Guyana Chronicle E-paper 9-7-2019

SATURDAY 7th September, 2019

No.105753

GECOM floats March 2020 for polls … still working out 02 issues regarding printing of ID cards PAGE

SARA moves against 03 QAII, GBTI PAGE

… seeking to recover through the courts $2.7B from QAII, GBTI $274M

Gov’t rolls out over 13 $714.5M in road works PAGE

… several city streets, other areas for major upgrade

Crime Chief cleared of criminal conduct 19 – Top Cop PAGE

President commits to addressing mining issues centre

PAGES

… hosts interactive business luncheon for stakeholders President David Granger with members of the Guyana Women Miners’ Association at the business luncheon

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

GECOM floats March 2020 for polls … still working out issues regarding printing of ID cards

By Lisa Hamilton THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Secretariat has put forward a proposal for a March 2020 holding of General and Regional elections given the list of activities required to facilitate a credible process.

“Basically we have been able to identify various periods, various activities and, to a large extent, come to some consensus on those times,” Commissioner Vincent Alexander told the media coming out of a statutory meeting on Friday.

“The [GECOM] Secretariat will do the adding up and bring back to us on Tuesday what that represents in terms of a timeline. The document which was before us, the proposition was March. But that document is under revision and so I would prefer not to be specific about a date.

But, indeed, the document before us did say March.”

In a statement later Friday evening GECOM said the discussions which lasted in excess of four hours were centered on the durations in relation to each activity and will continue at the next Statutory Meeting on Tuesday, 10th September, 2019.

“However, while those critical discussions are ongoing,

Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner, Vincent Alexander

the GECOM Secretariat continues to work on the encoding and verification process of the data garnered from the House-to-House Registration Exercise.”

In addition, GECOM said the Commission is moving swiftly with the training of polling day staff countrywide. “To date, training has been completed in Region 4 (Georgetown, East Bank and East Coast) and Region 5.

Training will be conducted in Regions 1, 2 and 10 on the 7-8 September, 2019. The Guyana Elections Commission is committed to ensuring it produces a credible list for the conduct of credible General and Regional Elections within the shortest possible

time in accordance with law.”

On the other hand, while People’s Progressive Party (PPP) nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj agreed that the meeting was “a little bit more productive than last meetings held”, his colleagues Commissioner Bibi Shadick and Robeson Benn disagreed. “We’re no nearer to any date for elections,” Shadick stated, as she lamented that the meeting stretched on for some four hours.

She expressed that they are against the March 2020 proposal as it conflicts with their proposal for elections to be held by late November 2019. Asked what would push the timeline to March 2020, Alexander listed both statutory and administrative activities. “There are some things which are statutory.

Those are not dates that we can make a determination on.

How many days before we give people notice for them to prepare the Nomination List?

How many days to publish the OLE? Those are statutory dates,” he explained.

Questioned further on his thoughts on the March timeline proposed, the Commissioner said that he had no “major contention” and that the probability of an election before the year’s end is “a hard call”.

“I have no major conten-

GECOM Commissioner, Bibi Shadick tion with those timelines but we, as I said, in a consensual mood were [on Friday] looking at the activities which are not statutory to see how they could be continued,” he said.

At the end of August, Chairperson of GECOM, Retired Justice, Claudette Singh had decided to merge the over 300,000 fresh registrants from the recently completed house-to-house registration exercise with the existing National Register of Registrants (NRR) database.

The exercise, previously scheduled to end on October 20, was cut short to August 31, 2019 after arguments from both government-nominated and opposition-nominated commissioners were heard by the Commission.

It was explained that this reduction in time would also

cater for an extended period of claims and objections.

Meanwhile, to successfully conduct the merge, the Commission has been soliciting information on how it could effectively carry out fingerprint cross matching and verification of the data at hand. On Friday, Alexander told the media that the Commission will be utilising the services of their old provider which is US-based firm.

He stated: “The timeframe [to complete the crossmatching] we are looking at, subject to some clarification…is somewhere in the vicinity of 16 days.”

ID CARDS On the matter of the printing of new national Identification (ID) Cards, the opposition-nominated Commissioners believe that this is unnecessary.

“ID cards are not a necessity. It’s a form of identification, there are other forms of identification,” Commissioner Shadick argued. However, Commissioner Alexander expressed an opposing opinion that the printing of new ID cards, though a contentious matter, remains “a critical part of the exercise”.

Just recently, a probe was launched by GECOM and the Ministry of Citizenship into allegations of fake birth

certificates being in the hands of scores of residents of Region Nine.

There have also been allegations of non-nationals being in possession of IDs without the relevant source documents. Though rumors of the same have been circulating for many years, actual discoveries were made by GECOM scrutineers during the ongoing house-to-house registration. Several persons have reportedly come out to say that these fake documents were provided to them by Region Nine’s Freedom House.

That aside, Commissioner Alexander said that the Commission is mulling internal production for new ID cards which would see the decommissioning of the current ID cards. “We are looking at internal production based on the procurement of equipment,” Alexander said. “In the interest of time, I could see us not necessarily producing all of the ID cards because the ID cards will come up from 14 [years of age] right up. In the interest of time I can see us producing in the first instance, 18 [years old] and beyond; about 400,000 [plus].”

He added that determining how long this process will take is dependent on the additional information to be provided by the Secretariat.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

SARA moves against QAII, GBTI … seeking to recover through the courts $2.7B from QAII, GBTI $274M

THE State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA), on Thursday, filed proceedings in the High Court seeking Civil Recovery Orders against Queens Atlantic Investment Inc. (QAII) by way of Fixed Date Application, and against Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) by Statement of Claim.

Both claims are made under the State Assets Recovery Act 2017 and are for the recovery of GY$2,701,619,960 and GY$274,117,404 respectively, including interest, the agency said in a release.

QAII, owned by Bobby Ramroop, best friend of Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo was leasing the Sanata complex and entered negotiations for its purchase. SARA said in its release the PPP Cabinet had approved a formula for the terms of the sale that required a US$27M investment over three years and a sum of money reflecting a valuation of the property.

The Winston Brassington-led NICIL however at the time concluded the sale based on a formula suggested by the purchaser, resulting in an investment of just US$21M being accepted and QAII paying some GY$344.5M less than would have been payable further to the formula approved by Cabinet.

For its part SARA says GBTI had submitted only the 4th highest of 14 bids in a tendering process, but

Court of Restraint and Civil Recovery Orders in respect of unlawfully acquired property. The Act also allows SARA to engage in international cooperation in the recovery of stolen assets of State that are outside of Guyana.

The State Assets Recovery Act of 2017 was passed in Parliament on April 13, 2017 and assented to by President David Granger on Thursday, May 4, 2017.

The headquarters of the and Industry was awarded the right to purchase the property that is now its headquarters outside the Pegasus Hotel in Kington for GY$224M less than the most recent valuation of the property at that time. Again, SARA said the PPP Cabinet had determined that the valuation would be the basis of the floor price in the event of a sale of that property.

Meanwhile, in a statement GBTI said it has taken note of the “spurious allegations engineered to further attack GBTI in a gross and unconscionable manner. And that the use of such legislation after so many years is inimical to the interests of justice and smacks of intimidation.”

The Bank said it intends to commence appropriate legal action to vigorously defend itself against these malicious claims.

“GBTI has full confidence in the judicial system, and

Guyana Bank for Trade that it will be fully vindicated as per recent false charges which were duly dismissed.

The Bank has been serving Guyana for over 180 years and is regarded as one of the most trusted and loyal banks in the country; the largest indigenous bank in Guyana.

In all its dealings with its many stakeholders, GBTI has always discharged its responsibilities with professionalism and integrity as we continue to hold our tagline with the highest level of standards as “We See Guyana though your eyes”.

The State Assets Recovery Act (SARA) mandates the Agency to recover, through civil proceedings, State property unlawfully acquired by a public official or any other person. The Act provides for investigations leading to the granting by the High

Queens Atlantic Investment Inc being housed at the old Sanata Textile

The Act created the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) in consonance with the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) of 2005.

Guyana is one of 140 signatories to UNCAC which is a multilateral treaty negotiated by member states of the United Nations (UN) and promoted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). It is one of several legally-binding

international anti-corruption agreements. UNCAC requires state parties to the treaty to implement several anti-corruption measures that focus on five main areas: prevention, law enforcement, international cooperation, asset recovery, technical assistance and information exchange.

The State Assets Recovery Act is part of the Guyana government’s efforts to fight corruption.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 7, 2019

Former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe dies at 95

07 September, 2019 - 12:00hrs ~ 13:30hrs

Robert Mugabe, the Zimbabwean independence icon turned authoritarian leader, has died aged 95.

Mr Mugabe had been receiving treatment in a hospital in Singapore since April.

He was ousted in a military coup in 2017 after 37 years in power. The former president was praised for broadening access to health and education for the black majority.

But later years were marked by violent repression of his political opponents and Zimbabwe’s economic ruin.

His successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa, expressed his “utmost sadness”, calling Mr Mugabe “an icon of liberation”. Mr Mnangagwa had been Mr Mugabe’s deputy before replacing him.

Singapore’s foreign ministry said it was working with the Zimbabwean embassy there to have Mr Mugabe’s body flown back to his home country. He was born on 21 February 1924 in what was then Rhodesia - a British colony, run by its white minority. After criticising the government of Rhodesia in 1964 he was imprisoned for more than a decade without trial. In 1973, while still in prison, he was chosen as president of the Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu), of which he was a founding member.

Once released, he headed to Mozambique, from where he directed guerrilla raids into Rhodesia but he was also seen as a skilled negotiator.

Political agreements to end the crisis resulted in the

Mr Mugabe’s downfall came after suspicions that his wife Grace might succeed him

new independent Republic of Zimbabwe. With his high profile in the independence movement, Mr Mugabe secured an overwhelming victory in the republic’s first election in 1980. But over his decades in power, international perceptions soured. Mr Mugabe assumed the reputation of a “strongman” leader all-powerful, ruling by threats and violence but with a strong base of support. An increasing number of critics labelled him a dictator. In 2000, he seized land from white owners, and in 2008, used violent militias to silence his political opponents during an election. He famously declared that only God could remove him from office.

He was forced into sharing power in 2009 amid economic collapse, installing rival Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister.

But in 2017, amid concerns that he was grooming his wife Grace as his successor, the army - his long-time ally - turned against the pres-

ident and forced him to step down. Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi, of Mr Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party, told the BBC the party was “very much saddened” by his death. “He’s a man who believed himself, he’s a man who believed in what he did and he is a man who was very assertive in whatever he said. This was a good man,” he said. Not everyone agreed, however. George Walden, one of the British negotiators at the Lancaster House Agreement in 1979 which ended white-minority rule, said Mr Mugabe was a “true monster”. The agreement “turned out rather well... and looked good for a while”, but Mr Mugabe later became “a grossly corrupt, vicious dictator”, he said.

Zimbabwean Senator David Coltart, once labelled “an enemy of the state” by Mr Mugabe, said his legacy had been marred by his adherence to violence as a political tool.

“He was always committed to violence, going all the

way back to the 1960s... he was no Martin Luther King,” he told the BBC World Service. “He never changed in that regard.”

But he acknowledged that there was another side to Robert Mugabe, who had “had a great passion for education... [and] mellowed in his later years”. “There’s a lot of affection towards him, because we must never forget that he was the person primarily responsible for ending oppressive white minority rule,” the senator said. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa called Mr Mugabe a “champion of Africa’s cause against colonialism” who inspired our own struggle against apartheid”.

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta said Mr Mugabe had “played a major role in shaping the interests of the African continent” and was “a man of courage who was never afraid to fight for what he believed in even when it was not popular”.

Kenya will fly all its flags at half-mast this weekend in honour of Mr Mugabe, he said. Veronica Madgen and her husband ran one of the largest farms in Zimbabwe before it was invaded by Mr Mugabe’s supporters, forcing the family to come to the UK. Speaking to the BBC, she recalled: “The tractors [were] being burnt, the motorcycles [were] being burnt, stones [were being] thrown through the window… It was very difficult to actually come to terms with what was happening. “I was sad for him and his family, because for the first 20 years he governed that country, he was a good leader, until that threat of losing that election got hold of him and he turned.”

Yet Mr Mugabe is likely to be remembered for his early achievements, the BBC’s Shingai Nyoka reports from the capital, Harare.

In his later years, people called him all sorts of names, but now is probably the time when Zimbabweans will think back to his 37 years in power, she says.

There’s a local saying that whoever dies becomes a hero, and we’re likely to see that now, our correspondent adds. (BBC)

Wednesday September 4, 2019

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September 6, 2019

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05 07 09 17 21 05, 06, 09, 12, 18

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 7, 2019

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Bahamas death toll expected to be staggering The death toll from Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas will be “staggering”, the country’s government has warned as aid efforts are being stepped up.

The official death toll stands at 30, but is expected to rise further.

Officials are sending morticians and 200 body bags to the Abaco Islands, the worst-hit part of the archipelago.

Dorian - which devastated the northern Bahamas from Sunday to Tuesday - has now made landfall in the US state of North Carolina, but is weakening.

Officials say hundreds, possibly thousands, are still missing in the Abacos and Grand Bahama.

On Thursday Health Minister Duane Sands warned of a “staggering” final count.

“The public needs to prepare for unimaginable information about the death toll and the human suffering,” he told local radio.

Dr Ian Norton, who manages the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s emergency medical teams, also told reporters that he was also “really worried” about the potential death toll.

Dorian hit the Bahamas as a category five hurricane with winds reaching 185mph (297km/h).

It matched the highest ever recorded at landfall, and stayed over affected areas for two days.

The International Red Cross fears 45% of homes on Grand Bahama and the Abacos - some 13,000 properties - were severely damaged or destroyed.

Parts of the Bahamas received up to 35in (89cm) of rain, leaving vast areas of it flooded.

The Island of Great Abaco is virtually uninhabitable, with bodies piled up, no water, power or food, and militias formed to prevent looting, local media report.

Aerial images over the Abacos showed mile upon mile of destruction, with roofs torn off, scattered debris, overturned cars, shipping containers and boats, and high water levels.

Great Abaco has been rendered virtually uninhabitable

The only international airport in Grand Bahama was also devastated. As a result, it could not be used for evacuations or aid deliveries.

The WHO said flooding had rendered Grand Bahama’s main hospital unusable, and a field hospital would need to be set up in its place.

Several patients have been airlifted from Marsh Harbour Medical Centre in the Abacos, according to the Associated Press news agency, but the site is still being run as a shelter.

The Bahamas’ government has signed an emergency declaration giving tax exemptions to medicine, building supplies and other goods that can be used for relief efforts.

International aid operations have been primarily focused on Grand Bahama and the Abacos, which were hit worst.

Search-and-rescue teams have been combing the worst-hit communities looking for any trace of survivors and bodies. As of Friday, the US Coast Guard said it had rescued 205 residents.

Meanwhile, efforts to deliver aid are being ramped up. Planes and helicopters have been flying in emergency supplies to help the estimated 76,000 people in need of food and shelter.

Eight tonnes (8,000kg) of ready-to-eat meals, storage units, generators and other emergency suppliers are to be flown in from Panama, the UN World Food Programme said.

A $5.4m (£4.3m) budget has been allocated to the UN agency for a three-month emergency operation in the Bahamas.

However, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said damage to roads and other infrastructure was hampering relief efforts.

Now downgraded to a category 1 hurricane, Dorian has made landfall in the US. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that at 09:00 local time (13:00 GMT) Dorian hit Cape Hatteras, North Carolina with 90mph (145km/h) winds.

The storm has already caused severe flooding and widespread power failures in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

In the Carolinas, more than 900,000 people were ordered to evacuate their homes, but it was unclear how many had complied.

Forecasters said 10 inches (25 cm) of rain has fallen between the coasts of Charleston, South Carolina and Wilmington, North Carolina 170 miles away.

Dorian is expected to push north and out into the Atlantic, but will make landfall again on Saturday in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Life-threatening storm surges and dangerous winds are still expected in Virginia and other north-eastern states.

Three storm-related deaths have been reported in Florida and another in North Carolina.

All four died whilst preparing their homes and shelters for the storm.

According to the NHC, a “hurricane season” runs in the Atlantic Ocean between 1 June and 30 November.

The term denotes a period when most of the year’s tropical cyclones take place in the Atlantic, though it typically peaks in the late summer.

Scientists cannot say whether climate change is increasing the number of hurricanes, but the ones that do happen are likely to be more powerful and more destructive because of our warming climate, says BBC Weather’s Tomasz Schafernaker. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

LGE and regional development

THIS newspaper reported earlier this week on the progress being made in the border town of Lethem in the building of infrastructure and expansion of the town’s economy through investments and the opening up of small businesses.

Former Mayor Carlton Beckles credited much of this to the restoration of local democracy in this country and the establishment of Lethem as a town. As was reported by this newspaper prior to being declared a township, Lethem was an NDC and there were virtually little or no infrastructure.

Beckles said with the advent of local government elections and with the President’s vision, where he said that these towns must be capital towns, with the aim of lending guidance to the region and so with the development that has taken place in the township, it is to such a magnitude that the benefits are being transferred to the wider region.

Guyana has 10 administrative regions, each of which has its line of demarcation, strength in agriculture, natural resources, and respective cultures among the people. The

regional system was shaped by a vision to advance the self-determination of the people by using the resources available within each region for the people’s benefit. A lot of thought and planning went into demarcating the regional boundaries, among them being consideration given to the topography of the country as to its high points and how water from the rains will flow, which river or stream it will drain into, and where and how it will be managed. The regional system started in 1980; with government having made a decision, guided by the aforesaid elements, the task of realising the development of the regions rests with the central and regional administrations working together to put systems in place for development of the regions.

The pursuit of development of each region by its people is a positive response to Article 13 of the Constitution, which requires inclusionary democracy in the participation of citizens, their respective organisations, and groups. The initial vision to strengthen the regional system allowed each region to have the authority to

raise its own taxes, make its own laws, and have its own police force. It was also envisioned that the taxes garnered from for example mining and forestry, would be shared between central government and the government of the region that produced the products. This vision of economic self-determination would place each region in a position to have its budget developed based on the taxes it raised, and not having to depend on central government to determine which project would be funded.

This independence would also preclude central government using budgetary allocation as a weapon to punish some regions and reward others, as this nation has seen.

Economic independence would allow the regions to improve public infrastructure such as roads, and enhancing the aesthetics of the community. This would remove the pressure from central government to have to attend to nearly every issue that arises in the regions, and allow for more time to be spent on macro issues such as developing national policies, such as in healthcare, education, internal and border security, national laws,

immigration and so forth. Strengthening the regional system would also encourage intra-regional trade and competition among regions, which would attract business and investments and allow for growth and development and the boosting of international trade.

The people and resources are the wealth of the regions and where there are lucrative opportunities for employment and economic development, people would gravitate. In 1990, a bill to develop regional government was tabled in the National Assembly by then PNC Minister of Regional Development Jeffrey Thomas. Among the issues in that bill was the intent to pursue establishment of a system whereby revenues garnered from the region would be shared on a percentage basis between central and regional governments.

This bill was tabled but was never debated.

There is a belief that it never moved further because some Members of Parliament on both the government and opposition sides were uncomfortable in allowing the regions such political and economic autonomy.

Minister Jordan corrects misinformation by PPP activist Dear Editor, MY attention was drawn to a letter written by Robin Singh and published in the Kaieteur News on September 04, 2019 under the caption, “As ‘first oil’ rapidly approaches, we don’t have an acceptable SWF to manage our revenues”. Mr. Singh appears to be one of a number of prolific letter writers who seem to be able to easily access precious column inches of three daily newspapers.

Without fail, all of his letters regurgitate the falsehoods of the Opposition. While he is entitled to his opinions, he is not entitled to his own facts. His letter at reference was riddled with several inaccuracies in relation to Guyana’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, the correct name of which is the Natural Resource Fund.

In the interest of educating and informing your readers in the process of correcting the falsehoods peddled by Mr. Singh, I offer the following: On January 23, 2019 (not February 2019, as stated in Singh’s letter), His Excellency President David Granger assented to the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Bill, which was first presented to the National Assembly on November 16, 2018. The Natural Resource Fund Act No. 12 of 2019 is the legislation that establishes Guyana’s Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) “to manage the natural resource wealth of Guyana for the present and future benefit of the people, and for the sustainable development of the country.” In recognising the importance of establishing a SWF to manage windfall revenues from our natural resources, especially petroleum, thereby reducing the risk of the resource curse, His

Excellency requested that a ‘green paper’ be prepared to allow for meaningful consultation on the SWF ahead of the presentation of a Bill to the National Assembly. This policy paper, titled “Managing future petroleum revenues and establishment of a fiscal rule and a sovereign wealth fund”, was published on August 8, 2018, after which the Government met with, and received feedback from, stakeholders.

It should be noted that in preparing the legislation for the NRF, the Government considered best practices, which included ensuring that the NRF would comply with the Santiago Principles. These 24 Principles promote transparency, good governance, accountability and prudent investment practices, whilst also encouraging a more open dialogue and deeper understanding of SWF activities.

The NRF Act directly complies with 21 of these principles, with the remaining three being met, once the Fund is fully operationalised. Substantial details of how the NRF Act complies with the Santiago Principles are provided in Annex Three of the ‘Green Paper’. I would like to note, also, that the Government is pursuing membership of the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds in 2019, and will be attending its upcoming Annual Meeting in Alaska, USA, in October. These actions send strong signals of our commitment to ensure that we hold ourselves to the highest internationally recognised standards for SWFs. It is important, too, to note that in crafting the NRF Act, we carefully examined the approaches taken by many other countries that have successfully established SWFs. This analysis (summarised in Annex Four of the

‘Green Paper’) revealed that there was no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. However, many of the most highly regarded SWFs, including those of Chile and Norway, follow a “Manager Model”, whereby the Ministry of Finance is responsible for overall management, and the Central Bank is responsible for the operational management of the SWF. These are the examples to which we aspired. The Government has been praised widely, including by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and the Inter-American Development Bank, for this landmark piece of legislation, and for having it in place in advance of ‘first oil’.

I would like to assure the public that we have worked assiduously to accommodate all views and opinions on the NRF, recognising that there is no single approach that will please every individual or organisation. However, we have legislated significant measures to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of Guyana’s petroleum revenues.

Paramount among these measures is the inclusion of a Public Accountability and Oversight Committee, which comprises representatives from a broad cross-section of society, and is responsible for: (1) Monitoring and evaluating the compliance of the Government and other relevant persons with the provisions of this Act; (2) monitoring and evaluating whether the Fund has been managed in accordance with the principles of transparency, good governance and international best practices, including the Santiago Principles; (3) providing independent assessment of the management of the Fund and utilisation of withdrawals from the Fund; and (4) facilitating public consultations on the management of the Fund and utilisation of

withdrawals from the Fund.

To ensure that this Committee is functional before ‘first oil’, the Government expects to host a seminar with all relevant stakeholders in a few weeks. Mr. Editor, there are few other countries in the world that have legislated for such a Committee, which speaks of this Government’s commitment to transparency and accountability. I urge every Guyanese to read the ‘Green Paper’ and the NRF Act (both of which are available at finance.gov. gy), and not rely solely on the opinions of others, which may be misinformed or biased.

The letter writer notes that the NRF puts ultimate control in the hands of the Minister of Finance, including how much money enters the NRF and how much is allocated to the annual budget. Nothing could be further from the truth. Part V of the NRF Act sets out the framework for deposits and withdrawals. With respect to withdrawals, Section 21 states, “Petroleum revenues shall be directly paid into a bank account denominated in United States of America Dollars, and held by the Bank as part of the Fund.” This approach is superior to the one being advocated by the Opposition Leader, who wants the money to be first deposited into the Consolidated Fund (CF), after which some unknown person or entity will decide how much is taken from the CF and placed into the NRF. The remainder of this section clearly defines what can be classified as petroleum revenues.

A simple perusal of the Act would have revealed to the writer that the Minister of Finance has no say over how much petroleum revenues are deposited in the NRF. However, the Act is forward-looking, and See page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

Minister Jordan corrects ...

From page 6 does give the Minister the right to deposit excess mining and forestry revenues into the NRF, if commodity prices or production are above their long-term average.

Turning to withdrawals from the NRF, Section 28 of the NRF Act states that the National Assembly, and not the Minister of Finance, shall be responsible for approving the withdrawal from the NRF, that shall be included in the annual budget. It should be noted that the Minister is responsible for putting forward a request for withdrawal from the NRF to the National Assembly, and the mechanism for determining the size of this withdrawal is enshrined in Part VI of the NRF Act. The maximum withdrawal is known as ‘the Economically and Fiscally Sustainable Amount’, which is bound by the smaller of an Economically Sustainable Amount (ESA) and a Fiscally Sustainable Amount (FSA). A Macroeconomic Committee, comprising representatives of the Government, Bank of Guyana, Private Sector Commission and Opposition, is responsible for providing the Minister with a recommendation on the ESA, taking into account the effects of additional spending on Guyana’s economic competitiveness.

The Committee’s recommendation must be included in the Annual Budget Proposal and Annual Report of the NRF, thereby allowing the public to scrutinise any deviations from this advice. Further, the FSA is a mathematical formula that is delineated in the First Schedule of the NRF Act, and effectively acts as a limit on any upward deviation from the advice of the Committee on the ESA. The maximum amount that can be withdrawn from the NRF is the amount determined by the mathematical formula.

The Minister does not have discretionary power over the amount that can be withdrawn from the NRF. Mr. Editor, it is evident that the writer relied heavily upon the opinion offered on the ‘Green Paper’ by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI). However, the NRGI report was limited to the information contained in the ‘Green Paper’. It should be noted that the Government did meet with NRGI towards the end of October 2018 and discussed the inadequacies of their draft report, many of which were due simply to their not having seen the draft NRF Bill. We urged them to be guided by the contents of the NRF Bill in drafting their report, as it would allow for more clarity on many of the issues raised. Unfortunately, they did not heed our advice, resulting in their deficient report.

One such comment that would have not been included in the NRGI report, had they reviewed the draft NRF Bill, relates to investments of the NRF. Section 31 of the NRF Act clearly identifies eligible asset classes in which funds can be invested. Funds cannot be invested in asset classes outside of this list. Additionally, the only commodity that can be invested in is gold; and the amount that can be invested in this commodity is limited to 10 per cent of the NRF. Similarly, the only derivatives that can be invested in are those that reduce the risk of losses associated with assets held by the NRF. Mr. Editor, the only assertion by the writer that is factual is the exclusion of a limit on borrowing in the NRF Act. In this regard, as noted in the Mid-Year Report 2019, we are currently finalising the draft of a Public Debt Management Bill (PDMB), which, when passed, will complement the NRF Act and other pieces of fiscal legislation, and ensure that debt is managed in a manner that is fiscally sustainable. It was our intent to introduce the PDMB in the National Assembly before year end, but the disruption of our legislative agenda has precluded this from happening. This notwithstanding, the record clearly shows that this Government has done very well to avoid excessive borrowing against future oil revenues, thereby avoiding the pre-source curse; that is, spending based on projected revenues before actual revenues from petroleum are realised.

Mr. Editor, I intend to deal with the other part of his letter dealing with NICIL in a subsequent letter.

Suffice it to say for now, that we intend to debunk every falsehood peddled by Robin Singh and his ilk. The public deserves better.

Yours faithfully, Winston Jordan, MP Minister of Finance

Citizenship by investment can bring Guyanese numerous benefits over the next decade

Dear Editor,

WE continue to navigate the channel amidst ongoing political and constitutional squabbles that have engulfed this nation since the no-confidence motion of December 2, 2018.

As we grope in political darkness, we must take a wide-angled view of the economy as we seek to chart our socioeconomic developmental path. The PPP/C has taken the correct approach by maintaining that while oil windfall incomes would propel Guyana, and hopefully all Guyanese to great economic heights, there should be a simultaneous focus on strengthening and improving the other job creation and revenue-earning sectors of our economy.

At the same time, rather than sitting back and allowing the so-called ‘Dutch Disease’ to take control, our development pundits should be actively investigating other potential avenues for attracting revenues which can bring multiple direct and indirect benefits over both, the short and long-term for Guyanese.

Some time ago, I advocated a selective immigration scheme as a way of encouraging and sustaining our skills-base, which at the same time would increase our population and improve our economies of scale to sustain local businesses. While I have not changed my position, I recognise Guyana’s potential for stealing the limelight as an oil-rich economy, and thereby creating

a stampede of nationalities flocking our shores. In light thereof, I now hasten to add that the introduction of a Citizenship by Investments programme could potentially represent a huge revenue-earning venture with concomitant indirect benefits.

Let me begin by stating at the outset that this is not a new initiative; it has been around for a long time, but mostly used by the developed economies.

Around the world today, this initiative, which aims at selling citizenship and passport, and real estate in some cases for a fixed sum of money, has gained momentum in both the developed and the developing economies. Some countries refer to this programme as “donation to government fund”. In fact, in the South Pacific island of Vanuatu, this programme has become the biggest revenue earner as of June this year, with US$46M. In 2018, it accounted for US$88M. Besides being a revenue earner for the local economy, such an initiative affords the purchaser a second citizenship, and a passport which has visa-free entry to numerous countries.

Vanuatu’s passport allows entry to 129 countries.

A number of Commonwealth Caribbean economies have instituted similar programmes, and their ‘citizenship and passport’ receives donations in the range of US$100,000 – 255,000 across these countries. The St. Kitts-Nevis passport allows visa-free

entry into 151 countries.

Furthermore, in the last few years, one real estate sale has generated over US68M, and created over 300 jobs for locals.

It can be surmised from the man-in-the- street that Guyana has been gifting away its citizenship and passport. Some commentators have opined that it can be bought for a potential ‘vote’. So, rather than wasting our citizenship and passport, we should implement a similar programme and use the revenues for national projects such as, for example, housing and community- related development. This would be more beneficial to the nation in identifiably concrete ways.

However, we would need to enact the necessary facilitative legislation, and we can also put a cap on the total sales or donations per year. For example, if we accept only 300 per year at a cost of US$300,000 each, we would garner a total of about US$900M annually.

This sum could provide about 240,000 houses at $G7.5M each to low-income Guyanese families across the

country. It is unforeseeable that any Guyanese would object to such a programme that gives free benefits.

Finally, it should be noted that this is only a nutshell view of the initiative. There are a number of other factors related to, and benefits that can be derived from, an introduction of a citizenship by investment programme. This letter, I trust, would whet the development appetite of the populace for more. I can understand how disheartening it is for the current political cabal to let the potential oil wealth slip through their hands.

Amidst the masquerading political potpourri denigration of our once dynamic national image, we can still galvanise into action and push to stop the wasting of our citizenship and passport. In essence, Guyanese can gain tremendously from the introduction of a citizenship by investment programme.

Regards, Ronald Singh Barrister & Solicitor

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

The destruction of sugar by the PPP Dear Editor, GUYANA is known internationally for its sugar industry.

In fact, sugar has largely defined and determined our economic condition for decades. Mismanagement by the government of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has resulted in significant damage to the industry, and, most importantly, the loss of thousands of jobs. It therefore follows that Irfaan Ali and his PPP cannot be trusted to create jobs. In fact, they cannot even be trusted to tell the truth.

During their years in government, the current group of PPP officials oversaw the collapse of

one of Guyana’s most strategic industries: The sugar industry.

The closure of estates started under Bharrat Jagdeo’s watch.

The continued failures caused the closure of the Skeldon Estate.

The PPP cost tens of thousands of people their jobs, and now the PPP officials are using propaganda, dishonesty, name-calling, and downright lies to blame everyone else but themselves.

The PPP is promising jobs, but they have no plan to create jobs. This is just more dishonesty from the PPP. From where will Irfaan Ali find 50,000 jobs? From one of his many secretly-owned stores, gas stations, or shopping malls?

Guyanese are smart enough to see through the lies of the PPP.

Guyanese are smart people. In 2010, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), under the PPP, shut down all operations of the Diamond Sugar Estate. The workers are being offered employment at the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Estate.

This, however, was not feasible to a majority of the workers, since many of them lived great distances away from the estate, and the LBI Estate is located at a much farther distance from the Diamond Estate. This situation resulted in workers from the Diamond Sugar Estate staging a protest in front of the field office to pressure GuySuCo. Many of those workers contended that they would prefer to be paid

their severance package than to be redeployed to another estate.

It was alleged by two of the protestors that PPP Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud had failed to follow through on his promises to meet with members of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), which represents most of the workers, to resolve the issue. One female protestor said, “They [the PPP] got money fuh tief, leh them find we money.

Look at what [super salaries] they paying the managers. Let them cut from the top.” Another one cried, “It look like slavery come back.”

According to Lucien Pierre, a workers’ representa-

tive, the employees were entitled to a severance package.

“When the Diamond factory and workshop were closed, the workers got their severance pay. And now the plantation is closing, we want our severance pay.” Pierre further said that then Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud had promised to visit the estate on March 5.

“But March 5 gone, and he did not meet with us. He went to Blairmont, and now I hear that he is in Israel.”

An employee, one Michael Thomas said that members of the Diamond Estate who were transferred to the LBI Estate said that there was no work for them for several weeks. This resulted in most of the work at

Diamond being done by machine at LBI. Some of the female workers also complained that their NIS contributions were not correct. One woman also alleged that she suffered from facial burns after being sent to work in fields that had been sprayed with insecticide.

Guyanese should never forget those facts. The PPP killed the sugar industry through neglect and mismanagement.

The APNU+AFC coalition had no choice but to downsize an already dead sugar sector. Guyanese will not be fooled by a dishonest PPP. Regards, Mark DaCosta

Unprofessional reporting on roads and bridges in South Rupununi

Dear Editor,

PERMIT me the opportunity of responding to an article published in the Stabroek News on Sunday 2019.09.01 titled, “Perilous bridges, risky roads make travel a threat in South Rupununi”.

The article unfairly criticised the regional administration, and by extension, the government, over the state of the infrastructure in that part of the region, without even soliciting a response in relation to the claims being made.

The reporter could have made a simple call to the Regional Office in Lethem, which would have provided them with a clearer insight which would have resulted in a balanced report. Failing to hear the other side, the reporter did a dis-service to the paper.

Editor, the regional administration is always cognizant of the importance of inter-community links, and has, since 2015, been engaged in ensuring that infrastructure serving that purpose is of the highest quality.

As it relates specifically to the bridge between Maruranau and Shea, which is featured in the article, I find it quite deceiving, since that photograph was taken on the day that the bridge collapsed, some five weeks ago. I have attached an updated photograph that was taken five days ago, on Sunday 2019.09.01, the same day that the article was published. Stabroek News, in publishing my response on Friday September 6, 2019 attached a note from the editor, falsely claiming that the photo was taken on August 24, 2019.

The point is, had the reporter done due diligence, it would have been found that works were already ongoing to rehabilitate the bridge. When the administration was informed of the collapse of the bridge, instructions were passed immediately to the contractor rehabilitating a road nearby to effect repairs. That work was delayed by two weeks, due to the incessant rains at the time.

Work began in earnest as soon as the rains eased.

To further demonstrate our

commitment to inter-community links, we had to completely build a bridge that was suspiciously burnt to the ground just before the rains started in April. That bridge linked Yupukari, Fly Hill, Quatata, Katoka, Semoni, Kaicumbay and Marakanata to Lethem.

Failure to re-construct that bridge would have resulted in the more than 7,000 residents of those communities being cut off from Lethem and further afield.

The Councils of Nappi, Hiowa and Parishara contacted the regional administration to lend assistance in constructing a bridge connecting their villages with their farmlands.

The bridge was being done by self-help. The regional administration rented an excavator to assist the villages, and in the process opened up the connecting 2km road to enable usage by vehicular traffic. That is the depth of our commitment.

To understand that commitment, one has to first understand the state of the region’s infrastructure as at May 2015.

Most of the infrastructure was

of poor quality, and they quickly deteriorated when the rains came.

Presently, the administration, in collaboration with other agencies, is in the process of rebuilding infrastructure. Some cases in point: There are over 60 sanitary facilities in schools and Health Centres across the region that were never connected to any water source. We are now fixing those facilities, under the watchful eye of GWI. This begs the question: Why were these facilities constructed without access to water? They were completely useless.

In most villages, wells drilled had failed because of faulty construction of both wells and trestles. These are now being fixed with assistance from GWI. The road network was not spared from the slipshod syndrome that permeated prior to 2015. Presently, the road network is being redone, with great assistance from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Ministry of

PPP urges respect for Constitution Dear Editor, THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has had over four meetings since the appointment of the new Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh, and we are nowhere closer to starting preparations for General and Regional Elections, which must commence with the production of a Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) from the National Register of Registrants.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) notes the delay tactics being directed by the APNU+AFC Coalition govern-

ment. The government-nominated GECOM Commissioners continue to push for the merger of unverified, and probably padded, data garnered from the now scrapped house-to-house registration with the National Register of Registrants. The position of the Party has been repeated ad nauseam: The data garnered from the now scrapped house-to-house registration must not be used to contaminate the National Register of Registrants; a Preliminary List of Electors must be produced by GECOM, and there should be a move to Claims and Objections, which is a time-tested method, to allow

for persons who are first-time voters to be registered, among other transactions.

Talk about the production of re-designed national identification cards is wholly unnecessary at this point in time, and is designed to delay the Elections.

The history of the matter is well known; a national identification card is not necessary to vote, since other means of identification can be used. It must be noted that the European Union, in its 2001 Observer report said: “In 1998, Esther Pereira, a PNC supporter, petitioned the High Court to set aside the results of the 1997… Justice Claudette

Singh found that the requirement for voters to have a voter ID card in 1997 was ultra vires Articles 59 and 159 of the Constitution (despite a parliamentary agreement to use the cards).

Consequently the elections were therefore null and void.”

Further, talk about cross-matching of fingerprints of the 370,822 persons GECOM claims to have registered during the now scrapped house-to-house registration stirs up more concerns.

The purpose of this time-consuming and costly exercise is to try to identify the new registrants, which could easily be done otherwise. However, it will

Indigenous Peoples Affairs.

However, there will always be roads that would not be able to withstand the torrential rains, and these will have to be repaired after the rains would have abated. That is the nature of the Rupununi.

In this regard, regional engineers have been scouring the region to ascertain the extent of the damage, in an effort to have those roads and bridges repaired. The rains begn in April; it is now September, and they are now tailing off. Some areas will still be inaccessible, and the engineers have been instructed to get to those areas, even if it is by foot. That is the depth of our commitment.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, there is a mechanism that allows for timely information to be passed to the Regional Administration, in relation to the state of infrastructure, among other issues.

Along the corridor referred to in the article lives three RDC Councillors. They are Douglas Cassimero and Petronella Michael of Aishalton in the South Rupununi; and Violet Cyril

of Katu’ur Village in South Central Rupununi. They are all PP/C Councillors. They all have motorcycles, or at least have access to such. Not on one occasion did they report on the state of the infrastructure mentioned in your article. That is their job, which is the purpose for which they were elected; to ensure the orderly development of the region.

One may want to question their motive of not reporting on the infrastructure, since they had to have been so aware.

Nevertheless, officers in the field and alert residents of the respective areas did what these Councillors failed to do.

Again, in addition to breaching a basic tenet of journalism by failing to provide the regional administration with an opportunity to respond, a disservice was done to the region.

not identify where padding occurs. Cross-matching of fingerprints will only ascertain where there are cases of duplicates.

And in any case cross-matching of the fingerprints will have to be done upon the completion of the Claims and Objections period.

Too much time has passed already. The Party stresses the call for GECOM to begin preparations for Elections now. It would seem that the Constitution of Guyana and the rulings of the Court are secondary in the considerations of GECOM. The Constitution of Guyana remains the supreme law of the land and GECOM has a responsibility to uphold it. Moreover, Guyana’s apex court – the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) – on July 12, 2019 made clear that Elections

should have been held since March 21, 2019; this point was reiterated on August 14, 2019 by Chief Justice, Roxanne GeorgeWiltshire. Of import is that the CCJ made clear that: “The Guyana Elections Commission (“GECOM”) has the responsibility to conduct that election and GECOM too must abide by the provisions of the Constitution.”

The Guyanese people have a constitutional right that must be respected. Our Constitution must be respected. Our democratic standing cannot be diminished. Elections preparations must commence now.

Yours sincerely, Carl Parker, Regional Executive Officer Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo

Regards, People’s Progressive Party

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

CBNC awarded contract to install border management, ePassport systems

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–– $37.8M for construction of Wararamadong Secondary

CANADIAN Bank Note Company Limited has been awarded a US$12.4M contract for the procurement of new ‘Border Management Systems and ePassports, Director-General of the Ministry of Presidency, Joseph Harmon disclosed on Friday.

At the time, he was addressing reporters at the post-Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency. “Before, passports were produced on a manual

basis… the ePassport system allows you to provide information electronically, and that information will go to the Department of Citizenship where these passports can be produced,” Harmon told reporters.

While not going into the details because of security reasons, the director-general said the new ‘Border Management Systems and e Passports’ will be linked to an international system of border protection and border security.

“This is part of an international process in which all of the passports internationally are produced electronically,” he posited. This project is being funded by government.

Meanwhile, Trevor David Construction was awarded $37.8M for the construction of the Wararamadong Secondary School. A contract in the sum of $16.8M was also awarded for repairs to be carried out at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) under the Ministry of Education. The

contract was awarded to the institute itself.

In the mining sector, a contract in the sum of $93.2M was awarded to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) for the construction of a Warden’s Quarters and Office Building at Aranka and Omai in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Meanwhile, under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, $143.4M was awarded to A &S General Contractors Inc. for the construction of

rip rap sea defences between the villages of Prospect and BroomHall, East Coast Demerara, in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

In the health sector, a $28.9M contract was awarded to M&P Investment for the extension of the Maternity Ward – South Block – of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). A contract was also awarded to Total Solutions for the procurement and installation of an elevator system within

the Maternity Department of the GPHC. That contract was awarded at a cost of $33.6M. Works at the Port Kaituma Hospital Complex will be completed by International Import & Supplies, which was awarded a contract in the sum of $279.9M. Over at the New Amsterdam Hospital, a mortuary will be constructed to the tune of $69.8M. That contract was awarded to Andre Vincente Construction Services.

Guyana Trade Facilitation Roadmap 2019-2024 launched

By Rabindra Rooplall WITH a focus on improving job creation, business climate and facilitating the efficiency and transparency of public services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Secretary, Carl Greenidge, on Friday launched the Guyana Trade Facilitation Roadmap 2019-2024.

The event was held at Princess Ramada Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara The foreign secretary, in his feature address, said the trade facilitation roadmap contains a built-in facility for the provision of technical assistance and capacity building.

“Guyana has established a National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF) and that has been in existence since 2015 and it is chaired by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and consists of representatives of all the relevant agencies, along with the private sector,” Greenidge said.

He said the Foreign Affairs Ministry also serves as the coordinator and it is the intention that the NCTF will coordinate the overall implementation of the trade processes.

Greenidge explained that this particular course is in its third module, which commenced with earlier workshops in March 2019 and with online courses.

The foreign secretary believes that in the realm of economics, the importance of international trade has been elevated because of the contributions of improving income and welfare in many states globally.

He said liberalisation of markets globally indicates that goods must enter and leave a country expeditiously and without administra-

Foreign Secretary Carl Greenidge tive burdens and red tapes.

“Delay is a source of cost, whether it is actually time that is wasted or excessive incidental taxes, they need to be kept at a minimum if you are to take advantage of this instrument that is international trade, which is proven so effective over the last 100 years, which have moved us to the point where we are today,” the foreign secretary said.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry operates as an interface between countries and agencies that are involved in production, exports and imports within Guyana.

On this note, he said, the public and private sectors will benefit from enhanced training to be effective players in the global arena.

“Government is fully committed to realising the benefits of the WTO [World Trade Organisation] trade facilitation agreement because we believe that it will be of tremendous benefit to the people of Guyana. We ratified the trade facilitation agreement on November 30, 2015 and the agreement entered into force in February 20, 2017,” he said.

This trade agreement, he noted, aims to catalyse

reforms which are expected to improve the facility of systems which will benefit Guyanese.

“This would reduce transaction cost associated with importing and exporting goods, it will contribute to boosting export competitiveness if we are to survive in the international arena, it will help to sustain greater economic growth, and improve our attractiveness as a destination for investment, whether it is in the petroleum oil sector or in any other sector,” the foreign secretary said.

He said investments are very important and so too the attraction of skills that come with investments.

Greenidge said the exercise facilitates easier access to foreign markets, which together with trade facilitation and customs compliance are notable challenges.

Guyana has implemented the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) 2017 word system and it is expected to become fully operational by October 2019.

The operationalisation is a very critical step in the process of trade facilitation as it provides a basis for the implementation of the Electronic Single Window (ESW) system to which Guyana is committed.

Greenidge said an ESW steering committee has been established and it is co-chaired by the Ministry of Business and the GRA. This committee also has an implementation unit.

“In its [government] embrace of new economic resources, Guyana is taking the requisite steps to ensure that maximum benefit from the exploitation of the resources benefit the citizens.

In order to do that we require the appropriate legal

and regulation framework,” he told the gathering at the launch.

According to Greenidge, key trade facilitation reforms are intended to reduce trade processing time by 50 per cent and transaction costs by 30 per cent by the end

of 2020.

By 2024, he said both are expected to see further reduction.

The launch was attended by Chairman of the National Committee on Trade Facilitation/ Deputy Commissioner of GRA, Patrick Hyman;

ASYCUDA World Implementation Adviser for the United Nations Conference on Trade Development (UNCTAD), Terrence Leonard; Economic Affairs Officer Trade Facilitation, UNCTAD, Bismark Sitorus; and senior foreign service officers.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, is asking the High Court to throw out the Fixed Date Application (FDA) filed by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall, for an order, compelling Cabinet, including the President, to resign.

In a Notice of Application filed on Friday, the attorney general asked Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire, to declare that the High Court will not exercise its jurisdiction to grant the orders sought in the FDA filed

by Nandlall on August 26, 2019. Minister Williams is also asking the High Court to issue an order striking out Nandlall’s application on the basis that is an abuse of the process of the court.

In his FDA, Nandlall, in seeking the order compelling the Cabinet to resign, said such ought to be the consequence of

government is expected to behave during this interim period as a caretaker and so restrain the exercise of its legal authority. It is this caretaker or interim role that explains the three month deadline, in the first instance that the article lays down, in principle, for the holding of the fresh elections.”

Minister Williams said the CCJ made it clear that Article 106 (7) also creates an avenue for the constitutional players to extend the time for the holding of elections. “The Article goes on to state, among other things, that notwithstanding such resignation, the government shall remain in office and that an election shall be held ‘within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the Nation-

AG asks High Court to throw out Nandlall’s application for Cabinet to resign

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams the no-confidence motion passed against the government last December in accordance with Article 106 (6) of the Constitution. He is also seeking a Conservatory Order restraining the Cabinet, inclusive of the President, from meeting, making decisions as, or performing the functions of Cabinet.

But the Attorney General, in support of his application, laid down more than

10 grounds why Nandlall’s FDA should be quashed.

He pointed out that Nandlall represented the Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Appeal case Bharrat Jagdeo v.

AG & Others in the Trinidad-based court and had actively participated in the proposals for consequential orders to that court – the country’s final appellate court. For that reason, the attorney general argued that Nandlall is fully aware of the orders the CCJ made in the ‘no-confidence appeals.’ “…One of the proposals was for the President and the Cabinet to immediately resign and vacate office, but the CCJ refused to make such an order and clearly outlined that the Cabinet and President remain in office but on a different footing in the nature of a caretaker government,” the attorney general pointed out in his Notice of

Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall Application.

He maintained that the issues raised in Nandlall’s FDA have already been ventilated by the CCJ when it handed down a number of consequential orders.

The CCJ, in arriving at its decision, had said that Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards in citing Hogg, the Canadian constitutional expert, was right to note that, “By convention, the

al Assembly determine …’,” he said while quoting the CCJ. As such, he argued that the claim is an abuse of the process of the court, an affront to the doctrine of stare decisis or rule of precedent.

The court, he submitted, should not grant the orders prayed for because such an action would require the High Court to make orders which the CCJ, the country’s highest court, has already ruled on.

“The court is being asked to adjudicate on an issue that the final Court, the CCJ, has pronounced upon, and, as a consequence, the point is moot and clearly academic and a wanton abuse of the process of this Honourable Court,” the attorney general told the acting chief justice.

Both the FDA and the NOA will come up before the Acting Chief Justice, George-Wiltshire, on Monday September 9, 2019 in the High Court.

8 Indigenous communities to receive land titles, extensions

EIGHT Indigenous communities in Regions Two, Seven, Nine and 10 will soon receive titles and granted extensions to their land.

This was announced on Friday by Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, who said that Cabinet has approved the Absolute Grants of land titles following recommendations

made by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, which has responsibility for the Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) project.

The grants approved are extensions to existing communities in Mainstay/Whyaka, Mashabo and Capoey, Essequibo Coast, Region Two. The establishment of legal boundaries in Parabara, Region Nine;

Rockstone, Region 10; and Tasserene and Kangaruma, Region Seven.

These communities have been waiting years for their grants of titles to move forward with the developmental of their villages. The tourism-driven communities of Mainstay/Whyaka and Capoey applied for their extension in 2011-2012 and 2014 respectively.

Toshao of Mainstay/

Whyaka, Milton Fredricks, was ecstatic when he heard the news. He told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the village has been waiting a very long time for the extension and have not abandoned their plans to fully utilise the additional land.

“This is good news and I know that the villagers will be very happy to know that our extension was approved.” He said that the announcement is opportune, as it comes when the village’s development is moving ahead.

For decades, the residents of the mining communities of Tasserene and Kangaruma in the Lower Mazaruni fought for their land tenure status. In fact, in 2012 the former administration handed over land title certificates to the leaders of these communities, but later, officials took away the certificates.

According to Har-

mon, these villages were chosen with conditionality based on their respective peculiar circumstances.

The Director-General explained that of the 68 interventions identified, 21 demarcations have been completed and 18 certificates of titles issued, while 45 investigations were completed – 32 for extensions and 13 for new villages.

Harmon said that in approving the granting of titles, the government reiterates its commitment to the completion of the land titling project and assures that the process will continue until all Indigenous communities receive their titles in accordance with the law.

The Amerindian Land Titling(ALT) process was facilitated by the Amerindian Act of 2006 that provided for land titling and extensions. This led to the establishment of the ALT project which

was scheduled to commence in 2013 and end in 2016; under the auspices of the Government of Guyana and the United Nations Development Fund, with funding of $2.2Billion (US$10.7M) provided from the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund. The project was extended from 2016 to 2018 and subsequently from 2019 to 2021.

The ALT project seeks to achieve three primary goals: completion of land titles issues and demarcation process for all Indigenous villages that submitted requests, increased use of existing and alternative mechanisms to resolve land titling disputes and thirdly, a communication strategy, including a handbook, describing the process of titling, demarcation and socio-economic impact of secured land tenure.

(DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

GUYOIL commissions $294M solar-powered complex ‘the future is here’ – Min. Jordan tells company ANSWERING the call by His Excellency, President David Granger for Guyana to move towards a ‘Green Economy’, The Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL) on Friday commissioned a $294M, ‘green’ office complex and storage facility at its Providence location.

The modernisation of the facility commenced in June 2017 and is aimed at housing key staff members closer to the unit.

Unveiling the plaque to the new building, Minister of Finance, Hon. Winston Jordan, said the oil company is moving in a direction that will eventually set Guyana apart.

“Solar power ranks highly among the cleanest and most ‘green’ energy sources since no pollution is created in the generation of electricity. Evidence has also shown, that although renewable energy requires

Exxon forges long-term bond with SBM –– to provide potential future FPSO

SBM OFFSHORE, the company which facilitated Guyana’s first Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO)-the Liza Destiny, has entered into a long-term agreement with ExxonMobil to provide potential future FPSO orders.

On Friday, the company announced the new partnership with the US oil giant which it has shared good relations with for over four decades.

In a release, SBM stated that the agreement is Chief Executive Officer non-exclusive and estab- (CEO) of SBM Bruno lishes the general legal framework and specific Chabas (SBM photo) terms in relation to the en- ation of our long history gineering, procurement, of successful team work construction and installa- between our companies, tion work of potential future further strengthening our long term cooperation.” contracts.

Meanwhile, Managing This includes Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) proj- Director of Floating Proects which generally cover duction Solutions at SBM, a short lease term. Com- Séverine Baudic added: menting on the partnership, “This agreement aims at Chief Executive Officer extending our constructive (CEO) of SBM, Bruno Cha- business relationship with bas, stated, “We are very ExxonMobil that has been pleased with the long-term created through delivering FPSO supply agreement a series of major offshore with ExxonMobil. This projects together. We look agreement is a continu- forward to continue work-

ing together in the future and expanding our track-record of reliable execution on deep-water projects.”

Just over a week ago, the Liza Destiny FPSO arrived in Guyana in the Stabroek Block signalling clear progressions towards planned production come early 2020.

The vessel was constructed by SBM in Singapore and is designed to produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day.

In addition, SBM was previously awarded contracts to construct, install, lease and operate the Liza Unity FPSO. This vessel will be designed to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day with a storage capacity of 2 million barrels compared to the Liza Destiny’s 1.6 million storage capacity.

Under the Liza Unity contracts, SBM Offshore will lease and operate the FPSO for up to two years. SBM has supplied more than 10 floating systems to ExxonMobil in five countries including five FPSOs, deep-water offloading systems and an FSO.

Minister of Finance, Hon. Winston Jordan unveils the plaque to commission the GUYOIL ‘green’ store and complex upfront capital, it is one of the lowest cost energy options available, which is the most compelling reason why it is utilised globally.”

Minister Jordan said the investment, while it is supporting the country’s long-term development strategy will, at the same time, reduce the country’s expenditure, improve its profitability and put it in a better position to make larger dividends and other transfers to the treasury. The oil company, he reminded, has been a net contributor to the economy.

Transforming the economy into a ‘green’ economy requires the support of all stakeholders, particularly key companies such as GUYOIL, he noted. According to Minister Jordan, the construction of the facility is a positive development as it indicates the great strides the economy is

making. “If people are constructing, they are showing faith in the future. They would have made their own assessment and would have concluded that it is worthwhile putting down a permanent structure.”

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mark Bender said the upgrade of the facility creates the right environment for staff to operate. “This is a ‘green’ building. It is going to be 100 per cent solar-powered in keeping with the dictates of the Green State Development Strategy and as a state-owned enterprise, we really believe that GUYOIL has a role to play in supporting that policy.”’

CEO of the oil company, Renatha Exeter, said GUYOIL is reaching the ‘green’ energy objective of transitioning Guyana to the use of renewable energy.

(DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 7, 2019

Gov’t will respect GECOM’s decision on elections timeframe -- says Harmon THE A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government will respect the decision of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) when it decides on the timeframe for the conduct of General and Regional Elections, Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency Joseph Harmon reinforced on Friday.

Though the commission has not agreed on a timeline by which credible elections could be held, the GECOM secretariat on Friday proposed that those elections could be held by March 2020.

“We have already said as a government and the parties in the coalition that we respect the decision of the elections commission, and we believe

Director-General, Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon

that the Chairman [sic] of the Commission, and her commissioners should be given every opportunity to do their work,” Harmon told media operatives at a time when the opposition continues to pressure GECOM to quickly decide on a timeline. The

elections commission, chaired

by Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, will meet again on Tuesday to hammer out a decision on the way forward. Thus far, the commission has taken a decision to shorten the period for house-to-house registration, and to merge the data from that national registration exercise with the National Register of Registrants Database. But before the merger takes place, the commission would be required to cross-match the fingerprints from both sets of data to prevent any duplication of persons within the system.

The opposition, however, has since objected to the ‘merger.’

NO VIABLE ALTERNATIVE Weighing in on the matter, the director-general said while the opposition has objected to the merger, to date, it has not

put forward a viable alternative.

“What I can say to you is that I have heard no credible, practical and efficient alternative to what the elections commission is suggesting,” Harmon told reporters during a post-Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency.

Explaining that the merger will entail a cross-matching exercise before the Preliminary List of Electors is extracted, Harmon said the extended Claims and Objections period proposed by GECOM will allow eligible Guyanese, who were unable to register during the House-to-House Registration exercise, to do so. It will also allow the removal of persons who are now deceased or have migrated.

“It is the competence of the elections commission to determine their ability to be able to deal with this matter in a timely

way,” he told reporters, while noting that the process suggested by the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) would delay elections even further.

“I am saying that the competence lies in the elections commission and therefore it is our view that the elections commission should be given the time to do the work which they are paid to do,” he emphasised.

POSITION CLEAR The director-general said President David Granger has long made it clear that he will dissolve Parliament and proclaim a date for elections when he is advised by the Guyana Elections Commission that all systems are in place to facilitate free, fair and credible elections.

That position, Harmon told reporters, has not been changed.

The GECOM chairman, during her first meeting with

President David Granger, had indicated that the commission would communicate its position to him soon. It was anticipated that, that position would have been communicated to the President following the August 15 meeting of the commission, but to date that has not be done.

The President has also assured the commission that his government will provide all necessary resources to facilitate credible, free and fair elections. Already, GECOM has been allocated close to $8B. As part of the National Budget for 2019, GECOM was allocated $5.546B – this sum, however, was supplemented with an additional $3.482B in May, 2019 after the commission indicated to the President that it lacked the financial resources to facilitate early elections.

Boy, 3, killed in accident A THREE-YEAR-OLD is now dead after he was, just after midday, hit by a speeding car at Islington, Greater New Amsterdam, Region Six, moments after he concluded his first week at the Savannah Park Nursery School.

Dead is Dominic Tyler Sulker of Lot 13 Islington, East Bank Berbice and 49 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

According to police reports, at about 12:40hrs, the child was on the western side of the road while his

mother, Cyntia Mc Kenzie Sulker was at the opposite end, calling the minor towards her.

As the child was proceeding across the road, he ran into the path of hire car HC 9655, which was proceeding south along the

eastern side at a fast rate of speed.

The car collided with the child, and as a result of the impact, the three-year-old catapulted into the air before landing several feet away.

He was picked up in an unconscious state and taken

to New Amsterdam Hospital, before being transferred to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. However, he died before reaching the hospital.

The driver of the car has since been arrested.

Dominic Tyler Sulker

$65M La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station commissioned -- $260M allocated to construct more police stations this year

By Rabindra Rooplall A $65M state-of-the art-user friendly police station was commissioned on Friday at La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD) and ranks were called upon to pay keen attention to the maintenance and preservation of the new facility.

Speaking at the launch, Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, said the construction was done in two phases: phase one of the project cost $12M and that entailed land filling, construction of the concrete perimeter fence and the access bridge.

The second phase, he said, included the construction of the building which cost $53M. This consists of male and female bathrooms, an area dedicated to domestic violence, an ID parade room with a one way viewing glass, and a modern lock-up, along with external washrooms and waiting area for the public.

He said the police stations are being made user-friendly to members of the public.

The new La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station

“It is important then that we pay regard to these developments and in that context create the infrastructure to make citizens and residents enjoy the new capacities and developments,” he said.

Minister Ramjattan said with the commissioning of the new building, police will be better able to protect and serve residents within the community.

He said the police station is an indication of what government is doing at the community level to prevent crime.

“We have done a tremendous amount of investment in

security, and as you know, it is not only training of policemen or furthering their education, but it’s also getting the assets necessary so that when trained, they will utilise these assets for improved services to the community,” he said.

The minister also encouraged ranks to set about gaining the confidence of the people in the community they serve.

“One way of getting that across is also ensuring that our policemen are courteous, ensuring that in their training exercise they behave in ethical ways, that is a big asset in

itself. Sometimes, it is an asset that is worth more than ATVs and vehicles, but to ensure that that happens we need comfortable and pleasing circumstances in which to operate in working conditions,” Ramjattan said.

MUCH TO BE DESIRED He said when he was made minister of public security in 2015; a survey was done of the police stations and it left a lot to be desired.

“The quality, standards, surroundings, the environment and even our CID headquarters had so many derelict vehicles inside; we removed many; with this beautiful environment that you have here, I hope there is no packing of motorbikes and derelict vehicles, that will be an activity that will be against governments ‘green’ policy, and it is important that you understand that your conduct will flow from your comfortable circumstances,” the minister said.

He explained that government is investing $1.8B of central government resources for the refurbishment and con-

struction of police stations countrywide.

“We will continue to mobilise more resources so that police can provide people with the type of service they deserve.

Up to the end of 2018, we had invested up to $821M on police stations and police buildings. This year $307M to standardise our infrastructure,” Ramjattan said.

He explained that $260M will be spent this year on the rehabilitation of the Brickdam Police Station, the construction of Golden Grove Headquarters, the construction of Fort Wellington Headquarters, the construction of Mahadia divisional headquarters, the rehabilitation of Lenora Police Station, the reconstruction of Anna Regina Headquarters, the construction of Mabaruma divisional headquarters, the rehabilitation of the special branch building and the rehabilitation of Cove and John Police Station.

He said the monies were garnered from Central Government and the citizen’s security programme.

Meanwhile, Commissioner

of Police, Leslie James, who was divisional commander in Region Three before taking up the post as commissioner, was at the commissioning of the police station.

He reflected that during meetings at La Parfait Harmonie Community Centre, there were “cries for more assistance, more responsiveness; cries for more and better policing and I did make a big promise that I will write and indicate to my superiors the need for a police station in La Parfaite Harmonie”.

The top cop said it was a pleasure to return as commissioner to unveil a new police station that was provided by the Government of Guyana.

“We will make it very clear to the ranks that will be stationed here that our motto must be maintained, that is service and protection. Today is another good day in the history of the force, the history of the State, where we continue to deliver on promises. The government and the minister have also lived up to the promise,” the top cop noted.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

Gov’t rolls out over $714.5M in road works … several city streets, other areas for major upgrade

THE Government, through the Ministries of Public Infrastructure and Communities, has injected over $714.5M for the construction and rehabilitation of urban roads in Regions Four, Six and 10, in direct response to needs of residents there.

Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, made the announcement on Friday during a post-Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency. He disclosed that in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) approximately $309.5M in contracts has been awarded for the rehabilitation of urban roads in the district, primarily in Georgetown.

He detailed that a $25.9M contract was awarded to K.P Thomas & Sons Contracting for the rehabilitation of the road network within South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The works will be conducted within the ‘South Entrance’ area. A contract to the sum of $21.8M was also awarded to K.P Thomas & Sons Contracting for the construction of the Tukeit Drive, South Ruimveldt while Critchlow Avenue, which is located in South Ruimveldt Park will be repaired using some $18.013M. That contract was awarded to Eron Lall Civil Engineers.

Road Front, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown will also be rehabilitated using approximately $69M. The contract for that multi-million dollar road project was awarded to H. Nauth & Sons while GUYAMERICA Inc. was awarded $48.6M for the rehabilitation of Agricola Main Access Road – Brutus Street, Georgetown.

Over in Lamaha Springs, Georgetown, Essequibo Street will be rehabilitated at the cost of $37.057M

by Chung’s Global Enterprise. William Street, Kitty, Georgetown will be rehabilitated using some $17M. That contract was awarded to Y. Bhola Construction while a $19.2M contract was awarded to Y. Bhola Construction for the repair of the Aubrey Barker Road. The rehabilitation of Eleazar Street, Durban Backlands will be executed using some $18.3M. That contract, the Director-General disclosed, was awarded to K.P Jagdeo General Contractor. Another $11.9M contract

urban roads in the East Berbice-Corentyne District was $263.5M. Meanwhile in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) a total of $141.4M was issued in contracts for the rehabilitation of roads in that district. A contract to the sum of $32.3M was awarded to Handel Gar-

Director General in the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon was awarded to Chung’s Global Enterprise but this time for the rehabilitation of Titus Street, Agricola. That company will also rehabilitate Maraburea Street at Meadow Brook Gardens at the cost of $22.3M. Meadow Bank Access Road, Georgetown will also be repaired using some $14.7M. Puran Brothers Inc. was awarded the contract for that project.

In Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), a $41.4M contract was awarded to Kason Engineering for the rehabilitation of Primary School Street at Manchester, Corentyne while Y. Bhola Construction was awarded $34.3M for the construction of Semple Street, Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Berbice.

Also in East Canje, Sansculotte Street (Bun Bush Dam) will be constructed at the cost of $74.071M. That contract was awarded to Subrey Paving & Ideal. H. Nauth & Sons was awarded a $28.6M contract for the rehabilitation of Middle Walk Dam in Alness Village, Corentyne.

First Cross Street, Section B Grant, Crabwood Creek will be rehabilitated by Annirud Ramcharitar at the cost of $$19.9M while Pepper Street located on East Bank Berbice will be rehabilitated

by Associated Construction at the cost of $22.4M. A contract to the sum of $20.5M was awarded to H. Nauth & Sons for the habitation of Middle Walk Dam, Letter Kenny, Berbice. Additionally, the main entrance at North and South Glasgow Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice will be repaired by Annirud Ramcharitar. Annirud Ramcharitar was awarded $22.1M for the execution of that project. The total value of the contracts awarded for

nett for the upgrading of 280m of roads with curb and soakways in Amelia’s Ward, Crabwood Phase 2, while Associated Construction was awarded a $37.4M contract for the upgrading of 380m of roads with curb and soakways within Block 22, Wismar.

In Ituni, 500m of roads with curb and soakways will be upgraded by B&J Civil Works using some $37.8M. That company will also upgrade 400m of roads with curb and soakaways in Kwakwani at the cost of $33.8M. “The award of these road contracts is part of an ongoing

programme to fix all urban roads in the coastal regions as well as within the city and all the towns across Guyana.

It is expected that all of the contracted works will be completed by the end of 2019,” the Director-General explained.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

Min. Norton meets US Embassy’s new Deputy Chief of Mission MINISTER of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton, on Friday, received a courtesy call from the new Deputy Chief of Mission attached to the United States Embassy in Georgetown, Mr. Mark W. Cullinane.

In a release the ministry said Cullinane was accompanied by US Ambassador to Guyana, Ms. Sarah-Ann

Lynch, who made the introduction, and commenced the meeting by congratulating Minister Norton on the victory of the Guyana Amazon Warriors during the second game of the Caribbean Premier League Thursday evening.

The engagement continued with hearty discussions on the development of culture; more specifically, the Art in Embassies (AIE)

programme organised by the U.S. Department of State.

According to its mission statement, the AIE “Creates vital cross-cultural dialogue and mutual understanding through the visual arts and dynamic artist exchanges.”

The AIE is said to be a public-private partnership project which engages over 20,000 international participants, including artists, museums, galleries, univerHon. Minister of Social Cohesion, with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton, flanked by New Deputy Chief of Mission attached to the United States Embassy in Georgetown, Mr. Mark W. Cullinane and US Ambassador to Guyana, Ms. Sarah-Ann Lynch sities, and private collectors.

The programme entails the hosting of grand annual exhibitions, from which pieces are extracted to be hung in the Department’s diplomatic facilities all across the world.

So far, in excess of 70 permanent art collections have been installed in over 200 venues in 189 countries.

Minister Norton believes that the implementation of such a programme in Guy-

ana will be tremendously beneficial to artists all across Guyana.

“Our artists need this kind of exposure, so it is something that I believe we should work towards becoming a part of,” Minister Norton said. Dr. Norton is also examining the possibility of getting Guyana’s Consulate offices in various countries to participate in similar exchanges.

NICIL warns against scammers posing as brokers THE National Industrial and Commercial and Investments Limited (NICIL), acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Colvin Heath-London, is appealing to the general public to beware of scammers posing as officials of NICIL. This warning comes in the wake of several reports of NICIL’s properties being sold allegedly by persons claiming to be ‘brokers’ of NICIL, a release from the state entity said.

Heath-London said that over the past several days, a number of persons with criminal intent have been approaching unsuspecting persons claiming to be in authority thus authorised to sell a number of properties belonging to NICIL. He said, “We seem to be in a season where there are desperate people doing desperate things and I would like to warn and appeal to everyone not to fall for the lies being peddled by an evidently organised criminal network.” It was revealed that those responsible have been parading as owners and or ‘brokers’ of several prime properties belong to the Government of Guyana with the view of deceiving unsuspect-

ing buyers into believing that they are in possession to sell these properties.

“I would like to warn persons in and out of Guyana to be on the lookout for persons posing as owners and or ‘brokers’ claiming to be in a position to sell these assets,” he said.

NICIL has declared that no property and or assets belonging to NICIL can be sold without the authorisation of its CEO or Board of Directors. We are urgently appealing to unsuspecting buyers to be on the lookout for persons who are seeking to scam them of their hard earn monies,” Heath-London said.

As such, he has issued a passionate appeal for persons to be on the lookout for persons who are seeking to gain wealth through dishonest and criminal minded approaches, reiterating that only him as the CEO or the board has been invested with that authority.

“As the CEO, I would like persons to be alerted so as to thwart any such unprofessional, illegal acts that may drag in unsuspecting persons with the promise that they are buying properties,” he warned.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

Dominican female remanded for simple larceny A 37-year-old Dominican National, who is accused of stealing money from a man after he fell asleep in a hotel room with her, was on Friday, September 6, 2019, remanded to prison, on a simple larceny charge.

Zilineli Richard appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and, with the aid of an interpreter, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Particulars of the charge stated that, on September 4, 2019, at Parika, Essequibo, Richard stole $340,000 cash, property of Wayne Yahya.

Police prosecutor Christopher Morris objected to bail being granted to Richard on the grounds that she had no fixed place of abode and was a flight risk.

According to reports. on September 3, 2019, Richard and Yahya met at the Parika Junction Area. It is alleged that Yahya invited Richard to spend the remainder of the night with him at a hotel.

While in the hotel room, Yahya counted his money and placed it into his pants pocket, and hung it in a wardrobe.

The next day, September 4, 2019, about 05:00 hours, Yahya woke and Richard was nowhere in the room and his pair of pants was on the ground.

When he checked his pants, the money was missing.

He reported the matter to the police.

The police launched an investigation and Richard was arrested. Under caution, it is alleged that Richard told the police “I only carried away $91,000 from de man pants pocket’’. She then took the rank to her room and handed over the money.

Magistrate Daly remanded the mother of one to prison and adjourned the matter until September 11, 2019, where she will be facing Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Taxi-driver sentenced for unlawful possession of guns and ammunition MAGISTRATE Rhondel Weever, on Friday, September 6, 2019, sentenced a 28-year-old taxi-driver to serve three years’ imprisonment on a series of gun and ammunition charges.

Casey Chapman of South Sophia appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced, having been found guilty of two ammunition and two firearm charges.

Particulars of the first two charges stated that, on November 26, 2018, at Princess and High Streets, he had a .32 Taurus and a 9MM Glock pistol in his possession without being the holder of firearm licenses.

The last two charges also stated that, on the same day, and at the same place, he had 12 live rounds of 9MM ammunition and seven live rounds of .32 ammunition.

Magistrate Weever sentenced Chapman to two years on each of the ammunition charges and three years on each of the firearm charges, and told the court that the sentences will run concurrently.

Acting on a tip-off, police ranks arrested three men in a silver- grey Toyota Premio on Princess Street near the Infiniti Gas Station and a search of the motorcar was conducted in their presence and the guns and ammunition were found.

Both guns were reportedly wrapped in a black vest under the driver’s seat.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

Three months’ imprisonment for man who assaulted woman SENIOR Magistrate Leron Daly on Friday, September 6, 2019, sentenced a man to three months’ imprisonment for assaulting a woman.

Shawn Gonzales appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to the charge.

Particular of the charge stated that, on September 4, 2019, at David Street, Kitty, he assaulted a woman causing actual bodily harm.

The police prosecutor told the court that, on the day in question, the virtual Complainant was at her home, putting her child to sleep. Gonzales went into the house and an argument ensued. Gonzales picked up a cable and ‘lashed’ the VC all about her body.

The matter was reported to the police and Gonzales was arrested.

Magistrate Daly, after listening to the prosecutor, sentenced Gonzales to 3 months’ imprisonment.

Youthful snatcher remanded A 24-year-old man was, on Friday, September 6, 2019, remanded to prison by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for snatching a woman’s gold chain.

Akeem Sinclair, of Lodge, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that, on September 1, 2019 at Croal Street, Georgetown, he stole a gold chain, valued $80,000, from Tenesha Gittens Bynoe.

Magistrate Daly remanded Sinclair to prison until September 27, 2019.

In 2018, Sinclair was charged in connection with the armed robbery and shooting of a money-changer, Rickford Richardson.

The charge had read that, on July 29, 2018, at America Street, Georgetown, Sinclair, while in the company of others, and armed with a gun, robbed Richardson of $120,000 cash. The charge was later dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

Trial of former senior clerk of GRA set for September 13 A 32-year-old former senior clerk attached to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) was arraigned before senior magistrate Leron Daly, on September 6, 2019 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ court.

Wayne Sam of Timerhi, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

It is alleged that, on May 29, 2018, at GRA, Camp Street, Georgetown, Sam attempted to incite Christopher Ramadon to commit a felony, that is to say, he paid Ramadon $2,000 to forge a Guyana motor vehicle license.

Sam’s attorney, Ashley Henry, made an application for bail on the grounds that her client is the father of two and is the sole breadwinner for his family.

The attorney explained that Sam now works as a taxi driver to maintain his family.

Magistrate Daly granted the defendant $25,000 bail and adjourned the matter until September 13, 2019.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

Widow of taxi driver gets help to send children to school

By Indrawattie Natram IT is almost three months since Lallbacchan Bacchan, 39, lost his life while in the lockup at the Suddie Police Station. Essequibo Coast, Region Two. Although the matter is currently engaging legal attention, family members, especially the children of Bacchan are still coming to grips with their father’s death. Samantha Bacchan, the wife of the deceased now has to provide for her children, and according to her, the task is not an easy one.

Having recognised the struggles of the single mother, several overseas-based Guyanese, in collaboration with the owner of Agri-spares Centre, Dereck Gobin of Zorg, have handed over a cheque of $50,000 to the mother.

The kind gesture was

fected by the questionable circumstances under which her husband died, stated that the donation was timely since her two sons have started the new school term.

They are still trying to come to grips with their father’s death.

The deceased, Lallbacchan Bacchan aimed at helping Bacchan’s children go to school. Present at the simple handing over ceremony on Friday were Region Two Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt and Regional Vice-Chairperson, Nandranie Coonjah.

During the presentation, the regional chairman encouraged the single mother to have faith and to continue to spend time with her children.

Meanwhile, Bacchan, who is still deeply af-

Crime Chief cleared of criminal conduct – top cop

CRIME Chief, Deputy Commissioner, Lyndon Alves, who was sent on administrative leave over corruption allegations, has been cleared of criminal conduct, Police Commissioner, Leslie James, has confirmed.

“What I can say to you is that the investigation Crime Chief, Deputy Commissioner, has been completed and I Lyndon Alves have obtained a file and in terms of criminal conduct, Mr. Alves has been cleared,” James told reporters on Friday.

The top cop, when asked about Alves return to the Guyana Police Force, said the force is currently dealing with “some administrative issues”.

“Well, internally, administratively, there are some other issues we are dealing with and that is the final position,” he added.

Alves was suspended from duties in June, 24, 2019 to facilitate the probe into allegations of corruption levelled against him in the Berbice Division.

The investigation was conducted by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

Businessman Dereck Gobin hands over the cheque to Samantha Bacchan as Regional Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt looks on

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

President Granger commits to address

PRESIDENT David Granger, on Friday, hosted an interactive business luncheon for members of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), the National Mining Syndicate (NMS) and the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) at the Baridi Benab, State House Compound.

The President, in brief

remarks, said the gold and diamond mining sector, which has been in existence for 150 years, will remain vital to the country’s economy even with the advent of oil production. “The gold and diamond mining business is here to stay. We are not here to sign a death warrant,” President Granger said, even as he assured stakeholders that the government is committed to

continuing its support to the sustainable development of the sector.

“The mining industry, over 100 years old, has contributed immensely and still contributes immensely to Guyana’s GDP [Gross Domestic Product]; it contributes to thousands of households,” the President said.

Gold declarations last year stood at 613,073 ounces

while diamond declarations totalled 62,111 metric carats.

Small and medium scale miners contributed significantly to the level of production with 58.5 per cent of the total national declarations last year.

“It [gold] is not a bush industry, it is an important part of the Guyanese economy and the government cannot make that industry

A miner makes a point a the business luncheon hosted by President David Granger more important without your participation,” the President stated.

However gold mining, despite its contributions, has had harmful effects on the environment and President Granger reminded that the government is committed to the protection of the environment. The President said government’s policy on gold and diamond mining aims at ensuring sustainable mining.

He outlined five areas which are to be incorporated into the national mining policy: human safety and security, environmental safety and health, the enforcement of mining laws

and regulations, infrastructural development and the technological advancement of the sector.

MERCURY USE The Head of State reminded that the use of mercury is not only harmful to the environment but can have adverse effects on human health.

Guyana is a signatory to the Minamata Convention on Mercury and has set itself the goal of reducing mercury emissions by 55 per cent by 2022 and eliminating the use of same by 2027. President Granger called on the stakeholders at the event,

A female miner makes a point this afternoon during the business luncheon

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

sing mining issues which included government ministers and officials from the various agencies responsible for the sector, to work together to solve all existing problems. He urged the miners to speak frankly about their problems and to make recommendations which would be considered by the government.

During the interaction, President of the GGDMA, Mr. Terrence Adams raised

Cheryl Williams, President of the NMS, shared similar concerns. Ms. Primus asked for the government’s assistance in the phasing out of the use of mercury particularly in the case of small-scale miners who cannot readily afford the alternatives to mercury. “It would be excessively helpful for a revolving fund to be created to help miners move to mercury-free mining. We understand the

time, we have the years that are counting down for us,” she said.

In response to the concerns raised, the President said, “The recommendation that government must take a step forward to provide the techniques and resources to help to wean the artisanal miners off of it [mercury]… this is something we will have to work on together.”

The Head of State also

Ms. Judith Blair raises concerns affecting small-scale miners concerns about the deplorable state of the roadways which lead to mining communities and what he described as a need for more government concessions.

“The interior roads have been an issue for years and I think the issuing of contracts on the roads is not done in a timely manner. If we can’t get into the interior to do our work, then the cost will go up and we will have less declarations and that won’t benefit the country,” Mr. Adams said.

Ms. Urica Primus, President of the GWMO and Ms.

government has a national action plan. We understand that we will not be able to work the same way forever but at the same time, we want the government to understand it is not that miners are set in their ways, it is just that they may not be able to afford all at once,” Ms. Primus explained.

The GWMO president asked whether the government would be able to render assistance to the mining industry. “How would miners be assisted? At this point, we do not have any alternatives to mercury but at the same

said government is working towards a decade of development from 2020-2029 and would welcome recommendations from the mining sector. He explained that the Ministry of Finance, along with other stakeholders, will have to develop a strategic plan for the nation. The President said that infrastructure is important, along with the safety and security of those who operate in the mining sector and as such, he expects that within a short period of time, the Police Divisional structure will be modified to ensure that there is more

President David Granger with members of the National Mining Syndicate

President David Granger and President of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, Mr. Terrence Adams, share a light moment security across hinterland locations. “We need to protect our miners,” the President said, even as he referenced the Crops of Wardens attached to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

As it relates to taxation and concessions, the Head of State said the government is heavily dependent on revenues and assured that Minister of Finance, Mr. Winston Jordan, who was also at the luncheon, will have to examine issues related to concessions and taxation. “It is an aspect of government policy which is continuously

under review. To the extent that we could get proceeds, profits or revenues from other sources, I would encourage him [Minister Jordan] to examine ways and means of looking at these concessions.

We don’t want a ‘higgly piggly’ taxation in which we give ‘A’ and ‘B’ concessions because ‘C’ and ‘D’ will demand concessions as well.

One of the tasks of the GRA [Guyana Revenue Authority] is to try to eliminate anomalies…so that the taxation regime not only brings in more revenue but at the same time, is fair and is not subject

to the type of abuse which could occur when you have too many loopholes. This is one area which we are prepared to examine,” the President said.

President Granger further said, that the mining industry is one which needs to be properly regulated.

“We have to remove mining from the ‘ad hockery’ which has plagued it for such a long time that people do not regard it as a settled industry where you can go and live and See page 22

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President Granger commits ...

From page 21

have children, schools and hospitals.

It is important to have settled communities with proper infrastructure. I don’t dismiss the idea of housing schemes, schools [so] that the children of miners could get the same quality education in any part of the country, wherever you live,” the Head of State said in response to a request for the establishment of housing schemes for miners.

In concluding the interactive session, the Head of State said, “The government needs, Guyana needs the mining industry.”

It is expected that the three mining organisations will submit a memorandum containing all of the concerns and recommendations to the Head of State for consideration.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, the Ministers of Public Security, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Business, Foreign Affairs, Communities,

Social Cohesion and Citizenship; Members of the Board of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Chairman of the Guyana Gold Board, and representatives of the various mining organisations also attended the business luncheon.

Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman is currently in Colombia attending a Presidential Summit for the Amazon Rainforest. (Ministry of the Presidency)

Mr. Lloyd Robinson, a young miner raises his concerns. Also photographed are Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mr. Sydney Allicock and Ms. Mariscia Charles, Project Officer, Ministry of Natural Resources

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

Hurricane delays Roger Khan’s return PUBLIC Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, said the return of convicted drug lord, Roger Khan, to Guyana this weekend has been delayed as a result of the current hurricane season being experienced in Florida, USA. “His homecoming was adjourned, and he will be treated the same way as all deportees,” Ramjattan said.

Police Commissioner Leslie James said, “we are waiting his return… I can’t say when, I understand because of the hurricane that we have had in the Caribbean recently his arrival was a bit delayed… Mr Khan, just like a normal person, will return under such circumstances… there is nothing special about Mr Khan.”

Khan was arrested in neighbouring Suriname in 2006 and then flown to Trinidad where US agents took control of him. He was taken to New York

and charged.

Khan, who was jailed in October 2009 for up to 15 years, asked the US court earlier this year to release him early, based on new regulations.

Khan was sentenced to a total of 40 years’ imprisonment on three separate charges by US Judge, Dora Irizarry, in 2009 after she accepted the plea bargain agreement he had reached with prosecutors.

However, two of the sentences, 10 years for an illegal firearm possession charge, and 15 years for witness tampering, ran concurrently with the other 15-year jail term.

In addition to the jail time, Roger Khan had to undergo supervised release for five years although according to the judge, he is likely to be deported.

Khan was also accused of executing competitors in the drug trade.

He was deeply feared and owned several properties. He even built a hous-

Roger Khan ing scheme at Farm, East Bank Demerara.

Khan was considered to be the country’s most powerful drug trafficker.

He was said to have close ties to the then, People’s Progressive Party/ Civic, with the late exHome Affairs Minister, Ronald Gajraj, acting as conduit for a “Phantom Squad”.

The squad was accused to murdering several criminals, competitors, and others.

Another minister reportedly facilitated the ordering of phone calls interception equipment.

In June 2006, Khan was arrested in Paramaribo with three of his bodyguards in a sting operation.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

CCJ develops manual for original jurisdiction referrals

THE Caribbean Court Justice (CCJ) and the CCJ Academy for Law, on Friday, hosted a working meeting at the CCJ’s Headquarters to review and finalise a draft Manual on the CCJ’s Original Jurisdiction Referral Process.

In a release CCJ said Article 214 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and Article XIV of The Agreement establishing the CCJ provides for Treaty-related issues to be referred to the Court under its Original Jurisdiction.

However, since the Court’s establishment in 2005, this avenue for legal redress has never been utilised. As a result, the CCJ has resolved to develop a Manual which will provide guidance on referrals to the CCJ from national courts and tribunals of do-

CCJ Judges, Hon. Justices Wit, Rajnauth-Lee and Jamadar and Mr. Justice Ventose of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court perusing the meeting’s materials are derived by the people of the Caribbean Community.

The manual is being drafted by Professor Alina

President and other CCJ Judges and court staff, the meeting was also attended by the Hon. Mr. Justice

CCJ President, Hon. Mr. Justice Saunders and CCJ Academy Chair, Hon. Mr. Justice Anderson, engaged in discussions with Prof. Kaczorowska-Ireland, Prof.

Alter and Professor Helter. mestic disputes that concern the interpretation or application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC).

Once finalised, the Manual will be made available to judges, legal practitioners and other stakeholders in the region in the hope that the guidance offered will assist in ensuring that the full benefits of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy

Kaczorowska-Ireland of The University of the West Indies (Cave Hill), who also facilitated Friday’s meeting. Professors Karen Alter (Northwestern University) and Laurence Helfer (Duke University) provided perspectives from their experiences as legal practitioners before other courts of similar jurisdictions.

Apart from the CCJ

Eddy Ventose of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

Following the finalisation of the Manual, there will be a series of sensitisation lectures facilitated by CCJ Judges.

The CCJ Academy will also collaborate with the Council of Legal Education to do sensitisation activities with legal practitioners.

1823 memorial to be commemorated at Parade Ground PRESIDENT David Granger is set to attend the 1823 Demerara Slave Revolt memorial that will be hosted this Sunday at Parade Ground, Middle and Waterloo Streets, Georgetown.

The Demerara Rebellion of 1823 was an uprising involving more than 10,000 slaves that took place in the Crown colony of Demerara-Essequibo.

The rebellion, which took place on August 18, 1823 and lasted for two days, was led by slaves with the highest status.

In part they were reacting to poor treatment and a desire for freedom; in addition, there was a widespread, mistaken belief that Parliament had passed a law for Emancipation, but it was being withheld by the colonial rulers.

Instigated chiefly by Jack Gladstone, a slave at Success Plantation, the rebellion also involved his father, Quamina, and other senior members of their church group. Its English pastor, John Smith, was implicated.

The largely non-violent rebellion was brutally crushed by the colonists under Governor, John Murray.

They killed many slaves: estimates of the toll from fighting range from 100 to 250. After the insurrection was put down, the government sentenced another 45 men to death and 27 were executed.

The executed slaves’ bodies were displayed in public for months afterwards as a deterrent to others.

Jack was deported to the island of Saint Lucia after the rebellion following a clemency plea by Sir John Gladstone, the owner of Success Plantation.

John Smith, who had been court-martialed and was awaiting news of his appeal against a death sentence, died a martyr for the abolitionist cause.

News of Smith’s death strengthened the abolitionist movement in Britain.

Quamina, who is thought to have been the actual leader of the rebellion, was declared a national hero after Guyana gained independence. Streets have been named and monuments have been erected in his honour in the capital city of Georgetown, Guyana.

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Prof. Kaczorowska-Ireland makes a presentation to Court President, Hon. Mr. Justice Saunders

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Freak storm hits Mahdia

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

... buildings flattened, roofs ripped off

AT least two homes were damaged and the roofs of several buildings were blown off during a freak storm which hit the town of Mahdia on Friday afternoon.

Town councillor, Harley Joseph, told the Guyana Chronicle that the roofs of the Mahdia Primary school and the police station at the Region Eight town were

ripped off.

Reports are that around 15:30hrs on Friday, at least two houses were flattened during the storm. Joseph said he was told a tree fell on a building and flattened the structure at Constituency Two while another building owned by a man known as ‘Desmond ‘ fell down during the storm.

Director General of the

Civil Defence Commission, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, stated that the body is currently awaiting a report of a comprehensive assessment, which is being conducted by regional officials.

He said an initial assessment recorded structural damages to several buildings while it was reported also that powerlines have sustained damage as well.

As a result of the strong winds, persons also sustained injuries, one of whom was evacuated to Georgetown for medical treatment. The CDC head said once the assessment is received, the needs of the affected area will be determined. Joseph reported that it is the first time he has experienced such weather conditions at the town. He said that during the day on Friday sunny conditions persisted at Mahdia and

One of the houses which was flattened during the storm according to him, late in the day the weather changed dramatically. He said the storm, which lasted less than an hour, caught many

by surprise.

A CDC team is on standby to be deployed to the town on Saturday.

The Mahdia Primary School roof was severely damaged during the storm

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 7, 2019

CAL, FEEL Foundation partner to deliver supplies to Bahamas

CARIBBEAN Airlines has collaborated with The Foundation for the Enhancement and Enrichment of Life (FEEL) to support humanitarian relief efforts for The Bahamas in the wake of

Hurricane Dorian.

Starting on Sunday, September 08 and in the coming weeks, Caribbean Airlines will use its services to airlift supplies donated via the FEEL and Office of Disaster Preparedness

and Management (ODPM) disaster relief programme, for distribution to families displaced and most affected by the hurricane.

Garvin Medera, Caribbean Airlines CEO stated, “We are extremely sad-

Nadine Jardine, Caribbean Airlines Cargo Operations Manager POS & Southern Caribbean receives donated relief supplies from Kevin Williams and Christian George of The Foundation for the Enhancement and Enrichment of Life (FEEL).

The donated supplies will be airlifted to Nassau, Bahamas via Caribbean Airlines scheduled service on Sunday September 8

dened by the devastation in Grand Bahama and Abaco, and Caribbean Airlines is doing its part to ensure that the much-needed aid is delivered to the Islands of The

Bahamas.

The Bahamian Government has identified trusted partners through which relief supplies will be distributed, and our

partnership with FEEL allows the people of Trinidad & Tobago the opportunity to support The Bahamas through their donations.�

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Emrit looking to have a good game for Patriots against Amazon Warriors tonight

By Michelangelo Jacobus AN Amazon Warrior for three years, Rayad Emrit will suit up for his new side tonight, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, when they take on Guyana Amazon Warriors at Guyana National Stadium, Providence, here at 20:00hrs.

Having suffered a loss in their opening game against the Trinbago Knight Riders on Wednesday, Emrit maintained that Patriots will be looking to rebound strongly and hopefully grab the result that his side needs.

Reflecting on that game at the pre-game press conference at the Marriott Hotel, Guyana, Emrit said, “We had a decent game, we were in a position to win but losing three wickets in four overs did not help.”

“Our batsmen need to step up against a very good Amazon Warriors side. Hopefully we can get that right and the result that we need.”

He also spoke of the Patriots nondependence on any one player saying; “We don’t rely on any one player, I have learnt a lot from my three years with the Warriors and I have tried to pass that on to the team, hopefully they can buy into it.”

Emrit further noted; “I am excited to be back in Guyana, I know I still have fans here and I love them just as much as they love me. I just want to have a great game and contribute to a successful outing.”

Meanwhile, Amazon Warriors vice-captain and man-of-thematch in the first game, Chris Green doesn’t feel as though his side needs to change much heading into tonight’s game.

“It was a really good feeling to start the way we did, it was not

the smoothest of games but we came out victorious in the end.

There is still a long way to go in the tournament and we will be looking to play good cricket and continue along the successful path.”

After being struck on the hand during the Warriors 13-run win over the St Lucia Zouks on Thursday night, captain Shoaib Malik has not suffered any serious injury.

It is not yet clear if he will take the field in tonight’s game but Green noted; Malik had a scan, it seems to be in the all-clear; he should be fine. Obviously he’s an important player for us, being the captain and all.”

Green also spoke of the importance of the crowd support and thanked the Guyanese for their die-hard backing of the Amazon Warriors over the years.

Guyana Amazon Warriors: Anthony Bramble (wicketkeeper), Chris Green, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Ben Laughlin, Saurabh Netravalkar, Keemo Paul, Veerasammy Permaul, Clinton Pestano, Nicholas Pooran, Sherfane Rutherford, Shadab Khan, Romario Shepherd, Shoaib Malik (captain), Keagan Simmons, Odean Smith.

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots: Carlos Brathwaite (c), Aaron Jones, Akeem Jordan, Fabian Allen, Shamarh Brooks, Keron Cottoy, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes, Rayad Emrit, Laurie Evans, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jeremiah Louis, Mohammad Hafeez, Jason Mohammed, Kjorn Ottley, Devon Thomas, Usama Mir.

Pakistan leg-spin great Abdul Qadir dies at 63 PAKISTAN cricket great Abdul Qadir, who revived the art of leg-spin bowling, has died at the age of 63, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said yesterday.

Pakistani media reported that he died of cardiac arrest.

Qadir made his Pakistan debut in 1977 in Lahore and went on to play 67 Tests and 104 oneday internationals, claiming a total of 368 wickets.

The PCB wrote on Twitter: “PCB is shocked at the news of `maestro` Abdul Qadir`s passing and has offered its deepest condolences to his family and friends.”

Qadir was an influential figure in Pakistan`s most successful teams in the 1980s and later a mentor to the next generation of leg-spinners, including Australia`s Shane Warne and Pakistan`s Mushtaq Ahmed.

Commentating for Sky Sports during the fourth Ashes Test between England and Australia, Warne said Qadir was a “brilliant, brilliant bowler.” “I think a lot of people bowled leg-spin, like I did and he was the guy whom we looked up to in the eighties.

He was the main leg-spinner in that era. He was a terrific bowler who bamboozled a lot

of batsmen. His record is a terrific one,” he added.

Renowned for his fairly long run-up and a unique bowling action, Qadir was almost unplayable on pitches in Pakistan and one of the favourites of former captain Imran Khan - now the country`s Prime Minister.

Qadir reserved his finest performances for England and his spell of 9-56 in Lahore in 1987 is still the best by a Pakistan bowler in a Test innings. “He would always ask you whether you had picked the googly,” former England captain David Gower told Sky Sports. “`Have you picked it?” he would tease. A lovely guy, with a huge skillset. Our condolences go to all close to him.” After retiring from the sport, he served as the chief selector for Pakistan.

“They called him the magician for many reasons but when he looked me in the eyes & told me I was going to play for Pakistan for the next 20 years, I believed him,” former Pakistan bowler Wasim Akram wrote on Twitter.

“A magician, absolutely. A leg-spinner & a trailblazer of his time,” he added.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 7, 2019

Hazlewood cuts through England as Australia tighten screw

By Simon Evans MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood ripped through England

with three crucial wickets in the final session to leave Joe Root’s side trailing by 297 runs with five wickets remaining after the third day of the fourth Ashes

SCOREBOARD AUSTRALIA first innings 497-9 declared ENGLAND first innings (overnight 23-1) R, Burns c Smith b Hazlewood 81 J, Denly c Wade b Cummins 4 C, Overton c Smith b Hazlewood 5 J, Root lbw b Hazlewood

71 J, Roy b Hazlewood

22 B, Stokes not out 7 J, Bairstow not out 2

Extras: (lb-6, nb-2)

8 Total: (5 wickets, 74 overs) 200 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-25, 3-166, 4-175, 5-196.

Bowling: M. Starc 11-5-41-0, J. Hazlewood 20-4-48-4, P. Cummins 17-4-37-1, N. Lyon 26-3-68-0.

Test yesterday.

England still need 98 runs to avoid following on and that will be no formality after Hazlewood undid so much of the good work from Rory Burns (81) and Joe Root (71) earlier in the day.

The pair put on 141 for the third wicket before Hazlewood removed Burns with a fine delivery that was edged to a gleeful Steve Smith at second slip.

Burns had looked confident throughout an impressive innings in which he picked up his third score of fifty or

over in this series.

Hazlewood then made it two wickets in 11 balls when he removed Root, rapping

him on the pads with the England skipper’s dejected expression removing any need for a review.

Jason Roy, demoted from the opener slot, was joined by Ben Stokes and England badly needed a lengthy partnership from the two stroke-players, but Hazlewood had other ideas.

The bowler removed Roy’s middle stump clean out of the ground with another delivery that nipped back off the seam and the jubilant response of the Australians in the field revealed the significance of

the wicket.

Hazlewood, who had earlier removed nightwatchman Craig Overton, ended the day with figures of 4-48 after bad light cut play short, to the relief of batsmen Stokes and Jonny Bairstow.

Heavy rain wiped out the entire morning session at Old Trafford. The five-match series is standing at 1-1.

Victory for Australia would ensure they retain The Ashes ahead of the final Test at The Oval next week.

Sri Lanka’s Malinga takes four wickets in four balls

Hat-trick! Lasith Malinga celebrates his third wicket // Getty

(REUTERS) - Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga claimed four wickets in four balls for the second time in his international career to rip through the New Zealand batting order in a Twenty20 match at Pallekele yesterday.

Chasing 126 runs to win, New Zealand openers Colin Munro and Tim Seifert scored 15 in the opening two overs before captain Malinga rattled Munro’s leg stump for his 100th Twenty20 international wicket.

Malinga removed Hamish Rutherford and Colin de Grandhomme in his next two deliveries to claim his second hat-trick in the format before trapping Ross Taylor legbefore for his fourth in the over.

Seifert became Malinga’s next victim as the

wicketkeeper-batsman edged an outswinger to first slip, leaving New Zealand’s lower order exposed at 23 for 5.

The 36-year-old paceman finished the evening with 5-6 in his four overs.

The first time Malinga claimed ‘four in four’ was against South Africa during the 50-overs World Cup in 2007.

Malinga had dismissed Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis and Makhaya Ntini but it was all in vain as South Africa clinched a lastgasp win.

Yet Malinga was not to be denied this time as spinners Akila Dananjaya and Lakshan Sandakan cleaned up the lower order to bowl out New Zealand for 88, handing Sri Lanka a 37-run victory.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 7, 2019

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Inspirational Rashid rips through Bangladesh on day two RASHID Khan starred with bat and ball to put Afghanistan in control of their one-off Test against Bangladesh at the end of day two.

Afghanistan led by 148 runs at the close of play yesterday, with Bangladesh reduced to 194-8 in their first innings thanks largely to the work of Rashid, who was captaining

the Test team for the first time.

The 20-year-old skipper made 51 from 61 balls as Afghanistan posted 342, their highest total in the longest format, and then wreaked havoc with the ball by taking 4-47.

Having managed no more than 12 in an innings in his previous two Test appearances, Rashid arrived at the crease when Asghar Afghan - unbeaten on

88 overnight - threw away his wicket to Taijul Islam to fall short of a maiden Test ton on 92.

But Afghanistan – who resumed on 271-5 – were already in a strong position following a century from Rahmat Shah, Rashid’s predecessor as captain, the previous day.

Rashid picked up the baton

Skipper Rashid Khan scalped four wickets to put Afghanistan in command against Bangladesh. @AFP

SCOREBOARD AFGHANISTAN 1st innings Ibrahim Zadran c Mahmudullah b Taijul Islam 21 Ihsanullah b Taijul Islam 9 Rahmat Shah c Soumya Sarkar b Nayeem Hasan 102 Hashmatullah Shahidi c Soumya Sarkar b Mahmudullah 14 Asghar Afghan c Mushfiqur Rahim b Taijul Islam 92 Mohammad Nabi b Nayeem Hasan 0 Afsar Zazai b Taijul Islam 41 Rashid Khan c & b Mehedi Hasan 51 Qais Ahmad c Mominul Haque b Shakib Al Hasan 9 Yamin Ahmadzai c Soumya Sarkar b Shakib Al Hasan 0 Zahir Khan not out 0 Extras: (lb-1, nb-2) 3 Total: (all out, 117 overs) 342 Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-48, 3-77, 4-197, 5-197, 6-278, 7-299, 8-322, 9-327.

Bowling: Taijul Islam 41-5-116-4 (nb-2), Shakib Al Hasan 22-1-64-2, Mehedi Hasan 28-5-73-1, Nayeem Hasan 13-0-43-2, Mahmudullah 4-0-9-1, Soumya Sarkar 4-0-26-0, Mominul Haque 4-0-9- 0, Mosaddek Hossain 1-0-1-0.

BANGLADESH 1st innings Shadman Islam c Afsar Zazai b Yamin Ahmadzai 0 Soumya Sarkar lbw Mohammad Nabi 17 Liton Das b Rashid Khan 33 Mominul Haque c Asghar Afghan b Mohammad Nabi 52 Shakib Al Hasan lbw Rashid Khan 11 Mushfiqur Rahim c Ibrahim Zadran b Rashid Khan 0 Mahmudullah b Rashid Khan 7 Mosaddek Hossain not out 44 Mehedi Hasan b Qais Ahmad 11 Taijul Islam not out 14 Extras: (b-4, lb-1) 5 Total: (eight wkts, 67.0 overs) 194 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-38, 3-54, 4-88, 5-88, 6-104, 7-130, 8-146.

Bowling: Yamin Ahmadzai 10-2-21-1, Mohammad Nabi 22-6-53-2, Zahir Khan 9-1-46-0, Rashid Khan 18-3-47-4, Qais Ahmad 8-2-22-1.

and did the heavy lifting himself after Afsar Zazai’s (41) dismissal appeared to put Bangladesh in the ascendancy, with the skipper’s two fours and three maximums bringing up a speedy half-century.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz got Rashid caught and bowled to close the innings but Afghanistan immediately made life difficult for Bangladesh, removing Shadman Islam for a duck in the first over.

Rashid ended a potentially dangerous innings from Liton Das on 33, sneaking under his bat, and then got captain Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim in the space of three balls.

Mominul Haque (52 off 71) steadied Bangladesh slightly but Rashid had another when he took out Mahmudullah’s off stump.

A fightback of sorts from Mosaddek Hossain (44 not out) and Taijul (14 n.o.) had Bangladesh still going at stumps but with a great deal of work to do to remain in touch. (Omnisport)

More doubles history for Cabal and Farah with U.S. Open win

By Steve Keating

NEW YORK (Reuters) Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah became the first Colombians to win the U.S. Open men’s doubles title on Friday, easing past Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-4 7-5 to underscore their status as tennis’s dominant partnership.Just weeks after becoming the first Colombians to win a Grand Slam doubles title with an epic five-set victory at Wimbledon, Cabal and Farah were celebrating again after handing the Spanish/Argentine duo their first ever defeat. “Unreal. It’s amazing. What a journey,” said Cabal. “If you tell us three

months ago that this is going to happen, I probably will not believe you. “But that’s the way, this life that we are pretty blessed. “We just put in the work. Every day we just believe in work, push every day to be better.” Cabal and Farah needed nearly five hours to see off France’s Nicolas Mahut and Edouard RogerVasselin in the Wimbledon final but made quick work of Granollers and Zeballos, taking just 91 minutes under the closed roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium to get their hands on the trophy. “The way Colombia received us when we came back from Wimbledon was really breathtaking, and I don’t even want to think about how crazy it is going be

now that we come back from the U.S. Open,” said Farah.

“I think that back-to-back is quite an achievement. “We are very happy to represent our country the way that we are doing it.” Playing in their 400th match together, the top-ranked Colombians had a huge edge in experience over Granollers and Zeballos, who were teaming up for just their second event. Down 5-3 in the second set with Granollers and Zeballos serving to level the match the Colombians broke back, sweeping four straight games to clinch the title and become just the sixth pairing to complete the Wimbledon/ U.S. Open double.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 7, 2019

Williams’ path to Grand Slam record blocked by teenager

By Steve Keating

NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) - A clash of generations will decide the U.S. Open today with Serena Williams taking a fourth crack at Grand Slam history against teenager Bianca Andreescu, who was not even born when the American lifted her first Flushing Meadows trophy.

One short of equalling Margaret Court’s record of 24 singles Grand Slam titles, Williams will be hoping that the fourth time is the charm after three agonising nearmisses since returning to action following the birth of her first child.

Already the oldest Grand Slam finalist in the Open era, Williams will celebrate her 38th birthday in three weeks while her 19-year-old Canadian opponent will not be able to celebrate a victory with a drink at New York City bar for two more years.

“It is just surreal. I don’t know

Serena Williams

what to say, it is a dream come true to play Serena in the final of the U.S. Open,” said Andreescu following her 7-6(3), 7-5 semifinal win over Swiss Belinda Bencic on Thursday. “It’s crazy.”

At the end of last year Andreescu sat an anonymous 178th in the world rankings and lost in the first round of U.S. Open qualifying.

Her breakout season has seen her already win two of the WTA Tour’s elite events in Indian Wells and Toronto while her run to the U.S. Open final has only confirmed her status as the next big thing.

More remarkably the 19-year-old is playing in just her fourth main draw at a Grand Slam having never before ventured beyond the second round.

The final will pit power against power with Andreescu having demonstrated she is well equipped to go toe-to-toe Teenager Bianca Andrees cu with the game’s big hitters and few in the history of the Today she will step out onto sport have delivered more Arthur Ashe Stadium, tipped by punishment than Williams many as the heir to Williams’ from the baseline. crown, as the queen of women’s tennis.

Just the second Canadian woman after Eugenie Bouchard to play in a Grand Slam final, Andreescu has rarely looked out of place on the big stage.

The two have met just once before in the final of the Rogers Cup in August, but there is little to be gleaned from the encounter with Williams quitting with back spasms while down 3-1 in the opening set.

“She really knows how to mix up the game and play different shots in different ways,” said Williams assessing her opponent.

“She’s a great player. You never know what is going to come from her. She serves well, moves well, has a ton of power. She’s very exciting to watch.”

The atmosphere inside Arthur Ashe Stadium today is sure to be supercharged with memories of last year’s chaotic and controversial

final, that saw Naomi Osaka’s victory overshadowed by an explosive confrontation between chair umpire Carlos Ramos and an enraged Williams, hanging in the air.

That match saw Williams deducted a point and later a game for her behaviour, which included a smashed racquet and calling Ramos a “liar” and “thief”.

Williams has done her best to pretend last year’s events never happened.

At her first press conference Williams said she did not know a Carlos Ramos and on Thursday, when asked if she had learned any lessons from last year, batted the question answering: “It hasn’t really crossed my mind.”

Lambe calls for fightback after Bermuda suffer crushing loss HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) – Midfielder Reggie Lambe sent out a rallying cry to his Bermuda team-mates after they suffered a crushing 4-1 defeat against Panama at the National Stadium here on Thursday night which left their CONCACAF Nations League A status hanging in the balance. Lambe, who plays for English League Two side Cambridge United, helped force the 43rd-minute equaliser after his shot hit a post, Harold Cummings turning the ball into his own net.

But it proved to be only a consolation as ruthless Panama – who are ranked 100 places above Bermuda – regained the lead before the break and capitalised on a slew of defensive errors from their opponents, Gabriel Torres scoring a brace while Rolando Blackburn and substitute Adalberto Carrasquilla were also on target.

However, with the chance to make amends in the reverse fixture tomorrow, Lambe is adamant that retaining their League A status is still achievable, despite the need for victory now becoming more vital, with two daunting fixtures against Mexico still to come and the bottom-placed team from each group facing relegation.

“We’re not in this Nations League just to lie down and roll over for anyone,” Lambe said.

“Obviously, we wanted to win … and we’ll be desperate to do so in Panama and in both games against Mexico.

“We certainly won’t be taking any of these games lightly and we’re not just here to be the whipping boys for the bigger nations. We’re here to try and stay in League A and keep competing with the best of our region.

“There is still more to play for, as long as there are more games,

England-based striker Nahki Wells had a penalty shout waved off.

there’s plenty to play for.

We’re not out yet. It’s not finished, it’s a long way from being finished.”

Bermuda’s national coach Kyle Lightbourne, who had hoped for four points from the opening two games, joined Lambe in urging his players not to be discouraged after the 4-1 defeat, insisting: “We cannot afford to feel sorry for ourselves.”

Bermuda entered their Group B opener bristling with confidence after an impressive showing on debut at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, where they narrowly lost to Costa Rica and Haiti but beat Nicaragua.

Added Lightbourne: “It’s definitely disappointing. In the first half, we were off the pace and also conceded goals at the worst times.

“Our intentions were good but we just weren’t right on the night for some reason. It’s a tough moment and we just have to suck it up. It just didn’t come together.”

Bermuda had a strong penalty claim turned down by Honduran referee Raul Zuniga on the halfhour mark, despite striker Nahki Wells appearing to be shoved in the back and conceding just seconds later when Torres gave Panama the lead.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 7, 2019

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Australia hail Smith as Bradman incarnate

MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - The Steve Smith double-century at Old Trafford that continued his brilliant Ashes campaign has generated wonder Down Under, with Australia media branding him a modern-day Don Bradman yesterday.

The Depression-era Bradman’s batting average of 99.94 invites no comparison but Smith’s feats in England mark him out as the next most effective tormenter of the nation’s bowlers.

Back at the crease after missing the third Test through concussion, his 211 propelled him to 589 runs for the series at an average of 147.25, leaving England’s Headingley saviour Ben Stokes (327 at 81.75) well behind in second place.

written about him. “‘Our Steve Smith’ is more likely to be a trending hashtag.

“But however it’s captured this era, this display of sheer cricketing dominance will live well beyond this time, and this team.”

Smith has now five centuries from his last six Tests against England and averages 65.37 in the Ashes, also second only to Bradman among Australian cricketers.

His day-two exploits pushed Australia to a mammoth 497 for eight declared, with England 23 for one at the close of day two on Thursday, and under huge pressure to keep the series alive.

Bradman’s lofty record of 5 028 Ashes runs has remained the benchmark for

Australia’s Steve Smith walks after losing his wicket at Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain. (Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff)

Smith’s three doublecenturies against England is second only to Bradman’s record five, while his 11th Ashes ton moved him past Steve Waugh’s 10 into outright third overall.

Only Bradman (19) and England’s Jack Hobbs (12)

have more Ashes hundreds.

“Books detail Bradman’s greatness, sepia toned newsreels of his deeds fill a museum that bears his name,” Russell Gould wrote glowingly in Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper.

“There was even a song

70 years and 30-year-old Smith (2 615) may struggle to mow it down, even if his formidable gifts and hunger remain undimmed for years.

But the former captain is well on the way to being regarded as one of the alltime greats, according to former Australia players.

“He could be anything. We might be seeing history in the making here,” former Test batsman Mike Hussey said on ESPNcricinfo.

“We think no-one can beat Bradman. I don’t think he’s going to even beat Bradman.

But he maybe is pushing the bar higher and higher.”

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting described Smith as a “genius” and seemingly impervious to any bowler’s plans.

“To think how good

Bradman must have been - to be a third again better than what Steve Smith’s doing at the moment - is ridiculous,” Ponting told Cricket Australia’s website (cricket.com.au). “(Smith’s) got four, five, six years of good cricket ahead of him, which if you add it up, that’s probably another 80, 90 Test matches.

“Then he’s played 150 games and could have all sorts of numbers and records by then and let’s hope he does, because the way he’s going about it now, the way he’s playing, he deserves to get the rewards from that.”

iBet Supreme launches ‘Live Sports Betting’ throughout Guyana GUYANA’S premier sports betting company, iBet Supreme announced that, as of September 2, live sports betting has been available at its retail outlet, at 17 Croal Street, Stabroek, Georgetown.

The major accomplishment comes just eight months since the state-of-the-art gaming facility opened its doors in February.

Additionally, several retail

outlets and partner outlets across Guyana will also open for business to bring the best in sports betting and horseracing to punters across the country.

Stephen Summers, General Manager of Supreme Ventures Enterprise Incorporated, which operates the iBet Supreme brand, says live betting will be available on a wide range of major international sporting events. “iBet Supreme is excited to

offer live sports betting on a wide range of major sports as of this month. We are aiming to create a world-class entertainment experience for the thousands of Guyanese sports enthusiasts, and providing more betting types is part of that thrust,” he said.

“Our customers will be able to watch and wager on NBA games, European leagues and even our very own Guyana Amazon Warriors of the CPL

Cricket Tournament. We offer the best odds in the market which means higher payouts for our customers and now live betting will give them more chances to achieve that anticipated win.”

Additionally, Summers said that iBet Supreme’s cross country roll-out continues with several retail outlets and partner outlets to open their doors in the coming months.

“Our first location in

Netherlands shock stuns Germany in 4-2 comeback win HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Netherlands scored four times in 32 second-half minutes to secure a remarkable 4-2 comeback victory against hosts Germany in their Euro 2020 Group C qualifier yesterday.

Goals from Frenkie de Jong, a Jonathan Tah own goal, Donyell Malen and Georginio Wijnaldum wrapped up the win after Serge Gnabry had given the hosts an early lead and Toni Kroos had pulled them level at 2-2 with a controversial penalty.

The result leaves Germany on nine points from four games, three behind leaders Northern Ireland, whom they face on Monday in Belfast. The Netherlands move to six points from three games and next face

bottom side Estonia.

It was a winning return to Hamburg for Dutch coach Ronald Koeman, who won in the port city against the Germans as a player during Euro ’88, and a clear mark of his team’s improvement after they failed to reach the last two major tournaments.

“I told my players (at halftime) to stay in the game, not to give them so much space, control the ball better,” Koeman told reporters. “That we should just keep going and we would get our chances. In the second half the Germans looked more tired and we benefitted from that.”

“Overall we worked harder than Germany for this victory,” he said.

Joachim Loew’s Germany side, undergoing their own overhaul after a disappointing 2018 World Cup first round exit and Nations League relegation, got off to a good start with Gnabry scoring on the rebound in the ninth minute.

There was little to be seen in terms of attacks from the Netherlands but that

changed after the break.

DUTCH FIGHTBACK They turned the game around within seven minutes, first scoring through De Jong in the 59th and then taking the lead courtesy of Tah’s unfortunate own goal.

The Germans, missing several injured players, including Leroy Sane and Leon Goretzka, were struggling with the Dutch pace down the wings and were lucky to level with a 73rd minute Kroos penalty after Matthijs de Ligt accidentally handled.

There is no video replay for referees in the qualifiers.

The visitors got revenge for their 3-2 loss in Amsterdam in March, striking through debutant Malen in the 79th after a quick combination left the German defence frozen.

Georgetown is performing incredibly well, but the aim was always to expand our reach and improve the iBet experience for our gamers in various communities.

We will have several more announcements to make in the near future but for now, we’ll focus on laying the groundwork,” he said. iBet Supreme prides itself on changing the betting landscape in Guyana by

offering a wider variety of bets and allowing gamers to place bets in advance on selective leagues and teams.

Sheldon Holder’s lone goal enough for Golden Jaguars win!

Guyana to host Jamaica on Monday

By Rawle Toney

SHELDON Holder scored the lone goal of the Guyana versus Aruba clash last evening in Curacao, as the Golden Jaguars opened their CONCACAF Nations League campaign by securing three points.

Playing in Group C of League B, Holder put the Guyanese men in the lead in the 22nd minute when he received a nice past from his Morvant Caledonia United Kelsey Benjamin and easily slot his right-footed shot out of Aruba’s Molvin James’ reach.

Newly appointed coach, Brazilian Márcio Máximo started with Akel Clarke in goal, while Samuel Cox, Kevin Layne, Matthew Briggs and Liam Gordon marshalled the defence.

Keanu Marsh-Brown, Neil Danns, Clive Nobrega and Daniel Wilson were placed in the midfield, and Holder and Benjamin paired upfront.

Coach Máximo’s starting 11 behind Briggs and Cox especially, kept Aruba attackers at bay, but in the attacking third, Guyana didn’t make good use of their countless opportunities.

At half time, France-base forward Terrell Ondaan replaced Holder, as Máximo kept his feet on a gas, hunting more goals.

The Golden Jaguars coach then replaced Benjamin with Guyana Defence Force (GDF) forward Delwin Fraser and Neil Danns made way for Pernell Schultz.

Aruba came close to scoring from a freekick, but, just when it seemed like the ball was making its way into the goal, Clarke went into ‘superman mode’ - full stretch to deny the Arubans. Despite finishing with a win, Guyana will sit in second place in Group C, since Jamaica earned a 2 – 0 win over Antigua and Barbuda in their opening game.

The Golden Jaguars will return to Guyana today to prepare for their clash against the ‘Reggae Boyz’ on Monday (September 9), from 19.00 hrs at the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 7, 2019

Deputy mayor Thompson praises OMSCC for Toronto Cup initiative TORONTO, Canada Despite being a Jamaican by birth, deputy mayor of Toronto East, Michael Thompson, admitted that he didn’t know much about cricket having left his homeland as a kid.

Councillor Thompson, who is also Chair of Toronto’s Economic and Community Development Committee and a member of the Executive Committee, was a special invitee at last Sunday’s final of the Ontario Masters Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) third edition of the Toronto Cup staged at the University of Toronto ground here.

Under the banner of “Getting Things Done” extracted from his city council biography, Thompson is known to his constituents as a community builder committed to bring

Toronto’s deputy mayor Michael Thompson (centre) with OMSCC president Azeem Khan (left) and treasurer, Khem Singh

people together in a spirit of collaboration. He has led and assisted in the formation of local community associations, youth leadership initiatives and business improvement areas, and holds regular public

meetings to engage residents throughout his ward.

At the end of a fun-filled day, the deputy mayor, who was seen mingling with both officials and spectators, was quite impressed with

the proceedings, praising OMSCC president Azeem Khan and his executives for their great initiative in hosting the tournament.

Now in his fifth term as councillor, Thompson, who

has earned a reputation as one of Toronto’s hardest working and most effective political leaders, thanked those present at the impressive presentation ceremony for making the city a better place.

While pointing to the rich history that immigrants have brought to the city of Toronto, Thompson quipped that “we live in the best city in the entire world.” He said the softball tournament was a demonstration of the skills of the players.

The deputy mayor, who was presented with a plaque for his unstinted support and contribution to the OMSCC, assured that the city is working assiduously to ensure more cricket fields are made accessible to the community.

Councillor Jennifer McKelvie of Ward 25, Scarborough

Rouge who also witnessed part of the day’s activities, congratulated Khan and his board for making the tournament a reality and also gave the undertaking that an indoor facility is in the works and should be completed in a year and a half.

OMSCC president Azeem Khan, while recognising the efforts of his board, thanked the participating teams including those from the host city, Guyana, New York and Orlando. Some 18 teams – eight in the Over-50, six in the Over-40 and four in the Open - took part in the three-day tournament.

(Frederick Halley)

Just not cricket - Australian charged $68,000 for a beer in Britain SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) An Australian cricket journalist in Britain for the Ashes Test series is claiming to have drunk “the most expensive beer in history” after being charged nearly A$100,000 (£55,346 or $68,120) for the tipple.

Peter Lalor, chief cricket writer for the Australian newspaper, said he stopped for a drink at a bar in Manchester,

northwest England, on Sunday ahead of the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford.

Relaying the tale on his Twitter account, Lalor said he was not wearing his glasses, so he did not check the bill for the bottle of Deuchars IPA he ordered before handing over his bank card.

The rude shock came a few hours

later when Lalor’s wife, at home in Australia, alerted him to the fact that A$99,983.64 had been stripped from their joint account. Adding to the pain, he’d been slugged another A$2,500 as a transaction fee.

Some sleuthing revealed that instead of entering £5.50, bar staff charged him £55,000 for a single beer.

The operator of the bar, the Malmaison

Hotel, was not immediately available for comment, but a spokeswoman told the Guardian newspaper it was investigating.

Lalor said the funds were drained from his mortgage offset account and he was surprised not to have received any notification from his bank, which he did not name.

The transaction fee has already

been refunded, but Lalor will have a “massive hole” in his finances for the nine working days it will take the larger amount to be returned.

As for the quality of the ale itself, which has won a number of awards, Lalor was ambivalent: “It was good, but not that good.”

Joshua says Ruiz Jr is ‘best fighter’ ahead of rematch LONDON, England (AFP) - Anthony Joshua believes he will be up against the best fighter on the planet when he takes on Andy Ruiz Jr in his December rematch with the heavyweight world champion.

Ruiz, who was born in the United States but fights for Mexico, caused a major shock

in June when he handed out a first defeat for Joshua to win the WBA, IBF and WBO crowns in New York.

In the third part of a trilogy of press conferences to promote the rematch in Saudi Arabia, Britain’s Joshua told reporters in London: “My fights are the elite of the elite and are top of the crop. (There is) that little

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday September 07, 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)

Trinbago Knight Riders

(2)

Colin Munro (TKR) Today’s Quiz:

(1)

Who were the losing finalist in CPL 2018?

(2) Who was declared Man of the Match in the CPL 2018 final?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

bit of motivation of fighting someone who has the skill-set and is the champion.

“It’s not like I’m fighting someone as a stepping stone to a champion. We can’t overlook Andy and his talent and his success in the ring as I’m fighting the best out there right now. In my opinion Andy Ruiz is the best heavyweight out there.”

Former Olympic champion Joshua was knocked down four times by Ruiz before he was stopped in the seventh round on his US debut, marking one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight history.

He spoke about his desire to return to the top of the sport, adding: “Once I’ve got my purpose of life organised, I can do anything and that motivation will be the same.

“Put me on the street to clean graffiti off the wall, I want to make sure my graffiti cleaning is better than yours -- and that’s just my purpose in life.

“So motivation isn’t just about boxing.

“I’ve got to make a few

Andy Ruiz Jr (left) and Anthony Joshua square up at a press conference in London (AFP photo/DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS)

changes in my lifestyle now to correct and align them again, so I align my stars. So, come December 7 I’m shooting straight and I know where I’m heading.

“And that’s towards those titles that at the minute are just out of reach, but sooner or later I’ll be able to touch them again.”

The location for December’s re-match is controversial.

The Saudis have faced intense diplomatic fallout over last year’s murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the conservative kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul.

Saudi rulers have used sport as a tool to try and soften their

international image.

In February, they hosted a first European Tour golf event while the world’s most gruelling motor sports race, the Dakar Rally, will be held in the country in 2020.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 7, 2019

39

Quest for ‘592 Street Kings’ crown begins tonight! … 16 teams vying for $675 000 in cash

The 592 Street Kings will begin tonight at the Berlin tarmac with eight high octane matches.

TONIGHT, street football fans will see 16 of Guyana’s best and up-and-coming teams go head-to-head as they begin their journey towards being crowned the inaugural ‘592 Street Kings’ of Georgetown street football.

Powered by Ansa McAl’s 592 Lager Beer brand, the 592 Street Kings competition begins tonight at the Berlin tarmac (Drysdale and High

Streets). It will be a case of ‘win or go home’ as the tournament will be a straight knockout competition.

Seasoned ‘street-ballers’ Alexander Village, who are led by Shem Porter, will open proceedings against the youthful LA Ballers (a mixture of national U-20 footballers) at 19:30hrs, while Back Circle are assigned to battle Ansa McAl All-Stars at 20:00hrs.

Meanwhile, East Coast outfit Melanie-B will clash with Keron Solomon’s Future Stars at 20:30hrs before a mouthwatering fixture at 21:00hrs between Broad Street, led by Jimmy Gravesande, and North East La Penitence.

The fifth fixture of the night at 21:30hrs will see Okeene ‘Russian’ Fraser lead his Leopold Street side against bitter rivals Tiger Bay, who

are sure to have the crowd on edge. That game will be followed by renowned street-ballers, Gold is Money, who boast Hubert Pedro among their ranks, against Avocado Ballers.

The penultimate game will treat fans to streetball juggernaut Sparta Boss showcasing their talent against the exciting John Street outfit.

In the eighth and final fixture of the night Albouystown-B will look to get past the dangerous Sophia to book their quarter-final spot.

The eight winners of the night will advance to the quarter-final stage set for Burnham Court (Middle and Carmichael Streets) on September 14. Each of the eight quarter-finalists will have a chance to win cash prizes. The winners will advance to the semi-finals while the losers will be eligible for the ‘592 Shield’ which offers a purse of $50 000. Meanwhile, the semifinals will also be played on match night two, while the venue for the third and final night of the tournament is D’Urban Park tarmac. On thar night the semi-finals and

GFF signs four-year kit supply deal with Capelli Sport FOLLOWING an initial engagement with Capelli Sport, which outfitted ‘Golden Jaguars’ during their historic Gold Cup campaign, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) announced yesterday it has inked a four-year contract with the sportswear manufacturer.

The contract, which became effective August 29, 2019, makes Capelli Sport the official uniform, apparel and equipment provider for all the National teams, both male and female, under the GFF. In a release, GFF said Capelli Sport will be providing logistical support to national teams visiting the USA or Europe, including free access to Capelli Sport-owned training fields, gyms, office spaces and other similar facilities available to aid the preparation of teams.

Capelli Sport, under the contract with the GFF, will be facilitating player-scouting opportunities including professional and collegiate trials and exposure for GFF elite players as well as coordinate training matches, as necessary.

According to the GFF, Capelli

FLASHBACK! GFF president Wayne Forde shows off the Golden Jaguars’ new kit, worn during Guyana’s showing at the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup. (Samuel Maughn photo)

Sport will also be creating and managing a branded online store for the Federation to sell replicas, fan wear, merchandise and accessories.

The release said all fan wear items to be offered will be the same as what the GFF offers for its own fan wear sales and GFF will receive 30% of all the proceeds.

In exchange, the GFF is offering Capelli Sportguaranteed annual purchase, preferential considerations when purchasing uniforms for grassroots programmes and/

or any domestic competitions organised and/or administered

by GFF, as well as other fanrelated merchandise.

Capelli Sport will also be offered marketing privileges including, but not limited to logo placements/agency brand visibility on GFF’s stationery and marketing platforms, including social media, access to GFF’s marketing partners for promotion/engagement purposes and access by Capelli Sport to events organised by GFF for promotional purposes as well as the setting up of

merchandise and promotional booths for international home matches.

“The Capelli kit partnership contract is ground-breaking for Guyana Football,” reasoned GFF president Wayne Forde, while adding that “it is a very comprehensive kit/apparel contract negotiated by GFF. The process was long and sometimes frustrating but, in the end, both parties were very happy with the final deal.”

Despite being tight-lipped about the value of the deal, Forde said it will “over the next four years vastly impact the development of football across Guyana. These are the types of opportunities that Gold Cup appearances create. The Golden Jaguars international exposure during the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup created value, which was strategically leveraged to produce the best outcome for Guyana’s Football.”

Though a contract is in place, GFF and its new supplier Capelli Sport did not release at least a conceptual design of the new kit and as such, the Golden Jaguars, now playing in the CONCACAF Nations League, will be wearing the same kit unveiled for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

final of the ‘592 Shield’ will be played, while the third place and final of the ‘592 Street Kings’ tournament will also kick off.

The inaugural ‘592 Street Kings’ will walk away with $300 000 in cash while the runners-up will receive $150 000. The winners of the third-place playoff will

pocket $100 000, while the fourth-placed team will collect $75 000.

Entry to the event is free and patrons can enjoy 592 Beer specials all night at 5 for $1 000. Every purchase guarantees patrons prizes which include 592 jerseys, caps, cozies, openers and buckets.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 7, 2019

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots’ Rayad Emrit and Guyana Amazon Warriors’ Chris Green.

Pakistan leg-spin great Abdul Qadir dies at 63 33

Emrit looking to have a good game for Patriots against Amazon Warriors 33 tonight PAGE

PAGE

Abdul Qadir made his Pakistan debut in 1977 in Lahore and went on to play 67 Tests and 104 one-day internationals, claiming a total of 368 wickets.

PAGE

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Sheldon Holder’s lone goal enough for Golden Jaguars win!

Caption: Sheldon Holder (hidden in photo) is swarmed by teammates after putting Guyana in the lead against Aruba.

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limited, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2019