Guyana Chronicle E -paper 4-30-2019

TUESDAY 30th April, 2019

No.105623

‘We never intended to honour terrorism’ –– just to uphold a long-held tradition of remembering late MPs, gov’t says 03 –– as US condemns Kadir Motion PAGE

$50M expansion for GPHC maternity unit

Petrobras presents gov’t 03 with five-year plan PAGE

…technical assistance, export, import services included

…bed, floor capacities to increase

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Woman busted with cocaine strapped to thighs

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Feasibility study for Parika/ Goshen road completed 17 PAGE

Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams, admires a token from an official of Petrobras during their meeting on Monday (DPI photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

$50M expansion for GPHC maternity unit …bed, floor capacities to increase

Tracey Lewis, Canadian Bank Note Managing Director (backing camera) assists Minister of Finance Winston Jordan in unveiling the artist sketch of the Maternity Extension Project of the GPHC. Others in picture are, from left, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence; Ward Manager, Ms Shannon Haynes; Chairperson, GPHC Board of Directors, Kesaundra Alves; Brigadier (ret’d) George Lewis, Chief Executive Officer (GPHC); and Dr Fawcett Jeffrey, Director of Medical Services (Samuel Maughn photos)

THE all-out efforts by the Ministry of Public Health and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to address the negative statistics of maternal mortality and morbidity received a boost with

the launch of the Maternity Extension Project, on Monday.

A $50M funding to enable the extension of the maternity wing at the GPHC is being provided by the Canadian Bank Note, the Cana-

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan; Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence; Brigadier (ret’d) George Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of the GPHC; Miss Kesaundra Alves, Chairperson, Lewis announced that CBN will ensure the general maintenance of the facility upon completion. She underscored the importance of maintenance of the facility.

In her remarks, Minister Lawrence, in addition to expressing appreciation to the CBN Managing Director for her foresight in seeking to assist in such a tangible manner, and Minister Jordan for the integral role he played in helping to access the funds for the project, said that the intervention by CBN is critical for the ministry’s maternal and child health programme. The minister described her ministerial colleague as “a true friend of the social sector”, and lauded Lewis for her “wonderful initiative of co-signing to make all this possible to this country’s premier referral

tality and morbidity, and reiterated that their intention is to re-inject the positives into this department and change the statistics from negative to positive so that incidents of maternal mortality and morbidity can be lessened.

Minister Jordan expressed gratitude to Lewis and CBN for providing the funds for the project and committing to its maintenance. He urged that the users also commit to keeping the facility in a pristine manner, befitting the money that will be injected. He evoked much laughter when he suggested that a process should be put in train to access a similar sum from CBN for another humanitarian project that will showcase the efforts of Lotto and the government that is being done in the social sector for health and social development.

He added that when Guyana’s oil and gas begins to flow, this country will be in a better position to address a number of projects it has on the front burner, like the

da-based parent company of the Guyana Lotto.

Present at the ceremony held in the Maternity Parking Lot was CBN Managing Director, Ms. Tracey Lewis, who, in brief remarks, noted that the expansion unit will

An artist's impression of the Maternity Extension Project of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)

complement the existing maternity services and provide additional accommodation, private rooms, office space and specialist services. “We value the contribution of doctors, nurses and midwives of maternity care; after all, they assist in bringing new life into the world, and we are hopeful that this expansion will provide these professions with a comprehensive improved facility that would be comfortable and welcoming to all those parents,“ she added.

And much to the delight of the audience that included

hospital.”

Minister Lawrence reminded of the ministry’s objective, which is to provide the highest possible appropriate maternal care and for it to be delivered in an atmosphere that shows respect to human. The expansion to the maternity wing provides just the opportunity for that to be done, Minister Lawrence added. On that note, the minister said that the ministry, in conjunction with the GPHC, is committed to redressing the negative statistics concerning the maternal mor-

much-talked-about trauma centre that could not get off the ground because of lack of funds. Minister Jordan reminded of the known colloquial saying “One, one dutty build dam.”

GPHC’s George Lewis, in giving a background into the project, said that the launching which is another phase of the maternity expansion, is timely as the GPHC is currently celebrating 20 years as a corporation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

‘We never intended to honour terrorism’ --just to uphold a long-held tradition of remembering late MPs, gov’t says --as US condemns Kadir Motion

THE Government of Guyana has made it clear that it never intended to honour terrorism in any way when it approved a motion to remember deceased Members of Parliament, at the April 26th sitting of the National Assembly.

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.

The United States (US) Embassy has since condemned the motion passed in the National Assembly to recognise the contributions of the late Kadir, on the grounds that he was a convicted terrorist but the Government of Guyana said that its action is being interpreted incorrectly.

“The Government of Guyana asserts that it had no intention of conveying the impression that the motion was designed to honour a former MP convicted of terrorism in another jurisdiction. The motion recognises the member's service as a parliamentarian,” the Government said on Monday.

Government’s statement was made after the U.S Em-

U.S. Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch

bassy condemned the motion.

Describing the resolution as “an insensitive and thoughtless act,” the U.S Embassy contended that the motion demonstrates the National Assembly’s disregard for the gravity of Kadir’s actions.

It pointed out that, just recently, U.S. Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch, rated Guyana as “a model to the world on religious tolerance and understanding” at an Interna-

tional Peace Conference but said the resolution draws into question that reputation.

“It also comes on the heels of Guyana’s historic cooperation with the United States on the extradition of an alleged murderer,” and according to the embassy, Members of Parliament have placed the resolution in direct contradiction to the efforts of security cooperation between our two countries. “With this

The Late Abdul Kadir

resolution, honoring a convicted terrorist, members of Guyana’s National Assembly have left a stain on their legacy as representatives of the Guyanese people and on their commitment to the rule of law,” the U.S Embassy stated.

On Friday, the National Assembly moved a motion to recognise Kadir’s work as a Parliamentarian, and to express sympathy to his relatives. The motion read: “Be

it resolved, that this National Assembly records its deep regret on the death of Mr. Abdul Kadir, on June 28, 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 April 17, 2001 to May 2, 2006, and to the people of Guyana.”

Kadir died in a US prison while serving a life sentence for plotting to blow up the

John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

But the Government said motion was in keeping with the norms and practice of the Parliament of Guyana, and made it clear that it was never intended to glorify the work of a terrorist. “It is well known that there is a time-honoured convention of the National Assembly to observe, in a standard and solemn form, the work of former Members who are deceased. The observance of this tradition has never been selective, and has included, over the decades, persons of all political parties and persuasions who served in the National Assembly,” the Government said.

However, it said it regrets the interpretation given to the motion passed in the National Assembly on the death of Kadir as a Member of Parliament.

“The Government of Guyana continues to condemn terrorism in the strongest possible way. The Government of Guyana reaffirms its commitment to continue and intensify the fight against terrorism in any form and is proud of its record to date in this regard,” the Government stated.

Petrobras presents gov’t with five-year plan

…technical assistance, export, import services included Representatives of the Brazilian multinational corporation, Petrobras on Monday presented a five-year strategic plan for Guyana’s upcoming oil and gas industry, which includes technical assistance, export and import services and training.

The plan was presented to Minister Dawn Hastings-Williams, under her new portfolio as Minister of State, during a courtesy call in the Ministry of the Presidency’s boardroom. Minister Hastings-Williams told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the talks between the corporation and

Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams, and Director of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe engage officials of Petrobras

government have been quite fruitful and promising. She hopes that this can be reinforced with the representatives’ willingness to provide a comprehensive proposal.

This, she said, will allow relevant stakeholders to have a better understanding of the information provided to see how best the government can partner with Petrobras. “We [the Coalition government] are interested in having many countries come on board around this shelf of exploration and production of oil.

As you know, oil production is bigger than bauxite, gold... this is not to say the country’s other natural resources will be pushed aside; it just TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

Sri Lanka on alert for attacks as archbishop slams poor church security COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lankan security officials have warned that Islamist militants behind Easter Sunday’s suicide bombings are planning attacks and could be dressed in uniform, as the archbishop of Colombo complained about insufficient security around churches.

The militants were targeting five locations for attacks on Sunday just passed or on Monday, security sources said.

“There could be another wave of attacks,” the head of the police ministerial security division (MSD) said in a letter to lawmakers and other officials seen by Reuters on Monday. “The relevant information further notes that persons dressed in military uniforms and using a van could be involved in the attacks.”

There were no attacks on Sunday and security across Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka has been ramped up, with scores

of suspected Islamists arrested since the April 21 attacks on hotels and churches that killed more than 250 people, including 40 foreign nationals.

The government has also banned women from wearing face veils under an emergency law that was put in place after the attacks. There were concerns within the Muslim community that the ban could fuel tensions in the multi-ethnic nation. But government officials said it would help security forces identify people as a hunt for any remaining attackers and their support network continues across the Indian Ocean island, which was gripped by civil war for decades until 2009. The Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Ranjith, said that security had not been sufficiently stepped up around churches.

ADVERTISEMENT “We are not satisfied with

the security arrangements and urge authorities to ensure our safety,” he told reporters.

Authorities suspect members of two little known groups National Thawheedh Jamaath (NTJ) and Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim - of carrying out the Easter attacks, though Islamic State has claimed responsibility.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said a tightknit group of people was involved, mostly close friends and families. They spoke faceto-face, possibly to evade electronic surveillance. “They were small enough that they were not using normal communications, instead meeting each other,” Wickremesinghe told Reuters. He added the coordinated bombings, the type of explosives used and the tightly guarded plot suggested the bombers had guidance.

“ISIS has claimed, we also felt there has to be some international links,” he said, referring to Islamic State.

Authorities believe Zahran

Hashim, the founder of NTJ, was the mastermind and one of the nine suicide bombers.

One military source told Reuters that five sets of white attire commonly worn by Buddhists when visiting temples were recovered from a safe house in the east, the site of a gun battle on Friday that killed Zahran’s father and his two brothers. His wife and daughter escaped an explosion with minor injuries, hospital staff and police said.

Advertisement ROW OVER POLICE CHIEF Many Sri Lankans believe a deep rift between President Maithripala Sirisena and Wickremesinghe has undermined national security. Sirisena fired Wickremesinghe last year, after months of tension, only to be forced to reinstate him under pressure from the Supreme Court. Since then their relationship has deteriorated further to the point where their factions actively

try to undermine each other, including not sharing security information, defense sources say.

Sirisena said on Monday he had appointed Chandana Wickramaratne, the second in command at the police, as acting police chief. Over the weekend, two sources at the president’s office told Reuters that Pujith Jayasundara, the police chief who was appointed by Wickremesinghe, was refusing the president’s request to step down for not sharing information about the attacks.

“Since there is an investigation into his possible failure in preventing the attacks, Jayasundara has been sent on compulsory leave,” a source close to the president told Reuters. It was not immediately possible to contact Jayasundara on Monday. The president has also appointed General Shantha Kottegoda as the new defense secretary, replacing Hemasiri Fernando who resigned after the bombings, saying that some institutions under him had failed.

Kottegoda, 69, army commander between 2004 and 2005, was instrumental in weakening Tamil Tiger rebels

by breaking away an allied group. The archbishop criticized the bickering at the top levels of government. “At a time when the whole country has been affected by a major catastrophe, politicians should stop finding fault with each other,” he said.

“Instead they must have broad discussion on what steps needed to be taken to solve this and take this country out of this crisis.”

Sri Lanka’s Tourism Bureau chairman, Kishu Gomes, said tourist arrivals in Colombo were expected to fall 50 percent over the next two months because of the bombings. Tourist arrivals in areas elsewhere in Sri Lanka would likely go down by about 30 percent, he told reporters at a travel conference in Dubai. In India, police said they had raided the homes of three people in the southern state of Kerala, close to Sri Lanka, in connection with their links to Islamic State. They did not say if there was any connection to the attacks in Sri Lanka

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

PM calls on Europe to remove Opposition party renews Dominica from blacklist efforts to reverse 2015

ROSEAU, Dominica, Apr 29, CMC – The Dominica government Monday called on the European Union to remove the island from a list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions saying that it had done all that had been required by Europe in meeting the obligation requested.

“We don’t want an apology, all we want is to remove our name from the blacklist because we have done everything and we have gone beyond what was required by the international community,” Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit told Parliament as it approved amendments to earlier pieces of legislation that had been mandated by the European Union.

In March, the European Finance Ministers said that Barbados, United Arab Emirates and Marshall islands that were on the 2017 blacklist and moved to the grey list following commitments they

had taken, were now being backlisted for not having followed up.

The European said that seven other countries, namely Belize, Bermuda, Dominica, Aruba, Fiji, Oman and Vanuatu were moved from the grey list to the blacklist for the same reason. They said another 34 countries will continue to be monitored in 2019, while 25 countries from the original screening process have now been cleared. But Skerrit told Parliament that the blame surrounding the decision to place the island on the blacklist should be placed at the feet of the European, who had failed to communicate adequately an in time, the necessary procedures to be followed after Dominica had first met all that had been required of it. He used the occasion to reiterate his call for a bipartisan approach to dealing with the situation.

“There are something in our

country that it transcends party politics because when our country gets into this negative list, it is not Roosevelt Skerrit or the Dominica Labour Party, it ia Dominica and these things have the potential of impacting the way we conduct business in our country and between countries” He warned that the blacklisting will also affect the island’s banking and financial systems. “So people have to understand these things and recognise that this is not about UWP (United Workers Party) or Dominica Labour Party. This is about our country and our country is facing, like all other developing countries, a monumental task. “We are small fries, we are sprats…in a deep blue ocean surrounded by sharks and whales,” he said, noting that unlike the United States that “quite rightly” warned the European when they tried to impose the same policies

“you have no jurisdiction over the United States.

“We don’t have that power,” he said, adding “all we do in this country is watch and pray to our Lord to protect and guide us in this every difficult world because we don’t have the civil authority to deal with these issues so we have go beyond the civil authority and seek the spiritual intervention”. Skerrit said that having diplomatic relations with countries were no longer the criteria for getting in aid in the future. “It boils down to one thing, friendship,” he said, adding “the world has changed it has become more difficult and if you do not know how to navigate this world and if you do not have friends you could call or send a Whatsapp…you have problems.”

Natural hazards highlight importance of safe schools — CDEMA KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Apr 29, CMC – A senior Caribbean disaster management official says the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 and the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Trinidad in August last year, emphasise the need to change anticipation of the impact of natural hazards.

Deputy executive director of the Barbados-based Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Elizabeth Riley, told the opening of the second Ministerial Meeting on Safe Schools that in Dominica following the passage of Hurricane Maria, 84 per cent of educational facilities had some level of damage. She said total damage and losses to the sector was estimated at US$77 million.

Riley said that the region’s safe schools partners have organised themselves to better serve the countries of the region. In July 2018, following the inaugural safe schools partner meeting in April 2018, the safe schools sub-group of the education sector sub-committee was established. It provides a space for better coordination of support to the region and for agreement on the standards to be pursued in schools safety.

Riley said CDEMA, in recognition of the importance of the safe schools programme in securing the lives of the region’s children, teachers and other school workers, has committed a dedicated space in the Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management to advance the conversation on safe schools.

“The safe school partners have recognised the valuable contributions that youth can make to the development of the Caribbean School Safety Initiative,” Riley said. “The youth are recognised as important partners in developing this initiative and serve as agents of change in our societies,” she further said, adding that the first youth forum “My Island, My Life”, was held here on April 29-30.

“The intent of the youth forum was to be a platform through which young people can contribute to policy discussions through their collective ideas, solutions and innovations. “The active and meaningful engagement of youth in the design, implementation, follow up and review of safety issued around the three pillars of the Caribbean Schools Safety Initiative represents a chance to explore ways and means of promoting youth develop-

ment and engagement. The youth developed a resolution through their collective efforts and this will be presented to the Ministers for consideration.”

Riley said that CDEMA is leading on the implementation of the Model Safe Schools Programme in the Caribbean Project, which is financed by the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and benefitting Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The project will enhance capacity to incorporate and mainstream comprehensive risk and disaster management considerations in education sector policies, planning and operations.

Education Minister St. Clair Prince, Minister of Education, said that the negative consequences of hazards are particularly extensive for Caribbean countries because of their status as small island states (SIDS).

He said that SIDS possess certain inherent characteristics that increase their vulnerability to adverse events. “All sectors of our society are at risks but our

children are among the most vulnerable population and our schools the most vulnerable structures,” Prince said, noting that hazards can disrupt the education system and cause serious setbacks in the learning process, especially for students preparing for external exams. “Hazards damage and destroy school infrastructure and resources including book, records, other documents and equipment delaying the reopening of schools.

“Hazards affect the learning process as students may be forced to stay away from school for various reasons such as loss of uniforms and other school supplies,” Prince said, adding that some children may be required to work or assist their families in the recovery process.

“Others may suffer ill health causing a delay in their return to school. The experiences and loss as a result of hazards can also have traumatic effects on students and staff.”

The Education Minister said that schools and other learning institutions damaged or destroyed by hazards can be very costly to fix or rebuild. “In times of disaster our schools can be doubly

general election results

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Apr 29, CMC – The main opposition United National Congress (UNC) says it is moving to get the courts here to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the results of the 2015 general elections.

The UNC, the biggest partner in the then coalition People’s Partnership government that had governed the country from 2010-2015, had in petitions challenged the unilateral decision of the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) to extend the voting period by one hour in Trinidad only due to the inclement weather on polling day.

It was challenging the results in six of the constituencies. The People’s National Movement (PNM) won 23 of the 41 seats that were at stake while the coalition, which had won 29 seats in 2010, was only able to win 18 in the election. “Our lawyers have returned to court on the 2015 election petitions to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal on the ground of bias and unfairness.

“The application urges the court to re-open proceedings as the final arbiter of the electoral petitions- which are of pivotal and political importance to determine a complaint of bias,” Persad Bissessar said.

She told party supporters gathered in Central Trinidad that the party was now into election mode and that it has already completed the nomination process for the

impacted in that they are the key structures used as emergency shelters and may be in need of costly repairs after shelterees vacate to ensure the facilities are ready for the continuation of education.”

He noted that St. Vincent and the Grenadines was among the 12 Caribbean states that signed on to the Regional Roadmap for School Safety during the first Ministerial Forum for School Safety in April 2017. This initiative representatives the region’s commitment to the World wide Initiative for Safe Schools (WISS) and is led by the ministries of education in each state,

Local Government Elections with over 400 persons having filed nominations. But she said that she wanted to send a warning to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and the PNM that the UNC is aware “what is going on and what he and his party are planning for elections. “And I want to give him the assurance that we have no intention of allowing him and his cronies to rig the election now and use the campaign period as a theatrical show and then relegate election day as a sham activity to legitimize electoral democracy in Trinidad and Tobago.

“We in the UNC are not making joke on this matter.

We will not allow our electoral system to be subverted by political interference nor will we allow democracy in our beloved country Trinidad and Tobago to be hijacked by political pirates posing as an authoritarian government,” Persad Bissessar added. The Opposition Leader said that if the UNC is returned to power in next year’s general election, it would create 50,000 new jobs, grow the local economy and restructure the health sector to make it a hub for medical tourism. “We will mandate our foreign missions to identify the jobs of the digital future and prepare you to take them up. We will leverage the expertise in our energy sector and carefully match that with manpower needs in nearby Guyana to the mutual benefits of both countries,” she added.

Prince said.

“The signing of the regional roadmap signalled a renewed commitment to building the resilience of the education sector in the Caribbean region,” Prince said. The event here is being held in coloration with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, United Nations Children Fund; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission and CDEMA.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

Guyana stands firmly against terrorism GUYANA may proudly boast of being one of the world’s developing countries which has demonstrated an unwavering resolve to the eradication of terrorism. Guyana’s unequivocal position against the scourge of terrorism of all kinds has become increasingly evident, particularly after the APNU+AFC Government was elected to office in mid-2015.

While that resolve is certainly the result of several complex factors, one notes that our country’s Head of State, President David Arthur Granger, was once the head of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) with the rank of Brigadier. One notes, too, that President Granger has repeatedly emphasised his administration’s absolute commitment to democratic ideals, the rule of law, and respect for life. Considering those cornerstones upon which the APNU+AFC coalition is working to build its governance-structure, Guyana’s stance against trans-national crime, including terrorism, is expected and welcomed.

Terrorism is the intentional use of indiscriminate violence to create fear or terror among masses of people

to achieve an objective, usually, of a religious or political nature. The term is used primarily to refer to violence during peacetime, or in war, against non-combatants. Simply put, it is the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of (political) aims.

Guyana’s unambiguous position has not changed, and, considering the positions articulated by President Granger, is likely to remain unwavering. One of the APNU+AFC’s first actions after assuming office was the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act. That law, passed in June 2015, was intended to, among other noble objectives, stop the supply of money to terrorists.

Regarding the legislation’s passage, President Granger said, “Guyana is not only part of the regional fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, but is fit to fight, with the passage of robust legislation.”

Following its initial passage, the Act has been amended four times in a span of three years. The amendments to the principal legislation were

intended to strengthen the law in line with international expectations.

In December 2015, the APNU+AFC government piloted the passage of the Anti-Terrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Bill. As he introduced the Bill in the National Assembly, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, told the House that the Bill seeks to help Guyana join the fight against an enemy of the world—terrorism. He said that the legislation comes at a time when terrorism stalks the world. He stressed to the opposition that the National Assembly should provide a united front on the issue. The bill was passed into law despite the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) vociferous opposition to the measure. The PPP said that the legislative initiative was too “draconian.” The Act prescribed stern penalties for any conduct, attempted-conduct, or intended-conduct of any act of terrorism.

The people of Guyana, generally, should logically support any initiative intended to protect human safety, preserve human life, and ensure social stability and security, including those

against terrorism. After all, Guyanese would have been glued to their television sets as the horrific events of September 11, 2001 — the day that changed the world — unfolded in the United States.

The non-support of the PPP, therefore, came as something of a surprise to many right-thinking citizens. Many Guyanese would certainly have welcomed support of the initiative by the PPP, as they welcomed the fact that the Anti-Terrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Bill received the full support of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Guyana Bar Association, and the Banking Sector, when a public consultation was held on December 28, 2015, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

Government’s commitment to fighting terrorism begins at the very top of the APNU+AFC administration. At the Arab-Islamic-American Summit 2017 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, President David Granger explained why countries such as Guyana must be involved in the fight. The president noted that global partnerships to combat terrorism cannot exclude small states, since the conflict between

and within such states, or between a small state and other states, can endanger the peace of all countries.

His Excellency said, “Small states like Guyana, lacking the means to combat transnational threats such as terrorism, must be able to rely on the protection afforded through international cooperation, multilateralism and international law.” Evidently, Guyana’s Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces envisions a major role for Guyana in the global fight against terrorist threats. It is equally evident that, although much progress has been made, the world has a long way to go towards ensuring the safety of its various peoples.

Although Guyanese may take pride in the fact that the international community, including the US, has praised government’s efforts and accomplishments, unfortunately, it was with much sadness that this publication and others recently reported another act of terrorism against the people of Sri Lanka. Last Easter Sunday, more than 250 people were killed and at least 500 more were wounded in a series of coordinated bombings in that

country.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo was quick to condemn the terrorist massacre. In a statement, the prime minister said: “The cowardly attacks against Churches on Easter Sunday, and the wanton killing of Christian worshippers, including children and mothers; and the bombing of hotels that claimed the lives of foreign tourists, speak to a deadly terror insanity against which the world should be united, now.” He added: “All peace-loving Guyanese, who are today observing Easter as a national holiday, share with shock and sadness, the grief and loss of the people of Sri Lanka, and nationals of other countries who are victims of those horrible terrorist attacks. We mourn with the people of Sri Lanka, the relatives of the innocent victims and survivors, and feel their anger and fears.”

As the world continues to combat acts of terrorism, the Guyana Chronicle stands by President Granger and his administration in support of His Excellency’s declared position against such criminal activities.

Guyana Times would do well to stop being a mouthpiece for vested interests Dear Editor, I JUST read an Online article published

by Guyana Times under the caption, “Son, son-in-law of senior Region 9 official get millions worth of contracts” (sic).

The article seeks to mislead and cast aspersions on that “senior official” and the two mentioned contractors. It also deliberately left

out a small detail about the award of contracts last year.

The senior official alluded to is the Regional Executive Officer, Carl Parker. His son is Rauldon Torres, who is actually the son of his late wife. His son-in-law is Keith Anthony, who shares a common-law relationship with his daughter, Mary Parker.

What is important here is that none of

these persons live with the REO. Furthermore, when situations like these arise, the REO, or any member of the Tender Board, under my watch, whose family members tender for a contract, recuses themselves from the decision-making process.

That was evident recently, when Tender Board member, Mr. Maucir Baretto, left the meeting when a close family member’s appli-

cation came under discussion. That is the rule rather than the exception.

These family members are born and bred Rupununians, and are contractors by trade.

Consequently, they are entitled, like any other Guyanese, to take part in the affairs of their country, region, or community.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

Wanted: A mechanism to license counselors Dear Editor, LAST month, a young lady died by suicide. Her father had paid a ‘counselor’ to counsel his daughter, having recognised that the young lady was suicidal. Yet, the daughter took her life, while under the care of the counselor. As it turned out, the person doing the counseling possessed neither requisite qualifications nor clinical experience.

However, this is not a one-off situation.

The Caribbean Voice knows of a number of individuals who also paid for counseling that failed to help them, and who then came

to TCV, where they obtained the requisite counseling, free of charge. We had previously pointed out that there are a number of individuals engaging in counseling others, even though they are not bona fide counselors. We had even queried a few, who, as it as it turned out, considered themselves counselors, either because they had undergone counseling themselves, or attended short training sessions of a day or a few days duration.

In fact, TCV has found that some persons who have a certain public status feel that even they are qualified to counsel others. There is even an entertainer who once

counseled students in a secondary school, with the permission of the administration.

Given this reality and the consequential dangers, which TCV has also pointed out many times over, we once again call on the government to set up a mechanism to licence counselors, so that all practicing counselors must possess both academic credentials and supervised clinical experience. As we previously pointed out, we have among our Diaspora members a mental health consultant who has experience in licensing protocols, having worked with the International Registry of Counselor Education Programs (IRCEP). She has not only indicated a

willingness to help set up such a licensing mechanism in Guyana, but has spoken to IRCEP, which has expressed a willingness to accredit her towards this end.

Meanwhile, we beseech the Ministries of Health and Social Protection to police the counseling landscape, and ensure that those who ply the trade have the requisite qualifications and professional experience to do so. Counseling saves lives, but quacks parading as counselors can, and do, lead to more suicide.

Regards, The Caribbean Voice

Guyana is a much safer place, run by people of integrity Dear Editor, PERMIT me space in your publication to reply to a lengthy missive by former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee that was published in newspapers this week.

In it he basically lambastes the administration for doing a poor job with public security, but it should be clear to unbiased onlookers that Mr. Rohee is prejudiced, and even bitter about not being in control of national security anymore.

First, he needs to know that Guyanese feel so safe now that the so-called Momand-Pop corner shops are thriving with both young and old imbibing beers, malts and other beverages, sometimes annoying-

ly so, with loud music from vehicles.

There is also the fact, Honourable Mr. Rohee, that the current Coalition Government cannot be faulted for abusing Police units to terrorise citizens as was the case with the infamous ‘Black Clothes’ gang of the Jagdeo era. There is no ‘Phantom’ or ‘Death Squad’ roaming the streets, engaging in drive-by shootings with the protection of officialdom, using machine and other guns loaned to them from the State.

People don’t complain about being framed by the police in large numbers anymore, and there is certainly not a single political prisoner in the State system.

Reforms and modernisation efforts in the police system, which the Jagdeo Administration failed to implement, are now

being undertaken. Few can point to widespread corruption at the top echelons in the Force, as was the case previously when American entry visas were cancelled. The visas of at least two PPP ministers associated with security were also pulled for malfeasance in public office, because of their unusual association with the underworld, much to that government’s embarrassment and disgrace. One involved the very minister who attacked the Coalition for its alleged poor record on national security.

Mr. Rohee complained about the disbandment of several security commissions, including one related to airport security, but he should recall that many of those who sat on those commissions would not be of the personal and profes-

sional caliber that the Coalition would feel comfortable with. I could go on and on about the horrible times Guyanese lived through during the time of the PPP, particularly after August 1999, when Mr. Jagdeo became president. Not since the slave era has so much blood drained on and stained the nation. I argue this point without fear of the possibility of successful contradiction, as Guyana is a much safer place now, run by people of integrity and far more decency than during the time of the PPP. This certainly includes the security sector.

Regards, Peter Joseph

Guyana Times would do well to stop...

The issue is that once due process is followed, the law would have been observed.

Unless, of course, Guyana Times is insinuating that these contractors must be excluded altogether because of the principle of “guilty by association”, and that the REO must maintain his extended family out of his meagre resources.

What I find strange is the fact that last year, while the Regional Vice-Chairman, Karl Singh, was a sitting member of the Board, his father-in-law, his two brothers-in-law and his wife all got contracts from the same Tender Board. Guyana Times did not report that.

And what’s more, is that Mr. Singh did not recuse himself from the deliberations. Consequently, the then REO and

other members of the Board felt intimidated and awarded the fraudulent contracts.

I was then in Region 8, and I wondered out aloud: “Since when did the Vice-Chairman’s wife become a contractor!”

The Contracts awarded to one house at the time were as follows: Father-in-law: Repairs to Kaicumbay Road – 9.6M Construction of School furniture – 4.2M Construction of Marabunta Creek Bridge – 8.3M Brother-in-law 1: Construction of fence at Tiperu Primary School – 3.8M Construction of fence at Kwimatta Health Post – 3.8M Brother-in-law 2: Repairs to Quatata Health Post – 2.4M

Wife: Construction of Culvert and head walls Achawib – 4.3M So the Regional Vice Chairman sat and awarded

36.4M dollars in contracts to his very close relatives. It must be noted that Brotherin-law 2 is a teacher and was awarded a contract.

So Guyana Times will do well to report fairly and entirely, and stop being a mouth-piece for vested interests.

FROM PAGE 6

Regards, Carl Parker Regional Executive Officer UT/UE

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

Gov’t to standardise financial management across municipalities

CENTRAL Government is putting focus on the development of a standardised system for financial management, at the varying municipalities across the country, and this will be the chief focus at the third annual Action Roundtable for Municipal Financial Management which opened on Monday, at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre.

The event is being attended by mayors, deputy mayors, town clerks, finance committee chairpersons, treasurers and other financial personnel from the 10 municipalities across Guyana. This year, the two-day Roundtable is being held under the theme “Improving Financial Management Systems for Municipal Development”.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, noted that the issue of procurement and financial management is addressed too broadly in Chapter 28:01, which governs municipalities in Guyana, creating a situation that lacks uniformity and proper guidelines at the different municipalities. “What has developed is that each council has its own customs and conventions in treating with various issues relating to financial management. This ad hoc state of affairs cannot continue,” Bulkan informed.

“There is currently no concrete or uniformed system in place. We hope therefore to devise a standard system

that will be applicable and binding on all municipalities through the gathering of feedback from each of you and select the best practices.

Each local organ… must have basic budgeting, accounting, reporting and procurement functions in place.”

Facing constraints in financial resources, financial management is an area that municipalities have continued to struggle with over the years. The Georgetown municipality in particular is inundated in debt while questions continue to abound over the municipality’s previous administration’s management of the money they did have.

Proper procurement procedures, or lack thereof, is one sore point that has plagued the City for some time. It was earlier this year that Head of the Regional Department at the Ministry of Communities (MoC), Bramahnand Singh, had noted that establishment of district tender boards was an initiative that was being lobbied for. This board would administer procurement at the municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) across the country.

The district tender boards would be a sub-level under the National Tender and Procurement Administration Board directed by the Procurement Act 2003 which governs the procurement of goods and services when government spending is involved.

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, addressing the municipal officials at the third annual Action Roundtable for Municipal Financial Management (Delano Williams photo)

Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and municipalities across the country receive hundreds of millions of dollars from central government each year, in direct subvention, as well as spending for other individual projects.

Guyana already has the Ministerial and Regional Tender Boards; currently procurement for the NDCs are done at the Regional Board. However, procurement at the municipalities are handled internally by the respective town clerks, in conjunction with finance committees.

However, over the years, this system has been

breached and unilateral procurement at municipalities has been witnessed. “Financial Management is a most vulnerable point or weakness of the local government renewal process that must be comprehensively addressed,” Bulkan said.

“Prudent financial management transcends the collection and expenditure of money and refers to strategic planning and budgeting, assets management, reporting, preparation and submission of annual financial statements. Financial management is one of the most important responsibilities of administrators.”

Bulkan reiterated the

government’s commitment to rehabilitating and restoring the system of local government, which was brought back to the fore, in Guyana, in 2016, after an ‘absence’ of over two decades. “This administration is serious about this agenda of the participation and empowerment of people and the right of citizens to elect leaders from within their communities who have legal authority to manage the affairs of their effective communities. A right that was unreasonably denied for the longest time,” Bulkan noted.

“I do not believe it would be unfair of me to say an engagement of this nature

$50M expansion...

FROM PAGE 2

The GPHC is a national reform hospital, national teaching hospital, regional hospital for Region Four, and the only public hospital in the city of Georgetown.

He said the GPHC has a mandate to provide a comprehensive range of healthcare services in an efficient, effective, equitable and caring manner. He also noted that over the last 20 years, the hospital has undergone a number of changes.

In explaining the importance of the expansion project, the CEO said that the record for 2017 shows that a total of 8324 admissions and 5515 babies were delivered, while in 2018, there was a total of 8277 admissions with 5547 babies being delivered. He said, on an average, 16 babies are delivered daily and that the hospital is constantly challenged to find in-patient beds, particularly between the period September to February.

This, he added, led to the Board of Directors and administration’s decision to address the issue by constructing a new wing in 2016, and in 2018, tackled some internal renovations within the

pre-natal and post-natal wards.

Further, to address the situation, the GPHC included in its 2019 budget additional extension works, adding it was quite opportune that while they were publicly advertising for the extension project, that Minister Lawrence asked that they identify a project which could be funded by the Canadian Bank Note.

He recalled that the GPHC first did some extension works on the maternity wing in 2016, but though it provided improvements for critical care services, such as the neonatal intensive care unit and operating suites, it did not alleviate the issue of overcrowding.

Currently, there are 75 beds in both the pre-natal and post-natal wards, for over 8000 admissions per year. Also, there are no facilities for the isolation of patients who require special needs attention, while the sanitary block is inadequate. Consequently, the aim of the new project is to address those issues.

When completed, the bed capacity of the two existing units will be increased

by 26.7 per cent, with the floor capacity of those units benefitting through the creation of two isolation areas on both the pre-natal and post-natal units.

Additionally, both units will benefit from 100 per cent increase in sanitation space .

The projects, the CEO said, envisions the procurement of critical equipment to support health care within the maternity unit, with the infrastructure expected to cost in the vicinity of $31M and the equipment about $19M. “It is our belief that once the project is completed, it will provide better facilities, better equipment and make the patients who access the services at the GPHC much more comfortable,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the GPHC Board of Directors, Kesaundra Alves, reminded that since taking office in 2015, the coalition government has been looking for ways to improve not only the services at the GPHC, but also the infrastructure and quality of equipment.

would not have been considered either important or even possible a few years ago for so far removed was the concept of local democracy in the era that preceded this administration.”

Also making remarks at the opening ceremony of the event was Ministry of Finance Finance Secretary, Michael Joseph, who told those gathered that proper financial management by public officials rests on the pillars of efficiency, effectiveness, economy and ethics.

He further spoke on measures that could be taken to ensure better money management at the municipalities.

“Carefully consider the use of public resources. Set up performance measurements against which goals can be tracked; avoid untimely and unnecessary expenses; regular reviews are required to ensure that the actual expenditure is in line with the approved amounts. Reviews are necessary to provide one with the opportunity to tweak and avoid mistakes during the planning stage of the budget,” Joseph said.

The event saw the attendees going through sessions on “Municipal Financial Management System” with Alston Alleyne, “Assessment of Municipal Chart of Accounts” with Mellone Frank, “Municipal Development Plans: Guiding of Council Budget Process”, and “Property Valuation”, among others.

Deadline for submission of tax returns gets closer THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has indicated that Tuesday April 30 2019 is the due date for the submission of Tax Returns to the Nation’s Tax Body These Tax returns include Income Tax, Property Tax, Corporate Tax and Capital Gains Tax. The GRA says that it is a requirement, by Law, to submit one’s Tax Returns once one is earning an income or has an office set up, under section 60 of the Income Tax Act of Guyana.

The Tax Body is appealing to members of the Public, to ensure that they utilize the locations provided by the Tax Body:The Guyana Post Office

Corporation, City Mall and the headquarters of the Guyana Revenue Authority.

Late submission of tax returns would attract a penalty of 10 per cent.

The Tax Body says that persons who are experiencing difficulties can visit the tax services online at www.eservices. gov.gy or the Debt Management Unit to have a resolution.

The Body warns against persons bringing cheques or cash to the Tax Site for payment. Such action is unacceptable. Persons are advised to make their payments at the main office of the Guyana Revenue Authority.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

Harmon donates $2M helping hand for Westminster Multi-Purpose Centre FORMER Minister of State, Joseph Harmon on Sunday donated approximately $2M to help renovate the Westminster Multi-Purpose Centre in La Parfaite Harmonie on behalf of a newly formed youth group.

The La Parfaite Action Group is in the La Parfaite Harmonie housing scheme area and is committed to establishing itself in an orderly and legal manner to effectively and efficiently bring about positive changes in the community.

At their first meeting of the newly established Community Development Council group, they collectively agreed that the Multi-Purpose Centre located in Westminister needs urgent repairs if it is to serve not only as their meeting place but also as their economic hub for

sustainability. The group wrote to the then Minister of State requesting assistance and submitted quotations to his office.

According to the Chairperson of the CDC Group, Jonelle Alves the move was bold: “We decided collectively to do this and honestly we were not one hundred per cent convinced that we will get a response. It was just a gesture we undertook knowing that we are willing to go the extra mile. To see today that our request is being honoured makes me happy and I am sure all our members are now more encouraged to fight for La Parfaite and to make it a community where all can enjoy the good life,” Chairperson Alves noted.

According to Harmon, the donation was supposed to happen earlier in the year but was set back by his hectic

Former Minister of State, Joseph Harmon flanked by a member of the La Parfaite Action Group

schedule. “From the time I received the letter, I rec-

ognised the importance of the organisation, and more so,

$69M for road works in Vergenoegen, Philadelphia -Minister Hastings- Williams announces NEWLY appointed Minister of State, Mrs. Dawn Hastings- Williams on Sunday hosted a community meeting at the Philadelphia Primary School, East Bank Essequibo, Essequibo Islands- West Demerara (Region Three) where she announced that the Government has budgeted $69M solely for road upgrades in that community along with neighbouring Vergenoegen.

Minister Hastings-Williams also met with the youth and elderly residents during a walkabout in the village to listen to some of the challenges in their community, which included complaints about drainage and irrigation, security and public infrastructure. Additionally, with concerns raised about street lights, the Minister of State said that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure would be installing LED street lights along the entire West Coast Demerara and East Bank Essequibo, ending at Parika.

In her address to residents at the community meeting, Minister HastingsWilliams noted that the administration is cognisant of

the fact that most persons simply require better access to Government services and amenities such as water, roads, lights and recreational facilities and it is the duty of the Government to provide same. As such, she noted that the $69M has been budgeted to provide road upgrades in the communities of Philadelphia and Vegenoegen, which was a main issue raised at the meeting and during the walkabout.

Where needs be, she said Government will seek to augment this figure.

“The President has said that he is the President for all the people of Guyana and therefore the Government has a mandate to look after every citizen in this country as much as it can. There is nothing that will stop us from doing what we have to do to serve you. If there is something you want and you don’t see it happening, then come to us with a proposal or plan so that it can find itself in the regional or national budget. You deserve these things, you deserve good public infrastructure, healthcare and education.

That is what this Government is about; development

and making sure people are happy. We cannot do everything in the short time we have been in office but we will continue to do what we can,” the Minister of State said.

Additionally, Minister Hastings-Williams told the residents that Government considers the community meetings and public day activities to be an important exercise in the conduct of Government business and in determining what issues must be addressed to make the lives of citizens much easier.

She further noted that the Government is one that listens to the people and residents can rest assured that their issues would receive the utmost consideration. Meanwhile, Ms. Bhagwantie Lall, a resident of Vergenoegen, who had the opportunity to engage the State Minister during her walkabout, said she is grateful that the Government has visited the community to address concerns of the residents.

“I am thankful that you have walked around to see for yourself what are some of the issues we are facing

here in the community. Our hope is that the issues can be addressed,” she said.

With one of the issues faced by the community being improper garbage disposal and waste management, the Minister of State urged the residents to practice better environmentally friendly disposal of their waste, since it is their community which is being affected by their actions. “You must become a role model. Vergenoegen must become a place where there are good roads, good drainage, clean environment and healthy people because healthy and happy people make happy nations.

As much as the Neighbourhood Democratic Council has a responsibility, you too as residents have a responsibility,” the Minister said. On other issues such as the installation of an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Hub, repairs to the Vergenoegen Primary School and scholarships, the Minister has undertaken to engage her Cabinet colleagues to see how best the requests can be honoured. (Ministry of the Presidency)

that it is young people wanting to better their community.

I said to myself, I have to make this possible for their cause. These youths look to us not only for guidance but also for assistance. The letter indicated to me that the investment of the money will be to cause economic sustainability of the group and the Multi-Purpose Centre and I am happy to have noted that.”

He also charged the young people of the group to promote social cohesion which according to him is the bedrock on which development will occur. Committee member, Peter Livingstone indicated that the group would spend the money wisely and according to standard accounting practices. Work on the centre is expected to commence in two weeks providing all goes well with the mobilisation of materials and favourable weather conditions.

Exxon Liza2 project given EPA green light THE Liza 2 Development project of oil and gas exploration giant, ExxonMobil, has been green-lighted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

While the company offered not to comment on the issue on Monday, Executive Director of the EPA confirmed the approval on Monday. Last January, Exxon announced that it commenced the process of developing its potential Liza Phase 2 by submitting an application to the EPA for environmental authorisation.

According to Exxon, the potential concept involves a second floating, production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) and related subsea equipment, umbilical, risers and flow lines. The proposed development concept is similar to that of Liza Phase 1.

“Approximately 35-40 wells may be drilled at two subsea drill centres, consisting of a combination of producers and injectors to support production of oil, injection of water and reinjection of associated gas,” the company said last year.

These subsea facilities, as reported, will include various types of equipment, pipe-

lines and hardware. Exxon explained that the subsea facilities allow the oil from the wells to be gathered and moved to the surface of the ocean for further processing by the FPSO. The FPSO will have an estimated production capacity of approximately 190,000 to 220,000 barrels of oil per day. Guyana can profit from as much as US$7B over the first phase of its Liza project. This figure translates to $1.45 trillion Guyana dollars over the course of the 20-year-long, Phase 1 of the company’s Liza project offshore Guyana. The projected sums are based on price projects, Exxon noted.

Following the release of the contract with Government, Exxon provided details of the company’s interest in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. Exxon projected that over a five-year period, the country stands to benefit from US$1.5B from the Liza project. In addition, Exxon has committed to paying an annual training fee of US$300,000 a figure which improved from the US$45,000 of the 1999 agreement.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

Annai Maternity Waiting Home completed

THE newly constructed Maternity Waiting Home at Annai, Region 9, will soon be commissioned, the Department of Public Information has reported.

The Maternity Waiting Home, which was constructed by the Government of Guyana with support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), will accommodate high-risk pregnant mothers from far-flung areas in the North Rupununi.

The project is expected to reduce maternal mortality within the Annai District area, since it allows pregnant women to travel to Georgetown several weeks before delivery, and await the onset of labour, before being transferred to the main referral hospital for safe delivery.

In September 2018, the Ministry of Public Health commissioned a maternity waiting home at the Indigenous Residents in Princes Street, Georgetown at a cost of almost $1M. At that commissioning ceremony, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, said that these initiatives form part of the government’s strategy to end maternal, prenatal and neonatal deaths throughout Guyana. Guyana currently has four maternity waiting homes: one in Suddie (Region 2), another in Georgetown (Region 4), and one in Lethem and Annai respectively (Region 9). A similar facility will be constructed in Moruca (Region 1).

The Annai Maternity Waiting Home

Petrobras presents gov’t with ...

◄ From page 3

means that we must be extremely careful,” she added.

Head of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, who was present at the meeting, said government welcomes the company’s support. “We are like you; we have a vision, a strategic plan in terms of where we are going... currently we have a road map and we trust that over time we begin to enhance our own capacities through buying in third-party expertise and then Guyanese expertise moving forward as minister indicated with training,” the Head of DoE said.

He noted that despite the current challenges concerning the oil and gas industry, Guyana hopes to establish a concrete plan that will benefit its citizens. It was highlighted that Guyana has thus far benefitted from more than $16B (US$75M) directly from the oil and gas sector.

Petrobras, is still negotiating with the Government to secure an oil block offshore

Guyana. The company had officially applied for an oil block early last year and is still in the process of trying to acquire the block, Deputy Ambassador of Brazil to Guyana, Ronaldo Vieira had told the Guyana Chronicle in an exclusive interview.

“They are still dealing with this particular block but it is not just Petrobras, there are a number of Brazilian companies that are trying to get into the market here; we are liaising with local businesses to make connection with those in Brazil. “It is the same level with ExxonMobil. Petrobras explore and drill and do lots of things related to that but then there are smaller companies that provide parts, management of the platform and so forth,” he said.

Vieira further said that there are a lot of opportunities here that are related to the budding oil and gas industry. Petrobras is looking to capitalise on the opportunities. It is one of a number

Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams along with representatives of Petrobras and Ministry of Foreign Affairs

of large oil companies seeking to acquire offshore blocks in Guyana. It was reported that US oil major Chevron, and France’s Total are also among nine companies seeking remaining oil blocks here and government is exploring both “direct engagements”

and a “select bidding process” in assigning them.

The companies that have blocks in the deep water area, offshore Guyana, are: Repsol and Tullow Oil (the Kanuku Block); Tullow (the Orinduik Block); Anadarko (the Ro-

raima Block); Ratio Oil (the Kaieteur Block); Esso, CNOOC Nexen and Hess (the Stabroek Block); Esso, Mid Atlantic and JHI (the Canje Block; CGX (the Demerara and Corentyne blocks); ON Energy; and Nabi. Petrobras which

was established in 1953 specialises in exploration and production, refining, marketing, transportation, petrochemicals, oil product distribution, natural gas, electricity, chemical-gas and biofuels.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

‘Don’t forget agriculture as you look to oil’

11

…PM urges West Demerara residents of the world’s former richest countries but its people now scavenge for food due to poor revenue management.

The Prime Minister, along with other members of government, has long pushed for Guyana’s natural resource revenues to be used

and other areas which fuel long-term development.

On the topic, he said that this is why the budget for health has been increased from $23B to $36B from 2015 to 2019, as if citizens remain healthy, the country has a better chance at achiev-

pressed his full confidence that the government will remain in power, and thanked citizens for sticking with the Administration, by understanding the bigger picture at hand.

Moving into the question-and-answer segment

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

EVEN as Guyana will undoubtedly benefit from oil and gas production commencing 2020, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has urged residents of Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three) to remain grounded in agriculture.

He made the call at the Tuschen Primary School on Sunday evening during a meeting with residents as part of a wider multi-ministerial outreach there. Prior to attending to the concerns and needs of those Region 3 residents at the meeting, Minister Nagamootoo made a short presentation on the perspective Guyanese should take, especially those inclined to agriculture, as the country heads into 2020.

To bring his point into focus, he spoke to the government’s plans to bridge the Essequibo River, which plan, he explained, would open up a large expanse of land to agricultural and economic

development.

“It is possible, in the nottoo-distant-future that we’ll be able to bridge the waters of the Mighty Essequibo, and we can go right on to the Essequibo Coast,” The Prime Minister said, adding: “Great, vast expanses of land will be opened for agriculture; for industrial development. Because, in the Essequibo, there is high quality white sand; granite; stones [and] fresh water. We have everything that it takes to build industries at cheap costs, and we have what it takes to develop agriculture on a mass base.”

He told the people that strategically located as they are on the banks of the Essequibo River, they will be among the first to benefit from the pending development. He also urged them not to be caught up with the immediate benefits of oil, as he used neighbouring Venezuela as an example of one

Teacher at the Tuschen Primary School Shondell Lynch (Samuel Maughn photos)

primarily for the sustainable development of the country.

In keeping with this position, he urged members of the audience,: “When new lands will be developed, you have to ensure that you set your sight on agricultural lands; lands for dairy; fishing or aquaculture.”

He also stated that the government’s focus will also be placed on injecting money into health, education

ing its desired wealth.

“In a matter of months, Guyana will start producing oil and we will be a rich country. We need the financial resources, the revenue from our oil to be able to inject into doing the infrastructure work to build more roads, to build more bridges; to repair public buildings, schools, hospitals, health centres,” he said.

The prime minister ex-

with residents, Shondell Lynch, who teaches at Tuschen Primary, which is so badly overcrowded, that she appealed to the PM to have the building extended.

She said that the situation is so bad that the school's library, kitchen and other non-classroom areas had to be used to hold classes, due to the increasing number of pupils in attendance. Following her remarks, she was as-

sured that a proposal for the extension of the building will be included in the Region’s 2020 Budget proposal.

In her remarks, the teacher pledged that the school, in turn, will continue to work with pupils to lift their academic performance.

Meanwhile, Brian Phillips, a Tuschen resident, raised the concern that in his area he does not receive water bills, and before he is made aware of his balance, the water is cut off.

Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) Managing Director, Dr. Van West-Charles, who was present, said that while some customers may claim they are not receiving bills, it is also the customer's responsibility to know the routine payment period for their services used.

He also said that the GWI is developing a GEO-tagging system which will allow the company to know for certain whether bills are distributed or not.

At the meeting, one Mr. Cleveland, who spoke on behalf of the Tuschen Volunteer Corps, encouraged the government to invest in recreational activities in the Region. He had, in his possession, a proposal to submit to the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Youth for the construction of an indoor recreational facility. Prime Minister Nagamootoo assured that the matter will be looked into.

Two men remanded for cocaine in pepper sauce TWO taxi drivers were, on Monday, remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, following a major drug bust at Timehri.

Both Ramaeo Chan drabhan, 43-year-old taxi driver of Lot 39 Oronoque Street, Queenstown and Andrew Yong, a 30-year-old taxi driver of 2018 Section C Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that, on Friday April

26, 2019, at Cannex Shed, Timehri, East Bank Demerara, they trafficked a narcotic which amounted to 107.6 kg of cocaine.

Chandrabhan was represented by Attorney-at-Law, Ganesh Hera who in his bail application told the court that his client was not involved in the matter since no substance was found on the defendant on the day in question. According to Hera, the evidence submitted is not admissible in relation to the matter. He further noted that Chandrabhan

is the sole breadwinner for his family and has no previous convictions in the court of law.

State Prosecutor, Konya Sandiford objected to bail being granted to the defendants due to the weight of the cocaine and evidence which led to both of the accused being arrested. She also told the court that there was a recording between the defendants stating that the Customs Anti-Narcotics (CANU) is unable to prove they com-

mitted the offence. Bail was denied and they were remanded to prison by the Magistrate, which left families of the defendants in tears. They will once again appear in court on May 15, 2019. According to a release from CANU, the interdiction occurred on Friday and the cocaine was found in pepper sauce which was slated for export. The pepper sauce was found in 15-gallon bottles.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

Goldfields reaches pact with disgruntled shareholders

THE Guyana Goldfields Inc. has reached a settlement with a group of disgruntled shareholders, deciding that it will appoint two experienced mining executives and implement a succession plan for the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The decision comes following the January 2019 announcement of a special meeting called by a group of the company’s shareholder to discuss the replacement of the current Board of Directors.

The group of Executives, who referred to themselves as “concerned shareholders”, together controls some 5.4 per cent of the company and expressed that they were unhappy with the Board’s management.

Their move was spearheaded by ousted Executive Chair of the Toronto-headquartered Guyana Goldfields Inc. Patrick Sheridan.

Sheridan has criticised the fall in share price of the company; the revision of its gold production guidance

downwards and the blasting of an underground expansion which he claimed was done prior to the receipt of permits.

Referring to the group as "requisitioning shareholders" in a release on Monday, the company described the agreement arrived at as “constructive”.

The two experienced mining executives to join the Board as independent directors are former Chief Operating Officer of SSR Mining Inc. Alan Pangbourne and former President and CEO of Adriana Resources Inc., CEO Allen Palmiere.

Pangbourne has more than 35 years of experience in the mining industry, including open pit and underground operations and served as Chief Operating Officer prior to his retirement last year.

Before joining SSR Mining in 2013 he was Vice President Projects, South America, with Kinross Gold Corporation.

Palmiere, too, has more than 35 years of operational and financial experience in the mining industry and has

also served as CEO and Chair of HudBay Minerals Inc, and Executive Chair of South Africa's Barplats Investment.

Ltd. "We have reached a constructive outcome with the Requisitioning Shareholders," said René Marion, Chair of the Board.

"The two new directors will add valuable experience to the Board, allowing all of us to move forward and devote our full attention to the Company's optimisation strategy for its Aurora Gold Mine in Guyana."

Their inclusion also means that two long-serving independent directors will step down. However, the Company stated that JeanPierre Chauvin, who joined the Board in 2012, as well as Michael Richings and David Beatty, who joined the Board in 2013, have agreed to step down.

“The Board warmly thanks them for their tireless service. Mr. Beatty had previously indicated that he would not stand for election at the upcoming shareholder meeting,” the release stated.

Meanwhile, Sheridan stated: “This agreement coupled with the changes already undertaken by the Company achieve our objective of positive change, specifically reconstituting the Board and management. The new Board and a new CEO will provide the fresh approach needed to optimize operations and enhance shareholder value. I would like to thank all of the shareholders who expressed support for positive change and I am sure I speak for everyone when I say: It's time to get down to work."

The ‘requisitioning shareholders’ have agreed to immediately withdraw the special meeting requisition previously made. They also agreed to customary standstill provisions extending through to the conclusion of the Company's 2021 annual shareholder meeting.

Meanwhile, the ‘requisitioning shareholders’ will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred by them during the proxy contest and the company has separately agreed with Sheridan to

resolve certain outstanding claims.

Moving forward, the Company will nominate and recommend that shareholders vote for the election of each of the seven directors of the reconstituted Board, at the upcoming annual and special meeting of shareholders, scheduled to be held on May 22, 2019. Apart from Palmiere and Pangbourne, these include Peter Dey; Wendy Kei; René Marion; Maryse Saint-Laurent and Scott Caldwell.

Regarding the agreement to implement a succession plan for the role of CEO, the release stated that this will involve the establishment of a CEO search committee. It will work to identify a new CEO for the Company as soon as practicable and, in any event, within six months.

It will consist of independent directors Ms. Saint-Laurent as Chair and Mr. Pangbourne and Mr. Marion. Current CEO Scott Caldwell has agreed to continue to serve as President and CEO while the search is underway.

"I would like to thank the Board for all of their support and guidance over the past few years," Caldwell said. "In addition, I would like to thank all of the men and women working at the Aurora Mine, Georgetown office and Toronto office for all of their hard work and dedication."

Meanwhile, the Board expressed its deepest thanks to Caldwell for his “critical role in developing and constructing the Aurora Mine as well as his steady leadership during his years as a director since 2012” It also thanked him for his service as President and CEO since 2013. “Among his many accomplishments are policies that led to training and promoting dozens of local Guyanese employees and that led to, as of last month, one million person-days without a losttime injury at the Aurora Mine,” the release stated.

Gov’t to explore building police outpost for Belle West- Ramjattan MINISTER of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, on Sunday, told residents of Belle West, West Bank Demerara, that, although government has made no budgetary allocation for the construction of a police station or outpost in that area, the issue will be examined.

His comments came after a number of calls were made for a physical presence of the lawmen in the community, given the frequency of burglaries and other crimes.

In laying down major infrastructures and facilities in communities, governments usually look at the occupancy level of those communities.

The question was asked at the meeting on Sunday about the occupancy level in the area Belle West Phase 1 and 2 schemes and residents provided an estimated count of just over eighteen hundred persons. While Phase 1 of the community has been in existence for a while now, over the last five years, there

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan

have been increased construction and relocation by persons from other communities to Phase 2 location of the scheme. Many of these persons are those who would have been allocated house lots.

It was on Sunday that the minister heard of a number of concerns the residents have been having when dealing with the police at the Wales Station located further up on the West Bank Demerara. The residents pointed to a plot

of vacant land in the community which they said could be used to construct a station. They have also pointed to the need for a bridge to one of the communities as the existing one cannot accommodate two vehicles passing at a time and that in itself causes conflict between motorists. The government has a number of capital projects on-going with respect to the security sector, especially the police force, where a number of buildings are being renovated and others are awaiting official commissioning and handing over to the force. Two such facilities are at Parfaite Harmonie located on the West Bank Demerara and the Central Police Station located at New Amsterdam.

Both police stations are said to have building defects which need to be remedied before the buildings are handed over to the police force.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

CSME implementation can’t be a shifting target …CARICOM SG tells COTED

CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, challenged Member States to stick to the plan for the effective implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), when he opened the Forty-Eighth Regular Meeting of Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) at the Guyana Marriott on Monday.

Intra-regional trade is among critical areas CSME addresses within the ‘Free Movement of Goods and Services’ framework. However, implementation leaves much to be desired by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in this regard.

In his address, Ambassador LaRocque reminded the region’s Foreign Ministers and Trade officials that, in little over two months, the CARICOM Heads of Government are scheduled to receive the report card, based on the implementation plan agreed upon, during the last Heads of Government Meeting, and subsequent meetings.

“Member States at that time, recommitted fully, and I stress fully, to the effective implementation of the CSME and agreed to the timelines – short, medium and long term, set out in the plan. This meeting presents an opportunity to review the actions taken by member states to meet the timelines,” Ambassador LaRocque said as he warned against changing the goal post.

SHIFTING TARGET “Implementation cannot be a shifting target. We cannot come to meetings, after meeting, after meeting, agreed on a plan, the plan is now published on our website for all to see and we are not making progress…

So I repeat implementation

cannot be a shifting target,” he warned.

The CARICOM Secretary-General challenged the

tasked under the Revised Treaty to ‘promote the development and oversee the operation of the CSME’ you

of CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) – a fund designed to provide financial or technical assistance to disadvantaged countries, regions and sectors in the Community.

Member States to the regional integration project. However, she too underscored the importance of strategically implementing the plan as a unified union.

“We need to take care

CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque and COTED Chair, Sandra Husbands, Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados seated, at centre, among other CARICOM officials.

Some of the delegates during the opening of the Forty-Eighth Regular Meeting of Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) (Adrian Narine’s Photos)

Trade Ministers and Regional Officials to work with their Heads of Government to implement the agreed measures, emphasizing that it is important for the people of the region to experience the benefits of the Single Market.

“An urgency to complete the agreed measures and make the CSME a live reality for our citizens, has been the hallmark of the recent discussions among our Heads of Government. As the Council

have a pivotal role to play in ensuring that we accomplish the goals in that regard,” Ambassador LaRocque told the regional officials.

He also underscored the importance of reviewing the Common External Tariff (CET), which also forms an important part of the Free Movement of Goods and Services’ framework within the Single Market regime.

Ambassador LaRocque also underlined the importance

COTED Chair, Sandra Husbands, Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados, also challenged the Foreign Ministers and their countries to take actions that would see the people of the region benefiting significantly in the area of free movement – free movement of people, goods, and services.

Husbands said the recent advancements within the CSME framework demonstrate a full commitment by

of certain elements that are important to our people”, she said. According to Husbands, her heart is fully positioned to advance the movement, explaining that the future of the region’s children and its economy depend on CARICOM advancing its work be it in agriculture, health or education.

The Barbadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said it is critical to lay a foundation for the future generations to build

on, warning that failure to do such can result in a collapse of the CMSE and even the Caribbean Community.

“All of these things require us to do our very best work so that we lay a foundation that for the next generation to advance this experiment. My greatest fair, however, is that if this generation does not do its best in advancing our interest in our CARICOM experiment that another generation would come and view what we failed to do and conclude that this experiment was not worth it and dismantle it.

Should they arrive at that position, then we would see the dismantling of all the work that has been done by many persons for many years in seeking to bring CARICOM together and bring life to the CSME,” she warned the officials.

Husbands said collective thinking, identification of common interests and unity are necessary to achieve integration goals. She therefore urged the Ministers to view their work under the umbrella of COTED, not from the perspective of individual Member States, but rather what was best for common interest of the Region. Minister Husbands added that this was necessary to create the level of economic growth and development and the kind of society that was just, fair and prosperous.

The Trade Ministers, during the two-day meeting, will also address issues relating to External Economic and Trade Relations including its updated position on the future trade relations with the United Kingdom – post Brexit; implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement and the roll out of work on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) issues. The meeting of Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) comes to an end today.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

Minister Trotman receives EITI report

GUYANA’s first Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) report was presented on Monday to Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman.

The report will pave the way towards positive reformation and transparency in the extractive industry.

It was handed over at the ministry’s boardroom by Deputy Coordinator for the Guyana EITI (GYEITI) Diane Barker.

Trotman was presented with a brief summary of the report as the actual report amounts to some 6,000 pages. He will now formally apprise the President and other Cabinet members about its completion and, on May 2, 2019, a press conference will be held for media officials to delve deeper into the report.

“For a country like Guyana where the bedrock of our economy is the extractive industry– gold, diamond, bauxite, forests-- this is very important. When this government came into office we recognized that the process had started; it seemed a bit sluggish [but] we recommitted and energized it and have been working assiduously since,” the Natural Resources Minister said.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman receives a summary of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) report from Deputy Coordinator for the Guyana EITI (GYEITI) Diane Barker. (Samuel Maughn photo)

He stated that the document would “paint a picture” on where Guyana stands regarding transparency in the extractive industries and will highlight the areas where improvement is needed.

“Now that we’re coming into a new regime, we see where the gaps are and as we progress as a nation, we can fill those. Your first report is actually meant to be a very frank and stark report

on where you’re not. I don’t think there’s any country in the world that has started off with a glowing report in the first instance…but the main thing is that you’re finding discrepancies when you were

not even aware that they existed. So, it starts the process of reformation and movement towards transparency,” he said.

The EITI is a government-led initiative in partner-

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ship with the private sector, civil society and the industry.

“We chose to have a tripartite form of governance, so that both the industry as well as civil society would all have equity or parity or equal status on the multi-stakeholder group,” he explained.

“In some countries, the government takes charge and is in charge. I thought we would have something where we are ‘first among equals’.”

In his comments to Barker, Minister Trotman said that he was pleased to receive the report and is happy that [it] was in keeping with the set deadline.

“There were moments when we thought that it could not happen but the hard work of Dr. Rudy Jadoopat [National Coordinator of GYEITI Secretariat], Ms. Barker and other members of the multi-stakeholder group, we were able to get it done,” he said. Meanwhile, Barker stated that the report is a special ‘first’ for Guyana and that she is pleased to be involved in its compilation.

Erratic weather patterns batter Central American Dry Corridor …some 1.4 million people in urgent need of food assistance Panama City – The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) today warned that prolonged droughts and heavy rain have destroyed more than half of the maize and bean crops of the subsistence farmers along the Central American Dry Corridor, leaving them without food reserves and affecting their food security.

Central American governments estimated that 2.2 million people have suffered crop losses, mainly due to the drought. Emergency food security assessments carried out in the Dry Corridor by WFP, FAO and the governments during the last quarter of 2018 validated these findings and confirmed that 1.4 million people out of the 2.2 million urgently need food assistance.

For 2019, FAO and WFP are requesting US$72 million from the international community to

provide food assistance to more than 700,000 people in the Dry Corridor. These funds will also help to create and restore productive assets, diversify the subsistence farmers’ source of income, establish social protection safety nets and strengthen the farmers’ resilience in the face of future climate-related events. “Subsistence farmers have started planting this month, many of them do not have food reserves and risk losing their crops again,” warned Miguel Barreto, WFP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “If we don’t support them now, the coming lean season could be extremely hard for them, especially for children who are the most vulnerable, and whose nutritional condition could worsen as a result.”

Central American governments reported that in 2018, a delayed start to the rainy season in the Dry Corridor ruined up to 70 percent

of the subsistence farmers’ first harvest, while in contrast too much rainfall damaged up to 50 percent of the second harvest. In mid-February 2019, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the appearance of El Niño phenomenon and forecast that it would last until October. There is a high probability that El Niño will affect the sowing of staple grains during the first crop cycle, which will worsen the already fragile nutritional and food security of communities along the Dry Corridor.

FAO and WFP recommend subsistence farmers are informed about the current situation to prevent the loss of their crops due to a delayed rainy season. Alternatives for them to consider are replacing the existing water-dependant crops with sorghum and tubers, which need less water, or sowing short-cycle crops with the first rains in the dryer

zones. “We have to improve the resilience of people living in the Dry Corridor. Reinforcing monitoring and early warning systems, and mitigating the impact of droughts and rains through agricultural best practices, increases the families’ resilience and adaptation to strengthen their livelihoods, thus preventing that climatic events compromise their food security and force them to migrate,” said Adoniram Sanches, FAO Regional Coordinator for Mesoamerica and Representative in Panama.

Approximately half of the 1.9 million basic grain small producers in Central America live in the Dry Corridor. These families are subsistence farmers, which means that they harvest and eat the food that they grow, mainly maize and beans. If they lose a crop, they will not have reserves to eat or sell, to survive until the next harvest.

Once their food reserves have

been depleted families often resort to what emergency coping strategies. According to FAO, WFP and the governments, up to 82 percent of the families have sold their farming tools and animals to purchase food. They even skip meals or eat less nutritious foods. More than 25 percent of the households surveyed do not have enough income to cover their basic food needs and eight percent of the families reported that they plan to migrate in response to this situation. According to FAO and WFP, only by revitalizing the Dry Corridor can we create the conditions for communities to improve their way of life without having to leave their homes and undertake dangerous journeys in search of better opportunities.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

26 women undergoing early childhood development course TWENTY SIX women, on Monday, began their training at First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger’s Early Childhood Development Workshop.

The participants, upon completion of the three-component workshop, which includes CPR training, will receive certification from the Board of Industrial Training (BIT).

Mrs. Granger said that while the workshop provides official certification, it can also help improve parent-child or caregiver-child relationships. “It’s very important to us as women to be able to stand on our feet economically, because it has a bearing on our social and other interactions… That is why I

have been… very firm in making sure these workshops… must be certi-

fied… It will teach you how to approach your child differently… Also,

if you have a child with special needs… you can understand that the child

is different and needs particular care. [They are] different, not stupid,

not slow, not ‘hard ears.’

Their minds just work differently,” she said.

Region Three Education Department highlights autism at symposium

Students of Wales SEN Unit performing an acrostic poem

A SYMPOSIUM geared towards sensitizing parents on caring for children with special needs and disabilities was held in Region three yesterday, April 29, 2019, at the Department of Education’s office in Vreed-en-hoop, under the theme “Parenting with love and Logic”.

According to National Special Education Needs (SEN) Officer, Ms. Savvie Hopkinson, the parent symposium is said to be an interactive session for parents to share, discus and ask questions. She also added that she believes that for parents who desire to be parenting with love and logic they

need to keep four points in mind, which are acceptance, courage, wisdom and enjoyment. Hopkinson stated that parents must first be able to accept their child or children.

“Acceptance is not to tolerate or to have a feeling of being trapped or saying you have no choice. Having prepared and followed the best prenatal advice, your first responsibility is to accept the reality and seek the help needed and follow recommendations that would improve the life chances of the child and grow your personality,” the National SEN Officer remarked.

Moreover, Ms. Hopkinson explained that wisdom

allows parents to set realistic goals for their children.

She said that daily interaction with children will reveal their strengths and weaknesses.

“Spending quality time with your child will help you to understand him or her and set realistic achievable goals. You are your child’s greatest advocate.

It is important to believe that your child can achieve and become successful”, Ms. Hopkinson said as she offered advice to the parents in attendance.

In addition, parents TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

Public health procurement system gets bronze rating

– study finds THE Ministry of Public Health’s procurement system is currently at level 2 of a 5-tier system, according to a 12-day study conducted by a team of USAID specialists.

Martin Ellis, a consultant who formed part of the USAID team, said the ministry’s procurement system is currently at the Bronze level on the 5-tier system – Canvas, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Accredited.

Fielding questions from reporters during a press conference at the Public Health Ministry’s Brickdam Office on Monday, Ellis said that Level 2 is satisfactory.

“Bronze is good. You should applaud yourself now that you have gotten to that level,” he said while noting that the personnel involved in the procurement process in the public health sector are passionate about what they do. “They want to do a fantastic job but the only thing that is holding them back, is that they need the technology and the training,” the USAID consultant said.

He explained that during the conduct of the 12-day

study last December, the Public Health Sector’s supply chain was thoroughly examined in three dimensions – organisaiton; process and policy; technology and infrastructure. Ellis said with the right financial support, the Public Health Ministry, together with USAID, can work to raise the ministry’s level to silver.

The Public Health Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Colette Adams, told reporters that attaining the Bronze supply chain maturity level is an important achievement.

“This level signals that the supply chain improvement journey is under way. To achieve Bronze, the country has trained staff, implemented processes and has some level of functional technology. This is to be applauded, as the most difficult step to make is the first, from Canvas to Bronze,” the Permanent Secretary said.

Adams linked the progress to the move by Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence to set up a new Procurement Department.

“With the establishment of the new Procurement De-

Feasibility study for Parika/Goshen road completed THE feasibility study for the Parika to Goshen road has finally been completed, according to Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson.

The major road construction is expected to allow for easier access from farms to markets in the Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) area.

“The Parika to Goshen road, the feasibility study is out; it’s completed so we’re now allowed to seek public-private partnership to do that road,” he told the newspaper on Sunday.

The proposed Parika to Goshen road is approximately 56 km long and runs within the right-of-way of the Del Conte Road on the East Bank of the Essequibo River, passing through occupied agricultural and forest lands.

It forms a part of the Government’s three-phase

initiative to construct an all-weather transportation road corridor from Parika to Bartica. This is run from Parika to Goshen; Goshen to Monkey Jump and Monkey Jump to Bartica.

According to the ministry, an alternative link to Bartica and other hinterland communities would also be created when the road is completed.

In conjunction with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), in January 2015, the Ministry had engaged the consulting Team, J-Dos Internationalé Incorporated to provide engineering designs and supervision of works for the road.

Meanwhile, the completed feasibility study will guide the administration in regards to which alignment serves best for the construction of the road.

USAID Consultant, Martin Ellis (Photos by Adrian Narine)

partment in July 2017, the Public Health Minister set about tackling the myriad and daunting challenges that were being faced. It deliberately broadened the procurement to pursue Open Tendering; Restrictive Tendering; Single Sourcing; Request for Quotations; and Request for Proposal except for Community Participation,” she explained.

According to her, the existing procurement process is much fairer, more competitive and unquestionably more transparent.

“Our scrutiny of contracts has become more rigorous too to ensure contractors and suppliers abide by the terms of the agreements brokered.

The system is also ably supported by a Contract Consultant and a Drug Inspector.

These measures help improve accountability and move the Ministry much closer to guar-

anteeing it gets value for its money from its suppliers and by ensuring we get both the quantity of items ordered, and the quality we have paid for,” she told reporters.

The Supply Chain Maturity Model generated a portfolio of 53 improvement activities which are required to attain the next level. However, each country has its own and sometimes, individual and unique challenges which also require attention, the officials explained.

Adams said the ministry will now direct its attention to improving the skill set of its procurement staff by providing additional training using USAID experts. These training sessions will cover a number of key areas including drafting of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and implementing a Procurement Tracking System

Public Health Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Colette Adams

software. Added to that, steps will be taken to improve synergies between the Procurement and the Materials Management Unit (MMU) to improve the collection and distribution cycles of drugs, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies in the quest to help improve the lives of persons living in Guyana.

Adams emphasised that providing quality and timely health care to all the people living in Guyana forms a major part of the ministry’s mandate.

“This renewed focus on accountability, transparency, and fostering collaboration is required to ensure longterm systems sustainability and with assistance from our partners and stakeholders such as USAID, PAHO/ WHO and Global Fund we are continuing to strengthen coordination and collabora-

tion and to promote strong governance, transparency and accountability in the supply chain,” she said.

Noting that the Public Health Ministry is well-positioned to lift from the Bronze level to Silver, the Permanent Secretary assured that critical steps will be taken to implement a systematic and structured improvement programme. “Silver builds on this with further advanced staff qualifications, introduction of Standard Operating Procedures and improved technology,” she said.

Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence; Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings; Contractor for USAID Global Health Supply Chain Programme, Caroline Healey, were among the officials present during the press conference.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

27 potential Reserve Officers promoted CHIEF of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West, promoted a batch of 27 potential Reserve Officers to the rank of Ensigncy during a parade held in their honour recently.

The Reserve Officer Course Number 16 started on September 8, 2017, with 37 Officer Cadets and 27 of them have so far endured the rigorousness of the training.

After decorating the potential Reserve Officers with their new badges of rank, Brigadier West urged them to remain resolute and focused on their goal of becoming Officers.

He also urged them to stay the course, stand tall and be an inspiration to others.

“There is only one road for you, the road to commissioning. Stay focus!" he encouraged.

The last batch of Reserve Officers was trained in 2009. This batch is expected to be commissioned with the ensigns of the Standard Officer Course Number 50.

Chief of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West pinning on the ensigncy on one of the reserve officers

Venezuelan charged for killing Guyanese in police lock-ups A Venezuelan, who is suspected to be a member of the ‘Sindicato’ gang, was, on Monday, charged with the murder of Kallicharran Sawak called “Danny”, while the latter was in custody at the Sparendaam Police Station, earlier this year.

Luis Alfredo Gonsalves, 23, made his appearance at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Rushell Liverpool and was not required to plead to the capital office. Particulars of the charge alleged that, between January 17, 2019, and January 28, 2019, at Sparendaam Police Station, East Coast Demerara Gonsalves murdered Sawak.

Gonsalves was remanded to prison until May 8, 2019.

The accused is currently before the courts for the possession of hand grenades.

Another Venezuelan, Jose Lezama, 24, and Guyanese National, Heeralall Girdhari are also expected to be charged for Sawak’s murder.

According to reports Sawack, of Lot 3 La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara (ECD) died on January 28, 2019 while a patient at the Georgetown

Luis Alfredo Gonsalves

Public Hospital (GPH). It is alleged that the 39-year-old LBI resident was beaten in the lock-ups, and due to the severity of the beating, the father of one was warded at hospital where he succumbed.

According to relatives, Sawak was arrested on January 17, 2019 after he was misbehaving while heavily intoxicated and a report was made at the Beterverwagting Police Station. He was subsequently transferred from the BV station to the Sparendaam Police Station, where he remained in custody while awaiting his time to be placed before the court.

Sawak was due to appear in the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on January 22, but when the matter was called and he was not there it was put aside. It was on the second calling of the case, that relatives were informed

Kallicharran Sawak called “Danny”

by the magistrate that the prisoner had been hospitalised.

The man’s mother, Ramdai Sawak, 68, had told this publication that, when she visited the hospital, her son was bleeding from his eyes and head. “He was not talking and his eyes were closed. He was drunk when he was taken to the police station because he was behaving badly at home, and he broke my window and he was locked up,” the mother said.

The woman said that the police told her that Sawak had been hitting his head against the wall, and that resulted in his injuries, a report she said she found hard to believe. According to police investigation, Sawak was in a prison cell with the three accused and was badly beaten by the men.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

Duo remanded for ‘Strip Club Owner’ remanded $1.2 M robbery for trafficking Venezuelans

The men as they made their appearance at court

TWO men were, on Monday, remanded to prison for allegedly breaking and entering the business place of Videndand Ramotar and stealing over $1M worth of car supplies and cash.

They appeared before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs Marcus Particulars of the charge stated that Leon Browne, a 38-year-old mason of 207 Charlotte Street, Georgetown, and Trevon Alleyne, 20-year-old of 103 Regent Road Bourda, between April 26, 2019 and April 27, 2019, at 104 Regent Road Bourda, stole eight batteries valued $200,000, 12 seat covers worth $192,000, 10 pairs of wipers valued $20,000, two seat covers valued $192,000, five buckets of oil worth $110,000, 60 AC filters worth $108,000, 86 coolants valued $21,000, 4 alarms worth $85,000 and $500,000 worth in cash. Browne pleaded not guilty while Alleyne

pleaded guilty.

The prosecution is contending that at about 17:00 hrs on April 26, 2019, Ramotar secured his business place. The following day, police, acted on information and went to the said location where they apprehended the duo with the said articles in their possession. They were subsequently told of the offence and arrested.

However, Browne told the Magistrate that he was not involved. He further stated that he woke up the morning with four policemen over him telling him that he committed an act he knew nothing about.

The policemen then went to the upper flat of the house which he shared with eight other occupants and brought down a battery.

After listening to the submissions made in court the Magistrate remanded the duo to prison until their next court appearance on May 2, 2019.

Woman busted at Ogle Airport with cocaine strapped to thighs A 55-year-old woman of West Ruimveldt Georgetown was busted on Monday at the Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle East Coast Demerara, with 3.378 kilograms (7.4 lbs) of cocaine.

The woman identified as Sandra Angela Profitt 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).

Sandra Angela Profitt

CANU in a press release said the suspected cocaine was duct-taped to each of her upper thighs.

The cocaine found on the woman’s thighs

FREEMAN Fordyce, a 41-year-old businessman, was, on Monday, remanded to prison on charges of alleged human trafficking.

Fordyce appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court one month after he was summoned for allegedly trafficking two Venezuelan women for sexual exploitation.

Particulars of the charge alleged that Fordyce, of 99 Collingswood Avenue, Nandy Park, East Bank De-

FREEMAN Fordyce

merara, between September 30, 2018 and November 30, 2018, trafficked two Venezuelan women at Club Diamond.

The matter was first

called on March 8, 2019, in the courtroom of the Chief Magistrate; however, he was not present to answer to the charges, hence, a summons was issued for him. A few months ago, a video was circulated which showed one of the women jumping over a gate while being supported by her friends to gain access to the night club. Thereafter, ranks from the police force acted on information and went to the Club where they found a significant number of women who were all arrested

and taken into custody.

Fordyce was previously charged for assaulting a police officer who was attempting to arrest him. He was also given a two-year suspended sentence after he was found guilty of having an illegal pistol and ammunition in his possession.

Under these circumstances and the fact that he is considered to be a flight risk, he was remanded by the Magistrate until his next court appearance on May 8, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

Committee set up to help improve environmental governance guidance THE Government of Guyana has set up a Multilateral Environment Agreement Committee (MEAC) which will help guide its work on environmental governance.

The Committee will serve as the main advisory body to the government on environmental governance and as the overarching body which will facilitate improved coordination and collaboration among stakeholders.

On Monday, at the Guyana Forestry Commission

Director of the Department of Environment, Ndibi Schwiers

Members of the audience (Adrian Narine photo)

(GFC), the committee held its inception meeting whereby it gave an overview of MEAC; explained its roles and responsibilities and took suggestions on how its draft Terms of Reference (ToR) could be finalised.

At the meeting, Director of the Department of Environment, Ndibi Schwiers, explained that MEAs are legally binding inter-governmental agreements used to help solve various environmental issues globally and nationally.

“In spite of that, we have some major challenges,” Schwiers said. “At the Department of Environment we recognise that one of those challenges lie in coordination of the implementation of these MEAs. We do not have, at the moment, a single functional mechanism to effectively coordinate MEAs implementation.’

As such, the Department decided that the establishment of a MEAC could bring a solution. The members of the MEAC come from sector agencies; civil society; the private sector; Non-Government Organisations (NGOs); Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants country cordinator; convention

focal points and donors and partners.

The roles of the Committee are to advise on the incorporation of MEA obligations in to relevant national and sub-national development plans; to identify gaps, common issues and matters hindering its mandate and provide advice to the Department of Environment on signing MEAs. The Committee is also responsible for developing and recommending project concepts for enhanced environmental management and protection and convention implementation.

According to MEAs Coordinator at the Department, Diana Fernandes, the Committee will also facilitate harmonized approaches in addressing environmental matters and promote public awareness and capacity building on issues relating to MEAs. Following their presentations, members of the audience gave suggestions on how the MEAC’s ToR can be improved. These were discussed by the participants and welcomed by Schwiers who committed to making the improvements where necessary.

FROM PAGE 16

Region Three Education ... were told that enjoying their children does not mean ignoring teachable moments and training. The National SEN Officer noted that children with special education needs and disability must also be taught to respect others. She said that parents need to be fair, consistent, calm and realistic when teaching their children Meanwhile, Regional Education Officer for Region Three, Mrs. Annesta Douglas, said that, with the month of April being used to observe autism globally, it is important to place the spotlight on the hurdles that people with autism face every day. She said that, as a growing global issue, owing to its increasing exposure, in the press and common knowledge, autism is an is-

sue that is only gaining more understanding, and activities such as today’s parent symposium are planned every year to further increase and develop world knowledge of children and adults who have autism.

During the symposium parents were engaged in discussions targeting four topics. These topics were understanding behavioral therapy for children with autism, characteristics and core defects of autism, classroom management and functional routines and everyday life and how to teach self-help skills.

The symposium was a collaborative effort between the SEN Unit and the Department of Education Region Three.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

FROM BACK PAGE

Warner signs off in style as Sunrisers put Kings XI in the shade DAVID Warner starred in his final appearance in this year’s Indian Premier League, helping Sunrisers Hyderabad record a clinical 45-run win over Kings XI Punjab.

The Australia batsman, who will miss the closing stages of the campaign to prepare for the Cricket World Cup, made a top score of 81 in Hyderabad’s imposing total of 212-6.

Opening partner Wriddhiman Saha contributed 28 - hitting three fours and a six during his brief 13-ball innings - while Manish Pandey added 36 to the cause, putting on 82 with Warner for the second wicket.

KL Rahul made 79 in reply, but Kings XI never threatened to succeed in pursuit of such a sizeable score, particularly once the dangerous Chris Gayle departed for just four at the start of the third over. Mayank Agarwal (27) and Nicholas Pooran (21) contributed to the cause, yet Kings XI’s chase was curtailed by losing three wickets to leg-spinner Rashid Khan, including skipper Ravichandran Ashwin for a first-ball duck.

Khaleel Ahmed claimed 3-40 as the innings subsided following Rahul’s departure, eventually ending on 167-8.

Victory helps Hyderabad consolidate fourth place in the table, while Kings XI six two points behind them in what looks set to be a hotly contested race to reach the

batting order.

David Warner rounded out a hugely impressive IPL campaign with a ninth score of 50 or more in 12 innings and a run-tally of 629 runs..

play-offs.

YOU’VE BEEN WARNER-ED Warner rounded out a hugely impressive IPL campaign with a ninth score of 50 or more in 12 innings.

The left-hander hit a pair of sixes and seven fours in his 56-ball knock on Monday, taking his tally for the year to 692 runs. He sits comfortably clear on the top-scorers list, with Rahul his nearest challenger on 520. A second century of the season appeared on the cards for Warner until he sliced Ashwin to backward point at the end of the 16th over.

Still, his departure from India - following on from former opening partner Jonny Bairstow’s return to England - leaves a sizeable void at the top of the Sunrisers’

A BEAUTY FROM BHUVI! Bhuvneshwar Kumar actually caught Pooran twice in the 13th over. The India seamer held on to a pull shot at deep fine leg when the batsman went after a short ball from Khaleel, only to step over the boundary rope as he failed to halt his momentum in time.

However, Kumar judged his second attempt four balls later perfectly, moving in from his position in the deep to claim a top edge from the same batsman with the aid of a dive, snatching the ball just prior to it reaching the turf.

Rahul battled on bravely after the fall of the third wicket, but his lone hand could not save Kings XI from a third straight defeat.

They have just two games remaining to break into the top four and extend their season.

WHERE NEXT? The Sunrisers have two away encounters before the end of the league stage. They face Mumbai Indians on May 2 followed by their last league game against Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 4.

The Kings XI, who have lost only one game at home, will be hoping to make the most of that advantage when they take on Kolkata Knight Riders (May 3) and Chennai Super Kings (May 5) in Mohali.

Guyana U-17 Jaguars...

“We know we are going up against teams that have a reputation at this level, but we know that we can compete with those teams.

We are looking forward to going as far as possible in the tournament; getting out of the group is the first target and then taking each game as it comes.”

The Guyana U-17s are ranked 18th in CONCACAF and have been in training since early March with up to five sessions per week at the National Training Centre (Providence) and practice matches against local club teams.

The CONCACAF tournament schedule clashes with some CSEC examination dates, meaning that participating Caribbean nations have had to tailor their preparations and squad selection around the availability of players.

“Education has to go hand in hand with football,” Gilbert noted. “We are working with the par-

ents to alleviate the situation so that as many of our children can benefit from playing at this level but also perform properly in their exams.”

As part of this arrangement, some players in the U-17 squad will return to Guyana after the second group match against Honduras while some others will be unavailable for selection due to exam commitments, should Guyana progress to the next round.

“We wish our boys all the very best as they prepare to represent their country at this level for the first time in our history,” said GFF President Wayne Forde.

He continued; “With this age group, we recognize that it is important for each of the players to learn as much as they can from this valuable regional exposure as we continue to develop them through the academies and within our national pathway.”

“We believe a significant

number of these players have the attitude and ability to grow into top players in the region in the years ahead, and we are looking forward to seeing them make a big statement of intent against some tough opposition in Florida this month.” The CONCACAF U-17 Championships will be broadcast live in Guyana via Flow Sports.

The Squad is as follows: Goalkeepers: Shawn Adonis, Oswin Fredericks, Ronaldo Blair Defenders: Jermaine Padmore, Marcus Wilson, Nicholai Andrews, Joshua Braithwaite, Wayne DaSilva, Kevin Reddy Midfielders: Jamar Harrigan, Tyrell Khan, Isiah James, Osafa Simpson, William Vaughan, Shannon Samnauth Forwards: Shoran James, Omari Glasgow, Ronaldo Rodrigues, Ravon Bayley, Orville Daniels FROM BACK PAGE

Team Wreckers credit...

FRESH off their win on Sunday, Team Ramchand Wreckers believe consistency and team work are the biggest factors for their dominance.

The team is the defending endurance champions and have gotten off to a flyer of a start, winning the first two events of the year.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport, Team Prinicipal and owner, Anand Ramchand, says that “We are strong because we work as a team and

we are consistent.”

He believes that they are on course for a repeat of the 2018 championship.

The team, which also competes in the 15011600cc class, completed 81 laps after two hours with the team of Davin Pandy and Azad Hassan falling short by two laps.

Dowalu Harper, known in the racing circle as ‘bread man,’ finished third with 77 laps.

In the 1601-2000cc class,

it was ‘Wreckers’ again with Adrian and Anand Ramchand completing the win with 72 laps over Rafeeq Khan who completed 31.

In the 0-1500cc class, the team of Richard and Rayad Hamid finished one/two after completing 71 and 69 laps respectively.

New comer and Skiddnation representative, Paul Wells, finished third after 65 laps. In the unlimited class, Team Motor won after 53 laps of action.

FROM BACK PAGE

On-fire Russell ‘hungry’...

Yarmouth 09:15 hrs Take It Down Under 09:45 hrs Dopn’t Joke 10:45 hrs Luna Magic 11:15 hrs Lake Volta 11:50 hrs Dream World 12:25 hrs Al Daayen American Racing Tips Thistledown Race 1 Canyon Creed Race 2 One way To Fame Race 3 Honor Roll Race 4 Hot Valentina Race 5 Wizard Willie Race 6 Grind Line Race 7 Nothinlastsforever Race 8 Appealing Jazz

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Brighton 08:50 hrs Shamshon 09:25 hrs Audio 10:25 hrs Geetanjali 10:55 hrs False ID 11:25 hrs Wilson 12:00 hrs Light Of Air Irish Racing Tips Punchestown 10:40 hrs Youcannotbeserious 11:20 hrs Klassical Dream 11:55 hrs Sancta Simona 12:30 hrs Min 13:05 hrs Fiston De Becon 13:40 hrs A Plus Tard 14:15 hrs Farceur Du Large

Russell has been on fire with the bat in the ongoing Indian Premier League where he has plundered 486 runs at an average of 69 with four half-centuries, to top the Kolkata Knight Riders batting charts.

Though there has been less emphasis placed on his medium-fast bowling, the right-armer has already claimed 10 wickets at an average of 22 and economy rate of nearly nine.

Despite his absence from the ODI side in recent years,

Russell said his selection for the May 30 to July 14 showpiece in England was not unexpected.

“I wasn’t surprised that I was a part of the World Cup squad,” Russell explained.

“I’ve been doing well.

I’ve been back and forth with the selectors and the coaches back home. I know once I’m doing my work here and performing, that will lead to national duties.

“I wasn’t really focused on the World Cup. I was just trying to make sure that

whatever happened here, I did my best and put my best foot forward.”

New interim West Indies head coach, Floyd Reifer, said last week that Russell’s current form in the IPL had weighed heavily in the decision by selectors.

“He’s shown that he has tremendous striking ability – look at his stats in the IPL, he’s been doing very, very well,” he pointed out.

Russell averages 28 from 52 ODIs and has taken 65 wickets.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

Hales out of England World Cup squad (REUTERS) - Batsman Alex Hales has been withdrawn from England’s preliminary World Cup squad to avoid any “unnecessary distractions” ahead of the showpiece tournament, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Monday.

Hales is serving a threeweek ban for recreational drug use, the Guardian newspaper reported on Friday.

“We’ve worked hard to create the right environment around the England team and need to consider what is in the best interests of the team...” Managing Director

of England Men’s Cricket, Ashley Giles, said in a statement.

“I want to make it clear this is not the end of Alex’s career as an England player.

The ECB and the PCA will continue to aid Alex and work alongside his county club Nottinghamshire to give him the support he needs, to help him fulfil his potential as a professional cricketer.”

The Nottinghamshire batsman will not travel to Ireland for a one-off ODI on Friday and has also been removed from England’s ODI and Twenty20 squads against Pakistan.

Alex Hales withdrawn from all England international squads due to an due to an off-field incident not related to cricket.

The selectors added Nottinghamshire batsman Ben Duckett and Middlesex

batsman Dawid Malan to the squad for the Ireland trip and the T20 against Pakistan

after Jason Roy and Mark Wood were ruled out.

Roy is unavailable after suffering a back spasm, while Wood will feature for Durham in the domestic ODI competition against Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire Vikings. The pair will return for the five-match ODI series against Pakistan which begins on May 8. They will be joined by Hampshire batsman James Vince, who was also included in the 17-man squad.

A replacement for Hales in the World Cup squad must be named by May 23, when final squads are submitted

to the International Cricket Council.

Hales was fined and suspended for his involvement in a nightclub altercation with team mate Ben Stokes in 2017.

The 30-year-old was given a six-match one-day international ban in December.

He had already missed two games and the remainder of the ban was suspended for 12 months so he could be available for selection.

The 50-over World Cup begins on May 30 with England taking on South Africa in the opening match in London.

Sterling wins Semenya decision to be Football Writers’ award announced by CAS tomorrow

Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling celebrates a goal that is later disallowed REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo

By Simon Evans MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling was voted Footballer of the Year in the annual vote of members of the Football Writers’ Association, announced on Monday.

City forward Sterling has been a key member of the City team which is two wins away from defending their Premier League title and has also been a prominent voice in the campaigns against racism in the game. Nikita Parris won the FWA’s Women’s Footballer of the Year award — like Sterling, the 25-year-old plays for Man-

chester City and England.

The FWA said Sterling collected 62 percent of the vote of more than 400 members of the organisation which brings together journalists and others in the football media.

Sterling had 100 votes more than Liverpool’s Dutch defender Virgil Van Dijk, who on Sunday was named the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year.

Other players to receive votes from FWA members were Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal), Bernardo Silva and David Silva (Manchester City).

FWA chair Carrie Brown pointed out that the criteria for the award is for a player who by “precept and example” is considered Footballer of the Year. “To have been voted the 2019 Footballer of the Year by our members, and with such an overwhelming majority, clearly acknowledges the contribution from a player over one season,” said Brown.

“But it also recognises the huge impact of Raheem’s courage to challenge preconceptions and fight racism, which will leave a legacy not just for future generations in football but society as a whole.”

Parris won by a narrow margin from Arsenal and Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema who was named PFA Women’s Player of the Year.

By Mark Gleeson CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - The decision on Caster Semenya’s challenge to continue competing without any restrictions will be announced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) at 1000 GMT tomorrow.

The double Olympic 800m champion is challenging the sport’s governing body, International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), over its decision to restrict testosterone levels in female runners. The IAAF wants the South African and other female athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) to take testosterone blockers.

Under the new rules, which will apply to women events between 400 metres to the mile, athletes classed as having DSDs must reduce their blood testosterone level to below five (5) nmol/L for a period of six months before they can compete. They must then maintain it below that level continuously.

Semenya, 28, has been waiting since February following her appeal against an IAAF regulation, which said female athletes classed as having DSDs gain an unfair advantage due to their higher testosterone levels.

Caster Semenya

Testosterone is a hormone that increases muscle mass, strength and haemoglobin - which affects endurance.

CAS had been due to announce its decision in March but postponed it several times.

Semenya’s dominance of the middle distances has been labelled unfair by many of her competitors but the proposed restrictions have also been branded as discriminatory.

Several expert witness were called by both sides during a five-day hear-

ing presided by three judges at CAS’s headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland in February. Semenya won 1,500m and 5,000m golds at the South African Athletics Championships over the past few days. Should her appeal be unsuccessful, Semenya would have to meet the IAAF requirements to keep running in the 800 and 1500 metres, but they would not apply were she to step up to 5,000.

Last month, Semenya said in a statement released through her lawyers that she wanted to differentiate her case from those of transgender athletes who were born male. “Ms Semenya is a woman. There is no debate or question about this and the IAAF does not dispute this,” the statement said.

“She was born a woman, raised a woman, socialised as a woman and has competed as a woman her entire life.

“Ms Semenya does not wish to undergo medical intervention to change who she is and how she was born. She wants to compete naturally.”

The IAAF has previously said it is confident of the legal, scientific and ethical basis for the regulations and expects CAS to reject Semenya’s appeal.

Inter Ministries Day of Sports set for Sunday THE Georgetown Office Assistant Promotion team, led by James ‘Kool’ Lewis (attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) will run off their Inter Ministries Day of Sports on Sunday (May 5) at the Carifesta Avenue Sports Complex from

09:00hrs.

The Day of Sports will pit Ministries against each other in cricket, dominoes, football and athletics, with trophies and medals at stake. The deadline for registration for the respective competitions is today.

The dominoes com-

petition will have a purse of $100,000 up for grabs while the 7-a-side football competition will see the winning team also pocketing a similar amount for their efforts.

The cricket segment will also have a $100,000 first prize.

The coordinator of the Day of Sports, Lewis, can be contacted on 628-1656 or 666-5857 for further details.

Individuals or businesses interested in sponsoring or donating are welcome to contact Lewis as well.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

MYO bounce back with big win in GCA Toucan U-15 cricket tourney ­– DCC make it two in a row, Everest also win MUSLIM Youth Organisation (MYO) bounced back from an opening loss to the Demerara Cricket Club on Saturday to beat the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) on Sunday at home in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Toucan U-15 100-over cricket competition.

DCC and Everest also claimed victories when they battled GCC and Transport Sports Club, respectively.

At the MYO ground, the home team won the toss and opted to take first strike. Three of their batsmen raced to half centuries, which catapulted their score to 367-7 off 50 overs (reduced).

Opener Zeynul Ramsammy struck nine fours and a six in a score of 65. For the opening wicket, he and D. Sobai (25), put together 62, while for the second wicket, Ramsammy and Avinash Ramper-

saud added 70 runs.

The latter was extremely aggressive as he belted 12 fours and two sixes in a top score of 68.

Several other batsmen had starts, but it was S. Algoo who exploded towards the end for a quick half- century. Batting at number seven, Algoo struck three fours and six sixes in a score of 51.

N. Hutton finished with three wickets for the visitors, who were skittled out for 100 in 28 overs when they batted.

Left arm spinner Bhaskar Dhani led the attack for the home side with 5-11 from 6.5 overs. At the DCC ground, the home team earned a one-wicket win over GCC. GCC won the toss and batted first and although Mavindra Dindyal struck a game-high 67, they could only muster 134 before they were bowled out in 32.3 overs.

Dindyal, who finished with

Bhaskar Dhani led MYO’s bowling attack with 5-11.

the most runs and MVP trophy at the Regional Under-15 Super50 Cup earlier this month in Antigua, struck 11 fours in his innings.

Middle-order batsman Joash

Mavindra Dindyal was outstanding with bat and ball for GCC in a losing cause.

Charles added 25, but the rest of the team faltered. Young off- spinner, Jayden Dowlin, the son of former West Indies cricketer, Travis

Dowlin, damaged the middle order to finish with 4-13, while Romeo Deonarain supported with 3-24 and Koreem Caesar 2-15.

Led by skipper Shaquan Walters, the hosts were able to tame the bowling attack of GCC, which was led by Dindyal and Charles, to reach their target with one wicket in hand.

Walters scored 40, while Jayden Campbell added 20. Dindyal finished with 3-28 and Charles 3-24.

At the Everest ground. The home team batted first and scored 115-9 in 55 overs. Prashad led the way with 33 runs. Nine-year-old medium pacer Reaz Latif finished with 3-17 for TSC. In reply, Transport were bundled out for 60. Riyad Latif (Reaz’s older brother) finished with 11. Bowling for Everest, V. Persaud and N. Muthura finished with two wickets each.

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

Dey trumps Narine to cop Defending champs Berbice NA Mayor’s Cycling meet face Select U-17 today

Ashmead Nedd will lead the Demerara U-19s against Essequibo today at the GCC ground.

THE Hand-In-Hand Insurance Company is once again the official sponsor of the Under-19 Inter-County tournament, which, this year, will be played in the 3-Day and One-Day 50Over formats. The tournament bowls off today with action in the 3-day format.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Tuesday April 30, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: 1. 21 wickets (Sunrisers) 2. Chris Gayle - 368 runs (Kings XI Punjab) Today’s Quiz: 1. Who were the losing semi-finalists in IPL 2019?

2. Who were the IPL 2019 finalists?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Cricket Guyana Inc. has been tasked with handling the logistical and financial responsibilities for the tournament.

The first round of matches in the three-day tournament will see Demerara taking on Essequibo at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda and the Select U-17 XI will face the defending champions Berbice, at the Everest ground.

Both matches are scheduled to commence at 10:00 hrs.

The teams are as follows: Berbice: Kevlon Anderson, Alex Algoo, Junior Sinclair, Leon Swammy , Kevin Umroa, Garfield Benjamin, Gevon Schultz, Chanderpaul Govindan, Jeetendra Outar, Nigel Deodat, Shamar Angel, Seon Glasglow, Doorsammy Mahadeo, Chris Harry. Manager is Neil Rudder and the coach is Andre Percival.

Demerara: Ashmead Nedd (captain), Sachin Singh, Adrian Hinds, Alphi-

us Bookie, Robin Williams, Andrew Samaroo,Yudister Persaud, Pradesh Balkishun,Joel Spooner, Daniel Mottoo, Satesh Bisram, Zachery Jodah, Dequan Bemfield, Qumar Torrington, Manager-- Latchman Yadram; Coach-- Rohan Sarjoo.

Essequibo: Kevin Christian, Ameer Singh, Bomeshwar Ramkisoon, Jeremiah Scott,Ellian Whyte, Orlando Jailall, Badesh Parsotam,Adrian Ramkirpaul,Lance Roberts, Azim Mohamed,Amit Persaud,Badesh Parsontam, Mervin Benjamin, Amos Sarwan, Coach-Ryan Hercules; Manager-Fabian Durant.

Select U-17: Mathew Nandu,Sarwan Chitnarine,Maravn Prashad,Mavendra Dindyal,Niran Bissu, Zeynul Ramsammy, Andre Seepersaud, Sheldon Charles, Azizi Christiani, Chandrapaul Ramraj, Jagdesh Dowlatram, Chaitram Balgobin , Avinash Rajkumar , Ajay Gainda.

Curtis Dey dethroned Balram Narine to cop this year’s edition of the New Amsterdam Mayor’s Cycling meet.

IN what was truly a cycling classic in the ancient county of Berbice, PSL Trojan cyclist, Curtis Dey, dethroned last year’s winner, Balram Narine, to lift this year’s edition of the New Amsterdam Mayor’s 10-lap cycling meet.

In the 10-lap racing event at New Amsterdam on Sunday, cycling enthusiasts and fans braved the brilliant sunshine and were treated to some enthralling action as Dey outsprinted Narine at the death to cop top honours on the day.

Ralph Seenarine settled for third, while Mario

Washington came in fourth and Kevin Ross fifth.

Washington won the Juvenile category, while Jerimiah Joseph and Steve Bhimsingh finished in second and third positions respectively.

The U-14 category was won by Aaron Rajnarine, with Whitney Poyer being the lone female in the race while the lone veteran was Syborne Fernandes; they both received a special prize for taking part.

In the feature 10-lap event, Seenarine grabbed three ‘prime’ prizes while Narine pedalled away with two and Dey had one.

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 30, 2019

BCB/Beacon Foundation 20/20 Tournament.

RHT Gizmos & Gadgets beat arch rivals Albion to lift title.

Keith Simpson receives the Beacon Foundation Man of the Final trophy from a representative of the NGO

The winning RHT Gizmos & Gadgets Team”.

DESPITE a last-minute ban of the Nationally contracted players from participating in the Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB) Beacon Foundation 20/20 Cricket Tournament, it was deemed a success by the organisers.

Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets First Division Team easily defeated arch-rivals, Albion Community Centre Cricket Club, by five wickets to lift the championship trophy.

Earlier in the day, Rose

Hall had defeated Young Warriors Cricket Club in the lone semi-final as Albion Community Centre drew a bye into the final.

Playing under good weather conditions and a fair sized crowd, Young Warriors won the toss and batted first in the first semi-final.

They totalled 103 for 8 from their 20 overs with former National Under-19 player, Linden Austin, top scoring with a polished 30, which included two boundaries.

Skipper Seon Hetmy-

er supported with 16 while extras contributed a vital 14. Bowling for Rose Hall, National Under-15 player, Jonathan Rampersaud, took 3 for 10 with his off-spinn while skipper Shawn Pereira had 2 for 13. Keon Sinclair, Sylus Tyndall, Junior Sinclair and Keith Simpson took a wicket each.

Rose Hall, in reply, lost opener Junior Sinclair for 8 at 11 for 1 in the third over but the elegant Surendra Kissoonlall top scored with 36 and received support from

Jason Sinclair (16) and skipper Pereira (12 not out) to see his side to a two-wicket victory. Linden Austin with 4 for 23 and Seon Hetmyer (2 for 21) were the pick of the Young Warriors’ bowlers.

In the much-anticipated final, Albion won the toss and managed 112 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. Sharaz Ramcharran top scored with 38. Adrian Sukwah added 16 and Antonio February was left not out on 18 while Keith Simpson snared 3 for 10 for

Rose Hall.

Needing 113 for victory, the visitors got a solid 35-run opening partnership from veteran Delbert Hicks and Junior Sinclair before the latter was trapped LBW by left arm spinner Gourav Ramesh for 18 in the fifth over.

Hicks batted well to score 30 before he fell LBW to Rajiv Ivan. Surendra Kissoonlall (10), Jason Sinclair (10) and Keith Simpson with 23 not out saw their team to 114 for 5 off 18.1 overs.

Simpson was named Man of the Final for his brilliant all-round performance.

Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets pocketed $100,000 while Albion received the runner-up prize of $50,000, which both teams immedi-

ately donated to the Beacon Foundation.

BCB President Hilbert Foster stated that his Board was pleased to be associated with the fight against cancer and pledged his cooperation in the future. He also congratulated the Beacon Foundation for the outstanding work it was doing across Berbice to assist persons suffering from cancer.

The Chairman of Beacon Foundation, Patrick De Groot, hailed the great cooperation his organisation received from the BCB and sponsors such as Poonai’s Pharmacy, BK International, Ansa McAl, Jus’ Water, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and Guysuco, among others.

There is strong belief in the DC side: Ricky Ponting SHERFANE Rutherford and Axar Patel shared a crucial unbeaten stand of 46 while the bowlers held their nerves as Delhi Capitals (DC) overcame Royal Challengers Bangalore to chart their way to the playoffs for the first time in the IPL since 2012.

Ricky Ponting, the head coach, observed that there is a strong belief in the camp with DC now perched at the top of the points table with 16.

After a string of poor performances over a period of time, DC tried to revamp the side with Shreyas Iyer being named the captain and Ponting taking over the coaching role.

“We’ve probably done

it the hard way tonight, but the boys are really starting to believe in themselves, they are trusting one another, and playing some good cricket.

So all in all, we are pretty happy with where we’re at,” said Ponting on Sunday (April 29).

“You want to be peaking at the right time, so for us to bounce back after a five-day break and win tonight was a really good thing,” he noted. “We go to Chennai now, which is a hard place for anybody to win, so that’s a great challenge for us.

To the boys’ credit, we haven’t really talked about where we are on the table, just getting as well-prepared and planning as well as we can for the next challenge.

Sherfane Rutherford in action.(AFP)

So yeah, we’ve qualified, that’s really great, but two big games to go, and the tar-

get now will be to finish one or two.”

Meanwhile, the loss end-

ed the practicality around Bangalore’s progression to the next phase, although they are still in with an outside chance.

The franchise had a poor start to the season but rebounded nicely, winning four out of five games only for their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs being engulfed in smoke after losing to Delhi.

Virat Kohli, the Bangalore skipper, noted that they could have restricted Delhi to a score of around 160. He also pointed out that during crunch moments of the game, the home side played better. “Even after losing the toss, the way we bowled was really nice, we showed a lot of character.

But then the game got away from us at the end a little bit. We were thinking 160-165, but 185-plus on that sort of a pitch with three spinners was always going to be tough. But we still showed a lot of character.

“In the crunch moments, I think Delhi played better than us. That’s why they got the result they did.

But yeah, with the bat we started off really well, PP [Parthiv Patel] was outstanding, then I got going, but then me and AB [de Villiers] getting out to balls that you don’t get out to... so, yeah, that’s how the game goes sometimes, and those little moments can be big at the end of the game.”(Cricbuzz)

Guyana U-17 Jaguars in Florida for CONCACAF U-17 Championships

Part of the Guyana National U-17 Boys’ team which will be competing in Group C at the CONCACAF U-17 Championships in Florida.

A strong 20-man Guyana U-17 boys’ national squad departed for Florida yesterday, ahead of the nation’s debut at the CONCACAF U-17 Championship, following a final encampment at the Leonora Stadium over the weekend.

The U-17 squad, which beat Elite League side Den Amstel 2-1 in a friendly match at the GFF National Training Centre on Saturday, is set to compete in Group C at the IMG Complex against El Salvador tomorrow at 10:00hrs, Honduras on

On-fire Russell ‘hungry’ for World Cup success

West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell.

Friday at 16:00hrs and Haiti at 10:00hrs on Sunday (May 5).

The team’s Head Coach, Gilbert Sampson, revealed “There is great chemistry and continuity in this current crop of players, building on the U-15 group that was

successful at the 2017 Squaliga Cup and talent from the GFF’s nationwide Academy Training Centres, where we have been developing our young players in line with the GFF’s national playing philosophy”.

CONTINUE ON PAGE 24

Team Wreckers credit consistency for Endurance win

KOLKATA, India, (CMC) – All-rounder Andre Russell says there is a renewed hunger to represent West Indies in the upcoming World Cup, especially with his current batting form.

The 31-year-old has played only a single One-Day International in the last four years but was named in the Caribbean side’s World Cup 15-man squad last week. He was recalled for the last two matches of the recent fivematch home series against England but was subsequently kept out due to a knee injury.

“I’m so hungry now to represent the West Indies,” the Jamaican said.

“The last time I joined the West Indies team was recently, when I had taken two injections to better my knee and it flared up again. I was so upset. I was watching the game against England and couldn’t do anything about it.

“But as I said, I’m so hungry right now to represent the West Indies and smash sixes and do what I’ve been doing here and score hundreds.”

See Page 24

Team Ramchand Wreckers with the chequered flag.

(GTRidez Photo)

CONTINUE ON PAGE 24

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TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2019