Guyana Chronicle E-paper (2-5-2019)

THURSDAY 2nd May, 2019

No.105625

Tullow to drill

three wells

…in new oil search in Orinduik Block SEE STORY ON PAGE 03 ►

…pumping US$80M into programme

Workers brave rains in Labour Day march PAGE

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This group of energetic youths made their voices heard during the annual Labour Day Parade (Adrian Narine photo)

Workers’ rights robustly defended, protected – AG

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Man wanted for cocaine bust involving granny

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40 agreements of sale handed out to Coomacka residents

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday May 2, 2019

Oil revenues will be used to fund sustainable pathways

- Head of the Department of Energy HEAD of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, informed a gathering of young people from the National Youth Corps that it was envisioned that the oil revenues garnered will be used to fund “sustainable pathways” for Guyana’s development.

While engaging the young people on the developing oil and gas industry at the Kuru Kuru Training Centre, Dr. Bynoe was questioned as to what the oil revenues garnered will be used to fund.

One young man suggested that the revenues be used to fund the agricultural sector and that the government should provide grants for young people and institutions that would encourage them to “plant more food.”

In response, Dr. Bynoe stated: “Our objective is to use the oil revenues now to place us on a more sustainable development pathway going

Head of the Department of Energy Dr. Mark Bynoe

forward.”

He explained that the government is aiming to- through the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS)- transition into these “sustainable pathways” by promoting the use of more renewable energy, including hydropower, solar and wind energy and also possibly, thermal and geothermal energy.

Dr Bynoe also reminded the gathering that Guyana’s

main industries- bauxite, gold and agriculture- are largely primary industries. The oil revenues would potentially be used to transform these into secondary industries- with greater focus on creating value-added products, he said.

And according to him, the GSDS will be used as the catalyst for development to occur in Guyana; this is a move that is expected to safeguard the country from the infamous ‘Dutch Disease’.

“It is not a disease as per say, but it means that if we do not concentrate on encouraging investment in other sectors, most people will leave those sectors and pursue initiatives in oil and gas…. What that does is cause a crowding out of investment in those sectors and ultimately, their depletion if not death,” he explained.

According to Bynoe, flourishing sectors such as agriculture or tourism could be

Some of the young people of the National Youth Corps being educated on the oil and gas sector [Vishani Ragobeer photos]

negatively impacted if careful stewardship is not used to ensure that the oil and gas industry does not become the sole productive industry for the country.

“What we have been seeking to encourage is [the development] of areas where we can bring relatively cheap energy,” he said. So for example, this plan can be used to expand agricultural production but also foster the growth and development of agro-processing, Bynoe explained.

However, responding directly to the suggestion of the provision of grants, he said that that was something ‘above his pay grade’ and as such, he could not pronounce on that.

“My dream and my expectation is that even though oil and gas will expire, or it will be exhausted, it doesn’t mean that Guyana will not have other areas in which to grow,” he said however.

In Guyana’s Stabroek block alone, there have been, so far, 13 discoveries which

are expected to yield in excess of 5.5B barrels of recoverable oil.

This newspaper reported, in March, that Guyana ‘raked’ in over US$75 million in 2018, directly from local content in the oil and gas sector. And this figure excludes downstream impacts of the industry such as works in mechanics, electrical work, welding and technical warehousing, among others.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 2, 2019

Tullow to drill three wells …in new oil search in Orinduik Block …pumping US$80M into programme

By Svetlana Marshall

UK-BASED oil company, Tullow Oil plc, is injecting US$80M to drill three wells offshore Guyana, the company’s spokesman, George Cazenove, disclosed during an exclusive interview with Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday.

Tullow Oil, parent company of Tullow Guyana B.V., is a leading independent oil and gas exploration and production company, which has interests in 90 exploration and production licences across 16 countries that are in West Africa, East Africa and ‘New Ventures’, which includes Guyana and French Guiana.

Cazenove said Tullow Oil returns to drill offshore Guyana after an unsuccessful drilling exercise with Repsol in 2012. He said the first of the three wells – Jethro – will be drilled in the Orinduik Block in June, 2019 using the Stena Forth Drillship which is currently operating in Ghana. It was explained after a period of 30-45 days, the results would be available.

Stena Forth will then proceed to drill the Joe well also in the Orinduik Block. The Carapa well, however, will be drilled in the Kanuku Block later in the year by Repsol.

“There are three wells, they are very exciting for us, we are excited about their potential but they are exploration wells. There are absolutely no guarantees,”

the Tullow Oil Spokesman said. The drilling exercise is being conducted following 3D seismic operations in the Orinduik Block were completed in September 2017.

“We know the potential of Guyana; we have seen what Exxon has done, we are obviously impressed with what they have done and see that potential but I think it is

Tullow Guyana B.V and Eco (Atlantic) Guyana Inc, the country could benefit from as much as 60 per cent in oil profit, including a one per cent royalty once the explo-

Tullow Oil’s spokesman George Cazenove (Adrian Narine photo)

Friday, an Order was laid in the National Assembly to give Tullow Guyana BV and Eco (Atlantic) Guyana Inc a number of tax exemptions.

Meanwhile, according

The Stena Forth that will be coming to Guyana in May-June to drill the Jethro well (Image source: Stena Drilling)

With U.S oil giant ExxonMobil putting its gross recoverable resource estimate to more than 5.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent in the Stabroek Block in Guyana, Cazenove said is cognizant of the country’s potential.

important to realize that the wells that we are dripping this year they are exploration wells,” he said.

According to a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed between the Government of Guyana,

rations are successful and the companies start pumping for oil in the Orinduik Block.

However, Cazenove said Tullow is taking it one step at a time, noting that its next action is dependent on the results of the explorations. Last

to the Petroleum Contract, which was signed on January 14, 2016, once the recoverable costs have been satisfied, the profit will be shared between the government and the contractor for each field, based on an established sys-

tem. This could see Guyana receiving a profit share as high as 60 per cent and as low as 50 per cent. For the first 25,000 barrels of oil, Guyana is in line to receive a profit of 50 per cent. For the next 25,000 barrels, the country’s profit would increase to 52.5 per cent and 55 per cent for the next 15,000 barrels. For the subsequent batch of 15,000 barrels of oil, Guyana would benefit from a 57.5 per cent profit and 60 per cent profit for more than 80, 000 barrels of oil. The profit will be shared between the government and contractor on a monthly basis.

According to Article 15:06 of the Petroleum Agreement, a one per cent royalty is included in the government’s share of profit.

“The government’s share of profit oil specified in Article 11 includes royalty payable by the contractor at the rate of one per cent of crude oil produced and sold, and delivery to the minister, pursuant to Article 14 of his share of profit oil equivalent to royalty shall constitute payment of such royalty in kind,” the agreement states.

The agreement also provides for associated gas produced from an oil field within the contract area to be used for the purposes of the operations of production and production enhancement of oil fields, such as gas injection, gas lifting and power generation.

City’s garbage truck repaired, handed over THE garbage truck belonging to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has been repaired and handed over to the Solid Waste Management Department, Director Walter Narine has informed.

The truck went down recently after working around the clock without any servicing, resulting in Group 10 (the commercial district) and Group 8 (Queenstown to Kingston) being affected.

“The good news [is] that my garbage truck was repaired and handed over to me last Monday, and the hauler truck that transports the dumpsters was also completed and was handed over to me on Tuesday,” Narine told this publication on Wednesday.

“I have my vehicles back, so my areas of concerns, groups 8 and 10, will be serviced by my crew,” he said, adding, “There was no major setback. The void was filled by small contractors, Puran’s and Cevon’s, so those arrangements ceased as of Tuesday and my crew took over.”

Narine said he met with the small contractors last Monday and was able to address some of the concerns

that were raised internally and by citizens. These concerns were all accepted and will be corrected immediately, he said.

At the municipality’s most recent statutory meeting at City Hall, the City Council shunned Narine’s recommendation for one more small garbage contractor to be hired.

As a consequence, garbage was building up in two key areas of the City-- Groups 8 and 10.

Mayor Ubraj Narine said he did not see it necessary for another such contractor to be hired, but the solid waste director suggested this course of action since the municipality’s garbage truck was down. Hiring another contractor would have meant that the City Council would have had to pay $360,000 a week for clearance in Group 8, and $420,000 a week to clear Group 10.

The compactor in the vicinity of Bounty Supermarket on Water Street was not being emptied, and as such, garbage was being thrown on the streets. The Stabroek Market generates 11 tonnes of garbage daily, according to Narine, and when the compactors are full, the excess

garbage is placed on the streets.

Meanwhile, the City Council seems bent on moving ahead with the smaller contractors, as opposed to rehiring Cevons and Purans to work as per normal.

The contractors believe that the municipality is wasting their time, and is making no real effort to resolve the issues surrounding their contracts, which are valid until 2020.

Kaleshwar Puran had said his company was alarmed at the operations of the City Council, especially as the company continues to make every effort to sit and talk with the municipality. He reminded that although the problems originated with the M&CC, his company has acceded to all of the municipality’s requests so far, as it relates to writing the municipality or meeting with it.

Morse Archer of Cevon’s said the City Council seems to be extending the contracts with the smaller contractors every month. “They’re just trying to waste our time. I don’t think they are serious about negotiating with us,” he expressed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 2, 2019

Venezuelan protests peter out as Maduro hangs on; U.S. and Russia squabble CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelans heeded opposition leader Juan Guaido’s call to take to the streets on Wednesday in a bid to force President Nicolas Maduro from power, but there was little concrete sign of change in a crisis that increasingly looks like a political stalemate.

The standoff increased

tensions between the United States and Russia, who accused each other of interference in the OPEC-member nation’s affairs, however. Guaido had called for the “largest march” in Venezuela’s history and said on Twitter that “millions of Venezuelans” were in the streets in “this final phase” of his move to oust Maduro.

But by late afternoon, many

of the protesters in the capital Caracas had drifted home.

National Guards fired tear gas at a hardcore of demonstrators who remained, and one injured demonstrator was carried by others to a first aid truck, Reuters video showed.

Despite Guaido’s calls for the military to support him, the armed forces leadership has so far remained loyal to Maduro, who has been in power since his mentor, the late President Hugo Chavez, died in 2013.

“If the regime thought we had reached maximum pressure, they cannot even imagine,” Guaido told thousands of cheering supporters. “We have to remain in the streets.”

It was unclear what more Guaido can do at this point.

The Venezuelan opposition has often staged huge street

protests against Maduro but failed to dislodge him despite a deep economic recession and hyperinflation.

Demonstrators said they were prepared for the process of ousting Maduro to last a long time. Advertisement “We need to keep going,” said Laila Amezquita, a 52-year-old nurse from Caracas’ downtown Candelaria district. “In three months Guaido’s been able to do what they have not done in 20 years, and one has to be patient.” Others are frustrated that nothing has changed more than three months after Guaido, head of the opposition-run National Assembly, invoked the constitution to assume an interim presidency, arguing that Maduro’s 2018 re-election was illegitimate. Guaido is recognized as Venezuela’s

Wednesday, May 02, 2019 03:30 hrs - 14:30 hrs

legitimate head of state by the United States, the European Union and others, while Maduro is backed by countries including Russia, China, and Cuba.

U.S.-RUSSIA FRICTION Those fault lines are increasingly putting Venezuela at the heart of global geopolitical tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has imposed sanctions on the Maduro government and refused to rule out military intervention, although it says it prefers a peaceful transition.

“Military action is possible. If that’s what’s required, that’s what the United States will do,” U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox Business Network. The Pentagon appeared to downplay any active preparations to directly intervene in Venezuela, but acknowledged detailed contingency planning.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Pompeo on Wednesday that further “aggressive steps” in Venezuela would have grave consequences, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.

In turn, the United States has accused Moscow of interfering in the South American country, an ally of Russia since the time of Chavez.

Pompeo said Maduro had been expected to flee the country on Tuesday but Russia convinced him to stay, which the Kremlin has denied. White House national security adviser John Bolton, a foreign policy hawk, said Moscow’s involvement was not welcome. “This is our hemisphere,” he told reporters outside the White House. “It’s not where the Russians ought to be interfering. This is a mistake on their part. It’s not going to lead to an improvement of relations.”

TEST FOR GUAIDO Maduro retains control of state institutions and the loyalty of the armed forces,

frustrating Guaido’s bid to assume the day-to-day functions of government, which he says would be a prelude to calling new elections.

Seeking to appeal to Maduro’s traditional base among the working class, Guaido said on Wednesday he would consider a proposal from public workers to call for a series of stoppages leading up to a general strike.

Carlos Alberto, a 70-yearold small-business owner, draped in a Venezuelan flag at the Caracas protest, said: “We are tired of this regime, that has brutally impoverished us. My children and almost all my family have already left Venezuela. ... We know that if it’s not today, it will be tomorrow, because this has to end.”

Venezuelan living standards have declined even further in the first several months of the year, with blackouts and water shortages adding to hyperinflation and chronic shortages of food and medicine that have prompted millions to emigrate.

Triple the usual daily number of Venezuelans fled across the border to Brazil on Tuesday, Brazilian government data showed. Maduro, who says Guaido is a puppet of the United States seeking to orchestrate a coup, also called a march on Wednesday. In a speech to supporters gathered near the Miraflores presidential palace, Maduro said he recognized the need for “big changes within the Bolivarian revolution.” He did not give details. Traveling to the pro-Maduro rally, educator Mercedes Martinez called Guaido a “lapdog” and said: “The empire wants to smother us, cut off our head and colonize us. ... The people of Venezuela are defending Venezuela.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 2, 2019

LIAT shareholders to further TT opposition party regards discuss proposal submitted arrest of members

by Antigua and Barbuda

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Apr 30, CMC – The shareholder governments of the cashstrapped regional airline, LIAT, ended a meeting here on Tuesday agreeing to give further consideration to a proposal by Prime Minister Gaston Browne regarding the future direction of the airline.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that Antigua and Barbuda had made an oral presentation to the meeting and would present a written document over the next few days.

“This was an extra ordinary shareholders meeting at which the auditor’s account for 2017 were discussed and the way forward analysed,” Gonsalves said. “The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda presented orally a proposal and the proposal would be put into writing within a week and this proposal involves among other things a particular way to finance the keeping of the three planes owned by the CDB (Caribbe-

an Development Bank) “ Gonsalves said that there had been a suggestion that the planes be sold as part of a “”slim down of LIAT” and there’s a general agreement amongst some shareholders that this is a matter which merits very serious consideration. The main shareholders of LIAT are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Gonsalves had earlier this month said that the shareholders would probably have to ask the CDB to sell those three aircraft while operating the other seven, possibly examining also another smaller airline to operate on routes that may not have been profitable.

He said he hopes that the proposal from Antigua and Barbuda would be discussed by the shareholders “before the end of May is out. “They have put it on the table orally, but they will submit in writing for further study…and that proposal is gathering support from most shareholders,” he said, adding “what it means in effect that these planes will not be sold. “There will be

additional resources put in without selling these planes,” he added.

The shareholder governments have been asking other Caribbean governments to provide financial assistance to the Antigua-based airline that services 15 Caribbean countries. Gonsalves confirmed that St. Kitts-Nevis had joined Grenada in responding positively to the call for raising US$5.4 million to help the airline deal with its current financial problems. St. Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet said last week that Castries would not contribute any funds unless there’s a significant change to the airline’s structure.

“LIAT must change….

Obviously it’s a big concern to all of us and I am hoping that at the upcoming meeting they will be able to find a resolution,” Chastanet said. LIAT chief executive officer, Julie Mrs. Reifer-Jones said that there are ongoing discussions with the governments across the LIAT network about the need for all the territories served by LIAT to contribute through a Minimum Revenue

Guarantee (MRG) model.

Under and MRG model, it is likely that a few flights may be cut if the government is not prepared to fund them with a guarantee.

“Well it is only one prime minister in the OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) who is not putting any money and it is Prime Minister Chastanet of St. Lucia,” Gonsalves told CMC, adding “(Prime Minister Dr.) Keith Mitchell has put from Grenada, now St. Kitts and Nevis… and the other three shareholders in the OECS, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, have put in money”.

“The odd man out in the OECS is Prime Minister Chastanet with regards to LIAT,” he said, noting that while Guyana has not yet responded, Trinidad and Tobago has agreed in principle “to the Minimum Revenue Guarantee going forward.

He said the details of the MRG is to be worked out, adding “all that is part of the package which will come before us from Antigua and Barbuda”.

Regional Communicators meet to develop campaigns to address NCDs Willemstad, Curacao, 30 April 2019. The Regional Health Communications Network (RHCN) made up of communications and health promotion specialists from across the English, French and Dutch Caribbean countries and territories, met from 29 to 30 April to develop region-wide public education campaigns to address non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and wellness.

The RHCN was established by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in 2015 to develop, implement, sustain, monitor and evaluate communication responses to priority health issues in the Region. Caribbean Ministers of Health have long

recognised the critical role communication plays in health. In 2016, Ministers at the Thirtieth Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) proposed a region-wide comprehensive, sustained, evidence-based public education campaign, using traditional and new media to address NCDs and wellness.

“Since its inception, the RHCN has positioned itself as the lead body on public health communications in the Region driving various public health messages for healthy lifestyles in the Caribbean. The Network serves to assist policy makers in CARPHA Member States to make informed decisions about public health

concerns in the Region,” said Dr. C. James Hospedales, Executive Director of CARPHA. CARPHA, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the Organisation for Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, hosted a 2-day Curacao meeting with the aim to adapt culturally appropriate and effective pre-existing information, education and communications (IEC) materials to promote diabetes awareness and adoption of healthy lifestyles. The OECS Commission, under the World Diabetes Foundation funded project ‘OECS Diabetes Prevention and Care’, will

be using the adapted IEC materials to support a yearlong mass media campaign.

Through a collective and partnership approach, the RHCN will contribute to the achievement of objectives defined in the CARPHA Strategic Plan, and the Caribbean Cooperation in Health (CCH) which will result in healthier outcomes for all peoples of the Caribbean thorough empowerment and information. Over the two days, the successes of the Network were highlighted, and participants drafted a regional communications strategy and action plan (2019 – 2021) and developed a communications strategy to support the CCH IV priorities.

as as distraction

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, May 1, CMC – The main opposition United National Congress (UNC) Wednesday said the detention of two of its members, including former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, is a plan by the Trinidad and Tobago government to “distract the public”.

Police Commissioner Gary Griffith said that while he could not provide details surrounding the arrest of Ramlogan and attorney Gerald Ramdeen, he confirmed that the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau (ACIB) was “spearheading investigation”.

In a statement, the UNC said that while it has taken note of the reports surrounding the detention of the two attorneys, it is not “privy to the details of these reports but we wish to repeat we do not condone wrongdoing of any kind”.

The party said that it has “no doubt that this desperate and failing Rowley administration is searching for a way to distract the public’s attention away from their record of failure over the last four years. “The United National Congress knows what every person in Trinidad and Tobago knows; that the nation is in crisis, and that citizens are fed up, frustrated and angry with the Rowley government,” it added. Ramlogan served as attorney general between 2010-15 when the UNC formed the biggest partner in the coalition People’s Partnership government of then prime minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, while Ramdeen is a front line member of the UNC in the Senate.

The Trinidad Express newspaper, quoting sources said that Ramlogan is being questioned in connection with a series of

financial transactions involving legal fees during the period that he served as attorney general. The paper said that Ramdeen, who turned himself over to the police after learning about a warrant for his arrest, will also be questioned in relation to this same matter of the legal fees. The Trinidad Express reported that legal fees paid by the Ministry of the Attorney General during Ramlogan’s tenure ballooned from an average of TT$30-TT$40 million (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) to an average of TT$1.4 billion.

The paper said that the investigations had received the cooperation of several jurisdictions and that it is the first major arrest arising out of investigations into allegations of corruption under the previous government. Ramlogan, resigned in January 2015 amidst allegations of witness tampering involving the now director of the Police Complaint Authority (PCA) David West.

Ramlogan, who was travelling to the BVI to appear in a matter where he is representing the Speaker of the Parliament there, Julian Willock in a civil matter, had appeared before Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle, on Tuesday on charges of perverting the course of public justice and misbehaviour in public office. The charges filed in 2017, followed a complaint by West that before he was appointed PCA director, Ramlogan had telephoned him asking that he withdraw a witness statement relating to a matter before the courts in exchange for him being selected for the job of PCA director.

The case will resume on July 9 when a trial date will be set.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 2, 2019

The ultimate goal of a good life

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RESIDENT David Granger has repeatedly emphasised that the overarching goal of the APNU+AFC administration is the provision of a ‘good life’ for all Guyanese, regardless of where they live.

The Coalition, since being elected to office, formulated plans, announced policy initiatives, and enacted concrete programmes with the clear objective of realising that goal.

The articulation of an overarching goal by the Head of State assures citizens of two primary facts: That the current Coalition Government possesses the knowledge that it has a specific reason for existing; and, that the reason is to provide Guyanese with a good life. This in itself is to be commended, particularly because it may be the first time in Guyana’s history that a governing administration has definitively stated an ultimate objective.

Moreover, President Granger has stated exactly what ‘a good life’ means. The president defines ‘a good life’ as one with which a person is satisfied. He elaborated that, “the ‘quality of life’ is a measure of citizens’ satisfaction with their lives.” President Granger explained that, “people’s values and life-experiences determine their level of satisfaction. This includes their health, independence, participation in community and civic activities, personal development, physical and material wellbeing, recreation, relationships with other people, and social support.” Evidently, in the mind of the Head of State, ‘a good life’ is not just a combination of nice words, but instead, it has a clearly-defined meaning.

It is recognised that the president’s stated objective is in line with the universally accepted purpose of any responsible government. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School have concluded that governments have five primary responsibilities.

(1) Defense: The first of the five purposes of government is to defend the borders of the nation against foreign invasion.

Hence, governments have some form of defence system that may include an army, a coast guard, and an air force. Maintaining internal order is also one of the critical defence purposes of a government. This is taken care of by a police force.

(2) National Identity: Each nation is unique in its own way. Each nation has its own traditions and culture. It is said that for a nation to exist, it must have an identity. For instance, no two flags of any two nations are alike, nor are the national anthems and pledges the same. Hence, one of the most important functions of a government is to protect and uphold the identity of its nation.

(3) Representation: A government represents the interests of the nation. To protect and safeguard the interests of the nation, the government enters into trade agreements, negotiations, treaties and so on, with the governments of other nations.

(4) Infrastructure: One of the main purposes of the government is to provide good infrastructure to all its countrymen, in the form of roads, bridges, water, electricity and communication networks. (5) Social Welfare: Introducing and maintaining social welfare programmes to protect and fulfil the interests of the citizens, especially minorities, such as to provide education and healthcare facilities to the less-privileged classes of people is one of the primary purposes of the government.

His Excellency has identified seven aspects of governance that are of particular relevance to the Guyanese society, and as such, are being immediately addressed.

The first aspect, public trust, the president said, is essential for citizens to feel encouraged to participate in the

social and economic activities of their various communities.

Such trust, he said, fosters optimism, and people will view unsatisfactory conditions as temporary problems which can be overcome. Government must be seen to work in the public interest. The country must follow through on its commitment to pursue a ‘green’, sustainable path of development. Government must ensure the provision of public infrastructure to improve the pace of economic development. The security of Guyanese must be assured. Public services must be made available to all. Finally, all actions of elected officials must be aimed towards ‘the public good’. In other words, every item on government’s agenda must contribute to improving the living conditions of the people.

Guyanese should, by now, have recognised that the APNU+AFC coalition is one with a different approach to national development. In the past, governments have come and gone without having any stated vision for the country. Guyanese, therefore, could only guess at where those governments intended to take the nation. On the other hand, the Coalition Administration has set a goal, made it public, and listed and continues to enact specific steps towards the realisation of that objective. As such, it is now possible for persons to assess for themselves how successful their elected representatives are in the quest for that stated objective. Given those facts, Guyanese should honestly question their circumstances: Is my community cleaner, are there better roads, is there improved communications, is healthcare better, Is my life more satisfying? And, based on the answer to those questions, decide if they want to support the administration that has a vision and a goal, or, if they want to go backwards into uncertainty.

Jagdeo, Ali must account for the alleged waste, corruption under the PPP Dear Editor,

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RATEFUL if you would publish the following letter in your Letters Column.

Many thanks.

Messrs Jagdeo and Irfaan Ali have been soliciting the votes of sugar workers, rice farmers, and even public servants, whom they have left at the bottom of the barrel for over two decades. Jagdeo in particular has rightly been making a lot of fuss over conflicts of interests with one of the coalition ministers involving as much as

G$10 million over a period of a couple of months or so. Can’t fault the guy: give Jack his jacket, as they say -- he’s really raising some serious conflict-of-interest issues here.

What I think we would like to ask Mr Jagdeo is what he has to say about the following instances of price gouging, corruption, financial waste, and gross misappropriation of money under the PPP up to the end of their term in office?

Excluding the full value of the CJIA project which is still a work in progress, the

value of the misappropriated ‘Pradoville’ lands and the hundreds of millions of dollars spent to build Jagdeo’s mansion; a rough calculation of the total corruption, misappropriation and financial waste is G$162,394 billion (or G$162,394,000,000).

And this is just the tip of the iceberg, for the last couple of years of the PPP administration.

1. G$372,000,000 stolen from rice farmers by officials of the national rice management authorities.

2. The US$200 million (G$40 billion) spent on the

factory at Skeldon that Jagdeo’s advisers told him was too big for the estate.

3. G$424,000 Toilet bowl units for the CJIA (the same US$150 million contract that is currently attracting a lot of attention.)

4. G$5,200,000,000 ($5.2 billion) misappropriated from the NIS for CLICO. 5. G$2,600,000,000 ($2.6 billion) misappropriated from the NIS to finance the Berbice Bridge.

6. G$29,000,000,000 ($29.0 billion passing through the personal accounts of PPP officials.

7. G$80,000,000,000 (US$40 million or G$80 billion) to finance the road to the Amaila Falls.

8. G$639,000,000 misappropriated by PPP ministers.

9. The US$41.6 million (G$83.2 billion) taxpayers’ resources that were spent that were from NICIL’s accounts to finance the Marriott project.

10. The G$4,500,000,000 (G$4.5 billion) spent by the PPP, which had been cut from the 2014 budget.

11. And then, there’s ‘Pradoville,’ which are state lands misappropriated by

the PPP administration to none other than Jagdeo and company.

And Mr. Jagdeo and Irfaan Ali want us to put them back in office? Building the future we want, creating and managing the wealth we envision for ourselves cannot be achieved by embracing corruption and mismanagement of the past. This can only be achieved by change. And that change can only come from us.

Regards Craig Sylvester

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 2, 2019

GAWU says will continue to put workers first T

Restructuring of GFC is most timely Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

HE GAWU saw Mr Peter Joseph’s letter which appeared in the April 26 Guyana Chronicle and the April 27 Kaieteur News. Mr Joseph, like his previous letters, continues futilely to seek to climb the slippery slope on which he has found himself.

Indeed, we are at a loss as to his motivation/s bearing in mind our cogent and rational explanations. Nevertheless, the self-described ‘observer’ continues to hold on to his, obviously, maligned contentions which appears to exist only in his mind.

Mr Joseph in continuing his tirade against our union, argues “[a]ny objective person will see that something is very wrong when political persons have control over state-paid workers.” But we ask, doesn’t the government, which comprises seasoned and not-soseasoned politicians, have control and direction over workers in the employ of the state? We really cannot understand what the author is trying to say. GAWU, as a responsible union, will continue to provide leadership, advice

T

and guidance to its members, coming from public as well as the private sector, as they seek to reasonably advance their lot and to protect their gains.

The letter-writer next suggests that in “…the interest of unity, democracy and transparency…” to review GAWU’s relations with certain external organisations.

Our union has fraternal relations primarily with international trade union bodies and which relations have helped through solidarity to further GAWU and the workers’ struggles and interests.

We are comfortable with these relations and welcome their solidarity. In fact, it should be noted that Minister Joseph Harmon in his address to the GAWU sugar conference in September, 2018, in a report prepared by the Ministry of the Presidency, is quoted to have said, “I must say that at every point along the way that there have been aggressive representation on behalf of the workers by the union. Not only the unions were there, the representatives from the factories were also present and they made their positions clear as well.” This only serves to further undermine

the slanted contentions of the letter-writer, in our view.

We are also accused of apparently being involved in the decisions regarding the industry. Again, this is furthest from the truth, as our union was not an active participant regarding any decision concerning the outlook of the industry. While our union expressed support for certain decisions, it has also expressed, publicly, its disagreement, as when the Diamond cultivation was closed. Our opinions on these matters followed deliberations of our union and took account of the facts that were at hand at the time.

We noticed Mr Joseph pointing an accusatory finger at the former President and now Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. It appears however, that the author is barking upon the wrong tree and may wish to direct his concerns appropriately.

We recognise too that Mr Joseph appears to insinuate that our membership comes from a certain political direction. A similar point we are aware was included in the still-unreleased White Paper on the sugar industry, which the GAWU managed

to obtain a copy of. Whether this is a mere coincidence, we are not certain, but it seems that the author has ignored, whether conveniently or otherwise, that our union is a mass-based organisation having in its fold members supportive, possibly, of all political organisations. This is a fact we accept and one that we respect as well.

Clearly, it appears to us that Mr Joseph has not been really considering what we have been saying and appears he has adopted a ‘blinkered’ approach. While we are saddened about that apparent reality, the fact remains that the author has tried unconvincingly, in our view, to make his fiction a reality. Our union is not daunted by those of the ilk of the author and will nonetheless continue to uphold its long-standing practices and principles which seek to put its members and workers’ interests foremost.

Regards Seepaul Narine General-Secretary GAWU

HIS impending restructuring of the forestry sector should have been done since the APNU+AFC coalition government’s accession to office in 2015. Since the current managers who were there under the PPP government and still sit on the commission as managers, are responsible for the colossal mismanagement of the forestry sector. These same managers who are now opposing this restructuring, are responsible for giving away 80% of all state forests allocations to two ethnic groups (INDIANS and ASIAN). I am daring the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) to dispute this fact by releasing the contracts of all state forest allocations by ethnicity.

Afro-Guyanese were told to join Community Forest Organisations, which are made up of very large memberships, usually having small state lands allocated to them; these lands are unproductive with limited cutting quota, rendering any economic venture as useless.

These same managers facilitated the uncontrolled and unrestricted importation of Pinewood which almost crippled our local industry, where only a few rich businessmen benefited. If it were not for the change of government, the cries of the small producers,

the vision and astute leadership of the Minister of Natural Resources, the Hon Raphael Trotman, who lobbied CARICOM for suspension to increase the Common External Tariff (CET) on Pinewood and Pinewood Products from 5%-40%.

These same managers turned a blind eye to blatant CORRUPTION by these large Asian logging companies.

When forestry officers visited these large Asian-owned forest concessions and found breaches of the Forestry Act, they were told to stand down. These managers are the ones who tried to increase the burden and add additional hardships to an already challenging industry, by lobbying for stumpage value, when loggers already have to pay millions of dollars in the form of acreage fees, royalties and fines.

These same managers facilitated the covering up of a sexual assault on a junior staff by a former senior manager (Deputy Commissioner of Forests- FRMD) who still works there. He was merely transferred to another department to continue his unholy activities (this case should be reopened for a police investigation). This restructuring is absolutely necessary and is welcomed by the industry, especially by small loggers.

Defining moments in our nation’s history Restructuring of GFC will Dear Editor

W

ITHOUT a doubt, the debacle of GuySuCo defined the morality of this nation. It laid bare how a very critical industry that is perhaps still the bedrock of political support for one of the two major political parties, and which party solely brought a once thriving industry to its knees.

Astonishingly, shamelessly the argument for responsibility was boldly shoved into the oven of ethnic blame, accusing the coalition government for the woes of sugar. It was a moment in our history, when even lies complained as to how unfair its political users were to truth!

It had indeed been shocking to read the numerous crooked and totally misleading accounts/ reasons given by those who should have been first and foremost with solutions as to the tragic mess their selfish handiwork has caused. It was a case where lies were manufactured with frightening ease, and more lies found, just to create more chaos and fear in the minds of

the workers, whom their political party branded as supporters.

Even more tragic was the fact that there was a willing line of Guyanese, personalities who one thought would bring a clearly given perspective on truth, and then solutions that would have assisted to create clear ground for the affected workers on which to stand.

Instead, for sickening political reasons of an opportunistic kind, they hitched on to the PPP/C’s band, trading truth and objectivity for a putrid pottage of daily lies and falsification; simply taking advantage of the fears and insecurities of a category of the Guyanese working class that had been cruelly exploited through the decades for purely political ends. But perhaps, we were not that much observant; for it formed a major part of the then growing plot to remove the duly elected coalition government which has been able to re-position the sugar industry, while offering alternative livelihoods to those who were terminated.

But if one had thought that such a situation was a watershed for Guyanese socio-pol-

itics, then the aftermath of the no-confidence motion vote, is the other with similarities of a more dangerously devious kind.

Of course, the latter vote, one of dangerous national mischief, although clothed in parliamentary officialdom, was the high point of this attempt at social insurrection.

The defining question in this instance for any fair-minded Guyanese should be this: why was the governance profile of a government that had only been exercising its entitlement to due process, being branded authoritarian and dictatorial by a bunch of renegade attorneys, who for obviously political-ethno ends, were shoving the basic tenets of natural justice down a labyrinth, thus attempting to render them conveniently unworkable? It is natural that as attorneys they would have been advising their clients, when necessary, to seek further redress at a superior court.

These so called “legal brains” did not do their profession an ounce of good. Instead, their attempts at distortion on behalf of their political directors, continued trying to push

the country to the brink. It was the most unfortunate hour for a profession that is predicated on sound reasoning, which had been conveniently forgotten on the altar of vested interests.

In truth and in fact, there was no sound rationale or reason, which should have pointed the nation in such a direction, except that there were those who for sinister motives and deceptive ends, were in anti-national mode.

Let us understand that such actions have not, and cannot accrue to the moral growth and spiritual development of any nation, inclusive of Guyana. No nation, especially one with our particular challenges, benefits from the immoral actions of those whose aim is to create uncertainty through lies, national furore, and incite ethnic tensions. Such does not create capacity for unity and nation-building; only soggy ground, and disharmony for underdevelopment and stultified growth.

Regards Earl Hamilton

Regards Deon Carter

help weed out corruption Dear Editor,

A

S it relates to the above-mentioned topic, I strongly support this, for it will reveal a lot of square pegs in round holes that are in managerial positions who are incompetent and cannot function as a support to the government and the sector at large.

The level of corruption that is still taking place has led to the latest demand by staff for their salaries because of mismanagement and blatant move to make the government look bad.

Yes, previous reviews by international auditors we have passed, but a lot of information that was given is false and malicious, just so that the corruption cannot be displayed.

As it relates to actual evidence, the last auction that was done for Washiba; it is a fact that all auctions for Washiba are done by the internal auditor who reports directly to the commissioner.

Now the commission is cash-strapped and sells 40000

BM of Washiba for GYD $100 and the current market price is GYD$ 450-550 per bm. Note, this was a wellplanned operation to make sure it was done transparently, but to show the corruption of the management of the GFC. The fraud is that the issue was discussed with the internal auditor and he is aware of all the information of all the rest of produce not declared and all the parties in play like the assistant commissioner responsible for Essequibo and his team that did the investigation and all the others.

Mr Editor, with a restructuring, the competent and capable young staff at GFC can get it done; for too long we were pressured to not do the right things because of job security and victimisation from management and being transferred to very far locations. Using the GFC’s policies as the yardstick, I voted for a change -- it is time.

Regards Name withheld

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday May 2, 2019

Minister Ally applauds continued unity between GTUC and FITUG NOTING that workers are a key factor in the production process, Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, applauded the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions (FITUG) for hosting yet another unified rally when Labour Day was celebrated on Wednesday.

“I wish to commend the GTUC and the FITUG for their integral work and achievements within our national tripartite committee,” Ally said as she delivered remarks at the May Day Rally to participants gathered at the National Park.

“This government believes in your labour, your industry, your enterprise.

We believe that if there is an atmosphere of understanding and mutual respect where workers are assured that their efforts will be rewarded then workers will be more productive and efficient.”

Ally noted that the government is committed to improving the lives of the working people. She pointed to the over 50 per cent salary increase over the past four years for public sector work-

ers, the increase of private sector minimum wage from $202 to $255 per hour, the increased income tax threshold by 30 percent, and the increase of old age pension by 55 percent as some of the measures that have been put in place to improve the life of citizens across the country.

“Since this coalition gov-

the production process. Thus, my expectation and that of the country is for workers to adopt a culture of efficiency and productivity. It is only through hard-work that the nation’s economy can improve,” Ally said.

Ally also pointed out areas where the government, over the past few years, has

Company of Guyana (BCGI), which had been refusing to do so since 2009, an almost 10-year gap.

She also noted the amicable solution to disputes between the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) whereby a three year agreement was signed.

Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally (Adrian Narine photo)

A section of the workers who turned out to march in Region Two at the May Day rally

ernment came into office we have tirelessly worked to transform the lives of the working class in Guyana.

It’s common knowledge that workers are a key factor in

settled age old labour issues, including having the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GBGWU) being recognized by the RUSAL-owned Bauxite

“The MoSp is currently working on several key areas that will protect and improve the lives of our workers.

Some of these include putting focus on the implementation

of Occupational Safety and Health Policy as well as the Child Labour Policy. We are also looking to amend several pieces of labour related legislations, and have the establishment of an industrial court,” Ally noted.

Meanwhile, workers in Region Two enjoyed May Day celebrations by marching from Damon Cross La Belle Alliance to the Regional Administration Compound in Anna Regina.

The event saw participation from members of the GTUC and Guyana Teachers’ Union, while giving brief remarks to the gathering was Dewane Boston.

Boston reminded workers of the many struggles of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow- the father of trade union movement in Guyana, calling on trade unions to work together for a better Guyana.

This message was reiterated by Regional Executive Officer (REdO), Denis Jaikarran, who told the gathering of workers that he is aware of the countless struggles of the workers, which reinforce the need for unity among the unions.

Jaikarran said he will be addressing several issues facing the varying sectors.

GPF gets 151 new ranks

Commissioner of Police Leslie James, is flanked by senior members of his administration, as they pose for a group photo with recruits who received awards at the graduation

By Wendella Davidson THE newest addition to the strength of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) 151 recruits from six recruit courses, were on Tuesday warmly welcomed by Police Commissioner Leslie James, even as he cautioned them that “excellent work will be rewarded but indiscipline will not be tolerated.”

“Go ahead, do the right thing, remember the oath you took; ask yourself the question, am I a credit to the force? Once you remember you will be judged by your standards, he told the recruits who underwent training at training colleges in Georgetown, Essequibo and Berbice, at a graduation ceremony held at the Tactical Services Unit drill square.

Addressing a number of

issues pertaining to policing, which is currently the focus of the administration, the commissioner said that in an effort to focus on immediate concerns, some targeted training exercises have been identified. These include police community engagement, cyber-crime management and “hotspot” management, conflict management and resolution, station management, tourism policing, and

The platoon of female recruits giving an impressive “Silent Drill’ display

professional ethics in law enforcement, In addition, the force is currently reviewing the number of officers who are at various locations, while a review of departments, sections and sub-sections of the force, and of the electronic database management system, will also be undertaken.

Noting that the future of the organisation which this year will be celebrating

180 years, the commissioner and his administrative team have established and operationalised several new units such as the cybercrime unit, the cold case unit, firearms investigation unit, the missing persons unit and the police prosecutors coordinating unit, is aimed at strengthening the the force’s capacity.

He noted that while there has been a reduction of se-

rious crimes -- 5.5 per cent -- there has been an increase in fatal accidents by seven per cent.

Remarking that he has instructed the Office of Professional Responsibility to conduct countrywide anti-corruption seminars with the police force’s ranks and further, the communities, the TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday May 2, 2019

Thousands brave rain to celebrate Labour Day in Georgetown MARCHING to the vibes of soca and dancehall music, and carrying banners and placards that spoke messages of unity and togetherness, thousands, on Monday, walked through the streets of Georgetown, from Parade Ground to the National Park, as trade unions across the country celebrated a united Labour Day. Decked out in their customary red t-shirt, they danced down the streets and not even intermittent morning showers that threatened the procession could dampen the spirits of those who marched in determination of honouring the achievements made by the trade union movement, in Guyana, over the past few years.

The crowd was joined by several ministers including Minister of Labour, Keith Scott, Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, Attorney General, Basil Williams, and Minister of Housing Annette Ferguson, among others. A number of opposition representatives also attended the event in solidarity with the workers.

For a fourth straight year umbrella trade unions the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), and the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) joined forces and celebrated the event in unity under the theme “A long journey for social justice – together we can achieve”.

At the national park, representatives from both factions gave encouraging words to the masses on the need for a continued united front, even as they used the platform to advocate for other labour-related matters.

“The society is too highly charged, we need to tone

down the animosity, the partisanship and work towards our common good. We cannot see everything within the context of Black and Indian to the extent where it is destroying the integrity of the court and undermining social norms. We as a nation cannot sustain this. We need to return to a society where we can find common ground, common truths, common facts,” charged GTUC General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis.

“Labour reminds you today that regardless of which party or government is in power we have to earn, to live, to provide for our families. We therefore have a responsibility to hold all political parties, all regimes, accountable through our votes, our collective agitation and collective will.”

The longstanding call for the reinstatement of a Ministry of Labour was also reiterated by both trade unions, while Lewis also spoke of the need for the administration to demonstrate commitment to labour by ensuring attendance to this year’s Annual Conference of the International Labour Organisation, to be held in Geneva next month.

Lewis also commended the recent achievements for the trade union with the victory for the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GBGWU) against the RUSAL-owned Bauxite Company of Guyana (BCGI), where, after the intervention of the current administration, the Russian company finally recognized the Union, having refused to do so since 2009, an almost 10-year gap.

“The BCGI struggle demonstrates that the trade union movement is not only alive but still relevant. This

FITUG Treasurer, Seepaul Narine

GTUC General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis

Some of the participants having fun on the Labour Day rally

A section of the Labour Day Parade (Adrian Narine photos)

opportunity is taken to recognise the contribution of the Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally to the recently-concluded struggle between the GBGWU

and RUSAL/BCGI. She has done what none before her, with similar power, has done, that is stand up to a global giant to protect the sovereignty of this nation

GPF gets 151... commissioner said it is not meant in any way to shift focus from the conduct of ranks, but rather it is an attempt to address the other dimension of corruption,” he said.

Meanwhile, between this year and 2020, a number of new police stations will

be built and others rehabilitated. Last year, the force did rehabilitative works on the structures at Mackenzie, Kwakwani, Suddie, Annai, Port Kaituma, La Grange, Mabaruma, Aishalton, Aurora and Cane Grove, as the administration continues to upgrade the living and work-

ing conditions of its ranks.

Eighteen of the recruits who graduated were presented with either `Best Student’, `Runner-Up’ and `Most Improved’ awards.

Copping the `Best Student’Award for Course 373 was Constable W.25080 Roberts; Constable 25018

Gobin for Course375 and Constable 25124 Jafar for Course 375; Constable 25002 Deowraj was the Best Student for Course 37`B’1; Constable25174 Edoo from 37 `B’ 2 and Constable 25106Vyphius for Course 15’G’.

This was followed by

and the workers of Guyana,” Lewis noted.

Lewis noted however that much remains to be done.

This message was reiterated by FITUG Treasurer,

Seepaul Narine.

“Comrades, on this Labour Day 2019, let us recognize that we need to be more assertive in demanding our rights and insist that we be involved in the decision-making process that impact our lives. Today’s conditions do not call for complacency but for greater activism and for united and principled actions,” Narine said, as he read a speech on behalf of the FITUG. Lewis also weighed in on the current laws surrounding the parliamentary no- confidence motion, calling for the constitution to be amended to allow for at least two-thirds or 60 percent votes of all members of the National Assembly for a no-confidence vote to be passed.

Lewis also called for upgraded health care and education across the country.

“In the context of oil and gas, labour calls on government to revamp the healthcare system, so that all 10 administrative regions should have a main referral hospital, with modern diagnostic and treatment capabilities, including emergency facilities capable of dealing with severe injuries. We call for the establishment of free dialysis service delivered from a central point where all can access. A healthy nation is a productive nation.

We call for the provision of free education from nursery to university as enshrined in the Constitution (Article 27).

In addition to celebrating Labour Day the trade unions also celebrated the centennial anniversary since the passage of the British Guiana Trade Union Ordinance which recognises trade unions as legal entities.

FROM PAGE 8

an impressive ‘Silent Drill’ display by the females, which was well received by all present.Sergeant 21937 gave an overview of the courses, while an excellent reflection of the courses evoked much laughter, as she recounted some of the ordeals they faced by Constable w 25082

Rodrigues.

The new recruits benefitted from a most timely advice in brief remarks from Assistant Commissioner Paul Williams, who holds the responsibility for training in the GPF.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday May 2, 2019

FORTY agreements of sale handed out to Coomacka residents FORTY residents of Coomacka Mines in the Upper Demerara – Upper Berbice region have received their agreements of sale for lands for the construction of their homes.

According to Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams and Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton presented the documents to residents at the Coomacka Recreational facility Tuesday evening during a community meeting.

In a separate statement, the Ministry of the Presidency said that on February 23, former Minister of State, Joseph Harmon handed over 200 land allocation letters to the residents, for lands which they have been occupying for approximately six decades. The land allocation letters paved the way for surveys to be conducted and the Agreements of Sale to be issued.

This is the first time the residents are receiving legal documentation for the occupied lands. “Former Minister [of State] Harmon made a commitment to you all and today we have delivered. We are a government who just don’t make promises, but we follow up on them and then deliver,” the new Minister of State, Hastings-Williams, said. Minister of Public Service, Mrs. Tabita Sarabo-Halley told the residents that they were squatting on government lands, but the government has listened to their concerns and is working to ensure that

Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton, as he presented a document to residents at the Coomacka Recreational facility on Tuesday

Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, as he presented a document to a resident on Tuesday

the community is regularised.

“What this government has tried to do and is trying to accomplish is to ensure that you all have a piece of paper for your land in your hands so that if you have to have to go to the bank or anything, you have that. At the end of the day, you will now have a title to a [plot of] land that you are living on,” Mrs. Sarabo-Halley said.

The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs said residents received their al-

lotment via lottery with the remaining one hundred and nine allocations to be completed shortly. The event followed the “Government Comes to You” outreach in the mining town of Linden, the 7th to be held nationwide which is aimed at reaching out to all Guyanese and listening to and addressing their concerns. Many persons voiced concerns about land issues at the outreach.

Minister Hastings-Williams said the agreements

Minister of State Dawn Hastings-Williams as she presented a document to a resident at Coomacka

A section of the gathering at the event

would ensure squatting is eliminated and all Guyanese can have the opportunity of owning their own homes and government will continue to deliver to its people. “We not only make promises but we follow up, then we come to deliver. So I am very happy that we could have given out at least forty agreements of sale; that’s an indication that you will soon have your own land titles. Government will continue to work for you and address your issues; we

Solar farm to end power outages in Kwakwani THE Region 10 community of Kwakwani will receive a big boost in electricity supply with the setting up of a solar farm, later in the year.

In fact, at a community meeting held at the Christianburg Community Centre Ground on Tuesday evening in Linden, Minister of Public Infrastructure (MoPI), David Patterson, related to residents, that the contract to build the photovoltaic farm has already been advertised and funding for the project will be sourced from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Community officials are presently looking for a suitable site for the farm to be placed so that every household can be effectively served.

A decision to go solar in Kwakwani comes as a result of the community enduring up to 12 hours of power outage daily. The Kwakwani Utility Incorporated (KUI) is unable to provide 24 hours of electricity for the entire community and is currently providing electricity on a rotation schedule.

In an invited comment, Member of Parliament, Audwin Rutherford, who has responsibility for Kwakwani, said that he is excited that the community is going ‘green’ and the residents will have some relief. He related that one of the biggest challenges in Kwakwani was the sourcing and availability of fuel

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, addressing residents of Christianburg (DPI)

and with solar energy, this will definitely cut cost for the government, since electricity

in Kwakwani is subsidised and residents do not pay for it.

With this new system, the MP said subsidising should continue but if a payment system will be enacted, it will be on par with the cost of electricity in Linden.

This is not the first time the MoPI will be investing millions into improving the electricity supply at Kwakwani; however, the latest attempt, did not meet the desired expectations. In March 2018, the government purchased two new 260 kilowatt engines for KUI, however, those two sets have not solved the problems.

believe in coming to listen to you and find out what your issues are,” she said.

Speaking about developmental plans for Coomacka Mines, Minister Hastings-Williams noted that “I understand that it was over one hundred and forty-nine titles in process and we delivered forty today. I also understand when it rains, you suffer a lot from flooding, so to assist with flooding, you have one hundred million dollars ($100M) budgeted”.

Minister Allicock also reminded residents of government’s commitment towards development.

Minister Allicock said the approach taken by government to ensure development “Is not a one-way street; government can only do so much and you also can only do so much. Coming together will make things happen in a more timely manner with respect and that is why it is so crucial for us to understand that in development, everyone has a responsibility”.

Minister Norton assured residents that “you in Coomacka can enjoy same benefits like other communities and that is why we are here to work with you, to find out what it is you want and how we can help you”.

Youth development and building a cohesive Guyana remains a top priority for government and according to Dr. Norton, “we want to be able to help the youths…

The coalition government has you in their heart and I want to tell you this: there is no man that influences me so much when I hear President Granger speak about the legacy he wants to leave for our youths”.

After receiving her agreement of sale, Odessa Bremner said “I feel so happy, overjoyed, I have been waiting for this for quite a lil while now, so I am happy and my son get through too. I’m very happy and thankful to the Government of Guyana for all they have done for us here in Coomacka”.

Man wanted for cocaine bust involving granny

Winston Carto called "Chief Mike"

The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit has issued a wanted bulletin for Winston Carto called "Chief Mike", Of Lot 193 Greenheart Street, South Ruimveldt Gardens, Georgetown for a quantity of cocaine intercepted on an elderly woman earlier this week at the Eugene F.

Correia International Airport Ogle.

Anyone knowing his whereabouts is kindly asked to make contact with CANU HQ – 227-3507, 226-0431.

On Monday 55-yearold, Sandra Angela Profitt of West Ruimveldt Georgetown was busted at the airport with 3.378 kilograms (7.4 lbs) of cocaine. The woman identified was sitting in the departure area waiting to board a LIAT flight destined for Barbados when she was intercepted by ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU). CANU in a press release said the suspected cocaine was duct-taped to each of her upper thighs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday May 2, 2019

‘Cannot be business as usual’ - GTUC President tells Trade Union Leaders

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Coretta McDonald, has called on the Trade Union leaders in Guyana to recognise that they must foster the development of all of the workers they represent, instead of working for their own self-interest.

McDonald told a gathering of labour workers and leaders, at the National Park, on Wednesday, that there are some union leaders who are not au fait with the roles that they should play, and used the opportunity to remind the leaders of their responsibilities.

“It cannot be business

as usual… we have to recognise that our workers’ welfare must be first and foremost and it therefore means that training, involvement, accountability, education and commitment must be forward and priority on our list if we want to sing the song for social justice,” she stressed.

According to the GTUC President, trade union leaders cannot continue to “throw blame” when they too are equally responsible for the conditions in the working climate.

“Too many times we allow personal gains and personality clashes to cloud our vision,” McDonald pos-

ited and stressed that if the leaders cannot be held accountable, then they should step aside.

“As a trade union movement, we are ready and willing to bring about change,” she said too, while noting that the trade union is ready to engage with all stakeholders- at all timesto ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of Guyanese workers.

During her remarks, she indicated that the trade union is ready to create avenues to educate its members and ensure that they can garner skills necessary to be employed in the job market, especially in the oil and gas

sector. She also indicated that importance must be given to ensuring that the local workforce is inclusive of and represents women and young people.

The GTUC President also called for greater partnership between the lawmakers and the trade unions, and reminded these lawmakers that trade unions are important in every sphere in the development of this country.

“Our political leaders must be reminded that our labour force is no longer ignorant or uneducated about our rights and for that we cannot be easily suppressed,” she said pointedly.

President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Coretta McDonald

Moreover, she highlighted that the unions have realised that gone are the days of being “confrontational,” noting that there is cognisance of other ways and means of resolving issues.

“At the trade union movement we must have the courage and the wisdom to tackle our problems and to arrive when there are situations with solutions,” she posited.

Bandits rob, kill Parika businessman –– police hunting two suspects A PARIKA Backdam, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) farmer, mechanic and businessman was shot dead at his home, after being robbed by two bandits Tuesday night.

Dead is 46-year-old Somdat ‘Rakesh’ Ramgobin of Parika Backdam, EBE. He leaves two sisters and six brothers to mourn his death.

Police said they are making stringent efforts to quickly arrest the two bandits who allegedly robbed and killed the farmer/businessman at his residence about 21:30h Tuesday night.

Reports indicate that the businessman was cooking when the bandits attacked him.

One of the bandits, who brandished a handgun, en-

tered the businessman’s premises and demanded cash and jewellery.

The businessman, after being struck with a bottle to his head, handed over a sum of cash and directed the men inside of his grocery shop, located at the front, where he had more cash.

Police said that as the suspects were leaving, the unarmed bandit took away the firearm from his accomplice and reportedly shot the businessman and they then escaped in a waiting motorcar.

The victim was pronounced dead on arrival at the Leonora Cottage Hospital. The body was transported to the Ezekiel’s Parlour and is awaiting an autopsy.

Residents in the area

Dead: Somdat ‘Rakesh’ Ramgobin

are of the opinion that the bandits knew the right time to attack the businessman since there was another activity in the area that caused persons to be distracted.

“There was a '9-day' for a baby right up the road and everyone from the area attended and

Detectives and CID ranks entering the businessman’s premises after he was killed.

I can recall people were begging him to come over

at the '9-day' but he didn’t come over and no one

heard any gunshots,” one resident said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday May 2, 2019

Workers’ rights robustly defended, protected – AG

By Svetlana Marshall THE Government will continue to safeguard Guyana’s Labour Force against any attempt to trample on the rights of workers, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, said on Wednesday.

In his address to hundreds of public and private sector workers at 2019 Labour Day Rally at the National Park,

Minister Williams, who represented Government, said the Administration remains resolute in its position, and will continue to institute policies to benefit the working class.

“Workers’ rights are being robustly defended and protected.

The country’s labour laws, including union recognition laws, are being enforced to ensure that workers

are not exploited or subject to arbitrary dismissals,” Minister Williams said to loud rounds of applause.

Workers, in the public service, including teachers, have benefited from substantial increases since the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government took office in May, 2015, he said. “Wages and salaries of our Public Servants have Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams

PPP/C Member of Parliament Vickram Bharrat (Adrian Narine Photos)

increased by over 62 per cent since we came into office; teachers by even more since they were beneficial negotiations by the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) on their behalf,” the Legal Affairs Minister pointed out.

Added to that, he said workers’ standards of living are being enhanced, and inflation moderated to avoid eroding workers’ purchasing power. Public services – business services, education, electricity, immigration, justice, public health, housing, public information, public infrastructure, public security, public telecommunication, social security and water also are being extended across the country as part of Government’s efforts to reduce inequality and improve workers’ lives.

In its quest to improve the country’s economic landscape, the Government has been encouraging investments, Minister Williams said while explaining that investments more than often create opportunities for employment. “An expanded economy creates greater demand for goods and services which in turn stimulates job-creation,” he posited.

Minister Williams said job creation remains a priority of Government, and, as such, steps are continuously taken

to stimulate greater job creation.

Because the public sector could only absorb a percentage of the unemployed, the Government, in addition to encouraging large scale investments in the country, has been placing emphasis on the development of small business and entrepreneurship.

Government, he posited, has been stimulating small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for 70 per cent of global employment, by providing training and seed capital through initiatives such as the Micro and Small Enterprise Development (MSED), Hinterland Employment and Youth Scheme (HEYS), Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED), Women of Worth (WOW) and People of Worth Entrepreneurial Resources (POWER) AND THE Linden Enterprise Network (LEN).

“The revitalization of village economies will stimulate greater job creation.

Village farms will require additional hands to produce more abundant fruit, vegetables, provisions and other cash crops. The revival of cottage industries will provide sources of income for residents, especially our women,” Minister Williams explained. According to him,

with the revival of the cottage industries, tradesmen – carpenters, cabinet-makers, gutter-smiths, masons, painters, plumbers and tailors – will experience an increasing demand for their goods and services.

Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy (GSDS), he added, is geared towards generating increased employment by moving production higher up the value chain through the creation of ‘green’ industries and ‘green’ jobs. “Guyana’s emergent oil and gas sectors will provide a catalyst for increased job creation,” Legal Affairs Minister told those present, while alluding to a report coming out of the Department of Energy, that already 1000 persons have benefited directly from the Oil and Gas Sector.

“The returns to the Guyanese people from this sector are expected to increase exponentially in light of our 5 ½ billion barrels of proven oil reserves and this figure does not include the last three oil well discoveries,” he added.

As Guyana develops its Oil and Gas Sector, the Legal Affairs Minister challenged the Trade Unions to not only defend the rights of workers but to provide capacity building opportunities that will enable workers to respond effectively to the emerging sector. “Trade Unions must be cognizant of the changing labour landscape and look to the reorganisation of the workforce through education.

The advent of the oil and has era, the Green State agenda and the STEM and Robotics disciplines would require our workforce to adapt. Emphasis must be placed on changing and upgrading the skillset of the workers,” he urged.

Minister Williams told the workers that they ought to be proud of the labour movement in the country.

He pointed out that it was the workers struggle which reignited the struggles for national liberation. “Workers and the trade union movement supported the struggles for universal franchise, political independence, union recognition and improvements in workers’ compensation, benefits and living conditions,” he said.

Member of Parliament Vickram Bharrat, who represented the Parliamentary Opposition, told the workers that May Day presented an opportunity for them to rally in solidarity TURN TO PAGE 16 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday May 2, 2019

Prisoners, victims celebrate first Sycamore tree sessions TEARFUL victims spoke of finally feeling on the right path to recovery and healing, while remorseful prisoners spoke of having changed outlooks on crime and humanity, as the completion of the inaugural session of “The Sycamore Tree Project” was celebrated on Tuesday in a small ceremony at the Timehri Prison.

The pilot in-prison restorative justice programme brought together unrelated victims and offenders to discuss crime and its impacts, with the hope of contributing to recidivism reduction, and prisoner rehabilitation, as well as helping the victims find closure.

The victims and prisoners go through eight weeks of sessions two hours per week.

The programme is entirely voluntary, with this first rollout seeing the participation of three victims, all young ladies, and five prisoners, all males, all under the age of 35.

“Coming face to face with persons who were victims of crimes committed by someone just like us, hearing their stories and listening to them, humanity

was reinforced within us,” testified one of the prisoners, as he delivered remarks at the event.

“This programme has taught us that all is not lost and once we are humans we can bounce back. We understand that change does not occur in the shifting sands of our circumstances, but in the quiet depths of our hearts.”

Of the three young ladies participating in programme two were victims of rape, one of whom was raped by a family member; the third was the victim of a violent robbery, perpetrated by someone the victim knew.

“Before I start this project, I had so much hate for you inside of my heart offender. I wanted to kill you.

But now I understand the meaning of restorative justice. I don’t know that I will ever get closure, but since I started this project I have been able to do so much. I haven’t gotten closure, but it’s a start, it’s a beginning headed in the right direction,” one of the rape victims attested. She made a plea to the prisoners who participated in the programme: “I hope to God that when you come out from in here

Officials (sitting from left) Assistant Superintendent of Prisons, Amias Benjamin, Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels; Prisons Welfare and Corrections Officer, Marielle Bristol; Manager and Lead Facilitator of the Sycamore Tree Project, Alvin Doris; with the prisoners (Delano Williams photo)

you don’t repeat this [crime].

You can say hey, I was wrong and try not to head down that path again.”

Another of the prisoners spoke of learning a deeper meaning to compassion.

“This programme has taught me how important it is to forgive,” he said “Forgiveness means to be truly sorry for one’s unlawful actions and also working

towards bringing about real closure and healing in someone who is hurting in life.

So to really experience forgiveness one must also learn to forgive oneself before forgiving others.”

Both the victims and prisoners noted their hopes to see the project continued, so that others can benefit as well, so that those prisoners who participate in the programme

have sustained measures put in place to help them continue on the path to recovery, even after they are finished with the programme.

“Eight sessions is [sic] not adequate to see [the prisoners] to full commitment to changed lifestyles, but it is a beginning and we’re hoping that they are committed to the process and we hope that government will make

the necessary measures to ensure our criminal justice system is one that is rehabilitative and restorative in nature,” noted Alvin Doris, Manager and Lead Facilitator of the Sycamore Tree Project.

Also present at the celebration was Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, who noted that the time has come for the Guyana prisons system to move away from being penal- based to being rehabilitative- focused.

He applauded the project for what it means for the victims and the prisoners alike.

“Many victims have been hurt and are seeking closure.

This project presents a pathway to such healing. The victims testified today that while they have not found closure, but they are on that path to finding closure.

Many of us can speak to the value of being told sorry, especially when sorry is told by someone who is truly remorseful,” Samuels said.

Also making remarks at the event was the Prisons Welfare and Corrections Officer, Marielle Bristol

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday May 2, 2019

Gov’t likely to re-examine policy on motion to recognise former MPs

–– Canadian Govt. expresses disappointment

By Svetlana Marshall THE Government of Canada has joined the United States of America in condemning the National Assembly’s decision to recognise former Member of Parliament Abdul Kadir, a convicted terrorist. The

Guyanese Government, while maintaining that the motion was not intended to honour Kadir as a terrorist but rather as a Member of Parliament, has signaled a willingness to examine the policy of honoring past MPs. On Wednesday, the Ca-

nadian Government added its voice to the situation, and said it was disappointed.

“Canada is disappointed that members of Guyana’s National Assembly have paid tribute to former MP Abdul Kadir, a convicted terrorist,” the Canadian Government said in a brief statement.

At the National Park on the sideline of the Labour Day Rally, Minister of Social Protection, and Government’s Chief Whip in the National Assembly, Amna Ally, told reporters that there was nothing sinister about the motion, but said given the concerns that have arisen the Government’s Chief Whip and Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally

Government may review the policy of paying homage to deceased MPs. “We will have to re-examine and look at it. I am not saying, well it is a done deal but now that this has surfaced, maybe we can look (it),” Minister Ally told reporters.

However, the Chief Whip maintained that the April 26 motion was intended to express sympathy to the sorrowing wife, children and relatives of the late Kadir, and to recognise his contributions to society while serving as a Member of Parliament. This, she emphasized, is in keeping with parliamentary practice. “It has no link to any terrorism, corruption or anything else,” she assured reporters.

According to her, the U.S is fully aware of Guyana’s position on Terrorism.

“It is a situation which has arisen and we have dealt with it because the U.S is aware that we do not support terrorism, we will not support terrorism. I mean, it is an unfortunate situation but it has happened,” the Chief Whip said.

Minister Ally said while the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has condemned the move to acknowledge Kadir’s contributions as a MP, it was only recently that the said National Assembly paid tribute to former minister and ambassador of the PPP administration, Ronald Gajraj.

“Ronald Gajraj was fingered in so many things, killings and massacres… we did not use that against them,” she posited while noting that because he had served in the National Assembly, a motion was passed to express sympathy to his sorrowing relatives. Minister Ally also made reference to Isahak Bashir, who was also honoured on April 27, al-

Abdul Kadir

though he was expelled from the National Assembly for hurling a glass bottle at the then Speaker, Sase Narine.

Nonetheless, given the concerns, the Social Protection Minister said Government may review the policy of honoring deceased MPs. On Tuesday, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, disclosed that he drafted the motion of sympathy following the passing of Kadir, in keeping with local parliamentary practice.

Isaacs explained that local parliamentary practice dictates that, whenever a former or sitting Member of Parliament dies, the Clerk of the National Assembly is to draft a motion of sympathy.

The draft motion, he said, must be sent to the party of the deceased for its assent.

“Notice is then given by the party for the motion to be an item on the Order Paper,” Isaacs further explained.

In the case of Kadir, the parliamentary practice was observed, though he died in a US prison while serving a life sentence for plotting to blow up the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

The motion read: “Be it Resolved: That this National Assembly records its deep regret on the death of Mr. Abdul Kadir, TURN TO PAGE 16 ►

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 2, 2019

LABOUR DAY SCENES

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Representatives from the government, the opposition and various trade unions in Guyana put their differences aside to address workers at the 2019 Labour Day rally (Adrian Narine photo)

Minister with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott (left) led the 2019 May Day Rally, along with (from left) Minister of Housing, Anette Ferguson, GTUC President, Coretta McDonald and others (Adrian Narine photo)

Several young people were among those who took the streets of Georgetown on Wednesday for the May Day Rally celebrating Labour Day (Adrian Narine photo)

CCWU Vice-president, Kim Halley leads the May Day march. (Adrian Narine photo)

Several persons displayed placards with messages of unity and togetherness during the May Day Rally on Wednesday (Adrian Narine photo)

GWI joined workers countrywide in observing Labour Day (Adrian Narine photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday May 2, 2019

Guyana Government monitoring unrest in Venezuela

AS tensions escalate in neighbouring Venezuela, the Government of Guyana says it is monitoring the situation and taking note of the consequences including peace and security in the region.

This week, a new wave of protests, backed by Venezuela’s US-backed Leader, Juan Guaido, and Opposition figure, Leonoldo Lopez, has seen mass protests escalate into tense battles on the streets of Caracas with sections of the military siding with the protestors.

On Wednesday, the Government of Guyana reiterated its rejection of violence and the threat or use of force as acceptable means for the resolution of conflicts. It called on all parties involved “to vigorously pursue the search for a peaceful and democratic solution to the crisis for the benefit and well-being of the Venezuelan people.”

According to the BBC, Guaido has called for more strength from supporters and it was noted that pro-government supporters are also out at rallies. “We will keep go-

Demonstrators protest in Venezuela . (BBC/ AFP photo)

ing with more strength than ever,” Guaidó tweeted. The rival demonstrations come

after President Nicolás Maduro said he had stopped an “attempted coup” on Tues-

day, the BBC said.

Guaidó says he is backed by members of the armed forces, but Maduro insists he still has their support. In a fiery television address on Tuesday, Maduro accused protesters of “serious crimes” which he said would “not go unpunished”, and said the US was plotting against him.

Guaidó declared himself Venezuela’s interim leader in January and has been recognised by more than 50 countries, including the US, the UK and most in Latin

America. But according to the BBC, Maduro, backed

by Russia, China and the top of the country’s military, has refused to cede leadership to his rival. US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, said military action was “possible” if necessary, but that the US would prefer a peaceful transition of power. Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, warned the US against further “aggressive” steps.

The UN, meanwhile, called on both sides to exercise “maximum restraint”.

Workers’ rights ...

FROM PAGE 12

for their invaluable contributions to national development.

“Today, we celebrate the contributions of our workers, a country’s most important resource. Today, we recognise the hardworking men and women who have made significant sacrifices under trying conditions to forge national development,” Bharrat told the workers.

He said regardless who is in power, the significant strides made over the years cannot be denied. Bharrat noted that the recent challenges that faced the country’s teachers, bauxite and sugar workers can neither be forgotten as he underscored the importance of every worker. The unions, he posited, must remain a vibrant force.

“Friends, at this critical juncture in the history of our country, workers need visionary leadership and purposeful representation from their respective unions – It is time Unions stop playing politics with the lives and livelihood of our hardworking Guyanese brothers and sisters. It is time workers are

respected for their efforts and sacrifices and not used as pawns by politically affiliated union, Government or political parties,” the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Parliamentarian said.

Like the Legal Affairs Minister, Bharrat also underscored the importance of training to stay abreast with technology and other developing sectors. He pointed out that in many countries around the world technology has rendered thousands of workers redundant – a situation that contributed to unemployment.

Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally; Minister of Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley; Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Annette Ferguson; Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings and Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott were among the Government officials that attended the rally.

Gov’t likely ...

FROM PAGE 14

on 28th June, 2018, and pays tribute to his dedicated service to the Parliament of Guyana as a Member of Parliament where he served in the Eighth Parliament, from 17th April, 2001 to 2nd May, 2006, and to the people of Guyana: “Be it further Resolved: That the National Assembly directs that an expression of its sympathy be conveyed to his sorrowing widow, children and relatives.”

The Clerk clarified that the debate on sympathy motions is intended to acknowledge the contributions of the late Members to the Parliament and to the people of Guyana. “It is done with no other intent. It should be further noted that the motion on the death of the late Mr.

Kadir was innocently drafted by the Clerk, as has been the convention in circumstances of death of former or sitting Members,” the Clerk stated.

He expressed profound regret for any unintentional offense the course of action may have caused. On Monday, the Government made it clear that it never intended to honour terrorism in any way when it approved a motion to remember Kadir. Government said it was merely upholding a time-honoured tradition in the house and had no intention of conveying the impression that the motion was designed to honour former MP, Abdul Kadir, convicted of terrorism in the United States.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday May 2, 2019

Audio recording into shooting of O’Toole handed over to police THE Guyana Police Force has received new evidence, which it will peruse to determine its relation to the January 27 shooting of Director of School of the Nations, Dr Brian O’Toole at his Prashad Nagar residence, which has left his left arm partially paralysed.

The additional evidence is an audio recording, which was allegedly done two weeks ago. It was handed over to the police by Dr O’Toole on Monday, during a 90-minute meeting that was convened between Dr O’Toole and Commissioner of Police, Leslie James. The existence of this additional evidence was announced at a joint press conference hosted by the commissioner and Dr O’Toole late yesterday afternoon at the commissioner’s boardroom, Eve Leary.

Also present at the news conference, which sought to “set the record straight and

deal with other anomalies” in respect to what has been carried in the media about the incident, were Deputy Commissioners; Crime Chief, Lyndon Alves; and Deputy Commissioner, Administration, along with Dr Gordon, a friend of Dr O’Toole.

The commissioner said that the clarification was necessary because a close review of what has been reported in the media was apparently without confirmation from the police or Dr O’Toole.

Commissioner James, however, assured the media that the investigation is an ongoing one. It involves collaboration with their counterparts in the United States of America and conducting interviews with individuals here.

The commissioner, however, did not elaborate, but stated that those who were questioned by the police,

were questioned in relation to the investigation. Speaking about the recording that Dr O’Toole said he had received from a female, the commissioner disclosed that on the recording, there is the voice of a male who was gloating and laughing, hence he saw it necessary to hand it over to the police.

Referring to the night of the incident, the ‘Nations’ principal said he has “a clear indication” in his mind as to who had shot him, since his residence was well lit and the individual was a mere five feet away from him.

He is of the firm belief that the incident is related to the dangerous game ‘Forthnight,’ which efforts are now being made to have banned.

According to the principal, prior to the shooting, a past student, who now resides in Florida, had, via posts on social media, threatened to blow up the School of the Nations, among other

Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, pays keen attention to Principal of School of the Nations, Dr Brian O’Toole, during a joint press conference on Tuesday ( Adrian Narine photo )

dangerous acts.

Despite being pressed by the media, neither the commissioner nor the school’s principal disclosed a name.

What was told to the media though, is that a perusal of immigration records pertaining to an individual showed that he departed Guyana on

December 15, 2018. The shooting took place on January 27, 2019.

Meanwhile, Dr O’Toole, while noting that the meeting he had with Commissioner James was quite useful, lamented that only a certain politician saw it fit to make a statement on the

incident, even though some of the contents were not factual. He made it clear though, that he is a Bahai by faith and is not affiliated to any political party.

The ‘Nations’ principal was at pains to explain what assistance he needed from the United States and the local media, when it appears that he is withholding vital information, such as a name, but all that he would say is that the name has been all over the media for weeks now.

The principal, who has spent some US$75,000 and has had four operations, has been left with a partially paralysed arm, into which doctors have implanted steel to replace a shattered bone. He leaves today for further treatment overseas.

Minister Henry heartened by residents’ suggestions at outreaches A NUMBER of new ideas that may come in handy to the Ministry of Education has been received during the recent government outreach to Fort Wellington, Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice).

Education Minister, Nicolette Henry, made the observation when she spoke with this publication at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Compound, where the outreach was being held last week.

“This visit seems to be one that would bear a lot of fruit. We did get some persons coming to the booth with some new ideas that may very well work,” the minister said, adding that she was pleased to see that many were also approaching the booth to pledge the donation of items. She said this was unusual as no one pledged to give anything at the previous outreaches.

One of the suggestions received was for the Education Ministry to collaborate more fully with the Ministry of Communities when certain projects are being undertaken.

“We need to look to see how we can collaborate better…

Minister of Education Nicolette Henry

these ministries function as separate entities, but I can see opportunities and potential in that suggestion,” the minister said.

Another suggestion, she said, had to do with supervision during examinations and the role that teachers can play.

“Usually this is a responsibility largely undertaken by invigilators, so I heard of suggestions where we can have greater teacher involvement at that level.”

“There were many other

suggestions in the previous outreaches; people were coming forward with things they felt they could provide input to…whether it was school feeding, transportation issues, materials, ICT… people had their own personal issues,” the minister informed, adding that some made requests for the building of schools, especially secondary schools.

Henry said she found it strange that many show up to her ministry looking for scholarships, even though these are handled through the Ministry of Public Service.

Meanwhile, residents turned up at the said outreach in their quest to access services within the Ministries of Agriculture, Communities, Health, Education, Public Telecommunication, Presidency, Finance, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Public Infrastructure, Social Cohesion, Social Protection, Legal Affairs, Foreign Affairs and Business.

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA)

were other agencies on hand to address key concerns by residents.

Former Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said the turnout that day was encouraging.

“People are responding to these outreaches, and what it means, is that, taking the government to the people is

a very important aspect of the way in which we conduct government business,” he told the Guyana Chronicle.

He said the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government intends to take the ‘Bringing Government to the People’

outreach across the country, and that upon the conclusion of all the outreaches, the information garnered would be analysed and solutions devised to ensure that the concerns of citizens are addressed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday May 2, 2019

AG urges patience at Linden meeting …assures residents gov’t working to improve their quality of life

By Vanessa Braithwaite ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, told Amelia’s Ward, Linden residents on Tuesday evening that government is doing all in its power to improve their living conditions.

“We have improved on the quality of life for the Guyanese people in this short space of time…so you’ve got to be patient,” he told scores under a tent following the government’s public day outreach in the mining town.

Williams alluded to the return of the Kara Kara toll booth and other strides made by his government, which contributed to an improved economy in Linden. Williams spoke confidently of winning the no-confidence motion at the Caribbean Court of Justice and assured the residents that life will become much brighter, following the production of oil.

At the packed community meeting, residents were also urged to walk the long walk to the good life together with their government representatives, irrespective of

A section of the gathering at the Amelia’s Ward meeting Attorney General, Basil Williams, addresses Lindeners in the presence of his colleagues, Ministers Simona Broomes and Valerie Yearwood

the tier of government they represent.

This encouragement was given by Minister with responsibility for Youth Affairs, Simona Broomes, after listening to several issues raised by residents, particularly those concerning the municipality.

Broomes was joined by Attorney General Basil Williams and Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture

with responsibility for rural affairs, Valarie Yearwood.

Of the many issues raised, taking prominence was the state of the roads, house lot allocation, job opportunities, and recreational facilities, among other things. While all the ministers agreed that there is a significant improvement in the quality of life for not only Lindeners but all Guyanese, they acknowledged that the good

An Amelia’s Ward resident airing his concern

life promised is still a work in progress. To make this a faster reality, the residents were urged to not work in isolation from their local officials but to support them and give them whatever assistance is needed to bring the services to their communities. “Linden, you are sounding divided, can we do it together?”

“We got to walk this long walk together,” Broomes stressed.

Many youths who turned up in hopes for positive answers on house lot allocations, were told by Minister Yearwood, who is in transition from that ministry, that more than 400 house lots were allocated in Amelia’s Ward since her tenure began.

Presently, however, she related that there are currently no house lots available for allocation, but the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) is working assiduously for the transfer of house lots from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) and as soon as that is completed and infrastructure is in place, lots will be allocated. Yearwood

encouraged those who turned up with their application letters to hold on to them until the process is completed.

She stressed that the government is concerned about Linden since Linden has always been its biggest supporter. “Your government is concerned. My government is a concerned government; Linden has always been one of the biggest supporting base and we are concerned about you,” she affirmed.

She emphasised that patience is needed, especially in the matter of issuance of land, since it is one of the most pressing issues around Guyana. “This government met over 25, 000 applications in the system with 2,500 in Linden alone. This cannot be completely addressed in a one-term tenure but significant efforts have been made to lower that number,” Yearwood said.

In the area of employment, particularly for youths, Minister Broomes reaffirmed her commitment, in her new portfolio, to consult with youths, not only for job opportunities, but train-

ing as well. Some residents suggested that government funded-factories and manufacturing facilities come to Linden, which will provide employment for many.

Other issues raised by residents were the establishment of a mental health facility in Linden, minimum wage payment for sweeper/cleaners, land for agricultural purposes, school bus for children residing in the new schemes in Amelia’s Ward, erosion issues as a result of illegal sand pit mining at Block 42 Amelia’s Ward, issuance of land titles, chemicals used to fog communities, amongst other things. The Amelia’s Ward community outreach was one of many outreaches held across Linden on Tuesday which followed a meet-the-public day at the Wismar Municipal Market. Hundreds of persons turned out seeking solutions to their issues.

The government has undertaken similar initiatives in different parts of the country.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 2, 2019

Warriors top Rockets as Curry, Harden play through injuries

(REUTERS) - Kevin Durant led a balanced attack with 29 points Tuesday night as the Golden State Warriors went up 2-0 in their Western Conference semifinal series against the Houston Rockets with a 115-109 win in Oakland, Calif.

Both Warriors star Stephen Curry and Rockets star James Harden sustained injuries in the contest.

After a three-day break, the series shifts to Houston on Saturday and Monday.

For the second game in a row, all five Warriors starters scored in double figures, including Curry, who dislocated the middle finger on his left hand early in the game and still managed 20 points.

Curry didn’t seem bothered by the injury after returning quickly to the game, but the same couldn’t be said of Harden, who sustained a scratched left eye shortly after Curry’s mishap.

Harden finished with a game-high-tying 29 points but often was seen squinting

and rubbing his eye after returning to action.

The Warriors took advantage of 18 offensive rebounds and 24 points off 18 Rockets turnovers to overcome Houston’s 51-33 dominance in points scored off 3-pointers.

Durant, who had 35 points in Golden State’s home win in Game 1 on Sunday, shot 9-for-22 from the field in Game 2.

Klay Thompson added 21 points and Andre Iguodala 16 for Golden State.

Warriors forward Draymond Green had another outstanding all-around game with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.

Chris Paul complemented Harden with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Rockets, who went 3-0 at home in their first-round triumph over the Utah Jazz.

Eric Gordon had 15 points and Austin Rivers 14 for Houston, while Clint Capela (14 points, 10 rebounds) and PJ Tucker (13 points, 10 rebounds) collect-

ed double-doubles.

The Rockets outshot the Warriors 46.8 percent to 46.2 percent but attempted fewer field-goals.

Curry was the first to head to the locker room just 3:29 into the game, having jammed his finger into the basketball.

X-rays were negative, and Curry, with two fingers on his left hand taped together, was able to return to the game a little more than three minutes later.

Harden was inadvertently swiped in the left eye by Green just before the midpoint of the first quarter.

Harden, who had yet to score in the game, was gone for nearly a full quarter, returning to the game with 7:09 left in the half and Houston trailing 36-31.

The Rockets fell back by as many as 11 before Harden poured in 10 points in the final 4:27 of the half, helping Houston stay within arm’s length at 58-49 at the break.

Antetokounmpo scores from all over as Bucks blast Celtics (REUTERS)-Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 15 of his 29 points in the third quarter and the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks pulled away for a 123-102 victory at home over the Boston Celtics to even their Eastern Conference semi-final at one game apiece.

Game 3 is Friday night in Boston.

Antetokounmpo opened the series Sunday - a 22-point loss - by shooting 7 of 21 while constantly getting bottled up in the paint by Boston defenders. On Tuesday, he was 3 of 8 in a closely contested first half that ended with Milwaukee holding a four-point lead before things changed drastically in the third.

The Bucks dominated the third by outscoring the Celtics 39-18 and ended the period with an impressive 24-2 run over the final 7:06.

Antetokounmpo keyed the clinching run by hitting four free throws, a pair of 3-pointers and a tipin. He exited to a

standing ovation with 2:17 left, and Eric Bledsoe scored the final seven points to push the lead to 98-73 going into the fourth.

Antetokounmpo returned with 8:59 left in the game and by then Milwaukee held a 30-point lead. He checked out for the rest of the game nearly two minutes later with Milwaukee up by 28.

Antetokounmpo shot 7 of 16 from the field and made 13 of 18 free throws. He also added 10 rebounds and four assists.

Khris Middleton helped Milwaukee overcome some early sluggishness by scoring 20 of his playoff career-high 28 points before halftime, and he went 7 for 10 on 3-pointers for the game.

Bledsoe added 21 as Milwaukee set a team postseason record by hitting 20 3-pointers. Bledsoe and Middleton were a combined 10 of 15 from behind the arc.

Marcus Morris led the Celtics with 17 points and Jaylen Brown added 16. Al Horford finished with 15 but Kyrie Irving missed his first seven shots and was held to nine points on 4-of-18 shooting.

It was the second time Irving was held to fewer than 10 points in a playoff game.

The Celtics suffered their first loss this postseason, and were within 7471 midway the third on a jumper by Morris before collapsing. They finished the quarter missing 11 of 12 shots and committing six turnovers as Milwaukee surged ahead and essentially sealed the game with the period-closing run.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dunks the ball during the third quarter against the Boston Celtics in game one of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Fiserv Forum. (Jeff

Hanisch-USA, TODAY Sports/Reuters)

Sri Lanka great Sangakkara to become first non-British MCC president (REUTERS) - Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has been named as the first non-British president of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and will take up his one-year post in October.

Sangakkara’s nomination was announced by current president, Anthony Wreford, at the MCC annual general meeting at Lord’s yesterday.

Former Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batsman Sangakkara, who scored 12 400 runs in 134 Tests, appears twice on the honours boards at Lord’s.

He hit 147 in the drawn Test against England in 2014, and 112 in Sri Lanka’s one-day international win on the same tour.

“It is a huge honour to be named the next President of MCC and it is a role that I am thoroughly looking forward to,” the 41-year-old said in a statement.

MCC was founded in 1787 and has been based at Lord’s, which it owns, since 1814. It is the guardian of the Laws of the game.

“For me, MCC is the greatest cricket club in the world, with its global reach

and continued progress for cricket on and off the pitch,” added Sangakkara.

“The year 2020 is going to be yet another significant one in cricket, especially at Lord’s, and I am thrilled that I am going to be able to play a part in supporting its future as President of MCC.” Sangakkara’s tenure will include another busy year at Lord’s next year, with two England Test matches against West Indies and Pakistan and the launch of The Hundred - the England and Wales Cricket Board’s new 100ball cricket format.

Hand-in-Hand U-19 3-day Inter County

Algoo’s century inspires strong Berbice fightback on day two

AFTER being skittled out for just 127 on day one of their first round Hand-in-Hand U-19 3-day Inter-County match against Select U-17, Berbice rebounded strongly in their second innings off the back off Alex Algoo’s unbeaten century while Kevin Umroa’s 5-wicket haul helped restrict the U-17s to 218 all out.

When play resumed on

the second day yesterday at Everest Cricket ground, U-17s were on 185-6 (54 overs) leading by 58 runs with four wickets in hand. However, Umroa’s 5-55 from 24.4 overs restricted the U-17s to 218 with overnight batsman Sarwan Chaitnarine left not out on 38.

With a deficit of 91, Berbice took strike in their second innings and were led by open-

er Algoo who is unbeaten on 119. He received solid support from Kevlon Anderson who made 53 and Seon Glasgow who contributed 32.

Berbice at stumps were on 292-4 with a strong lead of 201. The Select U-17s will face an uphill task today as they seek to bowl out the Berbicians for a manageable total.

Action begins at the same venue at 10:00hrs.

Olympic champion...

way forward. As the South African government we have always maintained that these regulations trample on the human rights and dignity of Caster Semenya and other women athletes.”

The IAAF has received support from some current and former athletes.

British former long distance runner Paula Radcliffe said: “I understand how hard a decision this was for CAS and respect them for ruling that women’s sport needs rules to protect it.”

But the governing body

has also come in for criticism from human rights organisations. The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution in support of Semenya in March.

The reaction in South Africa has been particularly stinging.

Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane from Sonke Gender Justice, a non-governmental organisation, said: “Essentially it’s reverse doping and it’s disgusting. The decision will have far-reaching implications, not just on Caster Semenya, but it will also apply 10:55 hrs Moshav

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to transgender and intersex people.”

Following the CAS case, other sporting bodies may now choose to set their own parameters for participation

by DSD and transgender athletes in their individual codes.

Semenya took potential steps to reinvent her career in the past days when she won the 5 000 metres at the South African Athletics Championships in a modest time of 16:05.97, an event that would allow her to compete outside of the IAAF regulations.

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24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 2, 2019

Dhoni, spinners lead Farah declines marathon spot at CSK’s rout of DC World Championships

MS Dhoni returned to action to lead Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to a dominant 80-run defeat of Delhi Capitals (DC) in a clash between the top two in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Captain Dhoni, Faf du Plessis and Ravindra Jadeja all missed the humbling defeat by Mumbai Indians last time out, yet they were back yesterday and helped their side return to winning ways. du Plessis was not quite at his imperious best and contributed to a slow start, but Dhoni made an unbeaten 44 off 22 late on - after Suresh Raina’s 59 - and a total of 179-4 left the Capitals with plenty of work to do.

Although an initially impressive response saw Shreyas Iyer make 44, Delhi lost the last eight wickets for 47 runs to be all out for 99 as Jadeja (3-9) and Imran Tahir (4-12) made hay.

fourth.

Chennai improved only to 27-1 by the end of the

SLUGGISH START FROM SUPER KINGS The Super Kings crawled along at the start of the powerplay, registering just three singles in each of their first three overs, before Shane Watson departed for a nine-ball duck in the

six-over restrictions and they were 53-1 through 10 overs, seemingly on course for a below-par total.

Raina had arrived to the middle by then, though, and the pace finally picked up when du Plessis (39) sent Axar Patel to Shikhar

Dhawan, allowing Dhoni to dazzle in the closing stages.

MS Dhoni smashed four fours and three sixes from 22 balls in his unbeaten 44.

DHONI DELIVERS AT CRUCIAL TIME Raina hit three boundaries in succession shortly before departing in the 15th over, having provided all 15 runs in his brief third-wicket stand with Dhoni.

The scoring simply

ramped up from there and Dhoni smashed four fours and three sixes, while Jadeja made 25 from 10, helping the Super Kings hit 53 from the final three overs against a Delhi attack without Kagiso Rabada.

It was a much-needed intervention, too, as the Capitals started in fine fashion, ending the powerplay on a competitive 59-2.

REMARKABLE COLLAPSE ENDS CHASE EARLY The wicket of Dhawan (19) midway the sixth over appeared to derail Delhi and their response to losing the opener was to fold in a hurry.

Rishabh Pant (5) and Colin Ingram soon departed (1) while Patel and Sherfane Rutherford went to Tahir in the same over, leaving the score at 83-6.

It became more brutal still when Jadeja saw Dhoni stump both Chris Morris for a first-ball duck and Iyer, who faced 33 deliveries, manage four boundaries as well as a solitary six, as the Capitals lost all composure.

A run-out did not aid Delhi as they were bowled out with 22 balls remaining to slip two points behind Chennai in the standings.

Windies batsman Pooran hoping for big World Cup impact FOUR years after suffering a serious car injury, Windies batsman Nicholas Pooran has high hopes of playing a big part for the team at this month’s ICC World Cup in England.

The 23-year-old Trinidad and Tobago native was named as part of a 15man squad, who will travel to England determined to make a mark on the tournament in a few days’ time.

However, the position he

Windies batsman Nicholas Pooran

now finds himself in is quite remarkable, considering the fact that two years ago he was left to wonder if he would ever walk again.

After returning from training in Port of Spain, Pooran ruptured his left patellar tendon and fractured his ankle. The injuries left the player sidelined for several months.

“West Indies has a lot of talented players like it has always had. Obviously, things are shaping well for

the World Cup and we are looking forward to it. Hope I do a great job,” Pooran said.

“The conditions in England will obviously be colder. The one thing would be (to understand) the conditions and then adjusting (accordingly) to the longer format of the game. This is our job, and this is what we do day in and out, so we have to realise the situation and get ready for the World Cup.”

European record holder Mo Farah

(REUTERS) - European record holder Mo Farah has declined a chance to contest the marathon in the World Championships in Doha, increasing the possibility of a return to the track.

Farah, a four-time Olympic champion over 5 000 metres and 10 000 metres, retired from track athletics to focus on marathon events in 2017.

The 36-year-old has since broken the European record when winning the Chicago Marathon last October, but only finished fifth at the London Marathon last weekend, over three minutes behind Kenyan great Eliud Kipchoge.

British Athletics yesterday announced their marathon participants for the World Championships in September - the men’s lineup consisting of Callum Hawkins and Dewi Griffiths - and Farah was the notable absentee.

Earlier this year, the three-time 10 000m world champion Farah said watching Briton Laura Muir claim the European Indoor 1500m and 3 000m double made him realise how much he missed the track.

“Having seen my fellow athletes, who I’ve competed against in the past, and watching the European Indoor Championships on TV, I was thinking ‘Oh man! I want to get back out there’,” he said in March.

“That’s just me. If things are going well and I’ve got a chance to win a medal then I’d love to come back and run for my country.

“Part of me when I watch track races I’m like, ‘can I still do it? I want to do it’. I do miss the track.”

Irish jockey Walsh announces retirement (REUTERS) - Irish jump jockey Ruby Walsh, one of the sport’s all-time greats, has announced he will retire from competition, the Racing Post reported on Wednesday.

Walsh, 39, announced his decision after his win on Kemboy in the Punchestown Gold Cup. Walsh is the Cheltenham festival’s most successful rider, winning 59 festival races and being crowned top jockey at the leading meeting 11 times.

His Cheltenham triumphs include three Queen Mother

Champion Chase wins, with two on Master Minded and the other on Azertyuiop.

Walsh won two Cheltenham Gold Cups on Kauto Star in 2007 and 2009, and shares the record for most wins in the Champion Hurdle with four victories and the Stayers’ Hurdle with five wins.

The County Kildare born Walsh first emerged on the scene winning the Irish amateur title twice as a teenager before turning professional.

Superstar Irish jockey Ruby Walsh retires from horse racing

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 2, 2019

Messi torments Liverpool with Liverpool could not have 600th Barca goal in 3-0 win played much better - Klopp BARCELONA (Reuters) Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said his team could not have played much better despite their 3-0 loss to a Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final first leg at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their third goal, with Sergi Roberto, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets

By Richard Martin BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) - Lionel Messi put Barcelona on the verge of the Champions League final by scoring twice in a 3-0 home win over Liverpool in the first leg of their last-four clash yesterday, taking his goal tally for the Catalans to a remarkable 600 in the process.

Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez reminded the visitors of his clinical finishing by opening the scoring in the 26th minute of a tense and finely-balanced first half at the Nou Camp, darting between two Liverpool defenders to divert Jordi Alba’s cross into the net.

Barca captain Messi scored the all-important second goal of the night in the 75th minute, chest-

(REUTERS/Susana Vera) ing the ball down on the first defeat in any competirebound and dribbling it tion since January with some over the line, after Suarez ruthless finishing. had hammered the crossbar Suarez spared little with a shot with his knee. thought for his eventful The Argentine then add- three-and-a-half year stay ed to Barca’s already huge on Merseyside, as he celeadvantage to take into next brated his opening strike Tuesday’s second leg at An- with relish, racing behind field by scoring his milestone the goal and wagging his goal in style, smashing into finger at the delighted Barthe top corner with a sizzling ca fans. free kick in the 82nd minute.

Sadio Mane squandered Liverpool, who were a glorious chance to level for beaten 3-1 in last year’s fi- the Premier League side later nal by Real Madrid, played in the first half but scooped far better than the heavy the ball over the bar, while scoreline suggests, carv- James Milner and Mohamed ing out a number of clear Salah were both denied by chances but spurning them Barca’s excellent Marc-Anall. dre ter Stegen later on.

Barca’s South American Klopp’s side had done an duo of Suarez and Messi impressive job of shackling showed little mercy whenev- Barca’s all-time top scorer er they sniffed a chance out, Messi, but there was little however, and condemned they could do when the ArJuergen Klopp’s side to their gentine pounced on the loose

ball after Suarez had hit the crossbar, calmly doubling the home side’s lead.

Messi sparked further celebrations at a packed Nou Camp with another outstanding free kick, yet the drama in this blockbuster European encounter was far from over.

Liverpool again went agonisingly close to snatching an away goal as Barca’s Ivan Rakitic scrambled the ball off the goalline only to find the feet of Salah, who somehow smashed the rebound against the near post.

Barca could have seized an even bigger advantage in the tie with two golden chances but the Frenchman missed the target the first time then shot straight into the hands of goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

Holder signs off Northants stint but unable to prevent defeat LONDON, England (CMC) – West Indies captain Jason Holder signed off on his stint for Northamptonshire with another classy knock but it came yet again in a losing cause, as the hosts went down to Yorkshire by five wickets under Duckworth-Lewis in the OneDay Cup here yesterday.

Opting for first knock at Wantage Road, Northants piled up an imposing 351 all out off 49.3 overs, with South African opener Ricardo Vasconcelos stroking a top score of 112 off 97 balls to mark his first List A hundred.

He posted 118 for the first wicket with fellow

countryman Richard Levi (58) and also added 114 for the second wicket with Josh Cobb (58), partnerships

West Indies captain Jason Holder

which propelled the hosts to a strong position of 232 for one in the 35th over.

Wi c k e t k e e p e r A d a m Rossington chipped in with an unbeaten 45 from 25 balls while Holder carved out 36 off 34 deliveries to sustain his form with the bat.

In his final match before linking up with the West Indies side which arrived in Dublin yesterday for the Tri-Nations Series involving Ireland and Bangladesh, Holder punched four fours and a six before falling in the 43rd over.

The 27-year-old all-rounder finished with 284 runs from five outings,

at an average of 71 with three half-centuries.

More importantly for West Indies, Holder seems to have recovered from the leg injury he picked up during his 72 against Lancashire last week, and which kept him out of the subsequent fixture against Worcestershire.

However, he did not bowl when Northants took the field as Yorkshire chased down a revised target of 175 off 25 overs, after rain intervened.

O p e n e r To m Kohler-Cadmore top-scored with 67 off 80 deliveries, adding 109 for the second wicket with Harry Brook, who made 47 off 38 balls.

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp

“Football is like this. It is about scoring goals and they scored three and we scored none but the performance was really good, the boys played a super game to be honest but against a side like Barcelona, a few moments are enough to give them the opportunity,” Klopp said.

“What can I say? I am really happy with the performance but of course not too happy with the result, we have to take that, that’s football and we know that.

You don’t get grades, only a hard result and we have to accept that.”

Liverpool went in 1-0 down at the break but

after dominating the early part of the second half, Messi struck twice including a superb long-range free kick.

Klopp’s side had their chances too with James Milner having two shots saved and Mohamed Salah striking the post.

“That is how it is. How we created the moments was outstanding, how we caused them problems was outstanding, we controlled the game so well,” Klopp said.

“We went in at halftime, analysed the half, told the boys what we can do better and what have to do it again.

I don’t know if we can play it much better to be honest,” he said.

“But then you have that one moment, the ball hits the crossbar….. and then Messi is there for an easy goal. Then a wonder strike again, that is how it is. That ball was obviously unsaveable,” Klopp added.

“Barcelona showed they had more experience. We saw that in the moments when they stopped our rhythm, going down, but that’s part of the game,” the German said.

Liverpool must now try to turn the game around at Anfield, an even harder task without an away goal.

“3-0 is not the easiest result but we have another game (second leg) and our people will be there,” he said.

Ex-Worcestershire player Hepburn jailed for five years for raping a sleeping woman (REUTERS) - Former Worcestershire county cricketer Alex Hepburn has been jailed for five years for raping a sleeping woman in his apartment in 2017, British media reported on Tuesday.

Australian-born Alex Hepburn

Australian-born Hep-

burn, 23, was found guilty of one charge of oral rape and cleared of another rape charge during a re-trial last month by the Hereford Crown Court.

He had denied both charges.

J u d g e J i m Ti n d a l told Hepburn that he had “demeaned women” and he viewed his victim as a “piece of meat, not a woman entitled to respect,” the BBC reported.

Hepburn was given a one-year extension at Worcestershire on Oct. 12, 2017 but was suspended by the club after being charged the following month.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 2, 2019

Windies players urged to maximise opportunities on Ireland tour DUBLIN, Ireland, (CMC) – Assistant coach Roddy Estwick has urged players to make the most of their opportunities in the Tri-Nations Series but says West Indies’ ultimate goal will be to win the tournament when it bowls off Sunday.

The Caribbean side arrived here Wednesday for the series which will see them pitted against hosts Ireland and Bangladesh, in what will be their final audition ahead of the ICC World Cup which gets underway in England and Wales at month end.

“You obviously want to win, you don’t go into any series not looking to win but what you want is for us to play good cricket, execute our plans well, enjoy each other’s company,” Estwick said on arrival. “[We want to] make sure the dressing room is a good place and that they’re fully contented with everything we do and they’re happy and enjoying playing for West Indies.”

He added: “It should be a great experience for a lot of the younger players. It’s an opportunity for them to showcase their talents at this level. A lot of them haven’t played for the West Indies at this level before so it’s a great opportunity for them.

“Even though they’re not going to the World Cup,

the chance to get in some meaningful practice … so

an under-strength squad in the May 5-17 tournament, with

of opener John Campbell, batsman Sunil Ambris and

Fringe West Indies ODI players have been urged to make the most of the Ireland tour.

it’s still important they go out and play good cricket and the ones that are going to the World Cup, this is

this tournament is going to be very important for a lot of different reasons.”

West Indies are fielding

the core of their side currently campaigning in the Indian Premier League.

The inexperienced likes

all-rounder Raymon Reifer have all found spots in the 14man unit, while experienced left-hander Jonathan Carter

has been recalled following a two-year break.

Estwick, recently returned to the coaching setup following a raft of changes to the management staff last month, said the Tri-Series was also a chance for these players to stake their claim for more permanent spots in the ODI squad.

“It’s a big opportunity.

[There are] one or two who’ve been out of the side and who’ve been given a chance to come back into the ODI setup so that’s important for them as well,” he pointed out.

“And like I said, it’s an opportunity for lot of the younger players. When I look at the makeup of this squad in Ireland, it’s a very, very young squad so they should be looking forward to performing well, breaking into the ODI side and probably playing two for three World Cups going forward.”

Following the Tri-Nations Series, West Indies will undergo a final preparation camp in Southampton from May 18-24 before taking on South Africa and New Zealand in official warm-up games in Bristol, on May 26 and 28.

They open their World Cup campaign against Pakistan at Trent Bridge on May 31.

From name to fortune, Delhi Capitals change for the better in IPL

By Amlan Chakraborty

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - For a franchise used to spending the business end of the Indian Premier League (IPL) wondering what went wrong, the Delhi Capitals have surprised themselves by making the playoff with two matches to spare in a remarkable turnaround.

If their long-suffering fans found it difficult to be upbeat about the team at the start of this season, they could hardly be faulted.

The underperforming side underwent a major rebranding late last year — becoming the Delhi Capitals with a new jersey, a new logo and a new anthem — after JSW Sport, part of a $13 billion (10 billion pounds) business conglomerate, acquired a 50 percent stake.

They appointed Australian Ricky Ponting as the head coach, but still ended the season bottom of the

standings, their fourth such finish in 11 seasons.

To their fans, who had not seen the side make the

Delhi Capitals fast bowler Kagiso Rabada(Left) and captain Shreyas Iyer ...

playoffs since 2012, all of the changes looked cosmetic as they prepared for another season of underperformance.

Ponting, however, knew they just needed to be patient.

“Success doesn’t happen overnight,” Ponting said in a team video. “Even last year, we felt we were very close to playing great cricket ... but all the big moments popped up.”

“This year we’re winning those moments.”

That’s largely because of the balance in the side.

Delhi retained wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, skipper Sheras Iyer, who was elevated into the role during the middle of last season, and South African speedster Kagiso Rabada while adding opener Shikhar Dhawan — smart investments that paid off.

The team effort this year

contrasts with the sporadic individual brilliance of last season.

“These did not add up to anything,” Ponting said. “We had outstanding individual performances but not much in the middle.

“This year (opener) Prithvi (Shaw) played well when we needed him to, Shikhar played well on a number of occasions, Rishabh won two games of his own and Rabada is the leading wicket-taker by a long way.”

Delhi have IPL’s youngest skipper in Iyer, who was just 23 when he was appointed, but his relatively youthful side have been guided by Ponting and former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who came on board as an advisor earlier this year.

Ganguly’s presence has been particularly helpful to

fellow left-handers like Pant and Dhawan and the improved performances have brought the fans back to Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.

“It helps when you win,” Ganguly said. “It helps when you play well, that’s what brings people back. If you can do that, this would be a big brand.”

Sajjan Jindal, Chairman and Managing Director of the JSW Group, which also owns teams in India’s franchise-based soccer and kabaddi leagues, agreed.

“The world wants to be with the winners, nobody likes the loser, right?” he said.

“After seven years, coming into playoff, it’s a big deal for Delhi Capitals. I’m sure they will go a long way.

And I won’t be surprised if they win this championship.”

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 2, 2019

Hand-in-Hand U-19 Inter-county cricket

Demerara in firm control after Essequibo collapse again … Joel Spooner among the wickets

By Rajiv Bisnauth DOMINANT Demerara outclassed their opponents Essequibo to close day two of their first round Hand-in-Hand Under-19 Inter-county three-day encounter in firm control for an outright win yesterday, at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground.

Essequibo, with a first-innings deficit of 131 runs, closed the day when bad light stopped play at 155-9, a second-innings lead of just 34 runs with one wicket in hand.

Off-spinner Joel Spooner repeated his performance, as he tore apart the batting order as none of the batsmen was able to read him for the second time in two days.

He ended the day with figures of 6-59. His fellow-spin counterpart Pradesh Balkishun claimed the other three wickets.

Earlier, hosts Demerara

resumed at 162-5, stretched their first-innings total to 207-9 off 76 overs, after captain Ashmead Nedd did not bat due to food poisoning.

Overnight batsman Balkishun failed to add to his

overnight 11 and was removed by off-spinner Amit Persaud, who claimed three other wickets, to finish with figures of 6-29 off 31 overs.

The other overnight batsman Zachery Jodah, who resumed on seven, and Yudister

Kevin Christian (right), and Orlando Jailall put on 110 for the first wicket.

Persaud then added 24 runs before both batsmen when bowled, off Persaud for 17 and 15 runs respectively.

Joel Spooner struck a four and six in his unbeaten 13 after which Persaud claimed the wicket of Qumar Torrington for two.

Medium pacers Mervyn Benjamin and Bhumshwar Ramkissoon, along with off-spinner Badesh Parsotam, were the other successful bowlers on day one.

Faced with an uphill battle to save the game, Essequibo openers Kevin Christian and Orlando Jailall showed some fight, adding 110 for the first wicket.

The left-handed Jailall struck a composed 60 off 133 balls with four fours and a six before he was first to be dismissed by first-innings tormentor, Spooner. Christian made 49 off 110 balls, inclusive of two fours before he too went off the bowling of

Joel Spooner (right), and Pradesh Balkishun, shared nine wickets.

Spooner.

Thereafter, the other batsmen showed no sign of improvement and carried out the casual approach in the second innings as

well, as they surrendered in front of a small gathering of cricket-lovers to both Spooner and Balkishun.

Persaud was unbeaten on 14 when play ended.

NSC assists several, including CARIFTA gold Bermuda’s former CARIFTA Games star medallist Gibbons, Buxton Carl Hooper CC Sakari Famous lands first collegiate title

Several members of the NSC help Anisha Gibbons hold her new javelin.

THE NATIONAL Sports Commission (NSC), through Director of Sport Christopher Jones, assisted several sports clubs, individuals and a promoter, on Monday, for recognition of their outstanding achievement and upcoming events.

High on the list was 2019 CARIFTA gold medallist Anisha Gibbons, who received a new javelin after Jones learnt last week that the youngster’s training javelin was 45 years old.

Jones also asked that the 1974 javelin be placed in a history corner at the By-

geval Multilateral School so that it can be preserved for all to see. Jones will soon visit the school to get a firsthand look at the equipment.

The Director of Sport also congratulated Gibbons’ PE teacher, Raymond Daw, and encouraged him to help develop future gold medallists.

Gibbons won the country’s first javelin medal at the recently concluded Games, which was held in the Cayman Islands. She threw the equipment 40.34 metres in the U-17 division.

Meanwhile Jones also

supported the Buxton Carl Hooper Cricket Club (CC) team, which will be leaving Guyana today to compete in Trinidad and Tobago.

Also benefitting were cyclist Walter Grant-Stuart, Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, Tran$cend Entertainment (which is hosting an upcoming tapeball competition) and the New Beginners Cooperative Society Limited (which will be organising football and softball cricket competitions for males and females on May 5 at the Kildonan Community Centre ground.

ATHENS, Georgia, (CMC) – B e r m u d a ’s f o r m e r CARIFTA Games star Sakari Famous has secured her maiden collegiate title in the United States and is looking forward to even bigger and better things.

The University of Georgia freshman won the women’s high jump with a leap of 1.78 metres on her third and final attempt at the Torrin Lawrence Memorial in Athens at the weekend.

“I’m really grateful for my results this past meet,” said Famous, who won six medals during her CARIFTA career.

“I wasn’t aware of my position until the very end when they announced my name before I was about to jump, so I was really excited on the inside but had to stay focused on my jump, which secured my position.

“It has been a bit of a struggle these past few months, but I can say that I’m slowly but surely improving.

I appreciate all of the support and positive encouragement that I have received and looking forward to jumping higher heights in future competitions.”

“It was a special moment as it was my first win in a collegiate meet. My focus is more on improving my

height, which would put me in a better position to compete in higher level competitions,” added Famous, who missed the chance of final CARIFTA glory as university commitments meant she was unable to join the Bermuda team for this year’s renewal in the Cayman Islands.

forward to her competing for Bermuda this summer.

We are hoping to send her to the University Games in Naples, Italy, and the Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru.”

Bermuda jumping coach Rohaan Simons said Famous’ ability to overcome challenges spoke volumes about her character.

Bermudian jumper Sakari Famous.

In her absence, Bermuda won six medals.

Bermuda National Athletics Association president Donna Raynor said was delighted Famous has achieved another milestone in her career.

“I’ m happy to see that things are falling into place,” Raynor said. “First place at any competition in university is a great result. I look

“I’m really excited because obviously it’s about the journey and sometimes things don’t go your way,” he said.

“It’s going to show what type of person you are; are you going to blame others for your failure or push forward and work harder to improve on the things you need to improve. That’s the stage she’s at now.”

Olympic champion Semenya loses appeal over testosterone rules

By Nick Said CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - Olympic 800-metre champion Caster Semenya yesterday lost her appeal against rules that mean middle distance female athletes with a high natural level of testosterone must take medication to reduce it.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled the regulations were necessary for athletes with differences in sexual development (DSDs) to ensure fair competition.

The case is likely to have far-reaching consequences for women’s sport, and has split opinion around the globe.

But the court also voiced concern about how the new rules, which cover events ranging from 400-metre to a mile, would be implemented by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the sport’s governing body.

Testosterone increases muscle mass, strength and haemoglobin, which affects endurance. Some competitors have said women with

higher levels of the hormone have an unfair advantage.

Semenya has said she does not wish to take medication to change who she is and how she was born, and wants to compete naturally.

“I know that the IAAF’s regulations have always targeted me specifically,” Semenya, 28, from South Africa, said in a statement released via her lawyers.

“For a decade the IAAF has tried to slow me down, but this has actually made me stronger. The decision of the CAS will not hold me back.

I will once again rise above and continue to inspire young women and athletes in South Africa and around the world.”

The ruling means Semenya and other athletes with DSD hoping to compete at the World Championships in Doha in September would have to start taking medication to lower their testosterone levels within one week.

Semenya and her lawyers are considering appealing the ruling.

Professor Steve Cornelius, an adviser to the Athletics

Four Guyanese boxers for Brian Lara 50th birthday competition GUYANA will be represented by four boxers when the Brian Lara 50th birthday competition punches off this evening in Trinidad and Tobago.

Heading the list of Guyanese participants is Caribbean lightweight champion Jamal Eastman, commonly known as the `Beast from Berbice’. Eastman, the nephew of former world-rated middleweight Howard Eastman hails from the Rose Hall Jammers Gym. Kelvin and Christopher Moore from the Essequibo Gym and Shamar Beaton of Ricola Gym will make up Team Guyana.

Beaton is unbeaten since commencing his amateur career earlier this year. Just last week, he held Guyana’s flag high in Dominica when he won by TKO. The Guyana team is expected to depart this morning and will be accompanied by coaches Clifton Moore and Francisco Roldan.

South Africa legal team, told television news channel eNCA the case could be elevated to the European Court of Justice.

South Africa’s Caster Semenya wins the Women’s 800m. Diamond League - Stade Louis II, Monaco, July 20, 2018. (REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/File photo)

DISCRIMINATORY The IAAF welcomed the verdict, saying it was “pleased that the regulations were found to be a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of achieving the IAAF’s legitimate aim of preserving the integrity of female athletics in the restricted events.

“No athlete will be forced to undergo any assessment and/or treatment under these regulations. It is each athlete’s responsibility, in close consultation with her medical team, to decide whether or not to proceed with any assessment and/or treatment,” it said.

However, in the 165-page ruling, the CAS Panel expressed concerns as to the future application of the regulations.

“The Panel found that the DSD regulations are discriminatory, but the majority of the Panel found that, on the basis of the evidence submitted by

Sri Lanka great Sangakkara to become first non-British 23 MCC president Page

the parties, such discrimination is a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of achieving the IAAF’s aim of preserving the integrity of female athletics in the restricted events,” the statement said.

Under the rules, female athletes who have high natural levels of testosterone will have to reduce their levels through medication to under 5 nmol/L, which is double the normal female range of below 2 nmol/L. The court suggested the regulations be limited to events between 400- and 800-metre due to a lack of evidence that testosterone has a significant effect beyond these distances.

This has been rejected by the IAAF for now, which says it could expand or reduce events under the regulations in the future if there is a compelling scientific case.

South Africa’s Sports Minister Tokozile Xasa said: “Naturally we are disappointed with the judgement.

We will study the judgement‚ consider it and determine a

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Kumar Sangakkara delivered the MCC’s Spirit of Cricket lecture in 2011 and is also a member of its World Cricket Committee think tank.

Hand-in-Hand U-19 3-day Inter County

Algoo’s century inspires strong 23 Berbice fightback on day two

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Jamaal Eastman

Berbice opener Alex Algoo is unbeaten on 119 and will look to help extend his side’s lead over the Select U-17s today.

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THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2019