Guyana chronicle epaper 10 08 2016

SEE INSIDE

No. 104698

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2016

Price: $80

Better policing (VAT Inclusive)

...President seeks a more professional police force

P.3

Carter Center to help Guyana join anti-corruption initiative in natural resources sector P.9

From L-R: US Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge; Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman; and Jason Calder, Country Representative of the Carter Center [Delano Williams photo]

One dead in Gunplay at funeral PPP initiated of teen shot Moruca boat process to acquire outside Rio Carmichael St lots - AG accident P.8

P.2

P.2

2

Ceres clears air on resignation

By Crystal Stoll FORMER Board member of the Guyana Water Authority (GWI), Mr. Charles Ceres, has refuted statements appearing in the Stabroek News which suggest that his resignation from that board stemmed from disagreements with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Richard VanWest Charles.

Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, Ceres said he resigned from the GWI Board because of personal commitments. “I own an engineering consultant company; I have about 20 employees who I have a responsibility to; that responsibility supersedes everything else. I have responsibilities too. I opted out of being a member of the Board of GWI simply because I cannot give the time that is required to ensure that my tenure at GWI is going to contribute to the development of the organisation,” Ceres said.

He took issue with the Stabroek News’ report on his resignation, contending that the information therein is untrue and was given by unknown sources.

The article in question has stated that “while this newspaper has been unable to speak to Ceres, sources had indicated that he resigned because of issues he had with Van West-Charles’s management of GWI, but the CEO denied this.”

According to Ceres, “Everything that you have read

Charles Ceres

in Stabroek News is in fact untrue; and I am kind of peeved at the fact that Stabroek News can find the time to speak to an unknown source and cannot find the time to speak to me.”

He added: “I want to discredit all of these issues you see in Stabroek News.”

Ceres made it clear that he does only face-to-face interviews, and not interviews over the phone; and he said no reporter had tried to meet him on the matter.

He also said some persons are of the view that the board is intended to “run” the corporation, but he disagrees. Ceres says he saw his role as being an advisor to the CEO. “My role, if I had remained on the board, was

simply to provide advice to him (Dr. Charles). I have continued to provide advice to him since I have resigned.

In fact, I do not have the time to commit myself and my resource to doing what I think is requisite for me to do if I’m a member of the Board”, Ceres has said.

Following the change of Government that accompanied national general elections on May 11, 2015, a new Board for the utility company was sworn in.

Its members are Nigel Hinds (Chairperson), and directors Charles Ceres, Emil McGarrell, David Dewar, Christina Bissessar, Savitri Singh Sharma, Ryan Belgrave, Patricia Chase-Green and Samantha Fedee.

One dead in Moruca boat accident A FORTY-TWO-year-old Moruca resident died on Friday afternoon following a collision between two boats in the waterway of the North West District sub-region.

Dead is Rodwell Daniels of Parakese, a satellite village of the Santa Rosa area

at Moruca. While reports are sketchy, persons in the area noted that Daniels was in a small boat powered by a 15 Horse Power engine when it collided with another vessel which was being powered by a 200 horse power engine.

The accident occurred close to sunset, near the

Kamwatta area in the Moruca sub-region. Daniels was taken to the Kumaka District Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He sustained mainly head injuries. A boat operator, whose name was given as Perry Norton, is assisting with the investigation into the accident.

There have been several river accidents in recent months in the waterways in the North West District.

Persons have reported that speeding is usually attributed as the main cause of such accidents.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

Gunplay at funeral of teen shot outside Rio

NINETEEN-year-old Ryan ‘Harry’ Sargeant, who was gunned down outside the Rio nightclub, was laid to rest yesterday at Le Repentir Cemetery amidst a large gathering of mourners, some of whom discharged rapid gunshots in the air, bidding him farewell.

Hundreds of people, some arriving in cars and on motorcycles, created a huge build-up of vehicular traffic; and although armed police ranks were strategically placed at the burial site, mourners, who outnumbered the lawmen, managed to discharge many shots in the air. Fortunately, no one was injured.

The large gathering, which consisted of relatives, friends and others, was accompanied by music of the likes of Alkaline, while many openly indulged in various alcoholic beverages. The scene resembled that of a ‘party’, while loud cries could be heard in Le Repentir Cemetery; and it was hours before the crowd dispersed and the police left the area.

Following the shooting

Ryan ‘Harry’ Sargeant

which claimed the life of the teenager and injured another man on September 26, six persons were taken into custody, but they were all subsequently released.

Sleuths managed to identify the shooters from video footage obtained from Rio and surrounding businesses.

Sargeant, of Lot 25 Layou Street, North Ruimveldt Georgetown, was reportedly shot to the head

in that fracas. Reports indicated that a girlfriend of a suspect and another female had a verbal exchange which quickly escalated into a fist fight inside the nightclub. However, the group was asked to “take it outside” when their male partners intervened, and soon a group of men had an exchange of words and shots were fired.

Man who allegedly raped pre-teen relative granted $5,000 station bail ‒ five months later, police now seek to charge him A search has been launched by ranks of the Berbice police division to find a 42-year-old man who allegedly raped a young female relative but was granted station bail of $5, 000 and cannot now be found for charges to be laid against him.

The man, a cane harvester of a Lower Corentyne village, was arrested on May 3 after an allegation that he had raped the 12-year-old relative on May 1.

According to a source, the man reportedly locked the girl in a room and forced himself on her.

The pre-teen was allegedly left in care of the man, while her mother was out working.

The girl reported the incident and the police were informed. A medical examination was ordered and it confirmed that the young girl had been raped.

The man went into hiding and was arrested and detained on May 3, while the file was sent to the DPP for advice.

After the 72-hour detention period had elapsed, the man was released on $5,000 station bail.

According to a source, the file from the DPP came

back only this past week and a charge of rape was recommended.

The man was asked to appear at the Whim Magistrates’ Court on Thursday October 6, 2016 to answer the charges. However, he did not show up and an arrest warrant was issued.

‘B’ Division police have confirmed that ranks visited the home of the alleged rapist but he was nowhere to be found.

However, they have some leads to follow on his whereabouts. The matter is set to now be heard on the 20th November, 2016.

Better policing 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

...President seeks a more professional police force

PRESIDENT David Granger believes the Guyana Police Force is organisationally sound, but rogue elements must be weeded out and reform recommendations implemented.

He made the comments during an interview with communication officers of the Ministry of the Presidency on Friday, when he also addressed several other issues of security.

According to the release from the Ministry of the Presidency, President Granger said the Police Force -which he described as essentially a sound, professional organization -- has not, in the past, received the attention it deserves; and while he is satisfied that the Force has made some headway in regard to solving crime, he is not satisfied because it still has rogue elements who are not suitable to serve in that capacity.

The President posited that much more has to be done to improve the calibre of police officers within the Force.

“More has to be done.

We have recruited persons who turned out to be unsuitable, and I have discussed with Minister of Public Security and the Commissioner in the National Security Council that there is need to improve training at the police

training school. We need to ensure that the type of persons recruited are not only educationally qualified, but attitudinally prepared to do their work in a country like ours,” the Head of State said.

However, he noted that there has been a small number of miscreants in the 3000-strong Force when compared to the number of its strength, and he expressed satisfaction that the Force is on the road to recovery.

There has, in recent times, been a spate of violent crimes, such as armed robbery and murder, and the Head of State noted that the root cause of crime has to be addressed in order to garner long-term results.

The President, directly involved in public security planning and chairing the weekly meeting of the National Security Committee, has said the issue has become a daily preoccupation, and the safety of all Guyanese remains of critical concern.

MAJOR FACTOR He acknowledged that trafficking in narcotics is a major factor. To this end, the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA) will be set up as the Government looks to work more closely with regional and international partners to address this trans-national crime.

President David Granger

In addition to execution-type murders and gun-running, which are the result of the narco-trade, the President lamented the high level of interpersonal violence. He said that interpersonal violence, suicide, and violence in schools are social issues which cannot be tackled solely by law enforcement agencies; but by a collaborative effort, which includes the Ministries of Social Protection and Social Cohesion, as well as religious and non-governmental organisations.

“We have to look at social interventions, and here we call upon NGOs [non-governmental organisations] and religious communities -- the mandirs, the masjids and the churches -- to help us to deal with

the sources of interpersonal conflicts through counselling and through delivering the sort of message that we are not a violent community and people have to learn to live together…. I am very disturbed at violence among school children and at the interpersonal violence between husbands and wives, which sometimes degenerates to arson and murder,” he said.

The President explained that, with the volume of money generated from the narcotics trade, the loyalty of the law enforcement officers and even the magisterial officers come under threat. He said the broad-base strategy Government is working on to address crime would include the setting up of a national intelligence service.

“Crime is very complex.

When you deal with crime, you have to look at causation.

In my view, many of the most serious crime arise out of the narcotics trade; that is a trade that I think is responsible for bringing drugs into the country, and guns,” the President said.

Regarding diverse areas across the country, the administration is also working to ensure that the GPF is better equipped and is able to operate in such areas.

President Granger explained that, given Guyana’s size and terrain, the Force is working

Pressure piles on Vishnu SENIOR staffers of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) are calling for a full investigation into the relationship between Deputy Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud and TroyTec Video Production -- a company that has, for several years, received the proverbial lion’s share of GECOM’s public and voter education contracts.

The company was registered in 2014, but has been receiving GECOM contracts since 2011. It is managed by Troy Christopher and operates out of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The elections management body is currently embroiled in a procurement scandal that has ensnared a number of officers, including Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, and is currently being audited by the state’s auditors.

Top officials at the elections management body have said they are hoping the commissioners would order an investigation into the DCEO’s relationship with TroyTec Video Productions, which dates back to when he was GECOM’s Public Relations Officer.

A senior staff member

to ensure that there are more mounted police in areas like the Rupununi, which cannot be adequately covered by vehicles alone; and in certain back dams on the Coast, like Black Bush Polder in the Corentyne in Berbice, where heinous murders have recently occurred.

UK ADVISOR TO HELP Meanwhile, Government’s plans to improve capacity of the Force will soon be boosted, as a security advisor from the United Kingdom (UK) is expected here next month to work with the administration on implementation of the Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP).

Simultaneously, as a broad-based measure to tackle crime, the Government is mulling the setting-up of a national intelligence service, President Granger has noted.

According to the release, as Government continues to address the incidence of crime in Guyana, the security advisor from the United Kingdom (UK), who would be on these shores next month, would be working closely with the administration to implement the SSRAP, valued at US$4.7 million.

The project had been given the proverbial cold shoulder by the previous ad-

ministration when it was first proposed back in 2009, but the President described that move as a mistake and noted that the development of the security sector is critical to the fight against crime.

According to the release, the Head of State admitted that there have been instances when policemen have been bribed not to pursue investigations, files have disappeared, and officers have tried to extort money from persons who had committed misdemeanours. He said such problems can be overcome by ensuring that there is a more professional Police Force.

“My only regret is that it is taking so long to introduce these reforms. Police have been getting recommendations for over 14 years from the British Government, but they were never implemented. We are going to implement. We are going to make the Police Force a better force,” the President said.

He also reminded that there are two mechanisms in place for citizens to highlight issues of corruption as far as the police are concerned. These are the Police Complaints Authority, where investigations have led to officers being brought to trial; and the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

‒ senior GECOM staffers want probe into his link to video production company

Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Vishnu Persaud

Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield

has said that Persaud virtually had hand-picked TroyTec

Video Productions over several other reputable public

relations companies, and had, from 2011 to present, handed it more than 95 per cent of the contracts to produce infomercials and related material for the general, regional and local government elections, as well as the continuous registration process.

However, the DCEO has continuously rejected the allegations of corruption levelled against him, and maintains that the selection of TroyTech Video Production was, over the years, done in a transparent manner.

Persaud told the Guyana Chronicle that persons

within GECOM seem to be waging a vendetta against him, and the public outburst about his involvement in corruption is geared at besmirching his character.

Contacted on Friday, TroyTec’s Christopher told the Guyana Chronicle that he had no interaction with Persaud before he started applying for contracts at GECOM. He explained that he observed advertisements in the daily newspapers and applied on every occasion.

He has denied reports coming out of GECOM that he had been awarded by

Turn to page 15 ►

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

Hurricane Matthew kills over 800 in Haiti before hitting U.S. [Reuters] - Hurricane Matthew killed more than 800 people and left tens of thousands homeless in its rampage through Haiti earlier this week before it lashed Florida on Friday with howling winds and churned northward up the U.S. Atlantic coast.

The number of deaths in Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, surged to at least 842 on Friday as information trickled in from remote areas previously cut off by the storm, according to a Reuters tally of death tolls given by officials.

Matthew, the fiercest cy-

clone to affect the United States since Superstorm Sandy hit the Northeast four years ago, triggered mass evacuations along the coast from Florida through Georgia and into South Carolina and North Carolina. U.S. President Barack Obama urged people not to be complacent and to heed safety instructions in the face of a storm that could be the most severe to strike northeast Florida in more than 100 years.

“I just want to emphasize to everybody that this is still a really dangerous hurricane, that the potential for storm surge, loss of life and severe

DATE: 05/10/2016 A

4

9 13 14 15 23 2

property damage exists,” Obama told reporters after a briefing with emergency management officials.

Matthew smashed through Haiti’s western peninsula on Tuesday with 145 mph (233 kph) winds and torrential rain. Some 61,500 people were in shelters, officials said, after the storm pushed the sea into fragile coastal villages, some of which were only now being contacted.

At least three towns in the hills and coast of Haiti’s fertile western tip reported dozens of people killed, including the farming village of

07/10/2016

09 11 15 22 23

Lawyer Jorge Luiz Azanes, 52, sits in his damaged house after the passage of Hurricane Matthew in Baracoa, Cuba October 7, 2016. [REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini] Chantal where the mayor said of hurricane intensity as its 86 people died, mostly when sustained winds dropped to trees crushed houses. He said 110 mph. Category 5 is the strongest.

20 others were missing.

No significant damage “A tree fell on the house and flattened it, the entire was reported in Florida cithouse fell on us. I couldn’t get ies and towns where the out,” said driver Jean-Pierre storm brought down trees Jean-Donald, 27, who had and power lines. But one been married for only a year. person was killed by a falling “People came to lift the tree in Volusia County after rubble, and then we saw my venturing outside to feed wife who had died in the animals during a lull in the same spot,” Jean-Donald said, storm, said James Dinneen, his young daughter by his manager of the county that includes Daytona Beach. side, crying “Mommy.”

Hurricane warnings late With cellphone networks down and roads flooded, aid on Friday extended up the has been slow to reach hard- Atlantic coast from northhit areas in Haiti. Food was east Florida through Georgia scarce, and at least seven and South Carolina and into people died of cholera, likely North Carolina. In Daytona because of flood water mixing Beach, the street under the city’s famed “World’s Most with sewage.

The Mesa Verde, a U.S. Famous Beach” sign was Navy amphibious transport clogged with debris washed dock ship, was heading for up by the ocean. The waves Haiti to support relief efforts. had receded by early afterThe ship has heavy-lift he- noon, but there was damage licopters, bulldozers, fresh throughout the city, including water delivery vehicles and a facade ripped off the front two surgical operating rooms. of a seaside hotel.

Robert Walker, a 51-yearONE DEAD IN FLORIDA old mechanic, weathered the Matthew skirted Flori- worst of the storm in his seada on Friday morning with side Daytona Beach apartwinds of up to 120 mph (195 ment where high-powered kph) but had not made land- winds peeled back the roof.

“It sounded like a jet fall by the evening. The U.S. National Hurricane Center plane coming over. I was (NHC) downgraded the storm scared,” said Walker, as he to a Category 2 on the five- stood in front of the battered step Saffir-Simpson scale remains of the two-story

07/10/2016

3

2

0

07/10/2016

0

1

8

building. The city of Jacksonville could face significant flooding, Governor Rick Scott said. The storm cut power to some 1 million customers in Florida, his office said.

Armed guards patrolled the outside of Fox Hill prison in Nassau, the only prison facility in the Bahamas, after the storm knocked down parts of its concrete walls.

No deaths were reported in the Bahamas, but residents of Nassau were still without power on Friday.

At 7 p.m. (2300 GMT) Matthew’s eye or center was about 50 miles (80 km) east-northeast of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, with strong winds and storm surge already spreading into Georgia, the NHC said. It was on a track that would take hurricane-force winds very near or over the coast of northeast Florida and Georgia through Friday night and near or over the coast of South Carolina on Saturday.

Craig Fugate, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said he was concerned that relatively light damage so far could give people up the coast a false sense of security.

“People should not be looking at the damages they’re seeing and saying this storm is not that bad,” Fugate told NBC. “The real danger still is storm surge, particularly in northern Florida and southern Georgia.

These are very vulnerable areas. They’ve never seen this kind of damage potential since the late 1800s,” Fugate said.

In Cape Canaveral, Florida, home to the country’s main space launch site, the storm downed power lines and trees and destroyed billboards.

About 22,000 people were in Florida shelters and Georgia and South Carolina also opened dozens of shelters for evacuees.

03 08

07/10/2016 10 11 14 20

21

5

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

Brazil’s top prosecutor urges

Congress to shelve spending cap

[Reuters] - Brazil’s Prosecutor-General’s Office on Friday questioned the constitutionality of President Michel Temer’s proposed public spending cap and recommended that Congress shelve the austerity measures.

The office said in a statement the proposal interferes with the autonomy of other federal powers and would weaken the country’s judicial system, handicapping efforts to combat corruption.

“The proposal invades the judicial system budget-

Brazil’s President Michel Temer gestures as he attends an economics and politics forum in Sao Paulo, Brazil, September 30, 2016. [REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker]

Nobel Peace Prize for Colombia President [BBC] - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the 52-year conflict with left-wing rebels. The Nobel committee praised him for a peace deal signed with Farc rebels, but rejected by Colombians in a vote.

Mr Santos said he dedicated the award to “all the victims of the conflict”, and the Farc leader congratulated him. About 260,000 people have been killed and more than six million internally displaced in Colombia.

The award did not include Farc leader Rodrigo Londono, known as Timochenko, who also signed the accord. The head of the Nobel commitee said the award recognised the president’s “resolute efforts” to end the conflict.

“The award should also be seen as a tribute to the Colombian people who, despite great hardships and abuses, have not given up hope of a just peace, and to all the

parties who have contributed to the peace process,” Kaci Kullman Five added. Mr Santos said on Twitter: “This honourable distinction is not for me, it’s for all the victims of the conflict. Together we’ll win the most important award of them all: peace.”

The peace deal was rejected by 50.2% of voters who went to the polls on 2 October. The committee acknowledged the result, saying: “What the ‘No’ side rejected was not the desire for peace, but a specific peace agreement.”

It also said that finding a balance between the need for reconciliation and ensuring justice for the victims would be a difficult challenge. Also on Twitter, Farc leader Timochenko said: “I congratulate President Juan Manuel Santos, Cuba and Norway, who sponsored the process, and Venezuela and Chile, who assisted it, without them, peace would be impossible.”

Earlier, he had written: “The only prize we aspire to is peace with social justice

for Colombia, without (rightwing) paramilitary groups, without retaliation or lies.

Peace in the streets.”

This was a Peace Prize for a peace deal that wasn’t.

President Santos joins a long line of Nobel Peace Prize winners who have been rewarded for effort as much as achievement.

But it is too easy to be cynical. The Nobel Peace Prize has often been controversial. In recent years a variety of international bureaucracies have won the EU, the IAEA and the OPCW. Why, some have argued, should people get a prize for simply doing their job? What, others ask, had US President Barack Obama actually done to merit the prize in 2009, other than be elected?

But the Nobel has often gone to extraordinary in-

ing competence drastically, risking to impact the exercise of its constitutional and institutional functions,” said the statement.

The unprecedented constitutional amendment, which limits the growth of federal spending to the rate of inflation for 20 years, is aimed at gradually closing a yawning budget gap that topped 10 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) last year.

It is the first of a series of austerity measures to assuage market concerns that

the once-booming economy, which was stripped of its investment grade rating last year, could be hurtling towards a debt crisis. A lower house committee approved the proposal on Thursday, handing President Michel Temer an initial victory on the battle to pass the amendment.

Its approval requires two votes in the plenary of the lower house and two more in the Senate, needing a threefifths majority in each. A first vote in the full lower house chamber should take place early next week.

There was no immediate comment from the President’s office regarding the recommendation. The Prosecutor-General Office also said it was worried that the spending limits could affect a major investigation into corruption in Brazil and asked that costs with that type of work be left out of the spending limits. Rodrigo Janot, the Prosecutor-General, leads the ongoing probe into Brazil’s biggest corruption scandal centered at state-controlled oil company Petróleo Brasileiro SA.

dividuals who really have gone above and beyond to bring peace - in Northern Ireland and East Timor to name just two examples.

Maybe the award to President Santos may yet galvanise public opinion in Colombia to think again about the deal. Critics, led by former president Alvaro Uribe, said the deal was too lenient to the rebels.

Under the agreement, special courts would have been created to try crimes committed during the conflict. Those who confessed would have received lighter sentences and avoided serving any time in conventional prisons.

The Farc would also have been guaranteed 10 seats in the Colombian Congress in the 2018 and 2022 elections. Despite the rejection by voters, Mr Santos vowed to continue with talks with the rebels. Government negotiators have already

returned to the Cuban capital Havana for further discussions with Farc leaders.

Kaci Kullman Five, from the Nobel committee, said the award was also meant

as “encouragement” to the rebels. “Giving the prize to Santos is not a belittlement to any of the other parties. “The Farc is obviously a very important part of this process.’

6

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

Editorial: 227-5216; 227-5204 guyanachronicle.com wnigel10@hotmail.com gnnleditorial@gmail.com

Editorial

The industrial

relations climate WITHIN recent weeks, the industrial relations climate, to even the casual observer, is giving rise to concern.

There have been strikes in the sugar industry, Georgetown Mayor and City Council, and Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL).

Workers in the sugar industry are represented primarily by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE). These unions -- together with the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), which represents a sector of the workers -- have close association with the PPP/C. Though some may argue with a degree of correctness that strikes within the sugar industry are a norm, and under the APNU+AFC Administration may have political motivation, given the unions’ history under PNC administrations, the current situation cannot be ignored.

In the City Council, the workers have struck against continuous late payment of their wages and salaries.

A council that has been attracting much press within recent times, more notably on its management style and reports of being cash-strapped, has to be mindful of the negative perception it is courting. Where workers gave of their labour, they are expected to be rewarded, consistent with their contract of employment.

On a positive note, it is heartening to know that workers are now being paid. At the same time, it need not be ignored that non-payment brought disruption of service, as seen with the strike. There are also occupational stressors such as inattention to work and workers being pre-occupied with wanting to know how they are going to meet theirs and family expenses, and needs outside of the workplace.

In this economy, like every economy, persons have financial commitments to meet. And where the major source of income comes from wages or salaries, it is not only unconscionable to delay or deny this, for such actions have implications for the quality of service delivered; performance at work; and ripple effects of meeting financial obligations, personal and societal. It therefore becomes important in attending to the matter of wages and salaries to always factor in the stated consequences.

It is noticed that Carvil Duncan, General Secretary of the GLU, a union that represents some council workers, had joined the picket line. His presence, in light of a fraud case before the court calling for him to resign from

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

Janet Bulkan wants to take bread out of my family’s ‘mouth’ Dear Editor, I READ with disbelieving eyes that Dr. Janet Bulkan said the ban on greenheart by the UK is entirely correct on the basis of her interpretation. I have a few questions to ask her before I show that her statement is just emotional and very anti-Guyanese.

First, as a forestry sector stakeholder, I felt very happy when Dr. Bulkan was elected to the GFC Board. I felt that she would give very sensible advice and, in some way, help to ease the mountain of rules that GFC forces me to comply with. I expected that she would bring relief to the general sector; but here she is, instead (apparently) attacking the forestry sector; damaging our markets, taking bread out of my family ‘mouth’. She is someone who people listen to, and when she writes this (apparent) nonsense, it destroys Guyana as a market place.

My first question is: Shouldn’t a board member discuss any valid issues at board level before going public? Have these issues been so discussed? And if so,

did the board give approval for them to be public? If yes, why did it not come from the Board of Directors, and not Ms. Bulkan?

The second question is: Isn’t board information supposed to be confidential; and are not board members supposed to be confidential too?

Isn’t there a law that prevents Dr. Bulkan from writing these things and (probably) using her position as a board member to get this confidential stuff and releasing it with her spin to destroy my market and my livelihood?

I beg the Hon President and Ministers Harmon and Trotman to investigate this (apparent) state of illegal affairs.

I attend many GFC meetings, and as a forester and logger, I know the reality. I want to cry when I see two or three lovely big trees close to each other and I can’t cut any because of GFC rules. I sometimes study the money I would lose because I am not allowed to cut proximity trees, as GFC calls them. But I don’t cut them, because I know that the forest officer would catch me when doing stump inspection and I would

lose more.

I have to first measure trees, then cut in certain direction, then tag everything; then write down species, measurement, date, m3, tag number. Things which I never did in school the GFC forcing me to do, and I have to do them, otherwise I would have bare problem. If I cut in a restricted buffer area, the GFC would seize my things.

Did Ms. Bulkan ever experience these things? How often does she go into the logging camp and experience the pests and dangers?

I think never! Yet she wants to spread false rumours and take bread out of my and family’s mouths. What does she benefit from this? Does it increase her doctor’s salary at the university to bad talk her country and Guyanese? And with these (apparent) lies?

I cut on a SFP, and that is a set of rules already for SFM, but I know that large TSA have a more rigid system to follow. And I read too, but probably not the same book that Dr. Bulkan read, because I learnt that Norway, and the EU sent down experts to audit our forest and practices. I know about EU Flegt.

All these people are field experts and book experts too. They have much higher qualifications and experience than Dr. Bulkan.

These auditors say in their reports that Guyana practises SFM. That Guyana harvests less than 35% of allowable harvest. That Guyana has implementation of SFM. That Guyana has low deforestation and sustainability. That we are doing a good job, but need more added-value and little log exports. That will come later.

The audit experts gave Guyana a star, but the “expert Dr. Bulkan says no. So who do I believe? Sorry, Dr. Bulkan, not you. The other doctors have real facts to back up their story, unlike you.

As a concerned logger who depends on forestry to feed my family and pay bills, I beg the Government and GFC Board to act now.

Stop this factless expert from destroying me and the lives of everyone in the forestry sector. This has been going on for too long, and it must stop now.

constitutional bodies, and recent outburst that he will not resign these positions, should not give any cause to be distracted from the seriousness of what is taking place at the Council.

Simultaneously, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and Guya n a Te a c h e r s U n i o n ( G T U ) a re e x p re s s i n g dissatisfaction with the way the employer, i.e. the Government of Guyana, is handling industrial relations’ issues pertaining to them. In both cases, the Government is being accused of showing little or no regard for the Collective Bargaining process.

President David Granger, in a recent Public In-

terest broadcast, said the negotiations between the Government and GPSU will continue. The President further stated that Government would negotiate conditions of employment for teachers as a separate issue, clearing the air of any confusion or misunderstanding that may have arisen that teachers would have the same benefits as workers represented

by GPSU. This assurance notwithstanding, where perception -- real or contrived -- continues to exist to the contrary, it ought to be addressed.

On Wednesday, October 5, “World Teachers Day”, the GTU held a press conference to address what the union said is a death to the

importance of the day, and carried a black flag as a symbol of this. The union is concerned about the value of educators in light of the Ministry of Education’s decision, absent their input, to break with custom and practice of honouring the day.

C u r re n t l y, t h e re i s the conflict between the GAWU and DTL, where workers struck, which is an act the Guyana Constitution allows, and the management chose to dismiss some. This situation is reminiscent of what the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated did in 2009 to workers who struck, a matter that remains outstanding seven years hence. The DTL sit-

uation makes it a second occurrence, and this does bode well for the Laws of Guyana, governance, and the industrial relations climate. Two weeks ago, trade unions from within the Guyana Trades Union Congress and the Federation of Independent Trades Union of Guyana met and engaged in discussions on the industrial relations climate, citing concerns. The group requested to meet with President Granger to discuss matters of Labour’s interests. This maybe is what is needed at this time, given dialogue has always proven essential to development, stable relations, and resolving conflicts.

Regards, TERENCE WILIAMS

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

Georgetown City Council continues to work Dear Editor,

THE Mayor and City Council continues to work in all local communities to improve the physical condition and image of the nation’s capital.

In this effort, the Georgetown Municipality is faced with a number of very serious challenges, including grossly inadequate financial resources. This financial inadequacy is predicated upon the Council’s very narrow revenue base, which is further affected by the neglect of some property owners to honour their civic obligation to the city -- to pay their taxes.

In addition, the council has not had valuation of

properties for more than two decades. Many property owners have changed the use of their properties from residential to commercial, but continue to pay residential rates; and many new businesses have been established paying rates based on the old formula for valuation in the city.

There are some highly principled companies that honour their obligations to the city. However, there are others that do not demonstrate any sense of corporate social responsibility; for example, NICIL. NICIL owes the Council a substantial sum going back as far as 2008, including $182 million for property in Kingston, and additional hundreds

of millions of dollars for properties in Industrial Site and Charlestown.

Also, businesses like Georgetown Fishermen Cooperative Society owe the Council in excess of $164 million; Queensway owes $55 million; and other big businesses are indebted to this council in substantial amounts.

In addition, when the Guyana Power and Light Inc. took over from Guyana Electricity Corporation, many years ago, it did not honour the debt of the former corporation. Also, a previous Administration took lands from Council in the Kingston area, (Luckhoo swimming pool) to con-

Time for President Granger to act Dear Editor, IN HIS maiden New Year’s Message to the Nation as Executive President, in 1993, the late President Cheddi Jagan charged the nation to be “lean, clean and mean” in all its actions.

He advised his people that they couldn’t embark on reconstructing Guyana until and unless there is a “higher moral code of behaviour as a society and as individuals….” He called on all to “set their faces sternly against squandermania, bribery, corruption, discrimination in all forms, nepotism, and favouritism”.

He said it is the only way we can “reduce the huge budget deficit left by the former government”.

Reflecting on these wise words from one of the most respected Heads of State that ever ruled Guyana, I fast forward to the state of the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) and the lethargy of the powers that be when it comes to its appointment.

Why is the PPC being undermined by the Granger administration when, while on the opposition benches, it was these same people who were shouting at the tops of their voices for establishment of the PPC, and saying how they were going to “fire and fry” the corrupt officials. But, quite hypocritically, these same people, when given the power to act, profess that they are not “a cabinet of angels”.

Isn’t this deep-seated intellectual dishonesty of the highest order?

Financial scandals involving public officials continue to capture the nation’s

attention, thanks to some determined investigative journalism by the Kaieteur News and Stabroek News, the bastion of the independent media. The latest being this “lop-sided” stone scam at the airport; and before that, the GECOM procurement skullduggery; and before that, Norton gate, which is still paying that contractor today for services not rendered; and this list is growing, yet no action is forthcoming from the Ministry of the Presidency.

Most of these scandals are as a result of the deteriorating ethical behaviours of public officials, who have indulged themselves into all sorts of malpractices that intensified during the great floods of 2005 during the PPP rule, and never stopped.

So when the people saw an older grey-haired gentleman professing “love and unity” and a commitment toward the establishment of the Commission at Whim in March 2015, they said let us give him a try; we cannot get worse than the Donald.

So where is that commitment today? The Commission will contribute to the strengthening of procurement ethics, integrity, transparency, accountability and professionalism in public institutions. The PPC will help protect public resources and enhance public sector performance. But President Granger has to act if the nation is to benefit from any of these bonuses of a democracy. Keeping politicians in the procurement equation will do nothing but embellish corruption in Guyana.

I was so proud of the National Assembly when its members endorsed the names

that would form the Commission. The National Assembly did its duty to the nation; the names were sent to President Granger over a month ago, but there has since seemed to be a determined emphasis to bury this Commission by the powers that be in the Ministry of the Presidency.

So there are two important points of this letter: 1. The Granger administration talked financial scrutiny when they were in opposition; but when given the power to act, they have not walked the talk. One only has to review the 2013 Budget speech by the then vibrant leader of the AFC, who has morphed in a proverbial mouse on the issues of integrity and good governance these days.

In 2013, Mr. Ramjattan said that, by not appointing the PPC, the then government was “breaching the Constitution”. But the breach is still alive today in 2016, so where is his voice today?

2. The Bid Protest Committee (BPC) is not a constitutional body but a creature of politicians, and thus it is not independent. The BPC is nothing but a process to castrate the Guyana Constitution. By giving it a life, the Granger administration is attempting to politically influence the procurement system, which is one of the reasons why Guyana is where it is today. And when we think May 2015 made a difference on the act of financial skullduggery, it has not. Actually, the corruption has gotten more pervasive and worse. Many complaints have been lodged with me that one member of this government has already built a mansion on taxpayer’s dollars for one of his secondary paramours by demanding

struct the Marriott Hotel, and the city was not compensated for this. Guyana Water Inc. took over from the Georgetown Sewerage and Water Commission.

The council was never compensated for the transfer of its assets to the new water company.

Also, the fact that there has been an increase in the cost of goods and services used by the Council to provide services to local communities means that the council is required to pay VAT, and there has been no increase in property rates for over 20 years.

At the moment, Council is working to improve its efficiency to collect outstanding taxes.

A recent report from the City Treasurer’s Department revealed that the Council is owed in excess of $18 billion in taxes by corporations and ordinary property owners. This money must be collected, because it belongs to the city and the municipality needs every cent to sustain current level of works in communities, and to provide additional services and facilities to all residents in neighbourhoods.

The Council has already activated legal proceedings against those businesses mentioned in this release, and a number of others that failed consistently to pay their taxes to the city. As we look ahead, we continue

to thank our workers for their patience, understanding and support to our effort to restore Georgetown to its pristine state.

It is important to note that the opportunity cost in cleaning and restoring the city after years of neglect is delayed payments of wages and salaries for workers.

However, Council administration, though money is important, goes beyond pay to provide quality service to our citizens.

A d m i n i s t r a t i o n re mains committed to the welfare of our workers and the sustainable development of the nation’s capital.

Regards, ROYSTON KING

sand, stones, cement and zinc sheets before he takes their contract to the cabinet. So let us not fool ourselves: the concepts of ethics, accountability, transparency, integrity and professionalism in the public service are under

a clear and present danger under the Granger administration. There are clear signs of practices and behaviours which perpetuate corruption, conflict of interest and financial malpractices, such as unjustified sole sourcing of

goods and services and so on.

It is time for President Granger to wake up and lead on this issue by appointing the Public Procurement Commission.

Regards, SASE SINGH

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

PPP initiated process to acquire Carmichael St lots – AG

By Ravin Singh THE acquisition of two plots of privately owned lands for public purposes was actually a move initiated by the former PPP/C administration which is now decrying the attempt, Attorney General Basil Williams said Friday.

It was revealed recently that the government issued an order to acquire the east quarter of Lot 92 Middle and Carmichael streets under The Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act. The Official Gazette of September 24, described the lands as follows: “East quarter of Lot numbered 92 …Middle and Carmichael Streets …with all the buildings and erections thereon, save and except the building and erections situate on sublot lettered ‘A’ part of the said quarter lot the property of Patrick L. O’Dowd, and save and except the said sublot `A’ as shown and defined on a plan by Sugreen A. Nehaul, Sworn Land Surveyor, dated 19th June 1947, and deposited in Deeds Registry on 26th June, 1947, transported to the said Patrick L.

O’ Dowd on 23rd May, 1960 – No.910.”

Since then, former Minister of Legal Affairs under the PPP Anil Nandlall has decried the move, stating that it has “sent chills down the spine of right-thinking Guyanese, especially property owners.”

The former AG reasoned that because of the “obvious draconian nature” of this power to acquire land this way, and the sanctity accorded to private property, it is a power that is used on the rarest of occasions and in the most exceptional of circumstances. “It is always an option of last resort,” he said.

Nandlall went on to suggest that Government should not acquire these lands via the “compulsory acquisition” mechanism, but that they should utilise one of the numerous Government buildings and empty plots of State lands scattered all across the city.

However, in a twist of events, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams at a Peoples’ National Congress Reform (PNCR) press conference on

Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams (right), in discussion with former AG and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall

Friday revealed that this was a move initiated by the PPP during its time in office.

“The nation should know that when we [APNU+AFC] entered Government, I inherited that proposal by the PPP to acquire those said lots.

And the staff that I inherited, recommended those lots.”

The AG explained that when he entered office, he began making attempts to establish a permanent law reform commission and a

Case against Carvil Duncan reopened for additional evidence POLICE Prosecutor Bharat Mangru on Friday requested that the case against Carvil Duncan be re-opened, so that additional evidence could be included.

Duncan, a former Director of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), is accused of stealing from the company. City Magistrate Leron Daly accepted the prosecutor’s application and the case was adjourned to October 13.

Magistrate Daly, who is presiding over the trial, was slated to hand down her decision last month after the prosecution had closed its case. However, the decision was delayed after Duncan’s lawyer, Glenn Hanoman, requested that the case be re-opened to allow him to

Former Director of the GPL, Carvil Duncan

make his submission. This application was deferred by the magistrate.

Duncan is facing charges that he and anoth-

er, on March 31st, 2015, at Georgetown, conspired to steal $984,900, which is the property of GPL. It is also alleged that Duncan and another conspired to steal $27,757,547, between May 7th and May 8th, 2015. That money is also the property of GPL. The charges against the accused stem from payments that were made by former GPL Deputy Chief Executive Aeshwar Deonarine and Duncan to themselves and which were uncovered by a forensic audit that was commissioned after the APNU+AFC government entered office last year. The money allegedly stolen by Duncan represents retroactive payments for his time on the GPL board.

law review unit, but that the current premises could not accommodate those units.

As such, he opted to rent a building to house those units, and expressions of interest for that rental had been received.

Subsequently however, he was made aware that attempts had already been made to acquire the plots by the former Government.

“So the issue of the compulsory acquisition was

something inherited from the PPP. So perhaps the problem Mr Nandlall has is that he didn’t get to do the transaction,” Minister Williams said.

He recalled too that Nandlall had raised the issue in the National Assembly, and he (Williams) had responded, saying that the evaluation was done by the Chief Evaluation Officer of the Government. The project was then approved by the Ministry of Finance and Cabinet, after which it was passed and approved by the National Assembly.

The second disclosure made by Williams was a possible indication that the PPP, if they had remained in office, would have paid $560M more that the current government for the same two plots of land.

“He indicated to me that those two small plots are worth $600M. So in telling me that, my impression is that if he had been able to do that transaction, then it would have cost the government $600M when it is costing us $40M; $20M per lot” the AG said.

Finally, the minister

pointed to a matter which is engaging the attention of the AG’s Chambers having to do with the acquisition of private land by the PPP for a public purpose.

Williams revealed that a charitable organisation, the Berbice Bharati Saywa Sangha, which operates senior citizen homes in Berbice, had their lands compulsorily acquired by the PPP/C administration in 2000. He said that the former administration had acquired the lands to construct the University of Guyana Tain Campus.

Having highlighted this issue, which occurred during the PPP’s time in office, Williams challenged Nandlall to explain the difference between those two acquisitions which are of similar nature, considering the fact that the PPP is now opposing a move they had practised while in office.

Meanwhile, Williams also reported that the government has not been met with “any negative responses” regarding the acquisition and that work is expected to commence in 2017.

Increase income tax threshold to $70,000 ‒ FITUG urges Gov’t THE Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has proposed that the Government increase the Income Tax threshold to $70,000 monthly from the current sum of $50,000.

This is one of several recommendations which the umbrella trade union body proposed when it engaged Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma, on Thursday on issues related to the 2017 National Budget, expected to be presented in December 2016. FITUG Treasurer Seepaul Narine led the FITUG delegation at that meeting.

FITUG proposed that personal income tax should be paid at the rate of 25 per cent of chargeable income instead of the 30 per cent that currently obtains. As regards value-added tax, the body requested that the rate be revised downwards, and be reflected in the 2017 Budget.

“To bring relief to families, especially (those) with children, FITUG advises the minister to once again make

provision for tax relief for spouses and children under age of 16 (years),” the body said.

Regarding the sugar industry, FITUG sought continued support for the industry, in order for it to overcome its setbacks; and called on Government to adopt the Sugar Commission of Inquiry (CoI) recommendation to have the Skeldon Co-Generation Plant returned to GuySuCo and a revised Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) be put in place.

Additionally, the federation proposed that the industry’s diversification be advanced through other co-generation plants, the construction of a refinery to take advantage of the CARICOM market demand, and establishment of a distillery in the Ancient County of Berbice.

“The diversification initiatives FITUG advises could be pursued following discussions with various stakeholders, including the respective trade unions in the industry,” the release stated.

FITUG also renewed its

opposition to the closure of the Wales Sugar Estate.

FITUG also requested that Old Age Pensions should commence at 50 per cent of the public sector minimum wage, and that NIS Old Age pension increases be linked to the annual public sector wage rise, as was practised in the past.

FITUG suggested that allocations to trade unions in the 2017 National Budget be provided to unions which had their financial records audited by the Auditor General’s Office, as is required by the Trade Union Act. FITUG also suggested that the allocations be distributed while taking into account the aggregate number of members in the bargaining unit of each union.

Among other recommendations, FITUG suggested that Government should consider compiling and publishing reports on the impact and performance of various foreign investment projects, in an effort to determine if best possible returns are made.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

Carter Center to help Guyana join anti-corruption initiative in natural resources sector

By Ariana Gordon

THE U.S. government Friday signed off on a US$297, 000 project to be manned by the respected Carter Center to help Guyana meet the premier global standard against corruption in the natural resources sector.

“We are committed to improving transparency and accountability within the extractive industries sector and will work with the Carter Center to ensure that we meet our benchmarks…,” said Raphael Trotman, Minister of Natural Resources at the ceremony where the U.S. grant-funding was announced.

The project will help Guyana become a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), in which member countries publicly report the revenues that are generated from the extraction of natural resources such as gold, diamonds and petroleum.

Guyana’s economy is heavily based on extractive industries and the country is soon to become an oil and gas producing nation, Minister Trotman noted, saying that these resources need to be managed judiciously.

“In this context, EITI will bring many benefits to Guyana: an improved investment climate, a signal to international investors that the government has a clear commitment to transparency and good governance, and strengthened accountability vis-à-vis the Guyanese people.

“Guyana’s entry into the EITI framework is not only because of oil, as our other resources must be better managed as well,” he stated.

U.S. Ambassador Perry Holloway said that the

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman (second left) listens keenly to U.S. Ambassador Perry Holloway (right) as he makes a point on Friday at the U.S. Embassy, Georgetown. Also in photo are Country Representative of the Carter Center Jason Calder (left) and James Bjorkman, Political and Economic Affairs Counsellor at the U.S. Embassy

12-month project will facilitate a series of programmes with the Ministry of Natural Resources to help Guyana accede to the EITI. “I am confident this programme will strengthen the work of the Government of Guyana in promoting transparency in the country’s extractive industries at a time when Guyana prepares to welcome future growth in the petroleum industry,” said the U.S. Ambassador.

The benchmarks Guyana’s efforts to become a member of EITI began under the previous EITI project, the Ambassador noted, and has its genesis in the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic administration and he commended the new coalition government for “getting us closer to making EITI a reality in Guyana.”

Minister Trotman said the project will help Guyana to: 1. Publish the G-EITI work plan and implementation schedule 2. Identify sources of funding for EITI implemen-

tation 3. Review Guyana’s legal framework to identify potential obstacles to EITI implementation, and to ensure compatibility with EITI implementation and reporting 4. Build capacity for the multi-stakeholder group, other engaged ministries and parliamentarians 5. Develop EITI reporting templates and guidelines Ambassador Holloway reminded those gathered at the simple ceremony of the benefits the significant oil find

by U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil can bring to Guyana.

He said Guyana has the potential to be transformed from one of the poorest nations in the western hemisphere to one of the richest.

“However, it will take careful and thoughtful planning by key stakeholders to make this happen. We have talked about Guyana creating a Sovereign Wealth Fund and the importance of transparency and accountability. “[Friday’s] announcement is a logical step in the

progression towards assisting the Government of Guyana to achieving greater prosperity for the wonderful people of Guyana,” he stated.

Jason Calder, Country Representative of the Carter Center, said the centre’s involvement in the extractive sector spans more than a decade.

He explained that while Guyana is most familiar with the centre for its work on elections and political processes, it has much experience working in the extractive industries.

Calder like the U.S. Ambassador spoke of the potential, transformative impact that oil revenue could have if it supports a sound national development strategy.

“Central to such a strategy are the systems for inclusive governance, transparency and accountability.

“This has not been the reality in many countries stricken with the ‘resource curse,’ something we are certain Guyanese want to avoid.”

Multi-stakeholder group

There are currently 51 countries implementing the EITI Standard, with 31 being compliant, and Calder said the Carter Center looks forward to Guyana joining the group.

Calder said too that a tri-partite Multi-Stakeholder Group drawing from government, civil society and the extractive industries is to guide and oversee the EITI process in each country.

“The Government has been engaging with civil society and extractive industry actors on the process of forming this group. Our assistance is intended to build off that recently provided by the World Bank and to complement the fruitful collaboration Guyana has with the EITI secretariat in Trinidad and Tobago.”

He noted that the primary task of the Multi-Stakeholder Group is to produce an annual report in which the various types of extractive sector revenues paid by companies to the government are reconciled with those that the government reports receiving.

“There is much more to EITI though. Reporting under the EITI also examines revenue allocations, inter-governmental transfers, company social expenditures, the process for allocating licences and contracts, identifying the beneficial owners of companies in the extractive sector, and documenting the impact of the extractive industries on the economy.”

Additionally, he said the changes in laws, regulations, administrative systems and the way they work in practice and their accessibility to the public will receive regular scrutiny as part of the EITI. The role of EITI over the years can be significant in setting and advancing the national agenda.

Minister Trotman said that by the end of 2016, the government hopes to make great strides in not only Guyana’s candidacy in the EITI, but most importantly strengthening the good governance and transparency initiatives and other democratic fundamentals.

“Open, Transparent and accountable governance of the extractive industry are integral to the sustainable development of Guyana,” the minister stated.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Acting Prime Minister Carl Greenidge gave the government’s assurance to pursue membership of the EITI. He said the issue of governance has been much debated and is very important to Government’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of all Guyanese.

With the extractive industries being critical to the country’s economy, the Foreign Affairs Minister said it is important that those resources are properly managed.

Unlicensed motorcyclist granted bail in fatal accident ALMOST three months after being involved in a motorcycle accident which claimed the life of his pillion rider, Melroy Barnwell has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving and with four other traffic offences.

The 27-year-old Laing Avenue, Georgetown resident was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Friday, and pleaded not guilty to the first charge, which alleged that on June 20, at the Houston Public Road, East Bank Demerara, he drove motorcycle CG 8485 in a dangerous man-

ner, resulting in the death of 21-year-old Paulette Josiah.

The other charges he faces are driving without a licence, driving an unregistered motorcycle, driving an uninsured motorcycle, and driving a motorcycle which did not have a certificate of fitness in force.

Unrepresented by legal counsel, Barnwell pleaded guilty to driving without a licence and driving an unregistered motorcycle, but he pleaded not guilty to the other charges.

He was fined $60,000 or eight weeks’ imprisonment, and was granted $350,000

bail on the causing death charge. The case was adjourned to October 18, and the traffic-related offences were transferred to Court 7.

“It wasn’t my fault; I was in my lane,” Barnwell said when the magistrate asked if he had anything to say. He also pointed out that he had borrowed the motorcycle from his friend.

According to reports, on the day in question, Josiah was the pillion rider on a motorcycle being driven by Barnwell because he had opted to take the young mother home. While heading south at a fast rate on the east-

Dead: Paulette Josiah

Melroy Barnwell

ern carriageway at Houston, Barnwell overtook a long line of traffic and collided with motor car PTT 6421.

Barnwell allegedly tried to swerve from the vehicle, but

lost control of his bike, which resulted in Josiah falling off.

Josiah and Barnwell were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where Josiah succumbed to her injuries and Barnwell was admitted for further evaluation and treatment. Neither was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

A post-mortem conducted on Josiah’s body by Dr. Nehaul Singh indicated that the young woman died from multiple injures she received as a result of the accident: a fractured spine, hip and ribs, along with a ruptured liver and spleen.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

AFC keen on ‘Scamming’ took constitutional reform prominence under PPP ‒ PNC Chairman says PPP members jockeying for positions at upcoming congress

By Ravin Singh IN defence of the Peoples’ National Congress Reform (PNCR), a member of the coalition parties that have formed the Government of Guyana, incumbent party Chairman Basil Williams has dismissed allegations of corruption levelled against the Government by the Opposition Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP), stating that the word “scam” took prominence while the PPP was in office.

Serving as the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs in the APNU+AFC Coalition Administration, Williams made these remarks on Friday during the PNCR’s weekly press conference at Congress Place, Sophia.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, in a statement released earlier this month, said: “The APNU+AFC Government has been exposed with more scandals and corruptions in 16 months than successive PPP/C Administrations were accused of in 23 years.” That statement added that, between June 2015 and August 2016 -- a space of 14 months -- some 16 “scandals” have

Chairman of the PNC/R, Basil Williams

been uncovered.

This assertion has not been taken lightly by the PNCR Chairman, who said: “It is under their [PPP’s] watch that this word ‘scam’ really took prominence.”

Williams said he recalls vividly that, in 2010, there was the milk scam; the law books scam; the remigrant and duty-free scam; the Cane Grove Conservancy Dam scam; the Wildlife scam; the export of dolphins scam; the Polar beer scam; and even to this day, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) scam.

“So they [PPP] are the people who created this whole thing called scam-

ming. And they believe the Guyanese people have short memory,” Williams said.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, had previously urged the PPP to release the list of scandals, and the PNCR Chairman has suggested that the Guyanese people should judge for themselves.

He also suggested that this was an attempt by PPP members to show that they are capable of challenging the APNU+AFC coalition, given that the PPP’s congress is expected to be held shortly.

“They [PPP] have their congress coming up and so they want to get positions.

They’re jockeying for position in the party, and so they must show that they could deal with the APNU+AFC; but that is not the way to do things,” he charged.

Sparing no effort at highlighting his assessment of the PPP’s performance in office, Williams said the PPPC had “mistreated this nation and impoverished the people.”

He said he believes the populace is aware that this government would bring the change they desired, since this government does not have “scammers” in its midst.

Audit launched into finances of Linden Mayor & Town Council THE Ministry of Communities has commenced an audit into the finances of the Linden Mayor and Town Council, mere hours after Town Clerk Jonella Bowen was sent on administrative leave.

Mayor of Linden Carwyn Holland, during a press conference on Friday said he had requested an audit of the council’s finances and the ministry promptly responded by sending auditors to Linden on Friday.

He said the call was also made for the audit after the town clerk on Thursday attempted to leave the council with pertinent financial documents, which -- had they been destroyed -- would

have placed the council in a quandary.

“We have asked the Ministry of Communities to assist in sorting out the accounts in Linden and I would have further made a call for an audit, because it is the council’s view that things are not regular,” Holland said.

The mayor had previously expressed concern that the council had placed itself in $200M debt.

Holland said that Bowen remains the substantive town clerk until the conclusion of the hearing into her conduct, which will determine her permanent fate. Holland said that if the findings do not show reason for the town clerk to be relieved of her duties, he will

be the first to champion her return. The mayor on Thursday however, issued a letter to the town clerk sending her on administrative leave. This move was made after Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan via a correspondence, gave permission to the mayor to perform such an act.

Minister Bulkan in the letter said that permission was granted on the basis of a recommendation sent by the council to send Bowen on administrative leave. The council had passed a no-confidence motion against Bowen in July which was the second motion passed against her during her tenure of four years.

AFC General Secretary and Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson (centre) flanked by AFC members Trevor Williams (right) and Marlon Williams (left) at the AFC press conference on Friday

THE Alliance For Change (AFC) is keen on constitutional reform and expects a Cabinet discussion on the matter to be led soon

by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

Constitutional reform is of greatest priority on the AFC’s agenda, David Patterson, General Secretary of the AFC told reporters Friday at the party’s head office in Georgetown.

The prime minister had received a report on constitutional reform from a committee that he had set up.

The committee was chaired by eminent attorney Nigel Hughes.

Patterson said the comprehensive proposal, which outlines the way forward, includes public consultation and funding to be included in the 2017 budget in order to facilitate the “kick start of the constitutional reform process.”

According to Patterson, the AFC believes strongly in public involvement in decision-making, and a consultation process will solicit feedback from persons at the grassroots level through local communities’ participation.

He highlighted the fact that Guyana has “made tremendous strides” from 2011, with Guyanese demonstrating a willingness to be involved in decision-making, influencing a change in government for the second time in 50 years.

He said this time government aims at completing the process, since the last attempt at constitutional reform was incomplete.

When asked by reporters

if the party will invite the participation of the opposition PPP in the process, Patterson said the main aim of the AFC is to involve the nation at large.

“We want to convince the people. If the PPP decide that they want to hear what the people say, they can do so.”

He said the AFC observed in the past that the PPP had no interest in constitutional reform, and while their failure to participate will not stop its progress, it would be wise for the opposition to join government in moving the process forward.

“They have no appetite for constitutional reform, but they never showed any appetite for defeat either.

Things have changed. Either they get up and join the bus for progress or they can stay behind,” Patterson said.

“We as a party want to engage the people because they are the important stakeholders. A small group of politicians should not hold back an entire country’s desire for constitutional reform and change,” Patterson stated.

Meanwhile, Patterson said though the AFC believes there is need for reform of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the party has not pushed the issue because it has a “long list” of other issues to address, and does not want to be distracted from its main focus.

“We don’t want to move anything to displace our priority which is constitutional reform,” he told the press.

Meanwhile, the AFC, he said, has intentions of building a stronger partnership

with government’s greater counterpart - A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) party through establishing more effective channels of communications - at all levels within both parties.

Patterson highlighted “communication” between party activists at lower levels of its organisation as the coalition’s greatest relationship challenge, and said it has become “the genesis of several of our issues.”

“That has been the genesis of several of our issues.

Because I have not been able to meet with them as frequently as I should, they hold on to the last information they would have received,” and the process of disseminating new information within that bracket to reflect changes in decisions is slothful.

He said that the AFC’s national conference will be held before the end of 2016.

“The AFC has demonstrated that it is a small but robust political party capable of public administration and we believe we have performed creditably in that role,” Patterson told the press.

He said the party’s upcoming conference will be a platform for the election of office bearers for the new term, examining of the party’s role and progress in government, reviewing of relations with its coalition partner, evaluating the fulfilment of its manifesto, and advancing the process of documenting the structure and architecture of government under a new constitution from the AFC’s point of view.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

Pathologist testifies in Murilall murder trial

By Michel Outridge

GOVERNMENT Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh on Friday told the court that Mulchand Murilall, 16, at Cane Grove, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, who was reportedly stabbed in November 8, 2013, died from perforation of the heart and lungs.

Dr Singh was at the time testifying in the High Court before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow and a 12-member jury in the 2013 murder trial of Mulchand, 16, of Cane Grove, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

He said the perforation of the heart and lungs had resulted from an incised wound to the chest, which he said had been inflicted with a sharp instrument.

Dr Singh, an expert in pathology, on November 11, 2013, performed a post-mor-

tem on the body of Mulchand.

He stated that there was an incised wound to the left side of the chest which caused the death of the teenager, but there were two incised wounds on the left arm.

Dr Singh noted that the incised wound to the chest caused Murilall’s death and it had happened about 30 minutes after the blow.

On Friday, Defence Counsel Bernard De Santos continued his cross-examination of sister of the deceased, Bhagmattie Murilall, called “Vashtie.”

She was asked whether she was facing the road while she was looking at the wedding house on November 8, 2013 at about 20:00 hrs, and she replied in the affirmative.

Counsel however suggested to her that this was not so, since only when she heard raised voices she went

to see what was happening to her brother.

The woman told the court that she did not see anybody near her brother, nor did she see when the accused came up to her sibling.

Attorney De Santos told Bhagmattie that she was “telling a pack of lies in court”, but she said “no”; and when asked whether she had a one-year-old child with a cop, she also said “no”, noting that she has three children for the accused.

The matter was adjourned until Monday at 09:00 hrs.

The accused is being represented by Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos, while prosecution for the State is being led by Siand Dhurjon and Shawnette Austin.

Bhagmattie told the court on Thursday that she has three children for the accused, with the youngest being four years old and

described their six-year relationship as turbulent.

She said the accused was very abusive to her and she ended the union because he used to consume alcohol a lot and hardly brought home any money; and when she spoke out about it he would beat her.

Bhagmattie stated that she had reported his abusive behaviour to the police, because he had threatened her the day in question but she escaped after she saw him with a knife.

She recalled seeing the accused and her brother facing each other on the dam after she had heard raised voices and when she went to her brother, she pulled him from the trench.

Bhagmattie told the court her sibling was unresponsive and covered in blood at the time.

Meanwhile, under

Murdered: Mulchand Murilall

cross-examination, when it was put to her by defence counsel that she did not see the accused stab the deceased, she agreed, noting that she was confused then.

When counsel suggested to her that she was unfaithful

to the accused and neglected her children, Murilall said no.

It was reported that Murilall was confronted by his sister’s reputed husband who was armed with a knife and during the confrontation, he was fatally stabbed to his chest and under his left arm.

The suspect then attacked his reputed wife, but she was rescued by residents and escaped unhurt.

He escaped from the scene, but was arrested by the police at Springlands, Berbice, about 09:00 hrs, a day after the murder.

According to information received, the teenager had followed his sister to a nearby shop after learning that her estranged, reputed husband was stalking her.

On their way back, the young man stopped at a wedding house not far from their home and it was there that he was attacked.

Guyana seeks China’s help in boosting mining sector ‒ Broomes leads team to China GUYANA’S mining sector can benefit significantly from closer relations with the People’s Republic of China, including in the area of mining technology, as awareness intensifies into this country’s oil and gold sector.

This was the consensus following a visit by a Guyana delegation led by Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, and comprising several officials of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), including Gordon Nestor, Acting Manager, Geological Services; Unata DeFreitas, Senior Geologist; and Lawrence Simon, Geologist.

The team attended the China Mining Congress and Expo 2016, held in Tianjin during the period September 22 – 25, and a release from the Ministry of Natural Resources said the event attracted delegations from the mining industry across several regions, and afforded the Guyanese delegation the opportunity to engage various country representatives on issues of mining and mining technology.

As such, there are prospects for further bilateral engagements with those countries which Guyana needs to explore, Minister Broomes

both ‘greening’ and safety in the mining sector.

The focus on a ‘green economy’ as is advocated

by President David Granger was brought to the fore, and it was deduced that bilateral

Guyana’s mining sector”, the release noted.

It was further noted that the engagements pointed to an increasing global awareness of Guyana as both a ‘gold producing’ country

Expo, and this created the potential for cooperation between the Guyanese mining community and Chinese entrepreneurs offering equipment and technology relevant to the development of the

Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, and her team in discussion with officials in China

noted.

In relation to Guyana’s participation at the forum, and its bilateral engagements with other participating delegations, several issues were discussed. To this end, the release noted, Guyana’s perspective was hinged on the emphasis which the forum placed on the importance of

engagement between China and Guyana on greening and the mining sector can be established.

“Arising out of the experience of the Congress and Expo, it is felt that the creation of an enhanced understanding of the significance of a ‘green economy’ should be a priority focus in

and as a future ‘oil producing’ nation. According to the release, there is scope for the accelerated promotion of Guyana across the regions of the world in order to accelerate bilateral and multilateral cooperation in these areas.

The delegation also engaged Chinese entrepreneurs during the Congress and

local mining sector. It was recommended that Guyana should take advantage of the potential afforded by the outcomes of the engagements with the Chinese entrepreneurs.

“The Ministry of Natural Resources will be seeking to further investigate, through the Embassy of the People’s

Republic of China in Guyana, the full extent of the support which the local gold mining sector can receive from China”, the release added.

Following the visit, Minister Broomes made note of the significant number of female entrepreneurs in the Chinese technology, mining, and energy sectors who participated in the Congress and Expo, some of whom she took the opportunity to engage. As such, she is strongly advocating as a priority the strengthening of ties between these potential Chinese women investors and the local mining sector. She has committed herself to keeping communication channels open with these prospective investors.

Following the event, it was recommended that Guyana participate annually in future holdings of the event, and that Guyana should expand its involvement to include, among other things, the setting up of a Guyana Mining Booth at the 2017 event.

In addition, the possibility of joint venture arrangements involving Guyanese miners and Chinese investors was also placed on the table.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

Don’t make decisions in isolation ‒ Linden chamber president tells Town Council

By Vanessa Braithwaite PRESIDENT of the Linden Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Development, Kevin De Young, on Wednesday called on the Linden Town Council to be more inclusive in its decision-making.

Speaking at a consultation with stakeholders and the council on Wednesday, De Young made reference to the Kara Kara toll booth and the rates governing its operations, pointing out that businesspersons have complained.

He said some have complained that the rates are too high, and on that note, he suggested that decisions should not be made with one or two entities working in isolation, but the council should fully engage more entities, including the Linden Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Development.

“The Linden Mayor and Town Council must fully engage us so that when we are moving forward, we are moving forward with one view and one voice... all entities need to work together, need to network, decision-making

should be done collectively,” De Young affirmed.

He expressed fear that some of the rates in the bylaws that were recently gazetted by Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan may scare away investors from Linden rather that encourage them.

“I believe we should have an enabling environment to bring business to Linden.

What we don’t want is people to think it is a burden to invest in Linden.”

The chamber president argued that every detail had not been considered during the decision-making process, pointing out that often the “small man” faces the heat.

He reasoned that businessmen journeying from other regions to sell their goods in Linden will increase the prices of their goods after being subjected to pay a toll and the “small man” will be affected by price increases for greens, vegetables and dry goods, among others.

POORLY ADVERTISED Though the Linden Mayor and Town Council held consultations before sending off recommendations to the

Linden Chamber of Industry President Kevin De Young

ministry for the by-laws to be gazetted, De Young argued that those consultations were poorly advertised and therefore poorly attended; and so the majority of representatives from the private sector and business community were not present to be a part of the decision-making process.

“We have not been able to conquer working together,” he said.

Mayor of Linden Carwyn Holland in responding to the

Guyana to help hurricane-ravaged Haiti

By Crystal Stoll GUYANA will be contributing to the rebuilding process of sister CARICOM nation Haiti, which was recently ravaged by Hurricane Mathew, Cabinet Secretary Joseph Harmon has said.

“Guyana will make its contribution once the damage has been properly assessed. We are closely monitoring the situation through the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CEDEMA),” he said.

Hurricane Mathew has affected a few CARICOM nations, including Haiti.

Haiti has been hit by hurricanes quite a number of times in the past decade.

In 2008, Haiti was struck by Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Hanna and Hurricane Ike, while Hurricane

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Thomas visited in 2010.

Reuters has reported that Hurricane Matthew’s trail of destruction in Haiti stunned those emerging from the aftermath on Friday, with the number of dead soaring to 842, tens of thousands homeless and outbreaks of cholera already

claiming more lives.

Reuters said information trickled in from remote areas that were cut off by the storm, and it became clear that at least 175 people died in villages clustered among the hills and on the coast of Haiti’s fertile western tip.

Rural clinics overflowed with patients whose wounds, including broken bones, had not been treated since the storm hit on Tuesday. Food was scarce, and at least seven people died of cholera, likely because of floodwater mixing with sewage.

At least three towns reported dozens of fatalities, including the hilly farming village of Chantal, whose mayor said 86 people have perished, mostly when trees crushed houses. He said 20 more people were missing, Reuters reported on Friday.

concerns, posited that efforts were made to consult the public and other entities and the new rates almost mirror the rates that governed the previous operations of the toll booth. He revealed that only three rates were changed and those rates were lowered to accommodate the rise in the cost of living. In the previous operations, Linden businesses, especially loggers, were liable to pay tolls but were given concessions.

However, under this new operation, Linden-registered businesses will pay only a biennial fee. Though this decision was met with some objections from local loggers, Mayor Holland opined that it would be backward if Linden businesses should not pay anything at all, as the money would be used to develop the very community in which they are living.

In addition, he revealed that the toll booth operations will be reviewed every six months and necessary changes will be made.

RECOMMENDATIONS Stakeholders at the consultation made several rec-

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland

ommendations which include the repackaging of the station from that of a toll station to a revenue-collecting point, as it is the council’s duty to collect revenue.

Some persons also suggested that the operations fully mirror that of the previous by-laws as to alleviate confusion and disagreements.

It was also recommended that consultation be held with the Linden Loggers’ Associations as loggers are arguing that they were not involved in the decision -making process.

Minister Bulkan ap-

proved rates ranging from $2000 to $7000 to be paid by 18 categories of vehicles, particularly vehicles passing through the town with fuel, lumber or merchandise.

With these rates, the council will be raking in approximately $3M a month or more than $36M annually.

This revenue will greatly assist the cash-strapped council in garbage collection, paying workers and clearing its $200 M debt owed the National Insurance Scheme, the Guyana Power and Light company and other entities.

The Kara Kara toll station was disbanded in 2013 by former Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker. It was established in 1997 under the stewardship of then Mayor Stanley Smith, following an order by then Local Government Minister, Clinton Collymore. According to reports, the booth was disbanded to accommodate the operations of giant lumber company Bai Shan Lin. As a result of this subsidised operation, the council lost some $250M in revenue, former IMC Chairman Orin Gordon said.

Guyana loses $4.8B to drought ‒ during 2015-2016, Minister Holder reports

By Navendra Seoraj AGRICULTURE Minister Noel Holder has said that climate change continues to take a toll on the agriculture sector, pointing out that during 2015-2016, the sector suffered some $4.8B in losses due to drought.

He made the disclosure at the commissioning of the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) Agro Climatology Station on Friday.

During the period of drought, about 33,231 acres of rice, sugar, livestock and fisheries were lost.

“Taking this into consideration, we must plan in a scientific manner in order to ensure the improvement of agricultural practices and production… and importance must be given to the disastrous effects of climate change,” Minister Holder said, as he reinforced the need for mitigation measures.

Studies have shown that climate change magnifies and multiplies in poor communities.

And to combat these situations, Minister Holder said work has been ongoing to boost the work of hydrometeorological stations across the country.

Climatologist Komalchand Dhiram demonstrates to Minister Holder how the weather instruments work

“The Ministry of Agriculture through its national meteorological office calls on the public to be climate-smart and use the forecasts given… that is why we intend to enhance the support of weather and climate information, so persons can make informed decisions,” he stressed.

On that note, he said commissioning of the Agro Climatology Station at the school’s Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara campus is a step in the right direction.

The station is the 11th in the country and will play a key role in detecting weather variables throughout Guyana.

It will also help students to practically understand agro-meteorology.

GSA Chief Executive Officer Brian Greenidge endorsed the sentiments expressed by Minister Holder, and said the climatology station was timely.

“It will supplement the school’s theoretical aspect of the agro-meteorology course, while also provide an opportunity for students to play an active role in taking measurements of atmospheric conditions,” he said.

Students will be compiling data for the study of weather and climate, and in turn this will improve service delivery by the meteorological station.

This data will be valuable to farmers, since many of them do not take El Nino and La Nina into account when they plant.

GUYANA CHRONICLE SATURDAY OCT 8, 2016

SATURDAY OCT 8, 2016

13

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

All not well at UG ‒ says Dr Roopnaraine EDUCATION Minister Dr Rupert Roopnarine has said he is still not entirely pleased with the state of affairs at the University of Guyana, but is however satisfied with the way the withdrawal of the five per cent increase in tuition fees was handled.

“A lot of it I don’t like.

The students are dissatisfied, that’s clear, and we have to look and see how we can improve the conditions for the students. I think they have a lot of legitimate grievances and we have to

listen to them,” Dr Roopnaraine said.

Students were in disagreement over the abrupt five per cent increase in tuition fees that they were informed of just days prior to the commencement of classes.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, subsequently recommended that the increase be put on hold.

Dr Roopnaraine spoke on the issue in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle earlier this week.

He is of the view that

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

more needs to be done to improve the resources of the university, noting that students can assist in this cause, though the manner in which the hike was imposed was not fitting.

“The last thing I saw was that the Vice-Chancellor was talking about withdrawing the five per cent; that is a temporary solution. I don’t think the hike was capricious, it was done because we do need more resources at the university, and the students can make a contribution, but it was not popular and I think the Vice- Chancellor acted very sensibly,” he commented.

Dr Roopnaraine admitted that he has not paid much attention to the happenings at the university, as the Government does not seek to compromise the independence of Guyana’s tertiary education provider.

He essentially relies on

the ministry’s representatives on UG’s council to transmit any recommendations it may wish to advise.

“It’s been a long time since I was there… and I can’t tell you that I have been up to the university and paid as much attention to classes and so on with what’s going on. The university has a council that is independent. The Government, we try to pay attention to what is happening at the university, but we try not to be intrusive. We do have people who sit on the council representing the ministry, so that to the extent that we want to put a view to the university, we do it through our representatives at the council,” Dr Roopnaraine said.

Upon assuming office last year, the minister had declared his intention to see the university transformed within five years, or would otherwise consider it a failure on his part.

The unrest at the university came just days before this week’s hosting of the 13th annual conference of the Caribbean Area Network for Quality Assurance in Tertiary Education (CANQATE) which ran from October 4-7.

The conference was focused on improving the quality of tertiary institutions, while creating and sustaining a culture of quality assurance in Guyana and across the wider Caribbean.

Friday, October 7, 2016 - 08:30 hrs Saturday, October 8, 2016 - 09:03 hrs Sunday, October 9, 2016 - 10:30 hrs

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

PM urges enforcement of environmental laws at India confab PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo has called for governments to utilise measures to ensure that health and environmental safety regulations are respected and observed.

According to a release from the Office of the Prime Minister, Nagamootoo, who was afforded a spirited welcome on Thursday after-

noon by lawyers and judges at the Indian Law Institute in Delhi, India, explained to the packed hall Guyana’s constitutional provisions on the environment and penalties provided under the Environmental Protection Act against violators.

Noting that the principle “polluters pay” was reinforced by a known Indian

Supreme Court ruling, the prime minister called for both judicial courage and political will by governments to ensure that health and environmental safety measures are respected and observed.

According to the release, several of the speakers noted with interest Guyana’s policy on a Green Econo-

Prime Minister Nagamootoo and Mrs Sita Nagamootoo with members of the Delhi Tamil Advocates Association

my, and listened with rapt attention to explanations by the prime minister regarding protected area systems and eco-conservation parks in Guyana.

Members of the gathering celebrated the appointment of the Guyanese Prime Minister following elections in May, 2015. They also welcomed the new Guyana

High Commissioner to India, Dr David Pollard.

At the time, the Prime Minister was the chief guest at a panel discussion on the Enforcement of Environmental Laws, which was hosted by the Delhi Tamil Advocates Association.

The panel included Ranjit Kumar, Solici tor-General of India;

Subramonium Prashad, Advocate-General of Tamil Nadu; A. Kanesalingam, Senior Advocate of the Federal Court of Malaysia; A Mariarputham, Advocate-General of the State of Sikkim; Supreme Court Judges, Gopala Gowda and Nageshwara Rao, and Professor Gauritrie.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo receives an award from Delhi Tamil Advocates Association in recognition of his work in the field of law

Guns, ganja found in West Ruimveldt raid FOUR males and a female are assisting the police in their investigation into the discovery of two firearms, several rounds of ammunition

and a small quantity of cannabis, at a nightspot in West Ruimveldt, early Friday morning.

Police ranks acting on information swooped

down on the night club and carried out a search between 01:30hrs to 02:30hrs when the discovery was made, a release stated.

Pressure piles...

GECOM contracts valuing more than $600M over the past five years.

Christopher told this publication that he did not receive the majority of contracts from GECOM, and he went as far as to say that the contracts were split. “I have not received that kind of money,” he told the Guyana Chronicle.

Asked if he could substantiate his statement that the contracts were split despite documentation showing that his company had received the majority of those contracts, Christopher said, “I won’t state further on that.”

He told Guyana Chronicle that he works as an agency, collecting advertisements from different persons and placing them. He said he is not part and parcel of any

scheme within GECOM, as he became aware of contracts only by virtue of the media.

Asked whether he had had a personal relationship with the GECOM DCEO prior to being awarded contracts by that entity, Christopher said, “I didn’t know him before; I bid based on what was advertised. I have no relationship with Mr. Persaud. I have met him… during the process of working, I met him there…only a professional relationship.”

Christopher also said that he did not find it strange that he was awarded most of the contracts relative to infomercials and related activities. “It was not strange.

I work with different people doing similar work…

GECOM is not my only client…I am doing similar

From page 3

work with other clients. I am doing business with different clients and government agencies…,” he said while stressing: “I don’t get contracts all the time.”

Questioned by Guyana Chronicle earlier this week, Persaud said other businesses had provided quotations to provide services to GECOM over the years.

He said it is unfathomable that he would be accused of handpicking TroyTec when the process was transparent.

Indeed, other companies had submitted proposals to provide several related services relative to production and infomercials. The efforts of those companies were mostly unsuccessful.

Guyenterprise, Merundoi, Video Mega Productions, Night Video Production, and Digicel Inc. were among the

entities that had submitted quotations to GECOM for the required services.

In defence of TroyTec Video Productions being chosen, Persaud said: “It was not only about the cost.” He said the production company provided the “widest coverage…and the production cost was less.”

He added that the process of selection was a transparent one, as advertisements were published in every instance.

Persaud has been accused of managing the entire procurement process, for which he was responsible for placing the advertisements, selecting the company best suited in his opinion, submitting his justification to the Chief Elections Officer, and approving payment based on work done.

“We do not know anything about these transactions… He prepares everything and monitors them himself…there is no evidence to prove that the info-

mercials and other advertisements were carried. How can he be involved in the entire process from start to finish?” asked a source.

PLACEMENT OF ADS. GECOM’s Administrative Manager Michelle Ward sought to clear the air on Friday about statements made

by Persaud that she was responsible for publishing advertisements in the newspapers and on television and radio.

“The Administrative Department had nothing to do with that…we don’t deal with infomercials and the like,” said Ward. The Administrative Manager made it clear that all activities related to the civic and voter education were handled by Persaud.

“I do not know…he prepares everything…those things…. I don’t know why Mr. Persaud would make such a statement,” Ward said.

Persaud was asked why, as DECO, he did not hand over the civic and voter education aspect to PRO at the time, Richard Francois.

He told Guyana Chronicle that he was entrusted with conducting civic and voter education by the commission, and noted that there was no need for former PRO Francois to take on that responsibility.

“Civic and voter education is a separate activity from public relations, to the extent that there is a position for a substantive civic and voter education manager.

I did it as PR, because the Commission had entrusted it to me… It wasn’t my responsibility, he explained.

“At that time the office was vacant,” Persaud added. But sources within the Commission said a Commissioner had requested that Francois take charge of the civic and voter education, but Persaud had resisted this move.

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

The Development of Guyana’s ‘green’ agenda

President David Granger participated in the commemoration of National Tree Planting Day 2016 at Iwokrama THE ‘greening’ of Guyana is a goal which forms a major part of President David Granger’s vision for the development the country. This administration is committed to balancing environmental sustainability with economic development, to ensure that the national patrimony is

preserved and economic advancement brings the good life for all Guyanese.

But what does a ‘green’ agenda entail? Guyana’s forests cover over 85 percent of the country’s land mass, and constitute the second highest percentage of forest cover in the world. The country is

also seen as a carbon sink, with the ability to sequester more carbon than is emitted by the human activity of its population. But the country’s economy is one which is heavily dependent on the agriculture and extractive sectors, which means that the road to a ‘green’ Guyana would entail a

model that allows the sustainable use of its resources.

This model comes in the form of the ‘Green Economy’ Development Strategy, which aims to transform Guyana into a state that achieves the needed balance of sustainable development. On the occasion of the opening of GuyExpo 2016 in May, the President declared it his mission to build a ‘green’ economy.

“We are going to transition our economy towards a renewable, clean and cheaper source of energy. We are going to craft a comprehensive Coastal Zone Management Plan to protect human habitation. We are going to craft coastal economic systems and ecosystems. We are going to create ‘green’ enterprises and jobs, and we will inculcate ‘green’ education in our schools,” he said.

The strategy involves promotion of sustainable exploitation of our natural

Ms. Ndibi Schwiers, Head of the Department of the Environment resources, establishment of a “[Guyana’s] natural assets, good solid waste management commitment to sustainable programme, promotion of development, contribution to sustainable energy through the countering the adverse effects introduction of solar farms, of climate change, and collabwind, and hydro-powered oration with the international electricity; promotion of the community in seeking soluecological integrity of our tions to global threats have forests, and implementation of distinguished it as an emergent ‘green’ technologies. ‘green’ state. It is a state that The essential idea is will ensure a secure future for that there must be a balance its people in the pursuit of a between conservation and ‘green’ economy. It is one that exploitation of our natural is proud of its place as a reliresources, a balance which able and cooperative partner President Granger has referred in international efforts to proto as ‘walking on two legs’. tect the Earth’s environment,” Even as Guyana emerges the President said. as a reliable partner in the In fact, Guyana’s quest for fight against climate change, a ‘green’ economy began in the Head of State placed 1989 with its grant of 371,000 squarely on the international hectares of forests to be used as agenda Guyana’s value as a an international model for the ‘green’ state when he attended promotion of conservation and the 71st Session of the United sustainable and equitable use of Nations General Assembly in tropical rainforests in a manner New York in September. that would lead to lasting ecoDuring his address at one logical, economic and social of the meetings at the Session, benefits to the people of Guyana the Head of State noted that and the wider world. the global shift towards batThis generous grant is tling climate change through known as the Iwokrama Intermoves such as the adoption national Centre for Rainforest of the 2030 Agenda for Sus- Conservation and Developtainable Development in Sep- ment (Iwokrama), which is tember 2015, and the signing located in the very heart of the of the Paris Agreement on country. The President has reclimate change in April 2016, ferred to Iwokrama as a prime are to be commended, adding example of what Guyana has that Guyana is part of this to offer the world in the fight ‘green’ movement. against climate change.

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

President Granger during a tour of the Canopy Walkway at Iwokrama, the research centre which lies at the very heart of Guyana and is a ‘green’ haven teeming with rich biodiversity At a commemorative tree planting ceremony at Iwokrama in honour of National Tree Day, at the beginning of October, the President, in his address, highlighted the vast potential of Guyana’s biodiversity, as can be seen through the shining of the centre and its protected forests.

Guyana’s agreement with the Kingdom of Norway also serves as testament to its commitment to sustainable development and environmental conservation. The Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) Agreement allows Guyana to demonstrate how the model can be used in a manner that would allow countries to use their forests to combat climate change.

Guyana also has environmental agreements with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of Japan, and other states and international organisations in the areas of environmental development.

But the President has said that focus must also be placed on the need for collective commitment, by the greater part of the international community, to collaborate with smaller states, such as Guyana, to continue their pursuit of a low-carbon, low-emission path to sustainable development, and to constrain the rise in global temperatures. But even as these international partnerships continue to grow, the road to a ‘green’ economy must be lined with policies and strategies that seek to first manage the environment as a whole.

It is in this regard that the President established the Department of the Environment (DoE), which will oversee

the activities of environmental compliance and management, protected areas development and management, national parks management, and wildlife conservation and protection in Guyana.

Headed by Advisor on Climate Change at the Ministry of the Presidency, Ms. Ndibi Schwiers, the Department would be directly responsible for the Environmental Protection Agency, Protected Areas Commission/National Parks Commission, and the Wildlife Division.

Ms. Schwiers has said the environment is a complex and interrelated, unified system, but the present assignments of various agencies operate based on their own responsibilities. As such, while the DoE would not seek to usurp the role of existing agencies, it would work to coordinate its mandate so that it can catalyse actions to improve environmental management nationally.

The Department would also work closely with other government agencies with an environmental mandate, research agencies, the private sector, civil society and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to advance government’s ‘green’ agenda.

With its core focus centred on the development of policies and programmes that would achieve its mandate, the department would first seek to assess what policies and programmes currently exist.

With these concomitant measures underway, the achievement of Guyana’s ‘green’ agenda is one that is more than within the country’s reach. Most recently, Guyana was one of 197 parties to sign

on to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which focuses on the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions as well as adaptations and financing needed to tackle climate change, beginning in the year 2020.

In keeping with the tenets of the agreement, President Granger has pledged that Guyana would improve timber monitoring and maintain a high level of timber legality; increase value-added activities in the forestry sector so as to augment carbon storage in long-use wood products; intensify the sustainable management of our indigenous communities, which own and manage 14 percent of our national territory; introduce a national Emissions Reduction Programme (ERP) to add two million hectares under conservation; encourage more efficient mining and logging activities; implement Reduced Impact Logging (RIL); and invest in solar power, wind power and hydropower to transition more rapidly to renewable sources of energy and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

On a social level, efforts to bring to light the importance of the move toward a ‘green’ Guyana can be seen through initiatives such as the observance of National Tree Day. The event was launched in October 2015 by the President, and ushers in the beginning of Agriculture Month.

At the inaugural event last year, President Granger highlighted that investing in a ‘green’ economy would aid in overcoming environmental degradation and economic decline, and planting trees can contribute significantly to this

President Granger has said his administration would ensure a secure future for its people in the pursuit of a ‘green’ economy goal. At this year’s event, the President, accompanied by several other Ministers and stakeholders, participated in tree planting exercises at the Fairview Airstrip, the People’s National Congress Headquarters at Sophia, and at Iwokrama.

Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Noel Holder, has said the event helps to create awareness of the use of trees in the sustenance of biodiversity. Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, attended a similar activity in the compound of the Department of Public Service in Georgetown. There, the Minister explained that Guyana’s ‘green’ strategy is an expanded version of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), and will seek to show the world Guyana’s potential to partner with world partners to tackle climate change.

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

Permanent ambulance service needed at Eugene F Correia Airport

THE Ministry of Social Protection has recommended that an emergency vehicle or ambulance be stationed at the Eugene F Correia International Airport permanently.

This recommendation was made following an industrial accident which occurred at the airport on June

21, 2016, when an employee of Roraima Airways was burnt and damaged his heel due to an unknown outbreak of fire under the left wing of a Britten-Norman Trislander aircraft that was undergoing maintenance at the time.

At the time of the incident, there was no medical vehicle to take the injured

Anil Rampersand to the hospital. The injured man used his personal vehicle to get to the Woodlands Hospital; the vehicle was driven by a colleague and he was at risk of sustaining further injury to his body. The ambulance service was called, however, the response vehicle took a lengthy period of time to

A representative of Roraima Airways receives a copy of the report from staff of the Ministry of Social Protection

arrive at Ogle.

On Friday, the final report of the investigation which was prepared by Prandatt Basdeo was handed over to a representative of the Roraima Airway Inc at the Ministry of Social Protection, Brickdam, Georgetown.

The report stated that the accident which caused Mr Rampersand to sustain burns and an injured heel centres on many employers who treat occupational safety and health with minimal regard, because more value is placed on profits rather than people.

In the report, several findings were highlighted. It was noted that at the time of the accident, Mr Rampersand was not attired in suitable protective clothing and was not covered in his overall which is provided to employees by the company.

The report stated that the accident could have been avoided if a risk assessment had been conducted prior to commencement of the maintenance work. Rampersand was responsible for supervising the execution of the maintenance procedures and should have taken the responsibility to ensure that the assessment was done.

Due to the lack of the assessment being done, it was reported that around 14:05 hrs, while servicing and maintenance were being carried out on the aircraft, a fire of unknown origin erupted under the left wing, which Rampersand was standing on.

This caused him to sustain burns about his body and resulted in him jumping to the ground which was approximately six feet below him.

The Guyana Fire Service, which is stationed at the airport, responded to the fire call

but on arrival at the scene, the fire had already been extinguished by employees of Roraima. The fire department was left to conduct their inquiry to determine the cause of the fire, as well as whether the correct steps were followed in fighting a fire of that nature.

It was noted that the expected outcome of professionalism was not displayed by the Fire Service in its report and the service did nothing to ascertain the root cause of the explosion.

The employees of Roraima Airways Inc were commended for their diligence in putting out the fire, as they acted smartly and promptly while demonstrating a level of training, in firefighting procedures.

The Ministry of Social Protection stated that a joint workplace safety committee must be established and must function according to standard procedures. Even though the company provides a limited amount of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) of a general nature, specialised PPE for use in the aircraft industry should be acquired and issued to all employees free of cost, the report said.

In addition, it was noted that it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that a risk assessment is conducted prior to the commencement of every maintenance exercise. It was noted that it is an acceptable fact that lessons are learnt from each accident or fire investigation and the fire department was singled out for undertaking improved investigation into any other incident that is to be reported.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 8, 2016

19

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 8, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 8, 2016

21

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 8, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 8, 2016

23

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 8, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 8, 2016

25

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 8, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 8, 2016

27

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

West Dem amass 346 vs Essequibo ON DAY 1 at Tuschen, West Demerara were dismissed for 346 after they were asked to bat first against Essequibo. Tagenarine Chanderpaul (54), Askhaya Persaud (54) and Romario Shepherd (51) all made half-centuries. Raymon Reifer contributed 49, Chabriraj Ramcharan made 43 and Safraz Esau scored 35. Bowling for Essequibo, Anthony Adams took 5-68 while Akinie Adams had 2-64.

In reply, Essequibo are 87-3 with Keemo Paul on a blistering 43 not out (1x4) and (5x6). Romario Shep-

Johnson 2-57.

Lower Corentyne, in reply, were 283/3 at the close of play. Opener Surujnarine Kandasammy is unbeaten on 127 and Seon Hetmyer is not out on 51. Jonathan Foo earlier made 42 and Gajanand Singh chipped in with 26.

Collis Butts, Andrew Dutchin and Brandon Bess have so far taken a wicket each.

Saagobin

Totaram Bishun and Stephen Harris herd has so far taken 3-34.

At GCC, Bourda, Upper Corentyne, who won the toss and elected to bat made 224 all out. Anthony Bramble

top-scored with 93 while Assad Fudadin scored 45.

Bowling for Georgetown, Gajanan Suknanan registered figures of 6-78 while Kellon

Deonarine Seegobin

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Saturday October 08, 2016) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Edgbaston, Birmingham, 1975 Javed Miandad-100* (Bourda, 1988) Today’s Quiz: Put these in order beginning with the man who has taken most ODI wickets against Pakistan: Malcolm Marshall; Michael Holding; Ian Bishop; Carl Hooper How many West Indians have now played ODI cricket against Pakistan to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Carmichael took 2-45.

Georgetown, in reply, are 116-2 with Robin Bacchus on 55 not out and Christopher Barnwell on 10. Sunil Singh 29 and Andrew Lyght Jr 17 were the batsmen dismissed. Eon Hooper and Keon Sinclair are the wicket-takers so far.

At Port Mourant, West Berbice were dismissed for 174. Raffel Estraido top-scored with 55 while Leon Andrews supported with 39. Bowling for Lower Corentyne, Veerasammy Permaul had 4-56, Kassim Khan took 3-38 and Raun

HOME TEAM At Enterprise, the home team, East Coast Demerara, could muster only 125, all out, batting first. Bhaskar Yadram top-scored with 31, Paul Wintz made 22 and Chandrapaul Hemraj contributed 20. Bowling for East Bank Demerara, Stephen Harris had figures of 3-40, Totaram Bishun 3-12 and Stephen Jacobs 2-25.

East Bank Demerara, in reply, were dismissed for 165 earning a first-innings lead of 40 runs. Deonarine Seegobin struck 56, Sherfane Rutherford 35 and Tevin Imlach scored 30. Bowling for East Coast Demerara, Ameer Khan took 3-24, Chandrapaul Hemraj 3-38, Kamesh Yadram 2-1 and Paul Wintz 3-39.

Batting a second time facing a 40-run deficit East Coast Demerara are 34-0 with Bhaskar Yadram 26 not out and Keon Roberts on 8.

Play continues today at 09:30hrs.

Irish Racing Tips Limerick 09:10 hrs Mack Attack 08:40 hrs Saltonstall 09:15 hrs Black Hawk War 09:50 hrs Count Of Carabass 10:25 hrs Duck Egg Blue 10:55 hrs Round Two 11:30 hrs Fly Round The Bend 12:05 hrs AA BEE SEE

Race10 Effinex

South Africa Racing Tips Turffontein 08:30 hrs Brookie 09:10 hrs Unagi 09:45 hrs Lazer Star 10:20 hrs Rabada 11:00 hrs Cambridge Choir 11:35 hrs Odd Rob

Hexham 08:50 hrs Black Ivory 09:25 hrs Reverse The Charge 10:00 hrs Wildehesrted Woman 10:35 hrs Formidableopponent 11:05 hrs Harleys Max 11:35 hrs Wyfield Rose 12:10 hrs Mr Monochrome

American Racing Tips Belmont Race 2 Profiteer Race 3 South Sea Race 4 Nona Mela Race 5 Upstart Race 6 Ladi Eli Race 7 Pure Sensation Race 8 Sundergaard Race 9 Camelot Kitten

English Racing Tips Newmarket 08:45 hrs Symposium 09:20 hrs Amabilis 09:45 hrs Lockheed 10:30 hrs Churchill 11:10 hrs Sweet Selection 11:45 hrs Fly At Dawn 12:20 hrs Carry On Deryck

York 09:00 hrs Alyday 09:35 hrs Great Order 10:10 hrs Rich And Famous 10:35 hrs Captain Colby 11:20 hrs Gulliver 11:55 hrs Dawn Missile 12:30 hrs Marsh Pride

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

Bakewell Junior Lawn Tennis Open

Resaul takes Boys’ U-18 title FOURTEEN-year-old Heimraj Resaul pulled off a significant win against 15-year-old Mark McDonald to grab his first Boys’ Under-18 title of the Bakewell Junior Open, currently underway at the GBTI lawn tennis courts.

Last year it was McDonald who took the U-18 title after losing to Resaul in the U-14 division but this time the tables were turned.

Wednesday’s match started with both players playing safe tennis to the detriment of holding up their service games until Resaul held for the first time at 3-2 to go up 4-2.

At this time McDonald also held his serve and broke Resaul to even the set at 4. However, McDonald still played defensively and Resaul broke to go up 5-4 and then held serve to take

the set at 6-4.

In the second set, McDonald seemed revitalised and anxious to turn the tide and he demonstrated this by holding his first service game to go up 1-0.

Resaul also upped his tempo and both players held serve until McDonald raced away to a 4-1 lead. Resaul then won 3 straight games to even at 4, with some great passing

Heimraj Resaul (left) and his opponent Mark McDonald

… Kalekyezi cops the U-14 shots as McDonald became overconfident, frequently approaching the net.

McDonald then regrouped and both players again held their service games to take it to 6-6 and force the third set super tie-breaker. At the start of the third set on Thursday, both players showed a high level of confidence and the standard of play dictated trading points neck and

neck until Resaul edged to 7-6 with a lot of fist pumps.

This clearly threw off McDonald who once again slipped into defensive mode and gave Resaul the next three points to prevail 6-4, 6-7(7-2), 10-6.

In the Boys’ Under-14, the Ugandan Joshua Kalekyezi was visibly elated as he defeated Viraj Sharma 5-3, 4-2 to take the coveted title. Both players had tough

semi-finals but it was clear that Kalekyezi’s defeat of former champion Jordan Beaton in the semis boosted his confidence enough to hold off Sharma, who too has shown tremendous improvement in techniques over the last year.

The Boys’ Under-12 final between Jeremiah Kalekyezi and Vadeanand Resaul is scheduled for today at noon.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

Joanna Archer - a young athlete to watch

THIS week’s Sports Personality-of-the-Week is 16-yearold Joanna Archer, who has been slowly making her way through the ranks of achievements in the athletics arena.

A distance athlete, Archer is set to make her debut as a National athlete when she represents Guyana at the Inter-Guiana ‘Goodwill’ Games later this month.

Though still in the developmental stages, the West Demerara Secondary student has long been noted as one to watch in years to come. She will compete in the Girls’ 800m and 1500m - her favoured distances - at the IGG. Though the 800m is her preferred distance, Archer has shown that she has the endurance to take on longer

distances. She recently won the female junior category of the annual COURTS 10K road race.

She was also a part of the Police Progressive Youth Club team, who clinched victory at the lucrative Boyce and Jefford Classic in Linden, where she dominated the women’s 3000m.

She was also in the 1500m, prevailing over several seniors

Golden Jaguars bubbling with confidence … Suriname equally poised

F r o m R a s Wa d a d a in Paramaribo with the compliments of German’s Restaurant and Lens Craft topher Nurse and Anani Optical Mohammed who now plays in Mexico.

ANOTHER chapter in The giant-sized 18-yearthe history of the oldest old Kai Lyle is expected to Caribbean football rivalry start in goal and his perforwill be written in Par- mance between the uprights amaribo this afternoon will be pivotal in the Golden as 3rd round action of Jaguars coming away with Group One in the Ca- their 3rd consecutive win ribbean Football Union in competition against their (CFU)/Scotiabank Senior rivals in their backyard. IronMen’s Cup gets underway. ically the last two wins for The visiting Golden Jag- Guyana in Suriname came in uars, under the guidance of the month of October. long-standing head coach The Guyanese dismissed Jamal Shabazz, arrived in the Dutchmen 2-0 on Octothe former Dutch colony ber 17, 2010 in Digicel Cup on Thursday and yesterday action and the year before afternoon held their only on the 28th the Jaguars won training session at the venue the Independence Cup by for today’s crucial encoun- 1-nil. In over 100 years of ter, the Andre Kampaerveen rivalry the teams have met Stadium.

67 times with Suriname winThe 20-man squad con- ning more than half of those sists of 12 foreign-based contests, while Guyana won players including first-tim- the most recent meeting by ers, Kai Lyle of the UK a 2-0 margin in a friendly, and Warren Creavalle, played earlier in February of Cash London and Andrew this year at the Guyana NaNestor from the USA. The tional Stadium, Providence.

Jaguars also welcome The young talented Surithe return of Puerto Ri- name squad are hoping that co-based captain Chris- their home crowd support can

motivate them in overcoming the visitors who are a blend of youth and experience that includes the evergreen Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams at 37 years old.

Abrams who distinguished himself in the Suriname League some years ago when he played for Leo Victor was a known tormentor of many a defence and could very well prove to be today’s trump card for the Jamal Shabazz-coached side.

Shabazz is cognizant of the rivalry between the neighbours and the usually sound technical skills of the Dutch on ball possession but thinks his charges are ready to go out and get the job done, so as to come away with maximum points and take charge of Group One. The Trinbagonian is unperturbed at this stage as to the inadequate preparations leading up to these 3rd round games that his unit had and is very optimistic about winning the opening game of Group One. Today’s game will kick off at 16:30hrs.

to finish second place in the international race.

She was two-time Champion Female Youth Club Athlete at the Guyana Police Force Inter-Division Championships and is also a National School Championships gold medallist and multiple silver medallist.

Archer has been competing at the Schools Championships since 2008, starting off in the Under-8 category. She landed her first big break in 2014. It was at the insistence of her school teacher, Taneka Caldeira that Archer began to take track seriously and joined the Police Athletics Club to train that same year.

“She would always tell me that I had great potential and just needed training to get there so I went out and decided to put my best foot forward and here I am today,” Archer said of the backings she got from Caldeira, her ‘biggest fan’.

In the end all the training paid off and Archer bagged her first medals at the revered Schools Championship -: two silver medals in the 800m and 1500m, and a bronze in the medley relay. She returned last year determined to win her first gold, and it was a proud moment when she did, landing gold in the Girls’ Under-16 discus, and once again claiming silver in the 800m and 1500m.

Archer is ever grateful to her teacher for pushing her to go after training.

One of Archer’s coaches, Mark Scott, who has coached quite a number of Guyana’s leading athletes, is convinced that Archer can go far, especially because of the determination she exudes and willingness to work hard for what she wants.

“She trains very hard in comparison to some of the other athletes. Since she joined the club about two years ago, coming from West Demerara, she has been training hard, working towards her goal, wanting to be the best 800m champion she can be, and she wants to represent this country in the 800m.” Scott said.

Set to write the regional CSEC examinations next year, academic constraints currently limit the amount of time she

can dedicate to training, even as she prepares for the IGG and later next month the National Schools Championships once again. Nonetheless, Archer tries to make the best of those days when she can train, while not

forgetting the important role that education plays in her life.

“Being just an athlete and no education doesn’t make sense, so I have to make sure I balance the two,” Archer said.

(Tamica Garnett)

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 8, 2016

World Cup Qualifying

Sputhgate urges England players to be ‘brave’ ENGLAND V MALTA ENGLAND must be “brave with the ball” when they face Malta in today’s World Cup qualifier, says interim manager Gareth Southgate.

Forward Theo Walcott will start Southgate’s first game in charge while captain Wayne Rooney will win his 117th cap at Wembley (17:00 BST kick-off).

“I keep hearing what English players can’t do, but I’ve seen what they can do,” said Southgate yesterday.

“I want them to go and show it. I expect us to control the game.”

England won their opening Group F World Cup qualifier against Slovakia 1-0 on September 4, Sam Allardyce’s only game in charge before

England have scored a total of eight goals in three previous matches with Malta he left his post by mutual agreement.

FULL HOUSE AT WEMBLEY Southgate, 46, paid tribute to England fans after it was revealed the match is a sell-out despite

the disappointing performance at Euro 2016, where Roy Hodgson’s side were knocked out by minnows Iceland in the last 16.

“I am hugely excited by the match,” added the former Middlesbrough boss.

“The sell-out crowd

shows what England means to the supporters and I don’t think any country in the world will have a crowd like ours this weekend.

“My pride in leading the team is echoed by the players’ desire to do well. It has shone through how much they want

Ronaldo in scoring spree

CRISTIANO Ronaldo scored four goals for Portugal as they thrashed Andorra 6-0 in a 2018 World Cup qualifier, while Belgium and France also won.

Ronaldo scored twice with a shot and header - in the opening four minutes to put the Euro 2016 champions in control.

Joao Cancelo added a third before Ronaldo completed the 42nd hat-trick of his career.

Ronaldo found the net again and Andre Silva also scored against an Andorran side that had two players sent off.

Portugal are now third in Group B having lost to leaders Switzerland, who beat Hungary 3-2 yesterday, in their opening game.

Ronaldo was injured in the final of Euro 2016 - and was playing his first international since that match, which Portugal won 1-0.

“We knew that the first goal would be really important against a team that puts 11 players behind the ball,” said Ronaldo.

“I know I am important, as are all the other players.

Ronaldo scores I have always given everything for the national team, I feel useful and I’m happy to be back after that injury in the European championship.

There are eight games to go and we want to win all eight to go to the World Cup.” Faroe Islands won 2-0 away in Latvia and are second in the group on four points.

France, who were beaten in the Euro 2016 final

by Portugal, had to come back from a goal down to beat Bulgaria 4-1.

A Mihail Aleksandrov

on his way to his 42nd penalty put Bulgaria in front in Paris but two goals from Atletico Madrid forward Kevin Gameiro plus Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann efforts eased them to victory.

France are second in Group A behind the Netherlands, who were convincing 4-1 winners over Belarus as Tottenham striker Vincent Janssen got on the score sheet.

Sweden beat Luxembourg 1-0 courtesy of a Mikael Lustig goal in the group’s other game.

career hat-trick Belgium continued their promising start to their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign under new manager Roberto Martinez as they beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-0 to lead the Group H standings.

An Emir Spahic own goal set them on their way before Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku also scored.

Estonia beat Gibraltar 4-0 and Greece won 2-0 at home to Cyprus in the group’s other fixtures.

to make the country proud. I believe over the next few years they will.”

Southgate would not confirm his team other than to say Arsenal forward Walcott, 27, will win his 45th cap while Manchester United captain Rooney, 30, would also be in his XI. “I don’t want this time to stop,” said Walcott, who has scored in three of his past four Gunners appearances.

“I have been working hard and I want to be better than the opposition.

“It is a completely new bunch of players but we want to put the disappointment of the Euros right - there is no reason why we cannot do better.

“When we have the freedom to express ourselves, that bodes well for the future.”

Southgate has lost Everton defender Phil Jagielka due to a thigh injury, while he will make a late decision on Chelsea centre-back Gary Cahill, who missed training yesterday with a sore throat.

He indicated he may bring in extra players before next Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier in Slovenia.

“I have to say it’s been a remarkable week on the injury side,” he added, “losing (Liverpool midfielder) Adam Lallana on the back of (Tottenham striker) Harry Kane, (Manchester City forward) Raheem Sterling, (Leicester midfielder) Danny Drinkwater and (Liverpool defender) Nathaniel Clyne.

“We will monitor Gary and see how he is in the morning. Will I bring any players in? Possibly. We’ll see after tomorrow’s game.”

Nigeria will look to Ahmed Musa to inspire them to victory NIGERIA and South Africa are among the big names aiming to put aside Africa Cup of Nations disappointment and make a strong start to 2018 World Cup qualifying.

The Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana will be notable absentees from next year's Nations Cup finals in Gabon.

Both are former African champions and will want to seek redemption by filling two of the five African places at the next World Cup in Russia.

Five four-team mini-leagues will decide the African entrants, with the winners of each booking their place.

Five-time World Cup qualifiers Nigeria have a tough task after being placed with Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia.

They kick off their campaign against Zambia tomorrow and have already been warned by the opposition that they will not find it easy.

This weekend's African qualifiers for 2018 World Cup (all times BST) Ghana 0-0 Uganda - Group E Senegal v Cape Verde Group D (21:00, Sat) Gabon v Morocco - Group C (16:00, Sat) Zambia v Nigeria - Group B (13:30, Sun) DR Congo v Libya - Group A (18:30, Sat) Congo v Egypt - Group E (15:30, Sun) Ivory Coast v Mali - Group C (19:00, Sat) Tunisia v Guinea - Group A (18:00, Sun) Burkina Faso v South Africa - Group D (19:00, Sat) Algeria v Cameroon - Group B (20:30, Sun) Veteran Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene has rejected media suggestions that the Chipolopolo are in Group B just to make up numbers.

"When the media say you are no-hopers and certain to finish last, that motivates you," he said ahead of the game in central city Ndola.

"Deep down, Algeria, Cameroon and Nigeria know it is not going to be easy playing against us. Being outsiders suits us just fine."

Golden Jaguars bubbling with confidence (See Story on page 30 )

Semi-Finals here we come!

-Kwakwani, LTI and NAMS continue to NSBF semis

By Daniel Haynes

T

HE Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) National Schools Basketball Festival (NSBF) U-19 quarterfinals showcased the best of the U-19 talent on the local circuit.

LIGHT WORK There were three games played on the night, one blowout, one close encounter and one nail-biter that proved to be the game everyone was waiting to witness the entire tournament.

In the first game of the night, Kwakwani Secondary made light work of Mackenzie High blowing them out of the water to show why they were defending champions winning 61-28. Led by the triple threat of national guards in Troy David, Stanton Rose and Damair Gladstone who had 10, 12 and 11 points respectively, the team cruised to victory. Kemmol Benjamin, Dillon Wallace and Jamal Gilkes registered 9, 7 and 6 points in the win also. For the outmatched Mackenzie side, Tim Veshon scored 8 points with Daniel Anthony supporting him with 7 points.

The second encounter saw Linden Technical Insti-

tute spoiling the coming-out party for Jaleel Duke and his President’s College side in a game that finished 47-33.

Led by Akinni Wilson’s 13, LTI continued their tradition of advancing to the final rounds to compete for a title.

From the outset, President’s College, pushing the tempo and looking very threatening, while doing so behind Duke’s quick scoring.

However, the tide soon changed as the Linden side started to lock down on defence and convert on offence. For Akinni, it was balanced scoring with an inside-out approach whatever the defence gave him he took. He was supported by Tahquille Johnson’s 9. On the President’s College side, Jaleel Duke posted 14 points in the losing effort with Anton Fileen contributing 11.

FINAL GAME The final game of the night was definitely the one fans paid their money to see.

New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary (NAMS) took on St Rose’s High and won in a game that went into overtime and finished 36-29.

From the tip, both teams seemed evenly matched, trading baskets after the initial feel-out process was over. It was not just a battle of big

men and point guards, but a battle of coaches, with Rose’s Courtenay Taylor and NAMS Willon Cameron having both coached alongside each other at the National level.

BATTLE The battle of the ‘bigs’ that was expected turned out to be the mitigating factor with NAMS’ Neil Wills, and Sherland Gillis contributing 10 points each for their side, with points coming at crucial moments. For Rose’s it was the duo of Akil Vaughn and Leon Ross who held the offensive giant Wills to such a low total.

Gillis was the X Factor for the NAMS side, and he seemed to find himself making the right basketball plays at the right moments.

The first being a steal with seconds to go in the game leading to him being fouled and able to put away the game at the free throw line after Rose’s took the lead with a minute to go.

For Rose’s it was Shamar Huntley whose 15 points stood out in the losing effort.

There was much to be taken away from the game as in the overtime period the threepoint shooting of Rose’s went awry. There were missed calls on both ends and the

Action from the NAMS and Rose’s matchup. (Daniel Haynes photo) Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216.

Sherland Gillis at line to close out the win for NAMS (Daniel Haynes photo) foul game ultimately contributed to the game’s outcome.

Gillis was once again put at the line and made them count for the win. Coach Willon Cameron on how the win came to be stated “It was wanting it at all times, we fight and that’s what we’re about.”

AN emotional coach Taylor also gave his input stating, “It was always going to be a competitive game given the fact both teams are similar in their make-up and how they play.”

“The teams know each other as well through the friendship developed over

the years but what played the separator in the teams was the officiating,” continued Taylor.

The semi-final rounds tip off today and promise much more action. The tournament is sponsored by Digicel, Banks DIH Limited and Beharry Group of Companies.

Akinni Vaugn making a move for two of his points. (Daniel Haynes photo) SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2016