Guyana Chronicle E-paper 9-29-2019

29th September, 2019

No.105775

Guyana warns

UN of Venezuela’s

stubbornness

Overtopping affects 19 several WCD villages PAGE

–– CDC distributes cleaning supplies, excavators clean drainage channels

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GRDB piloting rice 18 demonstration projects in Rupununi villages PAGE

Guyana talks up 02 democratic credentials at UN Assembly PAGE

… Min of Foreign Affairs points to restoration of LGEs, freedom of the press

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‘No one will be left behind’ PAGE

… President tells St Cuthbert’s Mission Indigenous people must enjoy same lifestyles as other Guyanese President David Granger is greeted by Toshao of St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Ms. Beverly Clenkian on his arrival at the village.

PAGE

… says will continue to place faith in ICJ to resolve border controversy … as Maduro hardens refusal to pursue peace through respect for the rule of law

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Guyana talks up democratic credentials at UN Assembly

SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 29, 2019

… Min. of Foreign Affairs points to restoration of LGEs, freedom of the press

MUCH progress has been made in consolidating democratic norms and the rule of law here, Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Karen Cummings, told the UN General Assembly in New York on Saturday, noting that the

rights and freedoms of all citizens are respected.

Making her debut at the assembly, Dr. Cummings emphasised that these gains were realised under the Coalition Government and these should not be taken for grant-

ed. According to Dr. Cummings since coming to office, local and regional elections that were held in abeyance for more than two decades have been held twice within four years. “Guyana has responded generously to the

influx of men, women and children who have left our western neighbour – Venezuela – in recent times and equally to CARICOM states that have been impacted by unprecedented natural disasters.”

She noted that last July, Guyana presented its inaugural Voluntary National Review (VNR) to the 2019 High-Level Political Forum of ECOSOC, noting that this country’s report demonstrated significant progress, particularly on several goals and reaffirmed its emphasis on quality education as a key entry point to develop synergies across the agenda as a whole, as well as the

Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Karen Cummings (left) meets with United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, at the organisation’s New York Headquarters. Dr. Cummings is leading Guyana’s delegation to the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (Photo Credit: United Nations/Ariana Lindquist) need for capacity support and partnership especially in the area of data collection and management.

In addition, in response to the interplay of developments in the democratic exercise of the parliamentary and legislative arms of government, President Da-

vid Granger has announced that national and regional elections will be held on March 2, 2020 to assure the democratic renewal of governance in Guyana.

OIL ECONOMY Touching on the impending oil economy, Dr. Cummings said Guyana stands on the verge of becoming a new oil-producing nation with its attendant significant opportunities and challenges.

She said extensive preparation is underway to guarantee the responsible management of the new resources. “Thus, a future of considerable promise for all the people of Guyana beckons and it is who that will determine the course, outcome and legacy that we will bequeath to succeeding generations. To this end, President Granger has declared a Decade of Development for All Guyanese, that will focus on ensuring that all Guyanese can enjoy the good life, especially through enhanced educational outcomes at all levels and the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women, including the challenge of domestic violence,” the Guyana foreign affairs minister told the assembly.

Dr. Cummings mentioned that Guyana’s focus See page 9

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‘No one will be left behind’

SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 29, 2019

… President tells St Cuthbert’s Mission Indigenous People must enjoy same lifestyles as other Guyanese

PRESIDENT David Granger, on Saturday, attended Heritage celebrations at St Cuthbert’s Mission, Demerara-Mahaica (Region Four) where he told residents that education is the key to employment and development. “…Without education, employment will be hard to find,” President Granger said, in his feature address at the event. The Head of State said it is his vision and policy to see Indigenous People enjoying the same lifestyles as other Guyanese. “We don’t want a situation in which the Indigenous Peoples are held back. We want them to aspire to the highest positions in the land. Let them be whatever they want to be… People don’t want to be poor. People want to move their families, villages and communities further,” he said.

The President said education is the key to unlocking increased economic opportunities, as it equips persons with the knowledge and the skills needed to become self-employed and to earn incomes. Education is a great equaliser, he said, which will allow Indigenous children to compete for the same opportunities as children in other parts of the country.

SAME QUALITY OF EDUCATION The Head of State said government’s policy is for hinterland students to receive the same quality of education and to perform equally well as students from the coastland.

The standard of education within hinterland communities should be no different from that of the rest of the country, he asserted.

The President pointed to the Plan of Action for Hinterland Development which he laid out in his address to the Conference of the National Toshaos’ Council four years ago on August 28, 2015. He said the ‘Plan of Action’, which is aimed at reducing inequality between residents of the hinterland and the rest of country by eradicating poverty, promoting employment and economic prosperity and by enhancing access to public services, is still valid and relevant.

The Plan of Action has guided government’s actions

President David Granger delivering his address at the Heritage 2019 celebrations in St. Cuthbert’s Mission to empower hinterland residents through education, employment, economic enterprises, energy, infrastructure, land rights, public services, cultural development and the protection of the environment. “Guyana has to reduce the disparities in education between the coastland and the hinterland if the country is to become more fully integrated as a nation. Education is the single most important factor likely to have the greatest impact on hinterland development,” President Granger said.

The President said too that the national education policy aims at closing the education gap between the hinterland and the coastland.

The reduction of this gap is necessary to reduce poverty and reverse hinterland unemployment, underdevelopment, migration and to ensure a more inclusive and cohesive nation.

Moreover, the Head of State said the national education policy aims also at producing ‘A’ students: ‘A’ for access to education; ‘A’ for attendance at school; and ‘A’ for attainment. The first ‘A’ is about ensuring that every child is placed within a school. The President reminded residents that this is an entitlement which can be realised only if every child has access to primary and secondary education; attends

school and attains the ultimate objectives of education by completing his or her schooling. The President noted that attendance at school is equally important, explaining that the government’s policy is to ensure that every child attends school and stays in school. He said progress has been made in this endeavour with the launch of the Public Education Transportation Service (PETS) which started as the 3Bs project four years ago.

To date, 29 buses, 10 boats and more than 4000 bicycles have been distributed so far under PETS to make it easier for children to attend school.

EDUCATION MUST STRENGTHEN VILLAGES The President also said that attainment is also another important factor in education. Attainment, he said, means completing one’s studies, achieving good grades and graduating with qualifications and certification which would allow students to enter the world of work as adults.

The Head of State told residents that education must be strengthened if the village is to progress.

“Children must inherit an even better country than we inherited from our parents and grandparents…The most

important legacy that we can bequeath to our children is a sound education. You cannot go anywhere in life, especially in this competitive age, without a sound education,” President Granger said. The President said that during the Decade of Development, which will be launched from 2020-2029, he has pledged to enforce the constitutional entitlement of free education from nursery to university.

“It is in the Constitution; I didn’t invent it. It is an entitlement of every Guyanese child. I urge and insisted that when we get more money particularly through petroleum revenues, although part will be put aside in the Sovereign Wealth Fund, part of it will be dedicated to education. You cannot achieve anything in life without being educated,” he said. The President said the village has a vital role in education and must be restored to a central place in education.

nese continue to face.

Reminding residents that Guyana will celebrate its 50th Republic Anniversary in February 2020, the President said progress over the past 50 years must be measured as it should be seen as a time of reflection, as well as planning.

MISSION ON THE UPSWING Meanwhile, Toshao of St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Ms Beverly Clenkian, thanked President Granger for attending the village’s Heritage celebration, while noting that it has been developing over the years.

“Our education system is better. We have done very well this year at CSEC. Our Primary school also did well.

We are the closest community to the city and we must be happy for that,” the Toshao said.

In addition to the improvements in education,

Toshao Clenkian said the health sector has been boosted with a health centre which has two doctors stationed there along with a pharmacy.

Further, she disclosed that St Cuthbert’s Mission has been designated the village for next year’s Republic Anniversary.

“A lot of things are going on in St Cuthbert’s…I know the government is trying its utmost to help Amerindian communities in Guyana. As Amerindians, we want to unite and cooperate,” she said. Additionally, Regional Chairman, Demerara-Mahaica (Region Four), Ms Genevieve Allen; Mr Earle Lambert, of the Region Four Democratic Council, and Mr Ernest Elliot, Assistant Director, Community Development, Ministry of Communities and former Toshao, St Cuthbert’s Mission, Mr Lenox Shuman, also attended the celebration. (Ministry of the Presidency)

President David Granger interacts with an elderly man during his visit to St. Cuthbert’s Mission for heritage celebrations. Also photographed is Toshao Beverly Clenkian (right) “Villages are among the most important institutions in the country. Most Guyanese come from villages and most Guyanese still live in villages.

Villages must be provided with the same quality of services …we should honour and respect the role that villages play in building our country. Without the villages, we would lose our language, our culture, lose our friends, our roots,” the President said.

He added that the launch of the ‘Decade’ will put greater emphasis on overcoming the challenges which Guya-

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 29, 2019

White House restricted Trump call transcripts - US media

(BBC) The White House has restricted access to transcripts of some of President Donald Trump’s calls with foreign leaders, US media report.

Officials said notes about calls to leaders including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and the Saudi crown prince had not been handled in the usual way.

They say aides severely curtailed who saw them in a bid to stop leaks.

The White House has not so far commented on

the claims, which follow the start of an impeachment inquiry.

Democrats launched the inquiry after the transcript of a July phone call revealed that President Trump pushed Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

On Friday the White House confirmed that the transcript had been placed in a separate system for highly classified information.

Impeachment proceedings against President Trump began last week

What happened to the phone transcripts?

According to officials quoted in various US media outlets, the policy of

restricting access to transcripts of some of the president’s calls with foreign leaders began more than a year ago.

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

White House officials are said to have decided to act to prevent embarrassing leaks, such as when Mr Trump’s conversation with then-Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull went public in 2017.

Even tighter restrictions came into place after his conversation with Russia’s foreign minister appeared in the news.

This included limiting who was given a copy of the notes from the call, and also reportedly filing notes on certain calls away into classified information storage reserved for foreign surveillance and covert operations - rather than the usual system widely accessible to National Security Council officials.

For example, aides and officials who would normally see a rough transcript of the president’s conversations reportedly never saw one for Mr Trump’s call with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Saudi royals.

The New York Times reports that the call came after the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018. An official told the newspaper there was no evidence of improper behaviour by the president.

Access to a transcript of at least one conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin was also curtailed.

It is unclear if notes on these calls were placed in the classified information storage system.

What is the impeachment inquiry about?

The proceedings focus

on the phone conversation Mr Trump had with Mr Zelensky on 25 July.

In a complaint filed last month, a whistleblower from the intelligence community reported his “urgent concern” that the president had used his office to “solicit interference from a foreign country” in the 2020 US election.

A rough transcript of the conversation, released by the White House this week, shows that the president urged his newly elected Ukrainian counterpart to investigate discredited corruption allegations against Mr Biden and his son Hunter.

Democrats accuse Mr Trump of illegally seeking foreign help in the hope of smearing Mr Biden - a frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Mr Trump is also accused of using military aid for Ukraine as a bargaining tool.

President Trump has dismissed the proceedings as a “hoax” and “another witch-hunt”. On Saturday he accused leading Democrats of “presidential harassment” and branded them “Democrat Savages”.

On Friday, three House committees subpoenaed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for documents about the administration’s dealings with Ukraine.

Kurt Volker, US special envoy to the country, resigned on the same day.

Saturday September 28, 2019

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 29, 2019

Potarinau residents call for settlement of land titling Minister disclosed that there are plans to construct a bridge at the entrance of the village so residents can have easier access to their community.

Before wrapping up his meeting, Minister Sharma distributed 10 electronic tablets to the village and a quantity of cricket gear for the village’s cricket club along with volleyballs, footballs other sports equipment and

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma, addressing the residents during the meeting at Potarinau Minister Sharma presenting cricket gear to members of the Potarinau

MINISTER within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma, has assured residents of Potarinau, Region Nine that their land titling issues will be addressed at the upcoming National Toshao Council Conference.

“This administration is committed to dealing with these issues…soon there will be the National Toshao Council and various toshaos will be raising the same issue and it will be addressed,” he said. The minster was at the time responding to questions by residents during a community meeting on Saturday. Explaining how the matter was dealt with, Minister Sharma explained, “The previous administration would have given you (Potarinau) an extension to your land.

However, this became an issue because that land was already requested by another village… the coalition government is

now working to sort out this issue.”

The minister noted that issues such as land titling should have consultations involving all the respective persons or groups be-

fore making a decision. The residents thanked the minister, noting that once this matter is settled, it will allow them to further develop the community’s infrastructure. To this end, the junior Infrastructure

A resident of Potarinau raises an issue during the community meeting

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several farming tools. Minister Sharma is one of several government ministers who have fanned out across the Rupununi Region over the weekend to meet and engage with residents of Region Nine. The exercise is organised to listen to the concerns of the residents and to craft solutions. (DPI)

Linden man dies after jumping off truck A Linden taxi driver died on Friday evening, in the interior, after he reportedly jumped from a truck which crushed him.

Dead is 23-year-old Brentnol Allicock of One Mile, Wismar. According to a relative, Allicock normally works the Linden to Georgetown route with his car, but ventured into the interior in search of short term employment. “He went in the bush but not for long and we just get a call saying he jumped off of some truck and it crushed him,” the relative said. He was described as a hardworking, kind-hearted and quiet individual. His

Deceased, Brentnol Allicock

death came as a shock to many of his peers in Linden, since he was full of life. Mere hours after Allicock met his demise, his cousin Eon Williams called OJ, was fatally shot in Amelia’s Ward.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 29, 2019

The Coming Election Campaign NOW that the President has said that on March 2, 2020 Guyanese will go the polls, the country can now expect the real election campaign to begin. But, in a sense, we have already been treated to samples of what the campaign would look like.

Clearly, it is going to be a hardfought campaign as both major contestants and the newer parties try to convince the electorate of their credentials. The unusually long campaign season gives the parties ample time to make their cases.

If previous election campaigns are anything to go by, we should be on our guard. We have seen in the past , for example, where parties resort to direct appeals to ethnic sentiments. Of course, in our ethnically divided society, parties are expected to rally their respective bases. But there must be a distinction between speaking to ethnic-specific issues and inflaming ethnic tensions. We cannot afford the consequences of such tensions.

Appeals to race, directly and indi-

rectly, do not advance the country.

They leave racial carcasses in their wake which often take permanent root. We therefore appeal to political parties and other stakeholders to hold the line on this deplorable kind of politics.

Already we have seen that one party is prepared to employ such tactics. If the performance at the Pegasus last week is a dress rehearsal for the real campaign, then we are in for a rough ride.

We therefore call on the contesting parties to make individual and collective commitments to conduct themselves in ways that would guarantee ethnic peace. Guyana’s ethnic divide is a colonial legacy that all Guyanese organisations should try to control. Elections, in principle and practice, ought to result in more ethnic harmony rather than an exacerbation of the problem.

We have seen in the last nine months a tendency on both sides of the political divide to demonise political leaders. This is most unhelpful. One only has to peruse so-

cial media to read the vile remarks directed at the president and other government leaders. This practice represents the worse in us. We cannot as a country be proud of ourselves if we do not find ways to engage in polemics without resort to character assassination, personal abuse and racist attacks. If we continue with this kind of behaviour it could eventually turn into physical attacks. Only empty vessels respond to ideas with attacks on persons.

We hope that our parties could find ways to make the campaign about ideas and policies. There is no more powerful deterrence to ethnic sentiments in a campaign than common sense ideas and policies. Already we are hearing about some interesting policies from the coalition. This is a good sign that we hope is emulated by the other parties. As we move into the era of oil and gas, Guyanese deserve to hear from its leaders and parties about serious plans to manage that new dispensation. It is high time we show the rest of the Caribbean

and the world that despite our historical problems and challenges, we are capable of civilised political and economic discourse.

The responsibility to lift the campaign discourse should be shared by the media. Too often, we in the Fourth Estate have allowed our narrow agendas to stand in the way of facilitating healthy discussion and presentation of news and views. This imminent campaign is a good time to lead the way in correcting that national ailment.

In the final analysis, many citizens rely on the media to translate and interpret information for them— the media remain a potent agent of political socialisation. Even if sections of the media represent partisan interests, that should not prevent them from facilitating intelligent and non-racial discourses.

The proverbial ball is also in the media’s court.

Citizens must also play their part in ensuring a high-quality election campaign. Every party should be given a hearing—there should be no “garrison communi-

ties” whereby certain parties are “banned” from certain villages or wards in the towns. Guyana belongs to all of us and freedom of expression in the public space must be respected by all. Breaking up and disruption of public meetings should be discouraged at all cost.

Let us compete aggressively, but do so in a comradely spirit. Elections come and go, but our country will remain.

Finally, we take this opportunity to plead with the PPP to drop its rhetoric of the last nine months. There might be the temptation to continue the baseless charges of illegality and unconstitutionality. That rhetoric has already caused a lot of stress internally and sullied the image of our country abroad. In the spirit of shared nationalism, let us ensure that we repair the damage that such misguided partisan rhetoric has caused. Guyana deserves better.

I hope the appropriate action has already been taken

Dear Editor,

THE Stabroek News of Tuesday, September 10, 2019 on page 17, under the caption, ‘Broomes raps Bartica Police over call for help.’ Paragraph four and I quote ‘I heard this woman screaming for help in a different tone and language, she is screaming for help in Portuguese or Spanish and immediately I picked up the phone and called the police. I said, officer good morning, my name is Simona Broomes, and I am the Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency; I would like to report somebody is screaming for help just outside of my house in the bush in the West Indian Housing Scheme,’ end of quote.

The minister recounted in a Facebook live post where she expressed her dissatisfaction at the police in that constituency. Maybe the Honourable Minister was surprised that being a minister, the police at Bartica Police Station did not respond promptly, but being an ordinary citizen, this happen to us all the time, irrespective of the nature or seriousness of our report. At most of these stations, be it by telephone or in person, the majority of us for a long, long time have been dissatisfied with the Police response time.

One would have thought that with the amount of vehicles and motor cycles and bicycles and the many boats the government has made available to the police force, there would have been

a major improvement in this area. Those of us who are old enough would know that not so long ago the Essequibo Coast or ‘G’ Division, the four stations including the Traffic Department combined, had only about three vehicles.

Currently, all the police stations have a vehicle and the C.I.D. and traffic their own and also the commander, his or her own. So the issue is no longer transportation. It may very well be neglecting of duties by the ranks, both senior and juniors. Then Mr Freddie Kissoon’s column of Saturday, 14.09.2019, page 10 in block letters, ‘Police Ranks abuse Business Minister,’ paragraph one of Mr Kissoon’s column, Police Rank who abused the Minister of

Business on the Ferry last evening suspended, because he was hostile to a Minister of Government, but think of how many times in each day of each year police ranks have harassed and mistreated the ordinary citizens of this country. Here again Mr. Rajkumar the honourable would be surprised, but should he be.

Mr. Kissoon’s observation and comments are statements of fact.

On the other hand, the amount of noise nuisance complaints made to police ranks be it to those on Patrol or at the Police Station, whether by telephone or in person, should you do an investigation you would be unpleasantly surprised about the inaction of the ranks, and I mean officers to consta-

bles. This situation has now reached a level that residents do not make reports of noise nuisance any more. Abusing of any individual by any person is unacceptable, more so an Honouralbe Minister by a police officer. I hope that the appropriate action has already been taken.

There was a time when any act of neglect of duty, absent from duty, late for duty or any form of indiscipline used to be investigated urgently, and a form A-30 Charge Sheet served on the rank or ranks in question, and if found guilty, departmentally, the rank would suffer the consequences of his or her action or inaction. For example from three to as much as 14 days’ pay deducted along with as much as five

to 14 days C/B (Confined to Barracks) with drills.

Of course, those were the days when discipline was the watch word in the Guyana Police Force and other military and para-military forces. I am not sure if it is the same now. While I would conclude by saying that what happened to our Honourable Ministers or the experience they had is most unfortunate, and must be condemned, by those in authority and all Guyanese, using strong language, the man in the street or the ordinary citizen may also see same as a blessing in disguise.

Regards Archie W. Cordis

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 29, 2019

Truth versus political lies Dear Editor:

uninformed or partisan opinions inform those with interest INTEREST in the issue of in Guyana successfully navithe no-confidence motion gating itself to restore constituand elections as a conse- tional normalcy. quence of it, goes beyond The situation before us goes APNU+AFC, PPP, David beyond the casting of a ballot, Granger and Bharrat Jag- but encompasses the passion, deo; it is of interest to the will and determination of a people of Guyana and all people. For some, it is evident peoples who are likely to be that ethnic domination is more impacted regionally and far- important than welding the sother afield. As a people we ciety and it is for this reason must be cognisant of this and that the following areas of constrive to protect the integrity cern are brought to attention. of our country in order to Clarification is needed on the maintain its stability and the various postures observed to stability of our nation and be potential threats and creatRegion. In this regard it is ing confusion in the minds of important to respect the in- most. struments that guide day-to- 1. The opposition and its surday management of society. rogates deem the President and As Guyana struggles through government “illegal.” If we this period of a successful accept this to be true, then no-confidence vote, with poli- the relevant questions are: a) ticians battling to shape public Can an “illegal” president and opinion and influence domes- government make a legal detic and international responses, cision to dissolve parliament there is growing evidence of and name a date for election? deliberate misinformation and b) If the declared “illegal” govefforts to misguide the nation ernment can do so, then where emanating from various quar- is this claim supported by conters. The extent to which this stitutional evidence or court is occurring is alarming, as it ruling? threatens our ability to pursue Guyana is a nation of laws a society built on strong moral and the novelty of this successvalues and integrity. We must ful confidence vote which has seek truth and in so doing, al- created challenges to goverlow primary-sourced informa- nance must not see us failing tion, hard evidence, not fiction, to seek constitutional guidance

every step of the way to ensure that we restore normalcy and set proper judicial precedents. In a nation torn apart by many misleading political claims passing as ‘truths,’ it is important that only one truth exists and guide us forward.

In this context that is best determined by judicial interpretation. Some will claim delaying tactics, even as some get tired of the legal battles, but the importance of establishing truth and proper understanding is priceless pillars in society if we are to restore constitutional normalcy. No group in our society must come out of this election process feeling they are cheated, bullied, lied to and that their rights were violated.

2. Society is being influenced by daily media diets from various sources to believe the Caribbean Court Justice (CCJ) in its decision on June 18 and its Consequential Order on July 12 ruled that election must be held on or before September 18. The relevant question is asked of those advancing this position: can you provide primary evidence of these allegations made? No conjectures, no opinions, no spin--- only hard, pointed evidence of this ruling from the primary source.

3. The position is advanced ad

nauseam that the life of parliament has come to an end after September 18. This writer seeks validation of this claim from primary source, i.e., from the constitution and law where it is prescribed to be so. No conjectures, no spin, no interpretation outside of judicial ruling.

4. It is claimed on a daily basis that where the three-month deadline to hold an election has passed after the passage of this successful no-confidence vote, an election can be held without activation of Article 106 in the Constitution. Those who propagate this are asked to provide the relevant primary-sourced evidence where this is indeed so. Where in the Guyana Constitution, laws or CCJ’s ruling is this stipulated? Our people deserve one truth for there can be no more.

5. There are many among us who advocate and demand the president must call a date for elections without following through with the stipulations in Article 106(7). The question is asked of them: how can the President be encouraged to breach the constitution and where is primary evidence to support him doing so legally?

6. Those who support the opposition leader’s statement that

Man drowns while fishing Fire ravages Lancaster home

The remains of the Lot 12 Lancaster, East Berbice, Corentyne home destroyed by fire

A FIRE, believed to be electrical in origin, destroyed a Lot 12 Lancaster, East Berbice, Corentyne home on Thursday afternoon.

The fire started at approximately 17:00 hrs.

According to Jerry Isaacs, the fire started in the upper flat of the two-storey house, in a bedroom on the eastern side of the concrete building, just moments after he left to go to a neighbour.

“Everybody was downstairs when the fire started

and we just managed to run to safety and were unable to save anything,” he said.

Isaacs related that efforts by residents, who formed a bucket brigade to save the house, proved futile even when firefighters arrived.

Isaacs said the house was not insured and estimates the losses to be in the millions. The Guyana Fire Service has launched an investigation into the blaze.

THE lifeless body of a man was pulled from the waters at the Number 66 Fishery hours after he went down while setting lines to fish on Friday afternoon.

Dead is Kenneth Craig, 45, called ‘Butin’ of Lot 206 A 67 Village, East Berbice, Corentyne.

Raymond Craig, who is a cousin of the dead man, related that at approximately 16:30hrs ‘Butin’ went to fish as he often does, but when he got into the water he failed to return.

Raymond explained that the tide was high and the current was very strong, and as such, Craig was unable to help himself up so he went under the water.

Other fishermen who were in the area realised what was happening and tried to recover the body but were unable to do so due to the high tides and heavy current. They, however, decided to set up blockage using seine hoping the body would get caught in it but this did not happen.

Dead: Kenneth Craig

It was not until the tide receded at around 22:00hrs that they were able to dive into the creek and recover the body of Craig.

The father of three worked as a driver. He was described as a quiet individual who loved fishing in the creek with lines. It is still unclear as to why he went into the water.

His body was taken to the Skeldon Hospital Mortuary where a post-mortem is expected to be conducted soon.

he is not returning to Parliament to grant a 2/3 majority vote to extend the period for holding elections in keeping with Article 106(7) and as stipulated by the CCJ, are asked, along with Mr. Jagdeo, to provide the primary-source evidence where his decision to do is supported and not just a matter of politicking, b) Would judicial ruling on this matter bring clarity to this issue and guide him and all others’ position of what is constitutionally required of the leader of the opposition in restoring constitutional normalcy?

Those who desire to respond to this letter are reminded that the quest here is to restore truth in our society, to build a foundation where social and political morality is held in check and the powers that be,

whether in the government, opposition or elsewhere, do not exploit the trust and simplicity of our people and our people are held to a level of accountability that would build a just Guyana. One that will serve all well. Exposing lies and upholding truth are serious issues. These have implications that determine whether we will proceed in one accord via a lawful and orderly manner. They also determine how well we de-escalate simmering ethnic tensions and signs of growing division, and set the right examples for our youth.

Regards Lincoln Lewis

Work intensifies to alleviate WCD flooding

A section of the flooded seaward side of Den Amstel Village (Delano Williams photo)

Heavy-duty machinery belonging to BK International have been mobilsed and immediately put into action to shore up areas on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) affected by overtopping of the river defence on Saturday. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Frederick Flatts said due to the work done, including at Hibiscus Garden Place, a gated community at Blankenburg, the area was not affected by the afternoon high tide.

He noted that the NDIA was lending assistance to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI) as it usually does whenever there is flooding.

Guyana Chronicle on a visit Saturday morning observed that the Den Amstel Woman’s Development Association New Horizon Day Care Centre and Play Group, the Community Centre Ground, the Ebenezer Congregational Church and a play school in the church yard and several residences were inundated.

Pockets of villagers were seen on the roadside or closer to the seawall or merely gathered near their homes watch-

ing as the waves overtopped the wall and the water gushed into the drains.

One villager expressed concern for the losses that the Day Care Centre and Play Group may have, since according to her, the building has a washing machine, barrels with books and refrigerator, among other things.

Health Administrator of Region Three Kathleen Armstrong, who resides at Den Amstel, told the Guyana Chronicle that when she visited earlier in the day, the Den Amstel Police Station, the Post Office and several homes in the village, as well the communities of Blankenburg, Fellowship, Cornelia Ida, Anna Catherina, Oceanview and Uitvlugt were under water from the early morning high tide.

According to her, some residents complained that they had knee-high water in their homes but most of it drained off by midday.

The flooding also affected a planned burial of a resident at the Den Amstel cemetery.

The burial, residents say took place at Stewartville instead.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 29, 2019

Guyana warns UN of Venezuela’s stubbornness … says will continue to place faith in ICJ to resolve border controversy

… as Maduro hardens refusal to pursue peace through respect for the rule of law THE Venezuela Government has refused to participate in next year’s hearing of the border controversy case to determine whether the International Court of Justice has jurisdiction in the case, but Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Karen Cummings told the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday that this country has placed its faith in the world’s highest Court and will continue to do so.

The Guyana Chronicle reported last week that the ICJ, in March 2020, will begin hearing arguments on whether it has jurisdiction over the case filed Guyana – Arbitral Award of 1899 (Guyana v Venezuela). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in making the disclosure last Tuesday, said it welcomes the notification by the ICJ). The oral hearings will be held in The Hague from March 23 to 27, 2020.

“This hearing will determine whether the Court has jurisdiction over the case filed by Guyana on March 29, 2018.

By that case, Guyana seeks to obtain from the Court a final and binding judgment that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the location of the land boundary between then-British Guiana and Venezuela, remains valid and binding, and that Guyana’s Essequibo region belongs to Guyana, and not Venezuela,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry explained in a statement.

Guyana filed its case before the ICJ after United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, António Guterres, in January 2018, referred the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela to the world court. In taking his decision, the Secretary-General was exercising the power vested in him in the 1966 Geneva Agreement between Guyana, Venezuela and the United Kingdom to decide how the controversy should be settled, the Foreign Affairs Ministry explained.

In a letter to the Court, Venezuela contended that the Secretary-General exceeded his authority under the Geneva Agreement, and that the Court therefore lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate Guyana’s lawsuit. On that basis, Venezuela has indicated that it will not participate in the proceedings. On November 19, 2018, Guyana submitted

Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Karen Cummings its Memorial to the Court refuting Venezuela’s arguments and demonstrating that the Court has jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, in her debt address to the UNGA Dr Cummings said on some cardinal principles, these United Nations are indeed ‘united’.

“The sovereign equality of all States, respect for the territorial integrity of every State, the peaceful resolution of disputes between all States, respect for the international rule of law – these are among the most effective guarantees of a world at peace. “Last year, from this podium, Guyana updated the world on the disregard for these principles that our neighbour, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, continues to show in its controversy with Guyana.

We showed how six months earlier, in March of last year, Guyana had acted on the decision of the Secretary-General of this Organisation to refer the controversy to the International Court of Justice under the Geneva Agreement of 1966 to which Venezuela is a party. It was a decision binding on Venezuela, but we warned of Venezuela’s unwillingness to participate in the proceedings. A year later, that warning is fulfilled. As we heard yesterday, Venezuela’s unwillingness to be involved in a judicial resolution has hardened into a refusal to pursue the path of peace through respect for the rule of law.

Guyana has placed its faith in the world’s highest Court. It will continue to do so,” Dr Cummings told the assembly.

COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS Only last week the Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana was

convened by the Commonwealth Secretary General, at the request of the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and in accordance with a mandate given by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1999 to monitor “further developments in respect of the existing controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.”

The meeting was chaired

by Bangladesh. In a statement the Group recalled that at the most recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, in London in April 2018, leaders had, “expressed their full support for the decision by the Secretary General of the United Nations issued on 30 January 2018, within the framework of the Geneva Agreement of 1966, to choose the International Court of Justice as the means that is now to be used for the settlement of the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

Heads noted then that the decision of the Secretary General, which was in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter, was intended to bring a peaceful and definitive settlement to a long standing controversy. Heads reiterated their unequivocal support for the maintenance and safeguarding of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

At last week’s meeting the Group received a briefing from the Foreign Secretary, Carl Greenidge, who advised that further to the Government of Guyana’s filing of its application to the International Court of Justice on 29 March 2018, Venezuela continues to assert that the ICJ has no jurisdiction in the matter, notwithstanding the Geneva Agreement and the United Nations Secretary General’s choice of it, as a means of conclusive settlement. Greenidge also briefed the Group of reported developments of concern to Guyana in the maritime area of controversy; and, that Guyana has requested the Secretary General of the United Nations to place this issue on the Agenda of the General Assembly under the Item “Peace Building and Sustaining Peace” and that it also be brought to the attention of the Security Council.

According to the Commonwealth Secretariat having considered the update

Guyana Foreign Secretary, Carl Greenidge updating the Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana provided by Foreign Secre- tection of our environment, in the Paris Accord are not tary Greenidge, the Group enhancing prosperity and sufficient to slow the rate reiterated its support for the social cohesion and laying of global warming and adGovernment of Guyana to the foundation for the in- ditional reductions are now pursue a judicial course of volvement of every citizen required to slow and reverse action as the means through in sustaining a low-carbon impacts of climate change. which the border controversy trajectory of growth that is “I take the opportunity to can be permanently resolved. inclusive, diversified and underscore, Mr. President, In this regard, the Group climate-resilient. that the existentialist threat welcomed the update that As a low-lying coastal posed by climate change dethe International Court of state, Guyana is particu- mands the urgent effort of all Justice has notified Guyana larly vulnerable to climate actors. We therefore applaud that hearings on the jurisdic- impacts. “Indeed, Guyana the fruitful discussions and tion of the Court will be held understands well the risks positive momentum genin The Hague, The Neth- posed by climate change as erated by Climate Action erlands, from 23-27 March we see daily evidence of the Summit held last Monday,” 2020. 7. The Group reiter- damage to the coastal zone, Dr Cummings said. ated its unequivocal support frequency of flooding in She said experience has for the maintenance of the the hinterland, and extreme shown that whether in comsovereignty and territorial meteorological events. Guy- bating climate impacts, exintegrity of Guyana and its ana ranks highly among panding economic benefits unimpeded right to the de- countries most vulnerable or consolidating democratic velopment of the entirety of to natural disasters and this norms extreme vigilance is its territory for the benefit of compels urgency on our part required to safeguard hardits people. 8. to institute adaptation and earned and cherished gains.

The Group also agreed disaster risk reduction mea- Indeed, they must be attendto draw the conclusions of sures,” Dr Cummings told ed with great care to avoid their meeting to the atten- the assembly in her address. reversals. tion of all Commonwealth She said however, beGuyana, for instance, she member governments. yond merely responding as said has had consistent ecoan affected country, Guyana nomic growth that has been CLIMATE CHANGE has long committed to exer- among the highest in our ReD r C u m m i n g s a l s o cising leadership in pursuing gion for several years resultspoke about Guyana pur- actions to help mitigate an- ing in the country now being suit of transformative ac- thropogenic climate change. classified a high middle-intion to secure its advance “Guyana has established the come country. “However, as a modern, cohesive and importance of global envi- graduation has not caused prosperous state, including ronmental services provided many of the persistent diffithrough the implementa- by our natural resources and culties to disappear but have tion of the 2030 Agenda for under the Paris Agreement reinforced the need in the Sustainable Development on Climate Change we have face greater constraints in acand the SDGs. taken ambitious national cess to concessional resourcDr Cummings is lead- action, particularly in part- es for fiscal prudence and ing Guyana’s delegation nership with Norway that stability to achieve our core at the summit, which in- we trust will continue to national objectives, including clude Foreign Secretary, resonate positively and glob- the continued reduction of Carl Greenidge and Direc- ally. These actions include the burden of poverty and the tor General at the Ministry the creation of a greenhouse provision of increased and of Foreign Affairs Audrey gas inventory, the integrating equitable access to all basic Waddell. Dr Cummings told of climate change into the social services, particularly the world body that Guyana academic curricula, and the with respect to education and has incorporated the Agenda ‘greening of towns’ initia- health, for all our citizens. into its national develop- tive.”

This reality constrains ment strategy – the Green The Foreign Affairs Min- us to be very studied in our State Development Strategy ister said the science is clear approaches and we reiter(GSDS): Vision 2040. The and the recent report of the ate the call for the criteria Green State Development Intergovernmental Panel on to take vulnerability into Strategy is Guyana’s road Climate Change has reaf- account to be integrated in map to becoming a ‘green firmed that the agreed goals determining development state’. It emphasises the pro- for carbon emissions set out progress.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 29, 2019

COBWEBS OF CONFUSION PRESIDENT David Granger has announced definitively that March 2, 2020 will be Election Day. His Excellency has also clarified that he will formally proclaim March 2, 2020 as the date for the conduct of Regional and General Elections.

Last week when I was in Barima-Waini, I wrote about developments “way up North”.

I wanted to focus this week on “way down South”, as I am in the Rupununi, but due to heavy rains I am stuck in Lethem.

So, I will deal with the identification and designation of Monday, March 2, 2020 as the earliest possible date for the holding of new elections which came shortly after the President was informed that preparations for the polls would be completed “by the end of February”. (Letter from Madam, Justice Claudette Singh, GECOM’s Chairman).

These preparations are being done by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), which is charged under the hybrid Westminster-Republican Guyana Constitution with responsibility for conducting and supervising elections in this sole English-speaking democracy in South America.

MONDAY AS ELECTION DAY Traditionally, elections in Guyana are held on a Monday, providing that it is not a public holiday.

As 2020 is a Leap Year, February has 29 days, the last of which falls on a Saturday.

The next proximate Monday falls two days later, on March 2.

The choice, therefore, of Monday, March 2, 2020 is indeed the earliest possible date after the end of February for holding national and regional elections in Guyana. Nothing could be more simple and straightforward than this. Yet, the Opposition tried to misrepresent the authenticity of this date, and to sow confusion in the country.

Earlier, the opposition had demanded elections be held earlier, by March 21; then before April 30; and by September 18. Its last juggle with dates was that elections should be

held on a date “inside” February.

But the earlier Monday falls on February 24, which is a national holiday.

On February 23, Guyana will observe its Golden Jubilee (50th) anniversary of becoming a Republic, which will coincide with the biggest-ever celebration of our national and unique Mashramani Festivities.

WEB OF CONFUSION It appears that while the opposition has since dumped its “inside February” demand, it is still spinning cobwebs of confusion, that is, that (a) the date should be proclaimed; (b) the claims and objections period to clean the preliminary voters list should be 35 days, instead of 49 days, and (c) it would not return to the National Assembly to support extension of the period for holding elections.

The Opposition Leader seemed to have conveniently forgotten what President Donald Ramotar, his own surrogate, had done.

Faced with a no-confidence motion against his corrupt minority government, Ramotar prorogued Parliament on November 10, 2014, when the Assembly had reconvened to debate my motion.

On the 20th January, 2015, he announced that he had set May 11, 2015 as the date for fresh elections. As I recall, Ramotar did not then issue any Proclamation of the election date, or at the time when he later announced the dissolution of Parliament.

However, he gave as reasons for the extended May 11 date the need for prior assurance by GECOM that (a) it was ready to hold those elections; (b) it could efficiently deliver free, fair and transparent elections; and (c) it would complete registration of new voters, especially residents in the hinterland.

Ramotar gave another reason for not opting for an earlier date, which was not to cause any disruption with the Christmas holiday season. (Guyana Chronicle, January 20, 2015).

Mr. Ramotar waited a further month, until 24th February, 2015, to issue a Proclamation for the dissolution of Parliament.

He explained that he delayed [the] dissolution of the 10th Parliament of Guyana and the 10 Regional Democratic Councils to allow the claims and objections period to be completed.

FULL ASSURANCES There are similarities between the 2015 and 2019 situations. It is clear that both President Ramotar and President Granger wanted full assurances from GECOM that it could deliver credible elections before fixing a date for elections; that voter registration should be completed so as not to disenfranchise any eligible person; and that Elections Day should not clash with any national holiday.

Where the situations differ is that these 2020 elections are coming after a motion of no-confidence in the government has been passed, and deemed to be passed after protracted court hearings. The Constitution requires that elections be held thereafter within 90 days and, if not held for any reason, the National Assembly has to authorize for these elections to be held within a “longer period”.

(Article 106 (7) of the Guyana Constitution).

It is for this and possibly other cogent reasons that Parliament has to be kept alive, as indeed it is.

Contrary to all good reasons, the parliamentary opposition has declared an inflexible and dogmatic stance of not returning to the National Assembly to support a motion for the extension [of] the time for elections to a longer period beyond 90 days.

DOGMATIC STANCE Dr. Henry Jeffrey, a former PPP Minister, posited that opposition support was necessary if the two-thirds majority required for an extension of the elections was to be achieved. He concluded that “but for its own reasons, the PPP/C decided that it would not support such a change until a date for elections was announced”.

(Stabroek News, 25th September, 2019).

The date has since been announced, but

the opposition, like an agile political spider, spun another web of confusion by arguing that its return to Parliament would legitimize the Government. The opposition has no moral or constitutional legs on which to support this fragile contention.

Dr. Jeffrey refuted this yarn, by saying that “the passing of 18 September without an extension of parliament does not mean that the present government is illegal”.

GOVERNMENT PROTECTED The Constitution protects the legitimacy of the government and assigns to it the responsibility of holding fresh elections after the passage of a no-confidence vote, though the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) placed it on “a different footing” and delimits its role as that of a caretaker or interim administration.

The motion that the Constitution requires is not to extend the life of government, but to authorize a longer period, beyond 90 days, within which elections should be held.

In his recent Address to the Nation, President Granger reaffirmed that since the passage of the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly, his Government has respected the decisions of the courts, and upheld the Constitution.

President Granger further explained that the legal processes “were neither frivolous nor aimed at delaying the consequences of the no-confidence motion”.

It is a reasonable argument that the Government of Guyana must return to the National Assembly to request an extension of the longer period for the holding of the elec tions. However, given the adamant position of the opposition, the President is required by proclamation to both dissolve Parliament and the ten Regional Democratic Councils, and appoint the date for elections which must be “within three months after every dissolution of Parliament”.

The APNU+AFC Government is on the right constitutional track. It deserves the support of all Guyanese for credible elections!

Guyana talks up democratic credentials ...

From page 2 on education is rooted in “our conviction that our people are our greatest asset and as leaders we have an obligation to develop the capacity of our human resources in an inclusive manner.

We would therefore urge greater collaboration among member states to devise strategies to achieve quality education for all and we simultaneously call upon developed countries, traditional and emerging donors and international financing mechanisms to increase funding for education and to sup-

port programmes according to the needs, priorities and circumstances of countries.”

A former junior minister in the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Cummings told the assembly that Guyana believes that the health of its peoples is of equal importance. “Guyana has therefore welcomed the convening of the high-level meeting on Universal Health Coverage under the profound theme, “Moving Together to Build a Healthier World”. The importance of enhanced access to essential health services, including a skilled health workforce and access to safe, quality, effective

and affordable medicines and vaccines is key to having a healthy world population where all can enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health is self-evident. In this regard, the political declaration on universal health coverage represents an important global consensus on accelerating efforts at all levels to improve health outcomes.”

Dr. Cummings said too that Guyana has introduced its Integrated Health Service Delivery Network which enables a more holistic primary healthcare delivery mechanism by addressing social

determinants of health while promoting the health of the individual. This, she said, places priority on the availability of preventative measures and healthcare services at the level of primary healthcare.

“The Government of Guyana is committed to ensuring that all Guyanese, regardless of their location, have access to health services and the government is implementing its plan to establish health posts and health centres in all communities to reduce the need for travel over long distances to access healthcare services,” the foreign affairs minister said.

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How a puppet presidency can negatively affect a country

A PUPPET presidency is a scenario where a person--elected or selected--retains a title and is furnished with all the pomp of state but who, in reality, has no power.

That power resides with powerful interests in the form of an individual, powerful interests or a state that control every decision made by this person. That person essentially presides over a puppet state. Puppet presidencies and Puppet States are not new political phenomena; leaders have utilised this mechanism to follow constitutional provisions or term limits when seeking to retain power. It involves a process whereby the leader who can no longer serve because of legal barriers, walks away from power in fanfare, appears democratic and retires to his villa or mansion.

Before this carefully choreographed development, he carefully channels power in the direction of a lackey over whom he has total domination and seeks to remain in office through this game plan. History is replete with examples, Latin America being exhibit A in this regard.

HOW A PUPPET IS CREATED What gives rise to a circumstance where a person accepts the role of being a puppet controlled by an individual? In Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar,’ Scene ii, Caesar demands, ‘Let me have men about me that are fat; sleek-headed men and such as sleep o’nights.

Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.’ Autocrats, dictators and authoritarians who seek to rule for life but are constrained by the law, prey on men who do not think much and are always asleep. It is on this basis that one can be identified or selected for puppet candidacy. Secondly, the evidence suggests that in most cases where such an arrangement emerges, corruption is at the heart of it. The intellectual author of such a situation normally identifies his prey at the very early stages of his tenure and entices him with largesse from the proceeds of corrupt activities. He keeps files and carefully documents the malfeasance of his target and uses this as the sword of Damocles that always hangs over the head of the victim. If

SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 29, 2019

the victim gets into office, the control is guaranteed, since his handler can destroy his standing at any moment.

This is a key factor that gives rise to this kind of powerless presidency.

THE NEGATIVE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF A PUPPET PRESIDENCY Invariably, such political package deals are born out of the Machiavellian machinations of men with dishonourable intentions.

So from the jump, a nation is at a disadvantage if this system prevails. It is seldom fraught with a vision or love for country; it proceeds from the greed and lust for power which consistently lies in a corrupt heart. Therefore, it follows that a republic is at a major disadvantage if this informal system prevails. A puppet presidency is inextricably linked to the prevalence of crookedness. Economies that are afflicted by a high level of unscrupulousness which involves the misuse of power in the form of money or authority to achieve certain goals in illegal, dishonest or unfair ways, are not capable of prospering as fully as those with a low level of corruption.

Corrupted economies are not able to function properly because corruption prevents the natural laws of the economy from functioning freely. As a result, this occurrence in a nation’s political and economic operations causes its entire society to suffer. On this basis, the people seek to ensure that their country stays clear of this set-up. High prices for low quality, inefficiently allocated resources; uneven distribution of wealth; the low stimulus for innovation; a shadow economy and low foreign direct investment and trade are all cousins of corruption, which is in turn married to a puppet presidency.

It is even more incumbent on Guyanese to be watchful of this political choreography since the nation is on the cusp of an oil and gas economy.

NOTED EXAMPLES OF PUPPET PRESIDENCIES The puppet phenomenon is not restricted to the realm of the state, it can manifest wherever leadership presides.

Be that as it may, the business of the state provides stark exemplars ad nauseum of the aforementioned. A glance at the regime of Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961) is worthy in this context. Rafael Trujillo ruled The Dominican Republic from 1931 until his assassination in May 1961. Locked in a puppet arrangement with the United States pulling the strings, the regime of ‘El Jefe’ was responsible for mass executions and most noteworthy, the death of 20,000 to 30,000 Haitians in the Parsley Massacre. Trujilo ruled The Dominican Republic with an iron fist and stifled all dissent and had no mercy on detractors. When complaints were made to the U.S. about their man in Santo Domingo, the likes of Cordell Hull said, ‘but he is our son of a bitch.’ In more recent times, President Vladamir Putin of Russia gave the world a naked display of a dance of maintaining power at all cost. Mr Medvedev, a diminutive lawyer who has known Vladimir Putin for two decades, was carefully manoeuvred into the Kremlin by Mr Putin in 2008, when the latter had to step aside due to a constitutional ban on serving more than two consecutive terms.

Throughout his rule, the majority of people have assumed he was a seat-warmer for Mr Putin, who as prime minister still appeared to be calling the shots. The result is a full-blown autocratic system in Russia.

CONCLUSION The puppet president keeps the seat warm for entrenched interests or individuals who seek to return to power.

In Guyana, we face the scenario where attempts to subvert term limits are very much afoot. We must avoid this development at all cost.

Understanding Energy

IMF report points to progress, challenges in cultivating broader growth WITH a new energy industry bringing jobs and investment, it’s more important than ever that Guyana continues making progress towards modernising and bettering its business climate to generate sustainable growth across the economy.

The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) much-discussed report, released earlier this month, on the state of Guyana’s economy may help to draw needed attention to this crucial element of development. Among other recommendations mostly covering resource management, the report also addressed concrete steps to make Guyana a better place to do business— steps that could help catalyse the formation of other industries here.

The IMF analysis found that reform measures to enhance economic diversification and boost inclusive growth “should focus on addressing skilled labour shortages and improving the domestic business environment to facilitate greater private sector involvement in the economy.”

Guyanese companies are already playing an active role in the energy industry with

companies like Guyson’s and the Guyana Shore Base, but healthy reforms and smart investments could help Guyana make the most of a unique and massive opportunity.

The steps that the IMF laid out focused on structural reforms in governance and management practices, addressing a shortage of skilled labour, improving infrastructure, and reducing energy costs—all with the end goal of improving the overall ease of doing business here.

Smart reforms across these sectors could help achieve equitable growth by modernising traditional economic sectors and providing opportunities for new ones to grow and employ more people.

This column has already covered the importance of skill development through investments in education and training initiatives, so this time we’ll examine some of the other roadblocks for development that the report pointed out. We will also discuss the ways that the new oil wealth can be tapped to help ease those roadblocks.

“Improving the business environment,”

the IMF says, mostly revolves around making foreign and domestic investors feel like Guyana is a safe place for their money by respecting the sanctity of contracts and property rights. Businesses need to see a stable and consistently implemented regulatory system in order to have peace of mind in making long term investment decisions.

The billions of US dollars in oil revenues that Guyana is expected to take in can go a long way to improve infrastructure development. As the IMF report highlighted, a lack of reliable infrastructure like bridges, a comprehensive road network, and modern storm defences has always been an issue in Guyana.

Many international organisations have joined the IMF in calling for this to potentially be a priority item for spending oil revenues.

In terms of reducing energy costs, the IMF also pointed to the idea floated by some in government and industry to tap the small gas reserves that Exxon and its partners have found in the offshore Stabroek Block. These are likely too small to commercially export since exporting gas across oceans requires

massive and expensive liquification terminals that are only economically practical at huge volumes. But that could be a boon for Guyana in the long run, since a simple pipeline could be built to bring enough gas to shore to lessen our national electrical grid’s dependency on imported fuel oil.

As the IMF noted, implementation of successful structural reforms “could add around 5 percentage points to non-oil real GDP by 2030.” That kind of additional growth could help make Guyana’s economy both more equitable and more prosperous.

By helping Guyanese businesses across all sectors become more competitive with their foreign counterparts, Guyana would be helping to insulate the economy from the inevitable rises and falls in oil prices over time by making the economy less beholden to a single commodity.

These kinds of changes could leverage oil wealth and political will to create a more healthy and diversified economy that provides opportunities for a broad swath of Guyanese.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE september 29, 2019

Bright future ahead for all 10 regions

- Gaskin

DIRECTOR of Business, Dominic Gaskin, said the economic outlook for Guyana is exceptionally positive, and all of Guyana will benefit from the oil resources of the country.

The former Minister of Business was speaking on Friday at the opening ceremony of the Berbice Expo and Trade Fair at Albion.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Business, Gaskin posited that since oil may only be around for about three or four decades, “we must use the resources derived from oil to secure the future of our country for long after the oil has been depleted.”

He said, “We need to make sure that we use our oil wealth to strengthen our other sectors such as agriculture, agro-processing, tourism and

other services, which are sustainable well beyond the life of our oil.”

Pointing to the need for proper management of the nation’s oil resources and the necessity of guarding against corruption, Gaskin gave the assurance that all revenues received by the government will go directly to the Natural Resources Fund and can only be withdrawn with parliamentary approval after a stringent process.

He stressed that the fund would ensure transparency of the utilisation of the oil resources.

The Director of Business also spoke about the Local Content Policy which is being developed and which aims to ensure that Guyanese benefit from opportunities that are created through oil exploration and production.

“We must benefit from more than just the royalty and our share of the profits;

we must benefit from the employment of Guyanese and the use of Guyanese suppliers; but in order to benefit, we have to be able to provide the goods, services and labour that the industry requires and to meet the standard of the industry,” he said.

The Local Content Policy, he said, has to ensure that once the capacity exists in Guyana, Guyanese get first consideration for those jobs and contracts. He added that where there is no local capacity to provide skill and services, action must be taken to build that capacity. “Local content is not a political issue,” he emphasized. “Local content is about Guyanese benefitting from Guyanese oil.”

He said the government is keen on providing support for the private sector since it is the private sector that drives the economy and

Director of Business, Dominic Gaskin, speaks with staff at the Ministry of Business booth during the Berbice Expo on Friday employment. He added that the private sector must be robust enough to respond to

the changes in the economy that are on the horizon.

He also called on Guy-

anese to remain in Guyana to help develop their homeland.

Man dead, girlfriend critical after Amelia’s Ward shooting A Linden man was fatally shot on Saturday evening in Central Amelia’s Ward, after his car was riddled with bullets from men who trailed him in another car.

Eon Williams, known as OJ Williams, was pronounced dead at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), while his girlfriend, Melita Antigua remained critical up to press time. She was shot to the leg and back.

Williams is the cousin of Teon Allen, an ex- policeman, who was recently charged for discharging a firearm, in one of the incidence of an escalating gang feud in the mining town.

According to information reaching this newspaper, the shooters, allegedly members of a Cayenne-Based Guyanese gang, may have been targeting Allen, or his family, as revenge.

The gang feud between Allen and the Cayenne Gang, started some months ago.

Residents of Lover’s Lane and Central Amelia’s Ward were forced to take cover after a series

Injured, Melita Antigua

Deceased, Eon Williams called OJ

of gunshots started firing in their community approximately 20:30hrs on Saturday. The Guyana Chronicle understands that Williams’ car was trailed and shots were fired. He attempted to escape and shots continued to be fired while he was out of the car. The shooting took about five minutes before the gun men drove away.

“All I hear is Pow Pow for a good couple minutes. I lay down on the ground.

This thing started from till Third Corner side and end up round Main Street. Ya coulda know was more than one person shooting. this thing really shake me up. This is a peaceful com-

munity, we don’t get these things going on,” one resident said.

Police reported to the scene and commenced their investigation.

In recent months, there have been several incidence of gang-related violence in Linden.

On September 2, 2019, a shooting occurred in Amelia’s Ward with Denise Grant, the mother of one of the gang members, and Tiffany McDeth, another relative, being the target.

Allen was wanted for the incident, but has since submitted an alibi video to the police, which showed that he was at another location at the time of the

shooting. While he was in custody, his car was torched and an eyewitness was shot. That was the third vehicle that was torched since the gang war started. There were stabbing incidents and several drive-by shootings.

E’ Division Commander, Superintendent Ramesh Ashram, had said that the division had ramped up patrols in the communities, especially in Amelia’s Ward.

Earlier this month, ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the capital, journeyed to Linden and arrested 14 males who are suspected to be involved in the ongoing gang violence.

Ten of them were subsequently released but four were charged for offences ranging from possession of narcotics and acquiring military clothing from the Guyana Defence Force.

These are: Adrian Webster, Yuriel Lewis, Rodwell Fraser and Lennox Estwick. Rodwell Fraser was released on $20, 000 bail and Estwick was released on $5, 000 bail.

Webster and Lewis were fined $10, 000 in addition

to being ordered to conduct community service.

Allen, who is a former policeman, has had several brushes with the law. In August, 2017, Allen appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Linden Magis-

trate’s Court, charged with harbouring wanted men – Mark Royden Williams and Uree Varswyck – who broke out of the Camp Street Prison on July 9, 2017.

Police are investigating the killing.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE september 29, 2019

Influx of large helicopters as oil and gas interest deepens

– GCAA Director General

SINCE the discovery of oil and gas here in May 2015 interest in the economy has grown and this has brought along with it an influx of large helicopters, a development which is stretching the capacity of oversight body, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

At the moment the issue of assistance to small states such as Guyana in addressing oversight of the helicopter sector is being brought to the attention of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Director General of the GCAA, Retired Lieutenant-Colonel , Egbert Field told the Guyana Chronicle

from Montreal, Canada, last week. Field is attending the ICAO’s 40th General Assembly.

He told this publication that Guyana is submitting working papers on the aviation environment here and also on helicopter assistance for small nations.“We hope that it would gain support,”

Director General of the GCAA , Retired Lieutenant-Colonel Egbert Field he said , but he cautioned that in such arenas, it takes not only “connections” but also time to move the process forward.

Noting that Guyana is “sowing the seed” at the moment regarding its submissions, Field said that for small states where there is an influx of large helicopters, but limited inspectors,

“we are looking at how other states can assist with helicopter support.”This includes the provision of inspectors and other particulars such as financing. “We are looking at that area and the paper is dealing with how this can be realised,” he said.

A number of companies have been utlising helicopters as a quick means of transport to oversee various large-scale operations .These include American oil giant ExxonMobil, which has hired Texas-headquartered company, Bristow, to carry out air support services between its operations onshore and offshore Guyana.

Some three years ago, the country had only about two large helicopters, Field noted; however, according to him, because of oil and gas exploration ongoing in the Atlantic, there are about 12 helicopters in operation here.”It is all driven by the oil and gas industry,” he said.

Field said the GCAA is “stretched,” adding that

the authority would have to now prioritise its operations in dealing with all aspects of aviation. He highlighted that in the field of aviation, ”experienced individuals” are needed to conduct oversight.

At the moment the GCAA can rely on the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Oversight System (CASSOS) for assistance, he said.

Last November, ICAO President Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu visited Guyana to participate in the world aviation body’s air transport meeting /third African diaspora meeting. The GCAA said that the meeting was successfully hosted and Field noted last week that the visit was significant for the country.

During his stay in Guyana, the ICAO Council President also held discussions with ministers of CARICOM states on ways to enhance the level of safety and security oversight among member states, air navigation efficiency and capacity.

The Bristow Group of Texas operates large helicopters here, providing air support to ExxonMobil. (Bristow Group photo)

Guyana-Suriname ferry service restored …study to review border-control measures, passenger comfort, convenience

TRAVELLERS on both sides of the Corentyne River greeted news of the restart of operations of the Guyana-Suriname ferry service with a mix of relief and enthusiasm, underscoring the importance of the ferry link between the territories and the extent of the inconvenience suffered during the period of suspension of the ferry service.

The Ministry of Business said that the Guyana Tourism Authority figures point to increases in traffic between Guyana and Suriname.

“Passage through South Drain, on the Suriname side, and Moleson Creek, on the

Guyana side reflects travels originating in Suriname, French Guiana, as well as in other points of origin in South America.

A cross-river facility is therefore indispensable to any flow of traffic originating beyond Guyana’s eastern border, said the Ministry of Business in its release.

It said that the Department of Tourism in the Ministry of Business recently convened a Task Force to organise a Tourism Expo of the Guianas, scheduled for the first weekend in February 2020.

“As part of the planning for this See page 13

SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 29, 2019

Kumu villagers welcome news of internet access

TWENTY-THREE-YEAROLD Brenrick Francis was excited to hear the news of the establishment of free Internet service in his home village. This is expected to happen as early as the first week in October.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Public Telecommunications, Hon. Catherine Hughes, and Chairman of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), Floyd Levi, during a community meeting on Saturday. Francis, a vibrant young leader in the community, said this will significantly enhance the functions of the village council and schools, as stu-

they can now simply email it… we really need the internet.”

Francis has a diploma in computer science and will be one of the key persons working along with the Telecommunication’s Ministry to ensure that residents in the village are computer literate and knowledgeable of how they can access the required information from the Internet. Chairperson of the National Data Management Authority, Floyd Levi, explained that in remote hinterland areas, the ministry has established more than 60 satellite dishes which will be the source provider of the Internet service. However, a

in Georgetown. Also, she shone a light on how telemedicine can be effective in villages such as Kumu as it will save villagers expending large sums of money to travel to Georgetown to meet with a medical specialist. She was pleased to hear that the village is interested in forging ahead with expanding their village’s tourism potential. She noted that the Internet service is a small but most significant ingredient to realising this vision.

“Tourism can make this whole village open up…

Imagine if you have a website on Kumu village you would be able to introduce Kumu to the world. There is

Some of the residents of Kumu at the community meeting dents will now be able to access information to assist with their assignments and will serve a means of promoting the village’s tourism products. Describing it as a ‘Godsend’, he also noted that the establishment of Internet access in the community will also help in harnessing the youth population in terms of learning a skill in order to meaningfully contribute to their village.

“There is always a saying, ‘God doesn’t come but he sends’ and I have lived to see that is true… I travel every day to Lethem to use the internet. Also, with an Internet hub, we can do so many things. For example, the village council would have to send reports to Georgetown,

few villages outside of Lethem will receive the service from another source.

“There is a different technology; there is a tower in Lethem. That tower we will be beaming the signals to Quarrie, Kumu, Moco-Moco, Hiawa, and Nappi. That special technology is Long Term Evolution (LTE) and the team performing the installation should begin their work on Monday (September 30).” Levi explained.

Minister Hughes explained to the Kumu residents, the many ways the Internet service will benefit them in a medium and longterm period. She spoke of smart classrooms for students, which will ensure they access teaching sessions taking place

Guyana-Suriname ferry...

From page 12

event, a tourism delegation from Guyana visited Paramaribo, Suriname, to meet tourism stakeholders, share and listen to perspectives regarding the Guianas as a single geo-destination.

In discussions in both Suriname and French Guiana, the matter of connectivity loomed large.

While there are four or more air carriers connecting Guyana and Suriname, the ferry link was seen as important to the viability of the Guianas concept, second only in significance to the construction of an actual bridge that links Guyana with Suriname,”

where people who think of coming to Lethem or coming to Guyana would go to know of the beautiful Kumu Falls…,” the telecommunications minister said.

Moreover, the village can benefit tremendously through the acquisition of an information and communications technology hub which will also be established in the village. The ministry has even committed to rehabilitating and equipping a building which was constructed under the previous administration to be used as an ICT hub. “It is furnished but there are no computers. I have a diploma in computer science and would like to work with the people in my community,” Francis said.

the ministry said.

HASSLE-FREE TRAVEL The release noted that while restoration of the ferry service is welcome, the body of rules and requirements that governs trans-border movements is critical to the ease of travel between the territories.

“Most desirable is that such arrangements, whether relating to visas, movement of goods, leisure or business travel, must occur with the minimum of hassle or inconvenience to the travelling public,” the release said.

It said further that a total systems review would look at all aspects of the travel experience to ensure that security and control are not achieved at the expense of passenger comfort and convenience.

Priority will be given to the health and education sectors in the village; therefore, these facilities would be first to receive the service while another connection will be located at the village’s main benab. During the community meeting, Minister Hughes and her team handed over several electronic tablets to residents. Villagers were happy with the minister’s visit and took the opportunity to highlight concerns which they were assured would be addressed.

The community of Kumu is approximately 20-30 minutes’ drive from the town of Lethem. (DPI)

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Minister Catherine Hughes hands over a tablet to Brenrick Francis, a youth leader in the Kumu Village

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE september 29, 2019

Shulinab gets free satellite wi-fi ... Far-flung but no longer isolated THE approximately 500 Makushi and Wapishana residents of Shulinab, Region 9, are now receiving free internet access. This follows the installation of a solar-powered, satellite ICT system in the village office, on Friday last.

Deputy Toshao Calvin Jose said the system will bring immense benefits to not only adults but students especially.

“We were suffering in past years. We never had proper communication.”

The senior village leader added, “The teachers and the children who have do research, SBA’s, assignments and it’s a great benefit… It is very good!”

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, who visited the South Rupununi community over the weekend, described the installation done by the Ministry of Public Telecommunications as “truly transformative. I do not think it would be unfair to say the future has arrived here in Shulinab.

It is, for the first time,

connected to the information super highway with this facility that brings a free internet connection.”

He explained that the state-of-the-art system was one of those installed in 24 communities across the region, “It began last year with internet connections in Masakenari, Ishalton, Sand Creek, and Karasabai. And just recently, similar connectivity was installed in the villages of Fair View, Kurupakari, Surama, Woweta, Bina Hill, Kwatamang, Annai, Ru-

pertee, Aranaputa, Toka, Massara, Crash Water, Rewa, Apoteri, Yakarinta, Parikwarinau, Potarinau here in Shulinab, Katunareb and Sarwariwau.”

Minister Bulkan highlighted that the residents now have communication with not only neighbouring communities but also Georgetown and anywhere in the world, instantaneously, “It means that they have access to government offices, any government ministry, whether in the region or Georgetown. They can

– Minister Bulkan

access Facebook and also make free WhatsApp calls to any community of any part of the world. So, Shulinab might be remote but it is no longer cut off.

This is transformative.”

The ICT hub is among the measures initiated by the Coalition Government to bridge the gap between the coast and hinterland communities. Minister Bulkan also disclosed that the community will shortly receive 25 computer systems to complete the hub. (DPI)

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, speaking to the DPI during a visit to the community of Shulinab in Region 9

North Rupununi villagers get tablets –– Wi-Fi up and running

ELECTRONIC tablets have been presented to several core groups in Fairview, Surama, Apoteri, Rewa, Rupertee among other North Rupununi villages.

This move will allow residents to make use of the free government Wi-Fi which

has been established in these villages. The devices were presented to women’s, youth, sport, wildlife and culture groups. The Nursery and/or Primary Schools in each of these villages also received tablets while the village leaders also received a device.

Over three days (September 25-27), Minister of Public Telecommunications, Hon. Catherine Hughes, accompanied by Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Hon. Valerie Garrido-Lowe, visited the communities to hand out the devices and inform the residents of how the use of these electronic devices

can be maximised.

At Kurupukari, the internet service point is located at the Fairview Health Centre.

Minister Hughes disclosed that there are plans to extend the internet service to the school, making it more convenient for the residents.

In Surama, the internet hub is located in the community centre, while the internet hub in Rewa is in the vicinity of the community’s health centre, village office and primary school. In these villages, the internet service will also be extended to key buildings to facilitate further scheduled upgrades.

The telecommunications minister noted that this is just the beginning as there are major plans in store for ICT in the hinterland that will positively impact major sectors such as health, education, tourism and business in these communities. “Young people especially, know how to use this technology and that is what we will build on...” Minister Hughes said.

Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe encouraged residents to utilise the internet for the marketing of local products and promoting their village as a tourism destination among other things.

Training in the operation of the devices, creation and management of web pages

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, along with Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, hands over a tablet to a representative of the sports group at Fairview and the utilisation of software for businesses and other purposes were held for several residents in the villages.

Toshao of Fairview, Martin Carter, who benefitted from training at an initial workshop, welcomed the establishment of the internet service and all the benefits that will accrue. Martin said he is prepared to work with fellow trainees to ensure others in his village, especially the older residents, are familiarised with the tablets and other ICT devices “The internet is some-

thing new especially to the older folks.... we have the women’s group that does sewing and now they can check online for new designs to do that... for the school children, they can do their research for homework. Before, we utilised the service at Iwokrama, but now we won’t have to do that.”

The establishment of ICT hubs all across the country is all part of the continued effort to ensure the communities in the hinterland and on the coast are connected to internet. (DPI)

Some residents of Surama who received tablets

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE september 29, 2019

St Cuthbert’s Mi (Photos by the Ministry of the Presidency)

President David Granger and Toshao of St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Ms. Beverly Clenkian interact on his arrival in the village

Former Toshao of St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Mr. Lenox Shuman pays keen attention to President David Granger during his address at Heritage 2019 celebrations, held in the village benab on Saturday morning

SUNDAY CHRONICLE september 29, 2019

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ission Heritage Day celebrations

These girls are all set to perform their traditional dance at the St. Cuthbert’ Mission Heritage 2019 celebrations President David Granger meets children of St. Cuthbert’s Mission on his arrival in the village on Saturday. Toshao Ms. Beverly Clenkian is also pictured left

Regional Democratic Council, Demerara-Mahaica (Region Four) Chairperson, Ms. Genevieve Allen presents a quantity of sports gear and board games to Toshao of St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Ms. Beverly Clenkian for the benefit of the village’s youth

A section of the gathering in the St. Cuthbert’s Mission benab during Heritage 2019 celebrations

This family shares a warm embrace with President David Granger after the formal aspect of Heritage 2019 celebrations at St. Cuthbert’s Mission

Ladies having fun during heritage celebrations at St. Cuthbert’s Mission

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE september 29, 2019

GRDB piloting rice demonstration projects in Rupununi villages

GIVEN the challenge farmers in the Rupununi face in cultivating cassava, particularly in the long dry season, the Guyana Rice Development Board, (GRDB) has commenced a rice demonstration project aimed at supplementing their cassava production.

The project was piloted in two villages: Moco Moco and Quarrie, both in Central Rupununi. According to the GRDB’s Rice and Beans Coordinator stationed in St Ignatius, Wilfree NCinroy, it was the Toshaos from the villages who requested assistance with the cultivation of a supplement staple. “These Toshaos approached us and said they wanted to produce some rice in the village, so we took on the challenge,” he said. “It is a demonstration where we enlighten people

about planting rice. We are not the one that will benefit, they will benefit; we are doing it to help them.”

In Shulinab, there is currently two acreage of 36 dayold rice cultivation while in Quarrie, there is one acreage of 44 day-old cultivation. The grade of rice being cultivated is the GRDB 15 and the GRDB 10. Quarrie’s Senior Counsel, Phillip Barreto, expressed appreciation for the project coming to his small village.

“We have an acre plus of rice cultivation there now. At the first try we see this could be done, so it is like an experience for us, and I want to believe this will help in our staple food, it will help the cassava because normally, we only use the cassava as a staple diet and we see now the rice will come in and we are hoping next year we will have a bigger pro-

The rice demonstration project in Moco Moco

duction, and I am seeing that happening,” the SC posited.

NCinroy related that the GRDB is currently testing the soil in other villages to ascertain whether it is rice cultivation-friendly as there are plans to expand the demonstration project in other villages in the Rupununi. Prior to this project, rice was only cultivated in Moco Moco and Santa Fe, in Region Nine.

The agricultural officials affirmed that rice consumption has increased in the Rupununi; thus there is an increase in rice being imported into the region, from the Coastland and even from Brazil. With Rupununi upping its rice production, this is expected to have a domino effect on the development of the agricultural sector in the region. In addition to rice, the National Agricultural Re-

search and Extension Institute (NAREI) has commenced a breadfruit project in the region as another supplement staple for villagers.

With climate change, the Rupununi is experiencing sporadic climate conditions, with the dry season lasting longer than it used to. In 2015, residents said that there was no rain fall for an entire year.

Cultivation of critical crops has decreased and efforts are being made to tackle this. In addition to the above mentioned projects, the Ministry of Agriculture has also commenced a water catchment project to assist farmers in the dry season. Several villages have already benefited.

These include Rupertee, Quarrie, Annai, Massarra and Toka.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE september 29, 2019

Overtopping affects several WCD villages –– CDC distributes cleaning supplies, excavators clean drainage channels

By Tajeram Mohabir

SOME 300 homes were affected in Region Three, along West Coast Demerara (WCD) by overtopping of the seawall caused by high tides which flooded several villages in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

The village that suffered the most was Anna Catherina, WCD. Residents there said the seawall at their village is void of boulders known as rip-rap which is placed on the seawalls to assist with flood prevention.

Many of the affected residents who experienced flooding before would usually have sandbags acting as barriers to the high build-up of water, but on Saturday with the water reaching about 12 inches high, it was too much for them.

“Is 15 years now we experiencing the flooding but this is the first time it was so high,” one WCD resident said.

Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Director-General (ag), Lieutenant Colonel, Kester Craig, said there was flooding in the villages of Blankenburg, Den Amstel, Fellowship, Cornelia Ida, Anna Catherina, Zeelugt and Uitvlugt Oceanview due to overtopping of the seawall caused by high tides.

“We are currently assessing the flooding with the Regional Democratic Council and Ministry of Public Infrastructure, in those communities where the water level is about one foot. The water is receding

A section of the Anna Catherina, WCD seawall that is void of rip-rap protection which residents say resulted in the heavy flooding in the village and in some areas it completely receded, other than the water accumulated in people’s homes,” he said.

Craig explained that there was no breach of the seawalls. Some residents in these villages were affected as the lower flats of their

at a height of 3.31 metres.

This, Craig said, was higher than the last high tide which occurred early Saturday morning and it caused more overtopping.

“Most people are living below sea level and whenever advisories are issued

Cleaning and sanitary supplies being distributed by a CDC official on Saturday homes were inundated.

However, by 16:00hrs on Saturday, there was another above normal high tide

it would be wise to secure your valuables and electronic outlets and items against flooding,” he said.

One of the many WCD yards that were flooded on Saturday morning

The director-general said as a result of global warming, Caribbean countries and small states are vulnerable, especially as seen in the impact of Hurricane Dorian.

“The impact is real, if you look at 10 to 20 years ago, the impact being experienced now is far greater in these times, the evidence is out there and we have to take things serious along with serious actions,” Craig explained.

Residents in the affected areas were asked to immediately secure the entrances to the lower flat of their homes with sandbags and to elevate furniture, appliances, electronics and other valuable household items.

They were also advised to seal off electrical outlets which are less than one foot above ground level.

The CDC and Region Three Administration have mobilised 1000 sandbags for distribution to residents of Blankenburg, Den Amstel, Fellowship, Cornelia Ida, Anna Catherina and Uitvlugt Oceanview, along the West Coast of Demerara.

Additionally, in an act of corporate and social responsibility, Chief Executive Officer of GAICO Construction, Inc. Komal Singh, on Saturday, procured and delivered multiple 30-inch tubes to increase drainage capacity to alleviate future floods at Zeelugth, WCD. The presentation was made following a request from residents of the community, who have been experiencing similar flooding in excess of a decade, owing to limited drainage capacity at Brother Dam. CDC staff also distributed cleaning and sanitary supplies to residents of the affected areas.

An excavator clears the drainage system at Blankenburg, WCD

An affected WCD resident receives cleaning supplies from a CDC official

The donation by GAICO Construction Inc. to improve drainage in the community of Zeelugth, WCD

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE september 29, 2019

Guyanese companies Kwakwani man charged for slapping boy invited to Cuban business forum

GUYANESE companies have been invited to the IV Investment Forum that will be held on November 6 and 7 at the EXPOCUBA Convention Hall and Executive Lounge.

The forum will be held within the framework of the 37th edition of the International Fair of Havana (FIHAV 2019), Cuba.

President of the Region Three Chamber of Commerce, Haleem Khan, said the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment (MINCEX), in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba and ProCuba will be hosting the event.

Khan said the new Foreign Investment Opportunities Portfolio 2019-2020 will be launched in the context of the forum.

He explained that the

forum is addressed to foreign entrepreneurs who wish to attend and registration for the IV Investment Forum will be open until November 1, on the official website of Fihav (http://feriahabana.mincex.gob.cu).

He noted that entrepreneurs can make their appointments for free.

“These online platforms also provide information such as the advantages of investing in Cuba, the legal framework for this activity and the foreign investment policy, among other data.

Panels and presentations on topics of interest will be developed at the meeting,” Khan said.

The President of the Region Three Chamber of Commerce explained that the event will be an excellent opportunity to hold bilateral meetings between Cuban executives and businessmen and potential for-

President of the Region Three Chamber of Commerce, Haleem Khan eign investors.

“This will be a great place to share ideas and exchanging on present and future challenges in attracting foreign capital.

It guarantees interesting and fruitful work sessions during such a visit to Cuba,” khan said.

A RESIDENT of Kwakwani has found himself in hot water after slapping a 16-year-old student of the Kwakwani Secondary School last Thursday, at the school sports activity.

It is alleged that the Personal Assistant to the General Manager of Kwakwani Utilities Incorporated, Dwayne Marshall, assaulted the youth who hails from Aoriama, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice). The boy resides at the Kwakwani Hostel.

In a video seen by this publication that has gone viral on social media, prompting much commentary, Marshal, after a few seconds of verbal confrontation with the child, dealt him a slap, all in the presence of everyone in the sports ground. He then walked away and said, “I don’t care what y’al seh don’t slap me child.”

In a telephone interview, the student related to this newspaper that he did not know Marshall prior to the

incident and it stemmed from an altercation he had with his son and wife earlier.

He said his teacher requested that he and two of his classmates collect food for the students participating in sports. When they arrived at the location, another student was there. He enquired what he was doing and the student, who happened to be Marshall’s son, told him that he was sent to collect the food. He became verbally abusive to one of the boys and the victim said he intervened, asking him to desist from his behaviour, since he was younger than the trio.

“He said, I is not he father and I can’t tell him what to do and if I know who is he, so I took it as a threat and give him three touch on his cheeks and told him I don’t like people threaten me,” he related. The boy dared him to remain there as he was going home, but he paid him no mind and continued back to the sports ground.

Then suddenly, a wom-

an whom he assumed to be the boy’s stepmother, came out of a house and started using indecent language. He said they paid her no mind as well and returned to the sports ground.

While conversing with his teacher, he (assault victim) felt two taps on his shoulder. Upon turning around, a complete stranger asked him if it was he who slapped his son and threatened to “juk up” his wife. Before he could have answered, the man dealt him one s l a p . T h is i n f u r i a te d teachers and parents on the ground who reprimanded Marshall for his action against a minor.

The matter was reported to the Kwakwani Police Station and the probation officer was alerted; statements were also taken from eyewitnesses and charges were laid against Marshall. He is expected to appear in court on October 4, 2019.

Alberttown stabbings stemmed from argument over cigarettes THE two men who killed each other after an argument over cigarettes in Fifth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown Friday night were identified as “Rastaman” (only name given) and 25-year-old, Jermain Adrian Jeffery.

Jeffery was a labourer of Lot 48 Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown.

Police said they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths which occurred about 21:40hrs Friday night.

Initial investigations have revealed that “Rastaman” was selling cigarettes at his stall when Jeffery approached to purchase but was refused, resulting in an argument, which escalated into a scuffle.

During the scuffle, they Dead: Jermain both wounded each other.

Adrian Jeffery Jeffery and Rastaman were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where they were both pronounced dead on arrival.

Relatives said that Jeffery left his mother’s residence intoxicated and, 30 minutes after, they received a call that he was injured. Jeffery is the eldest of four siblings.

Police are continuing their investigations.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 29, 2019

29 Region 10 youths ready for work

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–– levels two and three mining courses to commence soon

By Vanessa Braithwaite AFTER completing the mineral prospecting and map-reading Level One Course at the Guyana Mining School, 29 Linden youths are now equipped with the basic skills needed to become employable in the mining sector.

The students, at a graduation ceremony on Friday, received their certificates after successfully completing six units of the Level One Course. Those who graduated secured over 80 per cent.

The programme is geared towards ensuring there is a future in mining, despite the advent of the oil and gas industry. According to Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, who delivered the charge to the graduates, there is a bright future in mining.

“Mining is a part of who we are as Guyanese... we

hope not to see an end to mining but to make it better, make it more sustainable and to make it more safe... mining is going to be forever a part of who we are and what we do,” he posited Therefore, he said, it is imperative that the nation’s youths residing particularly in mining regions, are equipped with the skills needed. This is the mandate of the Guyana Mining School, according to Trotman, and efforts will be made to expand and strengthen the programme to not only focus on the technicalities of mining but on the initiation of safer mining practises in an effort to protect and conserve the environment.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Guyana Mining School, MP Audwin Rutherford, underscored the progress the school has made since the commencement of training on January 31, 2019.

Through the establishment of short-term goals, Rutherford said that now, courses are available at all technical and vocational institutions, across Guyana.

“We have refocused and is conscious that pre-training is best... the reason for our efforts to connect with the technical institutions as we feel a large percentage of our youths train at these institutions will gravitate to the mining industry,” he said.

The school’s projection now is to embark on training in skill sets applicable to the oil and gas sector. In addition, the school is moving towards accreditation and the process of registration has commenced.

Director of the Mining School, Mr. John Applewhite- Hercules, detailed what the sixmonths course encompassed.

This included six units, ranging from following regulations in the mining sector, application for exploration and mining

A section of the graduates of the level one mining course

rights/properties, effectively reading and interpreting maps and navigation instruments.

The valedictorian of the 2019 class was Alleya Shahabudeen- Collins.

The graduates were charged to not see this as the end of their training in mining, but as the beginning. Before the end of the year, Level Three courses will be available in Linden, for those who desire upward mobility.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman presenting the best graduating student with a trophy

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 29, 2019

Charges expected against boat captains in fatal accident

CHARGES are expected to be laid against the boat captains involved in the fatal collision on the Essequibo River that occurred on September 23, 2019, which left three persons dead and five others nursing injuries.

Dead are Brazilian Jose Francisco Joaquin; Suriname-based Guyanese businesswoman, Sherry Khan, a mother of four; and 25-yearold Osafo Anthony Roberts, an auto electrician of Philadelphia, East Bank Essequibo.

The boat captains were identified as Devindra Singh called “Crank”, 43, of Greenwich Park, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) and Latchman Sankar.

The men are expected to also be cited for several maritime breaches. Sources said the boat operators can be

Dead: Sherry Khan cited for reckless driving or reckless endangerment of the life of a passenger/passengers, for which the penalties range from monetary fines to suspension of licences.

However, police will also be implementing criminal charges.

Reports indicate that the two boats collided at Chalmers’ crossing located at the western tip of Hog Island, in the Essequibo River.

The passengers were aboard an M&Y Express vessel headed in the direction of Buck Hall when it collided with a Venezuela-registered fiberglass boat which was proceeding in the opposite direction.

Reports indicate the Venezuelan vessel was under repairs and on a test run when it smashed into the passenger vessel.

It is alleged that the boat captains were navigating the dark waters without the use of proper lights.

Investigations revealed that the captain of the Venezuela-registered vessel was unlicensed at the time of the collision while the other captain was licensed.

The damaged boat after the collision

Kwakwani man charged for slapping boy

By Vanessa Braithwaite

A RESIDENT of Kwakwani has found himself in hot water after slapping a 16-year-old student of the Kwakwani Secondary School last Thursday, at the school sports activity.

It is alleged that the Personal Assistant to the General Manager of Kwakwani Utilities Incorporated,

Dwayne Marshall, assaulted the youth who hails from Aoriama, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

The boy resides at the Kwakwani Hostel.

In a video seen by this publication that has gone viral on social media, prompting much commentary, Marshal, after a few seconds of verbal confrontation with the child, dealt him a slap,

all in the presence of everyone in the sports ground. He then walked away and said, “I don’t care what y’al seh don’t slap me child.”

In a telephone interview, the student related to this newspaper that he did not know Marshall prior to the incident and it stemmed from an altercation he had with his son and wife earlier.

He said his teacher request-

ed that he and two of his classmates collect food for the students participating in sports. When they arrived at the location, another student was there. He enquired what he was doing and the student, who happened to be Marshall’s son, told him that he was sent to collect the food. He became verbally abusive to one of the boys and the victim said he intervened, asking him to desist from his behaviour, since he was younger than the trio.

“He said, I is not he father and I can’t tell him what to do and if I know who is he, so I took it as a threat and

give him three touch on his cheeks and told him I don’t like people threaten me,” he related. The boy dared him to remain there as he was going home, but he paid him no mind and continued back to the sports ground.

Then suddenly, a woman whom he assumed to be the boy’s stepmother, came out of a house and started using indecent language. He said they paid her no mind as well and returned to the sports ground.

While conversing with his teacher, he (assault victim) felt two taps on his shoulder. Upon turning

around, a complete stranger asked him if it was he who slapped his son and threatened to “juk up” his wife. Before he could have answered, the man dealt him one slap.

This infuriated teachers and parents on the ground who reprimanded Marshall for his action against a minor.

The matter was reported to the Kwakwani Police Station and the probation officer was alerted; statements were also taken from eyewitnesses and charges were laid against Marshall. He is expected to appear in court on October 4, 2019.

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Charles equals Michael in Russia

(REUTERS) - CHARLES Leclerc became the first Ferrari driver since Michael Schumacher to take four pole positions in a row, yesterday, in a Russian Grand Prix qualifying session that bridged the generations.

Formula One leader Lewis Hamilton joined the Monegasque, who was three years old when Schumacher racked up four successive poles in 2000, on the front row with Mercedes unable to match Ferrari’s pace but on a different tyre strategy.

Leclerc, 21, has now outqualified his four-time world champion team mate Sebastian Vettel, last weekend’s Singapore winner, for nine successive races. The pole was his sixth of the season and of his career. “The car felt amazing. It definitely feels great to be back on pole but I don’t know if it’s the best track to start on pole,” said Leclerc after lapping the Olympic Park circuit in one minute 31.628 seconds.

“It definitely feels very special but I don’t really want to think about those (Schumacher) stats for now.

“There’s still a long way to go tomorrow; we’ve been

Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc celebrates taking pole position after the qualifying session for the Formula 1 - Russian Grand Prix at The Sochi Autodrom Circuit in Sochi yesterday. (Photo by DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty Images)

competitive all weekend long and the race simulation seems positive too. It’s looking good for tomorrow.”

Hamilton had been third behind the two Ferraris after the first flying laps of the final session but the man who has more career poles than any driver still lifted himself on to the front row.

His time was 0.4 seconds off Leclerc’s best but denied

Ferrari a front-row sweep by 0.023 ahead of a race that has only ever been won by Mercedes since its debut in 2014.

“It was a tough qualifying session because these guys have some crazy speeds on the straights,” said the fivetime champion after ending up in a Ferrari sandwich.

“They go to another level.

You know that whole

‘party mode’ you talked about us having? They have something else beyond that jet mode.

“I gave it absolutely everything I had at the end.

I’m so glad it came together, I wasn’t expecting it to.”

While Leclerc will start on the fastest, soft tyres, Hamilton will line up on mediums in an intriguing strategy twist.

Coleman wins World Championship gold (BBC) CHRISTIAN Coleman shrugged off the controversy of his build-up to the World Championships to win the 100m final in 9.76 seconds.

The pre-event favourite, who avoided a ban for three missed doping tests, finished well clear of defending champion and fellow American Justin Gatlin, who clocked 9.89 in Doha.

Canada’s Andre de Grasse took bronze in 9.90.

Britain’s European champion Zharnel Hughes was sixth in 10.03.

Although Coleman will receive generous plaudits for his display here, USA track

great Michael Johnson said prior to the competition that controversy surrounding Coleman “completely disqualifies” him from being the face of the sport.

The US Anti-Doping Agency charged Coleman with missing three drugs tests in 12 months before withdrawing the claim.

“I am humble, I am just here to win titles,” an elated Coleman said afterwards.

“It is an incredible time. I think the sky’s the limit, I think I still have a lot of things I can work on and improve, I think I can keep dropping my time.”

For the second successive day the crowd was sparse inside the Khalifa Stadium, which can hold 40 000. There has been no update as to whether the organisers have improved on sales of 50 000 tickets for the entire 10 days.

Yesterday, the stadium became more vacant as the evening wore on and only a few witnessed the spectacular light display before the men’s 100m final.

Much of the focus leading up to the championships was about whether Coleman or his USA team-mate Noah Lyles - competing in the 200m -

would take the title of ‘sprint king’ following Usain Bolt’s retirement after London 2017.

That projected battle was thrown into serious doubt when it was announced in August that Coleman was under investigation for missing three tests in 12 months. If found guilty, the 23-year-old from Atlanta would have faced a one-year ban.

However, the US Anti-Doping Agency, which initially charged Coleman, withdrew the case after it was proved there had been a filing irregularity regarding the date of the first missed test.

Seemingly unaffected by the drama, Coleman cruised through the rounds before once again making his superiority count in the final.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday September 29, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL- Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)

Chadwick Walton

(2) Kieron Pollard & Darren Sammy (July 30, 2015 in Barbados) Today’s Quiz: (1) In which CPL season Lendl Simmons copped the Man of the Tournament Award?

(2) In which year Andre Russell took the Man of the Tournament title?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 29, 2019

Zouks boost playoff hopes, eliminate Tallawahs DARREN Sammy held his nerve to keep St Lucia Zouks’ 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) playoff hopes very much alive with a fourwicket win over Jamaica Tallawahs on Friday night.

A pair of Hero Maximums in the penultimate over of a nervy, high-stakes runchase effectively settled the contest, bringing the scores level and allowing Krishmar Santokie to smash the winning runs at the start of the final over.

Victory for the Zouks lifted them back above Barbados Tridents into fourth place while also ending the Tallawahs’ own lingering hopes of a topfour finish. It’s the first time in Hero CPL history the Tallawahs miss out on the playoffs.

The Zouks now head to Barbados today for a hugely significant clash with the Tridents as the league phase hits the home straight.

Chasing 166 for victory, Rahkeem Cornwall got the Zouks off to the perfect start with a 24-ball half-century with four fours and five sixes.

He showed his intent from the very first over, pulling Zahir Khan for four and then launching a Hero Maximum over long-on.

The real carnage came in the third over of the innings as Jerome Taylor was taken for 25. Cornwall hit backto-back Hero Maximums to start the over before Andre Fletcher finished it off with 10 runs in two balls.

Fletcher was caught at slip by Chris Gayle off Zahir Khan, but Cornwall raced on

to his half-century, his most dramatic contribution a huge Hero Maximum off Ramaal Lewis that bounced twice on the roof before finding its way into the car park.

He was gone two balls later, though – just after reaching his half-century – when another attempt to clear the rope was held just inside it by Chadwick Walton.

When Colin de Grandhomme holed out off Imran Khan to the first ball of the next over for a golden duck, Zouks were in danger of losing their way.

But with the required rate well in hand, Colin Ingram and Hardus Viljoen had the luxury of taking a few overs just to steady the ship. They did so, Viljoen then getting the chase really back up and running with a pair of huge

sixes over long-on off Khan.

The final ball of that over was pulled to the square-leg fence and the Zouks were firmly back in control.

Still it was not exactly plain sailing to the finish line. Ingram was run-out by a superb direct hit from Khan at mid-off, before Viljoen top-edged a Dwayne Smith short ball to Shamar Springer at long-leg.

When Chris Barnwell picked out Smith at long-on to give Imran Khan a second wicket, the Tallawahs suddenly sensed a chance with the equation 19 from 12 and Darren Sammy left with only the Zouks bowlers for company.

Two huge sixes later, the matter was all but settled with Santokie gleefully crashing the first ball of the final over to the cover boundary to seal

Warriors meet GT students in T&T GUYANESE students studying in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) were able to meet their cricket heroes, Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) yesterday.

The students who are studying at the University of the West Indies (UWI) - St Augustine Campus, Hugh Wooding Law School and University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) - met with the players during a practice session at Queen’s Park Oval, ahead of GAW’s faceoff with Trinidad’s Trinbago Knight Riders.

Although the students were unable to attend the match since tickets for the fiery clash of the two top teams in the 2019 edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) were unavailable, the team facilitated the group so they could still show their support.

“We are very much committed to the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR),” GAW Team and Operations Manager, Omar Khan said.

He explained that as a Guyanabased team, the aim is to support causes that are good for young people, in particular, and for the overall development of the sport.

He mentioned that the team have showed their commitment to giving back to the community in many instances. In Guyana, the team visited few orphanages back home in Guyana to make donations, and even give the children tickets to the matches so that they aren’t left out of the biggest party in sport.

The players would have also

Guyanese students in Trinidad interacting with Guyanese ace batsman Shimron Hetmyer

engaged in cricket training camps in communities and with students in Guyana.

“It’s not only our commitment as a team to be playing cricket for Guyana but to be part of the overall development and support (of cricket) and help Guyanese youngsters to be involved in the international support,” Khan said.

But this commitment to give back is just not only for the development of the community. In fact, Khan posited that when the team have that sense of “doing good” they are empowered to perform even better on the field.

“We love when we go to cricket grounds to see the Guyana flags waving and the Guyanese people there supporting

the team,” he highlighted. “It gives us a lot of incentive and a lot of motivation, and it inspires the guys to really go out there and play with greater impetus.”

For the team, the sight of the Golden Arrowhead or the Guyanese fans screaming at official matches or even at practice matches is enough to propel them. And, so far, the Warriors have been unbeaten.

Khan noted that he was particularly pleased that the Guyanese students travelled to Port of Spain to show their support to the Warriors as they practised.

And come match-day on Monday, September 30, Khan and the team, by extension, hope to feel that Guyanese support.

a hugely important win.

Dwayne Smith had earlier returned to form in fine style for the Tallawahs.

Having failed to reach double-figures in four previous 2019 Hero CPL innings, Smith looked back to his very best in plundering 58 in 38 balls with six fours and three sixes.

But after he and debutant Liton Das (21 from 21) were dismissed in successive balls by the impressive Kesrick Williams, the Tallawahs innings fell away.

From 138-2 after 16 overs with two set batsmen at the crease, only 27 more were added at a cost of five wickets in the face of some superb Zouks death bowling.

Williams was very much the pick, adding the wicket of Trevon Griffith to finish with fine figures of 3-24 despite

Shamar Springer hitting the final ball of his spell for six.

Glenn Phillips and Gayle had got the innings off to a fine start before 2019 Hero CPL leading run-scorer Phillips was bounced out by Viljoen after smacking backto-back fours.

Gayle was then prepared to play second fiddle to Smith in a partnership with Smith before he was caught by a juggling Viljoen at longoff as Sammy’s decision to bring himself into the attack paid dividends.

Smith went through to his half-century in 30 balls but fell just as the Tallawahs were looking to really launch in the final overs. They were never quite able to do so.

COURTS Pee Wee Football tournament 2019

Soesdyke, St Pius and North Georgetown register huge wins THERE were huge wins for Soesdyke, St Pius and North Georgetown as the 2019 edition of the COURTS Pee Wee Football tournament continued yesterday.

In the day’s opening game, Mocha won via walkover from J.E. Burnham with Mae’s getting the better of Enterprise 2-1, thanks to a brace from Elijah Bynoe (38th, 40th) who cancelled out Kristin Semple’s 17th minute strike.

Soesdyke, in the second set of matches for the day, steamrolled St Margaret’s 7-0 with goals from Jaden Tasher (13th, 15th, 23rd), Jermaine Mitchel (21st, 25th) and single strikes from Ezekiel Holder (36th) and Neil Persaud (38th). On the opposing pitch Craig beat South Ruimveldt via a 2-0 margin thanks to Timothy Mellvile (2nd, 31st).

Redeemer were also winners on the day over Uitvlugt with Nickolas Watts (21th) scoring their goal while Timehri overcame Plaisance 4-0 thanks to Estavan Madina (10th, 27th), Tyrone Pereira (34th) and Jason Williams (37th).

North Georgetown also produced a 7-0 score line this

time thumping Ann’s Grove thanks to Garey Primo (11th, 12th, 33rd, 40th) with Martha Chance (10th), Dellon Wray (24th) and Maneshar Khan (14th).

On the other pitch, it was St Agnes who were winners over St Ambrose, thanks to Shaquille Dalrymple (14th) and Kwason Chance (26th).

Marian Academy beat off F.E Pollard after Emanuel Francois (16th) and Jeremy Ten-Pow (40th) goals overcame the early goal of Jaquan Armstrong (3rd).

The opposing pitch had all the action, however, as St Pius continued their strong run, beating Smith Memorial 9-1. Jamal Fraser (1st, 19th, 22nd, 29th, 34th, 36th) was the chief destroyer. Jamal Jones (13th), Nickali Watson (25th) and Teon Macey (31st) scored also. Japheth Sampson (4th) scored Smith’s consolation goal.

The St Stephens vs Tucville match was abandoned due to a power outage while West Ruimveldt overcame Genesis 1-0 thanks to Cleon La Rose (10th).

Matches continue next Saturday.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 29, 2019

29

CWI development players star at CPL 2019 A MAJOR initiative for the 2019 season was the introduction of 12 development players into CPL. Two Cricket West Indies (CWI)-nominated players were included in each of the franchise teams and we are thrilled to see the immediate success of this programme, as many of the players have made an instant impact.

With these young and exciting players getting time on the field to show their value to their teams, it has become clear that the next generation of Caribbean cricketers is developing rapidly and will soon be pushing for higher honours with the West Indies senior men’s teams. Both Hero CPL and CWI are extremely excited with the direction in which these young cricketers are heading.

The standout performances so far include: Leniko Boucher, who is currently second on the Barbados Tridents batting

Shoaib Malik (L) and Odean Smith (C) of Guyana Amazon Warriors celebrate the dismissal of Zahir Khan (R) of Jamaica Tallawahs during Match 15 of the Hero CPL between Tallawahs and Warriors at Sabina Park on September 18, 2019 in Kingston, Jamaica. (Photo by Randy Brooks - CPL T20/Getty Images)

averages, with his 62 not out, setting up victory against the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots at Warner Park. The wicketkeeper-batsman has been a very strong addition to

the Tridents squad.

Shamar Springer has been performing well for the Jamaica Tallawahs, claiming a Man-of-the-Match award for this 3-32 against the Tridents.

GFF hosts Child Protection Workshop for coaches

Coaches during the GFF Child Protection Workshop

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) held a half-day workshop last Friday with National and Academy Training Centres (ATCs) coaches in observance of Child Protection Week, which was observed under the theme: ‘Promoting Social Change to Stop the Violation of Children’.

The workshop, held at the GFF boardroom, was facilitated by Senior Child Protection Officer Ms M. Woodroffe and the Agency’s Legal Officer Ms. T. Williams.

Woodroffe outlined the objective of the workshop: “It was done to raise awareness of the prevalence

of child abuse and to have proactive involvement of key stakeholders in enabling the safety, protection and preservation of the rights of children. This includes changing mind concepts, attitudes and behaviours towards children.”

In opening comments at the session, GFF president Wayne Forde said education about child protection issues is vital for coaches and will become part of coaches’ continuous education.

“As football administrators, we have a moral duty to protect children from those who may betray their trust and take advantage of them. It is therefore important that

we educate everyone who will come into contact with players on what is considered acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. Coaches will now have to undergo Child Protection training each year in order to retain their coaching licence.”

In an invited comment, Woodroffe added that “the forum also enabled the strengthening of collaborative efforts and initiatives for the support of children, families and communities in promoting social change.”

Child Protection Week was observed from September 22 to 28.

He also scored some valuable runs, making 30 from 20 balls against the Patriots.

Ramaal Lewis has also been performing well for the Tallawahs, with both bat and

ball. Lewis has been scoring at a strike rate of 145 and has taken four wickets.

Dominic Drakes has been succeeding for the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and played a superb innings against the Barbados Tridents where he made 32* as he pushed his side to a near victory.

Anderson Phillip returned figures of 3-38 for the Trinbago Knight Riders against the Patriots which his team lost after a Super Over. In a highscoring game Phillip was one of the standout bowlers.

Michael Hall, the Tournament Operations Director of Hero CPL, said: “Hero CPL takes its role in helping to develop the next generation of cricketers very seriously, and we are delighted to have agreed this initiative with CWI and are excited to see how well they have performed on the big stage” Jimmy Adams, CWI Director of Cricket, said: “We’re delighted to see the West Indies development

players not just receiving game time in such highprofile games, but also making significant contributions with bat, ball and in the field. We congratulate the development players on their performances so far and we look forward to continuing this initiative with our partners at the CPL.” West Indies Emerging Players: Barbados Tridents Leniko Boucher and Chemar Holder Guyana Amazon Warriors - Odean Smith and Keagan Simmons Jamaica Tallawahs - Ramaal Lewis Shamar Springer St Kitts & Nevis Patriots Jeremiah Louis and Dominic Drakes St Lucia Zouks - Jeavor Royal and Roland Cato Trinbago Knight Riders - Amir Jangoo and Anderson Phillip

Rotary Club of Demerara Off-Road Rally gaining traction WITH over 30 registered participants so far, the Rotary Club of Demerara’s Inaugural Off-Road Rally is set to take place next weekend on the Linden/ Soesdyke highway.

According to the president, Hansraj Singh, there are over 30 confirmed participants (offroad vehicles and bikes) that will traverse four terrains over the space of the October 5 event, which will begin at 08:00hts and conclude at 15:00hrs.

Singh disclosed at the event’s launch on Friday in Georgetown that committee members brought up the idea as part of a venture to raise funds. “There is a lot of interest right now in Guyana with all these people having Off-Road vehicles, bikes and ATVs and not having a coordinated activity to participate in other than visiting those hinterland communities and (participating in) the safari,” he added, explaining the birth of the idea.

The event will encompass trails in the Kuru Kururu, Marudi and the Soesdyke/Linden Highway areas.

Rotarian Lancelot Khan outlined the four routes, saying “They will take you towards the South Dakota Circuit, Linden Town then aback of Dora, slightly close to the Pakuri trail that leads to the Pakuri Village. Each one of these routes is accessible

just off the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway.”

Khan explained that the winners would be judged on how quickly they traverse the routes, adding that of the four trails, they have devised four ranges of tests with a section ranging from those that can see car competition, to those that are only traversable with fully off-road vehicles.

The team reminded that strict adherence will be paid to speed limits for those trails that encompass road passages.

The other Rotarian at the head table during the launch, Bhageshwar Murli, contended that there will be a full medical team at the start line should any mishaps occur.

He stated that there are also live monitoring of all competitors and of course roving response vehicles that will rescue any teams that may have issues during the rally.

Murli reminded that, “The event is one where we want you to bring out your family and have a great day.”

Persons desirous of registering can do so via the Rotary Club of Demerara or the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s office.

Irish Racing Tips Curragh 08:50 hrs My Friend Stan 09:20 hrs Ming Warrior 09:50 hrs Tasacka 10:25 hrs Brunelle 11:00 hrs Innisfree 11:30 hrs How The King 12:05 hrs Mythologic 12:35 hrs Yolo Aris English Racing Tips Epsom 09:00 hrs Afraid Of Nothing 10:05 hrs Lawn Ranger 10:35 hrs Desirious 11:10 hrs Culture 11:45 hrs Edinburgh Castle 12:15 hrs Swift Approval Musselburgh 08:40 hrs Chica Buena 09:10 hrs Johan 09:40 hrs Lara Silvia 10:15 hrs Rux Ruxx 10:45 hrs Desert Ace 11:20 hrs Thornaby Princess 11:55 hrs Lagenda 12:25 hrs Kaizer South Africa Racing Tips Greyville 08:45 hrs Charlie Mccreevy 09:20 hrs Room At The Top 09:55 hrs Prince Of Venice 10:30 hrs Arinos Shadow 11:05 hrs Sovereign Soldier

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 29, 2019

GCA/NBS second division 40-over cricket DCC, GCC beat TSC, MSC yesterday

HOSTS Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) and the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) completed contrasting wins in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)sponsored New Building Society (NBS) second division 40 overs cricket tournament yesterday.

At DCC, the home team recorded a 21-run win over Transport Sports Club while GCC had the better over Malteenoes Sports Club by 15 runs.

For DCC, number ten batsman Carlton Jacques Jr and West Indies Under-19 left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd, were the main contributors.

Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, DCC top and middle-order batsmen failed, with only Shamar Yearwood (17), and

Ashmead Nedd Timothy McAlmont

Jahron Byron (19), getting to double figures. However, Jacques Jr. then played an innings of great enterprise but also of great substance to lift his side to 178 all out at the end of the 39th over.

Jacques Jr, batting at No. 10, eventually went for 89 with six sixes and three fours, but he and Dexter George (21), had, by then, demoralised the visiting team’s bowling attack, and lifted the momentum of the innings somewhat.

GCC girls play unbeaten to win U-20 hockey title THE Bingo Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Spartans finished the Solo Beverages Girls’ Outdoor Development Hockey League unbeaten after defeating second-place finishers Saints yesterday afternoon at the St Stanislaus College (SSC) ground, on Carifesta Avenue.

Saints, who had lost to the eventual winners in the first round, had a slim chance in the final clash of the league to finish on top. To accomplish that feat, they were tasked with winning by four goals or more.

On the contrary, the Spartans proved to be the aggressors and achieved a 3-0 win. Abosaide Cadogan scored in the fourth minute of play, which remained at 1-0 at the end of the half (20 minutes), before Paige Fernandes made it 2-0 in the 31st minute.

GCC had several other chances, including a few by Cadogan towards the end, but it was a long flick by Paige’s cousin Madison Fernandes, which sealed the game.

Madison’s goal yesterday was her fifth of the league, which propelled her to win the Most Goals trophy. She was also named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Saints’ Donyale Nurse was named

Saints finished second in the tournament.

The Bingo GCC Spartans were flawless in the league.

the Best Goalie of the League, while GCC Her-ricanes’ Jessica Armstrong was named the Most Improved Player.

Overall, Bingo GCC Spartans finished on 18 points (six wins in six games),

Saints on 12 points (four wins in six games), GCC Her-ricanes on four points (a win and a draw in six games) and YMCA OFHC Bellatrix on a single point (one draw in six games).

For the visitors, left-arm spinner Joel Spooner (4-21) was the chief destroyer. He received support from Kevin Ross (2-35), Akeem Redman (2-28) and Morris Baptiste (1-13). The run chase always seemed a huge task, and in the end it proved to be so, with TSC being bowled out for 157 with more than six overs left.

They lost openers Adrian Hinds (5), and Redman without scoring very early in the run chase to Qumar Torrington and Nkosi Beaton respectively, but Sunil Singh and Jamal Wilson engineered a superb recovery, which took the game away from the hosts.

The duo added 88 runs for the third wicket with Singh the main donor to the scoreboard, hitting 69 with nine fours and a six before he went to Nedd, at 93-3.

At that point, Wilson was joined by Alvin Mohabir, and the pair took the total to 144. Wilson was trapped

leg-before to Nedd for 40 (4x4, 2x6). Thereafter, the innings folded, with TSC losing their last six wickets for just 13 runs.

Nedd eventually finished with figures of 4-27, while leg-spinner Steven Sankar had two wickets.

At the Malteenoes Sports Club ground, the home team won the toss and decided to bowl first after the game was reduced to 27 overs-aside due to an early morning shower. However, wayward bowling and some poor fielding saw the visiting side pose 184-8. GCC slipped to 54-3, at one point of the innings before Timothy McAlmont, who top-scored with 74 and Bernard Baily (21), joined forces.

The pair then took the total to 116, a fourth-wicket stand which was dominated by the right-hander McAlmont, who struck seven fours and four sixes.

Stephon Wilson contributed an attractive 30 towards

the backend of the innings, with a four and three sixes.

Nichosie Barker (2-31) and Akeem Critchlow (2-25) were the best bowlers for the hosts. The run chase was reduced to 30-3, but Jerimiah Scott then single-handedly took the game away from the visiting side with a 65-ball 97, which included ten sixes and three fours.

At that point of the game, victory was well in sight for the hosts. However, Scott’s dismissal at 151 saw the innings fold for 169 all out in 26.5 overs.

Shaquille Mosley (21), and Marcus Watkins (12), were the only two other batsmen to reach double digit. It was a complete bowling effort from the eventual winners with Duncan Clarke, Deonarine Seegobin and McAlmont, all claiming two wickets apiece while there was a wicket for Wilson and Krsan Singh.

The tournament continues today.

Centuries galore as Everest, Police stamp authority on NBS 40-over cricket

LAST season’s finalists, Everest Cricket Club (ECC) and dominant side Police Sports Club (PSC) stamped their authority on the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) NBS 40-over opening round, with emphatic wins over Ace Warriors and Sophia respectively, yesterday at their home grounds.

Four centuries were scored, two each by batsmen representing the respective winners in the one-sided games.

Everest, who batted poorly against GCC in the final of the previous competition in April, showed that they had done their homework as they raced to a whopping 434 before they were bowled out in the 40th over.

The home side then slaughtered Ace Warriors batsmen (only 10 played), leaving them all out for 42 in 14.4 overs. Victory achieved by a whopping 392 runs.

Everest skipper Dwayne Adams and Amir Khan both blasted centuries, while Richie Looknauth added 88 runs.

Opener Adams finished on a match-high 125 runs after he struck 15 fours and three sixes. He and Khan destroyed the bowling early. Khan, who favoured the aerial route, struck ten fours and eight sixes in his score of 116. After both batsmen fell to off-spinner Rawl Enmore, former national U-19 cricketer Looknauth took on the bowling. He struck eight fours and four sixes in a score of 88.

Looknauth looked solid at the crease, but he charged down late in the innings to hit Enmore over the top and was stumped.

Enmore finished with 5-72 from seven overs.

Ace Warriors had no answers in the middle.

Only Nkosi Whyte (10) reached double figures, as Shaheed Mohamed dismantled the top order. Mohamed got wickets in each of his first three overs, then again in the fifth and

Everest firepower, from left: Amir Khan, Richie Looknauth and Dwayne Adams

seventh overs to end with 5-10 from seven overs.

Raylex Payne finished with 2-25 from six overs.

SAVORY AND LYGHT DOMINATE At the Eve Leary ground the home team raced to 359-4 off their 40 overs.

Kemol Savory and Andrew Lyght Jr added 224 for the second wicket, with the former hitting a well-calculated 138, while Lyght, who started with a six, finished with an aggressive 130 runs.

Lyght slammed 10 sixes and six fours during his innings, while Savory hit 10 fours and seven sixes. The latter was forced to retire hurt after suffering from a niggling left thigh injury.

Along with the two century-makers, Pernell London added 37 (3x4, 1x6) towards the end.

In reply, Sophia were bundled out for 119 in 23.2 overs. London spun his way to 4-53 from eight overs. His economy rate would have been better if teenager Alex Sital had not taken on his bowling. Sital, playing in his first game for Sophia, finished with 56 runs after he struck seven massive sixes and a four - three of his maximums were off consecutive balls from London. He also took on Hemchand Persaud in his lone over with back-to-back sixes. When Sital fell, bowled by pacer Samson as he attempted another big shot, Vishaul Jaigobind spun out the tail. He took two wickets in two balls to finish with 3-7 from 2.2 overs.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 29, 2019

31

GCB/CWI Kiddy’s Cricket competition to include 215 schools

CRICKET development in Guyana was given a push in the right direction on Thursday afternoon with the launch of the 2019 Kiddy’s Cricket Competition, which will see thousands of students from 215 primary school learn the fundamentals of the game while competing in matches.

The event, which bowls off on October 15 in North Georgetown and the West Coast of Demerara zones, is collaboration between the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and Cricket West Indies.

The idea behind the event, according to the board, is to help develop basic skills in batting, bowling, fielding, (inclusive of wicket-keeping), while fostering teamwork, discipline and respect for rules and regulations.

Present at the launch, which was held at the GCB head office, were representatives from the Allied Arts Unit of the Ministry of Education: Administrator Loraine Barker-King and

and ethical considerations (cooperation, respect for both team members, and opponents, unbiasedly),” the release stated.

Students and the various officials with the manuals that will be soon be in the classroom.

Akanni Doris; National Sports Commission’s Technical Development Officer Seon Erskine; Child Care and Protection Agency Senior Probation and Social Services Officer Orette Francois and executive members of the

GCB. According to a release from the board, its treasurer Anand Kalladeen said that the programme seeks to build on past efforts geared at stimulating interest in the game, while simultaneously

helping them to develop their motor skills, flexibility, agility and cardiovascular fitness.

“Participants, representative of 215 schools across Guyana will be taught the fundamental ground rules of the game which encapsulate discipline

Primo nets first helmet-trick as five teams take full points Fourth EBFA/Ralph Green U-11 League GARY Primo of Fruta Conquerors Football Club netted the first helmet-trick on day three of the fourth edition of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-11 League.

The league is sponsored

by USA-based Guyanese, Ralph Green, and continued yesterday at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National Training Centre, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Primo scored all four goals in his team’s 4-0 win over Eagles Football Club of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara.

Conquerors rebounded in style after going down to Timehri Panthers in their first match, to blank their opponents. Primo was on target in the 1st, 7th, 13th and 23rd minutes for his team.

Five of yesterday’s six matches produced positive results, the other producing a draw between defending champions Timehri Panthers Football Club and Samatta Point/Kaneville, who clawed their way back twice, thanks

Vurlon Mills Academy in control against Diamond United FC

to a double from Emanuel Francois.

Jadon Tasha, who also netted both goals for Timehri Panthers, had given them the lead in the 6th minute but their celebration was short-lived as Francois responded in like manner one minute later to level the score at 1-1.

Tasha restored his side’s one-goal cushion in the 13th minute and they had looked on course for a win but Francois had other ideas as his successful free kick in the 27th minute ensured his team took an equal share of the points.

Vurlon Mills Academy have consolidated their

position at the top of the points table in Group A with their third win in as many matches, a hard-fought 1-0 win over a game Diamond United team.

Breaking the deadlock after consistent offensive plays was Romario La Rose in the 27th minute; it was Diamond United’s first loss in the league.

Grove Hi Tech took their first win via a 3-0 score line over Swan Football Club.

Daniel Barton in the 14th minute, Akeem Evans from the penalty spot in the 21st minute and Rayfield Hillman in the 24th minute were the players finding the back of the nets.

Agricola Red Triangle thumped Friendship All Stars 4-0 through goals from Lucas Fintenallas in the 2nd minute, Kedan Bacchus (8th), Brandon Narine (16th) and Jonathan Andries (21st) all inking their names on the score sheet.

Jaheam Lewis’ 25th minute strike was the difference between his team Riddim Squad and Kuru Kururu Warriors - the latter’s two-match winning streak being halted. It was Riddim Squad’s first win of the league.

The top two teams from each group after group play will earn the right to move on to the semifinals.

CRICKET ACADEMICS The release added that the GCB would be presenting 105 Child Care Protection manuals, as well as 400 Academic Manuals to the Ministry of Education as supplemental for use in primary schools to equip teachers with tested information which can be used to help safeguard the well-being and welfare of children.

It was noted that the teaching manuals have been developed through a collaborative effort between UNICEF, Caribbean Examination Council, and Cricket West Indies.

Further, GCB/CWI will be donating 20 Kiddy

Cricket kits to the Allied Arts department of the Ministry of Education. “These kits are expected to assist teachers in delivering the practical aspect of the CXC Cricket Syllabus,” the release noted.

Barker-King endorsed the initiative for the use of the teaching manuals. The release added she recognised “the interconnection and integration established with the core subjects of the curriculum and cricket”.

Meanwhile Francois said that as Guyana observes Child Protection Week, this initiative serves well, as it strives to teach children the sport while seeking to create an environment free from violence and abuse.

NSC representative Erskine commended those involved in the development of the manual said he recognised its association with the curriculum.

All parties involved were heartfelt in gratitude for the efforts of all who worked tirelessly to bring the event to fruition.

Panthers register win as LIMACOL football … Quarter-finals on tonight

TIMEHRI Panthers ended the group stage of the 2019 LIMACOL football tournament with a 1-0 win over Black Pearl FC, as the preliminary round concluded Friday evening.

Tyrone Khan in the 20th minute did the damage for the Timehri Panthers who now move into the next round.

Riddim Squad, who were also scheduled for action, gained a walkover over Beacon.

In the latest standings, the Santos U-20 finish atop Group A with three wins from three games and goal difference of 7 while second-place Timheri Panthers finish with two wins and one loss for a total of five points and a zero difference.

Black Pearl and Camptown FC have ended with a point each.

In the B group Fruta U-20 finished with nine points after three wins from three games and a goal difference of 14 while the second-place of the group belonged to Buxton Stars who have one win, one draw and one loss for a total of four points and a negative-six goal difference.

GFC sit third with three points with one win and two losses from the maximum number of games and a goal difference of -2 while Northern Rangers have a negative-six

goal difference and one point from three games with two losses and a draw.

Group C ended with Riddim Squad atop with three wins from three games and a total of nine points while second-placed GT Panthers have the same number of points from three games (two wins and a loss) and a negative-one goal difference.

Beacon have one point and a negative goal difference after one win and one draw from their two games while Pouderoyen have one point from their three games (one win) and a negative-four goal difference.

In the Group D, Pele lead the way with two wins and a draw on seven points with a goal difference of seven while Mahaica Determinators sit second, just one point behind with two wins and a loss and one goal difference.

In third, Dynamics Football Club have four points after one win, one loss and one draw with a negative-one goal difference while Police B end the tournament winless and with a goal difference of negative-seven.

Meanwhile quarter-final matches are billed for this evening with Santos U-20 taking on Buxton Stars and Pele playing GT Panthers.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 29, 2019

Zouks boost playoff hopes, eliminate Tallawahs 28 PAGE

Chris Gayle of Jamaica Tallawahs is dismissed by Darren Sammy of St Lucia Zouks during their Hero CPL match at Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium on September 27, 2019 in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia. (Photo by Ashley Allen - CPL T20/Getty Images)

Rotary Club of Demerara Off-Road Rally gaining traction 29 PAGE

Action in the Courts Pee Wee football tournament (Delano Williams photo)

COURTS Pee Wee Football tournament 2019

Soesdyke, St Pius and North Georgetown register huge wins 28 PAGE

Sponsors and Rotarians during Friday’s launch of the Rotary Club of Demerara’s Inaugural Off-Road Rally

Coleman wins World Championship gold 27 PAGE

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019