the best way forward is being united. Dr. Jagan suggested that President David Granger should lead the Government for the next five years, but the PPP should be included in the government to assist with the governance of the country.

“For the sake of all Guyanese, we could bring the PPP into the government and serve the people of Guyana by working out a unity situation,

something which my father wanted,” he said, noting that Cheddi Jagan always wanted a coalition government.

He commended President Granger for showing that coalition politics is workable and that is what Guyana needs.

Dr. Jagan believes that Guyanese would support a unity government, because they would watch each other and reduce corruption.

“We need peace and tranquility, with oil coming there will be investments in all sectors, we need to be ready for that and deal with it together,”

he said, adding that if Jagdeo does not embrace the concept of shared governance, then elections should be held.

“We already know the result, Granger will win the election… the PPP will still lose,” said Dr. Jagan, noting that the Official List of Electors, will, however, have to be sanitised.

He said there is no rush because President Granger is not destroying Guyana’s economy, but contrary to what people are saying Government is getting a lot done.

Youths continue to benefit from gov’t vocational training –– 50 graduate from BIT programme

By Naomi Marshall MORE than 50 persons graduated from the Social Protection Ministry’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT) programme as the Government continues to empower and provide opportunities for the young people of the country.

The graduates were trained in the areas of Heavy Duty Equipment Operation and Apiculture. The training courses were facilitated by the Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport – Youth Empowerment Unit, in collaboration with BIT. The graduation ceremony was held last Thursd-ay at the Madewini Training Centre on the Linden, Soesdyke Highway, and saw 25 persons being certified in the area of Apiculture, while 32 persons, including two females, were certified in the area of heavy duty equipment utilization, after successfully completing the courses.

In providing an overview

Participants of the heavy-duty equipment and apiculture training display their certificates. Seated are representatives of the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport and Ministry of Social Protection-Board of Industrial Training. of the two courses, the Youth According to Saul, par- is why we ensure that we Empowerment Unit’s Assis- ticipants of both courses, have incorporated in these tant Director of Economic who came from Regions programmes, aspects of that Empowerment, Samuel Saul, Four, Five, Six and Seven, nature,” Saul explained. explained that the cours- were exposed to practical Meanwhile, Richard es were designed to equip and theoretical work, includ- Maughn, Acting Chief Exyoung people with the req- ing basic life skills, English ecutive Officer of the Board uisite knowledge and skills Language, Mathematics and of Industrial Training, highneeded to gain employment Financial Literacy. lighted that BIT is responsior become entrepreneurs.

“We believe that while ble for the quality assurance He detailed that the api- you acquire the skills and of skills training within Guyculture course lasted ten you want to get into business, ana and has implemented days, while the heavy duty it is important that you have many programmes of this machine course ran for a an idea in terms of managing nature in the past. period of three months. your finances and so that Maughn added that, for

the period January 2019September 2019, more than 2000 persons have already been engaged in vocational training programmes.

He stated that the world is changing due to automation; however, with innovation, there is a need for creative minds.

“It is about how you can think outside the box that will help you to maintain growing and be relevant in a changing society. You need to be able to learn each day and learn to fit into the changing demand of work within the society so that you can continue to take care of your livelihood and that of your family and people who are close to you,” Maughn noted.

In addition, Maughn announced that participants of the heavy duty machine training will now be able to participate in an excavator operation course at the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC).

Leslyn Boyce-Garraway, Assistant Director of Youth,

charged the youths to make a positive impact within their communities and by extension, the entire country.

“I charge you to practise and develop the skills you have acquired. The training you have received here will be useless if you do not translate it into action. Make every effort to find out all you can about your new skill and seek to master it. Learn new and innovative ways of doing things.

Keep yourself informed about new developments in your field,”she urged.

Noel Isaacs, of Land of Canaan on the East Bank of Demerara, participated in the Apiculture training. According to him, it was informative and has placed him one step closer to achieving his dream of being an apiculturist.

“I really wanted to learn beekeeping since age 19 but I didn’t have the opportunity. I started off with 3 hives but now I have 14 hives because of the training which was very good,” Isaacs told Guyana Chronicle.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

PPP flip-flops on free education

By Lisa Hamilton

WITH General and Regional Elections on the horizon, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C’s) presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali, has begun touting a manifesto which includes ‘free tertiary education for all Guyanese’ when it was his party that introduced fees to the University of Guyana (UG) back in 1994.

In the Saturday, September 14, 2019 Edition of the Guyana Times, Ali, in an article, promised to “give out 20,000 online scholarships.”

The fraud-accused presidential candidate explained that free university education would not be available from day one if the PPP/C Government is elected but would take some two to three years to allow for the party to “work out the details of this policy initiative.”

According to the PPP/ C’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, the party’s manifesto, which also includes a “loan writeoff”, will be launched closer to the date of elections.

SEE-SAW MOTIONS In contrast to the party’s recent vigour for free education, the history of the University of Guyana shows that the very political party responsible for introducing fees at the university is the one now seeking to remedy it.

The history section of the UG’s website, states that when the university opened its doors on October 2, 1963, its annual tuition fee was $100 but it was later

People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali abolished.

In 1976, under former President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, all schools of the government were made free from nursery to university and this was enshrined as a right within the 1980 Constitution.

Article 27 of the Constitution states: “Every citizen has the right to free education from nursery to university as well as at non-formal places where opportunities are provided for education and training.”

Burnham reinforced the basis of universal primary and secondary education and moved tertiary education from being the privilege of an élite few to an entitlement for everyone.

As Guyana’s first Prime Minister and Executive President and founder of the People’s National Congress (PNC), he believed that public education was the cornerstone of social justice.

He had announced in a broadcast to the nation: “Education is the corner-

stone of equality and one of the chief instruments for the abolition of snobbery and the removal of discrimination.”

However, it wasn’t until the 1994-1995 academic year, while the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan was president, that the university introduced a Cost Recovery Programme and free tertiary education ended.

This meant that resident Guyanese students were now required to pay G$127,000 per annum while the fees were higher for non-resident Guyanese and foreign students.

The payment of fees was higher for those pursuing studies in Law , Medicine, Nursing and Tourism, where the fees were $300,000, $500,000, $251,000 and $158,000 respectively.

The University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS) was one group which vehemently protested against the introduction of the tuition fees and still does so to date.

Added to this, during the PPP/C’s 23 years of power, the University of Guyana, according to government sources, faced numerous issues such as leaking roofs, furniture shortages, and complaints of no money being available.

In turn, the then government enforced large student loans which were not reinvested into the university’s development over the years.

In 2013, Kaieteur News reported the strike action of the university staff members who cried out in protest of issues such as no access to drinking water because of the lack of petty cash as

University of Guyana (UG) staff pickets several issues at the university in 2013 (Kaieteur News photo)

A Bartica lad shakes hands with President David Granger at the ceremony to hand over a 50-seater bus and bicycles for use by children of Bartica and surrounding communities. well as non-payments of all deductions for social security, credit union, pension, income tax and insurance.

“The University doesn’t have money; it doesn’t even have money to run its departments. There are some departments that don’t even have water. Not even a leaky roof is fixed because no funds are available to purchase basic materials.

Even repairs to computers and purchase of ink and paper cannot be done because of lack of funding,” one staff lamented.

On Saturday, in another see-saw motion, Ali outlined that a PPP/C Government back in power would “peruse plans to have all outstanding loans written off”.

FREE EDUCATION: AN ENTITLEMENT Earlier this year, advocate for free tertiary education, Elson Lowe, cited in the media recent reports from the Guyana National Bureau of Statistics (GNBS) of only 2.3 per cent of Guyana’s population being in possession of a bachelor’s degree; this is significantly low compared to developed countries.

Lowe has written President David Granger who, on Emancipation Day this year, made known his intention to restore the right to free education, in accordance with the Constitution.

“My brothers and sisters, every citizen, every Guyanese has a right to education. This is a basic entitlement of all of us, all of our children. Free education is an entitlement mandated by our constitution which

states ‘every citizen has the right to free education from nursery to university’,” he said.

“Our expected petroleum revenues, apart from what would be devoted to our Sovereign Wealth Fund, will help us to restore education in accordance with our Constitution. Those resources belong to future generations and future generations will benefit and profit from being educated. This would be an educated nation… Petroleum is not to enrich a few; it is to educate the many.

Let that be understood that those resources belong to future generations and future generations will profit from being educated… We are not making fun with education… there is no better way to spend our petroleum resources than to ensure that Guyana becomes a nation of educated people. Guyana must become the best-educated country in the English speaking Caribbean,” the President added.

Several students of UG, days later, welcomed the President’s pledge for a return of free education to the country.

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

Later, on August 6, 2019, at the 34th death anniversary of former President Burnham hosted at Place of Heroes, President Granger vowed that the Burnham’s legacy of free

public education will be re-birthed.

“Forbes Burnham gave effect to free public education by expanding opportunities for all…he entrenched free education as an entitlement in the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” he stated.

The President said that the former President built modern multilateral schools in Pomeroon-Supenaam at Anna Regina, Demerara-Mahaica, and Mahaica-Berbice, East Berbice-Corentyne at New Amsterdam and Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice regions and Georgetown.

“They still stand today as monuments and testimony to his commitment to regional public education…he built community high schools and technical institutes, opened the first campus of the University of Guyana and the Cyril Potter College of Education at Turkeyen, all with the aim of providing the best education for the post-Independence generation,” said the President.

Meanwhile, President Granger, through a programme started in observance of his birthday a few years ago, crafted the 5Bs Programme which sets out to provide free boats, buses, bicycles, breakfast and books to increase school-attendance which translates to better-educated students.

Thus far, the scheme has provided 1,400 bikes, 29 buses and 10 boats have been donated across the country under the programme allowing thousands more children in rural areas to freely attend school.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

Child neglect is more prevalent

THE main types of child abuse are sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect and abandonment. While child abandonment is easily detectable, the other three types of abuse may not be so apparent.

There is always a shroud of secrecy and deception involved in child sexual abuse.

And unless the child victim is brave enough to ‘speak out,’ or someone suspects that sexual abuse is taking place and reports it, the abuse will continue. Tell-tale signs of child sexual abuse include a child becoming withdrawn and introverted or aggressive; a child having problems with sleep, even bed-wetting; a child refusing to visit a certain home or not wanting to be left alone with a certain person.

When children adopt and display sexually explicit behaviours, it can be an indi-

cator that they have been abused or exposed to sexually explicit materials, which is also a chargeable offence.

Other children may suffer academically by dropping grades, because they are unable to concentrate in school.

Both boys and girls can be victims of sexual abuse and adults alone can protect them. Adults can take preventive measures such as ensuring their children are always safe and by empowering them to speak out if they feel uncomfortable in any situation.

Physical abuse towards children is wrong; there are many alternative methods of discipline. It is difficult to ascertain if a child is being physically abused from the context that many people (including children) look upon the beating, pinching, slapping, cuffing and the bouncing of a child’s heads against

the wall, as acceptable forms of punishment.

Although there are families who nurture their offspring without causing them any physical pain, for others, the corporal punishment of children is almost seen as a rite of passage. Extreme cases have arisen where children have been beaten with anything at hand because of the perpetrator’s anger and frustration.

When this happens the objective of disciplining a child has long been defeated and the child is most definitely being physically abused.

Welts, scars, swellings and bruises attest to this reality.

While undoubtedly many children survive a childhood of physical abuse, the question remains: what effect does this type of treatment have on their adult lives? And what miserable childhood memories are they left with

to endure for a lifetime?

Neglect of a child happens more often than one might imagine. It can be a passive situation that is hardly detectable: for example, one where children are not receiving the time and attention they deserve from an adult, although the adult is present.

The children are therefore left to think their thoughts and fend for themselves to some degree. Although things may appear normal to the outside world, on closer inspection the adult is not engaging, interacting or nurturing his/ her children in any way.

This type of neglect sometimes occurs when couples go their separate ways and the person left with the children becomes depressed.

Depression can develop into a much more serious mental health problem if help is not sought in the early stages.

Children who are left

without adult supervision for long periods are being neglected. In these situations, it often follows that the children’s academic and nutritional needs are also not being met. Their parent(s) may need support or guidance and in extreme cases, the children might need to be taken into care until the situation in their home improves to a satisfactory standard.

Other indicators of neglect are: when a child is scruffily dressed and may have body odour; if a child begs or steals food or money; if a child hardly attends school and has any type of developmental delay; if a child is always hungry and is therefore lacking nutrients; when a child has never attended a clinic (for immunisation) nor has seen a doctor, optician or dentist.

Neglect can be physical, medical, educational and/or

emotional, but the child may not notice or understand this as neglect. He/she will probably not even complain about the lack of adult guidance in his life and even grow used to spending long periods alone, much to the detriment of his/ her developing socio-emotional skills.

We all need to be vigilant for signs of child abuse in our communities. We have to talk about it: do what we can to prevent it and report it, even if it is only a suspicion. Child protection officers assess and investigate every report that is made to the Childcare and Protection Agency. If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION

GBTI rewards 15 early savers for outstanding performance at NGSA

THE Guyana Bank Trade Industry (GBTI), on Friday, presented 15 bursary awards to members of its Early Savers Club for their outstanding performance at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment.

Four of the 15 awardees secured places in the top 10 of the more than 14,000 pupils who wrote the exams in April. Among those were: Venisha Lall, Umashankar Singh, Devine Amsterdam and Ajala Maharaj. In a release, the bank said the initiative started many years ago as part of a reward programme for our Early Savers Members of the bank. “Over the years, we have seen some of the country’s top performers emanating from our Early Savers Club and it’s only fitting that we continue to reward them for their hard work and success,” GBTI said.

“Naila Rahaman, last year’s top performer, was a member of this group and we are pleased that this year’s top performer, Venisha Lall, is also a member of our Early Savers Club.” Ms. Lall, who

Two of the awardees receiving their bursaries from a representative of GBTI

is attending the Anna Regina Multilateral School, received her award at the GBTI Anna Regina Branch along with Bomeka Singh, another of the

awardees.

The other lucky members were Manoj Ram, Julia Bacchus, Jonathan Robinson, Christopher Shepperd, Neer-

aj Joree, Nandishraj Singh, Dhanpal Singh, Cameron Siers, Shemroy Singh and Marissa Siriram. Siriram uplifted her award from our Port

Mourant Branch in Berbice.

Executive Director of the bank, Mr. Richard Isava, congratulated the awardees and encouraged them to stay

focused on their dreams and be consistent in their performance. He noted that to be ready to take advantage of opportunities in an emerging oil-rich economy, everyone has to be fully prepared, qualified and up to date.

Meanwhile Mr. Owen Pollard, Assistant CEO – Primary, Ministry of Education, also encouraged the students to remain focused on their academic goals, noting that they have come this far with the support of their parents, the ministry and the community at large including GBTI. He lauded the consistent efforts of GBTI in partnering with the Ministry of Education to promote various educational programmes. The latest partnership of GBTI and the ministry is in the hosting of an online Maths and English Olympiad to be held on September 21 for students of Grades Nine and 10. The bank extended best wishes to the awardees and their families and expressed hope for continued success together.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

GB&GW submits counter proposal to RUSAL THE Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GB&GW), on behalf of the workers of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), handed over a counter proposal to Russian Aluminum Inc. (RUSAL) on Sunday for “parity in the bauxite industry” when it comes to wages and salaries.

The counter proposal comes as the Union and RUSAL are in the process of negotiating the clauses of a Collective Labour Agreement (CLA).

On Sunday, GB&GW General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis, confirmed that the counter proposal was dispatched. “We have, today, sent off a counter proposal to what the company has put to us… we believe that it is necessary; we believe in what we’re doing to be just and fair in making sure that the rights of workers are protected. We do not want anything to be done that denies workers of their rights and freedom, so whatever we’ve put in there is guided by that principle,” he told Guyana Chronicle.

While Lewis did not disclose the content of the proposal but said that GB&GW and representatives of BCGI worked on the document for a number of days and stand firm that its content is “just and fair”.

“The workers are eager to have a resolution on this matter,” he said.

The fallout on the matter began mid-February when employees of RUSAL, the major partner in BCGI, protested against the company’s imposition of a one per cent wage increase.

The employees also protested against other grievances such as unsafe working conditions.

Subsequent to the strike, BCGI issued an edict evicting a number of workers and their families from Maple Town, Aroaima, a residential community owned by the company, while some 90 workers were fired.

In March 2019, the workers were rehired with the signing of a Terms of Resumption [TOR] which would also see RUSAL and GB&GW meeting continuously, to negotiate a new CLA. Currently, the two sides are discussing non-monetary matters such as settlement of disputes; leave of absence; probationary and casual employee; lay-off and recall; temporary transfer; discipline; issues regarding seniority and more.

Altogether, they have agreed on 15 out of the 52 clauses of the Collective Labour Agreement (CLA).

The two sides will meet again this week to continue deliberations on the outstanding clauses and will also receive feedback from RUSAL on the counter proposal presented.

Should the GB&GW and RUSAL come to an impasse, the next step to be pursued would be conciliation and, should this fail, arbitration will commence.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

Guyana remains a

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo has affirmed that the APNU+AFC Government enjoys both de jure and de facto status.

“Its legitimacy flows from the nation’s Constitution and from the overwhelming majority of our people who support it,” he said in his weekend column, My Turn.

He noted that, in spite of anxieties over early elections, the rights and

freedom of all citizens are fully secured and protected.

“The government operates on an interim footing but does all routine functions from which citizens benefit.

The Constitution invests in the Executive President and his interim government a life that goes beyond elections, until a new President is sworn in,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo asserted.

He said that it is in this context

that the opposition must temper with responsibility its characterisation of the government as “illegal” from September 18, noting that this is not only a treacherous proposition but an invitation for anarchy.

The veteran politician and journalist declared, “The sky will not fall.

No; not at all. Not on September 18, the day after, or at any other time at all”.

Anti-government elements have arbitrarily named September 18 as the drop-dead date for the holding of fresh elections. They had petitioned the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Guyana’s highest court, to name this as the deadline for elections. But the CCJ declined jurisdiction to do so, and refused to set any time-frame within which fresh elections could be held.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

stable democracy The CCJ ruled that it was for the constitutional players – the Parliament, Elections Commission, President and Opposition Leader – who could best do this in fulfilment of the requirements of the Guyana Constitution and through a consultative process.

He argued that anti-government elements had wrongly interpreted a provision of the Consti-

tution for the holding of elections within ninety days following the passage of a confidence motion.

That ninety-day period lapsed on March 21, 2019 and the CCJ in upholding on June 18, 2019 that the confidence motion was validly passed, did not order any mandatory period within which elections should be held.

Nagamootoo argued that there is

no second ninety days. September 18 is a fiction, a figment in the infertile imagination of the political opposition.

He stated, however, that the inter-play of the judiciary was a necessary intervention that allowed a cooling off period for the Elections Commission to embark on preparations for early and credible elections, which include re-compilation of

up-dated data of persons who are eligible to vote in elections.

“All Guyanese want early but credible elections. But at the core of serious concerns on all sides is the need for a clean list of electors.

There are credible concerns that the voters list used in the last, 2015 elections, was bloated with names of unverified persons,” he further stated.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

City students in mural painting for Education Day 2019

Visual art students of the St. Joseph’s High School painting the mural.

IN commemoration of education month 2019 and Education Day Friday,

The Nursery School children along with the teachers and education officers, depicting a sketch of the mural.

September 13, 2019, the Ministry of Education held a mural painting exercise at

the Kingston seawall with several Secondary, Primary and Nursery schools in the

Georgetown district.

The schools in attendance were St. Joseph’s High, North Georgetown secondary and primary, Stella Maris primary and nursery, Precious Jewels nursery and the David Rose Special School.

Brian Clarke, a visual arts teacher at the St. Joseph’s high school and coordinator of the exercise, explained the meaning of the paintings that were installed during the exercise. According to him, the paintings were depicting the good life

following the extraction of oil and the fact that Guyana was a tourism destination and a growing economy.

Volika Jaikishun, the Principle Education Officer, explained to the Guyana Chronicle, that the exercise was part of the Education Month activities and students from various schools, with the guidance of a few teachers, were painting educational murals along the seawall based on the theme ‘Education: the Key to National Development’.

Jaikishun also noted that, several other events were planned for the celebration of Education Month in the Georgetown district. On September 17, the North Georgetown secondary will have the opening of an e-library.

On September 20, at the National Culture Centre there will be an attendance award ceremony.

Thus learners who made maximum attendance and schools which registered excellent attendance will be rewarded.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

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UG’s agri building to be powered by ‘green’ energy today THE University of Guyana (UG) Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry will for the first time today test the capacity of its bio-energy gasifier to provide electricity to its agriculture building for eight hours.

If successful, the gasifier would provide up to eight hours of electricity to the three-storey building, thereby reducing the overall electricity cost for the university.

The bio-energy gasifier is the institution’s most recent development in the area of eco-friendly technology and is being hailed as a means to provide clean and renewable energy to the university, through the use of bio-mass materials. Leading up to today, the faculty conducted a number of test runs of the machine’s capacity to provide electricity to a circuit by determining the ratio of

Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry and project team leader, Dr Lawrence Lewis, demonstrates how the bio-energy gasifier operates (Samuel Maughn photos)

bio-mass materials to energy that would be needed.

Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry Dr

Lawrence Lewis told the Guyana Chronicle that the test runs went for two hours or less, but today’s testing will prove whether the gasifier can meet the needs of a typical day of work at the faculty. “When everything is running we want to switch it over to our electricity in the building and see how long it will run continuously thereafter,” he said.

Back in July 2019, the university launched the bio-energy gasifier which can use materials such as wood, grass pellets, coconut shells, rice-hull pellets and other bio-mass sources to produce electricity and bio-char, a charcoal-like substance used as a soil amendment.

The bio-energy gasifier has the ability to produce between 16-18 kilovolts, but the workload required for the building is some 13 kilo-

- as bio-energy gasifier goes on eight-hour test

volts. Dr Lewis said that the university hopes to soon have numerous bio-energy gasifiers about the campus, which will work to provide clean energy and save money.

He stated: “We hope later on we will have not one but a battery of them and then they can supply a number of areas in the university, [but] everything is funded.”

While the university had secured the gasifier for some two years prior, it was only in the months leading up to the launching that it received the funding to house the machine. Funding for the gasifier project came partially from ExxonMobil to the tune of G$4M; from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) at G$2M and Progress in Education for Sustainability and Development Opportunities for Aquaculture in the Ca-

ribbean (PESCADO) funds.

The project’s technical team led by Dr Lewis and Dean Owen Bovell, also received support from Verlyn Klass of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology and Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE).

Added to this, the university is currently collaborating with an American university to develop Varietal Trials for Sweet Potato. “We will try to prepare, to an extent, the sweet potato accessions that we can sell to farmers that give them proper yields, disease resistance, pest resistance and the whole works.

We’re working on that which is novel,” he said.

Through the project, the university will be able to open its bio-technology lab on the campus before the year ends, as financing is still needed to equip the lab.

PAHO hurricane relief Low response pushes CH&PA to advertise partners, the Dutch sale of housing units at Experiment military forces, support -authority working to acquire house lots from MARDS, MMA efforts in Abaco

THE Dutch military forces, a Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) partner in Hurricane Dorian relief efforts, arrived in Abaco island on Wednesday aboard a Netherlands Royal Navy vessel. In coordination with the Ministry of Health of Bahamas and PAHO/WHO, they will support the country and other health partners on the principle of health for all.

The ship, HNLMS Johan de Witt, contains a hospital, as well as vehicles for land, air and marine transport, and a team of health professionals, engineers and marines from the Netherlands, France and Germany. On Wednesday, the Chief Medical Officer of the Bahamas, Dr. Pearl McMillan, and Deputy Medical Officer, Dr. Delon Brennon, met with representatives of PAHO/WHO and the Dutch military forces in Abaco to coordinate their support in order to better serve the needs of the population most affected by the Hurricane.

The team will focus their work in Marsh Harbour and north Abaco, two of the most affected areas. They will provide medical care, cleaning and emergency efforts in health centers, support for disease surveillance, and will also remove any vehicles and infrastructure that are blocking access to clinics on the island.

On Thursday morning the Dutch military forces evacuated a pregnant woman from Abaco who required urgent, specialised medical attention. The young woman, who was 8-months pregnant, arrived on Wednesday at the Marsh Harbour Healthcare Centre and was immediately attended by staff from the clinic, which is partially operational 24-hours a day with a body of staff that rotate every 5 days and live in the clinic.

Bad weather conditions in the afternoon and evening delayed evacuation of the Dutch military helicopter, but the woman was treated and stabilized by health care staff from the clinic until the evacuation could take place. Yesterday they also helped the World Food Programme to montar a logistic Hub in the Marsh Harbour government port, were the building have been destroyed by Hurricane Dorian.

THE Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has moved to advertise the sale of housing units at Experiment, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) due to the lack of interest from persons in the region.

“In Region Five the demand for built units is not great like [sic] in Regions Four and Three…what we have witnessed is that not much [sic] people in Region Five are interested in built units,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CH&PA Lelon Saul told the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday.

With persons in Region Five being more interested in house lots, the CH&PA has taken a decision to sell the housing units to persons in other parts of the country.

Saul said there are about 20 housing units available for sale. Among those units are elevated houses, two-bedroom flat units and three-bedroom flat houses.

According to the CH&PA, the elevated houses are being sold for $7M each while the two-bedroom flat houses are being sold for $6M each. The three-bedroom houses cost $8.5M each.

The elevated houses measure 600 square feet and were constructed on plots of land measuring 5,650 square feet.

The two-bedroom houses, which include one bath, a full kitchen, dining and sitting rooms and a balcony, measure 600 square feet and sit on a plot of land measuring 5,000 square feet.

The three-bedroom house includes one bath, a full kitchen, a dining and sitting room as well as a balcony. The 980 square feet unit sits on a plot of land measuring 4,500 square feet to 5,750 square feet.

Persons who are interested in purchasing the houses, would need to satisfy CH&PA’s criteria of not being the owner of any property; have or create an active application; and be a Guyanese.

Although the authority has taken a step to get the houses sold, it has not disregarded persons’ demand for house lots.

Unlike the other regions, the majority of the lands in Region Five are privately owned, while the others are owned by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the Mahaica/Mahaicony/ Abary-Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) and the Mahaicony/Abary Rice Development Scheme (MARDS).

CH&PA is in discussion with the MARDS to acquire lands for a homestead. Ac-

Some of the housing units at Experiment

cording to Saul, it is the hope of CH&PA to acquire 20 to 50 acres of land from MARDS. “We are in discussion with MARDS and we are awaiting a feedback from them in order to acquire lands at Burma for a homestead,” said Saul.

He said the authority is hoping for a response soon, so as to initiate the homestead project. The project will see people in Region Five benefiting from lands for a homestead.

“The lots would not be the regular house lots…we expect those lots to be up to 1,800 to 2,400 square feet, so you could build a house and you will have space for farming,” said Saul, adding that persons outside of the community can also benefit.

In addition to seeking land from MARDS, the authority has also approached the Mahaica, Mahaica Mahaicony

Abary - Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) for land.

Saul said the MMA indicated that they would give the CH&PA 50 acres of land to develop a housing scheme at Onverwagt. According to him, some of those house lots will go to the employees of MMA and even members of the public.

“We are in discussion with them (MMA), but we know where is the exact area… we are in the process of finalising the handover of that land, but we asked MMA for some additional information, like how many employees of the MMA scheme should benefit from the allocation and so on,” he said.

CH&PA had committed to injecting $1.4B into Region Five for the development of residential lands in the region.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

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Gasol claims rare double as Spain beat Argentina 95-75 to win FIBA World Cup

Spain celebrate their FIBA World Cup victory (Reuters photo)

BEIJING (Reuters) - Spain beat Argentina 95-75 to win the FIBA Basketball World Cup for the first time since 2006 on Sunday, completing a stunning campaign for a squad considered by many to be among the outsiders when the 32-team tournament began.

The Spaniards scored first and never relinquished the lead, relying on swarming interior defence and superior rebounding to snuff out the offensive threat of 2004 Olympic champions Argentina. Point guard Ricky Rubio racked up 20 points and three assists and Marc Gasol and Willy Hernangomez swatted three shots each as Spain pulled down 47 rebounds, 20 more than Argentina, en route to a comprehensive victory.

For Gasol it was the crowning achievement of an incredible year that saw him win an NBA World Championship with the Toronto Raptors before leading his national team to glory.

His 33 points in the semi-final victory over Aus-

tralia put them in a position to fight for the gold medal, but it was his defence that put them on the top step of the podium.

From the opening tip, the 34-year-old dominated the driving lanes to the basket that Argentina had used to such great effect against France, forcing them into outside shots that would not fall. He was equally effective banging under the basket at the other end and, though he made only two of his nine field goal attempts, he hit nine of his 12 free throws to maintain the gap between the two teams. He and Rubio were rewarded for their performances in Spain’s unbeaten run to the gold medal with a place in the tournament’s five-man All-Star team, which was announced after the final, with Rubio named the tournament’s most valuable player.

“Right now, we made history, and we were ready for that. We had a great tournament, (but) you’ve got to give credit to Argentina, we had to fight for this win,” Rubio told a news conference.

“It’s just amazing how the whole tournament has been us as a team, and you can tell.

We weren’t the most talented team, the biggest team, put whatever you want, but we were the team that had the big heart.” There was to be no fairytale ending for the seemingly evergreen Argentinian Luis Scola, whose superb show against France had helped to carry his side into the final.

The 39-year-old power forward, his jet-black hair now flecked with grey at the temples, was kept well-shackled throughout, and it was late in the third quarter before he notched up his first point from the free throw line. Spain’s win marked the second time they have won the tournament on Asian soil, having claimed the 2006 title by beating Greece in Saitama, Japan.

Earlier in the day, Nando De Colo netted 19 points as France shot 43% from behind the arc to take their second consecutive World Cup bronze medal with a 67-59 win over Australia.

Michael Jordan agrees to sell ‘large piece’ of Charlotte Hornets MICHAEL Jordan agreed to sell a “large piece” of the Charlotte Hornets to a pair of New York-based investors on Saturday, though will retain majority control of the team, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Jordan is selling parts of the team to Melvin Capital founder Gabe Plotkin and DI Capital founder Daniel Sundheim. The two still need to be approved by the NBA before the sale can go through, though that is expected to be made official in the coming weeks, according to the Observer. It’s not yet clear how much of the team Jordan is selling.

Jordan purchased the organisation in 2010 for $275 million, taking over from former owner Bob Johnson. He became a minority investor with the team in 2006, and held the final say on basketball decisions. According to Forbes, the franchise is currently worth $1.3 billion — the third-lowest in the league.

By comparison, the New York Knicks are

worth $4 billion.

Despite the sale, though, Jordan still plans to own and run the Hornets for “a good, long time,” per the report. He currently owns about 97 percent of the team, and “is attracted to adding investors with deep resources who might offer new ideas regarding technology advances,” according to the Observer. The Hornets have struggled under Jordan’s leadership, however. Since the Hall of Famer took over in 2010, the team has made the playoffs just twice and has only compiled a winning record two times. The Bobcats won just seven games during the 2011-12 season, too, and lost the final 23 games of that shortened-season. That marked the worst finish in league history. The Hornets finished last season with a 39-43 record, just narrowly missing the final spot in the playoffs.(Yahoo Sports.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

FROM BACK PAGE

Amazon Warriors brush aside Patriots to go top

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC )– Last year’s losing finalists, Guyana Amazon Warriors, maintained their unbeaten start to the Caribbean Premier League season with a comfortable seven-wicket win over St Kitts and Nevis Patriots here Saturday night.

In a low-keyed encounter at Warner Park, the visitors made light of a target of 122, to notch their fourth successive win and move to the top of the standings on eight points. They are alongside two-time reigning champions Trinbago Knight Riders on points but ahead courtesy of net run rate.

Jamaican Brandon King led the run chase with a top score of 49 off 24 deliveries, in a 64-run opening stand with Chandrapaul Hemraj (22), before captain Shoaib Malik saw his side home with an unbeaten 24.

West Indies’ latest Test recruit, Shamarh Brooks, had earlier top-scored for Patriots with 34 off 25 deliveries as the home side struggled badly after being

asked to bat, and eventually crumbled for an inadequate 121 with an over left in the innings.

Englishman Laurie Evans chipped in with 26 off 21 balls but no other player passed 20 as the Patriots succumbed to a trial by spin, to slump to their fourth defeat five games to be one from bottom of the tables on two points.

Nineteen-year-old Afghan leg-spinner Qaid Ahmad led the attack with three for 28 while South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir (217), seamer Keemo Paul (224) and off-spinner Chris Green (2-28) all chipped in with two wickets each.

Patriots lost in-form Devon Thomas cheaply for one in the second over, bowled

by Green missing a backfoot stroke and Evans struck four fours in posting 35 for the second wicket with Mohammed Hafeez (14) before going run out at the striker’s end by Tahir direct hit from short fine leg in the sixth over.

When Hafeez holed out to long off in the eighth over

from Qais Ahmad, he became the first of three wickets to fall for seven runs in the space of nine balls, as Patriots slipped to 53 for five at the end of the ninth.

Brooks, who counted three fours and a six, then put on 44 for the sixth wicket with Fabian Allen (16) but once the stand was broken

by Qais Ahmad, the last five wickets perished for 24 runs.

Needing a great start to stand a chance of victory, Patriots never got it as King dominated the early going in a knock laced with seven fours and three sixes. He looked set for his second T20 half-century when he was sent back by Hemraj in a mix-up over a quick single and run out in the sixth over.

Left-hander Shimron Hetmyer (1) and Hemraj fell 20 runs apart to leave Amazon Warriors on 86 for three in the 11th but Shoaib and Nicholas Pooran (18 not out) took their side home without alarm in an unbroken 36run, fourth wicket partnership.

FROM PAGE 23

Barker spins MSC to...

Scores in the match: Ace Warriors 64 and 84 and Malteenoes 246.

Barker, who finished with a match haul of 9-37, finished with 6-34 from 16.1 overs in the second innings, while Seecharan and Delon Dalrymple both finished with 2-16.

DOUBLE DELIGHT At the DCC ground, the home team were hunting first innings point on day two, after the in-form Raymond Perez had belted 159 to push their first innings tally to 3409 declared on Saturday, but Savory and then later Sampson defied the home team’s

bowling to push the visitors to 374-9 in 51.2 overs before they declared. Savory finished on 132, which included 17 fours and three sixes, while the all-rounder Sampson, smashed 124 from 54 balls.

The lower order batsman Sampson belted 10 fours and an equal amount of sixes in his time at the crease. It was another attempt at a huge shot, while resulted in his demise at long on.

For the sixth wicket, the pair added 167 runs. One over after Sampson fell, at 16:01, the Lawmen declared.

Teenage spinner Daniel

Mootoo led DCC with 3-62 from 13 overs, while there were two wickets each for Dexter George and Qumar Torrington. Armed with a 34-run lead, the visitors attempted to make inroads into the home team’s batsmen, but they only managed to dismiss Brandon Jaikaran off the bowling of Darsan La Rose.

Perez, who has been in dominant form, then decimated the bowling to race to 46 (2X4s, 5X6s) not out before play ended on 68 for one. . At the other end, Sachin Singh was left not out on 11.

FROM BACK PAGE

Missigher repeats...

He further disclosed that next up for him will be the Venture 5k in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday and like anyone else, he will be gunning for the win.

The South American 10k series also starts soon and wins will be on his radar.

But for now, the spoils and the praises belongs to Missigher, one of the most con-

sistent athletes on the local scene.

Meanwhile, 18 yearold Sheama Tyrell (42:13), Abedemi Charles (42:16), Kissanna Glen (43:01), Aaliyah Moore (43:11), Ashanti Scott (46:00) and Leyanna Charles (46:22) were the top six finishers in the female open category.

The winners of the open

male and female categories pocketed $100,000 each, while the immediate runners took home $80,000, $60,000, $40,000, $20,000 and $10,000 respectively.

A Golden mile for youths along with a 3K event for staff members was also staged yesterday as part of Court’s 26 year anniversary celebrations.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

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Wade ton in vain as England force Ashes draw

By Ed Osmond

LONDON (Reuters) - Matthew Wade’s defiant century proved in vain as England bowled Australia out for 263 to win the final Test at The Oval by 135 runs on Sunday and ensure the first drawn Ashes series since 1972.

Wade had looked set to take the match into the final day but he was dismissed for 117 and England grabbed the last two wickets in quick succession to level the series at 2-2.

England had appeared to be on course for a comfortable triumph when they dismissed Steve Smith for 23 just after lunch but Wade dug in to post his fourth Test century and Australia, who have retained the Ashes, fell short in their bid for a first test series win in England since 2001. “I thought we were brilliant,” England captain Root said. “To bounce back from a very difficult emotional week, to come and play in the manner we have, the team has character in abundance.”

Australia, chasing a stiff target of 399, lost the wick-

first time in 11 test innings against England that he had failed to pass fifty.

Ashes 2019 - Fifth Test - England v Australia - Kia Oval, London,England’s Joe Root and Australia’s Tim Paine pose for a photo with the Ashes trophy after drawing the series Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

ets of Marcus Harris, David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne in the morning after England had added 16 runs to their overnight score of 313 for eight. Harris was bowled by Stuart Broad for nine and Warner’s miserable series was completed when he edged Broad to Rory Burns at third slip for 11.

The in-form Labuschagne, on 14, was drawn for-

ward by a flighted delivery from spinner Jack Leach and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow whipped off the bails with the right-hander narrowly out of his crease.

Australia took lunch on 68 for three and their victory chances plummeted further with Smith’s dismissal.

The prolific right-hander was caught by Ben Stokes at leg slip off Broad, the

STANDING OVATION Smith left the field to a standing ovation from the crowd in recognition of an extraordinary run of form which brought him 774 runs in the series including a double century and two hundreds in seven innings.

“I am proud of the way I have played throughout the series and to help Australia bring the urn home,” Smith said after being named Australia’s man of the series.

“We came to win the Ashes and unfortunately... it is not the fairytale finish we were after.”

Wade reached his fifty before Mitchell Marsh perished for 24, caught by Jos Buttler at short leg off the part-time spin of Root.

Australia captain Tim Paine, on 21, was trapped lbw by Leach but Wade, shaken up by a fiery spell from Archer, maintained his concentration and punched the air with delight after reaching his second century of the series.

Pat Cummins departed

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1st innings 294 AUSTRALIA 1st innings 225 ENGLAND 2nd innings(overnight 313 for 8) R. Burns c Paine b Lyon J. Denly c Smith b Siddle J. Root c Smith b Lyon B. Stokes b Lyon J. Bairstow c Smith b Marsh J. Butler c Labuschagne b Siddle S. Curran c Paine b Cummins C. Woakes c Smith b Marsh J. Archer c Paine b Cummins J. Leach c Hazlewood b Lyon C. Broad not out Extras: (b-7, lb-11, nb-1) Total: 329 all out 95.3 overs) Fall of wickets: 1-54, 2-87, 3-214, 4-222, 5-249, 6-279, 7-305, 8-305, 9-317, 10-329.

Bowling: P. Cummins 21- 5-67-2, J. Hazlewood 19-5-57-0 (nb-1).

N. Lyon 24.3 5-69-4-65-4, P. Siddle 13-4-52-2, M. Marsh 11-1-40- 2, M. Labuschagne 7-1-26-0.

20 94 21 67 14 47 17 6 3 9 12 19

AUSTRALIA 2nd Innings M. Harris b Broad 9 D. Warner c Burns b Broad 11 M. Labuschange stp Bairstow b Leach 14 S. Smith c Stokes b Broad 23 M. Wade stp Bairstow b Root 117 M. Marshc Buttler b Root 24 T. Paine lbw b Leach 21 P. Cummins c Bairstow b Broad 9 P. Siddle not out 13 N. Lyon C Root b Leach 1 J. Hazlewood c Root b Leach 0 Extras: 21 (b2, lb 12, nb 2, pen 5) Total: 263 all out (77 overs) Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-29, 3-56, 4-85, 5-148, 6-200, 7-244, 8-260, 9-263, 10- 263 Bowling: S. Broad 15-1-62-4, J.Archer 16-2-66-0 (1nb), S. Curran 8-322-0, J.Leach 22-8-49-4, C.Woakes 7-1-19-0 (inb) J. Root 9-1-26-2.

for nine, edging Broad to Bairstow, and Wade’s resistance was finally broken when he was deceived by Root and Bairstow completed his second stumping.

Nathan Lyon swept Leach low to Root at square leg and Josh Hazlewood chipped his first ball to

mid-wicket where Root took a brilliant one-handed catch to spark wild celebrations among the England players.

“It is Ashes cricket,” Root said. “Every game you turn up and you are playing for your country.

It means so much to everyone.”

Watford battle back to salvage draw against Arsenal (REUTERS) - Arsenal squandered a two-goal lead as Watford hit back to draw 2-2 in new manager Quique Sanchez Flores’s first game of his second stint in charge at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

Flores’s return following the dismissal of Javi Gracia after four games of the Premier League season seemed to be going flat as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck twice for Arsenal in the first half.

But Tom Cleverley halved the deficit in the 53rd minute after an Arsenal mix-up and Watford were rewarded for a much-improved display when substitute Roberto Pereyra converted an 81st-minute penalty awarded for a foul on him

by David Luiz.

Watford came agonisingly close to winning it with Gerard Deulofeu curling just wide and then Abdoulaye Doucoure having a stoppage-time shot saved by Bernd Leno after a counter-attack.

Victory would have put Arsenal

Roberto Pereyra salvaged a point for Watford from the penalty spot in the 81st minute

into third place but they ended the day seventh in a cluster of clubs on eight points.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery said his side had struggled to cope with Watford’s physical style.

“They are more stronger than us so we want to break the lines from the goal kick and connect to Mesut Ozil, like we did with the first goal,” he said.

“We have young players, we

are working to improve and they will gain experience from matches like today. We can grow up and learn with these mistakes.”

Watford are still seeking a first win of the season and remain bot-

tom but they doubled their points tally to two.

Watford started with real purpose but were stunned when Aubameyang punished them twice in the space of 11 minutes.

In the 21st minute he collected Sead Kolasinac’s pass before turning sharply and firing beyond Ben Foster.

He struck again after a flowing 20-pass move and the Gunners looked on course for three points.

They gifted Watford a lifeline after the break though when defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos gave away the ball to Gerard Deulofeu in his own area and he fed Cleverly to score.

Arsenal suddenly looked fragile and Luiz rashly brought down Pereyra to concede his second penalty in three games.

“I was really happy with the performance of the players,” Sanchez Flores said. “We have one point against a very tough team. “It’s good for our confidence. We are positive.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

Fourth EBFA/Ralph Green U-11 League

KK Warriors & Vurlon Mills Academy notch wins on opening day

KURU Kururu Warriors and Vurlon Mills Academy collected full points while there were three draws that highlighted play on the opening day of the 4th annual East Bank Football Association / Ralph Green sponsored Under-11 League which kicked off on Saturday last at the GFF National Training Centre, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Playing in the final match of the day, the young Warriors clawed their way back from being a goal down to defeat last year’s runner-up Grove Hi Tech 2-1. Rayfield Hillman had given Grove the

lead in the 9th minute.

Kuru Kururu Warriors ended 10th of the 12 teams last year and were eager to put on a better show this time around first equalised through a 13th minute Johnson Maddison goal which was met with ecstatic celebrations form the players and Coach Dillion Roberts.

Grove was denied from the penalty spot in their quest to take the lead.

The first half ended 1-1 and as the minutes ticked away in the 30-minute encounter with water breaks half way between each half, the match looked like it was destined for the fourth draw

of the day but that was not to be as a Clifton Sampson goal in the 28th minute separated the two teams and sealed full points for the Linden Soesdyke Highway based Warriors.

The other team taking full points on the day was debutants Vurlon Mills Academy, who defeated defending champions Timehri Panthers 2-0. In a keenly contested match, Mills Academy took the lead with just one minute to the half time whistle, Christian Enderson tucking the ball past Panthers’ goalkeeper Jaden Tasha.

Five minutes into the second half the game was

sealed by Mills Academy when Tasha was deemed by the Referee to have crossed the goal line with the ball in his hands after gathering same in the 20th minute.

Diamond United (7th in 2018) and Samatta Point/ Kaneville making their debut, played to a 1-1. Rick Ramatar had sent Diamond into the lead in just the second minute, registering the first goal of the tournament in the process. Diamond was on course to take full points but in the 17th minute, goalkeeper Romano Fraser gifted Samatta Point/Kaneville the equalizing goal when it was deemed by the Referee that

Johnson Maddison and Clifton Sampson –Kuru Kururu

he had stepped over the line with the ball; the match ending 1-1.

It was a similar score line in the Friendship All Stars (9th in 2018) / Riddim Squad (debut) encounter while it was a 0-0 end in the match between the third and fourth place finishers from last year, Agricola Red Triangle and Swan Football Club which is based on the Linden Soesdyke Highway. Matches set to continue on Saturday at the same venue.

Christian EndersonVurlon Mills Academy

GCC beat GDF by an Windies slump continues with seven-wicket lost in T20 opener innings and 142 runs …Johnson hits second consecutive century

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, West Indies have now lost all (CMC) – West Indies Womfour matches on the tour followen’s misery continued here ing their 3-0 whitewash in the Saturday night when they preceding ICC Women’s Chamsuffered yet another defeat to pionship series in Antigua.

Australia Women, in the openIt was Taylor who kept the ing Twenty20 International of innings together after the hosts the three-match series. found themselves in early trouChoosing to bat first in the ble, losing Britney Cooper (0) affair under lights at Kensington and Kyshona Knight (1) in the Oval, West Indies Women could first over with a single run on only muster a paltry 106 for eight the board. Cooper missed a off their 20 overs, with captain cross-batted heave at Schutt and Stafanie Taylor top-scoring with was bowled while Knight was run an unbeaten 44 off 51 deliveries. out at the striker’s end after being Not for the first time, fast West Indies Women’s found short of her ground by a bowler Megan Schutt was the captain Stafanie Taylor throw from backward point. … top-scored with stand out for the visitors, claimWhen Reniece Boyce (6), 44 not out. ing three for 31.In reply, captain Stacy-Ann King (4) and Natasha Meg Lanning stroked a run-aMcLean (13) followed in quick ball unbeaten 54 as the Aussies overhauled succession, West Indies Women were slumptheir target with seven balls remaining in the ing badly at 34 for five in the sixth over. contest to win by seven wickets.

Taylor came to her side’s rescue, however, counting three fours and a pair of sixes as CRICKET QUIZ CORNER she put on a vital 29 with Sheneta Grim(Monday September 16, 2019) mond (15) for the sixth wicket to spare COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda them complete embarrassment.

Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & West Indies then made an impressive CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 start with the ball, fast bowler Chinelle Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: Henry striking in successive overs to re225-6158) move openers Beth Mooney (4) and Alyssa Healy (12).

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Henry bowled Mooney leg-stump in 1. Fawad Ahmed (Zouks vs Warriors, the second over and returned in the fourth Providence, September 05) to have Healy holing out to Shabika Ga2. 12 matches jnabi at deep mid on. West Indies squandered an ideal chance to remove Lanning Today’s Quiz: early when Taylor put her down at slip on one off fast bowler Shamilia Connell in 1. How many times Dwayne Bravo has captained TKR/Red Steel in CPL matches? the third over.

Lanning made the most of the re2. What is the highest individual score made in prieve, carving out six fours as she put a CPL game at Providence? on 57 for the third wicket with Ellyse Answers in tomorrow’s issue Perry (14).

THE Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) produced a clinical performance to whipped GDF by an innings and 142 runs in the latest round of the GISE/Star Party Rental/Trophy Stall First-Division two-day match yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club, ground Bourda.

Scores in the match: GDF 87 and 94; GCC 323-4 declared.

Earlier, play was delayed by almost three hours due to rain. However, when the second days play resumed, the hosts took their overnight 274-2 to 323-4 declared, an overall first innings lead of 236runs.

Overnight batsmen, former West Indies batsman and current Guyana Jaguars Captain Leon Johnson and Mavindra Dindyal took the total to 322, a third-wicket stand of 176 runs during which the left-handed Johnson registered his century. It was his second consecutive century since the tournament resumed.

On the other hand, Dindyal, who was one of three Guyanese who toured with the West Indies Under-16 squad recently to the UK, took his overnight, from 60, to 68 before he was trapped leg before to Joshua Jones. Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed was then stumped off Leon Andrews without scoring.

His dismissal triggered the declaration, leaving Johnson unbeaten on 108. His innings lasted for 123 balls with seven fours and six maximums.

At that point, the visitors’ temperament and mental toughness to perform with the bat was always going to be under pressure.

However, against a good bowling attack, GDF batsmen failed for a second time in two days.

They succumbed to off-spinner Ste-

phon Wilson, who ripped out the heart of their batting lineup, claiming 5-45, to follow up his first innings figures of (3-38). \Damion Waldron (22), former Guyana Under-19 all-rounder, Jones (20) and Randy Lindore (19), reached double figures for the Soldiers. Timothy McAlmont, Johnson and Zachary Jodah all clamied a wicket apiece in the commanding win.

Leon Johnson hits out during his unbeaten 108.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 16, 2019

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New landmark for Gayle as Tallawahs end losing streak KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – Veteran opener Chris Gayle surpassed 13 000 Twenty20 runs as Jamaica Tallawahs broke a four-game losing skid with a four-wicket victory over Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League here Sunday.

Playing in steamy conditions following a 1 pm (2 pm Eastern Caribbean time) start at Sabina Park, Tallawahs stifled the Tridents with spin, restricting them to 140 for nine off their allotted 20 overs.

Ashley Nurse, batting at number seven, top-scored with an aggressive 18-ball 37 while South African left-hander JP Duminy struggled for fluency in his 31 which required 35 deliveries.

They were the only two to pass 20 as left-arm spinner Zahir Khan weaved a web around the Tridents batsmen to end with three for 20 from his four overs.

New Zealander George Worker, who shared the new ball with fellow left-arm spinner Chris Lamont, finished with two for 16 while off-spinner Ramaal Lewis picked up two for 23.

In reply, Tallawahs spoiled a strong start after suffering a mini collapse but recovered in time to reach their target with nine deliveries left. Captain Chadwick Walton controlled

Jamaica Tallawahs captain Chadwick Walton celebrates after hitting the winning runs to beat Barbados Tridents on Sunday at Sabina Park.

the run chase with an unbeaten 51 off 42 balls – his ninth CPL fifty – while opener Glenn Phillips struck 28, rookie Javelle Glenn 27 and Gayle, 22.

Despite the win, Tallawahs still lie bot-

Barker spins MSC to innings and 98- run win in Noble House Seafoods cricket

…-Savory and Sampson slam centuries to lead Police to first innings points

By Faizool Deo THE Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) needed only an hour and a half to claim an innings and 98- run victory overt Ace Warriors, while Police led by the technically correct Kemol Savory and an aggressive Quentin Sampson were able to secure first innings points against DCC when action in the GCA/Noble House Seafoods Second Division Cricket Competition continued yesterday in the capital city.

Four games were played over the weekend, but rain forced the battle between Everest Cricket Club and Transport Sports Club and UG vs. Third Class to be called off prematurely.

Without a ball bowled yesterday, UG and Everest both settled for first innings points owing to their better opening days’ performance.

LEADING FROM

Quentin Sampson raced to 124 from 54 balls..

THE FRONT Due to effects of rain on the pitch, Malteenoes had to wait until 14:00h for their clash to re-start. When it did, Ace Warriors had little resistance against the off spinning duo of skipper Nichosie Barker and Yogaishawar Seecharan who grabbed two wickets each, but Ace Warriors’ last pair showed resistance.

Kemol Savory finished on 132 for the Lawmen.

For about an hour, they frustrated the home team bowlers, which resulted in the introduction of a pace attack. It was not until Barker’s second spell of the day that he got the break through when Robert Davis held out to mid-off. Davis finished on 11, while Asif Baksh ended on 14 not out.

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tom of the standings on two points while Tridents are just above them in fifth, also on two points, but with a superior net run rate.

Faced with spin for the first power-play, Tridents never found their rhythm and were 44 for two at the end of the six-over period.

Worker accounted for both openers Alex Hales (12) and Johnson Charles (12) to catches by Lewis at point before Duminy and Leniko Boucher (15) steadied the innings in a 31-run, third wicket stand.

But they too found themselves both bogged down and Boucher perished trying to force the pace, tapping a return catch to Lewis in the eighth over.

With one run added in the next over, Zahir squared up captain Jason Holder and had him caught by Gayle at slip for a first-ball ‘duck’ and when left-hander Jonathan Carter holed out in the deep off Lewis for six, the visitors were going nowhere at 70 for five in the 12th over. But Nurse chanced his hand, lashing four fours and three sixes in a 49run, sixth wicket stand with Duminy, before both fell in the space of two balls in separate overs. Phillips and Gayle then gave Tallawahs a smooth start when they put on 48 off 31 balls for the first wicket.

Significantly Gayle, six days shy of his 40th birthday, became the first batsman to

pass 13 000 T20 runs in his 389th appearance when he smashed off-spinner Nurse for the second of two sixes in the second over.

Phillips, meanwhile, counted four fours and a six off 15 balls before becoming the first casualty, caught in the deep off Holder (2-21) in the sixth over and Gayle followed in the same over, also caught down the ground after being dropped off the previous delivery by Hayden Walsh running in from square leg.

When Walsh (2-32) removed both Worker (2) and Dwayne Smith (0) in successive deliveries in the ninth over to leave the innings on 68 for four, Tridents were back in the contest but Walton produced a mature knock to steer Tallawahs to victory.

He struck a four and reached his second half-century of the campaign with the last of his five sixes – a solid blow over long on off medium pacer Carter which took the hosts past their target. Crucially, he posted 45 for the fifth wicket with Glenn who blasted a four and three sixes in a 12-ball knock.

When Glenn and Lewis (2) fell in successive overs to leave Tallawahs on 116 for six in the 14th, Walton kept his nerve to foster a 29-run, unbroken seventh wicket stand with Derval Green (9 not out) and see off the Tridents challenge.

Missigher repeats as COURTS 10K Champion

COURTS 10k winners (Samuel Maughn photos)

WINSTON Missigher clocked 34 minutes, 11 seconds to retain his COURTS 10K Road Race on Sunday. Missigher was well off his winning time of 33:29 last year, but was well ahead of runner-up Nathaniel Giddings (34:54), his PPYC team mate. Odwin Tudor of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) completed the podium in (35:16).

Cleveland Thomas (35:32) of Running Brave, Rickie Williams (35:48) and Marlon Nicholson (36:40) filled out the top six rewarding positions in the ninth edition of the annual fixture. The seven-time champion of the event, Cleveland Forde, who was upset by Missigher last year, did not compete yesterday.

Missigher who made a tactical and race winning move from the bunch outside the GDF compound, said in a post race interview with Stabroek Sport that quite a few of the competitors are faster and stronger than him physically. However his mental strength coupled with his hunger to win and work ethic enabled him to repeat.

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Amazon

Home alone! Winston Missigher crossing the finish line unchallenged to win this year’s COURTS 10K.

Warriors brush aside Patriots to go top See Page 20

Teenaged Afghan leg-spinner Qais Ahmad celebrates another wicket against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. He was named Man- of- the- Match for his three-wicket haul CPL T20 via Getty Images

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019